The more observant amongst readers of my little blog will have noticed that I haven’t posted anything over the last few months. At least I hope you noticed …
2011 had not been the best of years for me. I won’t go into why: it’s a long story. Then in October I ended up in a Liverpool hospital for a few weeks with a bad case of pneumonia and several chest infections. My lungs were severely weakened to the point that I was intubated and on an intensive care ward for several days. But I lived to tell the tale – although a consultant did later tell me that my condition was “touch and go” at one point.
This was the first time that I had been an in patient in a British hospital since I had my tonsils and adenoids removed when I was five. I don’t remember much about that stay in Hairmyres some forty years ago, apart from that the ice cream after the operation was excellent.
I’ve always been a strong supporter of our National Health Service. It’s the single greatest achievement of the Labour Party in government. High quality health care on demand and free at the point of need is something that my generation has come to take for granted. But we are privileged to live in one of the very few countries to have such a wonderful system – and I will never tire of defending it.
Despite the cuts imposed by the current government, the creeping privatisation agenda that continues to threaten its very existence and the repeated reorganisations it has suffered from, the NHS is still a marvellous institution. It is there for all of us. There are no financial checks or expensive health insurance required. No danger of being refused treatment on economic grounds.
The staff at the Royal Liverpool Hospital who treated me were, quite simply, wonderful. Nothing was too much trouble for the nurses, many of whom routinely stayed on the ward long after their shifts were supposed to have finished. The commitment to patient care they displayed each and every day was inspiring. And their professionalism and compassion greatly assisted in the first phase of my recovery.
The second phase, now that I am out of hospital, has taken far longer, but I am finally getting back to somewhere near full fitness. Or at least as near to fit as I am likely to get.
So I will be glad to see the back of 2011.
Hopefully 2012 will prove to be a better year – although the whole concept of a new year is a somewhat curious one. It’s just a convention really to decide that one day in particular is the one where we will reset the calendar to 1/1 and start all over again. But it does offer a convenient point for reflection and to look both forward and backwards from.
I gave up making New Year’s resolutions a very long time ago. Most of them never see the end of January anyway so what’s the point? But I will be trying to get back into the habit of regular blogging, which some may see as a good thing.
So, see you all next year?
And whatever you are doing when midnight strikes wherever you might be, I hope you have a great time and that 2012 is a good year for us all.
A Happy New Year everyone!
Gordon,
I was unaware of your illness. In october as I had not bee visiting cqn as regularly at that time. I’m glad to hear you’re getting better anyway. Here’s to a better year next year.
All the best and take care
Great to see you blogging Gordon but even better to read that you’re getting back to full fitness.
Your daily blogs and philvis’ good natured but always critical responses on that other wee blog were part of my daily routine.
Take care and I hope when the callander is reset to 1/1 at midnight it marks a long term improvement in your fortunes.
Happy New Year when it comes.
SwanseaBhoy (Ian)
Good to know you’re on the mend Gordon. Hopefully by the time the CQN Open comes around you’ll be firing on all cyclinders. And you’re so right about the NHS and its staff. Those cretins in the states who go on about the evils of “Obamacare” need a reality check.
Encouraging news. Gordon. I’m now in better general health than for many a year, having been pretty sick since the latter days of 2009 and then the quadruple surgery of April 2010 and its tedious aftermath. I’ve now managed to regain almost all of the 12kg I lost through careful dietary choices, proper exercise and, above all, fantastic NHS care. So I’m foursquare behind every effort to resist the Tory changes – just don’t trust them.
Enjoyed CP the other night but my family’s infinite capacity for confusion meant I missed BBs. Back to Englandshire tomorrow. All the best for 2012
Sot
Thanks guys.
Dharma Bam – cheers, Good to see you back on CQN
Ian – I enjoy debating with old philvus. Happy New Year to you too, and hope the move goes well
John – Spot on. I know folk in the States who cannot get basic medications because of lack of insurance, never mind hospital care
Dave – Great news. Hope to catch up sometime soon
sorry to hear about your illness, Gordon. You are the same age as myself, unfortunately our engines need more care and attention. In fact that is probably a good resolution for both of us.