I'm interested in conversations about and I want to talk about
Know exactly what you want?
Show search

Notification

Error

A place to have a chat.

User
Posted 26 Apr 2025 at 22:09

Hi Suzz.

I hope your hubby gets his results as quick as possible and that they are good. Enjoy your time with Albie he sounds a lovely little lad. X

My wife is also called Suzanne but everyone calls her Suzi. 

Leila. 

Although I'm not a traveller myself, I thoroughly enjoy the accounts of your travels. I for one, would love to hear more of them. 

 

Edited by member 27 Apr 2025 at 08:22  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 27 Apr 2025 at 14:48

Ah, lovely to hear from all you guys and gals. You lot always make me laugh. 
Lovely story of you volunteering Leila what amazing memories.

A very quick story. Back in , I think 1980 , me and the missus ( 17yr old girlfriend then) were in Spain - again… We’d popped out to a pub we liked in Calpe where lots of English went but when we got there it was closed… very odd. So we thought we’d go back to the local bar instead. On the way back along the , then unlit, coast road we saw a lantern being waved across the road. I came to a stop to find us surrounded by militia with rifles all pointing at us. This young uniformed lady looked inside the car and then waved us on… no explanation. 
Found out the next morning there’d been a Coup and the militia had tried to take over the government. Next evening all was back to normal. 

I do love the Spanish people , so laid back. 

Phil

 

User
Posted 28 Apr 2025 at 08:02

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I got my fingers crossed for hubbies results on 17.atleast we know one way or other…

Hi Suzz

Fingers crossed for a positive result, but either way, once you know you will start to feel a bit better about it 👍

Ian.

User
Posted 28 Apr 2025 at 19:56

Hi all,

It’s good to read people’s travel experiences, that sounded well out there Leila - incredible. And, not sure I’d have been too happy confronted by the Spannish militia Phil, sounds just like that Morecambe & Wise film.

I’ve got a few travel stories though nowhere near as impressive but first I have a more pressing matter. So, given how events predictably transpired on Saturday I’ve been up the allotment blasting the weeds. Trying, not to bore you all with my allotment configuration, suffice to say that it is the end plot and surrounded on one side by a 10 ft high forest of brambles and other thorny stuff. So, even with the umph of a petrol strimmer it is hard going. 
So, question for you practical chaps. When strimmng my line breaks all the time which you would expect, trouble is it doesn’t automatically feed through so I keep having to open it up to pull out more line which is a pain in the doodars. I must be doing something wrong but don’t know what. I’ve had the same problem with my previous strimmers - drives me mad. Any advice appreciated.

Spongebob

User
Posted 29 Apr 2025 at 08:33

Hi Spongebob

My allotment endeavours are not faring too well at the minute. The local bird population seems to be eating most of what I plant!

I was having the same issue with my strimmer line snapping, so I bought a spool of thicker line from the local garden centre. It wasn't a pre loaded spool, just a big coil of line which I had to wind on myself. Seems to cut through anything though! Don't know what to suggest about the auto feed not working, unless the spool needs removing and giving a bit of a clean and oil?

Hope you get it sorted mate!

Ian.

User
Posted 29 Apr 2025 at 09:08

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
So, question for you practical chaps. When strimmng my line breaks all the time which you would expect, trouble is it doesn’t automatically feed through so I keep having to open it up to pull out more line which is a pain in the doodars.

Hi Spongebob.

I'm far from being a practical chap and had the same problem with my electric strimmer. I'd wound the strimmer line on the spool in the wrong direction. It only feeds out clockwise or anti clockwise. I can't remember which. There are arrows on the spool indicating the correct direction. If the spools on petrol and electric strimmers are similar, it could be that?

I found having a dysfunctional strimmer  almost as annoying as having a dysfunctional penis.

Edited by member 29 Apr 2025 at 09:31  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 29 Apr 2025 at 09:40

Thanks chaps, dysfunctional - ha, ha - like it 😀. The line on the spool was as it came in the box, I didn’t mess with it but reckon it must be wound on it wrong somehow. Anyway, the blade seemed to do the trick for now. I’ll get on YouTube see if I can sort the line issue.

Yes, I’m not having much joy growing stuff except weeds. Although some spuds are starting to sprout. I only had about 10 peas sprouting - so something is eating them. Planted loads of seeds for parsnips, lettuces, beetroot but nothing. Mind you, we could do with some rain. I do have some sprouts, caulis, broccoli and cabbages sprouting in a temporary cold frame and will be ready to plant out in a couple of weeks. I’ve already decided to get insect repellent netting - seems cheap enough. For everything we try to grow there is something out there ready to get at it.

Over to York today to visit my mum, looks like it’s going to be another fine day ☀ïļ - enjoy 😎

User
Posted 30 Apr 2025 at 08:28

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
Over to York today to visit my mum, looks like it’s going to be another fine day ☀ïļ - enjoy 😎

I hope that you had a good visit, mate.

I've been in the garden a lot this week. I lost my mum last year, and it brought back memories of her. When she lived with us, she'd spends hours sat in the garden, sun hat on and doing word searches.

It's 'Scorchio' here again today. I got my bedding plants yesterday from a local nursery. Me and the wife planted them in baskets and troughs. It's a bit of a ball ache, on hot days, watering around twice a day, but it's worth it when everything comes into flower. I sat on a bench by my pond yesterday, and had a couple of beers whilst watching the fish. It's so relaxing. I shall be doing the same today.

User
Posted 30 Apr 2025 at 08:56

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I sat on a bench by my pond yesterday, and had a couple of beers whilst watching the fish. It's so relaxing. I shall be doing the same today.

That sounds like a great plan mate! I really must retire 😒. I spent the evening watering the allotment and then the garden, and finally got to put my feet up on the patio at about 8pm. I was accompanied by a beer, my air rifle (in case I saw a rat up by the chickens) and an amused dog. Very pleasant it was.

User
Posted 30 Apr 2025 at 20:55

Reading those travel tales got me reminiscing. So, here we go with an early tale, have yourself a read ðŸĪ“.

This goes right back to July 1980, when me and my mate had just turned 18 and just about finishing 6th form. We took ourselves off on a trip to Chamonix by train, which was inspired by our Art teacher, known as captain McFrizz. We went with a vague intention of having a go, at least in part at the Mont Blanc circular trek. On our way there we stopped off at a couple of places, non-better than Annecy which was an absolutely beautiful old town built amongst canals and situated next to the cleanest most fantastically scenic lake imaginable. It was a stunning place and at that time seemingly untouched by the Brits other than perhaps Frank and Nestor Bough on their French tours for the BBC Holiday program.

I remember as we walked from the station, with our back packs along the streets of the old town up to the campsite and we met a bunch of game lasses from St Etienne. They were gorgeous, they each had long curly brown/black hair with a reddish tint in and amongst and they were skinny as rakes, skinny legs. Infact, that’s why I though the French were called frogs due to their skinny froggy legs like these girls had. It’s a shame though to think how things have changed, with the takeover from MacDonalds and the discovery of chips in France they are all fat gits now like us and the Americans, without so much as a skinny leg in sight.

Then up on the campsite, it was full of Dutch people, and the Dutch lasses were all at least 7ft tall! Me and my mate didn’t have much of a chance though, we thought we’d had a good day if we’d managed to find a bar with a space invaders machine in it. And instead of pulling the birds we’d often inevitably blow any chances we had as either he or me or both at the same time, often be in the unappealing position of being slumped over a trough, honking up in the bogs.

There was a group of glamourous, fabulous, model looking girls just a couple of tents a way, it’s got to be said as well that they were well out of our league and anyway their heads were turned by the presence of some cool dude Frenchies in their sports cars. Me and my mate enviously hatched a plan to come back one day, perhaps once we’d made our fortunes and rev up in mini coopers just like in the Italian job – of course we never did 🙁.

So, we did actually make it to Chamonix, but it was wet, in fact it was wet all over, absolutely tipping it down 🌧. You wouldn’t have known that there were any mountains there as mist covered the place. We spent a couple of miserable wet days on the campsite as it was also too expensive to drink in the bars, especially given our meagre funds.  We decided to cut our losses and we made an hastily retreat back to a place that we’d stopped off earlier on route, an unremarkable village called Culoz (pronounced ‘Culo’ as I found out some years later). Although on the main line, Culoz is obviously a sleepy old place that everyone just passes by. I think we must have been the first English people to call in since 1945, because the old locals were very welcoming, in fact it was a absolute privilege to drink with a bunch of old boys complete with their berets in the bar and who had all been members of the French resistance. They regaled us with unbelievable war time tales, I will never forget it.

Then one morning, whilst composing myself in the tent for the first visit of the day to the hole in the ground, with early signs of hangover recovery from the previous nights drunken stupor I had a strange feeling. It was almost like an out of body experience as it seemed as though I was floating, weird. I unzipped the tent, to find that the whole campsite was flooded, and our tent was floating, with me and my mate in it! We immediately abandoned tent, carrying our sleeping bags and all our positions to the only dry spot we could find which was the toilet block (yes – the one with the afore mentioned hole in the ground) and this was only just above water. Nightmare! We found out later that in times of heavy rainfall, the authorities would control the flow down the Rhone-Saone by releasing water from the various barrages. Apparently, we were in the South of France during the wettest July for a number of years and they’d gone and deliberately flooded the campsite that we were on.

The locals, true to their good name came to our rescue. They put us up in the town hall, and so it was that the next morning when I again woke up in the aftermath of a drunken stupor it was this time to the sound of typewriters. We were sleeping on the floor of an office in the town hall, and people were working at desks around us typing away. Unbelievable, maybe, no-one has ever believed me, but it is true ðŸĪ”. 

Although we had our train tickets to get home, and pennies for our bus fare for when we got back to Bradford, we only had 70 centimes between us when we travelled back. We used it to buy a ‘du pain’ in Paris as we had to wait almost 24 hours for our train connection there. We ended up going to Dunkerque instead of Calais that was on the ticket but in those days, no-one said anything. And when I got home having carted a couple of bottles of treasured local red plonk all the way home, I sat down with my family for Sunday dinner, and I proudly opened one of the bottles whilst explaining how we had lived off the stuff for 2 weeks and how proud the locals were to show us how they made the wine etc. When I plipped the cork there were greenflies floating in the wine! Presumably French ones 🍷.

If you have read all this, then well done for enduring this tale and thank you for prompting me to reminisce – those were the days! 😎

Spongebob  

User
Posted 01 May 2025 at 08:13

Spongebob mate, you have just made my day. Hilarious 😂

User
Posted 04 May 2025 at 00:10

Zut alors! Just look what happened today âš―ïļðŸĨģ. There must be a god out there after all ðŸĪ”. La de da, la de da, la de da da da ðŸŽķðŸŽķðŸŽķ. “Take me home Midland Road” ðŸŽķðŸŽķðŸŽķðŸŽķðŸŽķðŸŽķ. 
Enjoy your weekend chaps ðŸĨģ😀ðŸĪ“😃 eeeel pie, eeeeeeurcha!!!!!

User
Posted 04 May 2025 at 09:03

They made you sweat, mate, but got there in the end. 🙂

Up the 🐓🐓🐓

Edited by member 04 May 2025 at 09:22  | Reason: Additional text

User
Posted 06 May 2025 at 19:56

On this coming Sunday, 11th May, it will be the wedding anniversary of my childhood neighbour. It is a very unfortunate date. Attending the wedding was always going to be a bit problematical for me because it coincided with a football match, a match that I very much needed to go to. So, during the wedding reception I sneaked away after telling a small white lie, to catch the bus down to town. I eagerly arrived at the game in time to meet up with my mate and his dad standing in our usual spot, which was to the left of middle, near the back of the old kop. We would occasionally watch games from the old main stand; in fact, we stood in the paddock which was the standing area in front of the seats in that stand at my very first game which my dad took to me when I was a nipper. A thought scares me “shipless” even to this day, that in the event of something going wrong, my instinct would almost certainly have been to find an exit at the back of the stand, where we came into the ground, rather than to jump over the wall and onto the pitch. Being a ‘good boy’, I wouldn’t dare to have ever gone onto the pitch. Of course, exits at the back of the stand would always be firmly shut until 5 mins before the end of a game. Fortunately for us, the kop was our choice to be spectators on that day. The kop itself was also ancient, it was basically a set of steps, badly worn concrete terracing open to all elements and in our position where we stood it was within range of any flying lumps of concrete from the other side where mischievous opposing fans might often congregate. But it afforded a fine view of the pitch and accommodated the jovial banter from the regulars who would gather and lean against the occasional bent rusty barrier. Despite being open to the elements, for a Saturday game there would usually be a very strong odour of stale beer and curry lingering from the previous night. For the first time in my (then young) lifetime and following a much, much longer time before that my team had actually, finally won something. Not only ‘won something’, but they’d won it in real style, with an entertaining, attacking team made up mainly of exciting youngsters and with a few wise old heads – they are all my heroes. It was therefore a day of grandiose celebration complete with majorettes; the old ground was packed to the rafters with 11,000 crammed into it to witness a rare historic occasion. Not surprisingly, the mood was festively exuberant, and applause rang out all over the ground as the team paraded the 3rd division trophy around the pitch before kick-off. It was such a unique occasion that the television cameras were even there to cover it, which was a novelty for us at the time. The players held up large cards, each with a letter on it which together spelled ‘THANK YOU’, an appreciation of the fans support received over the season. The first half in contrast was a very dull affair; so much so that I can’t remember any of the play. Then towards the end of the half, we could see and hear a bit of commotion in the seats near our end of the old main stand to our right. There was a clear whisper of grey smoke spiralling up from within a section of seats, which themselves were positioned on wooden planks. I remember hearing a few chants of ‘p!ss on it, p!ss on it’, as befitting the banter you might expect but not that many people at that moment seemed to pay much attention or worry about it as the game continued. In a very short time however, the whisper of smoke became thicker, and people started to move out of their seats and away. Then suddenly, we could clearly see a bright orange flame, and people started to spill on to the pitch. Within a few more moments the flames having properly taken hold were stretching out and reaching the roof. I remember seeing people who were serving in the hamburger shop at the end of the stand hastily escaping debris that was by now falling from the roof in flames by jumping out the serving hatch. We could at this point feel the heat as the fire intensified, rapidly devouring the end part of the roof with thick black smoke bellowing far up into the sky. There was proper panic now as people scrambled to get away, clambering over the seats and wall partitions to get onto the pitch. We saw a flame start on the top of a wooden partition which then rapidly spread along the full length of the stand at a speed that was surely faster than any man can run. Within probably only 3 or 4 minutes the whole stand was a raging inferno. Where we were stood the heat was becoming unbearable and yet as we watched on helplessly, we could not get out because the gates were locked. One concern for us was with the floodlight pylon which sat on the corner of the ground between us and the stand, there was a very real worry that it could buckle in the heat and collapse onto us. Luckily, it didn’t. As unwilling witnesses to the unfolding horror, we watched on and screamed out loud as a poor old chap with his clothes in flames suddenly appeared from the far corner and stumbled onto the pitch. He was quickly bundled to the ground and the flames put out. That was a stark moment, this was serious. I don’t know how long it was before we were able to get out of the ground, possibly 10-15 maybe 20 or so minutes. Incredibly, even as police, fire and ambulance sirens were ringing everywhere, we left with the very naïve assumption that everyone had managed to escape. It was only after reaching the car and listening to the radio on our journey home that the awful, horrific reality hit us as we learnt of fatalities at the ground. Those, unfortunately were mainly people who looked to get out by going to the turnstiles at the back of the stand and getting trapped there. When I returned home, I was at first embarrassed to see the mother of the newlywed bride, and with it my little white lie exposed. My mum, blissfully unaware of events, wondered why I’d come home early as she did her ironing. We turned on the TV to see it all being played out. The smoke actually was clearly visible anyway across most of the Bradford skyline. She was relieved to have been blissfully unaware; it saved her some worrying. As we gathered in our local pub that night, we learnt of the ever-growing list of confirmed fatalities and of the huge numbers of casualties with many seriously burnt. There was a sombre atmosphere in the pub as we all sat cradling our pints, numb to our cores with shock as everyone reflected to try make sense of what had just happened on the terrible day. Silence was only interrupted by quiet whispers and by sobbing as endless tears were shed through the evening. On 11th May, 40 years ago, 11,000 people went to watch a football match and in the most horrific of circumstances 56 did not return home alive. Like many of us who were there on that dreadful day and indeed for many who saw it on TV, my mind is frequented everyday by recollections of those events. I will not forget it. I have shared my story. RIP 56

Edited by member 06 May 2025 at 20:09  | Reason: it's right not left

User
Posted 06 May 2025 at 20:43

Wow! What an incredible account of that tragic day. You should have been a writer, mate. 

User
Posted 06 May 2025 at 22:26

Thanks Adrian. I find it useful to write things down. It clears the head 😎

User
Posted 07 May 2025 at 09:25

What a moving account of that awful event. Something like that changes you forever.

Phil

User
Posted 07 May 2025 at 10:29

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I find it useful to write things down. It clears the head.

I agree. I once went through a long bout of depression and found writing down how I felt helped enormously. As you said, it clears your head. My problem is, having only ever read two books in my life and scraping through O level English language and English Literature (Macbeth, Grapes of Wrath and Chaucer Tales) with two grade sixes, my English is not good. That's why almost everything I post on here is edited. 😁

I certainly can't match your eloquence and self expression. On top of that, my texting skills are diabolical. It would have taken me well over an hour to write what you did, and another 30 minutes to edit the mistakes. 😁

I vividly remember the Bradford fire news coverage. It was truly horrific.

User
Posted 07 May 2025 at 11:24

Regarding writing stuff down when I was seeing my counsellor early on I wrote a short story/account of my childhood and let her read it. It helped me a lot writing it down and to get my timelines right. It made me understand my emotions about it better. Only she’s ever seen it and I’ve destroyed it now as it served its purpose. But it helped me a lot.

I love reading and read every night. But I also messed up my CSE Exams at school especially English. I moved schools beginning of 4th year and didn’t get my options so I kinda gave up ( girls were more interesting ) . My previous school was great but was only there 18 months before I moved again.

Luckily when I left school I went to a brand new college to do an engineering course and had spare time to do GCE English, Maths and Physics as well. Only 3 of us in the classes instead of 30 kids messing about. Had a brilliant year and burnt the candle both ends.. Worked in a pub at weekends for petrol money for my motorbike and to take me girlie out. 

I love chatting on here guys. Time for a doze now and I’ll blame it on the new Radium treatment..! 

cheers

Phil

User
Posted 08 May 2025 at 20:04

Hi all,

I’ve been plugging away up the allotment, and chaps I’m sorry to report that it could do with raining a bit, the soil is rock hard, and nowt much is growing except for weeds.

Suffering aswell from Prostap, my feet are killing me. My left foot feels like I’ve got a dog biscuit permanently stuck in my shoe. In fact I keep taking my shoe off to take a look, but nope there’s never a dog biscuit or stone in there.

I’ve got the annual boys trip to Scotland coming up next week where amongst the boozing and fishing we do usually hike up a few mountains. I’m worried that I’m not going to be able to hike very far 😟.

Anyway, have a good weekend chaps, Happy Parcel Yard.

Spongebob

User
Posted 11 May 2025 at 20:59

Hi all, hope everyone is alright. 

Sorry for my absence but things have been really busy lately.

I remember seeing the Bradford fire unfold on TV, I was sat around talking with some mates and the TV was more or less on in the background when it started. Incredible to think that you were there to witness it first hand.

Got some good news and bad news. Spring is in full swing and our bluetits laid eggs and we now have eight chicks that are a week old. I have grapes growing on both of my vines. Yesterday my Mrs and eldest completed the Macmillan mighty hike on the Norfolk coast, they've both been hobbling around today.

Now the bad news.. it's confession time, back in March we got an allotment. We had a choice of two so went for the half plot with a shed which is near the main gate. Not really my cup of tea and it's been hard work. I thought my Mrs put us on the waiting list last year but turns out it was back in 2022 when I was having my SRT. The plan was to keep me busy, well it has now! I don't mind rebuilding the shed, clearing brambles and digging over, but I'm not really that into veg, and planting stuff is a mystery to me so I'm leaving that bit to the Mrs, she's dead keen! Apparently, she's the tenant and I'm down as "co-worker" ðŸĪĢ

Luckily there's an apple tree and some fruit bushes plus a pear tree in the corner, so might be making some wine this year. 

Anyway, we've broken the back of the work so I'm hoping to address the backlog of stuff we need to do to the house. 

Cheers, 

Kev.

User
Posted 12 May 2025 at 10:06

Good to have you back, Kev.

Good luck with your allotment. This hot spell in already hitting my garden. Brown patches on the lawn and the ground is so dry. According to Monty Don, it's down to global warming and soon we'll only be able to grow cacti. 

The warmth, has sent my pond fish into a sexual frenzy. They're frantically chasing and rubbing against each other, and end up having a group orgy. I'm so envious. 😁 

I've had the pond for twenty years but have never bred any fish. I think the bigger fish must have been eating the eggs or fry. However, this year is the first time I've seen masses of eggs in the pond, hopefully some might survive, before they're cannibalised.

 

Edited by member 12 May 2025 at 11:23  | Reason: Additional text

User
Posted 12 May 2025 at 10:14

Hi guys. Good to hear you’re all keeping busy. Weekend weather was cracking and I allowed myself some time sat in the sun. 
The wife trimmed the hedge and cut the grass bless her, as I’m not really up to it yet. Although a bit better this morning 👍.

Kitchen guys are starting fitting in units and appliances today . Can’t wait. 

Wish there was something I could do but I’m just staying out of the way.

Cheers

Phil

User
Posted 12 May 2025 at 12:50

Hi Adrian, maybe putting your feet in the pond has sent the fish into a breeding frenzy ðŸĪŪ 

Could you drill some holes in a pot and submerge it in the pond as a refuge for the fry?

Hey Phil, I see you're on some heavy duty treatment at the moment, I hope you're coping with it alright. I'm envious that your kitchen is taking shape, seems that we're missing our targets this end, our new kitchen by Xmas is looking tight now. 

We're off to London for a Florence Nightingale event this evening, so I've got to put a suit on despite the hot weather. 

Cheers all,

Kev.

Edited by member 12 May 2025 at 13:03  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 13 May 2025 at 09:58

Hi guys. 

Well kitchen guys are cracking on and it’s looking good. Worktop template this week so worktops in place next week. We opened up the doorway into the conservatory and it’s so much nicer with a wide opening. Just gotta see if Bifolds will work or French doors instead.

Went to the opticians yesterday and turns out I have cataracts caused by the steroids. He can see it’s happened very quickly. Been referred and should be a couple of months. Obviously can’t drive now and even watching tv is difficult… but not worth messing with my glasses lenses for a short period. 

Hope you had a great time at the Florence Nightingale event Kev? 

Sounds like everyone has been messing about in their allotments . Hope you all reap what you’ve sowed ðŸĪĢ… 

Cheers

Phil

User
Posted 13 May 2025 at 11:12

Hi lads.

Great to have you back Kev. Good luck with the allotment. We're desperately in need of rain here, the grass is turning brown and the soil is cracking. Monty Don reckons it's due to global warming and we'll all have to start growing cacti. I might grow a bed of agave and do my own Tequila. 😁

Regarding my pond fish. I've tried all sorts to harvest the eggs but to no avail. I might try your flower pot idea.

I hope you enjoyed the Florence Nightingale event. With these soaring temperatures and you having to wear a suit, I hope that she didn't have to treat you for heat exhaustion.

Phil, sorry to hear about the cataract problem. I hope they get it sorted. I'm glad that the kitchen is coming on well. Have you been living off sarnies and takeaways?

Out in the garden again today. Fridge full of beer to keep hydrated and to take my mind off tomorrow's PSA test. Talking of treats in the fridge, I've discovered that Invicorp seems to be more effective when the sun's shining. 😁

PS: I must remember to avoid posting whilst on the beer. Yesterday,  I made a slightly saucy comment about an evening out with Miss Nightingale. Which, on rereading, I deleted. 😎

 

 

User
Posted 13 May 2025 at 12:47

Hi guys, 

It was a commemorative service for Florence Nightingale at Westminster Abbey held on International Nurse's day. 

It was hot yesterday but cool inside the Abbey and we managed to dodge the thundery showers. 

It was an interesting thing to attend, lots of nurses, civilian and military in uniform proudly wearing their medals. 

At the end, the bells were ringing and some tourists were taking our pictures as we left. Bit weird but pretending to be VIPs is the closest we'll ever get to actually being important. 

Hope you get your eyes sorted so you can marvel at your new kitchen Phil ðŸĪžðŸŧ

As for the allotment, hopefully we'll reap something! The shed roof had collapsed so I re-roofed it using salvaged pallet wood. I'll felt it this week when it's cooler, got some roofing felt from the couple on the next plot. I'll get them some beers as we haven't grown anything to give them yet. 

There were plenty of nurses in uniform yesterday Adrian, it would probably have sent your heart rate up so I'll forgive you for being saucy 😅 

Coincidentally my PSA test is booked for tomorrow at 13:30, I'm on 6 monthly now, fingers crossed eh ðŸĪžðŸŧ I'll phone up Thursday or Friday for the result.

Cheers all. 

Kev.

 

User
Posted 13 May 2025 at 12:58

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
Bit weird but pretending to be VIPs is the closest we'll ever get to actually being important.

Most of us are impotent. 😁

User
Posted 14 May 2025 at 08:47

Morning lads, 

Just a quick good luck note to Adrian and Kev, for their PSA tests today 👍

User
Posted 14 May 2025 at 13:28

Cheers Ian, but my appointment was a nightmare. I went to my GPs for the blood test and the nurse refused to take one. She showed me a letter from a urology locum from the hospital where I had RARP to my GP. It was dated Feb 2024, requesting that my PSA was checked every 3 months for the next year, if after this time it remained undetectable there was no need for anymore tests. The nurse explained as my last test in Feb 2025 was undetectable, they wouldn't take anymore. I told her that I'd never been sent a copy of that letter and that I'd been told that I would require PSA test for 5 years post op. I wasn't a happy bunny. I went back home and rang my consultants secretary. There had obviously been a cock-up, and they confirmed I still needed PSA checks. I also got the distinct impression that the hospital realised that I hadn't been given the follow up appointments that I should have had with my specialist nurse or the consultant. So I'm now waiting for another blood test appointment and my consultant is telephoning me in 6 weeks time. 

User
Posted 14 May 2025 at 14:00

I was just gonna say the same as Ian but I saw your reply Adrian. 

What a mess up. Why can’t hospitals and GPs communicate properly. My GPs is the same they have to scan in the letters so they are on the system and they are often very late in being sent to the GPs .

Hope you get it sorted asap , and it’s a good result. 👍

Phil

 

User
Posted 14 May 2025 at 15:35

That's ridiculous mate! My consultant told me that whilst they'd drop down to yearly eventually, I would be having my PSA checked for the rest of my life?

Hope you get it sorted quickly, as you don't need any extra stress around getting these tests done.

Phil - hope you are bearing up ok pal? Your cataract problem sounds like a pain, but a friend of ours had hers done recently, and says it was the best decision she ever made.

Cheers guys.

Ian.

User
Posted 14 May 2025 at 19:17

Sorry to see this happen Adrian.. anxiety is bad enough as it is without this extra aggravation. I hope you can get your PSA test sorted ASAP!

Think I've just had my last hospital test, my consultant is discharging me back to my GP soon, guessing I'll have to make sure I get an appropriate letter sent regarding PSA testing. 

Cheers, 

Kev.

User
Posted 14 May 2025 at 22:36

Cheers for your support lads. I think the problem in my case is the hospital that did my op is in a different Trust to my GP. If I had to test at the hospital it involves a two hour  trip plus it's a pain getting the results which can take a week or more. If I get tested at my GPs I have a five minute stroll down the road and because they use systmonline I can view my own results within 24 hrs. The only problem with the GP doing it is, on budgetary grounds, they didn't want the additional cost of 'sending' the results to the hospital.

I find their bickering, of who pays for what quite insulting. Anyway, what I'm hoping for now is, because I've been two years with undetectable PSA, that my consultant will approve 6 monthly tests and discharge me to the care of my GP. That way, I'll continue booking my own PSA tests and monitoring my own results, just like I have been doing for the past two years. 

Since expressing my displeasure this morning, I've had a couple of 'nice' messages and phone calls from both Trusts. I think they've both realised they haven't given me the care they should have done. The hospital realised that they hadn't had an official PSA reading for 2 years and the GPs realised that they hadn't sent readings to the hospital. It's just as well I can look after myself. 

 

Edited by member 14 May 2025 at 23:22  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 14 May 2025 at 23:09

A few of my posts have included the phrase "You have to manage your own case in the NHS".

My case started after a locum at my GP referred me to urology with suspected prostate cancer, the urologist effectively said "oh all people have problems peeing at your age. Good bye".

I had the presence of mind to say "but my PSA is 29”.

He said "that's new information to me" and so the diagnosis began.

It turns out the locum had not put the PSA in the letter. So the consultant wasn't bothered about a middle aged bloke having a few problems peeing. If I had not known 29 was high, when he said "good bye". I would have said "good bye" and blissfully gone home, probably returning in five years with advanced cancer.

I was referred to The Christie. Which was fine. After I was discharged from the Christie (five years later) the local urology department said, "Oh we should have been following you up too, can you book an appointment".

I cynically assume that, they didn't want to follow me up in case I died in the first five years and it would look bad on their statistics, but after five years, they were guaranteed a green tick in the "survived 5 years box".ðŸĪ·

Dave

User
Posted 15 May 2025 at 08:32

Hi Dave.

Unfortunately the NHS seems such an esteemed national treasure that most of us feel a bit ungrateful complaining when things go wrong. 

During my PCa diagnosis and treatment, mistakes were made that left me in quite a precarious position. Since then, I check and recheck everything.

Late edit. Just got a call from my village surgery to have a PSA check there tomorrow. All's well, that ends well. 🙂

 

Edited by member 15 May 2025 at 09:04  | Reason: Additional text

User
Posted 15 May 2025 at 18:34

Yes Adrian,  I have my reviews at a hospital not on my GP system.  So I get a paper letter through the post and it looks like the GP scans it to my record often with a strange title.  One scanned document says on my record 'Discharge from hospital' when actually it was a transfer from Urology to Oncology.

When I went to Oncology they asked where I had my blood tests and were pleased when I said it was at their hospital.  Although when the time came the nurse rang my local hospital for the psa result and asked why I hadn't been for a test when it was on her own system.  The 2 large hospitals are only 16 miles apart and share specialities so you'd think sharing electronic data would be a priority.

User
Posted 17 May 2025 at 10:33

Hi everyone. 
I can not bielieve I got on. 😀.

well Adrian that has been a nightmare. Just glad u got appt v v gd luck. When will u get results,did u say?

sorry iv not caught up with everyone’s post yet to see what’s happening. I will. Hopefully today. I’m not signing out incase a don’t get back on lol. 

phil how are u & Mrs Phil doing. I sent u a message couple days ago. Explaining I only getting on here now & again. Don’t think u got it. 
right is it ok to talk about my hubby y results here?
oche a will tell you all & if it’s ok please any advice is good. I’m like you Adrian I look after everything to do with him. He is hopeless. Wish he was like half of you onhere. e.g.

he said other day. You know what Suzanne since we got phone call saying we getting results by phone on fri. My goolies have been sore. Just shows u. A lot off it is  on mind. 
WELLLLLL a said what the hell has phone results got to do with your goolies. He looked at me AS IF I WASTTHE DAFTY. I said G it’s not your goolies it’s your PROSTATE.  He said 
omg I thought past 9wks it bn my goolies. 🙈🙈🙈.ðŸĪŠ 
right here we go guys—

prof was on phone for about 5m on loudspeaker. I was shaking felt physically sick. So all I could understand is. There is cancer there. It been there 5yr roughly nothing to really worry about. He sending appt for oncologist to catch up n ask any ?s and give us options. 
it’s not going to do anything for about 10 years. So they will give him options n explain more on 21st June. I said quickly. What would be best option. He said well it up to your hubby. Radiotherapy would be best potion if he decides on that. No need for surgery.  Then I could not rem the bldy words Active survveillance. Felt a  total numpty. I said what about getting blood tests every few months. Yes he said we will deffa be offering that. What the hell does this all mean guys??? Don’t get me wrong. We were both over the moon. Wasn’t as bad as at least I was expecting. All family came here after there work & ofcource they where all relieved. Although Bianca said to me in kitchen. Mum I’m no happy that dad actueallyDOES have C.

I put my arms around her new both cried. I tried explaining. This is good news B. I not got a clue but didn’t want to say this to her. as for our boys. Told you mum nothing can brake wee g. (There dad). If anyone can explaine anything to me I would so appreciate it. I am going to go have wee look about radiotherapy see what it entails & side effects

WEll I would really like to thank each & every one of you from bottom off my heart. Don’t think I would have got through this without you. Special thank you to Phil & Adrian who have explained a lot off this to me  ðŸĪðŸĪ also to kevwhotold me to try stop worrying. I will try get on n catch-up with all your updates & patter  it has kept me going &ihave missed it so much  

Thanks AGAIN

Suzz 💙💚

Thanks again  

ps

ohhh forgot to tell yous I had all my ?s wrote down & loads of stuff printed out. Never even got asking about glesan count. It all went out window. He did call at 9.45 & call was meant to be 10.20. So that put me right off my stride 😂😂 as G call me. Mrs know it all n know ***k all. Haha. 

User
Posted 17 May 2025 at 11:28

Hi Suzz.

It's a shame that they didn't give you hubby's Gleason score or cancer staging. From what you've said it seems he's been offered all three options, surgery,  radiotherapy or Active Surveillance. If that is the case, it usually means that the cancer is low grade and confined in the prostate.

I'm glad that you and your family are dealing with the situation well.

Good luck with your June appointment. In the meantime if there's anything you're not sure about pop in and we'll try and help out. X

PS: One of our regulars, Spongebob is/was up in Scotland on a fishing, boozing and hiking holiday with some of his mates. We haven't heard from him since. I hope he's not stuck up Ben Nevis. 😁

Edited by member 17 May 2025 at 11:42  | Reason: Additional text

User
Posted 17 May 2025 at 16:23

Hi Adrian

prof said deffa no need for surgery. So must be AC or RT 😀ðŸ˜Ē

don’t know how I feel about all this. 

How are you how’s Mrs Adrian? Did u get results of blood tests yet. You & kev. It’s the waiting. It’s terrible. 
how’s everyone’s family doing. Adrian how’s the grandkids. You been to any football with your grandson lately. 

would yous still be worried about hubbys phone call  prof prob no even realise I know about gleson score or cancer staging..  roll on June guys  hope i have everything altight with all my questions etc  will try come back on bed time tonight n I might even have double vody n coke  I will buy AGAIN ADrian ðŸĪĢðŸĪĢðŸĪĢ

 

ohh SpongeBob will be having grt time I’m sure  us Scot’s are friendly  honestly  

Do you know when he was due back?

Hope I can catch up with you all later   We not going anywhere  so when I’m tucked up in bed a will try get a catch up  

again to everyone who has helped me through this  THANK YOU ALL 💙💚

 

right need to go but I’m still not logging out. 

Suzz 💚💙

User
Posted 17 May 2025 at 17:07

Hello everyone, I’m here after having a nice huge nap … Still needing them and also still got the horrible mouthe taste which is affecting my eating. But I have lost 3/4 stone…. 

Just watching the footie. Glad they never televised the Spurs game yesterday. Not sure I can take anymore from them ðŸĪĢðŸĪĢ.. I’ll have to watch the Europa Final on Thursday but no doubt the missus will tell me to stop moaning. 

Not had time to read through these last posts properly yet but Suzz, I think it’s good news that Active Surveillance is being mooted. It is a sign that hubby is not in the Gleason 9 or 10. 

Take care all

Phil

User
Posted 17 May 2025 at 19:41

Hi All,

Just back from my jolly on the Isle of Mull. A glorious week of sunshine and spectacular scenery. 
I was chuffed to bits at being able to get to top of Ben More, which is a 3,000 footer. That’s one monkey shot down as I’ve not been up there for several years, having blobbed out on several visits since.  Mind you it absolutely killed me off, I was staggering ðŸ˜Ē more than a bit.

As for the fishing, the tides were against us I.e. out during the day. I managed only one cast ðŸŽĢ but got my spinner well and truly stuck so I gave it up as a bad job. I knew I shouldn’t have picked up that penny 😎.

As for the boozing, well I’m pleased to report that we made a serious contribution to the Tobermory bottle bank 😃.

Just watched the FA cup final, nice that someone different won it. Something dodgy though about Henderson’s handball - could well have been a different decision ðŸĪ”.

All the best everyone, have a good weekend ☀ïļ

 
Forum Jump  
©2025 Prostate Cancer UK