Monster Mashed

Hello folks,

Well we did the obligatory Widnes night out on Friday and was good fun....from what I remember. Drank and danced and then taxi's the night away....

Felt a but worse for wear on the Saturday but Dave called and told me about a Halloween party in Chester - what could I say? I don't refuse nights out!

I raced to 'theee Asda' and purchased the tackiest monster mask, false fingernails and a staff/broom thing... and drove to Hoole....

It was a good do at someone's house from the Chonicle. There were a good selection of journos and press officers there - a Villa supporter and a girl from Stafford...

But two bottles of wine wearing a monster mask is a bottle too much....

Again.... By the time we were in Telford's Warehouse the next day, I felt/looked like death warmed up...

Anyway. Busy week at work with the aftershock from the M56 deaths, a huge £1.3 million Big Lottery grant for a local library in Halton and the opening of the Wigg Island centre.

Off to B'ham tomorrow to pick up the nebuliser they didn't have last time. I think I need it as although my swimming times are faster I am feeling some kind of obstruction at back of throat......

Gigs coming up: Human League, Seasick Steve and Pogues.....

Feel free to email me on mark_allen71@tiscali.co.uk xxxx

Reunion and Rufus

Hello Folks,

Short boring one this time I'm afraid...

It has been a busy couple of weeks - hence no blogging!

I went to a posh house-warming in Salford Quays the other Saturday - followed by meeting my long, lost cousins near Chester.

The do was good - great food and hosts and interesting people.... Lovely place they have - Gosh how the other half live - I need to

The following weekend was the Express & Star reunion in Wolverhampton - stayed over in Great Barr...

We all had little labels with our names and years we worked there written on - It was good to catch up with old colleagues...Pity about the rugby though.


Medics have been annoying me as usual. I went for a blood test (which I needed to physically send to Newcastle) and the nurse in Widnes had no needles left!

I had to queue with all the old sick people outside a former cinema on a freezing Monday morning.

I went to Heartlands Hospital (180 mile round trip) to start on a nebuliser which they hadn't got in - I have to be back there for 8am another day!

Docs were pessimistic as usual - but that's their job.

Caroline and I went to see Rufus Wainwright in Warrington on my birthday yesterday - It was an amazing gig - he played for two-and-a-half hours - And we had a support act.

Halton Borough Council has been in the news for all the right reasons with our GCSE results being the best improved in the country and the opening of a brand new eco visitors centre.

Still working hard and playing harder. Not been feeling too good of late - but I have been doing too much, sleeping too little....

After this week is over - normality may return!

PS: Thanks for all the pressies - especially the mini bar and those HMV tokens....

Frankie and Foxy

Hello People-ettes,

Recovering after a great weekend of sport (execpt for Widnes of course) England won the rugby, England won the cricket, Villa beat West Ham! Result..

Left work dead on 4pm on Friday to get back to Staffordshire for the cricket club do - We went to hear Graeme 'Foxy' Fowler speak at St Matthews in B'wood...then into Lichfield.

Graeme "Foxy" Fowler became the first Englishman to score a double century in India but now prefers to play the drums for kicks.

It must have been a good night because I came home with a picture of Frankie Howerd in my pocket - but can't remember why or how..

I was chatting to someone I hadn't seen since our GCSEs and she filled me in as to what had happened to loads of people we used to go to school with....

On Saturday I went into Stafford, met Bekkkkkah for latte and then went to see Victoria and Colin's new baby - Honor Elise...

Still recovering from Friday I did very litte on Saturday night..

On Sunday I went for a drink with the usual suspects at the PG - Took the CF collection bottle home to count and send off.... and drove back.

I thought I would catch some of the Widnes v Castleford match on TV - but the put I went into did't have Sky - so sat there texting people for latest scores.... Ho hum.

Got a timer on my storage heater so will have a warm house from tonight.....Result...