New Years Update – Reasons to be Cheerful

Ok, I lied when I said my next blog update would be when the next book is published, I couldn’t keep my public waiting that long. Truth be told, I’ve hit writers block a bit over the last few weeks, so I thought I’d try to get the juices flowing via a blog.

Firstly I managed to survive the Boxing Day match at OBR, my 5 minute cameo turned into to closer to 20 minutes, but I got away undamaged, largely due to being far too slow and unfit to be anywhere near the action. The closest I got to the ball was when the Oppo’s flyhalf, Nick Flynn, noticed that he was running between John Raspin (Prop) and me………. The smile on his face when he sprinted through the gap we’d created needed to be seen. Overall a cracking morning, with three sets of “Lads ‘n Dads” and one set of three brothers on the pitch. It was also pleasing that the Junior’s (who Max and I played for) totally stuffed the Mini’s  24-22. 

NYE will be spent with the same friends that we’ve spent to last 15 years with, our turn to host this year. Shopping at Sainsbury’s at 7am in the morning for the ingredients for the lasagne proved to be an interesting experience, more staff than customers. Anna is off celebrating the New Year in Lanzarote (Subject to SleazyJet), Max and current squeeze are off at some house party.

On Thursday 29^th December Radio 5 Live ran a phone-in, the subject of which was “Reason’s to be cheerful”. I’m guessing this was in response to all the celebrity deaths and other shoite news that had come out towards the end of the year. The callers came up with some pretty darn good reasons to still have a smile on their faces. I sent a text into the show which read “On December 24^th 2015 I was diagnosed with throat cancer, in May 2016 I was told I was in remission. The staff at Royal Berkshire Hospital, my family and my friends have given me a massive reason to be cheerful at the end of 2016.” About 10 minutes after I’d sent the text my phone rang, it was a researcher from the BBC asking if I’d be prepared to talk to the host of the show. I declined as my voice wasn’t behaving itself and I still get quite emotional when I talk about the treatment, I was also supposed to be working.

Later in the day I got thinking about what really had made me happy in the year, the list was getting endless. Then I gave up on my thoughts and chucked it out to the wider audience of Facebook. I asked the simple question, “What has made you happy in 2016?”

Ian Dury

Here are some of the answers:

Ladies rugby team being formed and the friendships that have also been formed.

Parents travelling after illness.

Student’s rugby match, bringing players together again.

Dogs and the companionship they bring.

Travelling.

New adventures.

Being sober.

New arrivals.

Spray Tans looking better than expected! (The undoubted winner!) 

Surviving not being shot. (Tony Slater, most of us had money on you being shot in the USA!).

New Jobs

New friends

New challenges

The three reasons that came up time and time again were, family, health and friends.

So, to say goodbye to 2016, raise a glass to family, health and friends.

Happy New Year one 'n all, thank you for reading my words over the last 12 months and the support we’ve received.

Now to get drunk!

#Shoulder2Shoulder

PS – No pressure 2017, but I’d be quite pleased if you weren’t quite as crap as 2016, ta muchly. 

Happy Christmas

#shoulder2shoulder – 

The Christmas Album

It’s Christmas Time, there’s no need to be afraid….. Bob Geldof wrote the words 32 years ago. Last Christmas, I’m not embarrassed to say, I was afraid. Now I’m pretty sanguine about what life has thrown at me and what is still to come. It’s now nearly 12 months since I started writing this blog, it seems like five minutes ago sometimes, and five years ago at others. There’s now been over 10,000 hits, for that I’m really appreciative. What started as a way of putting my feelings into words seems to have escalated a bit. A book later and the blog is still alive ‘n kicking, as am I. In a perverse way I don’t think I would change anything about the last 12 months, well perhaps a couple fewer episodes on constipation, but on the whole I think I’ve come out of the process a stronger person. I’ve certainly learnt a lot about myself, my family and my friends. I’ve also learnt never to use “&” in formal writing, thanks Marjie!

There’s not really a lot to say following my last posting at the beginning of November. I’ve had two more monthly meetings at the hospital which have been routine. Cards and chocolates were dropped off at my appointment last Thursday. It was exactly one year since I was diagnosed. I thought Scary might have remembered our anniversary, sadly not until I reminder her. We did however have a good chat about “Things in general” and she asked if I was going to be updating this blog again……….. opp’s appears she’s been reading it.

I’ve had a couple of Christmas parties via work, the first time for a couple of years for one reason or another, including a cracking afternoon at Ronnie Scott’s in London. Rams are looking good in the league, the games at OBR are some of the most entertaining I’ve seen for a few seasons. I’ve made the donations to MacMillan and the Berkshire Cancer Trust from the sale of my book, each will benefit just shy of £500, so not too shabby an effort. Another icon has died from cancer, one of the better Christmas songs I hope you’ll agree - Greg Lake

Anna is smashing her last year at Uni, albeit by working her backside off. Max will get the grades he needs in his exams in the summer. Carol is a year closer to hanging up her boots as a nurse (It’ll be the NHS’s loss) and I’m plodding along trying to work out what happens next………..

This post is really just to say thank you to everyone who’s given the Clark family support, near or far this year and we hope you have a great Christmas with your families and friends.  

If you’re short of something to do on Boxing Day, as promised last Christmas, I’ll be making a guest appearance on the pitch at OBR with Max. Supporters, amused bystanders, folk laughing their pants off will all be welcome. Kick off is sometime around 11am, or when 30 guys eventually turn up.

As always, thanks for reading. I’ve no idea when the next update will appear, but suspect it won’t be until the next book is ready to be published.

#Shoulder2Shoulder