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Tuesday 31st January

My acting career will resume again on Thursday as the film crew are returning for some more filming.   Apparently the halo hovering over my head cast too much light for the camera's liking and the interview will have to be re-shot.   There is talk about them filming me on the golf course too.   They had better not come on a Monday or Wednesday if they want a cuppa.

Like any good film set we could set up a mobile takeaway in the car park selling hot sausage and bacon sarnies, cups of tea and coffee etc.    That would be fun wouldn't it?   It would also prove very profitable.

Monday 30th January

Golf perhaps?   I have just checked my 'Guest Book' and the temperature is hotting up. My comments seem to have caused quite a stir, which is more than can be said about the lukewarm water at 55p that comes gurgling out of the machine and only half fills a polystyrene cup.

I have a solution for the caterers / golf club.   Take out the stupid  machine, ditch the placca cups and then post golfing golfers will be able to order a fresh, and hopefully hot, pot of tea with a backup jug of similarly hot water at the mighty reasonable rate of 80p.   The caterers should be happy as they will have a monopoly on hot beverages in the clubhouse.

I got this idea from studying the tea leaves in the bottom of my Earl Grey cuppa this evening.

There's a good question - Who was Earl Grey and how did he come to have a brand of tea named after him?

My apologies to the wider world who will think this fuss is all a bit of a storm in a teacup.

Much later:   Due to frost we did not tee off until 12.30 and on finishing our game we simply got changed and headed for home.   Not much profit for the caterers or the golf club in an empty clubhouse.  

One of my favourite films is Catch 22, based on the novel by Joseph Heller.   The situation at Tynemouth Golf Club and the lack of after match facilities for members and guests alike during the winter  definitely fits the bill of Catch 22.

By not providing adequate after match refreshments, fewer people will have the need to visit the clubhouse after their game therefore making the situation worse all round, not better.  

I am looking forward to Wednesday and sampling Mrs Archbold's' home made fruit scones after my game with the WAGS.   It could be that the acronym (WAGS) will come to mean 'What a great scone'.

Sunday 29th January

I was Dragged kicking and screaming to that great big blue and yellow Swedish tin hut that sells furniture in a havasck.   Help me.

On arrival back at Chez Boggy with bits of wood and instructions in 27 different languages, I managed to cobble together a wooden version of the leaning tower of Shields with the aid of a lacky band, a bit of glue and some string.

Saturday 28th January

Hot foot from another inept performance in the TOGS.   I must go out and buy a shaver. Mine, following a fall downstairs (the shaver not me) has cut my face to pieces.   I look like I have been mauled by (i) a cat (ii)  George Galloway (iii) A Lib Dem.

We were chatting about the plight of the third force in UK politics after the golf and decided that although Charles Kennedy enjoyed a stiff one following a hard days work, it is perfectly legal behaviour.   Jack Daniels being available at the local supermarket as opposed to a card left in a phone box!

Friday 27th January

Not having read the papers yet, are there any other Lib Dems coming out or fessing up this morning?

What do Charles Kennedy and Julius Caesar have in common?

They were both betrayed by men wearing sandals (woolly jumpers with leather patches had not been invented at the time of JC).

Thursday 26th January

Better late than never, I have been extremely busy today.   How the Hexham are you?

For all GBTCC transplant cricketers be they new, old or prospective:   please note that we have organised the above  indoor net session.   Colin has booked two lanes in the fabulous facility that the Test players use and the times are not flexible.   If you want to bat or bowl make sure you are not late.   The nets will be followed by a short meeting where the schedule for this summer's tour v The Wombats - ATCC - will be outlined.

Anyone who has had a transplant and would like to get involved is welcome.   I suggest you contact our captain / hon secretary Colin Mitchell and he can take your details and check your availability.   Colin's details are on the GBTCC page elsewhere on my site.    If you get stuck, contact me and I will try and help.

Wednesday 25th January

I am off shopping today to order a black tie, dinner suit and cummerbund for my expected appearance at next year's Oscar award ceremony following my performance in front of the cameras yesterday.

In truth, I had trouble blurting out my name and age in front of the big black beady eye eye of the TV camera.   I also know why Charles Kennedy used to sweat so much when on camera because the lighting required in my living room was brilliant enough to illuminate a junior football match never mind my little bonce.  

If Suzie and the team have to come back to do some 'noddies' and re-takes (see how quickly I have picked up the jargon) I may even resort to applying some talc to stop my nose looking like Alex Ferguson's on a bad day at Old Trafford.

If they could only delay the leadership contest until after the World Cup and then Sven Goran Eriksson could stand for election.   He is a fine leader of men and has no skeletons in his cupboard.    On second thoughts Ken Dodd looks quite a good choice.

Tuesday 24th January

Lights.    Camera.   Action!

Monday 23rd January

A couple of years ago I was interviewed by a young lady from Sunderland University who was doing a radio project as part of her degree course.   Joan Whitney and David Lyth, fellow transplant sports mates from the Freeman team were also involved.   If you would like to listen to the 40 minute documentary it is available just under the photo of Mrs Boggy and me on my homepage (My story).

The young lady who produced the piece, Annabel Jefferson, went on to gain a 'First' in her degree and has had an award winning piece of work about guns in society recognised in the national media since.

The reason I tell you this is because tomorrow another young lady student, the delectable Suzie Middlemiss, who works part time with Mrs Boggy at Britain's favourite clothes retailer, is coming to Chez Boggy with a film crew to begin a TV documentary which will highlight organ transplants.  

I know that Suzie is today shadowing transplant co-ordinator and new GB Sports Team Manager, Lynne Holt at the Freeman hospital.   She will gain an insight as to what is involved before, during and after a person undergoes a life saving heart transplant.

I will keep you posted as to what happens.    Meanwhile I am off to the local 'Fame Academy' for some acting tips and greasepaint.   I would also like my name emblazoned on the back of my seat as well as fresh orchids in my dressing room.   No, make that "fresh white orchids in my trailer".

Sunday 22nd January

Speaking of Mark Oaten, which I was in Friday's blog, neither wonder he withdrew from the leadership election of the Lib Dems.    Have you seen today's News of the World?   Ho! Ho! Ho!

This is a joke party surely.    So what if Charles Kennedy liked a drink.   If M.O.'s mo is anything to go by, who were the MP's willing to sign up as backers of the hapless member for Winchester?   Bring back Charles Kennedy before he signs for NUFC.   

Saturday 21st January

If you have a passing interest in golf, have a look at my latest offering in
'Another Round of Jokes', courtesy of Tony (is he Ant or Dec?) Sarginson.

The consensus amongst most observers of Newcastle United is that if they lose against Graeme Souness's old club Blackburn Rovers today, he will be sacked as manager.   I would also like to see Fred and Doug take their leave and Charles Kennedy be appointed chairman / manager / coach / and after match entertainer.

Who said he couldn't do a worse job?  

Friday 20th January

The TOGS and WAGS are now up to date.   Sorry for the delay.

looking forward to a game of golf tomorrow,  my first round in 10 days.   Sometimes this can work in your favour.   Let's hope so 'cos I'm losing ground in the TOGS and need a half decent score. 

Mark Oaten, one of the Lib Dem's aspiring Prime Minister's, has withdrawn from the leadership race.   Needing seven MP's to support his nomination was one thing, but getting them all to vote for him was proving a hopeless task.   Brink back Charles Kennedy.   

I wonder how may people will vote for the indefatigable George Galloway MP at the next general election after seeing him perform as a milk lapping cat in the Big Brother house on TV.   No, I haven't been watching this ridiculous show but I do read newspapers and listen and watch the news.   How is everyone's favourite comedian, Michael Barrymore getting on?   Has he been anywhere near the swimming pool yet?

For those of you not in the UK wondering what I am prattling on about, don't worry, so am I.

Thursday 19th January

To all avid followers of the TOGS and WAGS I shall update league tables and post this week's scores in  the next 24 hours because I am otherwise engaged.

My all time favourite football manager was Brian Clough, who incidentally had a liver transplant at the Freeman hospital in Newcastle which is where I had my heart transplant in 1999.   Last night his son Nigel, who is now manager of non league side Burton Albion, oversaw his team with good grace and humour  lose 5 - 0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford in a 3rd round FA Cup replay.

I am by no means a Man Utd lover, but equally do not hate them with a passion as others do.    I was appalled at the crude electronic advertising hoarding when watching last night's game on BBC.   A well known firm of bookmakers had a constantly changing moving advert offering odds on the score in real time.

Eg - At 3 - 0 and cruising, up popped an advert offering odds of 6/1 on 4 - 0 as the final score;   at 4 - 0 odds of 6/4 (or whatever) on the outcome being 5 - 0.

I don't suppose Fergie would like it much if say next time he visited St James' Park, Stamford Bridge, Highbury etc that they had equally offensive and crude advertising offering odds on how many times he or Wayne Rooney used the 'F' word.   Better still they could offer odds on the time of the next Ronaldo stepover or how long before the completely dislikeable and hopeless midfielder Alan Smith gets booked.

It is not just tacky but shows little or no respect to a football club who are the envy of most in non league football and can put to shame a lot of league clubs.

Tuesday 17th January

Arriving home this afternoon I was surprised to find a ticker tape welcome in my part of the world.   Rather odd I thought.

It turns out that the bin men had been earlier in the day and had spilled the contents of my dustbin, which just happened to contain loads of paper I had shredded before leaving for our gambling trip to the French Riviera.   They obviously took umbrage in my failure to give them a Christmas tip, so thought they should tip my bin upside down outside of  Chez Boggy.

I can give them their overdue tip now if they log on to my website, stay out of casinos!

On the plane home this afternoon I read the Daily Express, please don't ask why, and was pleasantly surprised to read a brilliant article about Liz  'Fish' Hosford in the health section.  If you are not a regular reader of this particular rag, and why would you be? Check out their website and have a look at the article.   It is very good.  

For those of you wondering, Liz who?     'Fish', Liz's nickname, is a member of the GB&NI Transplant Team and is a winner of loads of medals, but mainly she is good fun and always has a smile on her face.

Wednesday 11th January

Before my few days cavorting down on the French Riviera I shall be having a game of golf with my mates in the WAGS.  

We always play on Wednesdays which is what the 'W' stands for in the acronym.   However, following a wide ranging consultation process, I have decided to change the time and date of the game to 8am on Tuesdays.   That every golfer bar one thinks it a bad idea is of no relevance to me, because I may consult, but take absolutely no notice of the feelings of the majority.

Another minor change to our game of golf means that it will now be played in Aviemore.   It obviously will mean having to travel a day in advance and an overnight stay in a hostelry, but so what?   It will free up Fridays so that I can pop down to the squash club for a pea and pie supper every other week alternating with the car boot sale.

What's that I hear you ask?   You don't know what I am rambling on about?   Nor do a few committees and organising bodies who run sporting competitions that I am involved in.

I looked up the words democracy and consultation and, just as I suspected, they do not mean bugger the majority!  

To paraphrase some French bird, "Let them eat fruitcake".

Tuesday 10th January

The birthdays come thick and fast in the Marsh dynasty and today is the turn of it's matriarch - Happy birthday mom.

It's nice to know that football's most respected figure, Sir Bobby Robson can still be of service to the game even at his tender age.   The Republic of Ireland have once again turned to a Geordie for inspiration and have installed Bobby as mentor to Steve Staunton.  

Their most successful manager, Jack Charlton also an ex Newcastle United manager, is now considered an honorary Irishman, let's hope Sir Bobby can emulate him.   It makes NUFC look rather careless in losing two managers who have proved their worth on the world stage.

Monday 9th January

To my surprise I awoke this morning with a 50 year old woman beside me in bed.   I thought this was very strange until it dawned on me that it is Mrs Boggy's memorable birthday today.

Happy birthday  to my darling wife Christine.

We shall be jetting off somewhere nice later in the week.   In fact it is so nice that it is called Nice and not to be mistaken for Leeds, Tess!

Sunday 8th January

I am sorry to keep banging on about the farce that is our third force in national politics, but have you seen and heard the plight of them?    With the glorious exception of Menzies (Ming) Campbell who has rightly tossed his hat into the ring,  none of the others have dared to put their name forward yet.

They will require  10% of their parliamentary colleagues (6 or 7) and 200 members to be able to stand for the leadership against the statesmanlike Scot.   Otherwise they will have to return to their constituencies and....er... start rehearsing for next year's pantomimes.

What is needed now is another type of equine animal, namely a dark horse to emerge from the ranks.   The ones I have been listening to would have trouble inspiring and leading a pack of cub scouts never mind a political party and ultimately the country.

There is a relatively young chap who represents a Scottish seat by the name of Charles Kennedy who seems to know what he is talking about but I don't think he will be standing, which is a pity.

That well know anagram of a politician, who is married to a  weather forecaster, Lembit Opik seems like a good egg but has as much chance of becoming Prime Minister as I have I of praising the LOC (local organising committee) for the forthcoming British Transplant Games in Bath.

The Games always start on a Thursday with registration, checking in and opening ceremony etc after participants have travelled the length of the country to get there.   The plan for this years' Games is to hold the golf championship on the Thursday.   Please discuss!   Discussion and consultation with the golfers is apparently beyond them.

I think I might become a pantomime horse and then all that is required of me is simply to follow everything the bloke at the front does.   No independent thought, ideas or input necessary.   A bit like a Transplant Games golfer really.

If you are hearing about this for the first time, let me know what you think.

Saturday 7th January

I have just returned home from my game of golf to hear the dignified Charles Kennedy resign as leader of the Lib Dems at 3.15pm.  

He called a leadership election but not one Lib Dem MP put their name forward to oppose him, which tells 'Joe Public' everything.   It could be the first time that a pantomime horse has led a political party.   As soon as I have eaten this bale of hay I shall return to this .

 I make this prediction in advance of the next general election, the boy Dave will wipe the floor with this lot.

I for one think Charles Kennedy is OK and I suspect many ordinary voters think so too.

Friday 6th January

Just as the pantomime season is drawing to a close and lots of pantomime horses about to become redundant, another door opens.

That likeable leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, Charles Kennedy announces that he is a recovering alcoholic and triggers a leadership election.   What another one?   Just like the local omnibus service, you wait ages for one to come along and then two appear together.  

The problem with the Liberals is trying to name any of their MP's.    Unless of course you wear sandals and a woollie jumper with elbow patches, are a hirsute, dope smoking, card carrying member of the ban the bomb club or your local parliamentary representative is of the faith.

Ex Olympian Menzies (pronounced Ming) Campbell is a familiar face to everyone and Alan Beith too, but these two apart who are these people?

To have a meaningful leadership election Mr Kennedy needs an opponent and as none of them appear to have the bottle (an unfortunate phrase) to toss their hat in the ring, what is now required is a stalking horse candidate.   This conjures up wonderful images and I remember that bloke who stood against Maggie Thatcher which ultimately led to her downfall.  

So if the back end of a pantomime horse wants to become prime minister, now is his chance.   He can then return to his stable and prepare for..... er...another season treading the boards.   If you are interested, I like Charles Kennedy.

Thursday 5th January

Having received  a copy of a press release from Australia overnight I have created a new page just for the Aussie Transplant Cricket Club - ATCC.   I hope no copyright has been infringed.    If it has, I am certain someone will let me know.

All we Poms need to know now is, "Are you lot definitely coming or what?"  

Wednesday 4th January

I was thinking of putting today's entry in Braille, to celebrate the birthday of Louis Braille, but there would be no point really.

Did you spot the orange button on my 'Homepage' as you logged on?   For those of you who have seen these before but do not know what they are, let me try and explain.

It is an RSS feed.   The posh translation is Rich Site Summary but we Geordies call it Really Simple Syndication.   What it means is, I can notify you and the rest of the blogosphere when I update my site, if you have what is called a newsreader.   All websites will one day have a button just like this but for now it is a bit new fangled.

Major news corporations, BBC, CNN, ITN etc all use this method to update the world wide web.   So yours truly thought he should do the same.   It is an easy way to keep all of your favourite sites in one place and rather than you having to log on to each site to seee if there is an update you reader will tell you automatically when there has been, with a taste of the story.   You then simply click through to the site and start reading.

That is the theory anyway.

Tuesday 3rd January

I was going to write about the result of the poll on BBC Radio 2 yesterday which picked 1967 as the greatest year in the history of pop music.    Some overnight news from Sydney Australia though has changed all that.

Let me be the first POM to offer my congratulations to the ATCC - Australian Transplant Cricket Club - on receiving the Australian Cricket Club of the year award.

Jeff Sewell, a frequent contributor to my 'guest book' and Aussie player, was invited to the commentary box at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) during the current Test match against South Africa to receive the prestigious award on behalf of the Wombats who won the inaugural David Hookes Memorial Trophy on home soil in 2004.

Whether they will be able to retain the trophy in England this summer is in some doubt, but as a result of the publicity that this will undoubtedly bring I am sure they will have an influx of players so that they can bring their touring party up to strength.   Let's hope so because the Aussies will have a great time over here (despite the result).

Jeff was live on air during the Aussie equivalent of our Test Match Special and apparently some commentator bloke called Glen Mitchell of ABC was sledging me across the international airwaves about my 'lack of ticker'.  

From one GM to another, 'G'day Cobber and thanks for the name check'.

I have been checking my web stats and loads of Aussies have been checking my site in the last 24 hours  - welcome aboard losers! - and thank you.

Monday 2nd January

Due to the rotten weather I have not had a game of golf for over a week, so I intend to put that right in the next hour or so.  

Not much to write about 'cos I have been updating my site for the coming year.   There is still a bit to do so please bear with me.   I still have my 2006 predictions to do and a new page for Gig 7 with all of the details about the band and comedian.   Plus a new page for the forthcoming European Heart & Lung Transplant Games in Naples, Italy this coming June.  

Sunday 1st January 2006

Happy New Year everyone!

To misquote John Lennon, "Let's hope it's a good one and we all stay fit and healthy".

As I have done for the past 21 years, I am going out to meet and greet all of my friends and to listen to Tex & Leon and friends sing.   Sadly, since my transplant I have decided not to give my version of 'Wonderful Tonight' to the baying crowd.   It must have been all of the tubes and stuff when I was on life support but they have ruined a perfectly hopeless singing voice.

It is also a good opportunity to start selling my Gig 7 tickets.   It's what I do best.

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