The NHS is under strain, we know that.
Cleaners and cooks, porters and paramedics, nurses and neurosurgeons work damn hard – but sometimes there aren’t enough hospital beds. Medical staff put in long, tiring shifts and ambulances queue up outside A and E.
However, what recently happened to a friend of mine, a resident of Newport, illustrates that the NHS can work with remarkable efficiently and empathy.
Suddenly, experiencing alarming symptoms involving the loss of a lot of blood, he called the NHS helpline and the thoroughly professional call handler arranged for a doctor to call him back.
He did. Less than an hour later.
The doctor had the details of the earlier call to hand and arranged an appointment with the out-of-hours doctor at the Royal Gwent Hospital at 11.15 pm. He also advised my friend to take an overnight bag, as it was likely he’d be admitted to hospital.
At the Royal Gwent, the doctor who examined him said she was admitting him to the surgical assessment unit at the Grange Hospital, Llanfrechfa.
Arriving there just after midnight, he immediately had a cannula inserted and bloods taken, while a doctor hovered nearby, eagerly waiting to examine him!
After a very thorough examination, he diagnosed my friend probably had diverticulitis, common in people of a similar age to the NHS.
However, to be 100% sure, he’d arrange for my friend to have a colonoscopy in four to six weeks.
As my friend says ruefully, “It’s always good to have something to look forward to!”
The blood results that came back around 2am were satisfactory, so he was relieved to be told he could go home.
In less than six hours, he’d been examined by two doctors in two hospitals and been dealt with as a person and not just a patient.
I’d like you to remember this story next time you hear anyone bashing the NHS!

Have a guess what, according to a recent nationwide survey of 2000 couples, are the biggest contributions to a happy relationship over many years.
Go on – have a guess.
You’ve obviously got nothing more important to do if you’re reading this.
Some of the answers that couples gave were surprising, well at least to me.
Like “Knowing each other’s PIN numbers”.
I mean, come on.
I’m all for committing to a relationship 150% – but there have to be sensible limits!
Many ladies said that regular kisses and cuddles – or cwtshes as we say around these parts – play an important part.
And, as long as they don’t involve the milkman, I’m all for that.
Many couples stick to the old adage, “Never go to sleep on an argument”.
So have I . . . since the night we had a tiff . . .
She went to sleep on an argument – and I went to sleep on a sofa.
It’s also important to be able to openly and calmly discuss potential disagreements before they start to silently fester over many weeks, eventually exploding into a full-blown argument that ends up with crockery being thrown, your favourite shirt being attacked by scissors and the front door slamming as she goes off to her mother’s, vowing never ever to return, “Even if you got down on your one good knee and begged me to come back!”
Am I speaking from experience?
Certainly not!
That was all hypothetical.
Besides which, my knee’s much better now.
Other secrets of happy relationships are having no secrets from each other (apart from your PIN number!) and being diplomatic. i.e. when your good lady asks you if her bum looks big in her new skinny jeans, it’s best not to reply…
“Can you define ‘big’?”
One fifth of the couples surveyed said it’s important to have two television sets – in different rooms obviously, otherwise it would definitely lead to arguments.
I disagree.
In our house there’s just one TV and one person in charge of the remote control.
Always.
Although, if I ask her nicely, she’ll hand it over occasionally….

One definition of a Truism is ‘A statement that while possibly true, says nothing new or interesting’.
Doubtless a few cynics might say the exact same definition applies to some of the bizarre ideas that emanate from that well-known intellectual hot house overlooking Cardiff Bay.
I once heard someone say, “That building isn’t so much a think tank, as a septic tank”.
He may say that. I could not possibly agree.
In fact, let me be clear! I hold no truck with such a cynical view of our politicians who work tirelessly to the best of their (admittedly limited) abilities.
Suddenly, the expression “They’re not very good, but they’re the best in their price range” popped into my head.
Why would that be?
Furthermore, my legal representatives (Messrs. D.B. Trotter & Partners of Nelson Mandela House, Peckham, SE15) are poised and prepared to counter any such wild accusation of cynicism aimed in my direction.
And, as they charge £29.99 an hour for their services, plus petrol money and a daily allowance for a Tesco meal deal lunch of a sandwich, packet of crisps and a soft drink, anyone who wants to take them on will require deep pockets.
Or have a small roll of used fivers wrapped up in an elastic band in the holiday tin on the mantelpiece!
Unfortunately, my planned article about truisms will have to wait because I seem to have run out of space.
But before I go, I’m obliged to say that ‘other’ meal deals are available.
Although if you’d like one, you’ll have to be quick, because, if our Bay Petty Rulers have their way, meal deals won’t be available for much longer h’yer in Wales – one of the poorest parts of the UK.
I hope my reference to ‘bizarre ideas’ earlier confirms these articles aren’t just thrown together…

On Sunday, I got up early, having had another late night.
The aim was to get creative in readiness for today’s column (this column doesn’t write itself, you know), which can be challenging, especially if you are not in the correct frame of mind.
So, to start the creative process, I thought it best to visit the gym, as exercise is something that many say is good for the brain.
It also makes you sweaty and tired, but that’s a story for another time.
Despite having arrived early, I was surprised to see that many other people had the same idea, maybe not for the same reasons as me, but I’m sure you get my drift.
I witnessed men and women of various ages working out on a day of rest, keen to stay fit and younger looking, which I’m sure you will agree is a good thing.
However, I also couldn’t help but notice that many wore ‘make up’, including blusher, bright lipstick and brightly-coloured designer sportswear – and, yes, the ladies were just as colourful!
I never knew that going to the gym was such a social occasion for so many.
We live in interesting times . . .
For the record, I’m truly enjoying life’s rich tapestry, especially as it does help me become more creative – and I get the chance of sharing this with you.

A few Saturdays ago I settled down on my chaise shorte (even if I could afford a chaise longue it wouldn’t fit in my living room!) to watch “George Michael In London” on BBC2.
Imagine my disappointment – go on, imagine it – when BBC 2 Wales replaced the concert with “Today At The Test”!
As it was ‘George Michael Night’, BBC2, having earlier screened a “George Michael At The BBC” compilation, replacing his concert with cricket seemed illogical.
But as we know, sport always takes priority at BBC Wales.
Fortunately, in this digital age we can tune in (do we still ‘tune in’?) to all BBC regions and I found the concert on BBC 2 London.
Hardly a third-world problem, admittedly, but it took me back to the bad old, pre-digital, pre-satellite, pre-streaming days when we only had three TV channels.
Being young-ish at the time, I wasn’t aware if other UK regions opted-out from the mainstream schedules as BBC Wales did.
But I remember that quite often, when BBC One showed a late-night thriller film, invariably BBC Wales would replace it with some dull (to a youngster) discussion programme, followed by The News In Welsh and Close Down!
Beatle fans of all ages will recall with amusement, Victor Spinetti’s harassed TV director character in “A Hard Day’s Night” predicting “The News In Welsh” would be his next and probably final job after The Fab Four had wreaked havoc in his studio.
And, before anyone writes in, the film’s brilliantly witty screenplay was penned by Alun Owen – a Welshman born in Menai Bridge.
And it was made almost 60 years ago!
Greater minds than mine noticed that opting-out meant missing-out.
A well-observed comedy sketch in a 1980s TV show (possibly ‘Not The Nine O’ Clock News’?) began with a shot of waves lapping against a sandy beach as a male announcer said “And now, BBC Television is proud to present the British television premier of Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster movie ‘Jaws’!”
A PAUSE
“Except for viewers in Wales, who can watch a documentary about cheese making in the 19th century”.
Cheese. Cricket. Nothing much changes, does it!

I don’t know about you, but for me there is much pleasure in holding an actual newspaper, especially when you are catching up on the local news.
Long may this continue, despite the huge increase in digital and online news sites.
Let’s face it, if we got rid of newspapers altogether, what would my local chippy wrap the chips in?
I did some research and found that newspapers date back to the 1600s.
The first British newspaper, The Oxford Gazette, was published 1665.
The 19th century then followed on as a period of newspaper boom. The oldest newspaper in Wales is, of course, the Carmarthen Journal, founded in 1810.
By the 20th century, each city had its own privately-published newspaper.
We live in interesting times and the younger generation are far less likely to support the old traditional ways – yet alone purchase a local paper.
This, in itself, has a huge impact on the industry, which I know saddens many fellow readers of this publication.
The letters and messages that I receive from the people who read this paper demonstrates that value is gained and support continues for the traditional way of spreading the news.
Wouldn’t it be sad to witness the end of the good old-fashioned newspaper?

The late comedian Sean Hughes used to do a clever ‘bit’ in his act where, immediately after telling a joke which got a big laugh, he’d  jump down into the audience, tell another joke that would get a great response and say, “I’ve just proved I’m as funny off stage as on!”
I’m often asked if all comedians are as funny on stage as off and the simple answer is, I don’t know all comedians!
But if a performer tried to be funny 24/7 it would irritate everyone around them and the performer’s health would eventually suffer under the strain.
While many comics take their work seriously, some take it so seriously they rarely laugh at jokes.
I’ll run that past you again because I know it didn’t really register.
Some comedians rarely laugh at jokes.
In the 1980s and 1990s when TV entertainment entertained us seven nights a week, a comedy writer I know was constantly busy writing for many of the top entertainers on the box.
The first occasion he sat in the dressing room of a famous TV star, whose series he’d been hired to write, was nerve-wracking enough as my friend was a fan of the comic and had watched his shows for years.
Then, when the star read through my friend’s script and didn’t laugh once, he was mortified!
Instead, without cracking a smile, the star either said “That one’s very funny” or “That’s another woofer! (meaning it’ll get a big laugh) or he crossed out with a pen the ones that didn’t appeal to him.
Luckily, the star found many ‘woofers’ in his script.
From that day on, my friend was determined to take his work more seriously.
A few months later, he was hired to write a series for another huge TV comedian and, sat in the dressing room, my friend was astonished by the stars reaction as he read his script.
He roared with laughter at 75% of the jokes – a pretty good hit rate in comedy!
From that day on, my friend was totally confused.
A state in which he remains to this day…

The cost of holidays has rocketed again, making it far too expensive for many parents to go and enjoy family time together.
It has been well documented that some holidays are between two and six times more expensive during the peak school holiday periods.
The majority of the public see this as exploitation – and who can blame them?
Many get into debt and end up paying huge rates of interest for the privilege of borrowing, which is an added cost to an already over-inflated holiday break.
Gone are the days where many valley folk would venture to Porthcawl and Barry Island during miners’ fortnight to spend two weeks in an old, damp and mouldy caravan, where the whole family had to walk half a mile to the other side of the site to visit the toilet and have a cold shower.
Not to mention the carrying of the water butt back to ensure a supply of tea, coffee and squash.
And all this took place, more often than not, in the rain.
The two-week holiday in Wales back then prepared us for outdoor pursuits and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
I can’t say that I miss those days, but I’m sure many readers would agree that it was all very character building and gave us some amazing memories and stories to pass on to the younger generation.

Here’s a hypothetical question.
Would you rather experience a day that starts out badly but ends well? Or one that starts off well – but ends very badly?
What recently happened to a friend of mine illustrates that none of us are given the choice…
His day began well when his dentist, with whom he had an appointment for a filling, said that as the tooth showed no sign of decay and wasn’t causing problems, no filling was needed.
My friend left the surgery having saved money – and had also escaped having a filling.
When he got home there was a letter from a charity he supports telling him he’d won a fiver in their weekly draw!
Better than a slap in the face with a wet fish. Ask any wet fish!
With his day going well, he and his wife and grandson visited local gardens replete with underground grottos and ornamental ponds.
After a couple of hours exploring, my friend sat on a bench near a large pond while his wife and grandson wandered off.
After 10 minutes, my friend walked towards what he thought was a large patch of grass next to the pond, only to find, to his horror, that the ‘grass’ was actually green algae on the pond and he suddenly felt himself, as he put it ‘falling through space’ into the water which was much deeper than he’d imagined.
In fact, by the time his brain had registered what was happening to him, he was up to his chin in cold, filthy water.
He’s just under five foot ten, so that gives you some idea how deep it was.
He somehow managed to clamber out, soaking wet, and called for his wife who, naturally, was shocked to see the state he was in.
Getting him home to a hot bath and change of clothes was priority and took some organisation.
As my friend put it, “The good and bad things that happened to me that day shows life is just a series of random incidents, set before us by the Great Tik Tok Prankster In The Sky”.
It’s difficult to argue with that…

This week’s newspaper column is being written from a Virgin Atlantic Dreamliner, 35,000 feet in the air en-route from New York to London.
We even have an internet connection to help with the research.
This certainly helps keep us occupied during a long haul nine-hour flight.
How times have changed.
In addition to this, the onboard film selection is something of a treat.
Never have I witnessed such a choice of new and old films.
My choice of film on this occasion was my old time favourite and blockbuster, ‘Laurel and Hardy’.
It was a partnership that one time made them the world’s greatest comedy team.
With the golden era of Hollywood films behind them, diminished by age, the duo set out to reconnect with their adoring fans by touring variety halls in Britain in 1953.
But there were big challenges relating to health and management which gives us a true insight into the tough world of entertainment.
I must admit, I was truly moved by the story – and Steve Coogan and John C Reilly played the heroes of comedy amazingly well. Do check it ou. You can thank me later!