"Shingles all the Way!"

WEIGH-IN WEDNESDAY

This week, which actually turns into 2 weeks,  I've had a total Weight-Loss of 3.5 lbs 

So this week I've reached another Milestone!

Which means I've just dropped below 300 lbs  - I'm now 288.60lbs. I know what 

you're thinking - technically I should have mentioned this sooner, but the

truth is - it didn't dawn on me till now! Here's to the next 

Milestone - 250 lbs! And YES! I was a Big Boy!!

I've just checked something else: This also brings me to a total loss of:

FOUR STONE!

To Kate Nicholls!

Who's Birthday it was on Monday

xxxxx

"SHINGLES"

"All the Way!"

shingles |ˈSHiNGgəlz|

pl.noun [ treated as sing. ] Medicine

an acute, painful inflammation of the nerve ganglia, with a skin eruption often forming a girdle around the middle of the body. It is caused by the same virus as chickenpox. Also called herpes zoster.

A week ago last Tuesday I ended up at the West Midlands Accident and Emergency at

5:30pm because I'd had a continuos headache for the last 3 days and needed help.

After 5 hours of tests and evaluation it was decided that I was badly dehydrated. It

wasn't until the next day, under the supervision of Nurse Cindy,  who kept on asking 

"Whats that rash by your eye?" that the Doctor finally pronounced I had Shingles!!

Holy Moly Folks - not a load of fun I can tell you - its been a bitch - very painful with

lots of lovely side effects once you start the prescribed drugs - but now you know the real 

reason for no Blog last week  - my sincere apologies.

Re: 50lb Weight Loss.

Cindy came up with this alternative "Weight Calculation" 

Her Luggage 

And it's Contents

(6) Men’s shirts

(2) Pairs of blue jeans

(1) Pair black jeans

(2) Sports Bras

(2) Workout Pants/Leggings

(3) Workout Tops

(2) Skirts

(4) Sweaters

(5) Scarves

(2) Dresses

(1) Swimming Suit Top

(1) Swimming Suit Coverup

(1) Coppertone Sunscreen

(3) Winter Hats

(1) Belt

(2) Tank Tops

(1) Jacket

(1) Pareo Sarong

(2) Rasers

(1) Bag of Nail Essentials 

(2) Packages of Gum

(1) Battery

(1) Apple Computer Cord

(1) Wireless Headset and Cord

(1) Speaker

(2) Pairs of Boots

(1) Pair of Running Shoes

(1) Notebook With Ukulele Music

(6) Pairs of Socks

(2) Toothbrushes

Misc. Paper Work

5O LBS OF LUGGAGE!

(Or - all this was in my tummy until recently)

On Fathers Day I had a FULL HOUSE of Well Wishes from my Family. So to Travers, Angus,

Maisie, Emily and Oakley - Many thanks. I'm not saying the LINK I sent them all to an Electronic

Greetings Cards Site,  a few days before had any baring on the end Result of Success but...

Drawing by Maisie of a Pirate I played in a West Country Music Video!

Bless Her: She even slimmed down my face for: The New Me!!

This below is definitely worth a Cut & Paste for a View - its from my Son, Angus

and contains a video of myself as a Gangster Rapper - Enjoy!

http://www.jibjab.com/view/aI1zUPHFTWyk_W63OyJ6Dw?mt=1&utm_campaign=Sharer+PopUp&utm_content=dad_rap&utm_medium=Share&utm_source=Facebook

Happy Father's Day muthafucka!!! Love you xxx

Thanks a lot Gussie - you've always been my favourite!

Congratulations to Gussie for Chile's amazing 3-1 win over Australia.

Cindy gave me a very special Father's Day Gift - she'd had this bag specially

made for me to keep my Convention Bits & Pieces in.

"KBO" stands for the Winston Churchill saying:

"Keep Buggering On!"

This is the material for the interior of the Bag - the famous Winston Cigars!

"COCKEY'S GIRLS"

On the day I ended up at the A & E,  I finally did the Staged Reading of Steve Gooch's Play 

"Cocky's Girls" about Hitchcock's relationship with all the women in his life, his Mother, 

Alma,  his Wife & Editor, Patricia his daughter, and Princess Grace his Muse. 

The Reading took place at the CLUB FOR ACTS & ACTORS - 20 Bedford St, London, 

WC2E 9HP. About 5 minutes from Leicester Square Tube.

We read the Play in the morning then did a simple Staging on our feet and then performed

it at 3:30pm in front of an invited audience of friends and interested Industry people

This was the response from the Writer, Steve Gooch later that day:

Hi Ian,

I've heard nothing but praise for your Hitch - this from the RNT bloke is typical:

" thanks – I thought the reading conveyed a very convincing sense of Hitchcock and his relationship with Alma. And interesting about his daughter .... it did make me laugh a few times and Ian was terrific casting. "

What, only a few!!

You were terrific casting, and I think you do him better than everyone else. It's a shame that in those circumstances we couldn't take it a bit further.  I think Jules' staging ideas, had they been achievable, would have taken us into Alfred's head - which is the sense of the play.

Wow! Praise indeed - Thank you Steve!

WATER BUS TRIP FROM PADDINGTON STATION TO CAMDEN LOCK

Before I had my Shingles,

about ten days ago I took a trip with the Australians David and Meg up the canal

from Paddington Station to Camden Lock - it took about 50 minutes and was a 

truly delightful way to pass the time slowly making our way through this hidden, leafy 

part of London.

This was my favourite sign at the stop for REGENTS PARK ZOO.

Could the Sign mean "Do not moor or land when red flag is flying

because something has escaped from the Zoo!"??

Lunch at CAMDEN LOCK - you can see my M&S Low Calorie

sandwich I'd bought earlier - such a good boy!

Obligatory "Winston Churchill Autograph Hunter" - Sorted!

In the evening we ended up at the London Wonderground on the South Bank 

where we saw:

A fantastic Burlesque Entertainment with various anarchic circus-type

performers - amazing. The Director was an Australian who David knew

which was an added bonus.

On the Weekend I first noticed signs of Shingles,

I returned to my CONVENTION WORLD with another trip to

Belfast and to the Kings Hall Pavilions Culture Centre. Yet again the Wacky Geeks were

out and about - here's a few of them for your perusal:

Here I am with long time Fan - Simon - I've  probably known Simon since

the early eighties.

"The Tribute Fingers"

The last time I was in Belfast a chap called Denis Rush asked me if he could make a plaster cast of

my hand in the Winston Churchill Victory Pose - over the years I wondered what 

had happened to it. He told me he worked in the Special Effects Dept in the Film Industry.

To my utter surprise he turned up at this Convention with the original - Fab!  

"I'd like to thank My Mother, My Father, Ernesto the Concierge, Paul from Naked Grain,

Roger from the Tattoo Parlour, Paula the Nurse at Brentford Medical Centre........

and of course all of you that read my Blog!

On Sunday 15th of June at 8:00pm we attended the Ist Blackheath International Chamber Music Festival which took place at:

THE CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION

Blackheath

The evening was about the fascinating relationship between Johannes Brahms,
Clara Schumann, and Robert Schumann: Music and their Personal Letters.
There were both Readings of their letters and music for piano, flute, violin and cello.
The main reason we were there was to support the Australian Painter David
Hinchliffe who had been invited to paint the musicians throughout the evening.

Joannes Brahms

The Venue

The Artist painting by candlelight.

The Artist's Tools of his Trade.

One of the Finished Paintings.

And finally with David, the Artist and Lana Trotovsek, the Violinist.

A MEMENTO

Just as I was leaving David presented me with a memento he had made for me. As a

memory of our delightful evening at the Wolseley Restaurant, he had painted the evening in 

all its sumptuous glory. 

For Best Effect try looking at the painting from a little distance.

Yep! The large fella with his back facing you in the middle is me!

I must say I nearly didn't receive my memento - apparently David's Agent who is responsible for

all of David's London Gallery Openings said she wanted it. He had to say it was earmarked for a 

friend to which she replied "Well you better start painting some Interiors!"

I also showed the painting to Jeremy King, one of the owners of the Wolseley - this was his

response: " It is wonderful – and I think you look distinguished! Thanks for sharing – I have seen a lot of paintings/drawings in The Wolseley but few capture the spirit as well as this - J"

I have since heard from David:

"My gallery liked the painting too, so much so that they encouraged me to do another (in the great tradition of artists past, like Van Gogh who did 4 versions of his Sunflowers -- not that for a moment I would compare myself...!). So, I did do another for the gallery (the second ones are never as good as the originals)  and it's possible that it will be in display at the gallery opening next week."

The Gallery David is talking about is the Store Street Gallery, 32 Store St, London, WC1E 7BS. He has an Exhibition of his work from the 26th of June - 12th of July.

(www.storestreetgallery.com)

Stunning, isn't it? Thank you David..xx

A TRAILER FOR NEXT WEEK

From the heart of London's WEST END our intrepid Reporter DAVID HINCHLIFFE gives

a Bird's Eye View of:

Believe me - you won't want to miss this! There will be A COMPETITION

and PRIZES will be awarded for the BEST CAPTION to go with each Photo

provided. 

You know I love your Comments - please leave them  (Email me them if it's easier for you

and I'll put them on for you)  and remember - the ruder the better!!

xxxxx