A place to have a chat.

Hi Guys.

Good to see your keeping busy Kev. Hope it all goes to plan especially getting done by Christmas.

I bet your Mum loved Graceland. We came away and actually realised we had needed more time there. We were at the end of a Mississippi Paddle steamer trip up from New Orleans and it was the last part of the trip. But as most people were flying off that day we only had so much time there even though we had added extra days booked in Memphis. Memphis by the way is magic , so much history.

Enjoy Ireland Kev. We’ve never been to Northern Ireland but quite a few times to Eire. Dublin is great plus we have friends that live right on the west coast with views out across the Atlantic. So beautiful. I’d like to see the Bushmills distillery as it’s one of my favourite whisky’s.

I had a cataract operation yesterday and all seems to be going ok. Was a bit painful last night but i managed to sleep. Today easing off and vision already way better than before. Not sure if you guys know but steroid usage will cause cataracts to grow. I didn’t know till i went to the opticians and he told me. He could see that the steroids were the cause. Possibly because of the fast growth.

I’ve just ordered new iPhones for the missus and myself and i really struggled to pull the trigger. I was in a cold sweat 😂. But i had to do it as the battery on mine wouldn't last a day. And the missus always wanted a bigger one anyway as her previous one was a Plus. So her old one will go the Mother in Law.

So I’ll be busy tomorrow setting them up and putting covers and screen protectors on. Then mine will be off to the recyclers.

I’ve been struggling a bit with my breathing lately probably due to my collapsed lungs. But I’ve still not got a referral through yet. So i spoke to my GP and she’s going to chase it up. Not sure what they can do but at least ill know for sure.

Take care guys, keep busy 👍

Phil

Edited by member 02 Aug 2025 at 08:21  | Reason: Typo

Very sad news, Phil.

Craig, was one of my cancer heroes. Despite being very ill, he always tried to help others. He was an inspiration to us all and will be sorely missed.

Hello mate, great to see you.

A couple of years after I retired, I found that as I no longer had work commitments, I was drinking more. It was occasionally knocking me out and that was way before my diagnosis. 😁

I went tea total for seven years! Didn't touch a drop, and even stopped cooking with wine. 

It was okay I suppose, but I didn't feel any healthier or lose any weight. I was proud of my will power though.

I've not followed the cycling but have been enjoying the India v England cricket matches. I will be watching, what may be, the last day of the test match today, which is in the balance.

Edited by member 03 Aug 2025 at 17:58  | Reason: Typo

Hello mate,

To support your temporary temperance, I'm changing my profile picture of me and a pint to the non-alcoholic version of me and the missus. I'm not sure which has got a better head on it, her or the beer.

Wow, the cricket is exciting. One out already, and one just dropped! Plus our last man Woakes, has still got his injured arm in a sling.

OMG another LBW!

LATE EDIT: Changed my profile picture back. I missed my pint too much.

Edited by member 08 Aug 2025 at 19:47  | Reason: Additional text

Hi all, 

Just dropped in to catch up after a really busy week. Got all the kitchen wall units down and to the dump, set up a temporary kitchen with a couple of base units and worktop before flying to Norn Iron Saturday. 

Drove to Enniskillen from the airport and managed a fair amount of driving covering all six counties by the time we arrived in Ballycastle. 

Did the Bushmills distillery tour this time which was really interesting and informative, our guide, a Tottenham supporter grew up opposite Arsenal's old ground in Highbury. At the end of the tour we had a free drink each, the Mrs was driving so I had both.. I had a kip when we got back to friends house. 

We also visited Stormont which is set in beautiful grounds and the guided tour of the inside is free, I would highly recommend. 

We got home late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning our builder was back to gut the kitchen and complete the plastering. 

It's been a full on busy week living in upheaval but it's starting to come together. Hoping to have most of the kitchen fitted next week so the worktop guys can measure up.

Just got to get a coat of wash on the plastered walls this weekend and I can have a rest.

Cheers all. 

Kev.

Edited by member 11 Aug 2025 at 21:47  | Reason: Typo

And so for the 2nd time of typing this out due to 502 error!! - having forgot to copy it before trying to post - DOH! 😠.

Northern Ireland sounds fabulous Kev, I will add it to my list. Your tour of Bushmills reminded me of a similar tour that we did at Laphroaig on Islay. Donkeys years ago me and the then soon to be Mrs Spongebob went to stay in Bowmore on Islay. The bar at the local hotel there was something to behold as it it was stacked full of whiskeys with some even under lock and key. I was amazed at the time to be presented with a whiskey menu, if only I could have afforded to sample of some of the rarer ones 😁.

The Laphroaig distillery used to have a gimmick, maybe they still do, who knows. The gimmick was that you could become a landowner of a piece of land at the distillery and become a 'friend of Laphroaig'. Actually it meant sending off a form that came with a bottle. If you then ever went to visit the distillery then you could claim rent owed on your land which comes in the form of a dram.

And so it was, as we were both landowners we went to visit the distillery. At the end of the tour, we were lent a pair of wellies each and then we were shown both our 1ft square plots of land and our names as recorded in the huge volumes of books containing the names and plot numbers of all Laphroaig friends. And we were given our rent - two drams - large ones! Luckily for me, Mrs S didn't want hers, and anyway she was driving, so I ended up in that marvellous situation of being fresh on Laphroaig in the middle of the afternoon. 

We were accompanied on the tour by a bunch of loud Americans (are there any quiet Americans?) and they were gobsmacked and jealous of us being treated like royalty - so yes, two fingers up for that 😀, yeay! 

Right so I've just attempted a fix to a sliding toilet seat and about to go up the allotment now to check up on the cauliflowers.

Scorcio

Spongebob

Really hope you can get your lungs sorted soon Phil, it must be pretty unpleasant, apart from the frustration being unable to fly.

Apart from Bushmills, I did a tour of Adnams brewery in Southwold a while back. I recall the keg filling plant is cleverly hidden behind a terrace of fake houses complete with doors windows and letterboxes. Looks a typical street from outside apart from the clanking of beer barrels. Last year we visitited a Port winery in Porto, I enjoyed that, especially the tasting. 

I love the idea of being a land owner and collecting the rent 😅. I've never been to Islay but from the Northern Irish coast I've seen it in the distance.

As for the allotment, my Mrs went Saturday and brought home a massive courgette and some carrots, we also have a solitary pumpkin the size of a football, the rest of the plant has plenty of flowers but no more pumpkins! My Mrs says something something male flowers 🤷🏻‍♂️

I'm still seeing error 502 too!

Cheers all,

Kev.

Hi Ian,

Sounds like you are living the dream 🥳. I think one of upsides to PCa is that it gives you a different perspective in live - mainly if you want something or want to do something then do it!

A racing green MG - top stuff 😃

Enjoy

Spongebob

502 - errors!!!! - this site is pretty well unusable 😖.

But enjoy the sun and forget about those lost inches ☀️

Hi Dave. Lovely to see you.

Great advice from the consultant. I've simplified it, and cut out the water bit. 🥴

I can remember you and your missus acquiring it!  I don't blame you for using false names and wearing disguises.

https://youtu.be/EH6z_BDX0Mk?si=rO5fY4eM0if4Yb44

Edited by member 18 Aug 2025 at 18:38  | Reason: Typo

Adrian that is so funny. Remember Bully 😂

A little story about how I acquired the boat. My uncle was married to a gypsy and so he had all sorts of contacts. I went over to look at a bag of gold he was selling and he told me about the boat his friend was selling. It was an 18’ Fletcher with a 120HP inboard engine and a day cabin.  Perfect Ski boat.

So i agreed to have a look and he took me to his mates , which was a mobile home with shotguns leant up against the hall wall as we walked in. Turns out the boat wasn’t there but stored at a local farm. So we went to this farm which was deserted. We saw the boat over a fence but within seconds two big Rottweiler guard dogs on chains came running out…. Well my uncles mate wasn’t having that so he disappeared off and we then saw the dogs being hauled in by their chains so we could go see the boat. Well by now i was probably frightened to say no to the boat so we arranged my uncle would deliver it to me.

i was pleased initially with the boat as it seemed a real bargain. So I started to have a look at the engine with eagerness to get it started . I then noticed some of the wiring didn’t go anywhere and it wouldn’t start up.  In the end i phoned a local boat shop. He asked me some questions then told me he knew the boat and it was the subject of an insurance claim ….. He advised selling it on. 

So i went to a guy near us who run a bit of a dodgy looking boat yard over the sea wall near us. Told him the truth about the boat but he was still interested and popped over to have a look. He said he’d pay me what id paid for it and he’d remove the inboard engine and fit an outboard and it would be perfect as a runabout for him. So he walked to his car , pulled out a briefcase which was full of money and paid me cash. Picked up the boat later.

Moral of the story - if something seems too good to be true it normally is… 🤨. I learnt a big lesson.

I did eventually do a bit of water skiing but using someone else’s boat. 😎

Al here again, sorry it's been a while but good news is that the 6th and final Chemo is next Tuesday - 26th and they've arranged for a CT Scan with iodine stuff the week after so we can see if it's worked or not.
Looking forward to the chance to get off all the pills, the Darolutamide pills gives me hot flushes exactly 30 minutes after I take 'em and the weight gain from the prednisolone - what a pain.
The Chemo side-effects have got worse with each session, I was hoping I'd got away with feeling fine after the first 2 sessions but no...
I've had to sell the motorbike as I can't support the weight on my right ankle where the cancers spread into the bone and lymph BUT that does mean I've bought myself a rather lovely Rat Trike. Just put some new exhausts on it and gone for a trial run. Some silly bugger had overfilled the oil (not me!) and the whole engine was smoking with oil that had leaked out all over it. Seems better now and it's due for trial run number 2 now. The engine is a 1981 Kawasaki 1100 so it goes like a bloody rocket, I've always preferred 650s and 750s so an 1100 is a different ball game.
What else? Going to Dubs of Rock festival in Coalville, Leics in the camper van at the weekend - I may have some cold beers as it's nearing the end of Chemo - they've got loads of tribute bands playing, all my kind of music, Foo Fighters, Ramstein etc.
End of September, taking my Mum and Sister up to the Outer Hebrides in the van for a weeks touring - really looking forward to that.
Thats all for now, I think.

Edited by member 19 Aug 2025 at 21:58  | Reason: Not specified

Is it a coincident that whenever I click on 'Recent Conversations' there is nothing there?

Hi Phil, 

I just read the latest posts on your thread. Really sorry to see things aren't going to plan.

We've got our fingers crossed for you. 

Cheers, 

Kev.

Hi Taps,

As it happens I was up most the night, again, due to HT, but didn’t drop in here. Anyway, loosing the will to try post anything these days due to 502 😖.

Can’t be arsed doing anything today and I’ve got loads to do. Plenty cauliflowers on the allotment if anyone wants one.

cheers

Mine too, Phil.

I've commented on your thread, mate. You are not being treated well. I only hope things get better.

Hello mate 

That's a fantastic result! Long may the undetectable arrows fly. I shall crack open a tin of Stella to celebrate with you. 🍺

I see from your profile that you had surgery in Nov 2023, but had to follow up with RT and HT afterwards. Do you mind telling how long after the op your salvage treatment started and what area it targeted?

Adrian,

Fingers crossed you don't have BCR & have to go through salvage treatment.

To be honest the RT was a doddle, (very little side effects). The HT can be a bit of a bugger at times, but I'm handling it quite well. I know others are struggling, & they have my sympathy. One of the blokes at Maggies has been floored by all the salvage treatment he's had.......18 months after finishing it!! 

Shortly there will be numerous beers quaffed to celebrate my "low score". Huzzah!

-Tony.

I've let my pubes grow. Out of sight, out of mind. 😁

Done. 👍

A great challenge. Keep pedalling pal! 🚴‍♀️