Here we are again, the end of another year. Reading my post last year, 2006 has pretty much been like 2005 on many fronts. As this is a public post, there's many things I can't go into. Some of you will know more things then others, but lets see what can be covered. ( cut for length )

Thank you for reading. All comments will be screened, and anonymous comments are disabled (sorry to those of you sent here via my blog on MySpace .. you can comment on there though).

Finally, I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. I hope 2007 is good for you all.

Today has actually been great .... I think I've said before what great company Martin is, but I'll say it again - Martin is great company :)

We headed to The Queens for lunch, which is right across from the hotel that me and Dawn usually stay in whenever we go to anything in Bradford which involves staying over. Have always thought it looked like a "rough" pub so never ventured in, but was proven wrong today. It's quite nice inside and the food is yummy. After that we headed to TJ Hughes so that Martin could look at a few ideas for Chirstmas pressies, even ended up buying a couple of things for his bro and dad. We then headed to watch the Ameatur Rugby .. which turned out to be cancelled!! The team they were due to play had beaten Keighley Town last night but Keighley disputed the win so they can't play until that's cleared. After a swift pint we headed back into Bradford to The Exchange, turned out that the DJ wasn't there when we were but it was a great place. Think it must've been a vault or something before it was changed into a pub, had one of those wicked atmospheres to it and really want to go again.

We chatted for most of the day, even about my birthday next year (which I've actually decided to scrap all plans previously made and to head to Leeds to The Comedy Club, maybe grab a bite to eat at the Hard Rock before hand) - Martin said he'd be up for going which is cool, and I know Em & Rick would be too. Turns out that it's Martin's 40th in April, so he's asked me for ideas for what he can do - so my thinking cap will have to be put on for that one.

You know, I think Martin is gonna be a friend for life. We get on so well, enjoy each others company and he never minds meeting me half way or even coming here when we get together (wish all my friends were like that I really do - would save me a fortune).

Right, mum wants to use the PC and tomorrow I must get the Sack Trick CD done for Martin (can't wait to hear what he thinks about them! LOL)

Where has the weekend gone?? Can you believe it's Sunday already??

It's been pretty good all in all, and I've certainly felt better then I thought I would do too. It feels strange that, considering tomorrow is exactly a year since me and David went back to being friends and with everything I was going through upto last weekend, that I'm feeling this much at peace. Can't explain it at all though I'm not complaining either.

Anyways, I've woken up this morning to Jim's first LJ posts since he left here at the start of August :) I'm pretty sure one of them is a repost as I seem to recognise it, but the other is basically a drafted letter that he's sending to folks (I even get a mention :p)

It's also gotten to that time of year where I'm starting to think about my New Year's post. I don't think I'll be making too many, if any, New Year "Plans" for 2006. I think if I do they'll basically be the same as this years minus a couple. 2005 has certainly been quite a year, not only for me but for a number of other people on my flist too. I thought that I couldn't have as many up's and downs as in 2004, yet this year there feels to have been way more.

6 weeks left of this year, let's see what that brings huh :)

Oooh, Em and Rick got home just after 1am! They'd got a late flight back and also got lost in Manchester!

The time I've spent with Suzie today has been great, we worked out that it would've been last April time when we last saw each other.

Anyways, it was Pizza Hut for lunch and a good catch up before heading to the cinema. Went to see Saw 2 - if anyone likes a psychological horror GO SEE!! Loads of good twists in it ...

Think I'm gonna try and sweet talk my mum into going to see Wallace & Gromit at the weekend, probably Sunday. I'm heading straight home now on Saturday as it looks as though David is heading out early with his parents (some things can't be rushed), so I can get most of my washing and ironing done then and will take a look at getting my photos developed too.

Oh, and if anyone has some good ideas for a competition I'll be grateful. I'm trying to think of one for my Chesney group.

OK, so despite my earlier entry I'm now pretty chipper! Why?? I've spent 1½ hours on the phone to my wife (aka Char!). For those of you who doesn't know the story .... we met via Chesney's message board last August as we both booked tickets for the Gala Dinner last November and were booked on the same table. Never looked back since. Why do we call each other wife? Kinda my mums doing that - one night we were chatting online and my mum asked if I was talking to my girlfriend, and it stemed from there. I even told Ches at the dinner that we were wife and wife (yes, I really was THAT pissed). He said that we should've told him and he'd have sung at the ceremony/do - we told him he did, then having to explain that Southampton was the first time we attended one of his gigs together.

Anyways, we spent half the convo simply catching up. Quite a bit has happened with both of us since we last spoke properly, plus she's one of the only people I can talk too about recent events (she's probably the only person in my life who fully understands). The rest was spent talking about Ches and simply remenising about Southampton, the dinner, The Games and Butlins. I don't think I've laughed so hard in such a long time ... we've had our ups and downs since last August but we're there when it counts to cheer each other up.

In short ... I don't know what I'd do without my wife in tow! MISS YOU xx

Also found out that she never received the birthday card I sent her either, the postal service is a shambles in this country! Making a mental note to make it up to her for Christmas and to deliver her card myself if I have too!! I wondered why nothing was said about it as I'd popped a little card thing inside it too, and I know she loves those.

I've received a letter today from my penpal Peter's mum. Peter passed away in July ... he lived in Oz and had been plagued with ill health for many years.

Rest in peace Peter.

( The card that his mum sent with the letter )

Although I was feeling pretty chirpy and cheeky at lunch, this afternoon I was feeling pretty down and out. Just kept thinking about J and a few other things too. I know I've got a few decissions to make and am going to take the next couple of weeks to get things thought through, weigh things up. It's things that I've been thinking about for a while now, a couple of things I can't help but feel that I made them under clouded judgment and maybe should've followed my gut instinct through. Some situations I don't think will ever change now, as much as I'd like them too, but things change and I know I've changed.

( harping on to get things off my chest! )

I've come into work early so I can use the PC in the canteen.

For updates on Jim (for those interested), you can visit the Kidney Patient Guide (link is on my own journal). I keep forgetting to update on here as I don't have great access at home right now.

Ahh, my home PC! Well, we removed Internet Explorer last night (tried repairing it numerous times but zilch happened). All I need to do now is get the program on a disc/CD to I can re-install it. Rick seems to think that one of his mates will have it but Em and Rick are off on holiday for a week tomorrow. I guess the plus side is that I can rest my eyes by not using the PC (although I do have things I could do on it ready for loading onto groups, etc).

Lee's PC is fucked too. His went on Wednesday too, although his started by not letting him go onto Yahoo! messenger (at least I CAN gain access to messenger and my freeserve emails). Anyways, I'm calling him on Sunday for a proper matter. He's off on his hols on Tuesday too. (6 more weeks and counting to mine)

Erm .. ooh, I've ordered myself a new mobile too, one with a camera on it. Sooooo, those of you who have email and have my current number you can expect an email with the new number on HOPEFULLY over the weekend.

Right, I'd better go and make a start at work.

Yep .. feeling a little chilled out now!

Spent nearly ALL day online, basically searching for albums by The Almighty! Yep, we've booked tickets and we've never even heard an album - H E L P! Why?? 2 reasons really - first off it's for a really good cause, I think cancer/leukemia in some way has effected everyone at some point in their lives. I know it has with me (lost both my grandads to it and my dad also lost his whole leg to it when he was 10). Secondly - Ricky Warwick!! Those of you who've read my journal for a while now will know that we're (me and Dawn) both fans of Ricky's and it's looking highly unlikely that we'll see see him this side of January now. Soooo ... I signed up on the forum for The Almighty to ask for advice on which album to go for first and 2 guys recommended the same album to us. Yep, I promptly headed over to eBay to look for it. Am watching several copies as well as a few other albums of theirs.

Next job for the pair of us was hotels! The best we've found is 2 nights, B&B with en-suite at £98 total ... not bad and as it's only really a base we're not after staying at The Ritz. Dawn found that one and it looks as though we could have it all booked up tomorrow ... doubt we'll find a better deal then that one.

Transport will be the fun one. Getting there won't be that much of a problem it's getting back that'll be the fun part! Although I am thinking about booking the Thursday to Monday off work and doing the travelling then. It tend to work out slightly cheaper and I've only seen Steve for like 24hours since last May! I think he deserves to spend some time with moi :p It's my turn to write to him so will ask him in my next letter.

Have also arranged to go to Luan's in Tuesday evening. It's her birthday on the 22nd and she's off on holiday next Sunday. She's going on a coaching trip to America .. she'll be in Niagara on her birthday. They have added an extra couple of days to their break and are off to Vegas. If I remember rightly she's off to Boston on her trip ... one of the places I've wanted to go to for the past 14 years now :-s Once of these days I'll get there!!

Right ... I'm off to watch some TV for a bit!

Well, to say my day started off quite dodgy I had a great afternoon! Don't think I've giggled that much in a while.

So the day ... the bus was late (no surprise there) but still managed to get into Skipton before Martin. First stop ... the pub (getting priorities straight as always). We had lunch, a quick catch up and then proceeded to head to the castle. On the way there I managed to pick up the wedding card I wanted for Nikalee (my Aussie penpal who's getting married in 3 weeks) and the shower gel.

I've not been to the castle in years .. probably since I was at least 11, maybe younger. It was pretty cool to look around again and I certainly appreceiate it more now then I did all those years ago. Anything steeped in history is always a good thing for me.

We then went on a search for the tourist information office so I could get a bus timetable sorted for Gisburn, on the way half decided on a canal barge trip. But the first one we came too was full so then decided against it and went to get the time table.

Martin then asked if there was a pub next to the canal where we could have a drink. I said I wasn't sure so we went for a hunt but ended up doing one better. We came across a boat trip that took around 1hr15 .. and had a bar on there. You guessed it, we took the cruise and Martin had a couple of pints on there LOL I told him that he probably wouldn't live it down and he said that he'd have to keep that in mind for the future.

We then got onto what to do in the future, where to meet etc. The next time will be at some point between mid-November and mid-December with me going to Leeds. Aparently theres a club type place that has a rock DJ on during a Saturday afternoon, we were gonna go there in Feb but he had a Rugby match to go too so there was no time. The Worth Valley Steam Railway has been mentioned (neither of us have done that in years) and Martin quite fancies going to the Bus museum in Keighley so that's something else. We're also probably gonna get to a Rugby match together too, he thought I was joking when I said I enjoyed Rugby. Admittedly I enjoy Union, but I've never really seen a League match. He's a Bradford Bulls ssupporter so it'll be a Bradford match we attend. There's a possibility of MAYBE a Speedway meeting, but as the nearest one is probably Sheffield it's a little up in the air (why oh why did they do away with the Bradford Dukes).

By the looks of things, we'll be busy for some time! LOL Not that I'm complaining as it's great to have a mate in the north who I can meet up with where there's no hidden agenda and no awkwardness either. I can talk for England at times but we've certainly enough in commen where we don't need to just talk about work, or our own lives. It's wicked!

I was supposed to be getting up about now after a decent nights sleep - no such luck!

After a night af bizaare dreams, most of which I can't remember (remember Carol (who I used to work with) talking about dogs on heat and in another dream going to see Ches and only taking about 3 photos - very unlike me), I woke up at about 7.30 and cat napped until the phone rang at 8.30. Since there's no one in the house apart from Em & Rick (who'd never answer it anyways) I picked it up - to a policeman (apparently) asking for someone who doesn't even live here! After that I thought I may as well cut my loses and get up ... was outta bed anyways.

It was a pretty late night too last night. Got chatting to Claire, who's just got her Messenger sorted (saves a fortune on text messages and the wait of emails). I'm pretty sure I've said before that she's a good friend in the making there, I can feel it.

By the looks of things I could FINALLY gain a friend in the more immediate area too. To cut a lengthy story short, I met a girl online through a site called Friends Your Way (kindly recommended to me by Cassie). She's been in contact and met up with someone in Gisburn (pain in the arse to get too with no car but certainly in the more immediate area). Anyways, I've got in touch with her and she's contacted me back saying that she'd pretty much had the same idea as me only I'd beaten her too it! LOL. Soooo, I'll probably take a look at buses and such like when in Skipton today and see if I can collect some timetables.

Looking forward to today, I really am. Spend some time in good company in a nice town - what more can I ask for!

It's not often that I get friends who'll actually travel to see me, it's usually me doing all the travelling and I really hate that. It's as though there's no give and take on the travelling front - annoys the hell out of me. I have a couple of friends who, for one reason of another, can't travel to see me so I don't mind that much doing all the travelling (Lee & Steve don't exactly live closeby, so for me it's a break from the norm). But as for ALL the rest of my friends there's no bloody excuse, and believe me I've heard some corkers too (none of which I'm about to put in here!). I think the only ones I can actually put in here is that "there's more to do where I am" (from people who live in/near cities or have a car) and "there's no/not alot of privacy at yours" (obviously from guys I'm more then friends with). The last one I can KIND of understand BUT I never bring up the subject of them staying over unless there's going to be privacy of some description whilst they are here (hell, I've got my needs too). As for there not being that much to do near me ... depends on where you look. Skipton is a really nice town - there's the castle, walks by the canal and a great market on a Sunday. Burnley - there's a cinema (fair enough, unless you've got a car your limited to times there) and you've also got the town centre. There's a number of other places too that can be got too by bus or by car (if lucky enough to pocess one).

Anyway, enough of my remabling! I'd better grab a shower .. don't wanna meet Martin being a stinky pete!

Meeting Martin in Skipton on Saturday! We said that we were gonna meet up again at some point over the summer, and as the summer is almost over we figured we'd better arrange something whilst the weather has a chance of being nice! Not entirely sure what we'll end up doing, that'll depend on the weather situation. If it's nice then a walk by the canal is always popular (and really nice too). I'm thinking lunch at Weatherspoons (kinda my turn as he bought lunch the last time we met) and then the rest of the day pottering around I reckon. Skipton is quite a small place really compared to the likes of Bradford where Martin is from, but it's very pretty and there's a great market on a Saturday too. (If anyone is interested, click here for a website on Skipton).

We've had a great little thunder storm here too! Knocked the electrics off at work ... some people lost quite a bit of work too (including my team leader Nicky). Amazing how funny 200 people gasping sounds too! LOL

J had dialysis tonight ... after alot of faffing around with the needles he went on at around 6pm.

He appears to be improving, the anti biotics are taking effect and his blood pressure is down.

He's been requesting drinks like a thirsty man but has to put up with mouth washes. Got a little fed up and said this afternoon that he'd like a nice cup of tea (sounds like J to me!!).

Just to keep up being the rebel in town he pulled out a couple of feeding tubes again last night. They were replaced today.

Rumour has it that the speech therapist is coming around again tomorrow, so fingers crossed for that one!

Things are certainly on the up again .... lets hope it continues!

I'll get this cut for kindness but in many ways it's just what I needed!!

( Friday )

( Saturday )

( Sunday )

( Today )

Boy am I glad to see the weekend!! I think it's safe to say it's been one of those weeks ... things have certainly got on top of me again and I've not been handling things as well as I should be. Understandable?? I don't know .. people with access to my friends posts will be able to enlighten on that a bit more :-s

( for a change I'm leaving a mixed emtions post public .. still cutting to be nice to people's friends lists ;) )Subway

Right, I'm gonna grab a walk whilst I can.

Yet another strange dream last night, they seem to be happening alot lately.

This weekend I've managed to make plans for ... am heading over to Wakefield to my friend Claires. She's just gone online so am giving her a small crash course in things (may even sort out her PC the best I can too ... she says it's a little slow, may need de-fraging to speed it up a bit). So I'm over there Saturday, home Sunday.

Then next weekend I'm at Lee's ... so hopefully the weekend after I can visit Jim. Need to see how this week go's really first, then I'll have a word with his dad to see if it's possible or not.

Right .... better get going! Don't wanna be late on my first day :p

Had a bit of a gap between posts I know, but had to grab a bite to eat and put my lotto on for tonight! I did also say that some of the riddled posts would make sense after today .... they may or may not make sense but you'll see what I mean from this post!

( because I'm nice I'll cut this post .. read if you so wish )

I don't think I've had my head in so many places at once!! It's a bit tangled today ....

Many thoughts are obviously in London at the moment, but things are slowly improving there and I'm so pleased about that! Hopefully I can make a trip there soon :)

Then there's tomorrow ... I have no idea how it's going to go, what's going to happen or what thoughts are going on in the other persons head. Time will tell as always, and I'll openly admit that I'm very nervous about it all!! I said earlier in the week that I know what I want (or should I say like) to happen, but this time it's something that's GOT to come from both of us. It's got to be a mutual decission that both of us stick too - no going back (at least not in the near future).

Ofcourse there's also tonight .... my first gig of the year!! I'm really excited about seeing Terrorvision again, and am really looking forward to meeting _mysteria_ and freakspawn. It should be a brilliant night, even with lack of funds!! Oh well, water and soft drinks it is then!! Had good "sober" nights before.

That's all for today ... tomorrow I can do a real update and hopefully shed some light on some of my riddled posts recently!

1hour 14mins to go before I leave this job .. new start on Monday!

...til I'm bridesmaid for Em!! I thanked her for reminding me LOL! Mum was like OMG when she said "well, 2 years today and you'll be mother of the bride". EEEK!

As there's a few new friends added to my list, there's this post about "who's who" in my life! I don't really speak to Tom anymore, and I'm obviously alot closer to Jim then I was when I wrote the entry! But it should help you to keep track of the people I mention slightly better.

Glad I managed to remember most of my dream last night too .. that was sooo bizaare! I think the couple thing came from yesterday ... I went for a walk and followed a couple for some of the way who were holding hands, kinda got me thinking about when Jim was here.

Really looking forward tomorrow night too .. got listening to their last studio album last night, and will definately need to listen to more of it tonight.

Emma from work has lent me The Zutons CD "Who Killed The Zutons". Never heard of them before, but the CD is really good.

And that's my rendom post for today ... all have a good afternoon!!