13 September 2010

The. second of the One-Day Internationals, between England and Pakistan, turned out to be a nail-biter, primary due to England’s poor performance in the field.  Pakistan batted first and knocked up a respectable 294 for 8 with Broad taking 4 for 81.  England started well enough with captain, Strauss scoring 126, supported partway by Trott with 53.  In the end England and won by four wickets but left it to the last over winning with three balls to spare. 

Having written that I feel perhaps that I owe an apology to the majority of my readers who come from overseas.  I should explain that cricket is an obsession  with many Englishmen – even the photograph at the beginning of this blog is of  me wearing an MCC cap, pouring out champagne at the last Ashes match against Australia, at the mecca of cricket, Lord’s cricket ground -  unless you are an aficionado, the above entry, and others like it, will mean absolutely nothing to you.  I can only apologize and suggest you do not bother to read them in future..

Hurrah, my Toshiba has been returned at last,.  Almost 4 weeks to the day and with the MND Association  around £400  lighter, since it was sent for repair.  That will teach me to be more careful where I put my teacup. 

My good neighbour, ex-accountant, Edward Oliver, very kindly came round as afternoon to check over the horrendous tax demand I had received.  It was particularly important this year in the light of the 6 million letters being sent out by H. M. Revenue where they admitted they had either over  or under charged the taxpayer.  As I had suspected, and thankfully Edward confirmed,  H M. Revenue owe me a substantial refund,.rather than the other way round. Accordingly, I have appealed. Watch this space!. ..

15 September 2010

A good day. My electric UpEasy cushion is working; my laptop has been returned and after two  visits from Duncan, sorting out one or two minor problems the laptop seems to be working reasonably well except for my voice activation programme, Dragon, which has slowed to a snail pace, in what it describes as a Compatibility Mode. There is no such thing listed in the Help section so I resorted to the technical arm of AbilityNet for assistance. (AbilityNet were most helpful. They pointed out that the Compatibility Mode had nothing to do with Dragon but was a Word problem. Apparently the document I was attempting to the dictate to was a’97 version whereas I am now on Windows 7. The other problem was the length of the document I was adding to — already over 220 pages. We both agreed that the solution was to dictate new material to my Dragon Pad and then cut and paste it into the long document. The help from AbilityNet was given by them taking control of my computer using Remote Assist, or a similar programme)

‘My lovely’ won £100 pounds in the local church lottery, her first win ever after several years of contributing .The best news, however, came from our wonderful OT, Sarah Moss, who has managed to locate a horizontal hoist that we will have erected in the bathroom, both for the loo and the shower, thus ensuring our independence for little while longer.

My secretary, Doreen, came in today and we got through a lot of fiddly jobs including tidying up my (short!) speech for the forthcoming 20th anniversary dinner of the Arbitration Club.

16 September 2010

I spent the early part of the day, after I finish my e-mails, making the final arrangements for the trip to Thailand. The hotel director, Tim Boda, has been an absolute star.

He is arranging to have two or even three mattresses put onto the bed to make it easier for the good Dr. to get me up and down. For the same reason, I will have extra mattresses on the sun bed and they have selected a room which gets the after noon sun. The hotel is providing a foldting wheelchair for my exclusive use during my visit which will save us the trouble of taking our own. One of the hotels staff has kindly contacted the taxi service that we have used for the last several years and confirmed ETA and agreed terms for picking us up and returning us to the airport at the end of the holiday at a very reasonable rate. I think that just about does it and I just count down the days until we go.

17 September 2010

A rare London day  (I don’t count going. To Lords). In fact, I’ve not been up since I fell off the train on 8 June and broke my leg. The train is now not an option. Of course, it would be possible to get by wheelchair but that will require some organization which we have not yet got round to.

Today I went with Barry, by car..  I went  to Skadden’s offices, in Canary Wharf, on the Isle of Dogs. Skaddens’ are the successors, for my Chinese lectures at CUPL in Beijing, They,  have generously offered to take them on for the next two years. As a readers will recall I had hoped to be able to get ther myself and assist this year but with the campus being under construction and no Western closet, it would be almost impossible for me.

I met with one of the partners this morning, in fact, one of my old pupils, Paul Mitchard.  Paul is Head of Arbitration, located in Hong Kong. He will be giving most of the lectures himself but will be assisted by a female, Mandarin speaking, colleague who will deliver one or two of them. Frankly, in some way I’m relieved at not going myself. I’m sure if I did I would fuss around and interfere too much and I have no doubt that Paul and his colleague will do a great job without me. It’s just that after 10 years it is hard to give up the reins.

19 September 2010

Had a very pleasant weekend. A quiet Saturday and then the drinks party on Sunday with the Olivier’s saying goodbye to the Curtis’, the erstwhile neighbours.in the Arkesden Road. Alice wheeled me around in the wheelchair as the house was any a couple of hundred yards away.

We didn’t stay too long at the party as Smiler and Kimberly drove down from London to have lunch with us. Probably the last time before they go after America in the middle of next month. As it happens they will be away precisely the same time as I will in Thailand. That means that ‘my lovely’s’ two favorite men will be in the same time. Not a happy thought for her.

20 September 2010

Another week has gone by and I am still on my feet. At least I am tottering about using my gutter frame but would not feel very confident in going any great distance with it.

The longest journey I do at the moment is from the house to the office and back. Regular readers will recall that I start every day with a series of exercises in bed stretching most of my limbs. Then, after breakfast, I have recently taken to doing two or 3 circuits inside the house believing this will help to preserve my leg muscles. However, as this is all guesswork I decided that it was time to call for the neuro physiotherapist, Mel, from the Saffron Waldon Community Hospital to check out what I’m doing and advised me whether to continue with these exercises or to substitute something else.

Mel came afternoonI demonstrated t hooeall dof the exercises that I do in bed, the morning  before rising. She approved of them all. The only caveat being not to overdo it. If I find I’m getting tired then cut them down, otherwise keep up the good work I’m helping to preserve what little muscle and joint mobility I have left 

In the early afternoon I suddenly remembered that this was the day of the fourth ODI against Pakistan, this one at my beloved Lords. Why was I not there? Although I had tickets for it, as it did not start until one o’clock and was likely to go on to eight or nine o’clock in the evening I had previously decided it might be too much first me. Anyway, I had the compensation of watching it on my laptop.

Bearing in mind that the corruption charges against the Pakistan team seemed to be gathering force added to which the Pakistanis are now accusing England of taking large sums of money in order to lose the previous one-day matche, the atmosphere was somewhat charged. Despite that it wasn’t a bad game with Pakistan backing first and knocking up a respectable 265 for7, with Swann taking 4 for 37. England were all for 227 after 46.1 overs, 38 short of the Pakistan’s score, with Gul doing most of the damage taking four wickets for 32 runs. This despite a spirited start by the English openers, Strauss (68) and Davies (49), the rest of the team failed dismally. The spirit is gone out of this particular series with all the accusations of corruption flying around. Nevertheless, the outcome of his five match series has come down to the last game in two days time.

21 September 2010

A glorious late summer’s day for the geriatric golf today. I had my usual ride around with Griggsy accompanied by a lot of ragging and  laughter, which, no doubt, did me the power of good. Between times getting me out of the car and in and out of the club house, good old Scott, the club secretary, gave me ‘hug’ lifts and transferred me like a baby from one place to another. The only time Scott was not available three of my dear fellow members attempted to get me through the main door. One pushing on my bottom one, pulling on my frame and the other one, rather apprehensively, onto my arms. They were about as effective as three inexperienced removal men trying to get a chest of drawers up a narrow staircase but, of course, they really meant well and I am grateful to them for trying.

When it came to lunch, again Scott came to the rescue and dressed me up with all my paraphernalia. I struggled to feed myself, not having the articulated arm rest which I use at home. and dear George (Bull), spotting my difficulty from another table, unobtrusively moved over to sit next to me and feed me. Next week I think I will try taking my articulated arm rest.

The one mandatory  lavatory break was affected now, as a narrow of habit, by Griggsy, escorted me to the ladies changing room and slipping his hands up the back of my kilt to remove my pants. It works very well with very little personal involvement from the carer. How much longer I will be able to wear the kilt will depend on how cold the weather becomes! We all know about ‘brass monkey’ weather.

22 September 2010

 

For those readers who are not cricket lovers they will be delighted to learn that today is the last of the international cricket season, at least so far as the UK is concerned -the fifth, and deciding game in the One-Day Internationals against Pakistan.

England won the toss and decided to bat however they started disastrously. Losing Strauss (27) Davis (a 17) and Trott (3) and found themselves 47 for 3. 12 runs later Collingwood retired ill with a migraine, so things were looking pretty bleak for England. A spirited partnership between Morgan and Bell of just under 100 and then with the recovered Collingwood. the star of the show, Morgan, took England to a respectable score of 256 for 6 with Morgan on an unbeaten 107. Certainly not an ungettable target for Pakistan.

Pakistan started well enough losing their first wicket at 63 to Wright. After that it was all down hill with Broad and Swann taking three apiece and tumbling Pakistan out for 135 in only 37 overs. A sad end to what has been a very controversial series exacerbated by ridiculous allegations of spot fixing by the English players, made by the Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman countering the allegations made against the Pakistan team. Relief all round this series is ever that we now can look forward to the Ashes in Australia. 

On the homefront as I have been suffering from a dead ear for the last four or five days which refused to clear, I called him the Dr. and he put me on antibiotics and eardrops for a suspected infection. I must get it cleared up the before going to Thailand as there is nothing more painful than an infected ear in a pressurized cabin.

23 September 2010

The big day has arrived. Tonight saw the  20th anniversary dinner of the Arbitration Club at Drapers Hall, in the city of London. Keith Kirkwood, despite his fortnight away in New Zealand (returning three days ago to especially to tidy up the details) did a splendid job. His ‘running order’ as he calls it, had an air of military precision about it. I can imagine something similar being prepared for the Trooping of the Colours! I immediately put the cat amongst the pigeons by informing Keith that I intended to speak for 15 minutes not the miserable 10 that he had allocated to me

Unfortunately I lost my club guests, the Robuck’s due to Derek’s indisposition. Also there were a number of other competing events on this evening which reduced our numbers down to around 90, still not a bad turnout but no glitterati. Never mind it made it more of a family affair

I was delighted that one of my former pupils from Cyprus, Anna Styliano , who is secretary of the Cyprus branch of The Arbitration Club, was able to drop in for a drink, with her husband, on her way to the airport but, unfortunately due to their departure time from Heathrow  was unable to stop for dinner.

The full title of the Drapers’ Company is “The Master and Wardens and Brethren and Sisters of the Guild of Fraternity of the Blessed Mary the Virgin of the Mystery of Drapers of the City of London”. The word Mystery comes from the Latin “misterium” meaning professional skill.

The first Royal charter was granted to the Drapers in 1364 and is ranked third in precedence of the Great Twelve Livery Companies.

The present Livery Hall, I imagine, was built at the height of Victorian opulence. It is a truly magnificent building with at least four beautiful rooms — The Livery Hall itself where we held our dinner; the Court Room where I held audience in my wheelchair whilst the bulk of our guests were served drinks in the Court Dining Room opposite. In order to access the livery hall (dining area) itself we had to pass  through the equally beautiful Court Dining Room. Each of these rooms were adorned with magnificent portraits and exquisite furnishings with the most beautiful white marble statues dotted about here and there. I can thoroughly recommend readers to go on to the Drapers’ Hall website and see the beauty for themselves.

Christine Hanscomb very kindly made a film of the event which I hope shortly will be turned into the DVD and included on this blog.

For those gastronome’s amongst you I will tell you what we had to eat and drink. Pre-dinner there was a very respectable house champagne on offer. Then, once we were seated a Pinot Grigio 2008 Altana Di Vico Botter was served with the first course of smoked pink trout pate served with dill and mustard dressing. Then, with the main course of canon of lamb with a mustard and herb crust and a selection of vegetables . we were given a  deliciously smooth Chateau La Fleur 2005 Montagne St. Emilion. The pudding was individual lemon tarts served with seasonal berries after which we were treated to an excellent port, Fonseca Bin 27 and  Ch Lacaze Early Landed 1985 Armagnac. Finally with a coffee we had a selection of petit fours.

After that little feast came the speeches. Fortunately I was reasonably sober so that I managed to get through my speech without too much trouble, assisted by ‘my lovely’ who turned the pages for me. The other speakers were extremely generous in their praise for the work I had put into founding the club and generously gave me a standing ovation at the end of it. No doubt, they sensed, as indeed I did myself, that this was my swan song, at least for functions such as that. Even more pleasing was the acknowledgment of the partnership between me and ‘my lovely’, which enables me to attend such functions and who was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers — no less than she deserved, she was truly touched by their kindness and recognition of the indispensable role. A truly memorable evening.

I spent the evening in a wheelchair fed by ‘my lovely’, which avoided much of the eating paraphernalia and therefore seemed to be the most sensible option. At least however much one has to drink it’s pretty impossible to fall out of a wheelchair!, Barry, our driver, was his usual efficient self, lifting me effortlessly from car to wheelchair and back into the car at the end of the evening

I heard, with great sadness, two days ago that someone who had been very kind to me in the past, had died – the Rt. Hon. Lord Bingham of Cornhill, the only judge to have held all three senior posts, Master of the Rolls, Lord Chief Justice and senior Law Lord.  Accordingly I included the following in my speech . 

Tom (Bingham) having generously written the foreword to one of my books The Sanctuary House Case, came to a black-tie dinner  launch at Simpsons in the Strand.  He arrived that evening as Master the Rolls -the most senior civil judge  – and left later  the same evening as Lord Chief Justice -the most senior criminal judge.  A kinder more gentle man one would never wish to meet.  With all the affairs of state hanging heavily on his shoulders he insisted on seeing out the evening and speaking to most of the guests.  He characteristically listened to me offering him some advice from middle England – a little tongue-in-cheek I admit (well, when would I ever get another opportunity to say something about which I truly believed .

I also suggested that he should consider three things.   Bringing back the stock’s in every city, town, village and hamlet, in England, for those people whose misdemeanours did not warrant jail, at the taxpayers expense, and thus would save the country a great deal of money.

 Possibly the humiliation suffered from a spell in these stocks might be sufficient to deter these miscreants from further offending. Secondly, I suggested bringing back the birch for those people who commit unspeakable crimes against the young and the elderly. Finally I suggested bringing back the rope for the most heinous of crimes. Tom smiled, and said, “I hear what you say”. Not surprisingly he did not heed any of my advice! (About which, incidentally, I feel the same way today. 

Tom came to a number of Arbitration Dinners at Drapers Hall and, indeed, would have been  invited tonight had he not been so ill..   He will be sorely missed.

25 September 2010

 

Yesterday turned out be what, I suspect, the last reasonably warm day of the summer, or should I say the autumn, which came in a couple of days ago. We went to a ‘drinks and eats’ party put on by David and Madeline Young, who, like our friends the Curtis’ were downsizing, in fact they did a swap in their village. So sensible not to move away from their friends. I wonder, when the time comes, whether we, or Alice alone, will be fortunate enough to effect such a convenient move. After all we will shortly have been in the same house for half a century.

The eats were scrummy. Specifically not described as lunch but were such that one’s wife could well have ssid, ‘tuck in and we will need nl lunch when we get home’.I sat outside in the weakening sunshine and met some very interesting people at the party. As with the Drapers Hall event, we stuck to the wheelchair, which worked very well. Seated sideways against a table I can drink from my two handled cup, through a long straw and smoke my cigar happily with my smoking stick, on this occasion raised up on a couple of telephone directories.

Not surprisingly there were a number of Worlington members present, our host being a fairly regular member of the Tuesday geriatric club, What was particularly interesting was that the father of the wife of one of them was born in the same year as Alice’s father and indeed, it turned out, went to the same little school in Towyn, in North Wales, presumably at the same time. What an extraordinary coincidence.