Berlin banter and k9

Hello Bloggettes,

Thanks for all the emails from people who saw me on Sky TV and in the Lichfield Mercury, Widnes World, Widnes and Runcorn Weekly News, Wire FM etc following the awards... all appreciated..

Well it has been a busty time in Markville.. I flew out to Germany on Friday 13th (I know, I know) through the farce that is EasyJet (long walks with hand luggage at Liverpool Airport, no moving stairways!)

I found my way (more through luck than judgement) to Alexplatz.... where I met up with Katrin. Spent a great long weekend there- the first time I had been there for a while..

We had food cooked by her on the first night and wandered through the Eastern part of Berlin - It is hard these days to tell where is where...

I found an afiinity with the old GDR flashing light men on traffic signals (they had been replaced by the West German ones) - I bought a t-shirt and badge... Bring the old ones back..

We had an all day breakfast and met up with Juli, (at Houdini's All You Can Eat) and had dinner with Stefan in the evening which included sourkraute (yes they did get the joke!)

When I got back home. I had to unpack and pack again to go to Newcastle for my check-up and prodding and poking by the medics up north...

I was feeling lethargic and tired and my lung function showed a 10 per cent down turn - They think it is just the endless colds I have got since working in this office and the travelling...

The x-rays showed no further damage (good thing) So I must just keep doing the right stuff, gyming, swimming and looking after myself...

My weight is down toi 73kg - the lowest it has been since 2002... A recent printout at the gym said I am now the perfect weight and muscle mass for my height... So I am doing everything right my end,.

It is just frustrating that all the work and my lung capacity is still a fraction of what it should be... Damn the rejection...

Busy week at work but tomorrow should be relaxing - I am going to see Frank Sidebottom on an open bus tour, then a gig, then a night in a hotel... Bring it on!

Been enjoying our MSM chats K9 by the way - Bring on our vodka fest - She always makes me feel more human...

MUSIC: Gabriella, BWO, Nick Cave, Moby

Only a week to go before Jay-Z, Pendulum and Linkin Park!

Me, Natalie Imbruglia and Phil Tufnell

Hello folks! As you can see I had an amazing time mixing with the celebs in London for the Breathing Life Awards...... Sarah, Mum and I met in a cafe near Edgware Road tube station and we went to the Hilton Metropole, where we were staying...

We started with champagne in our rooms and so many gifts from the sponsors before we were shown to our tables - Sarah and I nipped out to see the celebs arrive..

Gail Porter, mountaineer Alan Kinkes OBE and Tiffany (a gorgeous showbiz reporter) were on our table... Natalie Imbruglia was on the next one. Phil Tufnell, Biggins, JK and Joel, Janet Ellis, Carol Smilie, Ben Shephard etc were all nearby...

The event was films by Sky and was very glitzy - The wine flowed and flowed...

I came runner-up but who cared? My film was shown live and Gail Porter gave me a mention on stage (bless her, and how lovely?)

Natalie Imruglia came over to chat - I know her big sister - and we were comparing pics on our phones and laughing in no time...

Phil Tufnell was a star and had a word with me. Actually called ME and inspiration! How strange does that feel? Very strange!

I went over to talk to Bill Bryson because I am a fan and have read most of his books....

After the show there was chance to mingle further at a cocktail reception thing afterwards - the wine kept flowing....

By the next day I was glad Sarah and I ordered breakfast in our rooms... Walking around Oxford Street and Regent Street the next day was a bit of a blur..and hot.

It was a couple of days I wouldn't forgot.... In fact a week not to forget as on the Tuesday before I went I was a judge on Halton's Got Talent and the Saturday after I came back was Julia's b'day BBQ..... Mark is not drinking for a few days...honest

I will love you and leave you now......detox time! xxx