BroadAmbition

Btw, you will have noticed in the BRAG letter that I have stuck my head above the parapet again Griff

Now doesn’t that timeline if nowt else infuriate one? Not to mention other jaw dropping revelations If you’re not angered or at least disappointed , why not? You should be Griff

That’s the one. Tks Smoggy Griff

The BRAG committee have responded, they have given permission for their letter to be published far and wide. I’ve asked Grendel to post it in here as I’m at work and bound to mess it up from my phone Griff

Call from Shaun's son earlier this evening:- Shaun's lungs are near 100% operational with the aid of the ventilator. The ventilator is operating at less than 40%, they hope to reduce this further The BIG news is that the magicians have today stopped completely the sedation drug. However he is on many powerful painkillers which in turn make him drowsy. As his family support team departed for home, Shaun has been moving his right hand and arm, neck, head, mouth, tongue, eyelids and eyes (no speech) A huge step forward and positive. We look forward to tomorrow mornings update Griff

Day 10 Docs have been on the blower. Shauns lung efficiency has improved substantially. (I have asked for a percentage figure)They now intend to gradually reduce his dependency on the ventilator. His Mobile support team will be visiting him this afternoon, that’s a minimum of a six hour evolution. Friends and family are still queuing up to drive them there and back, others are preparing meals for them when they get home - good to hear Shaun’s mobile support unit has its own support group. MrsG is holding up well and remains positive- As do we all Griff

The BRAG letter to the Blessed Authority is in my inbox. It’s both impressive, shocking and infuriating at the same time. I conversed with the Chairman of BRAG about it only this morning. BRAG are due a committee meeting shortly. I have asked that they give me permission to publish it in here in full. So, you’ll just have to mark time for a little while Griff

He has. The members have also put a large amount of funds into it to keep it going, me included Griff

More recently, the river was subjected to heavy dredging around Earith Bridge, which seemed to make a big difference and reduced the level of flooding across the flood plains around Holywell. Which is why I wonder whether the dredging in Great Yarmouth might have an effect on the current issues on the Broads. No surprise there then. Same thing happened in the south downs, massive flooding a couple of years ago, the locals were in uproar as for years they had been asking the EA to dredge the dykes / rivers back to what they used to be as they had badly silted up - The EA claimed this was not the cause of the flooding. However they came under such huge pressure that they did eventually do a far amount of dredging. Can you believe that since then there has been no repeat of the major flooding despite record rainfalls for some months. Well now. are we we that surprised? - Not The locals knew what they were on about despite the educated computer models of what the EA were stating Sound Familiar ? Griff

Another long day for me again. Out of house at 0715, got back home at 1945. Left my clients at 1730, had to go to Donny hospital for my annual eye screening (Diabetes Type 2) then to daughters to collect old skirting / architrave / Carpet I removed Sunday. I was proper grateful she had made me some tea to heat up when I got home. (My plumber mate been to hers - Central heating system now leak free and operational) then off to my farmer mate to dispose of gear into his bio mass burner - Then home Gotta think about getting gear packed and ready for this weekend afloat, bedding etc for the guests. Daughter has been round in my absence today and done the laundry, hoovered through etc. Next door neighbours are getting Purdey out on walks at least twice a day, closing my curtains turning night lights on etc. Our dishwasher isn't gonna get used till MrsG gets home - pointless with just me and Purdey here This situation would be so much easier if I was retired. Far too busy to even begin missing MrsG (Don't tell her I said that) Besides we've had a life before now with me being away a lot so are kind a used to it, a couple of years ago she emigrated up to Gourock for around nine months to nurse her Mum to her death (She succeeded) so we've had practise runs Griff

Evening Update - No change, Shaun remains stable in a coma. His mobile family support team will be visiting him tomorrow afternoon Griff

Has it finally gone then? Griff

Day 9 Update from the magicians:- internal pace maker fitted and operational, the procedure went well. The next step is to reduce his dependency on the ventilator. Another update this evening. Btw, they do have medical insurance so we won’t have to sell our hovel Griff

Wednesday 15/11 – Day 3 Shaun is back in theatre, 4 x Hrs this time, to stop the bleed and close him up, The surgeons are happy with how the procedure went. He remains in the ICU on various life supports. The Docs have had to forewarn the family he could be blind, unable to walk, unable to speak unable to hear etc etc if his brain was starved of oxygen. MrsG has discussed this terrible worst case scenario with his wife and son. Stating it was not her call but she would sooner they let him go then lock him into a future facing that lot. They both agreed with her. What a conversation to have and to put yersens through, can’t imagine owt worse More news from the magicians (Docs) – The have turned down slightly the heart machine and reduced some of his medication. His heart is working in a fashion Thursday 16/11 – Day 4 Thursday Morning – More news from the hospital – overnight the heart machine has been reduced down further to 50%. His heat is doing the other 50% This is great news. Shaun’s family support group will visit him again later today. Thursday evening news after their visit – The transfusion going into him to make up for the blood loss has now ceased. The haemorrhaging has stopped. He has a ventilator for his lungs, Food supply into a vein and his stomach an external pacemaker. He feels warmer to the touch now, has some colour. He ‘Seems’ to be reacting to audio voice sounds – This could just be wishful thinking and Docs are cautious about getting our hopes up Friday 17/11 – Day 5 Morning news - The heart machine is now down to 25% capacity. His support team are due another 4 x Hr drive round trip again today Evening news – The heart machine has been turned off, Shaun’s heart is doing its thing. Ventilator still connected, lungs now operating at 60% efficiency. He is running a temperature due to an infection – they have put him on antibiotics, also water retention – Dialysis to sort that one out. He remains in a coma. Big plus – His organs appear to be operating Saturday 18/11 – Day 6 Morning update from the magicians – Shaun is off the ventilator, (Has oxygen tube) lungs still not at full capacity yet though. There are some other issues which is expected apparently, infection reducing, temperature coming back down Evening update – Shaun is now marking time, that is no progress and no regression. Its his lung function that is causing the concern, they don’t seem to be recovering as they should, this then is his next major battle but the Docs stated this can be normal in these circumstances. They might have to turn him over which they most definitely do not want to do due to the trauma of the two operations. He may have to go back on the ventilator. On the upside they said the main blood vessel that feeds the brain was in good condition. Dialysis worked, his infection has all but been cured Sunday 19/11 – Day 7 The hospital stated they have been hampered by Shaun’s local hospital not forwarding on information that they have now just received – He’s previously had covid twice and an operation a couple of years ago to remove nasal polyps. With this new information they can approach his lung issues from a different angle – Seems German efficiency is fallible after all then Evening News – Shaun remains critical but stable Monday 20/11 – Day 8 No visitors allowed today – Docs said his heart although working fine, the rhythm is off so they intend to fit an internal pacemaker and amend his tracheotomy. Kidneys are working fine, they are impressed and surprised as to how well too Evening News – Pacemaker op – postponed due to another emergency arriving. Tracheotomy went very well, the are pleased. Internal pacemaker due to be fitted tomorrow. The Docs are now a lot more optimistic than they were a week ago. No update on lung condition. They have asked for his support team to stay at home again during Tuesday More to follow Griff

Another full day of it. Got a call from daughter - a leak in one of the bedrooms and could I go round after work. Arrived at 1830 having picked up Purdey en-route. A 10mm copper pipe feeding a bedroom radiator had fractured on the solder joint. Up into loft, secure ball valve. Down into utility the drain tap was on the radiator and was seized soled, had to remove the whole blasted fitting. Drained system down - Eventually. My recommended plumber will attend next day afternoon and make repairs. Then before I got home - got a call from son, could I collect him and drop him off at a local pub? - Meeting one of his mates for a birthday drink It was 2000 by the time I got in. Fortunately Daughter had mad my tea up for me to take home, Fed me and Purdey, fell asleep on lounge sofa. Phone woke me up at 2130 to collect son and take him home Griff

I feel a need to explain my / our relationship with MrG's Bro Shaun. He's not just 'The wife's Bro' To our family, he's a proper close family member and a really good mate too. He just seems to get on with everyone, he is genuinely one of life's 'Nice Guys' They have been onboard 'B.A' many times, we have visited them in Germany often too. They came over to my daughters wedding earlier this year. His Yorkshire family / friends love him to bits, he has a large following. Its the same from his Scottish family / friends (He's originally from Gourock) We really are in worrying times of late Griff

Life is somewhat hectic So, t'other weekend there 02 - 05th Nov the four owners of 'B.A' were in the wetshed dismantling our storage locker and replacing it with a smaller metal one, it took all weekend too along with doing the same with Robin and Trixie. This was a somewhat short notice affair that we needed to comply with under Richo's instructions Following weekend 10 - 13th saw me, MrsG, Purdey, Bro and his MrsG in a weekend retreat cottage in Northumberland - It was wonderful - until Monday morning. We got a call from Germany, MrsG's brothers wife had rang to tell us that Shaun was in intensive care. He had suffered a aortic dissection type A Sunday evening. Things were against him from the start. He was blue lighted to their local hospital, upon arrival they requested the air ambulance to take him to a specialist hospital - The wx was too bad for the helo to fly so it was 1 1/2 Hours in an ambulance - this didn't help one bit. During the operation to save his life they discovered that also one of his hearts chambers has not been functioning for years if at all! A 12 x Hr operation, Twelve Hours! he was now in an ICU in a medically induced coma. Shaun's wife said there was no immediate need for MrsG to attend, she would get an update and more news later We were now on our way home to Donny, swung off the A1 into Whitley Bay for some nosh in a dog friendly cafe. On our way south went via the Tyne Tunnel, nowadays you just drive straight through and have to go on line to pay the toll (£2:20 I think) with 24 x Hrs or so Arrived home then very late early Monday evening a call from Germany. Shaun was haemorrhaging and the docs couldn't stop it. They requested his wife's attendance immediately (2 x Hr drive for her and their son) MrsG was now in full panic mode, the family swing into action - It was impressive and I was very proud of the lot of them. Our daughter booked a flight from Manchester to Frankfurt Main, then realised there was an earlier flight whilst we were assisting with packing, sourcing euro's etc so I booked that one (In our confusion she had clicked on the wrong dam button) Our Son in law collected MrsG at 0215 and drove her to Manchester Airport. I eventually got to sleep at 0400 Tuesday morning facing a normal full days work at a clients MrsG made Frankfurt airport then Gros Zimmern (Where they live) along with Shaun's best mate just arrived in from Glasgow. Then a two Hr drive to the hospital in Karlsruhe Tuesday evening - Shaun is alive in a coma but on life support in ICU. Blood transfusion due to the bleed they can't stop, Blood circulation machine, Lung machine, tracheotomy the list goes on and on. They have not closed up his chest from the operation either. He is now facing another operation to try and stop the bleeding. They are worried he won't survive it, they are also mightily concerned that his brain and organs were starved of enough oxygen during the operation and their could be dire consequences More To follow Griff P.S with all that lot going on, guess who forgot to pay the toll for the Tyne Tunnel - Yep me! so a minimum fine of £32 going up to £100. I will go through their appeal process but the car we were in is registered to MrsG's name so they won't deal with me - Yet! Then just to top it off nicely the airline are refusing to refund the later flight we booked by mistake and didn't use - £250 lost there - However Daughter is on the case on this one

Good points / reply - And agreed with Griff

tomorrow will mark 2 months and one week exactly without the car. Think of all the fuel money you have saved there. Methinks you have been very lenient with the garage as after a couple of weeks you would have had a decent case for them supplying you with a courtesy or hire car Griff

Nice one, Thanks for sharing Griff

Hasn’t anyone yet worked out what they are? Griff

A 'Potent tail? - Don't go there Griff

We haven't fitted any traps to the three sinks onboard - Can't see the point. Some of the hire boats we've been on don't have them either Griff

Not car related but insurance related, the insurance renewal for Purdey has landed in my inbox - £530 for the year - Wow. I'll need to check what the current price is/was Griff