The lack of posts for the last week is entirely my Mums' fault.    But I'm happy to take the blame this time.    Her op went very well and she is recovering well too - with an even chance she may be out at the weekend.

A very large collective sigh of relief from all of us down on the farm.   I've been up and down to Brum to visit as they only allow relatives in ICU and what an ICU.    Forget the stuff on the telly.   You have never seen so much kit / drips / monitors and attention.   One nurse per patient - at least for the first couple of days.

We can all moan about the state of the health service - and we will see what things are like on a regular ward this week - but at the sharp end when intensive care is needed, what I saw was deeply impressive.

I suspect it is the commitment of the people that work there who make the difference and to whom I am very grateful for the care they are giving my Mum.   None of them will read this - but that doesn't stop me saying THANKS.

Not usually drawn to watch The Apprentice, I did so for a few minutes this evening.

What a load of tosh.   A collection of squabbling sour faced egotistical self important arrogant little toads trying - and miserably failing - to work together to shoe shine the boss in the hope one of them may win the 'prize' of a years work as his 'apprentice'.

I work in a fairly stressful and pressured environment and I get to see my fair share of some of these characteristics from time to time - but I wouldn't give any one of them on the TV show a job.  No way.

The best thing they could learn is that working together and being a whole lot less confrontational will achieve so much more.   They might even learn to enjoy it too.