On the beach this mild and sunny morning. Yes, it does almost look like the Maldives doesn't it.



The VSRPD reckons my infection is now in the bone as the gums look nice and healthy. He gave me tetracycline as requested and today I feel a bit better. He prescribed some vicodin for the pain but when I got to the pharmacy they said he should have known better as dentists are very restricted in the painkillers they are allowed to hand out. I ended up with some over the counter meds but at least I got the tetracycline. Normal oral service will be resumed any day now.

I woke up in agony last night. AGONY! Isn't mouth pain just the worst? These antibiotics are obviously not working and the infection is eating into my bone and brain and making my eyes water. I'm off to see the VSRPD at noon where I will ask for oxytetracycline as I now remember a similar situation a few years ago after a root canal when a system of elimination was used to find the antibiotic that would clear up an infection which had taken hold. While googling for dental antibiotics last night I discovered that there is a correlation between teeth extraction and age of death. Apparently, the more teeth you've had pulled the earlier you will die. Blimey.

Hello. Stupid mouth. I got an infection in the socket after the tooth extraction last week and had to go back to see VSRPD (very sexy rugby playing dentist). VSRPD opened gums and scraped right down to the bone and then put me on the antibiotic metronidazole. It still hurts but I have faith in his abilities. The metronidazale means I can't have any alcohol (it's a MAJOR no-no with this drug apparently) and as I took up drinking when we moved here I'm a bit annoyed. Baileys and gin (not together) are my favourites at the mo (fresh limes in a G&T are so much nicer than lemons don't you agree?). The pills will be finished tomorrow morning but there is still a 48 hour embargo on booze after the last one so Sunday night will see me on the sofa clinking a big Baileys during the Sopranos.

I went to see a press screening of Control last night in Preston. Bloody brilliant stuff. It's Shot in black and white and just looks lovely. Sam Riley is a revelation as Ian but the whole cast were brilliant (I especially liked the one liners from Bernard and Hooky and Rob: Rob to Ian after he'd had a fit..."never mind eh, it could be worse, at least you're not the singer for The Fall"). You think you know someones history from books and music but then someone (Anton Corbijn) comes along and shows you their version of things and it adds layers and layers to your own misconceptions. Tea and toast this morning was accompanied by Closer on the hifi. By the way, one of the best selling Joy Division bootlegs is their live show recorded at Blackpool Imperial Hotel in July 1979 (supported by OMD!). I only saw them live once, Newcastle City Hall supporting the Buzzcocks. The only folk in their seats for JD that night were us under 18's (too young to get a drink in the packed bar) and they hadn't really gone 'massive' yet. I can't remember much about it actually.

The new Siouxsie album is good innit. We had friends over from Knutsford last weekend and took them to lunch at our new Booths. Booths is a lancashire chain of supermarkets with an exemplary record of stocking local produce for local shoppers. They are the Waitrose of the North. Anyway, a new flagship Booths opened two weeks ago in Lytham and it has a lovely restaurant. I had the best eggs benedict EVER and the eggs only travelled two miles from a local farm (organic of course). In fact, I think the hen walked to the shop and dropped the eggs straight into the pot. After lunch we took a walk on the green at Lytham then through Lowther Gardens and then onto the beach where the tide was so far out we couldn't even see the sea (here's a great pic of me riding my pony on the beach). It was one of those days I had dreamed about while in my last few impatient years in London and it would be trite to call it perfect but it was certainly everything I'd craved for so long.

*wipes bloody drool from chin*
Hello again! I'm just back from my new private dentist (NHS dentists are rarer than hens teeth in Lytham St Annes) where my sexy Irish rugby playing 30 year old dentist pulled out a huge molar while smooth talking me... "You'll feel some slight pressure in a moment...don't fight against it... raise your right hand if I'm hurting you...can I see you again in a week" . We'll probably get married.

So, we finally got online last night. And boy did we miss it. Not having the internets is like living without an arm or chocolate (ok, not that bad but it still feels like something is wrong with the world). It now feels like we've settled in our new house (like corn flakes during transportation).

Just a quickie. No internet at the house yet so I'm at the library (surrounded by silver-haired-surfers hunched over the monitors). Slowly sorting the house and this weeks big purchase was a home cinema system as we've always wanted one but were too considerate of our neighbours in the past when we were 'terraced' (no problem now as we're 'detached'). The weather suits me better here as there will be no more hot sticky nights (even had the heating on tuther night) and the dog loves his daily race around the dunes chasing seagulls. My mum and dad arrive for the weekend this Friday so I'm painting skirting boards etc in preparation. Sky tv is installed but their broadband won't be here till 17 September so until then posts will be sporadic.