I fancied providing an update so here goes.
My physical health is more or less unchanged. Nausea is under control, numbness in the legs and hands still unpleasant. I am pretty much bedbound but can stagger from room to room with my zimmer. I feel pretty ill most of the time. Family continues to be fantastic.
My mental health is pretty good and I am getting stuff done.
George and I have compiled all my creative writing poetry and stories into one document (90,000 words). Yes it’s legacy making time. You will all be gifted a link in due course – look forward! I have included everything – all the dubious stuff is there to be mocked. For example this gem written for Avani and George’s wedding anniversary acknowledges a previous poem that everyone mocked called ‘Panettone Cat’
The Panettone cat
would never ever forget
the A&Gshaadi
Lardi lardi dardi
The memories rung like dumplings
Across the summer somethings
Sing
Sweet party party A&Gshaadi
We love the love hearty lee.
So with singing will make fly
the moulting pussy fur of time.
Them again – like a year ago,
really, so, wow!
Like a panettone boxed and bowed
Miaow, miaow, miaow
Oh love and shadi like a horse and carriage
Limoncello, vanilla, almond and chocolatt
We lap it up like a panettone cat
Sing
Sweet party party A&Gshaadi
We love the love hearty lee.
There is a lot of worst stuff up there which does not have the virtue of silliness. I cite a poem called ‘A prayer for a long dead, gay catholic.’
Arthur and I in the meantime have been fixing loads of things and digitising old video materials. He also has some mastery over The Red Telephone Box That Talks A Bit Like Me. I built it from scratch in a totally heath robinson fashion which would defy anyone to figure out but one of my fantasies is for the voice from the machine to continue to talk after I am gone. The technology is fully documented here http://k6.gravityisahat.co.uk/technology/ but only the most dedicated restorer would be able to figure it out. Arthur is intent on uploading some new material so watch this space.
I have written a few stories and poems and have been responding to creative prompts from George. His prompt ‘waltz’ defeated me. The best I could do was
On not being able to develop George’s latest prompt
Walter collected
He was a famous collector
He collected almost anything that took his fancy
Big things like concrete mixers and small things like stamps
But he didn’t want to keep these things or even own them
Instead, he just collected them in his mind
Once collected by Walter the owner got a sticker
They could keep the sticker for ever
Or they could sell it on eBay
Some of the stickers were valuable
And people paid a lot to own them
Even though all of them were exactly the same
And just said
Walt’s
Arthur has taken stewardship of my telephone and my lighter collection. He know how they work and how to fix them. I was troubled by the idea of them becoming unworkable and therefore uninteresting. I still love them but won’t be buying anymore.
Bass playing has stopped because of numb and weak fingers but then again I haven’t tried. Learning German has stopped. I really do think what’s the point – but I may change my mind I so adore the culture and I have a book on Melodrama in German I want to read I plan to do a homage to Tracy Emin of my own to let you se the ravages to my body which are quite shocking. Avani and I are doing a photo session.
Lisa has been ensuring that I eat some normal food by getting me to eat her type of stuff. I can eat in tiny quantities salt and vinegar chickpea crisps with Waitrose guacamole, lemon marinaded anchovies, kombucha to drink. I can also eat hot dog sausages boiled and frenchies mustard. I ordered from specialist suppliers sherbet dips, aniseed balls and licourice. I also drink original coke in glass bottles original recipe. Almost everything else including basics like bread will make me retch.
That’s all for now. Keep me updated on your activities but don’t expect a speedy response.
In case you haven’t been sent this by the proud husband in the frustratingly challenging digitisation process of my productions for MWO this gem featuring Maria emerged. Dig the white appliance set too