July '04

02/07/07

Current diary page

Wednesday 28th July

	Thank you to everyone who has sent their best wishes and good luck Emails for the Games over the last few days. I have had messages from from all over the world, from USA and Canada to Australia and Europe, I appreciate it.
	The competition at the British Transplant Games is extremely tough and with places up for grabs for a trip to Canada for next year's World Transplant Games, I imagine that these will be even more competitive than normal.
	As always, I am also competing in the 100m and long jump on the Sunday of the Games as well as the golf, which is on Friday.
	You must believe me when I tell you that the Games are not just about winning. We are all winners already after what we have been through and taking part is a miracle in itself.
	Each competitor has truly received 'The Gift of Life' and if by competing in our chosen sports we can increase awareness and promote the carrying of donor cards we will have succeeded.
	I am just happy to be here!

Tuesday 27th July

I am playing golf today no matter what. It is my last warm up game before heading down to Norwich for the transplant games golf at Costessey Golf Club.

Mick - We need to get together to set up a new website as discussed.

Monday 26th July

If there had not been a meeting of the Freeman Transplant Association today I would have legged it down to London and spent a day at Lord's watching some Test cricket. As I take my role on the committee seriously I attended the meeting (England won the first Test Match) and managed an hour on the practice range afterwards.

I have not had a round of golf since last Thursday and the British transplant golf championships are on Friday. Luckily I bumped into Archie before going onto the practice area and he is going to oblige me tomorrow at 12.45, once the ladies have all teed off.

Tuesday is ladies day! If that is not some form of sexual discrimination I would be most surprised, but I will leave that for another day, possibly the club's AGM.

	"Get in, stay in and tune in." No, it's not the Labour Party's new slogan, but it should be.
	It is the little ditty which accompanies a terror advice pamphlet which is about to plop through 23 million letterboxes.
	In the event of some unforeseen future disaster we are all meant to stock up with bottled water, tinned food and batteries and hide underneath the stairs.
	No mention of a tin opener and presumably the batteries are for a radio or a torch. How come Terry Wogan and the rest of the DJ's won't be hiding under the stairs too?
	If I can't get to the chemist for my anti rejection tablets I wonder how long I will be able to last on a tin of unopened sardines listening to Radio 2.
	I was just about to pay for my annual prescription prepayment certificate at a cost of £91.80, but I don't think I will bother now (Oh yes, I have to pay for my tablets - don't you?)

Sunday 25th July

My namesake, Australian professional golfer, Graham Marsh (I also share the same birthday of January 14th) made golfing history yesterday. Playing in the Senior British Open championships at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

In round one on Thursday he holed in one at the 170 yard 11th hole using a 9 iron. Yesterday he repeated the feat using an 8 iron and became the first player to have achieved the feat in top flight competition.

Bookmakers estimate the odds of a named player scoring an ace twice at the same hole to be 40,000 -1. They are giving odds of 150,000 -1 on Graham Marsh achieving the hat trick in today's final round.

Marsh wins a bottle of wine for every yard covered by his golf ball and is therefore taking 340 bottles of an Australian vintage back home with him.

The final round is being shown live on Sky Sports 1 today.

National Transplant Week - 18th - 24 July 2004

My contribution to National Transplant Week is my website. I try to educate and inform and increase public awareness of the positive benefits of organ donation. I also hope I can provide some humour, whilst delivering a serious message.

Saturday 24th July

Watched Test Match, golf practice for a couple of hours, watched Test Match. It's a hard life when Mrs Boggy is at work and the golf course is booked.

I have devoured the papers while watching the cricket and notice that not only is the green welly 50 years old today, so is the Fender Stratocaster. I cannot see any connection but thought I would let you know.

Being multi talented, I have also been listening to Test Match Special all of the time I've been in the house and one of the more interesting cricket statistics to emerge is that the highest number of runs to be scored from one delivery is.......10 (ten).

It happened in 1900 at Lord's and the batsman was S.H.Wood. The 'net system' was in operation at the time but even the great Bill Frindall did not know what that meant. Any offers? Even you will be stumped on this one Mick. Willy, you have got no chance!

	This is the kind of nonsense I come up with when I am not actually doing anything.
	I could and should of course be telling you what I think of our new commissioner in Brussels, but I will return to this at some other time.

Friday 23rd July

5 years ago today I received my new heart.

I am forever grateful to the family who gave permission for their son's organs to be donated which gave me 'The Gift of Life'. I do not have the vocabulary to express my true feelings for the decision they made that day 5 years ago, on what must have been a very sad and traumatic occasion for the young man's family.

I hope through my website that I am helping others, both donors and recipients, come to terms with the transplant experience. I have been given an opportunity for which I am truly thankful and can honestly say that there is never a day goes by when I do not think about my donor and his family.

Thursday 22nd July

The first Test match between England v West Indies gets under way at Lord's today. As soon as Steve Harmison bags his 5th wicket in the match (which he will) he will be ranked as #1 bowler in the world. Remember too, that he has not got a 'doosra' in his armoury. Less than 12 months ago Harmison was considered by some as on the fringe of the England team. As I predicted last year, he would come through if given the chance. A blind man on a galloping horse could have spotted that.

	I am off for a round of golf now, because I may not have the chance of many more before next week's British Transplant Games championships, due to circumstances beyond my control.
	Later this evening I am playing cricket for Percy Main III's against Backworth.

Wednesday 21st July

I'm off to see if I can get my handicap back down to 11 in the midweek medal at Tynemouth Golf club. If I fail then I go into next week's British Transplant Games Golf championship off 12. If you are a proper golfer you will understand why I am trying to get back down. If you think I am daft for trying then you must be one of the many 'bandits' I regularly come across when I play.

	Meanwhile keep a look out in your local press / media as well as the nationals for articles about people and their transplants. It is National Transplant Week and coverage of 'life stories' are to be found.
	Yesterday's Daily Mail had a very emotional story about Barry Matthews, who had his heart transplant in 1996 at Papworth. I have got to know Barry due to our mutual involvement in the Transplant Games and he is a gentleman, as well as being a fantastic swimmer.
	Every one of us who has received 'The Gift of Life' via our transplant has a story to tell and I find them all very emotional, but then again I am just a big softie really.
	I had to stop watching The Waltons some years ago as I always ended up in tears. Zebbedee and Dougal had the same effect when I was even younger. Brian and Dylan used to make me happy though. Remenber?

Tuesday 20th July

Sport is a wonderful thing. After being behind at golf for 15 holes Brian Liddle and I won the last 3 to win on the final green yesterday.

As for last night's cricket match, our score was 110-6 from 20 overs. Our opponents scored 110-5. We lost as a result of losing the extra wicket. If you are interested in the minutiae check out my 'cricket' and 'golf' pages a bit later on. I am off to the gym for some R&R.

	Interested to see that Ian Poulter's ridiculous trousers were put to some good use after playing in the Open at Royal Troon. No, they weren't ripped up and used as dish cloths.
	He donated them to the Yorkhill Sick Children's Hospital in Glasgow that they may be sold to raise money for the unit where his 7 week old baby was treated recently. Nice one Ian!

Monday 19th July

Another sporting day ahead. I am playing golf mid morning and then off to play cricket in a cup match for Percy Main III's tonight.
I am just happy to be here!

Sunday 18th July

	Mrs Boggy and I went to my beloved Magnesia Bank pub last night. It was our intention to make it our first stop to meet old friends before moving on to Tynemouth village.
	The band were warming up and sounded OK, so we decided to listen to the first number before leaving.
	At 11.35 pm we eventually left and headed back home. The band were excellent. The Speakeasy Blues Band, four guys from Yorkshire were brilliant. The lead guitar player (don't know his name) was the best new guitarist I have seen in ages.
	If they come back, which they surely will, you must go and see them if you like the blues.

The rest of today is very simple, I will go for a walk along the seafront this morning before returning home to take up my position on the settee and watch the climax of the Open. 'Go get 'em Goose!'

Saturday 17th July

A very quick report only, more tomorrow before the climax of the Open.

The Great Britain Transplant Cricket Club has been given a signed bat by the England cricket team and Michael Vaughan has issued a very warm statement on our behalf in advance of our forthcoming tour to Australia.

I will post in full tomorrow - I am in a hurry just now as I am tripping the light fantastic with Mrs Boggy tonight. By the way, I played golf very badly today!

Friday 16th July

For the second Friday in a row I have had that many aches and pains from my Thursday night cricket (was it the batting or bowling?) that I had to give the gym a miss today.

	How about this claim to 'fame'. The Royal Free hospital in Hampstead is carrying a photograph of me in cricket mode.
	Colin Mitchell who is secretary of the newly formed Great Britain Transplant Cricket Club is the subject of the article.
	He told me about the photo, which was taken pre heart attack and transplant. He is a bit miffed because his technique is much better than mine and he is not left handed.
	Read the article when you have a look and you will see that other transplant recipients enjoy sporting success too.
	My mug shot can be found on this link - Royal Free Hospital

Thursday 15th July

There cannot be too many people who have been compared to Imelda Marcos, but I have.

If you are a regular reader of my 'blog' you will have spotted a plea to my IT guru, Mick, who is a veritable font of information on all things computing. My website, this website, now fills 30Mb of space and as I am reluctant to throw away lots of original material to which I have become fond of, I am going to have to pay for more space on the web.

So, just as Imelda would not throw away any of her shoes, I am going to have to buy a bigger wardrobe. If you know what I (Mick) mean(s)?

As well as Imelda I have been likened to Sir Geoffrey Boycott in the batting department (I wish) after my exploits for Percy Main III's tonight. If you want the full details you will need to go to my 'Marsh on Cricket' page. (Click the link).

Wednesday 14th July

I enjoyed another round of golf today and I'm off to Tyne YCC to chair a management committee meeting. This will be the last meeting 'till after the summer school holidays. Oh what joy, I will be able to get my life back for 6 weeks or so. Who knows I may even get to play a round of golf or two in the evenings.

	Did you see the story in yesterday's papers about the bloke who bought a suitcase full of old records/tapes and photographs while visiting a flea market in Australia. It turns out that the tapes are unpublished material by The Beatles. The photographs are all of The Beatles and there is loads of other Beatles memorabilia which has obviously never been seen before. Great stuff.
	I wonder what the suitcase is worth though, apparently the guy paid £20. Why would anyone buy an old suitcase?

Tuesday 13th July

Another Tuesday another workout at the gym and judging by the Emails I have been receiving lately I will need to improve my performances to counter all of the new competition that is coming my way at the forthcoming British Transplant Games.

I may even go for a couple of hours practice at the golf tonight whilst Mrs Boggy is at her computer class. As I have to open up the building I may as well make use of the half decent weather.

Mick, if you are reading this non controversial missive I think I need your advice. My website is just about to fill the PWP of 30Mb and I have deleted some old pages and nothing much seems to have happened. Should I go for the 100Mb option or keep deleting pages?

The thing about deleting pages and pages of original material is that it seems such a waste. I know from my 'secret counter' that most of my pages receive 'hits' in the course of a week and it is a tough call to make.

You only need take a look inside of my garage to see that I never get rid of anything. Why else would I still own a Big 'E' Levis jacket or an 'Ecko' radio from the dark ages. Equally why have I got a Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen LP that I bought for my dad some 40 years ago?

Monday 12th July

I enjoyed a round of golf before doing my stint at Tyne Youth & Community centre for the evening session.

I think I mentioned that it appears an impossible task to illicit funding from North Tyneside Council for a paid Leader / Manager for the centre. I bent our local MP's lughole the other Saturday when he held his constituency surgery in the club, but do not expect a positive outcome.

I keep reading how the Linskill Centre, which is less than a mile away from Tyne is going to close and all of the user groups will have to relocate to some place in Shiremoor which requires £2,000,000 spent on it before it is habitable.

I have suggested to the Mayor / council and anyone else who cares to read my monitoring forms for Tyne, that we have a fabulous facility on the doorstep which could be home to any amount of groups throughout the daytime or evening. The only ingredient that is missing is a full time Manager / Leader.

As Pink Floyd enquired in one of their classic songs,

"Is there anybody out there?"

Sunday 11th July

I am going to spend another relaxing day with the newspapers and watch the last round of the Scottish Open Golf from the idyllic Loch Lomond course. If I start to feel a little weary and fancy a nap I can always turn the TV over and watch a bit of the British Grand Prix.....yawn!

This is the easiest prediction I will have to make on the sporting front this year, my tip for a winner - Michael Schumacher. He is simply the best driver in wet or dry conditions and the others are just along for the ride.

	Following my week long trip to Dublin for the European Transplant Games, I meant to mention the 'no smoking' policy which now exists in the Republic of Ireland.
	Being an ex cigar smoker, in the days when I was I was trying to kill myself pre heart transplant, I can be objective on the issue, I think.
	Smoking is banned in all indoor public places and anyone not observing the law is fined €3,000.
	Mrs Boggy and I visited a few of the local hostelries and it was a pleasure to do so in the smoke free atmosphere. Anyone wanting a smoke simply goes outside and puffs away in the doorway or on the street. Apparently lots of romances have started as a result of people meeting in doorways having a smoke and a chat with a virtual stranger. They have something in common straight away and it is obviously a good talking point.
	From a health point of view, until you experience a non smoking pub's atmosphere you do not realise how smelly it can be, it has to be better for everyone and the food tastes much nicer too.
	Far from causing the pub's takings to fall, the opposite is true, with more people popping in for a meal a drink or a chat in a pleasant atmosphere.
	I am no politician, but the sooner we adopt the same law in the UK the better.
	Any comments?

Saturday 10th July

I played in the monthly medal at Tynemouth and generally had an easy time of it. It is Mrs Boggy's weekend at work and I can put my feet up and read the papers and watch and play all the sport I want. Ah, heaven!

Friday 9th July

For those of you not remotely interested in golf (why not?) I daresay you might be interested in this snippet of news. Sir Bobby Charlton, ex Man Utd and England footballer was playing in a fundraising golf day for the Christie Hospital in Manchester. The 9 handicap golfer holed in one at the 147 yard 16th hole at Formby Golf Club.

As the prize on offer for just such an occurrence was a Mercedes A class car valued at around £15,000. Sir Bobby would not be able to claim his prize and retain his amateur status, so he has 'turned professional'. This means that for 2 years the ex footballing knight must play off scratch (0 hcp) and serve a probationary period before turning professional.

I bet his golfing buddies are queuing up to play him for a few quid off his new handicap status. Fancy a game Bob?

Following my exertions last night at the cricket I am knackered, not to mention covered in bruises. I am giving the gym a miss today and will resume training next week.

Thursday 8th July

I put in some serious practice at the golf course and relaxed at home for a couple of hours before resuming my ever improving cricket career. Take at look at 'Marsh on Cricket'. Is there no end to my talent? Do I have any talent? Probably not, but it is great fun.

Wednesday 7th July

The full list of results from the 10th European Heart & Lung Transplant Games has just been officially published and they make pleasant reading. The GB team had 53 competitors of which 23 were from the Freeman Hospital, here in Newcastle. As I have recently assumed the role of Sports Team Manager I am proud to tell you that the Freeman squad between us won:-

27 Gold / 24 Silver / 9 Bronze medals.

Not all of the medals were won in deadly serious fashion but recognise each and every competitors grit and determination to take part in sport. Some did not win a medal but they achieved a personal goal of which they should be proud.

If you have had a transplant and are keen to become involved in sport for general fitness or even the social side of sport, get in touch with me and I will point you in the right direction.

Tuesday 6th July

With some sort of normality returning to my routine I am off to the gym for a workout this morning. There are only 23 days before I leave for the British Transplant Games in Norwich. These games are the selection process for the team which will represent Great Britain at next year's World Games in London, Ontario, Canada. They are therefore very important in the world of Boggy.

Monday 5th July

If you are wondering what happened to Sunday, so am I. I had to attend a meeting of the team managers for the forthcoming British Transplant Games in Bromsgrove.

In my working life as a salesman and self employed person plus service in the voluntary sector on various committees I have attended far more meetings than is good for me. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that some people talk with authority, others talk nonsense and the rest just talk! I make no further comment, but that is what happened to my Sunday.

If you were at this particular meeting and are not sure which category you come under, it must be the latter. No offence intended!

I got back in time to see the fabulously extravagant Greek footballing Gods win Euro 2004. What a non event that was too!

Today I had a game of golf and tonight will be back at Tyne Youth CC to supervise the Monday evening session.

Saturday 3rd July

I opened up Tyne Youth & Community Centre at 9.30am so that our local MP, Alan Campbell could hold his surgery. I took the opportunity to bend his ear to see if he would ask the council on our behalf for a paid leader / manager to take some of the pressure from me.

As the weather was abysmal I did not intend to play golf but called into the golf club anyway and was amazed to see my playing partners heading to the first tee. Feeling a bit of a wimp I nipped off home, picked up my clubs and met up them on the second hole. I shouldn't have bothered as they took the money off me and showed no remorse at all.

4pm, it is pitch black outside and lashing down with rain and also thundering and lightning. I am heading off for Bromsgrove for a team managers meeting for the forthcoming British Transplant Games. Oh what joy!

Friday 2nd July

In the land of Boggy Google it takes a little while to catch up and create new pages for my site as well as keep it bang up to date. I am still in a somewhat euphoric state following my nerve jangling match winning innings (see below) last night. Don't give up on me just yet, normal service will be resumed.

Joke - I do not normally tell jokes on these pages but I have just received the following information via text.

Saddam Hussain has been found guilty and the death penalty will be carried out. Luckily for him, it will be taken by David Beckham. Ho Ho.

Newsflash - 1st July

It's been a long search but my patience was rewarded in tonight's game against the club where Steve Harmison and his brothers all play their cricket. The opponents were Ashington, also famous for Jackie Milburn and the Charlton brothers, Jack and Bobby.

Fair enough, the calibre of the bowling may not have been Test standard, but for the second time this season I arrived at the wicket facing a hat trick delivery. We (Percy Main III's) needed another 12 runs for victory with 3.1 overs remaining and a touch of the collywobbles had set in.

Displaying nerves of steel I averted the hat trick and got up to the batting end after 1 delivery of the next over. I scored my first run in 'proper' cricket since my schooldays with a deliberate guide down to third man. An ironic cheer emanated from the club Chairman, a certain Mr Dave Archbold, but I could sense it was a kindly cheer also.

With 2 overs remaining, I hit a classic on drive back over the bowler's head into the sight screen for 4 winning runs. As Le Hunt, my golfing partner often says, "He's back!".

It's been not a bad week for me really. ! Gold medal, 1 Silver medal, 2 Bronze medals and 5 winning runs. I am just happy to be here!

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