Just back from another flying visit to Oxford. I'm happy to report I found dad much recovered. In fact he greated me with real energy and polished off his supper in no time. We talked for a while, watched a bit of Elizabeth I and then he went to bed. He clearly gets tired very easily but his position is way better than at the weekend.

Interestingly I was talking to our magnificent carer Bea. She was telling me that she's similar cases where patients get very bad, seem to get much better and then just like that they go. And actually if that's the case then thats not so bad; dad's only remaining wish is to die at home and a quick a peaceful end is what we all hope for. But if it's not the case then at least he is feeling better, so that's got to be good.

Dad's long had this rather gallows-humour joke about being in the "departure lounge". According to him he's been there at least 5 or 6 years and I used to scoff at this and tell him his flight wasn't even on the boards yet. But I think its time to face up to the fact that he is in the departure lounge now. He certainly thinks so and he's been talking, quite calmly, about dying; about changes to his will, funeral arrangements and other things that have to happen.

I popped back to Oxford this evening after work and found him slightly recovered from the weekend. His appetite was quite good and he polished off his supper, unaided, in no time. But he is clearly weaker than he was even a week ago. I alternated between finding all this talk about the end too much and being quite business-like about everything. We had a nice talk about all sorts of things, more than we normally do (a companiable and comfortable silence being our ususal m.o) and I was able to say some things I'd been wanting to say.

So now we wait. We are going to wait this out together, for as long as it takes.

Just come back from a fabulous Belle and Sebastian gig at the Barbican. Wonderful, want to tell you about all the goosebumpy moments. But also want to tell you about a tough day back in Oxford. Took dad to church this morning for the dedication of a flower stand that we had donated to the church in mum's memory. It was nice service (if long for the old-timer) and it featured a lovely tribute to mum from the lay reader at the church who knew her well. But the service and the act of sitting in the wheelchair for nigh on 2 hours seemed to take it out of dad. He was exhausted and probably the weakest he's ever been by the afternoon. He did perk up a bit later but am worried this might be the begining of the end. Don't know. Lots of stuff going on.

I've been carrying my camera around with me and yesterday evening I went for a stroll through the City after work. Here's some of the things I saw:

The entrance to the National Gallery has been restored and reopened today. And it turns out my great-grandfather did the original ceiling! I had no idea but according to the BBC"The 19th Century decorative ceiling by JD Crace in the staircase hall has been restored to its former glory". Can't wait to see it.

So I'm shopping online for a wedding present for some forthcoming conubials. It's at John Lewis so I'm confident I won't be knowingly undersold. I've done the bit where I find that the only stuff left is the expensive Le Creuset cookware and now I'm on to the bit where I put in my contact details.

Step 1 - title. Easy eh, but at the JLP you are, or rather one is, spoilt for choice:

HRH?

Blimey charlie - you get a better class of shopper round this end of the information superhighway. And hey, there's more:

Dad would be so chuffed!

Scrapheap Challenge is back! Joy :)

Been out and about with my camera in town and I've finally been able to take a pic of my favourite blue plaque. These are dotted all around town showing where the great and the good lived, worked or stopped to tie their shoelaces. My favourite is on an expanse of black stone on the walls of Air New Zealand house and next to the shiny Sports Cafe. It always strikes me as tremendously incongruous:

Let's hear it for Ho Chi Minh, Londoner.

Went down to Trafalgar Square after work today to see the controversial new statue.


It's beautiful. It's really inspiring and moving; I never thought I say that about anything by Marc "lets freeze my blood into the shape of my head" Quinn. But I think it's great that there is this celebration of women, motherhood and coping with disability amongst all those generals and one famous admiral. People seemed genuinely engaged by it, stopping to take pictures or just run their eye over it.

WE DID IT!!!!

Oh-my-flipping-god-bloomin-eck.

WE'VE WON THE ASHES!!!!

Sport is a wonderful thing and I'll take on anyone who says "it's only game" as if that wasn't most of the magic. Yes it is a game, and then some. But for a good game you need a good opponent and opponents don't get any better than this Australian team. It's been fantastic to see them battle for everything and to see the level of mutual respect between the two teams. The honesty and magnanimity in defeat of people like Adam Gilchrist was really special.

I'm sure the press will be full of articles about how this Ashes series has shown all that's best in sport while the recent England football games have shown most of what's worst. For the sake of next year's World Cup effort I hope something rubs off on Beckham and co.

Apart from the victory and the amazing games we've seen I'll always remember Shane Warne in this series. More often than not he WAS the Australian attack and more often than not that was nearly enough. I've hardly seen any footage of Don Bradman playing (although my dad did see Harold Larwood bowl so that's close) but I have watched Warne at the height of his powers and I know I'll tell future generations: "I saw Warne play, the greatest bowler ever". He is bowling's Bradman. I hope he retires soon!

I've just played the most bizarre ice hockey match in Milton Keynes..


Can you see the other end? No, me neither



These pics were taken during the women's game before ours but it was just the same when we played. Apparently the aircon was bust causing this localised condensation. Dude - I was totally tripping. Shapes would just appear out of the mist and then vanish again. But the poor old goalies had a real nightmare; certainly put the cricketers to shame today, they couldn't see a thing but had to keep going. But lets not carp - we won 12-2. I got a goal but I was just happy to make it through without too much trouble from my injured knee.

Having derided our brave cricketing boys, we are only one decent batting performance from wining the ashes and if they get the chance to come of for bad light, rain, east winds, north winds, thunder... typhoons... SMOG!! I for one won't blame them.

COME ON ENGLAND!

Just back from the opening of a new comedy night here in the Bush. It was a bit of a mixed bag and in that way quite inspiring: half the time I was thinking I could do _WAY_ better than that! Might have to dust off my old routines if thats the standard these days.

But I had to take my hat off to Simon Amstell. I've wanted to see his stand-up act for ages and I wasn't disapointed, he was pure brilliant. He seems too young to be so self-assured and so funny and such a talented performer (that bit was less inspiring) . He was certainly a cut above the acts around him and if anyone defines what Geek Chic is - it's him. And his mannerisms are pure Mark Dolan, which must be quality. The other entertaining act was the headliner, the one and only Mitch Benn. Mitch and I have shared a stage back in Edinburgh and it was great to see him doing his stuff live and top of the bill. And Mitch has a single out! On Monday! You can see the video here: http://www.everythingsoundslikecoldplaynow.com

In my mum's will she specified a number of beneficiaries. As executor I am responsible for paying out her bequests but it has taken an inordinately long time to wind up her estate and release the money. Lawyers! It's especially frustrating because I feel that this is all part of putting mum to rest, and it's just dragging on. It's also been frustrating for Dad in particular.

But at last I have received enough to start paying out. I have opened an account with Smile because I wanted people to receive a cheque from mum saying "smile". Tonight I was able to write the first cheque and the one that most evokes mum's spirit. All her bequests were very specific: family, friends, good causes she had supported; her will specifies names and addresses. Except one provision. She dedicated "One Thousand Pounds to a charity benefiting education for African children in South Africa. Such body to be chosen by my son John". When I first read that, I thought it was so typical of mum: first that she was still committed to South Africa. And that she would want to engage me in it, knowing that I'd be interested.

I started by getting in touch with some family friends in South Africa. In no time I got a great suggestion - The African Scholar's Fund, run by Dr Margaret Elsworth MBE in Cape Town. The ASF is an "independent educational trust which assists promising pupils in need of funds to complete their education". It sounds absolutely what mum had in mind and comming so highly recomended I was delighted to write them a cheque today.