High speed, fireworks and football!

A strange combination maybe but thats whats happening.

On Saturday I went up to London and back on South Easterns new high speed train. It travels at 140 mph and the journey from Ashford to London takes 37 minutes as opposed to the hour plus taken by conventional trains. As it was only a preview service the train was not full but when full service starts on December 13th it should attract a lot of custom. Not being full I was able to sit back and enjoy the ride which was very smooth and quiet.

This coming Sunday I am going to the firework display at Leeds Castle advertised as the loveliest castle in the world. It always amazes me that some people think that the castle is situated in Leeds Yorkshire but it is actually in the village of Leeds in Kent. The only other thing Leeds in Kent is famous for is the regularity of HGVs getting jammed together when trying to pass on the road, it is time that Maidstone had another bypass with east/west and north/south links.

As for football despite drawing 3 all with Hartlepool my club Brighton and Hove Albion sacked there manager who had been there for all of eight months. I will be the first to admit that our results this season have been lacklustre to say the least and at the moment we are only one position above the drop zone. However as a small club with a limited budget and no proper home ground we can not go out and get the players we want like Manchester United et al can do. Lets hope the new manager whoever he (or she) is can work miracles. Incidentally have you noticed how few women are involved in football management?
Andy

A simply brilliant evening

Well the evening was as good if not better than I expected.

Diana Krall was her usual fabulous self, in my opinion she is one of the best pianist/vocalist around at the moment.

The support act was the saxaphonist Yolanda Brown who I had never heard of but she was very good indeed. Very similar to Candy Dulfer.

A lovely evening thoroughly enjoyed.

Andy

Jane

I know this has already been mentioned on the 'Call for support' blog but please look at Janes blog http://a-journey-of-another-kind.blogspot.com/2009/10/janes-had-brake.html and send her your best wishes and remember her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Jane is one of the most courageous people I know and a perusal of her blog will show so please please send her your best wishes.

Thank you

Andy

Ray Moore

It does not seem possible but it is twenty years since the legendry broadcaster Ray Moore passed away.

To call him a DJ is an understatement he was the ultimate broadcaster and his sense of humour and play on words was fantastic. For examble when the Americans launched the space shuttle he referred to it as the 'space shuffle' It is not often that I can say this but the man was an absolute genius. Waking up and hearing him on Breakfast Special on Radio 2 made certain that every day was a good day.

Sadly I do not think that any recordings of his radio broadcasts exist but his TV interview with Terry Wogan is on You Tube.

Sadly as I say Ray passed away 20 years ago with throat cancer.

Andy

A fabulous night!

Well it certainly will be.

My daughter has given me an early birthday present. Tickets to see the fantastic Diana Krall in concert at the Royal Albert Hall on October 28th. I am counting the days and hours already so you can assume that I am very much looking forward to it!

Andy

Words are not enough

Words are not enough to say thank you for all your kind thoughts and messages. They reall do mean a lot to me so all I can say is thank you.
Andy

Sad News

I saw the consultant at Maidstone Hospital yesterday.

Unfortunately the treatment with Ofatumumab has done no more than slow down the growth of the cancer. As it is only a trial drug they can offer no more treatment with it and the consultant told me that the future looked bleak, possibly I have no more than a couple of months.

To say I feel gutted and devestated is an understatement.

Andy