Never underestimate the unexpected!

So following my last post an aweful lot has happened! Where to start?

A return trip to San Pedro in February ended disastrously with a phone call from my brother to say Dad had had a heart attack and was on his way to hospital! We flew home the next day and he had been stabilised but still in the Good Hope! Turns out he needed a couple of stents and after some rather farsical administration from the NHS he went to Heartlands and had them done. He was home a few days later and told he couldn't drive for four weeks and should rest up and take things easy!! Wrong thing to say to Mr B senior. He refused to take taxis and insisted on walking to the bus stop each time he wanted to go to Mere Green. He was duly christened SOS because of his obstinate attitude! (More of NHS later)!

So next disaster to strike was middle son (obviously) who was attacked in the mail box and had his jaw broken! We end up in A&E in the middle of the night at City hospital, then get moved to QE. All good so far except for the phone call by the A&E registrar to the QE about the transfer when it became apparent to me that he was reading off the wrong patients notes and not talking about my son at all!

So arrive at QE, time now 6am, immediately admitted and out in prep ward. He gets operated on that day and moved to a ward so visit him and find out he now has plates and screws in his jaw to hold it together! Whilst this is going on I am referred for an MRI scan on my prostate due to a slightly raised PSA.

Ed comes out and things settle for a week. I then get a phone call to summon me for a biopsy as there appears to be something showing up on the scan.

So in to Heartlands we go and the best description I can give of the procedure is a vacuum pipe is inserted up the rear passage and a long probe with scissors on the end goes up the inside  and there then proceeds several cuts each of which you can feel. Very undignified!
snipping begins! 20 snips later it's all over!

So back to work.

Then middle son gets infection in his jaw so back into QE for 2 days on drip with mention of plates coming out at a later date. So you with me so far? Ok so when Ed is readmitted through A&E at QE who were marvellous we experience second comedy admin of NHS. I leave him in A&E knowing which ward he is going to in order to fetch him some personal bits.

I arrive back at QE and check his ward, yes I have got it right. Arrive in ward and no one has heard of Edward Brain!! I question several times A&E info and main reception but they insist he isn't there. Whilst discussing this at the reception on the ward a nurse walking past overhears the conversation and says are you looking for Brian? No I said Edward. No only had one admission, young lad loads of tattoos called Brian. 

Let me see I say and sure enough there is Ed sat in bed with a sign above him saying - wait for it - 

"Brian Edwards"!!!!!

Hmmmmm, not impressed at this point. More later.
So what next? Oh yes I get the results of the MRI and as I expected it is cancer! So I get a date for a bone scan and escape to San Pedro to get my head round it all. Whilst in San Pedro I get a call from my cancer nurse to give me the "good news"! My bone scan is clear!
Sorry for my lack of enthusiasm I reply I haven't had mine yet! All goes quiet, sorry she says!
So get back and have said bone scan which involves a nuclear injection then another scan similar to MRI but not in a tube and herself was allowed in the room. Probably the only time I have been grateful for her endless prattling! ( Even if she did manage to throw the car park ticket in the bin just before we left which we had to go back and retrieve!) my life is never straight forward!
About a week later I get the call - bones are clear! I don't know whether to laugh or cry! Such a relief, so all now remains is to decide on the way forward, radiation or the knife?!
Anyway about the NHS!
I have been in most hospitals in the Birmingham area this year.
My overriding observation is one of excellence at the point of delivery overshadowed at times by administration of Fawlty Towers levels. Shame because the staff are doing a superb job of care but it doesn't hang together cohesively!
TO BE CONTINUED

So where's ya bin? I bin Hong Kong? No where's your wheely bin? I wheely bin Hong Kong!

Ok ok bit of poetic license, of course I haven't but it has been that busy it feels like it! After the last post went back to San Pedro and had an unbelievable week of sunshine and gorgeous food and wine as always. Some old haunts many new ones!
November and we were off to Mojacar for work reasons obviously! Lovely villa not too far up the hill so we could walk.
We also managed to fit in Rod Stewart in Sheffield and best of all Simply Red at the NEC. Now that is what you call a concert. A consummate professional but not shiny slick like Rod, more laid back and informal with the audience.
Then Crazy Christmas!
This year was very special as I had all my boys with me as well as my Dad and my brother. We looked a bit too macho for the Italian restaurant with just the 6 Brains round the table! It was a lovely day, great food but even better company - thank you boys love you all to bits.
Then Boxing Day drove to Woolacombe, stayed in a gorgeous apartment overlooking the beach, had a great meal with Gerald and Adam.  Went into Ifracombe the next day and had a look at the strange Damien Hirst statue -Verity! Hmmm not sure I get it. Then drove back to Brum.
Up next day and off To San Pedro. I had looked online and booked Ambrosia for NYE, bit unsure as it was an all inclusive price for meal drinks entertainment etc.
Wow what a pleasant shock! Miguel and his team treated us all to a regal feast, with no shortage of very good Vino! One of the best NYE's in Memory.
A lovely few relaxing days then back to work!
Been to San Pedro again in January with Dad, who enjoyed it this time and I think is slowly learning to enjoy the place again. Saw all his friends, ate a lot and finished the last day eating some gorgeous fish in a beach restaurant in t shirt watching the sea crash against the rocks! Can't beat it.
In between the trips phase 2 of the Studio project was completed and now the amazing bathroom (that all the contractors are taking pictures of), has been completed.
Bubbles are back!
So at weekend back to Mojacar then at end of March back to San Pedro for a week. Then off for usual weeks golf with the lads in Dunmore. 25th anniversary and possibly our last trip as a group.
As last year having a wind down in Malahide after the golf as her ladyship is flying out to join me.
So busy busy busy!
Where have I wheely bin?
I wheely bin all over!
Going back to work for a rest!

Only 13 and a bit weeks til Santa crashes down my chimney

OMG as they say in all the best celebrity circles!
So what have u been up to.
Well the summer was a particularly expensive time with various combinations of the boys and partners going out to Spain. They all seem to think spending £200 at a pool party is the norm!
I actually managed to get a couple of visits in myself and I must say the weather was fantastic, the hospitality first class and the wine far too gluggable!
So booked a trip in early September because numero 2 graduated this summer (finally)! All Uni's have the graduation in July/August don't they?
No not Ed's! Slap bang in the middle of my hols!
Well frankly having spent umpty thousands supporting the longest degree in history what is another shed load if dosh. I was obviously there, but it took some logistics!
Up early (not usual in Spain on hols) taxi to airport fly to gatwick, take gatwick express (bloody impressive that is something we Brits have got right), tube to Holborn.
Out for drinks then an amazing Argentinian steak with said son. Bed and up next day. Only glitch was having to pick up ex wife in taxi and sit with her! Still I kept my decorum and even paid for her photo with her son in robes! Fukien generous to the last (stooopid) loads call it!
Straight from ceremony back to Victoria to catch train and reverse trip arriving back in flat in Spain at midnight!
So holiday resumes. When I have caught up with techno friend over graduate I will bore you with pics.
So holiday done back home.
Aaahh but not for long by a strange quirk of fate I am back out on 5 October for a week.
Just planning Xmas and possibly NYE in Spain.
Then March time a Spanish trip from San Pedro up too Sevilla and back via Tarifa.
Not to mention Rod Stewart in November!
Busy busy, the only way to be. As my beloved Grandad said "I have checked grandson and you can't take travellers chequers with you when you die"!
Wise man my grandad but he was 92 at the time. So that must make me ahead of my time! Anyway if it all goes pear I will just claim asylum and live off benefits coz I seen it on the telly it don't look hard!!

Pray tell Mr CArney

so the BoE has dropped Internet rates by 0.25%. Pray tell someone can you explain what difference that makes to anything tangible! It is supposed to encourage us to spend, spend, spend!
I know for sure that it will not convince me to invest more money in my business! If I couldn't afford the repayments of £0.5 per £100 invested it isn't going to encourage me by paying £0.25 per £100, Obvo plus the banks outrageous margin!
Are these people in the real world!

Marmite

Love him or hate him, Nigel Farage has been an incredibly driven and principled individual. Single minded and full of purpose he has taken the fight and continued it until he has achieved his goal. If he were a sportsman we would be applauding his single minded objectiveness, just because you don't like what he stands for don't rubbish him.
He at least had the balls to stand up in that corrupt comedy circus some people call the European Parliament and not only remind them how they ridiculed him when he arrived but also pointed out that the majority of them were in fact free loading doleys under a different name!
Shame on you EU wasters!

The plan B for the referendum vote! See below!

Life but not as we know it Jim!

so it's July already!
A couple of catch ups. KBW is still with us and in fine fettle, we had another great Dunmore pilgrimage and I will be seeing him next weekend for the Woburn Open courtesy of Chez Bacon El Capitan of the Sneaky Weazel, master of fine stained glass window production, and now allegedly a supporting role in a group of singists!
So on from the King.
Life is now based in the jewellery quarter in Brum, a very different life to the leafy suburbs of Four Oaks.
All 3 sons progressing well and seem relatively normal, however what is normal these days?
 I am spending as much time as possible in the sun in my other home in San Pedro de Alcantara and have had 2 visits so far this year including the festival of San Juan, always a spectacle.
As well as these visits had a great break in Mojacar with bestie Paul. Sadly it has come to pass that the owner of the chiringuito we frequent over there, Tito, has since passed from this world. Rest in peace Tito you lovely man.
I have lost none of my scepticism of all involved in so Called "higher education", since my middle sons laptop was stolen during a break in the weekend before it was due to be submitted, together with the memory stick it was backed up onto. The Uni have been wholeheartedly unsupportive and gave him not a jot of an extension which resulted in a 48 hour marathon! Thank you to the learned wankers for nothing!
In addition the insurance company with whom I had insured the contents have refused to pay out because a tiny window was open despite there being people in the premises overnight!
Thank you insurance industry, having paid premiums for over 30 years, and claimed I think once for some roof tiles after a storm, you have confirmed that you are a totally moral free bunch of tossers! You get what you deserve, no wonder people exaggerate claims, they are always expecting one to be bounced!
So we are now Brexited!!
I am aghast at all those tossers that are now crying foul at the democratic process! Stand tall and even if you don't like the answer be proud that our country still gives that right to the people!
I am just astounded at the meltdown of our spineless politicians.
Cameron you spineless twat grow a pair! I voted for you to lead this country so put your fucking toys back in the Pram and do your job that you are paid for which is to lead this country. You are behaving like a spoilt rich twat, everything I have spent time telling people you aren't.
If I behaved in business like you have just done I wouldn't be here any longer.
If you want a chat just call me!
Well done Mr Farage for telling the EU what a bunch of free loading, worthless wankers they really are.
Congrats to Eddie and the English rugby team, what an achievement!
As for the bunch of overpaid prima donna's purporting to be our national football team don't even go there! TT and I don't mean the bike race - Total Tossers! And as for Woy Hodgie, aka Mr Clueless, why do people go on about him resigning? His contract finished after the tournament anyway, so he did no honourable thing at  all!!
Hmmmm feel better now,  back to sunny Tipton tomorrow for a dose of reality! Brexit what Brexit, a pint of Holdens for me!