Ennuie

We flew back to the U.K. on the 19th of December fully expecting to be flying back to DT on the 10 th of January. However we had not taken into account the glacial state of the NHS. The fantastic and immediate treatment for a gastric problem that Lynne had recieved in Cangas, ultrasound scan, x-ray, ECG, several consults with on one occasion the doctors wife and another using conference calling for translation services with another doctor had impressed us.

The fact that from start to finish the process had taken less than 24 hours obviously coloured our predictions for the one remaining procedure that the Spanish doctor had recommended for our visit home, namely the gastroscopy.

It proved impossible to arrange with our GP in the U.K. over the phone, apparently only a visit to our surgery in Horwich was acceptable, even though we offered to fax all prior investigations and results for their perusal ( we had been given these by the Spanish doctor along with an explanatory letter ) strangely it appears that dealing with the NHS has the effect of raising my blood pressure, well, doctors receptionists for sure!

We tried to forget sbout it until we had got Christmas over with and settled in to enjoy meeting friends and family again.

Our youngest relatives had sprung up in our abscence, above is Jack and below his sister Olivia.

Turned out that they were darling children. It was nice to see Lynnes side of the family and later we were invited to Christmas dinner with my sister and my extended family.

The children had to make do with the emergency chairs ( and table ) The obvious long haired lad in the above photos is our son Alex.

It was an excellent dinner. I had treated myself to a new iphone and taking advantage of a new app took photos that apeared to be cartoons, fun.......

This is Alex's bar. The Brewery with the usual suspects.

Meanwhile Dark Tarn was basking in lovely winter sun as we were freezing in grey miserable fog. One of our Irish chums checked up on  DT and sent us the above photo ( thanks to the Magnets)

We took the opportunity to visit Lynnes parents. Being without a hire car meant that we had to rely on public transport. To be honest its doable but a bit of a pain, its also ridiculously expensive in comparison to other countries.
The delays in Lynnes appointment and further delays in results meant we had to cancel our flights back, A relatively painless procedure, although like many things now becoming increasingly reliant on the internet.

 While in Wigan we rediscovered some old haunts and realised how things had changed, not all you understand Wigan will always remain true to itself, but in the detail. Above is the John Bull chophouse where in our youth Lynne and I had many a drunken evening. However the new civic centre has intruded and if you turn around at the spot where the above photo was taken you are presented with this rather imposing head.

I believe it represents a rugby player ( so that's alright then )
The extra time should have given us time to walk and explore but with one or two exceptions it just pissed down,

One of the exception we grabbed with both feet and borrowed our favourite dog Bonnie for a walk in the hills.
we also got to meet very old friends and reminisce, or possibly just compare knees ( its an age thing)

Above is our friend Geoff whose wife was in hospital having a consult with our wonderful Physio Keith on the right.

In the above photo is Lynne ( obviously ) Keith and his wife Gill, and on the left Domingo who is the significant other of Geoffs daughter Fliss, both of whom live and work in Tennerife and have become our contacts and go to guys on those windswept Atlantic islands.
Which is proof positive that it is indeed a small world..........
A world which was about to get a seismic shock.....................