Quotes Of The Week

Paladins in unscrupulous D&D groups can provide some good humour, even if it means their being the butt of the joke;

"Paladin of the Church Of Cynic, I believe?" ~ The DM, in response to the Paladin's familiar derisive laugh.

"I take it they don't teach you 'Subtle' in Paladin School." ~ Chaszmyr, a drow rogue.

"Ah shit! I forgot the pork scratchings!" ~ that Paladin, after the act of purchasing a non-alcoholic drink in a pub and giving the barkeep a stern lecture on temperance. Oops.

Quote Of The Week

"'Secret Blend of Herbs and Spices?' I'm sorry, but Fat is not a spice!"

~ Sandi Toksvig, host of BBC's The News Quiz, about KFC

A Beautiful Coincidence

Blair's Birthday was the 24th September, making him a Libra, Cusp of Virgo.

The star Gliese 581, mother to the recently discovered most potentially Earth-like planet, is in the constellation Libra.

Libra is an anagram of Blair.

Ad Astra

Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there.

I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there;

I did not die.

~Anonymous, Londonderry 1989

The funeral's tomorrow.

Quote Of The Week

"Getting shot hurts" ~ Ronald Reagan

Youth and Old Age

Being asked for ID in the local Asda for alcohol purchases when you're 31 is pretty damned impressive. It's broken the previous record in your gaming group which was 24, set by the father of one of your friends.

Good thing you remembered your driver's licence.

After darkness there is light

Here's to weekends.

Here's to time spent together, discovering new things and making the most of life's experiences. Here's to two hearts and minds becoming as one and having the time to do it fully.

He got the job!

Blue is back

He's filled out, no longer stressed, stealing the food and still intact, unfortunately. Whose damn cat is he anyway?

Maybe there is hope...

You don't seem to have much luck with consultants and specialists. You always seem to get the money-grubbing leeches and opinionated know-it-alls.

Your current health problem is no exception; you were subject to the whims of a consultant who was only interested in treating those capable of funding private care, by whatever means - legal or crooked - possible. And of course his prices were exorbitant.

You have had a Gastroscopy before. It is a fibreoptic camera that is literally swallowed and pushed into the stomach to see what is wrong down there. Anaesthetic for the procedure, which is not comfortable, is either a Local (which requires an escort home because of drowsiness) or a throat spray, which you have had. Sometimes samples are taken for analysis, and although unpleasant, it is a considerable advance on just being cut open.

Although not exactly a cakewalk, it's a simple enough procedure that it doesn't justify a £1600 price-tag for Private Care.

And for another figure you heard - £2500 - You commented that there'd better be a luxury room and a champagne dinner thrown in too.

A doctor's greed will have it's consequences; four medical centres in your area have decided to demand an enquiry because of an issue with their patients being dropped from the waiting lists to make figures destined for the government look good. This is not only wrong, but illegal. Why did they think they could get away with it? Another group tried and they have been caught and punished. What on Earth can possess a group of people to break the trust and faith of so many for their own gain? It's just obscene.

For you, nearly a year of suffering will be coming to an end. Six weeks and counting.