Small Boys in Weymouth 1949

And what do small boys do in Weymouth in about 1949. Well we roamed around the harbour and went fishing on either the new pier or the old pier. I remember that just off to one side of the old pier there was a place where it was almost allways possible to catch small bream, and these were taken home where my mother filleted and fried them. Really good they were too. Otherwise the fish were often rass or what we called rock salmon, which we just threw back in the sea.

But best of all was going with my father in his boat to empty the lobster and crab pots or fish for conger eels by Portland Harbour wall. We would anchor just off the wall and try to catch these rather clever fish. They were tricky because they would take your bait and then back into the wall and hang on with their long bodies. To stop this happening it was necessary to strike and pull hard as soon as they took the hook and get them away from the wall before they could get a grip of it. My Dad was pretty good at it and the sight of a one to two meter long fish coming into the boat and then thrashing about all over the place was pretty exciting.

When we got home with our catch my Mother would prepare the lobsters and crabs for the fishmonger, and the whole catch would go to the shop. Fish from a local fish shop in Weymouth at that time was usually locally caught and very fresh. I wonder how it is today.

Another favorite playground was Radipole lake park. There was a long stainless steel slide that we used to polish with candle wax and the seat of out trousers to make it faster. Perhaps it is still there. But just a little way from the slide was a pool on which we could sail our toy boats, and there were all sorts there. Great sailing boats, model steam ships and paper boats that Dads would make. All together a very special place.

And of course there was the railway. Boy do things that are in hindsite certainly naughty and perhaps a little dangerouse. There was and perhaps still is a footbridge over the railway on the way to the park. And when the steam trains (and they were all steam trains then) passed under it the train would puff out clouds of steam and smoke. Us boys would take small stones and try to drop them into the train's funnel as it got close to the bridge. If we were successful they would be shot out under the bridge and clatter against it making a good old bang. There were also some shunting lines behind the park and if we had a halfpenny we would put it on the track where the shunted trucks were going to pass. As the trucks ran over the coin it would make a mark and move down the line. So after several trucks had run over it (and it was safe to take a look) there were several imprints of the coin on the metal railway line. I am sure they are all worn away by now and the line is inacessible too I expect. Perhaps I will take a look when next I am in Weymouth.

Recovery from heart Attack - Home again

Back home after a total of nine day in the hospitals. I was transferred to From Vichy to Moulins only two KM from where I live on the Tuesday after the crisis.

Now I am taking six medications per day and feeling very well with non symptoms except for a very occasional pricking sensation in my chest. My main concerns now relate to the level of physical activity I should allow myself, and gaining a full understanding of the reasons for, and possible long term effect of the medications I am taking.

As my next consultation with the cardiologist is scheduled for early June, I want to bring it forward and get proper clarification on these matters.

Life begins again - After a Cardiac accident - Heart Attack.

The 29th of March saw me with a blood pressure reading of 17/12 and my partner calling the French emergency service number 15.

A Dr. and nurse arrived very quickly hotly pursued by an ambulance. Yes it had happened, a partial blockage of one of the arteries that feed blood to a muscle of my heart was giving me some discomfort and needed urgent attention. So we rushed off, with all sirens going for a 45 minute ride to Vichy, the nearest hospital with the specialized facility to deal with me.

I have begun to tell the story more fully in a separate blog, but it has a small place here too I think. Suffice it to say, the hospital staff did a great job and a stent was inserted about half an hour after i arrived. The result was an almost immediate relief from the distress I was in and me on the road to recovery........

I have now been home for ten days and feel very good. Need to take it easy and allow the heart muscle to repair, but should be as good as new in a few months as long as I do not get over confident and disturb the healing process.