On Tuesday, after leaving Simon in the hospital, I travelled homeward via the M62 and M18 motorways. Feeling thirsty and hungry, I decided to break the journey with a detour into a town called Goole.
It sits by The River Ouse and is an inland port for moderately sized shipping. The flat surrounding landscape ensures that Goole can be seen long before you reach it. The town's most prominent landmarks are two water towers that sit side by side. The brick tower on the left was erected in 1885 and the larger tower on the right was constructed in 1927. Locally, they are known affectionately as "the salt and pepper pots".
I parked Clint near the town's most significant church - St John's and then wandered into the forlorn pedestrianised high street. I found a cafe that was open - "Razzers" - just off that high street and there I ordered a mug of tea with a very late lunch - sausages, chips (American: fries), a fried egg and some baked beans.
I noticed several mobility scooter riders and cigarette smokers passing by. From my experience, such sights are indicators of poverty. Goole has certainly seen better days. Below, you can see the clock tower roundabout and Goole Market Hall. The town council has made some effort to beautify the place with flowers.
My older brother Robin was born in Goole in 1951 and it's where Tasker Dunham. author of "A Yorkshire Memoir", went to school many years ago - just before Noah built The Ark.
The latest on Simon is that he has had a feeding tube fitted via his nose and earlier today he panicked when an attempt was made to insert a second endoscopic tube. Maybe they'll try again tomorrow but they are pushing the instrument down an inflamed gullet swollen with cancer at the point where it enters the stomach. No wonder he panicked. It was awful the first time.
I've never thought about it but there does seem to be a connection between mobility scooters and poorer areas. Might it be smoking = poor circulation = difficulty with walking?
ReplyDeleteIn many circumstances, I bet that that is true. Plus - sit in a mobility scooter and you may get fat = diabetes.
DeleteAn endoscopy is unpleasant at any time.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you know from experience.
DeleteOh yes and one young inexperienced dude missed the hole . His comment? Sorry about that!
DeletePoor, poor Simon, I know those feed tubes well. The flowers are wallflowers are they not in Goole. Our towns often reflect the poverty of neglect but Goole seems alright. Always fancied one of those mobile scooters, or at least having a go in one.
ReplyDeleteThey should have mobility scooter racing in The Paralympics.
DeleteI'm so very sorry to hear this about your brother. It is awful having to endure these tests. I had to have a pic line inserted and a surgical guide wire. Both were very unpleasant.
ReplyDeleteIf it can help him get better treatment, it will be worth it.
On a lighter note the flowers are beautiful. Are they tulips or wallflowers? My eyes are dim......
Wallflowers close by. Thanks for your kind concern Christina.
DeletePoor Simon. Did they sedate him before trying to insert the tube?
ReplyDeleteYes they did but he could still feel it. It sounds like a horrible process - even if it is for your own good. For weeks he has been trying to suppress coughing - having a tube down your throat does not help.
DeleteThank you for the mention. The Clock Tower was built in 1926 to mark the centenary of the town's founding by the Aire and Calder Navigation Co. in 1826. It was moved away from the nearby bank buildings when the roundabout was made in the 70s. As you observe, Goole used to be a much busier town than now - like a lot of the nearly West Yorkshire towns (yes it was originally in the West Riding) it has become rather run down these days. I am not sure that you can even take A-Level exams there any more.
ReplyDeleteI just checked. Goole "Academy" (!) - run by Delta do not offer A levels. Academically capable youngster have to travel to Hull for that! I thought that Delta was an American airline.
DeleteOh God, poor Simon!! I would panic, too, if someone tried to insert a tube into me, even without it having to pass an inflamed and swollen area.
ReplyDeleteGoole sounds like a place that could be nice, with a little effort. But as is so often (not always!) the case with poorer areas, maybe the residents have resigned themselves into a humdrum existence in a town that has indeed seen better days.
There are some very nice houses in Goole - no doubt homes for aspirational families but in the centre there is a palpable feeling of deprivation and sadness.
DeletePoor Simon, I hope they can keep him comfortable at least.
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen. At least he is being nourished now. Before, it was as if he was accidentally starving.
DeleteI like the flowers in that last photo. Could they sedate Simon to get the tube in for a good look around?
ReplyDeleteHe was heavily sedated but he could still feel it and remembered the first time.
DeleteI had to be knocked out completely when I had an endoscopy about 6 years ago. I can happily say I didn't know a thing nor would I want to. Can't they knock him out completely with Midazolam to insert the tube?
ReplyDeleteI don't know why they didn't do it - perhaps he is not strong and healthy enough to cope with being knocked out completely.
Deletebecause smoke ravaged lungs will still try to cough under anesthetic and that could kill him.
DeleteThe floral plantings ARE pretty. I'm surprised they don't anesthetize Simon for that procedure. I had an endoscopy many years ago in New York and I wasn't even conscious for it.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why they haven't knocked him out. Maybe he is not up to that.
DeleteTest test -- I'm not sure that last comment worked.
ReplyDeleteThis is your finest ever comment Steve. Much appreciated.
DeleteI feel so very sorry for Simon - it must be the most awful experience. My husband had an endoscopy and had a sore throat for quite a while afterwards. Not that it stopped him smoking, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteThe centre of Goole doesn't look too bad, and I like the design of the newer water tower. It wasn't the sunniest of days to brighten the town, but the flowers make a cheerful splash of colour.
You could get a very cheap house in Goole Carol - should you ever decide to return to Blighty. They might make you the Lady Mayoress!
DeleteYep, I live in one of the poorest counties in my state and there are lots of mobility scooters and cigarettes. Another sign is that unless a store is known for selling the cheapest wares or food, it quickly goes out of business.
ReplyDeleteThe signs are everywhere. In all British cities there are now food banks for the most desperate.
DeleteThe people who smoke are the ones who can least afford it. A pack of cigarettes here costs about $10. Each. Someone who smokes a pack a day is putting out $300 a month. If you have a married couple who both smoke? That's when you have the people who shop in those discount stores and eat cheap unhealthy food. It is a sad cycle.
ReplyDeleteTo a large extent I blame tobacco companies who strive to get people hooked on nicotine.
DeletePoverty is the root of much evil.
ReplyDeleteI feel horrible for Simon. This has to be so terrifying to him along with the physical pain and discomfort.
It's not a nice way in which to consider The End.
DeleteThey do look like salt and pepper pots YP.
ReplyDeleteThat comparison tickled me.
DeleteI'm sure that Goole was where my wife and I nearly got stranded on the way to her mother's funeral. I recall huge traffic jams trying to cross the old bridge over the river. That was nearly 15 years ago now so things may have changed.
ReplyDeleteI think you are referring to Boothferry Bridge Will! The Ouse Bridge on the M62 was opened in 1976 but it has had a couple of closures for maintenance.
DeleteSo sorry that Simon has to go through this in addition to the cancer itself. Sometimes the treatment, although necessary, is as painful and scary as the disease.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why the first endoscopy gave incomplete results. We will probably never know the answer.
DeleteI was asleep for my endoscopy too. I am sorry that Simon has to suffer this way. I am glad they are feeding him and that will help to build him up again. I wonder if he will be strong enough to have cancer treatment. How scary for him (and you)!
ReplyDeleteIt may have gone too far Ellen. I doubt that he can be "healed" and given extra years.
DeleteThey need to give Simon something like Midazolam to relax him and so he doesn't remember the endoscopy.
ReplyDeleteThe water tower on the left looks like a penis, I'm surprised there aren't alternative nick names for the towers, like brick dick. I didn 't come up with that one on my own.
I will send your interesting suggestion to The Mayor of Goole.
DeleteI think the salt and pepper monuments are quite nice. And that plaza with all the flowers is quite pretty. Maybe better days are ahead for Goole.
ReplyDelete