I thought you might like to see where I sit and go to sleep after lunch - and other times too!

Probably you all have lovely gardens so just add mine to yours.

Two are on the balcony:two are looking towards Poole Bay: the other is next door but one's gateway.

This is a  rollator.  With my luck when I push it the three wheels  turn in different directions at the same time. If I am carrying a cup of tea the rollator always collides with the door frame and my flat has decorative tea stains and coffee stains on the carpets at the entrance to each room.I also have decorative paintwork where the wheels collide with doors and skirting boards.

The rollator has a carrying bag  on the frame with a very dark interior. This is useful for carrying items like telephones that hide in the dark, especially if you are  also carrying tea cups. It is fitted with a profane language gimmick for  use when you can't remember where you put the telephone.

I am 94 and relativley slow when it comes to finding the phone when it rings: most people think i am a champion sprinter and expect me to find and pick up the instrument the moment it rings. Most have never heard my language when I answer and ring back because by then they are talking to someone else which stops them talking to me. I imagine they are saying "old Phil Goodwin gets about for an old man; never at home whenyou ring! "

I am very lucky. I have beautiful carers come to put me to be each night at 9.30 pm
If I rewrite that truthfully it says: " I have beautiful carers come to put me to bed every night!
I am 94 and very unlucky!!



This card with Boris's statue was sent to me from Chile by Tony Cram, an old colleague. He writes:
"This is the remotest place we have ever been"

Never got to Trowbridge inWiltshire then?

I thought you would like to see how rich he is with a postage stamp costing 1000 dollars!!

You may wonder why I am writing this blog. It is just that in these strange days more people use the internet and telephone to make contact and I like thinking I am in the real world and can talk about things that have little relevance to anything else that is going on outside.

Send me a reply if you like; tell me how you are coping. Love to hear from you.

Democracy

In the nature of things most golfers would prefer to find themselves in a fourball rather than a two or threeball. Thus, when twelve or sixteen are gathered together the dawn chorus takes on a new meaning should a thirteenth or seventeenth arrive at the the last minute.  But, such is  the bonhomie within the Society that none is refused a game even though in the cirumstances the welcome may be slightly less than joyful.

There are players some would rather play with than against - those perhaps with perceived 'advanageous' handicaps.
Incapacitated players with heart, hips, knees, prostate, arthritic and other age-related problems, of whom there are a growing number and who know what ails them; and even just healthy slow players of whom there are a growing number but remain in blissful ignorance of their problem, are preferred to be seen in some other fourball, as are the 'ramblers' who talk unceasingly about everything and anything; and the single-minded 'didItellyouers' who speak to friends and strangers alike of their every stroke - especially when they have recently won or even lost in the unfortunate circumstances of a run of lost balls, ever the fault of partners who didn't follow the flight of the ball. That the ball flew off in an unintended direction, as was the missed putt, is just as likely to be down to the noise of a butterfly's wings as the golfer took his stroke.

I had a cartoon years ago of a man lying dead on a putting green while the disturbed golfer complained:
"I know he's had a heart attack, but it was a bit inconsiderate to do it when I was about to putt!"

You think that's a joke?

The founder of the Society is the self appointed Chairman.
His close friend is the self appointed Secretary.
The current treasurer recently succeeded the original self appointed Treasurer who retired in apparent comfortable circumstances  after declining to pay out large sums of money for questionable holes in one!
These posts are thought to be honorary, but as no accounts have ever been produced the members
are slightly in the dark on this subject - as they are on almost every matter to do with the Society
management, including the question of who gets to play with who in the annual competitions.

However, the history of democratically elected golf club committees, governments and political parties where you can end up with a Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn et al leads most members to believe the Society has an acceptable and even likeable form of control. No-one has to stand for election and face the ignominy of not being elected.

Occasionally an over ambitious member attempts to become involved in the early morning draw for partners.Such people, often recently retired and with nothing better to do, tend to receive fairly forthright advice from other members. Nevertheless they continue to turn up, reinforcing the Society's philosophy "anyone may play".

joy of teaching

A good proportion of my family is, or has been, involved in teaching.
As a result I have come to realise that in this day and age teaching has many problems.
But has this not always been the case?

Then Jesus took his disciples up the mountain, and gathering them around him he taught them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek.
Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are they that search for justice.
Blessed are you when persecuted.
Blessed are you when you suffer,  for your reward is great in heaven.

The Simon Peter said:   "Are we supposed to know all this?"
And Andrew said:         "Do we have to write this down?"
And James said:            "Will we have a test on this?"
And Philip said:             "I don't have any paper."
And Bartholomew said: "Do we have to hand this in?"
And John said:               "The other disciples didn't didn't have to learn this." 
And Matthew said:         "May I go to the toilet?"

Then one of the Pharisees who was present asked to see his lesson plan and enquired  of Jesus:
  "Where are your lesson objectives and medium term planning?"

And Jesus wept.   


Thanks to all who have replied to previous blog posts in writing or  by phone.
Greatly appreciated.


                                                                                         

Keeping going

John Wilkes and I played golf together for three years.
Bearing in mind our ages and state of health it would be more truthful to say "we played at it!".

The owners sold our first and favourite course so that it could be turned into an academy for Bournemouth Football Club.  No comment other than look for them in the Premier League

                               
Many clubs have problems these days!



For a really happy time we found a second heaven every Tuesday at Wareham Golf Club.
However, health, age and other problems that hit both equally hard overcame us.
Surprisingly,  heaven can disappear in a very short period of time.

But now, working hard at putting aside our troubles, we are learning to live again: Tuesday is now "going out to eat day". 
Why Tuesday?  Well firstly it was our golf day. Secondly it is getting on towards the weekend which means it is not too long until Tuesday again. Sound Irish? Try it - you'll be surprised.

Each of us has own fancies when it comes to eating, but occasionally you may be lucky enough to come across a restaurant that almost everyone thinks is the best or very close to it.

Seafood there is in abundance in Poole, although like all foods some is better than others. The Poole Arms, on Poole Quay is among the very best. It  has the background to prove this - it has been there getting on for 400 years.

This picture of me, grandson Jack, daughter Alison and Jack's partner Sammy may offer an idea of the Poole Arms character.

If you ever come to Poole you now have somewhere to aim for.

Many thanks to all who replied to my last blog. Fantastic replies and some telephone calls.
Keep it up please; something good to which I can look forward.

Easy Rider

You need to look carefully here. Could be a picture of a midget with a blue face and blue cap.But it's not: it is my latest transport machine to take the place of a car I cannot drive following Christmas heart attack!

Following my recent blog, this is another attempt to put me on a par with other sane people. I received a few replies to my first message  but need more to enable me to stay with you in a hard world    -   please?

I am still a learner scooter driver, having collided with fully stocked shelves in
Boots the Chemist on my first outing. The lady assistant who helped me re-enact this accident for this blog was very kind.
Her first comment when I entered the shop to stage the collision was:


" I remember you!"




This was after I had backed into the display - again!



I am not sure that I am getting better yet.
Notice in today's picture below that the streets are fairly empty and the pedestrians are the ones wearing bright jackets and safety helmets!





I thought I would try my arm at volunteering to help people and went off to a local venue where I discovered elderly ladies in general settling down to a sausage and mash and trifle lunch before bingo.  The lunch was very good especially after cooking for myself - with the help of  M&S.
I didn't stay for the bingo but have an offer to be the caller on any afternoon I care to return.
Not quite sure this is my cup of tea.

As you can see, I am still trying hard - but I badly need your help.

To those friends to whom I sent blogs a year and more ago, you may be surprised at receiving one now.

Most of you know that Doreen my wife died in December. A week later I found myself in hospital, the victim of a heart attack was the diagnosis.
It was not a Merry Christmas!

My friend John Wilkes with whom I played golf would have been the ideal companion at such a time, but John has been going through times as bad as mine and golf is no longer our salvation.


What do you do when you are lonely?

Get and do something is one suggestion: get back to painting.
There are many things that fully fit can do. Not me unfortunately.

Being with other people is another answer and I have the pleasure of a very attentive family, but there are still long periods alone.
Could watch the television but have you really seen what's on? I could watch sport, but have you seen where Bournemouth are in the Premier League and can you imagine where they might be next season. Talk about lonely.

And then I thought; when I wrote my blog years ago I often received nice replies.
And so I am taking the plunge. Some of you I haven't seen for years, although old workmates Trevor Jones and John Beaty Pownall came all the way down from Cheddar and Devizes to join me for lunch this week.

This then is a trial blog to see if you will write  to me and bring me news of how you and you families are. Write about anything - except your football team if it is the level of mine.
If you live or worked where I did, write and tell me what's going on in Welton for example.

I have had one piece of good news today: John Wilkes is coming to collect me next Tuesday for lunch.
Coupled with what you can do for me, perhaps things are changing.