Friday!!
How's it going for you all dear friends, and what plans do you have...do tell?

I'm hearing Panjabi MC from across the wards, which is most pleasing actually.

Today I have unearthed something a bit creepy, and very disconcerting indeed. Last autumn, when things were taking an about-turn for the worse, a doctor had requested "urgent treatment" to my neck, which was, and still is, having dreadful problems due to the 4 fractures of the spine. To this day I am unable to turn my head left, and not very far right either, which sounds quite political but isn't!!

Well, this doctor was quite right, of course, but the hospital have failed to listen, or failed to receive the said request, because I never had treatment to the neck. Now, it may have 'set' forever for all I know.

There's no point me crying over spilled calpol now, as I made it out of the comotose state, and what with loosing family members, I've had several reality checks, more than enough to make me appreciate even being able to type, let alone laugh, eat, or breathe.

My father gave me a lovely illustrated copy of Kilvert's Diary, filled with paintings of old England, and many nature paintings as well...what a joy this is for me right here, right now. Just a book...but it not only opened from the cover onwards, it opened my eyes, and unlocked another door that must have waited until becoming rusted and swollen...however, despite the creaking, it duly opened for me, and something brighter has appeared, in a warmly hue...and I am hoping to learn from it.

Take care, and enjoy your weekend everyone.

Love,
Ed
xx

PS: Just as I sign off, I have heard from some other source, "The Archers" theme blowing memorially across the wards.

As it's Burns Night, I am reminded of a well-loved-but-not-always-right weather forecaster from the north, Ian McCaskill*...and so, to continue the weather theme, here are 24 weather forecasting facts;

1. If there's a 50-50 chance that a forecast will go wrong, 9 times out of 10 it will.

2. No matter how the forecast turns out - there's always another forecaster who "knew it would"

3. The forecaster who "knew it would happen that way", never told anyone else about it before hand.

4. The unwritten forecast is always the one that verifies best.

5. No two weather patterns are alike, although someone will remember one just like this that occurred back in '84.

6. Prog charts are like clocks:
...if you only have one, you always know exactly what time it is.
...if you have more than one - you're never sure.

7. Time savers don't.
Work savers won't.
Short cuts aren't.

8. A storm will develop only after it has been forecasted for several Days... then not mentioned.

9. Heavy snow will generally end once a winter storm warning has been issued.

10. Rules of thumb work best on someone else's shift.

11. You never notice the "glitch" in the forecast wording until after you've pressed the enter button.

12. No matter how far in advance you forecast a significant storm, the media will always call it unexpected.

13. When in doubt:
...mumble a lot
...talk with food in your mouth
...change the DTG and reissue

14. Additional newly found data will always screw up a good analysis.

15. Always pass the buck to the shift that you just relieved (or to the Hub).

16. I don't care what guidance says - I always make up my forecast while I'm driving to work.

17. Total confusion frequently results in outstanding performance.

18. Murphy's law: the disk you needed more data from... you just erased.

19. If you get a "gut feeling" about a forecast - its probably heartburn.

20. When writing a forecast discussion make it so long that no one will bother to read it.

21. Never say "NEVER"

22. If everything in the office worked as well as the fridge and microwave, this would be a great place to work!

23. Bribing the observer will only be tolerated from just before, until just after verification times.

24. Remember - all extended forecasts fall into the realm of make believe stuff.

*Ex-RAF meteorologist Ian McCaskill was TV's cuddliest little Scotsman. His lilting Glasgow accent and enthusiasm as he bounced about in front of the blue screen made everyone feel in a sunny mood, no matter what the forecast. McCaskill's receding hairline, thick-rimmed glasses and bushy eyebrows made him ripe for parody, from Rory Bremner to Spitting Image, but he was affectionally regarded by everyone and his retirement in 1998 marked a great loss to BBC's weather team.