w/c 22/06/2026

ABOVE THE CLOUDS

I know, I know, it's been a while. 

I've given up on writing here weekly (no shit Sime I hear you say) but I'm not stopping completely.

We've been on holiday 

We went to Crete for 10 days and it was far and away the most relaxing break I've ever had.

Here are some highlights.

We're already talking about going back next year. It was that nice.

That'll do for now.

TTFN

Sime. 

w/c 25/05/2026

SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE.

I'll be completely honest and upfront here and say I totally forgot I had to write anything. That's my bad, on me 100%.

A quick synopsis of the week would be...

Lots and lots of bugger all, mostly sat waiting for deliveries that came/were delayed.

Tuesday my sister Sarah and myself went to mum and dad's as the for sale sign was going up and the selling agent was taking photos.

Other than that it's been a week of Vic and I getting our belongings ready for our holiday to Crete.

I'll tell you more about that when we return. 

See you in a couple of weeks 

TTFN

Sime

w/c 18/05/2026

Monday

Back at it on the rower after two days of not doing it.

Bit too late to achieve a "beach body' for our holiday, but no reason to quit.

Tuesday 

Last of the stuff has gone from Mum & Dad's and it's going on the market next week.

Seeing it so empty was quite emotional for me, and my sister, Sarah, has been emotional doing the hard graft of emptying it. I've not been physically capable and Vic said she would not know what to keep or throw (she's done a lot of dumpit/charity runs)

Wednesday 

Lazy day. Was going to do a radio show but other commitments prevented that. 

Thursday 

New, smaller bag came today for the holiday.

Got a new rucksack and messenger type bag already, but fancied something a bit smaller still, just for my wallet, headphones etc. 

Other than that, nothing to say as going back to bed, don't feel too great. 

Friday 

Feeling much better, sun is back out, looking forward to the weekend.

Looking forward to next weekend more, as we're now into single figures until we go away.

Today marks twelve months since I had my catheter removed. Painful and joyful at the same time.

Saturday 

It's my birthday and I'll do fuck all of I want to.

Vic went to the butty shop and got me a Spam & egg. Got a card and two bottles of 0.0% Heineken from the wumps, a card and a bar of chocolate from Vic (real present on order) and free reign for a lazy day.

What more can a 56yr old ask for?

Sunday 

Dang it's hot. Far too hot for me. 

Yes, the irony of me complaining when we go to Crete in a week. Vic is loving it, she's slathered in Mozola and laying in the back garden. 

Watched the final day of the EPL. Sadly we already knew Arsenal won, even sadder, Spurs stayed up 

Bolton won the League One play off. 

Bow just Salford and Notts County to see who we get to play next season. 

Signing off 

TTFN

Sime. 

w/c 11/05/2026

HERE I GO AGAIN

Oh Darling Darling Darling 

Monday

not a great deal happening today.

Completed an online pre-op assessment for my cataract, let's see how quick it gets arranged, with any luck quite soon after the holiday.

Talking of which

Tuesday

Dull day. Nowt planned, no deliveries expected, one massive bit of boredom. 

Three pairs of shorts and a nice seersucker shirt came yesterday. Going to look dapper. 

Been added to a Twitter group to share music, which is nice.

Wednesday 

I"VE DONE A RADIO SHOW!

It was August the last time I sat there and did one.

Thoroughly enjoyed it, knew I would, but the nerves were there. If you want to hear it, listen here

Thursday 

A great big bag of bugger all to tell about today other than Vic and myself finished The Big Bang Theory and we had a kebab (the wumps shared a tray of kebab meat)

Friday

A good day today.

Firstly my I got notification that my new glasses were ready to collect, I rang Vic and asked her to get them on her way home as she was going that way. 

More than happy with them.

Sunglasses too

Secondly, after initially ordering in November and the release date being delayed from January, my Style Council Cafe Bleu special editions arrived.

A 3 disc vinyl and 6 cd set. Well, if you're a completist...

Saturday 

A slow day to start, but finished in style.

Vic and I went to The Civic to See Steve Craddock doing his Travellers Tunes.

Steve, ably assisted by Sally, his wife, and Cass, his son (and daughter Sonny on merch duties) played two sets of mainly Ocean Colour Scene tunes, including to he most beautiful and best version of The Riverboat Song I've ever heard.

Sunday 

Lounging about day watching football 

Other than telling you we're having curry for tea, nowt much else to tell today. 

See you next week.

Don't forget the daily video diary

TTFN

Sime

w/c 04/05/2026

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE...

The more they stay the same. 

Saturday/Sunday/Bank Holiday Monday

A lot of football, including the last game of the season at Oakwell, the rest on the telly, then Star Wars Day and the obligatory watching of EPs 4/5/6.

New look video diary (link over on the sidebar)

Tuesday

Lack of sleep, throwing up and barking wumps, stubbed toe and broken spectacles. Didn't get any better.

(optician appointment booked)

Wednesday

Nothing of note today. Better night's sleep, fell asleep with Baxter wedged between us, snoring his head off.

Came downstairs to him and Bella being best of friends again after an afternoon of (play) fighting yesterday.

Off to put the benefit buggy's battery on charge so I can go and vote tomorrow.

Thursday

Voting day

Been to vote. Was going to go up on the buggy but decided to stick with tradition and go with Vic after work. Only around the corner.

Twelve months since my skin graft, which failed. But they tried, and for that I'm thankful.

Friday 

Twelve months ago I went for my biopsy on the "growth" on my kidney. They'd already said they 99% thought it was definitely it was cancer (SPOILER APERT, IT WAS) but this had to be done to be certain.

So another cannula in my arm.

And it wasn't to be the last. The process was pretty quick if a little uncomfortable. I was soon home and relaxing again. 

Saturday 

Went to the optician and sorted my new glasses. Two pairs of Ray Bans (one sunglasses) both varifocal lenses, sunglasses with polarised lenses. Spoiled myself.

Also been referred for my cataract sorting as I couldn't see anything while doing my eye test apart from the frame surrounding the letters. Having it done in a place in Sheffield as the waiting time is about thirteen weeks rather than twelve months. Also the plan I took my glasses on includes free alterations so I can sort that lens after the cataract is removed. Result.

Sunday 

Basically a day of lounging about today as my guts are bubbling and I don't know if I want to stray too far from the bathroom. 

See you next week

TTFN

Sime.

02/05/2026

ONE'S TOO MANY, BUT A HUNDREDS NOT ENOUGH*

I've come to the decision that this is going to be weekly not daily.

It's not that I don't want to do it, just coming up with things every day is a struggle.

So I'm going to be doing a weekly catch up every Sunday, starting next week. 

And that's that.

TTFN

Some

*Weightless - The Blue Aeroplanes

30/04/2026

CHAIRMAN OF THE BORED

So fed up today. Not in a depressed or despair driven way, just bored. I was wanting to go into town on my mobility scooter but I'm expecting about three different things being delivered and have no real timeframe of when, so don't want to be out of the house and miss them.

Expected items in bagging area

Medications

Signed Civic Green LP

New Wallet 

I definitely don't want to be out when the LP comes, just in case it's the same chap that delivered my Shindig magazine this week who FOLDED it before putting it in our post box. I was fuming (see Tuesday's video diary). Our usual post lady is lovely. She wouldn't have been so ignorant.

So yes, nothing to do but sit here. Might put some tunes on and carry on with my book. (I'm re-reading Chariots of the Gods? by Erich von Däniken)

TTFN

Sime

29/04/2026

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Went with Vic to take the wumps for a walk again last night, and again forgot to take my new POV camera.

Usual route which took us past the mural, and YES the typo has been corrected. Looks superb in the sunshine.

After that it was back down and around Oakwell again. Then home 

28/04/2026

SWEET SWEET, THE MEMORIES YOU GAVE ME

We were in the Premier League once you know 

Only the once, but we made it.

Unlikely to happen again any time soon.

There's been mumblings about having something to mark it for a while, and mumblings about a mural somewhere. Separate mumblings, but they were there.

Then someone stepped up and started to do something about it.

As a resident of the Oakwell area and a Tarn fan, I was asked for my opinion (i know, right?) and I suggested a couple of large flat walls which were taken under consideration, and that's where my direct involvement ended, albeit staying in touch with one of the main protagonists.

After stumbling over the first real potential site, the local paper shop owner was approached. 

He was extremely willing to have the proposed painting on his property, and so the plan became to really begin.

A fundraiser was created that took only ten days to get the amount required (and more) and so the work started. 

Scaffolding went up, Paul Staveley got to work and this morning the scaffolding came down and it's done.

Well, sort of. 

As an 80's/90's kid, there's an E that shouldn't be there, but it's getting fixed.

And here it is. 

BEFORE 

AFTER

Personally, I reckon it's fantastic (even better when the spelling error is fixed)

You?

TTFN

Sime.

27/04/2026

SLOW NEWS DAY

Not a great deal to tell you today, and not really feeling the urge to type.

Fingers hurting, head aching, fuming with Amazon just dumping a parcel at my door without knocking on the door or ringing the bell. I was in the front room and the Wumps were barking, so no way of missing him, but even so...

TTFN

Sime