A friend had to make a dash for home. Throwing our shopping plans into total confusion.

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I went to the doctors. About six weeks ago I spotted a large lump to the side of my big toe. I was concerned it was a bunion. Anyway, it turns out it is just a bursa — a sac of fluid probably caused by my shoe rubbing — and it will probably clear up by itself.

I’m noticing a lot of aches and pains this winter, especially since the weather turned really cold over the past month. My knees don’t seem to have the same bounce that they used to.

I hate the cold, damp British winters and getting older too. Then again, even my Ghanian friend ‘K’ is suffering pains in his feet and he’s fifteen years my junior.

There’s nothing else for it… I’m just going to have to move to a warmer climate. Send your donations!

Unexpectedly I was invited out to the pictures. Yes I was taken on a date — can you believe it? We went to the Odeon at The Trafford Centre where we saw Mere Jeevan Saathi.

It was in Hindi but had subtitles (luckily, as my Hindi is a bit rusty). But, after a while, I forget that I’m reading the dialogue.

This certainly held my attention to the end, even though it was more than two hours long. Loved the musical numbers and scenery. It was a tragic, melodramatic story. But also very camp.

Karisma Kapoor plays a rather scary woman who has an obsessive love for a pop star. The phrase ‘tragedy queen’ was invented for this character. She urgently needs help. But you can’t help feeling a little bit sorry for her. We’ve all been there… Though personally I drew the line at explosives.

Karisma Kapoor looks like Valerie Leon I think.

Sad to hear that Jack Wild has died aged 53. Star of my favourite Musical: Oliver!

Today I received some official figures for Manchester Pride 2004 via my Member of Parliament. They appear to show that only about 34.5% of Operation Fundraiser ticket money from the event went to good causes. The rest was spent on costs. So far I have been unable to get figures for collection bucket money. I don’t know where that is included.

Currently the Operation Fundraiser website states:

‘Once again in 2005/06 50% of the money raised by Operation Fundraiser at Manchester Pride will go directly to Community Futures’

From the figures that I have seen for the years 2003 and 2004, and the information I have now received from Manchester Pride, that statement from Operation Fundraiser appears to be untrue. I don’t see how they can say 50%.

If you’re wondering why I had to involve my MP. The answer is because Operation Fundraiser will not give me information.

In 2004, Operation Fundraiser collected £331,192 from ticket sales at Manchester Pride. They handed over 50% of that money to Manchester Pride to cover the cost of running the event. Leaving £165,596.

Operation Fundraiser’s ‘Annual Report’ leaflet, which they distributed last August, was misleading. In it they add together the £165,596 ‘net proceeds’ Pride figure and a £43,812 figure (for other non-pride fundraising and donations). Giving a ‘total income’ of £209,408.

Then they deduct their own costs of £79,982. Leaving just £129,426 for good causes in 2004.

The true costs in 2004 were £165,596 handed over to Manchester Pride. Plus £79,982 of Operation Fundraiser’s own costs. Total costs: £245,578.

Therefore we can say that out of ticket sales and non-pride year-round fundraising (£331,192 + £43,812), Operation Fundraiser spent 65.5% (£165,596 + £79,982) on costs and only 34.5% (£129,426) went to good causes.

I don’t know where collection bucket money is in all of this.

In the Operation Fundraiser ‘Annual Report’ 2004 leaflet, they don’t mention the £165,596 that was handed over to Manchester Pride. By doing so, they give the public a false impression of what percentage of income goes to good causes. They make the situation appear much better than it really is.

Interesting to note that, although Operation Fundraiser handed over less to cover the running costs of the event in 2004 than it did in 2003 (£200,000 in 2003 and £165,596 in 2004), Operation Fundraiser’s own costs in 2004 are some £20,000 more than the previous year (£59,520 in 2003 and £79,982 in 2004). A 33% increase in running costs in one year. Why?

Which leaves a final figure for good causes in 2004 that is just £1,736 more than the previous year. Quite a coincidence… Sometimes it feels as if there is a ‘glass ceiling’ on the amount that is allowed to go to good causes each year.