Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Sunday, 27 September 2009
who`ll be 1,000
just checked the old sitemeter, and it`s at 999 hits. If you`re reasding this you may be mister/miss/missus 1,000. welcome aboard!
Alan
Evening Strumpets,
It`s with a very sad heart that I am writing this. Alan King, the guy who gave me the Windsor Whirle Junior (see first GNS post) passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
There are others much more suited to pay tribute to this remarkable gentleman, but like many, many, others I feel blessed that he was a part of my life for a short time. He inspired and continues to inspire me in so many ways. Without him, I probably would not have fully understood the way the human body deals with pain (bth physical and mental). He trained me in the skills of delivering pain management in a comfortable but challenging manner. And always with humour.
He swore (as do most pain management specialists,myself included), by Paracetamol. Many a time he would advise a person to begin (following consultation with their GP) 1g of paracetamol four times a day. Whilst shadowing him, I noticed he`d get a glint in his eye whilst doing this, waiting for the inevitable "but I don`t like putting chemicals into my body/ isn`t it dangerous" reply. he`d simply mention if you don`t like putting chemicals into your body, quit smoking/drinking alcohol and that if you take too much of anything, water for instance, it`ll kill you.
Alan survived more than most, from a serious mining accident, through Bronchial Pneumonia, Meningitis, and an eighty miles an hour car crash which forced him into a field. He told me he reckoned he had till he was Seventy. Anything after that was a bonus. He was sixty one when he died.
I miss him already, and it`s still not real, but if there`s one thing he would have been happy with it`s the fact that when we were told at work, there were tears, but fifteen minutes later, if you`d walked past the office we were sat in, you would have thought we would have been having a party because the laughter coming from that room as we reminisced about our friend, was loud.
Alan King. 1948-2009.
It`s with a very sad heart that I am writing this. Alan King, the guy who gave me the Windsor Whirle Junior (see first GNS post) passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
There are others much more suited to pay tribute to this remarkable gentleman, but like many, many, others I feel blessed that he was a part of my life for a short time. He inspired and continues to inspire me in so many ways. Without him, I probably would not have fully understood the way the human body deals with pain (bth physical and mental). He trained me in the skills of delivering pain management in a comfortable but challenging manner. And always with humour.
He swore (as do most pain management specialists,myself included), by Paracetamol. Many a time he would advise a person to begin (following consultation with their GP) 1g of paracetamol four times a day. Whilst shadowing him, I noticed he`d get a glint in his eye whilst doing this, waiting for the inevitable "but I don`t like putting chemicals into my body/ isn`t it dangerous" reply. he`d simply mention if you don`t like putting chemicals into your body, quit smoking/drinking alcohol and that if you take too much of anything, water for instance, it`ll kill you.
Alan survived more than most, from a serious mining accident, through Bronchial Pneumonia, Meningitis, and an eighty miles an hour car crash which forced him into a field. He told me he reckoned he had till he was Seventy. Anything after that was a bonus. He was sixty one when he died.
I miss him already, and it`s still not real, but if there`s one thing he would have been happy with it`s the fact that when we were told at work, there were tears, but fifteen minutes later, if you`d walked past the office we were sat in, you would have thought we would have been having a party because the laughter coming from that room as we reminisced about our friend, was loud.
Alan King. 1948-2009.
Friday, 25 September 2009
Logo Go Go!
What do you think of Mr Benjamin Norman`s handiwork for the GNS Header? I have to say, that guy has some talent!!
Infamy infamy, they`ve all got it infamy
Northern Banjo Boy writes:
" Well done Mark!
Had look at the highlights on the BBC I player check out http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00mydtn/Athletics_2009_Great_North_Run_Highlights/
you're 24 mins 42 secs - classic!"
I`m glad I`d had a haircut!
" Well done Mark!
Had look at the highlights on the BBC I player check out http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00mydtn/Athletics_2009_Great_North_Run_Highlights/
you're 24 mins 42 secs - classic!"
I`m glad I`d had a haircut!
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Secret Diary. (quite long I`m afraid).
We woke (Myself, Louise and Grace, Harry was sleeping around his Nana`s, the day would have been too much for him) at 06:45 hrs on the Sunday Morning. Up, showered, dressed and setting off by 07:30 hrs, with a view to reaching Jon`s house about Half Eight to Nine o`Clock. Jon lives on the route of the GNR and his road is closed from Nine am. It`s usually about forty to fifty minutes from Boro to Newcastle, but we wanted to accomodate for the expected heavy traffic.
The roads were so quiet you could have hunted deer. We reached Jon`s house at 08:15 hrs. The Kitsons were still in their pyjama`s and about to get showered, but fantastic host`s as they are, they never complained for a second. I hadn`t met Jon in over twelve years, and was a little nervous, but that vanished within a minute or so. I met jane, who is a talented musician, who teaches piano, and Daniel, who loves all things Star Wars. Grace and he got on just fine.
Travelling on the Newcastle Metro with a banjo is an experience. I noticed all the other runners looked incredibly fit. The carriage stunk to high Heaven of Ralgex, and Deep Heat, and throbbed with an atmosphere of anticipation. By now I was really enjoying the occasion. The odd person would look over at this odd person, and I noticed a couple would smile and say to their partners " Cool, a banjo" or similar.
It was a further mile, possibly two to get to the starting point. I kissed the family, and told them I`d meet them at the finish line. The PA hammered out Queen`s "We will Rock you", and standing at the back, seeing 50,000 people doing the clap clap hands in the air dance was amazing.
Forty minutes after the starting gun was fired by Sting, I reached the starting line, shook hands with Sting, who said "cool banjo mate", and a funny thing happened. I started running. I was amazed, I had promised myself that I wouldn`t run any of it, as I did not want to a) damage my knee, or b) peak too early, but the crowd carried me along. I was able to play the basic scruggs rolls, and also the thumb, downward strum quite nicely, and this helped with my rhythm for the running.
After half a mile, I began to walk, and this was the point when I realised what I was doing, and that I could actually play the banjo for the duration. Although quiet, as I had taken the resonator from the back, it was audible, and the fellow GNR chaps, were all so encouraging, slapping my back, and telling me this was excellent.
Then came the Tyne Bridge. The Red Arrows had recently flown over, and the remanants of the smoke display was still in the air. As i stepped on the bridge I played Amazing Grace for me Mam, followed by Cripple Creek for Trevor, Wildwood Flower for Alan, Ballad of Jessie James for Toby`s Father in Law, Foggy Mountain Breakdown for Mike, and finally Cowboy Waltz for Lily.
The following twelve miles were just heavenly. Dodging little Geordies throwing water at the banjo was fun, and the kindness of the spectator`s, many of whom came out offering food and drink, was incredible. However if i hear "How mate, ken I pley yewar Geeeetoorrr" one more time......
Finally down the slope, and there`s the sea! Blimey I`ve nearly finished. The sea air coupled with the anticipation gave me a boost, and I jogged down the slope and onto the final mile along the coast. People who had already completed the run, were walking back, and this was were i got my most encouragement. I debated whether to run the final mile, but came to the realisation, that this was never about a PB. So I chose to stroll along the final mile, stopping occasionally to let the kids hear the music, and strum the strings if they wanted.
Ten metres from the end, a guy came over with a microphone, and asked me if i`d play something over the PA system, which is how I found myself playing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" to thousands of people on the South Shields Coast. Funny thing is, ten months ago, I couldn`t play this bloody drum on a stick!
Finally meeting up with the family, it took a further two hours to get back to Jon`s, and an hour to get home. At 19:00 hrs, I stepped over the front doorstep of my house. Shattered.
And so I completed the Great North Run, whilst simultaneously playing the banjo. If you think that`s strange, some daft buggers ran it!
Learn something new,
Mark.
The roads were so quiet you could have hunted deer. We reached Jon`s house at 08:15 hrs. The Kitsons were still in their pyjama`s and about to get showered, but fantastic host`s as they are, they never complained for a second. I hadn`t met Jon in over twelve years, and was a little nervous, but that vanished within a minute or so. I met jane, who is a talented musician, who teaches piano, and Daniel, who loves all things Star Wars. Grace and he got on just fine.
Travelling on the Newcastle Metro with a banjo is an experience. I noticed all the other runners looked incredibly fit. The carriage stunk to high Heaven of Ralgex, and Deep Heat, and throbbed with an atmosphere of anticipation. By now I was really enjoying the occasion. The odd person would look over at this odd person, and I noticed a couple would smile and say to their partners " Cool, a banjo" or similar.
It was a further mile, possibly two to get to the starting point. I kissed the family, and told them I`d meet them at the finish line. The PA hammered out Queen`s "We will Rock you", and standing at the back, seeing 50,000 people doing the clap clap hands in the air dance was amazing.
Forty minutes after the starting gun was fired by Sting, I reached the starting line, shook hands with Sting, who said "cool banjo mate", and a funny thing happened. I started running. I was amazed, I had promised myself that I wouldn`t run any of it, as I did not want to a) damage my knee, or b) peak too early, but the crowd carried me along. I was able to play the basic scruggs rolls, and also the thumb, downward strum quite nicely, and this helped with my rhythm for the running.
After half a mile, I began to walk, and this was the point when I realised what I was doing, and that I could actually play the banjo for the duration. Although quiet, as I had taken the resonator from the back, it was audible, and the fellow GNR chaps, were all so encouraging, slapping my back, and telling me this was excellent.
Then came the Tyne Bridge. The Red Arrows had recently flown over, and the remanants of the smoke display was still in the air. As i stepped on the bridge I played Amazing Grace for me Mam, followed by Cripple Creek for Trevor, Wildwood Flower for Alan, Ballad of Jessie James for Toby`s Father in Law, Foggy Mountain Breakdown for Mike, and finally Cowboy Waltz for Lily.
The following twelve miles were just heavenly. Dodging little Geordies throwing water at the banjo was fun, and the kindness of the spectator`s, many of whom came out offering food and drink, was incredible. However if i hear "How mate, ken I pley yewar Geeeetoorrr" one more time......
Finally down the slope, and there`s the sea! Blimey I`ve nearly finished. The sea air coupled with the anticipation gave me a boost, and I jogged down the slope and onto the final mile along the coast. People who had already completed the run, were walking back, and this was were i got my most encouragement. I debated whether to run the final mile, but came to the realisation, that this was never about a PB. So I chose to stroll along the final mile, stopping occasionally to let the kids hear the music, and strum the strings if they wanted.
Ten metres from the end, a guy came over with a microphone, and asked me if i`d play something over the PA system, which is how I found myself playing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" to thousands of people on the South Shields Coast. Funny thing is, ten months ago, I couldn`t play this bloody drum on a stick!
Finally meeting up with the family, it took a further two hours to get back to Jon`s, and an hour to get home. At 19:00 hrs, I stepped over the front doorstep of my house. Shattered.
And so I completed the Great North Run, whilst simultaneously playing the banjo. If you think that`s strange, some daft buggers ran it!
Learn something new,
Mark.
Monday, 21 September 2009
And for my next trick.....
I have never felt so drained, not so much physically, but mentally, emotionally, everythingally, as i have today. Got a round of applause when i limped into work this morning, which genuinely touched me. I work with really good people. And I was featured being interviewed on the BBC2 Highlights show at ten to midnight on the Sunday, so flew home and really enjoyed that.
So what next?
Well, I`m thinking of busking at the top of York or Durham cathedral in the Spring! If not allowed, then thinking of busking at the top of a Peak in the Lakes. With a "warm up" on top of Roseberry Topping (a local peak) beforehand.
What do you think?
Next immediate thing is that I am busking at Mcmillans coffee morning in Tollesby this saturday morning, with all proceeds going to the Mcmillans nurses.
Hopefully see you there.
Benton Road
Tollesby.
E-mail me for more details on markdavies23@hotmail.co.uk
Learn something new,
Mark.
So what next?
Well, I`m thinking of busking at the top of York or Durham cathedral in the Spring! If not allowed, then thinking of busking at the top of a Peak in the Lakes. With a "warm up" on top of Roseberry Topping (a local peak) beforehand.
What do you think?
Next immediate thing is that I am busking at Mcmillans coffee morning in Tollesby this saturday morning, with all proceeds going to the Mcmillans nurses.
Hopefully see you there.
Benton Road
Tollesby.
E-mail me for more details on markdavies23@hotmail.co.uk
Learn something new,
Mark.
Sunday, 20 September 2009
First Great North Strum: DONE!!!!
Evening Strumpet`s,
There`s a very proud, and very tired Lad typing this tonight. But I completed the Great North run, whilst playing the Windsor Whirle pretty much throughout! I completed in a time of three hours and twenty, which I`m really happy about, as there were a few obstacles along the way, not least of which was lugging and playing this bloody stick on a drum around with me for thirteen miles.
The memory of 54`000 people undertaking it, and playing to so many people wil never leave me. I`m so tired tonight, so this will be a short one, but there are several people who I have to thank.
Everyone who has donated!
Andy Dalton: For coming up with the name of The Great North strum, and for his support, both through his blog, and through his chats. Thanks NBB.
Ian Golden, John and Kathleen Greenslade, Tree Hannaway, and Rachel Lynas: All of who have supported me on facebook, and in person.
All the chaps at "Strikes a Chord", in particular Chris Knotts, and Pete Rushton: support and advice throughout.
Michael Platts: For his incredibly generous offer, and for introducing me to Louise.
Sarah McNeill: For raising so much money for GNS.
Tito, Toby, and Michael from the Stephen Fry Blog: For the diversion of discussion, and support.
Benjamin Norman: For the T-Shirt Design, and continual encouragement. I know it`s tough at the moment mate, but things will get better!
Jonathon, Jane, and Daniel Kitson: for allowing us into their beautiful home, and looking after the three of us so wonderfully.
And finally,
Louise, Grace and Harry. Look at my amazing family in the header of this blog. I`ve not been around as much as I should these last few weeks, what with training, and writing this Blog, but not once have they made me feel guilty or crappy about it (well not much)! I love my family, and i know that my family love me, the same way as I loved my Mother, and I know she loved me.
Three squeezes in Heaven Mam,we only bloody did it!! And see and now I`m crying!
Keep smiling,
Mark. Completer of the Great North run 2009!
Saturday, 19 September 2009
The last post
Evening Strumpets.
As you can see, Grace is modelling the exclusive Great North Strum T-shirt,(as designed by Benjamin Norman, massive thanks mate).
Well this is it. The last post before the big day. I`ve had me haircut, i`m about to fill in the relevant health paperwork, and I`ve put as much training as family and professional commitments would allow.
I`ve been thinking back over what has been an amazing month. Incredibly this Blog was only created on the 10th August. ( I have a neighbour called Karl, who has a really interesting take on time. he feels there is a rational argument that time speeds up the older you get. He states that a year to his Grandson is a quarter of his life, whereas a year to him is a 68th of his life)
Since then i`ve made new chums all over the world. There`s been nearly 1500 page views, I`ve walked three half marathons (with me banjo on me back), Nearly lost the tip of me finger (it`s fine now), been in the local press, had people coming up to me wishing me the best of luck who I`ve never met before, Walked in Boro with a banjo out of it`s case on me back in broad daylight (the only time I`ve ever been a little scared walking around if truth be told), and been witness to acts of generosity that would make the most cynical misanthropist take stock of what they believe.
I`ve also (along with Sarah), raised over one thousand Pounds (one thousand, three hundred and ten dollars at current exchange rate) for Butterwick Hospice.
Strumpets, Thank you. Thank you, thank you thank you, THANK YOU! It`s not just the money, it`s the support, and encouragement. You have made it really nice to be me.
The next time I post, hopefully I will have completed the first stage of The Great North Strum. I wonder what`s next for me and this old banjo?
Mother and Father in law and Harry will be at home for those thinking the house may be empty, you naughty burgling people you!
Keep smiling and learn something new.
Mark.
A big boost!
I have raised £755 so far and Michael in Dubai ( who very sadly lost his father to cancer last year)has topped that up to £800, and amazingly offered to double anything over £800 I raise. When I asked him if he minded me letting people know about his amazing act of generosity he wrote:
"Post it up and let's see how much you can get - I know people are hard up at the moment, but hopefully they may dig a bit deeper if they know it'll mean a bit more.
I'm not trying to be a flash b*&*^%d, by the way - I've been following your blog pretty much since you started it, and really love what you're doing. I don't have the balls to do it myself, so the least I can do is put my hand in my pocket.
Anyway, stick it up and see what damage you can do to my pension. Say hi to Louise for me and good luck on Sunday."
How fantastic is that.
All enquiries on how to donate to be sent to markdavies23@hotmail.co.uk.
Mark.
"Post it up and let's see how much you can get - I know people are hard up at the moment, but hopefully they may dig a bit deeper if they know it'll mean a bit more.
I'm not trying to be a flash b*&*^%d, by the way - I've been following your blog pretty much since you started it, and really love what you're doing. I don't have the balls to do it myself, so the least I can do is put my hand in my pocket.
Anyway, stick it up and see what damage you can do to my pension. Say hi to Louise for me and good luck on Sunday."
How fantastic is that.
All enquiries on how to donate to be sent to markdavies23@hotmail.co.uk.
Mark.
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