Beer Festival

Although I am ill, I think I will be attending the Reading Reer Festval today. After all, why shouldn't I? I have, I repeatedly have said, determined to enjoy myself. My "new" chemotherapy starts tomorrow, and I think there is nothing in terms of bans alcohol - in moderation - in the afternoon before.

CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) organise a fantastic festival each year, but it is the first year when I will have been on the Thursday. I am told all the best beers are there then. I am in search of Sarah Hughes Original Dary Ruby Mild, which does not last long. I think it being the cheapest entry day, it will be full of students.

Birds...

I have a pair of binoculars on the kitchen table. Fortunately, the rats seems to have deserted the garden the last couple of weeks, and I can concentrate on the birds. It is clearly a good year for robins, blackbirds and song thrushes. We used to get a lot finches, but since we lost our apple tree a couple of years ago we get fewer.

Needless to say, there is often a red kite flying over, which is pretty good for suburbia home counties. At the weekend we managed to get out to hear all three species of wookpecker, and a buzzard and a kestrel without even making an effort to birdwatch. Spring is fun!

Quiz: This is one of Britain's commonest birds. What is it?

NHS Priorites

I have been on the receiving end of rather a lot of generous NHS these last seven months. An operation, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, countless visits to the doctor and now weekly visits to a centre - where I get a free lunch!

But it has not been enough. I have been told that the last chemotherapy was working. I am back where I was when it was diagnosed. Now there are new forms of chemotherapy, not yet approved, which may be approved in the next year or so. May be too late for me. May not work for me anyway. I could fund the treatment myself and it could be a complete waste of money.

Yesterday, there were scaremongering stories about cuts in NHS funding. I can't believe they would start charging for what is free now. But it is must be tricky in deciding what gets funding. And who gets funding. I happen to believe that a 38 year old, such as my dear self, with two children deserves all, but then, as Mandy Rice Davies said "he would say that, wouldn't he".

Can we carry on funding treatment via the (in my case) NHS?

Anyway, roll on Friday... NHS treatment, new (to me) form of chemotherapy, and I don't pay a penny. Meanwhile, there are those who can't get the treatment they want - who go without, or pay.

Must keep life normal...

I try to keep life as normal as possible. OK, so I don't work. But I try to do a bit of housework. I don't drive but I potter to nearest shops, 10 minutes walk away. This exhausts me. I end up having to go to bed two or three times a times a day.

Yesterday, we went to Henley where I bought two hats to protect my head. My hair is growing in patches. I have none in some patches, and no sign of it. Some areas it is thick, and never really went. And in some areas, it is poking through the scalp as if for the first time. You could describe it as baby-like. These bits include the scar from the operation - now 7 months back - all 55 stitches of itch. This area can be painful - a bit like teething, as the hair has to come up all the way from its root. I wonder if a baby finds "hairing" sore. I am also concerned every time I get a headache or swelling of the scalp - it could be another fit. Still, not had a fit since Maundy Thursday - touch wood!

Now, what is "normal"? An outing. Beale Park Zoo this afternoon. And I plan on Thursday, Reading Beer Festival. However, it is now 10.20am - time for a nap before elevenses!

Pensions

This should be the thorny issue in the Budget. Back in the old days, just after WWII, life expectancy was much shorter than days. This meant very little was paid out in the way of public sector section. Some received none, typically dying while on the job, some a little pension before they died, in their 60s, and a few did pretty well living to a ripe old age. Health, and longevity was certainly not enjoyed as much as today.

Now we live longer, and enjoy healthier lives, we have to work longer. It is simple as that. Still, in the public sector, there are many expecting to retire on full benefits age 60 to 65. There are those who are expecting to retire younger, indeed - police, fire brigade (50 I believe), nurses... I agree that you may not want either of sticking to that job to 109, but they can do something to pick up the bills. You don't have to give at working completely.

Now in the private sector, you hardly ever find a new job with a generous final style ("public sector") pension. While average pay in public and private sector is very similar, the public sector's pension shifts the "package" massively in their favour. In fact, the last 5 years, no employer of mine put a penny towards my pension.

Even those private sector employers who do put in a derisory amount usually, compared who to the public sector, who put in 15-20%, and are increasing that amount to fund ther scheme.

I am afraid eventally the public sector mention will be expected to take a hit, but I am afraid any government will take their time, for fear of the unions.

An alternative would be to run down the health service. People would die younger, and save government money on public sector pensions.

PS: Thanks for all the messages on the blog. There may be periods when it goes fallow for a while. It probably means I'm feeling lousy or found something better to do. It doesn't mean I'm dead!

The Budget

The Budget used to be such an occasion, but there are now few surprises. Well, I'm expecting few.

Darling criticised the LDs for changing financial policy from September, saying they were inconsistent. Well, the world has changed since September... they would have changed the policy if they had NOT changed it. And they have not overhauled? I have lost count of the number of times the Tories since.

I hope Osborne wears a dark suit. He all too often looks as if he is going to wet himself when he hears economic bad news. Doesn't affect the carpet industry, who he springs from, obviously.

Cricket County Championship

I used to follow the Cricket County Championship. The season has started this year, but I do not feel there is any interest any more from anyone. Not even from even the Telegraph, who until recently had a correspondent at every match.

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, in my memory, England players would turn out for their county. Nowadays, England players don't. Sometimes there is one of the endless international fixtures; sometimes there is just a chance for them to rest.

Presumably, they rest to reduce their chances of getting injured. But in the 1980s David Gower or Ian Botham played half the Cricket County Championship season, and the full international season. I also liked the fact journeymen would play for 15 seasons for a team (and earn a benefit), giving their heart and soul to a county - without coming close to England. Nowadays, teams prefer to pick those ineligible for England - for a few matches, and bus them back home, before busing in a replacement.

Shame really. I know very few people watched it in the flesh - and very few still do - but I as a Man of Kent felt something for. Does any still follow Cricket County Championship?


For those who don't know, this is Chris Tavare, who played from Kent, Somerset and England from 1974-93. He was an aggressive batsman, except when he played England, when he was instructed by the authorities to score slowly - which he certainly did. We, at Kent, knew his true class!

State of play...

I thought it was time I put occasional updates on my current state of health on here. For those who don't know, I have a brain tumour, which is no picnic.

I am no better than when I had half of it removed last September. The recent scan clearly showed that, despite lots of chemotherapy and radiotherapy since, things are deteriorating. But without said treatment, I would be probably dead already!

Yesterday, I was told the ongoing chemotherapy was "not working". So will be moving on the different (older) one. Disappointing, but life must go on.

In my case, the tumour is on the left hand side, which affects mathematical ability, literacy, and speech - I really search for some words. Sometimes, after a seizure (fit, they used to call them), I cannot read, write or speak for a couple of days. And my right hand is almost paralysed.

This sounds bad, but fortunately I am left handed. And if the other side of brain was affected, apparently, my personality would be affected, as might memory. I don't think it is, thank goodness!

Now, talking of personality - where is my beer?