The Cheesecake Who Came In From The Cold

I’m sure we can all agree that the last couple of weeks have been pretty fucking chilly. There has been snow and ice and then more snow and more nice. Based on looking out of the window this morning, I can only assume that this cold spell has finally passed.

It makes me just a little bit sad. Unlike most people, I’m gonna miss it.

Why? Well, I could tell you I like to go sledging or I have a penchant for winter fashions. I could even suggest that I enjoy putting my feet up in front of a roaring fire (all of these things are true by the way but none of them are the real reason). The real reason is that the cold weather, particularly heavy snow, always reminds me of home.

Way back in the dim and distant past of 1978, I was involved in a serious road accident. I was 4½ years old at the time. I won’t bore you with the gory details. All you need to know is I suffered a serious head injury and ended up in hospital for a long time (don’t feel badly for me I was incredibly lucky it turns out.)

Every memory prior to that protracted hospital stay is gone now, and I mean every single solitary thing. For all intents and purposes, Pablo Cheesecake began in that hospital. What I do remember, and I remember it in vivid technicolor-esque detail, is looking out of a window and seeing snow. Lots of it.

Now, whenever I see snow I remember that hospital stay, and more importantly I recall the day that I got to go home. There is a photograph of me, no doubt tucked away in a cupboard somewhere, that shows a young Pablo Cheesecake standing outside a house snow all around. He’s lucky to be alive, and you know what? Even now, 35yrs later, he ain’t ever gonna forget it.

A typically wintry scene

A typically wintry scene

I would apologise for being overly sentimental in this post, but fuck it. I don’t care. I like to sit and ponder the nature of existence, and it just so happens that snow is one of my triggers.

*blows raspberry*

If you don’t like it the door is just over there. Don’t let it hit you on the ass on the way out.

Anywho… I think that’s enough of this dwelling on the past malarkey. Lets look to the future.

Later Internet Brethren

Pablo

Brains, Books and Bananas

Once again its been ages since I’ve done an update on my blog. I apologise, I often forget that the entire internet hangs on my every word. Anyway, here is some stuff about this and that. (You know, the usual guff I normally spout.)

Pablo Cheesecake versus Subconscious Sabotage

My brain and I are currently at loggerheads, at least it seems that way to me.  On 15th December I found myself in Accident and Emergency at around 12.30am. I had experienced what the paramedics called ‘some sort of seizure’.

brain

….Fortunately things weren’t quite this bad.

The worst/scariest part of the whole thing was that, from my perspective at least, I was utterly absent when this happened. I have no memory about any of this at all.  Apparently I rolled out of bed, landing on my shoulder, I bit my lip and was doing the whole frothing at the mouth.  I’m just incredibly lucky that Mrs C managed to keep calm (I don’t know if I could have) and got an ambulance to whisk me to hospital.

A couple of weeks have passed now and I’m glad to say report that there has been no further recurrence.  I feel 100% ok. I’ve visited the local hospital and the likely prognosis is some sort of epileptic fit. There are going to be more tests but I suspect I will probably end up on meds to manage this.

Oh yes, there will be tests.

Oh yes, there will be tests.

If anything, this whole incident has made me re-evaluate a lot of things. Which brings me nicely onto my next topic of wittering.

The Eloquent Page

Last year was a pretty damn successful year for the old book blog. Over one hundred reviews, three conventions, and I got the chance to read some of the best fiction around. That can’t ever be a bad thing can it? Well, what I did come to realise is that it was taking up just a bit too much of my time. Don’t get me wrong, I love to read (I frickin adore it), but I just couldn’t keep up that pace.  Two books a week was cutting into the rest of my life way too much. I could have asked MadNad for more assistance but she already helps out whenever she can and she currently runs a couple of her own websites so. I couldn’t really expect her to give up her own projects.

The delicate balancing act continues

The delicate balancing act continues

So since January 1st I’ve cut down to just one review a week and I think this is working out much better. I can take more time over each book but still get to spend time doing something that I love. Perhaps I’ve finally figured out a balance that works for me? Time will tell.

It’s Not All Doom and Gloom

Oh dear, this post seems to have taken a slightly downbeat turn doesn’t it? Can’t be having that. I’m all about the upbeat and spangly after all. In an effort to combat this existential funk lets finish on a high shall we. Look here’s a picture of a nude banana.

Gratuitous Nudity!

Gratuitous Fruit Nudity!

Till next time. (No, I don’t know when that will be either).

Be good