Well, I'm afraid I may have some bad news for some of you! Yesterday, I put my pen-ultimate test into operation, and passed! You see, whilst not mocking or disbeleiving Doctors, Surgeons,Politicians, I have always worked on the basis of testing myself to standards laid down by myself! Having passed the last 15 or so years, in trying to find out just how much I could physically and mentally go through, before falling flat on my face somewhere, I thought that, in these moments of decision taking, I owed it to myself, and society as a whole (who will be paying for these events), to give it a last REAL test/try! Since it was the end of the month and I needed just about everything from toilet paper to wine, and since the pro's had banned me from doing heavy work - until my operation had gone by and recuperation had been made-I set out on my travels, rucksack on my back, shopping trolley being pulled along, all the world like an out of work, out of address, tramp (which some would sa...

Karnaval Jan Jeck Originally uploaded by iwmpop . The only jester who is nice! Mr le marquis is not far away!

Karnaval Fasching im Wertach(Bavaria) Originally uploaded by iwmpop . This is the parade in the small mountain village we lived in. Snow obviously had a large role to play, and ski-ing, with torchlight processions on skis etc!

Karnaval Modern narren Originally uploaded by iwmpop . And the modern day jesters are just as bad, tending to be "sticklers" for law and dis-order!

Karnaval Originally uploaded by iwmpop . Ancient celebrations!

Karnaval-fastnacht im mainz Originally uploaded by iwmpop . This is a typical street parade.

Karnaval Narren Originally uploaded by iwmpop . This goes back a while, but the jesters were rather naughty little b*****s, not at all nice to know!

I've wanted to get an article on this Blog about Carnevale/Karneval for quite a while, and since "Mardi-gras" is on the last day of February (28th) when I'm not sure that I'll be here, I thought I'd get it off now! The British and the Americans (USA) tend not to make a fuss about it all, since it is really a "heathen adapted by the Catholics" festivity. The word itself is quite interesting, coming from "carne" (derivations are found in latin, Spanish,Italian) having to do with "meat", as in carnivore, which we all are ('specially Chippie who loves his roast poultry!). The Germans even went one better, since the word "carne" or derivations thereof do not exist in German, they simply changed the "C" for a "K" and Germanified it! Actually, in German, the name given for Good Friday ( the day on which we stop or start eating fish or meat-I've never known which) is actually Karfreitag, and there is...

R-J at Castries trial @50 resolution Originally uploaded by iwmpop . Nr 3 at 158kbs - I must confess I can't see a great deal of difference! I prefer nr 1 at 8kbs. Maybe I should go to the Optician's?

R-J at Castries trial @50 resolution Originally uploaded by iwmpop . Nr 2 (kinky) at 1kb!!! Usable as "arty"?

R-J at Castries trial @50 resolution Originally uploaded by iwmpop . Cos I think I've upset my mate Chippie, I'm going all the way! Number 1 of 3 versions of the same photo, but all 3 at different scanning levels. N1 is stored at 8kb, Nr 2 (kinky) at 1kb, Nr 3 at 156kbs! If you store a lot of photos is it interesting to scan lower down the resolution grade? So - Have I finally upset Chippie enough or what?

Main Parking Originally uploaded by iwmpop . First of 3 photos regarding my trip on the 26 January 2006 to the Arneau Villeneuve Hospital at Montpellier, to see the Anaethetist concerned. After waiting 3 hours, I had my throat checked (making sure there is enough room for tubes and stuff!, had blood taken (to determine type etc), and was informed of the future events(on the 9th February 2006) Apparantly they are not sure yet if 2 or 3 by-passes will be necessary. The OP will take between 5-7 hours. The period passed on the heart/lung machine (heart stopped) is limited to the minimum, around maximum 1hr.After circa 3 days in Int Care, I may (or may not) be transferred to Nimes.After a total of circa 10 days, I can go home! During a period of 1 month I must not lift or carry things, and this is a problem at the moment-who can I get to shop etc for me, I've still got to eat and drink! Although a certain Magali Coicading has proposed her services to "guard" the flat ...

Main Reception Originally uploaded by iwmpop . This is where I shall probably spend a lot of time waiting on the 8th February 2006, to be admitted to my bed!The cafeteria is just underneath!

Cardiac Surgery reception Originally uploaded by iwmpop . 26 January 2006 -Here is where I spent 3 hours waiting to see the Anaesthetist! The wait almost sent me to sleep!

Healthy Hospitals (continued) So, I reckon you must have got the idea now about how this system works, with little sticky labels of all colours, depending on what you’ve got/haven’t got are/are not! Bit like the Concentration camps really, and the food is just as bad! Anyway, having got my little sticky labels, called etiquettes, without which you go or get nowhere/nothing, I hurried off to my next confrontation – my room! Not being rich, I didn’t have a private room, and in any case, in my limited experience of such things, I never stay much in the room anyway, just for the necessary things, I’m always wandering around! This meant, of course, that I could expect one other person in the same room, and this is where the principle of lottery comes into the game! Very important (particularly for a longer stay) your “room-mate” mustn’t snore, screech,scream, fart, burp, must comport himself in a reasonable...

I finally found something to show you all where the problems lie! If you look at the design below, you can see the areas which will be "sites" of by-passes if it all works out. These are the arteries 1,2 and 4. The main arrival points are blocked to 70%, so these by-passes will take the blood around the "almost blocked" points. The artery 3, and the left side of the heart (together with the smaller blood vessels shown) is mainly dead tissue, since the first infarktus of 15 years ago! So now you know why I was only half-hearted in certain situations!!

I guess it must now be accepted! Since this morning, on the local Supermarket parking area, as I was struggling with my gloved hands, to put the little disc (jeton) used for the caddy, back onto my key ring, and a little old lady (you know, the type I normally take across the road whether she wants to go or not) came up and, tapping me with her walking stick, asked me if she could be of assistance!! Now, I could have taken my gloves off before, I did now, and promptly they fell on the ground. My little old lady simply bent down and picked them up, before I could move, saying something about modern day life not being easy for the elderly!!!!! To be honest, I was so taken aback that I didn't have time to say anything, and by the time I had got my wits back, my little old lady-Superwoman had disappeared somewhere on this large parkplace! Wow! She moved! She must have been rocket propelled! Anyway - I suppose I'll have to accept the facts, now, and I'll probably start by...

Hop-moi au lit Originally uploaded by iwmpop . And,in spite of the excitement, I did manage to lie down from time to time, particularly when they were cutting around on the bore's body - elsewhere in the Hospital!

Hop-Infirmiere +enmerdant Originally uploaded by iwmpop . Student Nurse and the bore. He never stopped ringing, and they never stopped coming to see him! A tense atmosphere built up!

Hop-la bouffe Originally uploaded by iwmpop . The only moments of distraction. Certainly not for the quantity or quality of what was brought, but simply an occupation for an hour or so!

Hop-enmerdant contente Originally uploaded by iwmpop . This was the other thing in my room! This gentleman will be the subject of an article on "Chez Mr le Marquis" later on.His antics were sad,but amusing for us all, Doctors and Nurses included, from not wanting to be admitted to the hospital, through to not wanting (refusing) to leave at the end of his stay!! A single man who cuddled his pillow at all hours of day and night,it's enough to say,for the moment,that he is the youngest (at 56) of 9 children,all still alive, the oldest of whom (the oldest sister of this guy)is 86 years of age!AND I KNOW THE HISTORY OF ALL OF THEM!! No names will be mentioned of course!

Hop-coupe des arteres Originally uploaded by iwmpop . Well,they wanted to know if my arteries were blocked, so a quick razor job, but nothing came out! Part of the WC/Douche/etc area in the room.CHU Nimes

Hop-mon lit soir Originally uploaded by iwmpop . This is my little corner of a 2 person room at CHU Nimes. I must have packed and re-packed that back 10 times! Nothing else to do!

Vauvert,France Thursday 19th Jan 2006-01-19 Update for interested parties. (For the others the same update is available on the various sites) Ladies/Gentlemen/Boys/Girls and all others, Here is the latest update in the ongoing saga of Mr le Marquis du Galipot! The CHU at Nimes did the work required of them, but decided NOT to even try “ballooning” or installing “stants” due to the location of possible blockages. Although no new blockages were found (the old one from 15 years ago was there of course, and a lot of dead tissue now surrounds it apparantly) it was discovered that the remaining 2 coronial arteries were showing signs of “placquing”, and since one can live with 2, but not with 1, any further closing would mean “tatty-bye”. The location (click on link-or open attachment) is at the entry to the heart, and is only treatable by at least 2 by-passes. (If this link works, it’ll tell you all about it. I...

To round off this weekend, and until an unspecified date, here's a couple of bits and bobs: According to the news site I frequent, mainly for French news, I found a titillating little piece entitled "British Deputy Prime Minister "forgets" to pay his local tax bill". Apparantly true, I won't go to details, all I wanted to say was that I hadn't heard anything at all about this on Sky News, or on BBC World news. Too normal, I suppose! I just saw a report on the German TV that the EU (Common Market) at Brussels have passed a little known law which should please all of you (you've ALL got big, classy cars!). Up till now, when you went to the petrol station, the pumps were "sealed" with an official Government seal, after having been tested for their "correctness of measure". Up till now, a limit of difference between shown on the pump, and actual quantity of petrol delivered was tolerated. This limit was 0,2%. Already 0,2% more for the...

As I recall, I left you last time, with me clutching my little sticky labels, and trying to get out of the clutches of Mrs Boys-boys! Well, my Professor turned out to be quite a pleasant guy, except that when I asked him how I should adress him (Doctor, Professor or what) he replied by saying "Call me whatever you want-I'm not bothered". He did require a shave, a little stubble pushing on the chin area, but I forgave that as probably the result of having started at 4 or 5 in the morning, and it was now 1300hrs. I apologised for my tardiness, and explained it was all down to the French System. He was actually quite happy about my lateness, since (as he said) he had only just got back from the operating rooms, so being late had avoided my having to sit around for an hour or so! Great, thought I, next time I'll have to find some other valable excuse for being late. Getting down to business, the man then went in to all the gory details of what he had planned for my immacu...

It appears that the British are having more problems with their understanding of Democracy. One time bastion of personal freedom, and still one of the only countries in the world where religious nuts can say anything they want almost, without flinching (so long as it is pro-Christian), the personal freedom and choice of certain (and not a small number either) British Subjects to smoke, ignoring other peoples wishes or feelings or health is at risk. As a "non-convinced but condemned-to-giving-it-up" non-smoker, it may be strange that I defend the rights of these people. It's a question of Democracy. It is the right of everybody to kill themselves if and how and when they see fit, and Mummy State should get out of it! Mummy State already gets loads out of it, and I'm sure that when everybody in Britain has stopped smoking, everybody will be enormously happy to pay the increased tax, to cover the loss of revenue. They tell me that the loss of revenue will be covered in a...