I intend to leave the photographs below because not only is it my website but also I am a bit of a poseur.   Good enough?

In the interests of political balance I shall leave these photographs where they are simply because DC will become PM whether we like him or not.

Saturday 7th November

Seeing the early morning frost on the school field I thought a spot of cross country skiing would be good fun today.   Trouble is, I couldn't find my compass so decided to play golf with my mates in the TOGS instead.

Friday 6th November

I spotted my favourite hockey player having a peek on my blog yesterday and am wondering if she is still playing for the Guildford ladies hockey team.   If you are, KA, we would like to know how your season progresses.

Those of you who enjoy a cup of Earl Grey tea may be interested to learn that the beverage was named in honour of Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey who was born up here in Northumberland and who became leader of the Whigs in opposition to William Pitt's Conservatives.   He went on to be the Prime Minister from 1830 - 1834.

The city of Newcastle has a statue at the head of the historic and beautiful Grey Street in the Toon and there is also a metro station in the city centre called Monument, which requires no explanation.

I tell you this because down here in North Shields, in Earl Grey Way, there is a Twinings tea factory, one of only two in the country.   Sadly it is to close in a couple of years and production moved to the other factory in Andover way 'darn sarf' in Hampshire.  

There is also a Grey Street in North Shields and a certain citizen of Fort Langley, BC, Canada briefly lived there once upon a time.   There are probably some Beatles LP's in an attic in a house in Grey Street that she stowed away for safe keeping too.

I find Earl Grey tea a bit too tangy for the Boggy taste buds but sometimes indulge when staying in a posh hotel just so that I can tell whoever wants to listen, about the Geordie boy (near enough) in who's (or is it whose?) honour it is named.

Thursday 5th November

Update:   Having just read Jill Edwards' post in my guest book I looked up the young man, Matthew Nixon, as she suggested.   What can I say?  

Matthew is ranked 34th in  world amateur golf and 7th in GB & Ireland.   He won the British Boys championship in 2006 and I think he is now 20 years old, is a member of the England elite squad of golfers and is playing off +4 handicap.  

I know what I can say, fantastic.  

Incidentally, have you noticed how Matthew represents GB & Ireland and not the UK.

His grandad would be so proud.   Thanks for the info Jill we shall all be looking out for him now, as well as Laura Bavaird (see below).

Firstly, the sound is not working.   Yes, it is switched on and all of the lights and dials tell me that it is OK, but can I hear anything?   Of course I can't.   My online guitar tutor from the USA sends me clips and I can see him playing the riff and talking me through it but..........

.................secondly, the colour will not work on my printer so everything is coming out in monochrome.   Yes, I have changed and checked the inks as well as cleaned the heads and all the techy stuff and they read all sytems go.   Yet when I print a 'test page' only the black is working.

If my friendly IT guru is reading this he may like to contact me and talk me through it.   If not the hammer is definitely coming out of the box.

The Cultured Caledonian was telling me of his American cousin, Laura Bavaird, who is hoping to make it on to the ladies tour.   At present she is back in Q School and lying tied fifth on 5 under par to take her place on the Duramed Futures Tour next season.  

The Cultured One was seen skipping to his office this morning having watched his beloved Yankees win their 27th World Series.   Just as well I didn't have a bet on the Phillies and demonstrates how little I know about baseball.

Meanwhile I'm sticking with my mate Tony to be elected as European supremo, but if not, the South Shields man is a cert.

Wednesday 4th November

As much as I like football I have to admit to being completely disinterested in the fare currently being served up as Champions League football.   Brain Clough predicted that this would be the case way back when he was the best manager in the country and that too many live televised matches would have this effect.  

Having just listened to PMQ's on the radio, it seems a new term has entered the lexicon.   Our hapless prime minister kept referring to the 'iron cast' promise made by the Tories about holding a referendum on the EU constitution if and when they are elected as the next government.   

Now that the Czech government has ratified the Lisbon Agreement it will be very soon that a President and Foreign Minister are elected to represent Europe on the world stage.   The odds have lengthened on my mate Tony becoming president and holding up traffic in the USA and or China but if I were a betting man I would chance ten bob on it happening anyway.   If not, the MP for South Shields is a shoe in for the other job.

Tuesday 3rd November

Congratulations to all of my mates down under on staging another David Hookes Tribute Series.   The Australian Transplant Cricket Club - ATCC - affectionately known as 'The Wombats' are lucky to have one person who drives things forward, does all of the organising and running around and without whose input I daresay the ATCC may have gone the same way as the GBTCC.

I refer of course to the indefatigable JPS or, to give him his full, title Jeff Sewell .   Not only does Jeff hold down a very high profile and stressful occupation in NSW and look after the three lovely ladies in his life but he also somehow has the capacity to be a one man cricket administrator, facilitator, benefactor, manager, bon viveur, raconteur, chauffeur, tour guide, Internazionale fan and most importantly is a good egg.   JPS does so not seeking the limelight nor looking for praise from his peers but I for one am happy to offer same.  

He would be the first to thank others who have helped him in his endeavours with the ATCC, namely the Wolf Man, Muzza, Dr Howard Watts, Paul Harvey and Shaun Martyn of 14 Degrees,  Mark Preddey and many others down in Bowral, Greg Monaghan and all of his many contacts in the business and cricket fraternity, especially John Soldan and Robyn Hookes, but there are times when unsung  heroes need others to sing their praises and I am proud to do that.  

Of all the people in the world transplant family that I have come across, Jeffrey Sewell is head and shoulders above the rest of us and I am privileged to have him as a mate.   

G'day to all at Transplant Australia too.

Monday 2nd November

It seems that my big sister's adopted homeland is employing some sharp practice in the build up to the Winter Olympic Games which will be staged  in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.   By not allowing other teams to use the practice facilities for speed skating and curling, except for Russia who are the hosts in 2014 (reciprocity perhaps?) they are not showing much Olympic spirit to their visitors.

I learn that they, the Canadians, have a programme called 'Own the Podium' in their quest to top the table with 35 medals.    This is all very well but it's just not cricket chaps.  

Play up! Play up! And play the game.

Say hello to all of my friends and rellies in BC for me sis.

My preferred search engine is, like many others, Google.   It was not so long ago that when searching for my own website there were 297,00 results.    About a month ago it went up to 400,000+.   For some unexplained reason it is now 529,000 and I haven't a clue as to why or how.   The search box uses predictive text and when I get as far as the Ma of my surname, up it pops in the options along with Graham's Manou (98,800), Masterton (210,000), Manche (1,474,000) and Mack (a whopping 8,060,000).   Just thought you may be interested.

Sunday 1st November

Having obliged Mrs Boggy by accompanying her (I drove in the pouring rain) to the Metro Centre on the first of what will likely be many Christmas shopping forays I have been allowed to spend the rest of the day with my head buried in the Sunday newspapers.   I think it is what is known as quid pro quo.

Saturday 31st October

I considered going windsurfing this morning but could not find my wetsuit so decided to play golf with the TOGS instead.   On the way home I called in at the greengrocer's and bought a turnip and a candle and will soon have hollowed out a magnificent nammy so that Mrs Boggy and I can go 'trick or treating' this evening.

Friday 30th October

Thursday 29th October

On leaving the nation's favourite purveyor of knickers, having bought a basketful of 'meals for one' for my currently incapacitated mother, I was aimlessly wandering around the large car park  for a good five minutes before I remembered where I had parked.   Is it just me or do other people have the same problem?

I often give obscure name checks to individuals known to me and one of them, the Cultured Caledonian merits a special mention today.   In his life outside of the golf course he is a successful businessman and has recently launched a new initiative aimed specifically at 10 - 11 year old school children.   Not only does it encompass science and road safety but it is also educating the young angels about recycling and the benefits to our planet.   This has to be a good thing.  

The name of the project is Tyre Education for Schoolchildren and the ubiquitous but necessary acronym is TEFORS.   If you would like to know more, have a look at the tailor-made website the Cultured One has created and leave a message for him.

Go on admit it, you thought I just made these people up.   I well remember the science lessons we used to suffer at school with magnets and iron filings, this stuff seems much more interesting.   Incidentally the Cultured One is a massive NY Yankees fan and they are presently trying to win the World Series against current holders Philadelphia.   Come on Yankeeeeees.   However, if I were a betting man my money would be on the Phillies.

Wednesday 28th October

Not that I take far too many tablets or that I am getting older by the minute but have to admit to finishing my game of golf at lunchtime, into clubhouse for a bowl of soup, leave to do a few messages before arriving back home at 3pm only to find that I had left my golf clubs and trolley, complete with battery, outside the clubhouse.     I only noticed when I opened the boot of my car to put them in the garage.   Whoops.

Tuesday 27th October

I spent much of yesterday afternoon in a large bookstore I regularly visit reading up on Sweden in general and Vaxjo, which is the venue for next year's European Heart & Lung Transplant Games, in particular.   All very interesting but I decided to mooch over to the music section and spotted amongst the hundreds of books on offer a new autobiography by Brian Johnson the lead singer with AC / DC entitled Rockers & Rollers.

I probably read 25% of this canny tome and ended up on the floor laughing out loud.   Not only is BJ a serious musician with arguably the world's most successful rock band but he is also a down to earth Geordie boy.   He devotes a paragraph to Brendan Healy which is really funny and goes into some detail about a 'lock in' they enjoyed at the Beehive Pub en route to Earsdon.   Memories came flooding back I have to say as I enjoyed a couple of similar evenings in the company of the big fella.  

There are loads of references to his Geordie upbringing and pre AC / DC life and the story of how he nearly didn't go darn sarf to Landan for his audition for the Aussie rockers is also very funny.   I think Brian Johnson is talking about the book all week on Planet Rock radio, so if you get the chance to have a listen, it will definitely cheer you up.   You could always buy the book I suppose.

Monday 26th October

From a cold but sunny Costa del Tynemouth I am saddened to hear that the Bowral and Sydney districts of NSW are experiencing much rain which is affecting the current David Hookes Tribute Series cricket matches down there in Australia.   The ATCC match at Bowral against a Bradman Foundation XI, for whom I opened the innings last season and knocked out Muzza's middle stump in my bowling spell, was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

However every cloud (literally) has a silver lining.   Both teams have been invited to take part in the SCG Marathon Cricket Event on behalf of the Primary Club in January and they will contest the David Hookes Trophy at the magnificent venue that is the Sydney Cricket Ground on 18th January.

The Australian Primary Club is a charitable organisation and the funds raised support cricket teams and organisations whose players suffer disabilities.   I Know in England that the Primary Club supports 'blind cricket' and they always get lots of publicity on Test Match Special.

To become a member of the Primary Club is easy, to qualify you must have been out at cricket to the first ball you faced.   Let's be honest, no matter at what level of cricket you may have played you will likely qualify.

On Tuesday 19th January there is to be a dinner held in the Steve Waugh Room at the SCG celebrating the 88th birthday of the legendary Arthur Morris, a fellow left handed batsman who also bowled wibbly wobblies and Chinamen.    Guests at the dinner include Richie Benaud, Neil Harvey, Sam Loxton and the president elect of the Primary Club, the Aussie broadcaster Jim Maxwell.

To say I am envious of the Australian transplant cricket boys would be an understatement and it bugs me that due to the apathy of my fellow GB transplant cricketers, with a few honourable exceptions, we could be enjoying similar matches and functions, not to mention fantastic publicity for organ donor awareness, here in England / Wales.  

As ever, my thanks to the tireless JPS, chairman of the ATCC for this information.  

Although, "I am just happy to be here!" I too wished I could be there Jeff.  

For those of my readers who aren't interested in cricket but have read this far anyway let me tell you that the SCG is to Australian cricket what Lord's is to English cricket, Wembley is to football, Wimbledon to tennis, Augusta to golf etc etc.   I am sure you get the picture.  

Isn't sport wonderful?

Saturday 24th October

As I type the weak autumn sunshine is casting a long shadow but this time next week it will be dark, having put the clocks back one hour.   I mention this only because we played golf this morning on a mild but windy and wet day in Costa del Tynemouth and it was nice to get back home and sit in front of the log fire roasting chestnuts.   Well it would have been if I had some chestnuts.

Your right, I haven't got a log fire either but you know what I meant.

If the three amigo's log on to check their TOGS scores whilst en route to the French countryside - Bon Voyage mes amis.   If Archie has a peek from afar, have a nice day. Don't worry, we have informed the engraver how to spell your surname.

Friday 23rd October

The odious Nick Griffin, the leader of the BNP received a bit of a mauling on BBC's Question Time last night, which is a good enough reason for letting him on in the first place.   It is called democracy.  

Some of the protestors who invaded the BBC yesterday to stop the programme going ahead and were being hauled out by police looked as if they had come straight from a "Save the lesser toed newt" peace camp.   That we allow these people to demonstrate at all is also known as democracy.   I hope they all have a TV licence.

Good news on the potholes.   The council will begin repairs as soon as possible or when they get to 10 feet deep, whichever is sooner.   It turns out that the 'man in charge of potholes' from the council went to school with me but unfortunately could not make it so he sent along his understudy.   He did send me his best wishes though.    If you read this John, get better soon.    Alison was much better looking than you anyway.

Thursday 22nd October

As a fully paid up member of the TSUK it is good to know that the British Transplant Games have been recognised for what they are.   They exist, not for clever dicks to win gold medals, but for all of us in the transplant community to show the benefits of organ donation and help raise awareness so that lots more people will sign up to the organ donor register for the benefit of all.

The winner of the 2009 Best Sporting Occasion of the Year award for Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire was given to the British Transplant Games in Coventry this summer.   Maybe it isn't the most prestigious award in the sporting calendar but the good folk of the Midlands are to be congratulated on their selection.

In 2010 we travel to the beautiful city of Bath.

The best programme on the telly today will definitely be Question Time on BBC1 at 10.35pm.   The appearance of the BNP's  leader may not be to everyone's liking but in a democracy everyone has the right to spout off.    The vast majority of us may not like what he has to say but he has the right to say it nonetheless.

Wednesday 21st October

Since I got back home from the USA, Liverpool are sliding downhill fast, Middlesboro have sacked that nice Gareth Southgate, Sir Alex Ferguson has been summoned to appear before the FA beak for slagging off perfectly fit referees, Sunderland are perfecting new ways to score goals as they ride high in the Premiership, Newcastle United have not won a football match and Mike Ashley cannot sell the club at any price yet they are still sitting in an automatic promotion place.   Oh, and Alan Shearer that tactical genius is back on the Match of the Day sofa.

Despite the matches being screened live on TV I have not watched any of the mediocre fixtures masquerading as the European Cup (or is it a league?).   Come the spring when the knockout stage is here things will be different I hope and I may tune in then. 

Doesn't take long to get back to normal does it?   Not long before England go to South Africa and I can watch some meaningful live sport which will justify my subscription to pay TV.  

Despite what 'Larry the Plec' thinks, Sunday's Grand prix was exciting as Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton carved their way through the field in Brazil.   Normally when we have a F1 champion he is odds on to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award but as yet I haven't seen the odds so am unsure about his chances.   One thing is certain, our most recently crowned world champion, Beth Tweddle, will not win.

Tuesday 20th October

Up with the larks this morning for my 7.30am assignation at the Freeman for a medical review.   I was on the verge of cancelling my appointment because of the way I have been feeling of late but am happy to report that I have improved in the past 48 hours to very nearly something resembling health.

My blood pressure was a remarkable 128 / 86 which is the first time in the last couple of years that I have recorded a 'normal' reading.   Must be all of the paracetamol I have been wolfing down.

The next couple of days involve attending a few committee meetings which if I am honest doesn't exactly thrill me but someone has to do it.  

On Thursday I have a man from the council coming to inspect some potholes at Tyne Youth & Community Centre which they assured me by email had been repaired in June of this year.   I think the photographs I sent them with a pair of shoes, a football and a 12 inch ruler beneath the rim convinced them (nearly) that this was not in fact true.   Anyway there is a man coming to look into the holes with me on Thursday which should be quite entertaining.

Monday 19th October

Well done to Jenson Button on winning the F1 world championship.    I watched the whole of the race yesterday for the first time this season and it was riveting stuff.   It is also good to hear the Fleetwood Mac tune - The Chain - as the theme music for the programme.   If Murray Walker and James Hunt were to make comebacks in the commentary box, which is not only unlikely but also impossible, it would have been just like the good old days.

I read an article this morning about our new world champion and it seems he got his name courtesy of his car mad dad who named him in honour of the Jensen Interceptor.   My parents were apparently inspired by a breakfast cereal.   It was either to be Graham or Cornflake and luckily the former came out on top.

Sunday 18th October

Surely anyone with a passing interest in football knows that if the ball is interfered with by an outside agent then a drop ball will result.   I may be wrong but something in the back of mind tells me that if the ball strikes the referee on its' way into the back of the net then the goal will stand.   Bright red beach balls on the other hand are treated differently.

GB could have yet another F1 motor racing world champion by late afternoon if all goes well at the Brazilian GP.   Come on JB.

Saturday 17th October

Normal service was restored as I took my place alongside fellow TOGS and played my first competitive round of golf this winter.   Could have been worse, should have been better but will settle for what I got.   It's good to be out, coughing and spluttering, in the fresh air again.

Friday 16th October

Having had a relapse yesterday I was confined to the Boggy chaise longue therefore no blog.   Feeling a bit perkier today thought I should at least check my emails and find out what is happening in my little world.

The note from the Cultured Caledonian in my guest book about keeping the Yankees Game #1 a secret reminded me of a classic episode of the Likely Lads when they went all day avoiding the result of an England match so they could watch it 'as live' on the telly that evening.   Great stuff.   The secret is safe with me oh Cultured one.

What I can tell everyone though is that the fourth playing of the David Hookes Tribute Series will begin next weekend down under.   The Australian Transplant Cricket Club - ATCC - will play four one day matches against select XI's in the Sydney area of New South Wales, Australia.

25th October -   ATCC v The Bradman Foundation at Bowral
28th October -   ATCC v Kings Langley & 14 Degrees XI at Paramatta
30th October -   ATCC v NWS Hurricanes & Tigers at Rouse Hill
1st November - ATCC v North Ryde NSL at North Ryde NSL Oval

David Hookes' widow, the delectable Robyn, has given her full support for the series once more as have Transplant Australia and Cricket Australia.   I have no doubt the series will result in widespread media coverage and as a consequence the donor card programme, organ donation and the game of cricket will once more receive loads of favourable publicity and all those playing the beautiful game will have a fantastic time.

Cricket Australia have released two Test players from the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad so that they can participate in the series.    Lisa Sthalekar and Alex Blackwell will be playing in the game at Bruce Purser Oval, Rouse Hill.   It was around this time last year that Lisa was denied my prized wicket by a 'dodgy' piece of umpiring when she had an LBW appeal turned down during my epic knock at the Border Oval playing for the 14 Degrees XI.   I eventually succumbed to the mystery leg spin by the man from Melbourne.

To all of my mates down under - You are doing a fantastic job and I wish I could have been there to support the magnificent work you all do.   I know how much time and effort that JPS puts in so that this series can continue.     Muzza and the Wolf man, if they play in all four games, will be the only ever presents in the series since day one.

The book never lies, it reads:-

Marsh                caught Rose bowled Wulff.......................6

Enjoy.

Wednesday 14th October

This time last year Mrs Boggy and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary with a dinner cruising around Sydney Harbour.   Another year has slipped by and you wonder where did it go.   Tempus definitely fugit.

It appears that Newcastle Brown Ale, despite the fact that it will be manufactured and bottled in Tadcaster from next year can still be called Newcastle Brown Ale because Scottish & Newcastle applied to the EU for 'Protected geographical location' when they closed the plant in Gallowgate and moved production to Gateshead four years ago.   Apparently it is different to Champagne and Cornish pasties because no one else produces Newcastle Brown Ale except Heineken who now own the legendary brand.

I chuckle to myself when reading articles in the posh papers or listening to folk in the media discussing the Geordie brew and referring to it as 'Newky Brown'.   They are the only people who call it that because we Geordies affectionately know it as a 'Bottle of Dog' or simply 'Broon'.

Tuesday 13th October

On our trip to the USA many Americans struggled to understand my Geordie twang and variously thought I was Irish, Welsh, German, Dutch or Nordic.   I explained many times where Newcastle was, mostly by saying 'it's nearly in Scotland' for simplicity.    Then I asked if they had heard of Sting, Eric Burdon, Mark Knopfler and Brian Johnson etc and said if they listened carefully they would detect a partly hidden Geordie accent.

Mostly though they had all heard of Newcastle Brown Ale even if it is only sold in a dinky little bottle over there.   The reason being that all bottled beers in the USA need to be of a size that will fit easily into their chilled drinks cabinets ie the size of a bottle of 'Bud'.

They seem surprised to learn that a 'bottle of dog' was brewed in the north east of England and that the cute little picture was of the Tyne Bridge.   I did try explaining what the blue star, which sometimes appeared as a black star, was all about but gave up once the blank looks appeared.   Many Americans thought Newcastle was a suburb somewhere in Belgium but I won't pursue that.

Odd then that today it has just been announced that from next year the production of Newcastle Brown Ale will move to Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.   Despite alluding yesterday to the fact that Yorkshire was part of Northumbria I am not certain if that will make it illegal because surely Champagne can only be produced in the French region that bears its' name just as a Cornish pasty can only be manufactured in Cornwall.

Still on matters geographical, JPS of Australia may like to know that I have been to the top of the mountain in Whistler and viewed what will become familiar to the world very soon once the winter Olympics get underway.

The official logo for the 2010 winter Games form Vancouver will be an Inukshuk.   This is a traditional 'first American' stone symbol of the Innuit and sits proudly at the top of the mountain in Whistler.   Official mascots for the Games are Quatchi, Miga and Sumi who are also Innuit figures.

Monday 12th October

You may be interested to know that on this day in 633 Edwin, King of Northumbria died in battle.   Northumbria was formed in 604 by Ethelfrith, following his unification of Bernicia and Deira.   The latter is now better known as Yorkshire.

Not sure why I am telling you this but I stumbled across this information whilst surfing and just kept reading.   It beats wolfing down tablets and coughing and spluttering all day long.

Tynemouth Priory which sits at the bottom of Front Street and overlooks the entry to the river Tyne is the burial place of three kings, two of whom were rulers of Northumbria, namely Oswin and Osred and both ruled after the reign of Edwin.

The name of third king to be buried at Tynemouth Priory is more difficult to find and if anyone really wants to know who it is can either look it up for themselves else wait until tomorrow when I shall reveal the answer.   There is a Yankee fan currently on holiday who may know the answer and will be delighted after his team's 4 -1 victory in the wee small hours.

Can you tell that I am feeling a little better today?

Sunday 11th October

I wasn't going to bother logging on today knowing that the scores from yesterday's TOGS would be there waiting for me and I would be obliged to publish them.   I came on simply to catch up on my emails, as we all do.

Reading a couple of messages in my Guest Book and realising just how important theses scores are to various people, know matter where they happen to be in the world, I thought to myself,  "who am I to disappoint?" and so have updated the relevant TOGS info.

Go Yankees, go!

Saturday 10th October

As well as my normal intake of immunosuppressant drugs and tablets I am wolfing down paracetamol and Lucozade as fast as is chemically possible.   Not too sure if I have swine flu or just a normal run of the mill bug but my non existent immune system means whatever it is I have is refusing to go away any time soon.   Unable to sleep through the night I am now an avid listener to BBC7 which is a mixture of comedy classics and plays and is very good entertainment through the small hours.

As is customary on Saturdays throughout the winter golf season I would be playing golf with my mates in the TOGS but alas that is not possible just now.

Talking of golf it is now officially an Olympic event.   At least it will be in 2016.   Just as I do not agree with professional tennis payers taking part I am also against the likes of Eldrick and his multi millionaire mates teeing it up for a gold medal.  The Baron de Coubertin did not have this in mind way back in 1896 when he set up the modern Olympics.  

Thursday 8th October

The Cirque du Soleil's production of Love at the Mirage in Las Vegas was the show we intended seeing when in town but with decent tickets costing $137.50+ I thought to myself, "How much do I really want to pay to hear Beatles music accompanied by acrobats?"

A touch cynical perhaps but my second preference was always the Blue Man Group and I have to say if presented with free tickets for either show and could choose only one it would definitely be the Blue Man show.   Impossible to describe but it was definitely one of the best live theatre performances I have ever seen.

I have no doubt the Cirque du Soleil show would have been brilliant too but having already seen a live performance elsewhere my dollars spent at the Venetian and not the Mirage represented the best buy.

Equally impossible to describe was the Grand Canyon.   We took loads of photographs but they simply do not do justice to the actualité.   Seeing is believing would sum it up I think.   The Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon exceeded expectations too.

Meanwhile I am still confined indoors and am starting to resemble Robinson Crusoe.   Roll on Friday.

I have suddenly acquired 162,000 new results on Google.   They now have a predicted text method of search so when entering G r a.........etc to access my site it shows in the search box my new results tally is 497,000.   It used to read 335,000.   What does it all mean I wonder?

Wednesday 7th October

Not sure if I have got swine flu or picked up a bug on my flight back home on Sunday but have not ventured outdoors since getting back home.   I had to cancel my game of golf this morning and suspect I will not make it tomorrow either.

High temperature, sore throat, feel cold but come out in a sweat and my bum hurts from sitting down all day.    Apart from that I feel great and am just happy to be here.

Hi sis - yes we did fly back via BC and across Canada / Nova Scotia then onto Greenland and over Iceland and Ireland before touching down in London.

Tuesday 6th October

As legendary trio, Emerson, Lake & Palmer nearly sang....

.........Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends,
I'm so glad you could attend.
Come inside! Come  inside!

Whilst standing at a bus stop on the corner of Laguna and Chestnut in San Francisco last week the Google street mapping car with the thingy on top whirring away passed close by.    So it is only a matter of time before Mrs Boggy and I appear.  

On our drive around the Grand Canyon, a total of 1,200 miles, I was accompanied by two ladies.   Mrs Garmin knew exactly where we were heading and Mrs Boggy was mostly looking out of the window.   The price of gas, OK, I know it is petrol, was at the giveaway price of $2.75 per gallon which if my math (OK, I know it is maths) is correct, works out at 60p per litre.  

Monday 5th October
(I think)

I will start by saying that I love the USA and the people are genuinely warm, welcoming and friendly  but it must be said that the word insular is made for them.  

Now that I am back home, simply to watch the news and catch up on sport in general on the often (wrongly) maligned BBC was a treat because American news simply doesn't go outside of it's borders.  The 44th president is much better liked over here than he is over there it would seem if Fox News is anything to go by.

Yes, I like baseball and American Football and don't much care for basketball but the American sporting public are denied so much other global sports information and that they did not win the bid for the 2016 Olympic Games is a complete mystery to them.  

The majority of its citizens are totally oblivious that there was a Grand Prix in Suzuka, World Superbikes in Magny Cours, Men's World Team Squash championships in Odense, cricket in South Africa, Moto GP in Estoril, lots of golf worldwide, loads of football everywhere and is by miles the most popular game on the planet, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, an impending David Hookes Tribute Series in Australia and of course the first round of the TOGS.   Sadly the latter was a non starter because of gale force wind and rain.

Great holiday, but it's good to be back home too.

On our travels through the states of Columbia, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and California we have seen many wondrous sights, met many friendly people from all over the world, stayed in hotel rooms equipped with everything except lunar landing craft that make the Boggy living quarters appear Spartan in the extreme.   

Mrs Boggy and I have enjoyed  immensely our first post transplant holiday  in 10 years without the need for team meetings, ID tags and travelling with the plethora of sports equipment needed to go on tour.    It will be very tempting to do it again as soon as we can fill another piggy bank.  

The capital was class, Vegas brash, the canyons of Zion, Bryce, Antelope and Monument Valley as well as the Grand canyon's north and south rim were simply unmissable.   San Francisco was hip and relaxed and we were treated like royalty at the magnificent AT&T stadium on the bay as we watched the Giants win 4-1 over the Arizona Diamondbacks.   We watched transfixed in Las Vegas as a magician produced a 38 tonne Lear jet from nowhere, laughed alongside our American cousins at the English production of Noel Coward's Brief Encounter in downtown San Francisco but best of all was the performance of the Blue Man Group in Las Vegas at the magnificent Venetian hotel theatre on the strip.   If you ever get the chance it is a 'must go to' production and one of my most pleasurable trips to the theatre in yonks.

I shall plop little snippets into my posts over the days but do not intend boring anyone with a travelogue.   That we did not go into the Blues and Biscuits Club more than once as it was next door to our hotel in Union Square, SF is still a mystery to me but there was just so many hours in the day.

Wednesday 16th September

The Four Seasons restaurant in New York sounds fantastic and the $59 menu too good to miss.   The only trouble is I am not going to the Big Apple on this trip.   Next time perhaps.

As for Vera Lynn being at number one in the British charts.   How sad is that?   She now holds the record for the oldest person to ever be at #1.   Some day soon Cliff Richard will probably beat that !!!  Give me the TIng Tings any time, or better still, Florence & The Machine.   It doesn't seem right that The Beatles 'latest' box set works out at just over half the price in Canada as it is here in the land where they were born.   I will definitely check out the price in the USA and may even be tempted to buy, but definitely the mono set.

My golf clubs are safely tucked away and I have played my last game of the summer season at TGC this morning and on my return it will officially be the winter league and all things TOGS.  

I will try and post a few messages on my Guest Book in the next couple of weeks or so because I will have to clock in anyway to make sure that there are no dodgy messages left on there.   I have the power to delete these nasties even from a distance but remember not to click on any links from a unknown source otherwise they will infect your PC and spread like swine flu.

My GP has just cancelled the scheduled session for immunisation due to 'manufacturing difficulties'.   At £5 odd per jab it won't be long before they are back on track.

Tuesday 15th September

Check out the Google logo today.   Jill's UFO looks like a flying Tilley hat to me.   Being a member of the exclusive Tilley wearing brigade I know these sort of things but tend to keep them under my hat.

I received this strange Email today from Digby's best mate and it contains a passage from a book by Alistair Moffat, entitled A History of Newcastle, explaining as to why the Germans did not bomb our area to smithereens during WW2.

"An interesting suggestion is that Hitler left the Tyne more or less alone because he wanted to use it as an extension to his own industrial empire after invasion.   William Joyce, Lord Haw Haw the fascist broadcaster, gave the clue once when he announced that Knott's Flats, the rather fine but monolithic block of pre war flats  overlooking the estuary at Tynemouth, would make a rather splendid administrative HQ for the Nazi occupation." 

It's been on odd sort of day.

Monday 14th September

I will have the minutes of the TOGS AGM done in a couple of days knowing that Pam cannot sleep at night until she has read them.   I hope she is feeling a lot better as her happy smiling face is missed down at TGC and we look forward to her speedy return.

Later:   Minutes are posted Pam, sleep well.   Goodnight.

Having played golf today with a rock star in the middle of his world tour of North Shields I have just realised we did not discuss the finer points of the mixolydian scale and it's attendant chord structures.   Probably just as well because I wouldn't have understood a word that Larry the Pec was on about.    Go to the restaurant and check out the breakfast menu and prices.   Steak and eggs at $10.99 can't be bad.   The location is not too bad either.

Sunday 13th September

Well done to Durham County Cricket Club on retaining the County Championship.   The league table shows that Durham are a massive 43 points clear of their nearest rivals and still have two games to play which is one more than most of the teams in the top half.   It is a remarkable achievement by cricket's newest first class county, they were admitted to the county championship in the season of 1992 and their home ground at Chester le Street is magnificent and getting better all the time.   I was there en famille for the first day of cricket at the newly constructed Riverside venue on a cold day in May 1995.

It was fitting that Stephen Harmison, the big Geordie fast bowler, mopped up the Nottinghamshire tail to clinch the championship just as he did last season.   Durham's gain is England's loss and if he is not required by his country next season I will be straight down to the bookies on him being the country's leading wicket taker, again.

If the sun shines on Tuesday I intend going along to watch a day's county cricket against Hampshire.

The reason I mention this is because it begins with him being shot six times in an attempted assassination somewhere in Canada.   The facts are even more remarkable because the shootings took place in Whitley Bay in May 1999.   I know this because I was in the IT unit of North Tyneside hospital recovering from my heart attack and McGartland was being treated by the medics and guarded by armed officers in the adjacent ward.   All of my visitors had to pass through a tight security cordon by men in body armour brandishing sub machine guns.   How exciting is that?  My visitors managed to smuggle in the grapes OK.

The film is good too if you like that sort of thing, which I do.

Friday 11th September

Democracy is a wonderful thing but sometimes an autocracy makes more sense.

I clearly remember being a greenhorn in my early selling days attending sales conferences and viewing the new ranges for the coming season being asked for input.   Our sales director, DW Wynn as it happens, would let us, his sales force, prattle on about how we didn't like this jacket or how that knitwear range would be much better if it was..............whatever, it doesn't really matter you get the picture.

These conferences could last for two or three days and the outcome was always the same.   DW Wynn would say, "This is the range.   Now go out and sell it".

Why am I prattling on about this I hear you ask.   At last night's meeting of the TOGS we acted as a typical committee and reinvented the camel.   The camel as we all know is the product of a committee attempting to design a horse.   Hence some have one hump and others have two.

If DW Wynn had been there last night we would have had a different outcome and left knowing that, "This is the format, now go out and play."

"I was just happy to be there!"

Thursday 10th September

So far I have had a very disappointing day.   I attended a meeting for the Third Sector, which is the posh new name for the voluntary sector, run by very nice people from North Tyneside Council explaining all about the new procedures which will come into being for anyone accessing a PC, in for example a community centre, whose connectivity charges are paid for by the Adult Learning Alliance courtesy of the excellent VODA which is an acronym for Voluntary Organisations Development Agency.

Yes I know it's difficult to follow all of this but someone has to.

The meeting was preceded by an excellent buffet lunch and then we got down to business.   It turns out that I was the only volunteer in attendance as everyone else earns a salary.    Nothing wrong in that but I thought......................just a thought.

The reason for my disappointment was that not once was the term 'community cohesion' used.    Nor did anyone say 'impacting' or 'resources'.   A new funding source named CAMEL was discussed but apart from that it was a fairly harmless way to spend a couple of hours.

Tonight I am going to the AGM of the TOGS.     Our golf winter league is not to be confused with the followers of some wig wearing DJ on R2 who has just announced his impending retirement.   Someone in our happy little band is bound to use an expression / term that they have learnt on a management course.   I hope not to be disappointed twice in one day.    If I were a betting man...........

Wednesday 9th September

Before nipping off for a game of golf I couldn't resist posting this blog at exactly nine seconds and nine minutes past nine o'clock.

The exact time therefore being 09 / 09 / 09 / 09 / 09 / 09

I also altered a full stop on my homepage so that the date there will read same.

I don't know what they cost over the Atlantic but The Beatles in Mono costs £199.99 and The Beatles Box Set-Remastered in Stereo costs £169.99.   I am not ashamed to tell you that my next album purchase will be Florence and The Machine who should have won last night's Mercury prize, but didn't.

Tuesday 8th September

If my maths is correct and assuming that £1 sterling = $1.60 (US) or $1 = 62p and that there are 4.456 litres per gallon; a gallon of gas in the USA at $2.89 costs £1.80 or just to make matters worse it's the equivalent of 40p per litre.    We are paying 104.9p.    Put another way a gallon of petrol in the UK costs a whopping £4.78 or $7.65.

A Canadian dollar is worth 56p today therefore $1.12 for a litre of gas / petrol equates to 63p.   We are paying 104.9p.

Is my maths, or as they like to say over there, is my math OK?  

Doesn't seem fair to me but because I shall be clocking up a few miles around the Grand Canyon in a fortnight am happy to pay $2.89 a gallon.

Carnoustie eh, DP?      How much did a round cost and how many shots did you take?

Monday 7th September

Having just filled up the Bogymobile I notice that the price of petrol has sneaked up again.   104.9p per litre.   When did this happen and why?  

What with all this stuff about the Beatles, Vera Lynn at number 2 in the album charts and some bloke on R2 announcing his retirement (three cheers I say) I am not sure what decade we are in any more.   The last time the Beatles were number one in the singles charts was 1969 and that was The Ballad of John and Yoko.   I bought the single with my paper round money.   

I have just rummaged through Hansard and discover that in May 1969 the price of petrol was 6s 5½d per gallon and there were questions being asked in the House.   As I shall be filling up with 'gas' in a couple of weeks it will be interesting to find out how much petrol / gas costs over in the USA.   I am delighted that they still sell gas in gallons and that all road signs and distances will be in miles.   I hoper they still accept 10 shilling notes too.

Jill - the mysterious case of the missing 'O' seems to have started off a worldwide phenomenon on the ubiquitous search engine and is still as yet a bit of a mystery.   Perhaps a case of 'UFO' or Unidentified Flying O.    For those of you who missed it or use another search engine and completely oblivious, the unmistakeable Google logo was visited by aliens who abducted the second O on Saturday.  

Saturday 5th September

A game of golf followed by a party in Monkseaton this evening sums up my Saturday.

Loads of stuff about the Beatles in my paper today and all next week tells me the record company must be about to release an as yet 'unheard' of digitally remastered version of a bunch of songs that we have heard hundreds of times before.   Perhaps a video game too?   I always preferred the Stones anyway.

Friday 4th September

I have just heard that Keith Waterhouse has died.   He is one of my favourite writers and was the only reason I tolerated the Daily Mail in the Boggy household for so long before I couldn't take any more of it's propaganda and converted to the Times.   Before that he wrote for the Daily Mirror which I also used to read and like KW himself cancelled my subscription the day Cap'n Bob took over.

One of his best lines appears in Billy Liar;  when Billy, suffering from one or two drinks too many, is defended by his mother played by Thora Hird (I think) who exclaims to the vicar (or someone who I can't remember)  "Our Billy's p****d again".

Thursday 3rd September

Despite my blood pressure reading yesterday at the hospital being high enough to blow the lid off a saucepan I rang the transplant clinic just now and my medication stays the same.   Good enough for me.

My regular readers will know that before the World Transplant Games I was suggesting and hoping that my great rival in the sprints, the 'Flying Dutchman', André Lassooij might threaten the world record in the 50+ age category for the 100m. 

I have just had an email from him and he tells me that his time of 26.7 seconds in the 200m is a world record.   He also won the gold medal in the 100m and his time of 12.92 seconds (wind speed +0.1) is the first time anyone our age has ran under 13 seconds.   The previous best being 13.04 seconds.   For good measure he also won gold in the high jump and long jump.   Outstanding or what?

As I said a few weeks back it is a pleasure to come second to such an accomplished athlete and I just hope I am good enough and fit enough to finish second to him in next year's European Heart & Lung Transplant Games in Vaxjo Sweden as I have done in the past four events, which take place every two years.

André's performance at the World Games and also that of our own John Barnes (outstanding athlete of the Games winner) might finally silence those who criticise the standard of the sport at the European Heart & Lung Transplant Games and over promote the newly created annual  European Transplant and Dialysis Games at our expense.  

We are independent of the TSUK and rightly proud of the fact the the European Heart & Lung Transplant Games are easily the highlight of the sporting calendar for many transplant recipients who have either had a heart and or a lung transplant.   Not all of those taking part will ever get a sniff of the World Games and this is a chance for them to take part / compete against others from around Europe as well as a chance to sample foreign climes.    So let's not hear any more snooty remarks from others who should know better.  

The fact that I sit on the committee of the British Heart & Lung Transplant Association - BHLTA - has nothing to do with the above rant.

Wednesday 2nd September

Final medal table - 17th World Transplant Games

Despite GB (or is it UK?) winning most medals it is only fair that Australia are declared the winners because the reverse was the case at last year's Olympic Games.   I think this is the first time that we have not topped the table, but hey, who cares?  

Everyone was just happy to be there!

Tuesday 1st September

I have just learned of an outstanding achievement by my fellow heart transplant GB golfing team mate, John Barnes.  John had his heart transplant at Papworth hospital a couple of years after me and we have competed as team mates and rivals at numerous British and European Transplant Games plus a few golf competitions in that time.    JB plays his golf at the championship course of Woburn and is probably the best 18 handicapped golfer I have ever clapped eyes on.

At the World Games which have just finished on the Gold Coast in Australia John won 6 gold medals - yes 6.   He won gold in the golf (net 64) as well as high jump. long jump, javelin and set new world records in winning the ball throw and discus.   Rightly he was awarded the trophy for the outstanding athlete at the 17th World Games.   Brilliant.  

Monday 31st August

In the days when the young Michael Atherton attended Durham University his cricket team mates scrawled the letters 'FEC' on his locker door.   The initials stood for Future England Captain and proved to be prophetic as he went on to captain his country a record number of times.   It is sometimes simply a matter of destiny.

A name familiar to all readers of these pages and especially my 'Guest Book', namely Willy the TOG, AKA Willy from Bude, shall for the next 14 months or so be know as Willy FTC.  

The FTC signifying Future Tynemouth Captain.

Our mate Willy was confirmed yesterday as vice captain of Tynemouth Golf Club and he will understudy Steve Laws for a season before becoming our captain in  2010 -11.

Of all my acquaintances in golf I can think of no-one who deserves this honour more than Mr W. Smith.   The role of golf club captain was created for people like Willy.   That he is a TOG and a good friend is a bonus.  

The next two years will be good fun at TGC because young Master Laws is equally suited to the job.   Incidentally both the captain and his vice captain will be helping me organise the golf day next year (Friday May 14th) to celebrate 25 years of transplants at the Freeman hospital.  

June - August '09