My father, George, was the first Dr Sloan.
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
QEGS
I had a wonderful morning yesterday. I contacted my old school after I was awarded the MBE in this June's Birthday Honours (I will write up that experience on my Professorpavov blog later). Neal Rigby, retired history master and President of the Old Savilians' Club, took me on a tour. He was absolutely great. The last time I nosed about the school was in 1980. I was a pupil there from 1953 to 1963.
What fantastic changes have been made. However, I could picture the biology and chemistry labs even though they were in other use. I remembered all the other classrooms I had been in. He gave me the latest tie and a fascinating book on the history of the school to celebrate its 400th anniversary in 1991. I note that my headmaster, Mr E J Baggaley, is the only head since 1591 not to have gone to Oxbridge and the only head with a science degree!!! I am so grateful to the school for setting me up with my education.
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Easter Sunday 24 4
We had a great lunch with a friend at Monk Fryston Hall Hotel. The first photo is of Kath there today and the second in 1966.
Friday, 22 April 2011
22 4 2011
Friday 22nd April 2011
Fantastic weather here day after day. A week of firsts. Yesterday I went with the group of retired G Ps and locums on a tour of an estate of the ECO houses that are being built near where we live. I manage these monthly meetings which have been held for about 4 years) It is the biggest such estate in the United Kingdom. The houses are very heavily insulated and heated by a huge communal wood burner. The ash from that can be used as a fertilizer. Each house has a cleansing device so the bath and washing up water can be cleansed and used to flush the lavatory.
I found, a couple of weeks ago, where one of my ex trainee doctors was working in California. Adrian Rawlinson. My second favourite trainee!! I could not be obtain his email address is so I posted him a letter. I got a great he email back with photographs of his lovely wife and children. He told me what he was doing and wants to talk to me for 30 MINs about of project. He wants is to use Skype. He also wants to be a patron of the Castleford Choral Society!! I have this on my computer but have never used it. I contacted Martin Smith, our relation in Leeds and asked him if I could try it out with him. He phoned me this morning and told me to set up a video link with him. We had a chat while he was eating his porridge for his breakfast before going to church. What an amazing facility. The other thing I’ve done this week is to speak to publishing company based in the USA. I have written about 6000 words about my experience of the first 18 months being a medical student. I’m not sure anyone will be interested. The publishing company has an editing facility and looks good to me and makes me think of writing a book about what I think has been my fascinating life. Have I got delusions of grandeur?
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
20 4 2011
Wednesday April 20th
For the last few days we have had wonderful weather with temperatures warmer than Greece. Kath and I have twice been for walks. We went to Stanley Marsh in Wakefield at the weekend which was a new discovery. Yesterday we went on a 2 mile walk near the river Aire at Fryston. Lots of new paths have been made and there is a map of the walks there that I have printed. We are having loads of work done on the inside of Hill House – decoration and new carpets and bedroom furniture. The bedrooms have not been touched for decades. The lounge carpet was successfully cleaned yesterday and we have had to walk about wearing blue shoe protectors until it dried. Yesterday I met Liz Moulton for coffee at the Deanery in Leeds University. I was the first associate director of postgraduate general practice education and Liz is now the deputy director. We had a good catching up session. We have had a great professional relationship for many years. It was good to meet Esme again. Head from Katia in Italy that our cleaner of our Italian house, Luisa, has had an operation on her knee but all has been sorted out for our forthcoming visit.
For the last few days we have had wonderful weather with temperatures warmer than Greece. Kath and I have twice been for walks. We went to Stanley Marsh in Wakefield at the weekend which was a new discovery. Yesterday we went on a 2 mile walk near the river Aire at Fryston. Lots of new paths have been made and there is a map of the walks there that I have printed. We are having loads of work done on the inside of Hill House – decoration and new carpets and bedroom furniture. The bedrooms have not been touched for decades. The lounge carpet was successfully cleaned yesterday and we have had to walk about wearing blue shoe protectors until it dried. Yesterday I met Liz Moulton for coffee at the Deanery in Leeds University. I was the first associate director of postgraduate general practice education and Liz is now the deputy director. We had a good catching up session. We have had a great professional relationship for many years. It was good to meet Esme again. Head from Katia in Italy that our cleaner of our Italian house, Luisa, has had an operation on her knee but all has been sorted out for our forthcoming visit.
Monday, 11 April 2011
April 11th 2011
Monday April 11th
On Saturday we sang in the Castleford Choral Society’s Spring Concert. Kath is the secretary of the society for very many years and I have been the Patrons’ Secretary since 1997. I have resigned as I want to do something different for the choir. Kath and I also open up the church where we rehearse and I am responsible for putting out the chairs. Kath works very hard indeed for the society producing all the tickets and programmes and has had to take over as seating organiser from Colin who has been ill. She has also done the publicity in our local paper. The society has its own website: www.castlefordchoralsociety.co.uk. We rehearse each Wednesday evening in the United Reformed Church in Castleford. The programme we put on was a great mixture and the venue, Trinity Methodist Church Castleford, was packed. The soloist (Pam Waddingon Muse), trumpeter (Anthony Thompson) made the evening a success as did our accompanist, Claire Burden who played the organ. We had really good positive feedback. It is a hard day for me and Kath, particularly Kath. In the morning a small gang helps to erect the stage and put out the seats. In the early afternoon we have a dress rehearsal and this year the conductor was particularly grumpy. I decided to change how I treated the patrons in the interval. In previous years I had brought all sorts to eat and used a small back room. There was always loads of food wasted. This year I decided to have a table in the main interval hall and serve coffee and teas to the patrons. The society gave the church a contribution and they put out chocolate cakes and biscuits for the patrons. These went down particularly well. I mis-judged the time and effort it took to serve teas to 30 people and thank goodness Kath came along to help. I managed to talk briefly to some of our friends before the second half of the concert.
Someone in the audincewas given permission to video parts of the performance you can look at the itenms on youtube by searching for Castleford Choral SocietyI then helped putting away the chairs and dismantling the stage before going home. We always have some (quite a lot) red wine and cheese and biscuits after a concert. This year Kath had pate as she had given up cheese for lent.
On Sunday, after we had prepared two rooms for the decorators, we had a day of rest. While Kath was at church I went for a walk in Fryston. It was a beautiful day and the walk is next to the River Aire. In the afternoon we failed to park at the Pugneys Park because of the crowds and drove up to Emly Moor TV mast ( the highest freestanding structure in the UK). The views from up there were pretty good. A curry in the evening followed by Lewis.
On Saturday we sang in the Castleford Choral Society’s Spring Concert. Kath is the secretary of the society for very many years and I have been the Patrons’ Secretary since 1997. I have resigned as I want to do something different for the choir. Kath and I also open up the church where we rehearse and I am responsible for putting out the chairs. Kath works very hard indeed for the society producing all the tickets and programmes and has had to take over as seating organiser from Colin who has been ill. She has also done the publicity in our local paper. The society has its own website: www.castlefordchoralsociety.co.uk. We rehearse each Wednesday evening in the United Reformed Church in Castleford. The programme we put on was a great mixture and the venue, Trinity Methodist Church Castleford, was packed. The soloist (Pam Waddingon Muse), trumpeter (Anthony Thompson) made the evening a success as did our accompanist, Claire Burden who played the organ. We had really good positive feedback. It is a hard day for me and Kath, particularly Kath. In the morning a small gang helps to erect the stage and put out the seats. In the early afternoon we have a dress rehearsal and this year the conductor was particularly grumpy. I decided to change how I treated the patrons in the interval. In previous years I had brought all sorts to eat and used a small back room. There was always loads of food wasted. This year I decided to have a table in the main interval hall and serve coffee and teas to the patrons. The society gave the church a contribution and they put out chocolate cakes and biscuits for the patrons. These went down particularly well. I mis-judged the time and effort it took to serve teas to 30 people and thank goodness Kath came along to help. I managed to talk briefly to some of our friends before the second half of the concert.
Someone in the audincewas given permission to video parts of the performance you can look at the itenms on youtube by searching for Castleford Choral SocietyI then helped putting away the chairs and dismantling the stage before going home. We always have some (quite a lot) red wine and cheese and biscuits after a concert. This year Kath had pate as she had given up cheese for lent.
On Sunday, after we had prepared two rooms for the decorators, we had a day of rest. While Kath was at church I went for a walk in Fryston. It was a beautiful day and the walk is next to the River Aire. In the afternoon we failed to park at the Pugneys Park because of the crowds and drove up to Emly Moor TV mast ( the highest freestanding structure in the UK). The views from up there were pretty good. A curry in the evening followed by Lewis.
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Diary 7 4 2011
Wednesday April 7th
Plasterers came on Tuesday morning to work in our conservatory before the decorators start next Monday. Mike, the chairman of the Airedale Neighbourhood Management Board came to get a cheque from me (which I forgot to sign) – a contribution to the board to pay some young lads to deliver the newsletter I have organised.
Today I delivered newsletters to Fryston village and half of a long road called Fryston Road. Occasionally I met people I knew as a GP which was very nice.I could write an essay on letterboxes. It was a beautiful day – the warmest of the year and the first day I did not wear a jumper. I practiced singing some music we are doing for the Castleford Choral Society concert on Saturday and in the evening went to a choir rehearsal. Kath is stressed with all this as she is the secretary of the choir and two people who do significant work are ill. So she is doing the work of the seating secretary as well as everything else.
Plasterers came on Tuesday morning to work in our conservatory before the decorators start next Monday. Mike, the chairman of the Airedale Neighbourhood Management Board came to get a cheque from me (which I forgot to sign) – a contribution to the board to pay some young lads to deliver the newsletter I have organised.
Today I delivered newsletters to Fryston village and half of a long road called Fryston Road. Occasionally I met people I knew as a GP which was very nice.I could write an essay on letterboxes. It was a beautiful day – the warmest of the year and the first day I did not wear a jumper. I practiced singing some music we are doing for the Castleford Choral Society concert on Saturday and in the evening went to a choir rehearsal. Kath is stressed with all this as she is the secretary of the choir and two people who do significant work are ill. So she is doing the work of the seating secretary as well as everything else.
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