November 2013

November  already, got quite a bit to report here.   I have been attending a poetry 

group with the very inspirational Mike Garry with other stroke patients and our homework

was to write a sonnet.   Check out Mike’s work via his many books or watch this video

The day was special as I had arrived to the news that a dear dear pal had been rushed to hospital

on the Friday after showing signs of a TIA, luckily he had been given the warning a TIA is.

Paul arrived with his usual beaming smile & we caught up a bit and I wasn’t the only one to 

tell him to take it easy, that was to take it easy but I should have known better as I took him to see Stockport County play North Ferry United ??? a couple of weeks later  23rd November

Then onto my first ambassador talk for the Stroke Association & over £20,ooo raised between the Stroke Association and Cancer ResearchUK – which took place at Duckinfield Town Hall, I loved it, talking about me playing football at Edgeley Park, Stockport, at Craven Cottage, home of Fulham FC and Old Trafford, the theatre of dreams, the home of Manchester United FC in front of 50,000 (empty seats) and missing a penner at the Stretford End.  Yes I really did !! anyway please contact me if you would like me to do a bit of after dinner / motivational speaking.

On to the Sonnet – here goes:

September Strike (originally I titled it “A Stroke Strikes”)

Slurring my words and Im not drunk

Whats happened to me? Am i defunked?

So many questions, but the main ones why?

Learning to walk again, oh I could cry!!

Pins and needles, cramp and my patch

The sensation has gone, is that the catch?

Starting over again, Oh such fun

Cant even walk, never mind contemplate run.

For once in my life, couldn’t care about work

Whats wrong with me, am I being a burke?

My family come and sometimes shed a tear

Oh my word, when can I have my next beer?

Visitors come and say Im looking well

Oh deep joy, life is so swell.