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.