Happy Friendiversary, Helen

This turns up on my Facebook memories every year. Happy Friendiversary to the boss who sent me late night drunken messages demanding I go back to work, even though I had a throat and chest infection.

Credit Where Credit's Due: Imagine What I Could Have Done For WAW If I Was Healthy

WAW head honcho "Rowdy" Ricky Knight greets me on his way to ringside to face Robbie Brookside at The Talk in Norwich in April 2002 .

 

I’d like to take you back a few years, to the dark, distant days of the early 21^st century. Yours truly was just about finding his way around the world wide web, combining two of my favourite things, writing and professional wrestling.

In 2000 The Two Sheds Review was in it’s infancy, but the wrestling world was going through some massive changes. When I began writing about wrestling World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling were on their death beds, and it wasn’t long before Vince McMahon and his mighty World Wrestling Federation swallowed up as much of the national wrestling scene in the States as he possibly could.

Around the same time my interest in wrestling began to wane a little. I wasn’t one for trading tapes, and streaming and downloading shows was but a distant dream, so, seeking an alternative to WWE, I began to take an interest in the local wrestling scene, most notably the Norwich-based World Association of Wrestling, formed in 1994 by the husband and wife team of “Rowdy” Ricky Knight and “Sweet” Saraya Knight, along with Ricky’s Superflys tag-team partner “Gentleman” Jimmy Ocean.

The Results from the Hospital

Health update: the trip to the big hospital went well. The x-rays and CT scan showed that the lung is healing up nicely.

The pain comes from the diaphragm repair, which is causing the pain in the chest, ribs and back. The hospital is writing to my GP to explore pain management and physio options, because it's likely to be the end of the year before I heal from the operation fully.

I've Finally Heard Back From The Hospital

Week 36, and as I'd heard nothing from the hospital for weeks I decided to give them a call, but every time I called all I got was the dreaded recorded message.

I tried again every day for a few days hoping that I'd finally speak to a person, but after continually getting the message I left a message of my own, politely commenting that the message said CT scans took five weeks to come in and that I had been waiting nearly eight weeks for mine.

Six Years Without Snowy

Six years ago today the wee hairy beastie Snowy was reunited with his best friend Dexter when he passed away at the ripe old age of 17.

If it wasn't for those two I wouldn't be here today. Their unconditional love helping me through one of the most difficult times of my life.

His last few years were a fine example of the mind being willing but the body being unable, but he was helped along by a young pup called Monty and his tabby cat sister Frodo.

When Dad Played For Cromer Town

A little story for you.

Way back before I was born my Dad William Radbourne played for Cromer Town after he moved here from Solihull in the Midlands after the war. He didn't talk much about his time there, so I have no idea what position he played, or if there are any records of his exploits.

Bye Bye Morphine

This is an example of how bad things are for me.

There were times when I really needed some of this stuff when I was in hospital, mainly after the first chest drain and after the operation. Paracetamol alone just wasn't enough.

They gave me this when I was discharged. It's been sitting on the shelf since then. I haven't needed it, and even if I did I'd probably never take it.

Bye Bye Morrisons

Sooo.....

You probably saw that I was at Morrisons this morning for a capability meeting. This was to determine if and when I could return to work.

Given my ongoing health problems, and with no end in sight at the moment, the decision was made to terminate my contract and end my employment.

Week 28

 Soo.....

I'm now in week 28 of the current situation I find myself in. Over six months consisting of procedures, operations, countless needles, loads of drugs, partially-collapsed lungs, heart problems and much, much more. 

And as the situation continues perhaps the most painful thing is that I still haven't heard from certain people asking how I am.

I guess they really can't put any differences to one side.

Rest in Peace Alan

Tomorrow morning at 11am the funeral of my neighbour Alan Shaw will take place at the Cromer Crematorium.

Alan was one of those people who I knew for as long as I can remember. He worked with my Dad on the bins, and I worked with him for a short time at the newsagents on Mill Road before it closed down.

He may have been an annoying so and so at times, but he always asked me how I was whenever I walked past his house. He also always asked my brother Paul how I was when I was in hospital a few months ago, at a time that his own health was failing him.

Sadly my CT scan at the hospital tomorrow morning means that I won't be able to attend his funeral. It's the third funeral I haven't been able to attend because of my health problems.

Rest in peace Alan.

All the Best, Herr Klopp

I'm not a Liverpool fan, but I freely admit I'm saddened by the news that Jürgen Klopp is leaving at the end of the season.

I'm going to miss seeing him on my television every week. He always comes across as a nice and genuine guy, and in a sport filled with overinflated egos that's great to see.

So from the heart of a football fan, all the best Mr. Klopp. The English game will be poorer without you.

My Last Post of the Year

My final post of the year sees the new year spirit evading me as much as the Christmas spirit did.

The pain and scars on my right-hand side and the feeling of numbness on the right-hand side of my chest are a constant reminder of how seriously ill I was and how I still have a long way to go.

The support of friends, family and co-workers has been invaluable, and once again I thank each and every one of you for taking the time out of your lives to reply to my posts or to message me directly.

Happy New Year!

Maybe I Should Tell a Few Old Wrestling Stories

Seeing that a former friend has posted some of my old photos on their page reminded me that it was 18 years ago today that I officially quit the wrestling business.

After I quit I wrote a manuscript documenting my time there. There were a few people in the business interested in seeing what unsavoury things I'd written about, but in the end I deleted it and it never saw the light of day.

New Year Thanksgiving

 This one may embarrass some people I've known for nearly thirty years.

It's been a tough year for Beverley Birritteri and her family, losing their wonderful wife, mother and grandmother Sheila Smeda.

My Big Achievement This Year

 This year has been a bit crap, but if I've achieved anything it's this:

With the daily blood tests, the countless canulas in my hands and arms, the IV drip feeds and drugs, the antibiotics injections, the blood transfusions, the anaesthetics and the COVID, flu and pneumonia vaccines, it's safe to say that I've had more pricks in me this year than a third-rate Pornhub actress.

Renegades - Civil War Chapter Fifty-Three

The occupants of the planet Onara were surprised when a Federation shuttle started to land in the main port. One man was not surprised however. Although he had received no transmission Calvin Hudson knew who was flying the shuttle.

The door to the shuttle opened, and out stepped Thomas Riker. He looked as if he hadn’t eaten in days, and he was pleased to see Hudson again, although he wanted to see another.

“What are you doing here Tom?” Hudson asked.

“I guess you haven’t heard the news.” Riker replied. “The Lohengrin has defected. By now they should be at the Time of Legends. I didn’t want to go with them. I wanted to stay here. I have some information regarding President Servalan that could help us. I must tell Chakotay.”

I Wrote a Message.....

I wrote a message earlier, intending to send it to people who haven't bothered me for ages, just to let them know what's happened to me over the past few months.

Christmas Thanksgiving

As I haven't really got anything else to do this Christmas Eve I thought I'd give a few shout outs to some of those who have helped me along the way.

Let's begin with everyone at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. If you can't work out why I've put these guys first then you clearly haven't been paying attention over the past four months.

I Feel Like I've Let Him Down

I feel like I've let this guy down in the past few months.

Monty's been a bit under the weather with ear infections again, in October and again a couple of weeks ago. But because of my health problems I've had to ask Paul to take time off work to take him to the vet.

40 Years

I do this every year, but this year seems so much more different because it's 40 years ago today that Mum passed away.

Why does it seem different? With everything that's happened this year there were a couple of times where I thought I might be joining her, that I might see her again, the physical pain I was in was that bad.

If she'd lived she'd be 93 now, but there were times where I wished she was in that hospital with me, sitting in the chair next to my bed, holding my hand telling me everything will be alright, just like she always did during the first 12 years of my life.

Rest in peace Mum.