Elena Baltacha RIP

Greetings World's...

It is with sadness, that I start my blog, today.... with the news that the tennis player Elena Baltacha has passed away. her fight against cancer has come to a very sad end. Our prayers & thoughts are with her & her family & friends.

I was here, just a short while ago, with a nurse. She had come out, to change my dressings & - as she hadn't seen me, for some time - she was saying how well, not only how well I looked, but also, how much better things were.

We were talking about how poorly I had been, in the hospital - last year - and how...... well..... I'll try & explain.

When I was very sick, in the hospital....... on 2 separate occasions, I was very near to death. I don't remember much about those times - just bits & pieces of memory. I had some very sad & some very happy thoughts at that time. I also had some very strange thoughts, brought on by the drugs & my poor health.

I don't think I have shared these things with you before - but.....

I was convinced, there was a man, who was in a bed near me, who had broken his leg, in a car crash. He & his family, where touring the Country, in a converted hearse, when they had crashed.

Across, from him.... his Wife was doing some painting, which she was selling, to help pay their way. Add to all of that, their 3 children were doing "live theatre" to also help with the expenses & to entertain people !!

I could also see, well I thought I could also see.... some mist, coming down from the tiles above my head !! I told you it was a very weird kind of time for me !! I can remember trying to tell B, about what I could see - I don't remember her answers, at the time....

There was also a painting, hanging on the wall, next to my bed. It hung there, for my weeks in that bed..... and, when I was really low, I had this image, in my mind... of what the picture was showing me !!

There were these rocks - behind them, there were 2 adult "ape men" holding a baby !! If that wasn't bad enough.... they were being hunted by some guys in American army kit.......... followed by an image of a Vietnamese girl !! She was being followed by a 2nd World War soldier, he was followed by a 1st World war soldier...... followed by 2 skeletons.... followed by an American Civil War soldier.... followed by an American Independence war soldier !!

I'm not making this up - I actually wrote all of what I was seeing, down in writing, on a note pad !! I know now, I was very sick.... very close to dying, but...,. that's what I thought I was seeing at the time !! Either I was "high" on something... or, as it's turned out, I was just "dying".... well - I don't know....

I have the piece of paper, which I wrote on, in front of me....... above all of my notes, it says:

"His Wife & him had a stand up fight, last night !!" Then... in B's hand writing, it says "What in here !!" I have no idea what that was about, who I was writing about, at the time.....

Below that - it has the name.... "Kerry Sorgente". I think she was the lovely 1st year nurse, who took some of my stitches out. I did a kind of note thingy, to put in her work plan - saying how well she had done it & how little pain I felt, while she did it !!

Below that, again.... in someone else's hand writing.... there are the numbers:

2.3 cm deep
32 cm long
5.2 cm wide

Those are the measurements of my wound, after it "exploded" all over Sarah, one of the TVN's in the hospital !! That's the reason I was very close to dying......As the guy in Exeter said, last Wednesday "That's life threatening !!"...... Oh well - it's amazing how thoughts come back to me, just from one visit by a nurse.

Just to close this off - the painting I was talking about..... it was a of some kind of fir tree, with various bits of stuff around it !! Oh well..... Moving on.....

The Family.....

Well, ME is just starting her weeks off of work, on holiday. She is with boyfriend M, I guess.... it's a public holiday, over here today.... so, he is off as well. I'm not sure where they were thinking of going - but, I hope it's some place good. The Sun is out & it's really quite warm !!

J is over in Wales still.... doing his Uni course....... and still hating my guts !! Nevermind....

That just leaves B - who, after rushing around yesterday, doing this, that & the other, is in bed, feeling poorly !! That's a bummer...... I hope she will be better, in a while at least !! I will do my best, to take care of her.

As for the music of the moment.... I'm playing another Led Zeppelin concert.  This time, from their last night, at Earl's Court in 1975. The tracks are:

CD 1

1) Rock & Roll
2) Sick Again
3) Over The Hills & Far Away
4) In My Time Of Dying
5) The Song Remains The Same
6) The Rain Song
7) Kashmir

CD 2

1) No Quarter
2) Tangerine
3) Going To California
4) That's The Way
5) Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
6) Trampled Underfoot

CD 3

1) Moby Dick
2) Dazed & Confused
3) Stairway to Heaven

CD 4

1) Whole Lotta Love
2) Black Dog
3) Heartbreaker
4) Communication Breakdown


'Tangerine' is playing, as I type..... oh the memories come flooding back !! This show, the one I'm playing is from May 25th '75.... I actually saw the show, the previous night..... hence the memories !!

I've told the next story, over & over.... so, if you've read it before, I do say "sorry" !! However - the previous night... the 24th, was a Saturday & I was one of, about, 18,000 people in the hall that night. Also, in the same 18,000 or so people, was a guy who, 3 years later, was "Best Man" at my wedding.... to his Sister !! I've mentioned him (P) many times before.... he was a true friend, one of those rare people who you come across, only once or twice in your whole life.

At the time, I didn't know him.... so, to be in a World of 6 Billion, or whatever it is & to be in the same hall, on the same night, is really strange !! Plus - the guy was from Bermuda - so, for those of you, who do the whole math's thing - there has to be some really weird improbability thing going on there !!

Nevermind.... it's a great concert. I do prefer the show, from the previous night.... but, for all of the above reasons, I'm very bias !! Moving on.... again....

No - not really..... I might be wrong, but this could be one of the longest ever, recorded concerts, by Zeppelin. It's got the extra encores on.... so, that pads it out a bit. If anybody out there, reading my words, know of a longer tape, let me know - I'll try & track it down !!

As it's a public holiday, I'm still waiting on some new albums, in the post. I hope they come soon - I want to get them onto the Mini Egg, ready for next Monday's trip down to Exeter.... and my next surgery. If I'm in there, the hospital, for any length of time, it will give me chance to listen to them !!

On the reading front....

I'm trying my best, to finish 'A Feast For Crows' by George RR Martin. I'm not sure which book it is, in the run of 'A Game Of Thrones' set..... but, if I can finish this one, I can take the next one with me & get started on that !!

The next one is called 'A Dance With Dragons 1: Dreams Of Dragons'. I'm looking forward to getting into that one !! It's not often, that a book gets a hook, into me.... but, these 'Thrones' books have done just that !! I still say 'The Dig Tree' is the best book, not so much, that I've ever read - but, it really is one of my all time favourites, if not my favourite..... if you know what I'm trying to say !!

At least, by the time, I get around to watching Season 4 of the TV show.... I will have a better understanding of what it's about !! Oh well..... life is good.

Yesterday, I had a moan about The Church. Well - a few hours, after writing those words, we had a 'phone call, from one of the Missionaries !! I don't know, if it's connected to my post, but - it did seem very strange & coincidental !! He - and his family - are coming to see us, in a month or two. "Why" I don't know.....

I still intend, going to one of The Chapels, next Sunday, for The Sacrament...... so, if you are reading my words people..... Bishop, you have a few days, to get here - to my front door, to say "sorry" for the way you treated me, on May 26th last year !!

It's not like I'm holding a grudge, or anything..... but, according to the "Powers That Be" out in salt lake City, you were way out of line, keeping me from the service, on that day. I will come back, to the Taunton Chapel..... but, not until you get your ass here & say you're sorry !! Yep - like that's going to happen !!

When - if you go back to the start of this post, I needed The Church, the most.... when I was going thru' some the crappiest things I had ever had to deal with, you, The Bishop of our Church, here, in this area, put a closed door in front of me..... you have the handle, on your side, if you want to open it......

Our Lord can only come into our hearts, if the door is opened..... Bishop - you have the handle, it's up to you, if you want to let me back into your World !! I've said this, before - I love The Church - but, when I needed it the most - it was taken away from me...... I didn't give up on you, My Lord..... but, people took it - access to your Chapel - away from me....

Ok - I must move on....

I thank you all for logging in & reading my words. I see that someone in Australia has taken the time to log in !! I thank you, especially, for your time.... it's fantastic to know my words, well - what I write - is going sooooo far & being read by people I do not know !! Thank you.... until next time..

Bye Bye