A Happy New Year!

 Tuesday. New Year's Eve. 9.50 a.m. Yet another mild but rather dull and overcast sort of day. The weather is expected to get worse, with more wind and rain, and in Scotland, Hogmanay has been cancelled in Edinburgh, due to the weather which is forecast. I simply can't imagine Scotland foregoing their New Year's Eve celebrations.

I needed to do a top-up shop in Sainsbury's. Christmas is over, although stuff like mince pies are on offer, or, at least, they are very much in evidence. But there are Valentine's Day cards already on sale. No doubt there will be Easter eggs on sale soon.

I had a package arrive via Royal Mail this morning. It was the Bisoprolol tablets which I have been waiting for and which were actually ordered when I went to the surgery on Friday morning. It just goes to show that Pharmacu2U can deliver quickly when needed.

Wednesday. 9 a.m. I did see the New Year in. I watched the Jools Holland show on BBC 1.

This morning it is very windy. I took Alfie out, and it was difficult opening the door with the wind pushing against it and making weird noises. The strength of the wind was almost enough to blow you over.

Friday. 8.10 a.m. It's getting a good deal colder. Snow is forecast. An Amber alert has been given, meaning that temperatures below zero can be dangerous for those over a certain age (probably me included.) Also, danger of slips and falls, and dangerous driving conditions are expected.

Saturday. 7.35 a.m. I had the foresight to buy an extra bottle of antifreeze spray for my car. I got it when I was in Sainsbury's a couple of weeks ago. I also bought a large bottle of spray which you have to spray on your car's windows the night before and it is supposed to prevent them freezing over. I did this yesterday evening but I'm yet to find out if it has worked.

When I went out with Alfie about an hour ago, I found it was frosty, but as yet, no sign of snow. It seems that the north of England and Scotland have had snow, and it is causing problems with transport. I'm not so sure if we will get it this far south.

Sunday. 7.15 a.m. There was a scattering of snow overn night, but it's more like a dusting than what they have had in the north of England. I'm yet to take Alfie out, as he's fast asleep, so it seems unfair to wake him up.

9.05 a.m. I think Alfie was somewhat shocked by the cold when I eventually took him out.

I wasn't feeling very good when I got up. A bit light-headed and wobbly. I was scheduled to do refreshments at church, so I have sent a message via WhatsApp and someone will step in. I didn't think it was a good idea to continue, because of the blackout I had a year ago as well as the heart attack I had in church six years ago. Better to be safe than sorry.

Monday. 7.45 a.m. The snow has gone, but there's a thin fall of rain, if you can call it that.

I decided to come off the refreshment rota at church. I have been involved in this for well over a year, so it's time for others to step forward. I am still on the rota to set up communion, which I shall continue with.

3.15 p.m. I was doing my washing up at the kitchen sink this morning, when I notice a group of men in the community garden. They were all dressed in overalls, and I remembered that work was to be carried out, including the scooter stores which have been in place for around 3-4 years, but cannot be accessed from the main building here at Dexter House, because there is no ramp or specially adapted doors to allow the scooters to be taken out into the stores. An orange digger appeared and there is a fenced off area further over which is no doubt where equipment will be stored. Later, when I took Alfie out onto the grass along Strudwick Drive, I noticed a small truck being unloaded and the gate open and another larger lorry parked in Dexter Avenue, just below where the door comes out of Dexter House and I imagine it had further equipemt to be used by the workmen. Oh, the excitemnt of all this (Not. Scarcasm I'm afraid.) I will keep my readers imformed as this work progresses, or not.

Boxing Day and Beyond. . .

 Thursday. 8 a.m. I went to the Christmas Day service at SCF yesterday morning. It was an hour and there wasn't any tea or coffee as we usually have after our services, so I came straight home afterwards. 

I had my Christmas Dinner at around 5.15. I had purchased all the bits that made it up from Sainsbury's which included a chicken breast (which turned out to have stuffing inside when I began to carve it.) Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, stuffing and bacon. I had bought a ready-made Christmas Pudding, but I decided to have it another day (probably this evening.

Later, I watched the new Wallace and Gromit film, 'Vengeance Most Fowl.' I'm a fan of the work of Aardman Animation, so this was something of a treat. I know it takes years to make an animation film, and probably more work goes into this type of stop-frame animation. It was so inventive and imaginative and hilarious. According to the over-night ratings, it got over 9 million viewers.

Friday. 1.40 p.m. It's been foggy and overcast for the past couple of days. Just typical December weather, I suppose.

Another trip to Sainsbury's this morning. The travelator was not working on the trip up to the store. They seem to have endless problems with this technology, but I can walk up the travelator, which is odd when it doesn't move, but the down one was working.

There seems to be a lot of Christmas stuff left over. Perhaps they should sell off mince pies and Christmas puds at half price, or even less.

All the tenants at Dexter House, including myself, have had letters from the maintenance contractors, Mears, today. Reading down the list of things they are going to do, caught my attention. It reads 'Slip and trip hazard free pathways from external doors to the scooter stores, from the fire exits of the scheme to external gates, and from the scooter stores to the external gates.' Which means, if I am right, but don't hold your breath, they are actually going to do the work, which has been held up for at least 3–4 years! SOMEONE in the hierarchy within Milton Keynes Council, has decided to act on this work, or at least, signed the piece of paper which means that, at last, the work can be done and the electric scooters, which are stored at the moment, in common spaces, for example, the corridors, and were deemed a fire hazard by a fire officer years ago. I have been watching the brilliant sitcom 'Yes, Minister' on BBC iPlayer. This business of the scooter stores seems very much like a storyline straight out of this series. 

Well the work begins on 6th January, so I will report on here how things progress, but don't hold your breath.

Saturday. 9.45 a.m. It's yet another gloomy and overcast day here in Milton Keynes. I see from BBC Breakfast, that vast swaithes of Britain is covered in thick fog, but this area seems to have escaped. There are problems with visability as airports and flights have either been delayed or cancelled. Drivers have been told to be careful on the roads, and, in particular, because visability if poor.

I went to the prayer meeting at SCF this afternoon. A lot of the people who are in the Thursday morning group were there.

Sunday. 7.35 a.m. I've been out with Alfie. There's a bit of fog hanging around although it's thin and is likely to disperse as the day progresses.

Monday. 9.35 a.m. A bit of a misty, rather than a foggy day. Overcast and murky is the best way to describe it.

I found that I was running low with some of my medication, so I decided it would be advisable to put in a repeat prescription. I went on the on-line pharmacy I use, Pharmacy2U or whatever it's called. When you can order, then those medications which you have signed up to a 'clear', but those they say you can't have yet are screened out, being 'greyed out.' As most of my repeat medications were 'clear', I clicked to order. I thought to myself, 'ok, that's done!' and they will arrived in a few days time through the post. But a few days ago, over the Christmas period, I got a text message from my surgery to tell me I had ordered too early. Which bothered me, because, by this time I had finished the Bisoprolol tablets I take, which I think are to control my heart rate and, hopefully, prevent me having a further heart attack. This morning, rather than ringing the surgery, because I knew it would likely take me about 45 minutes for them to respond, hence causing stress, it was far simpler to drive to Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre and get the medication ordered, which I did. I was concerned that they might not be open, due to the Christmas and New Year holidays. But I needn't have worried, as they were open, and I spoke to a receptionist, who did the order on her computer and I will hopefully receive the medication in a couple of days, maybe a bit longer than usual due to New Year getting in the way.

Christmas Madness

 Wednesday. 10.40 a.m. It's bright and sunny, but there's also a gusty wind. I went out to my car to drive to Sainsbury's a little before 9 and the wind was enough to blow your head off.

Thursday. 9.25 a.m. It is bright and sunny and no howling wind.

Saturday. 6.00 p.m. Well, not a great deal to report. We had a Christmas party on Thursday morning at The Oaktree Centre. The usual Thursday Morning Life Group were there, and we had games and lots to eat. One game took me back to around the age of probably 8 or so, pass-the-parcel. If you don't know, the person in charge wraps a present in lots of layers of paper and everyone sits in a circle. Then the parcel gets passed from one person to the other as music plays. When it stops, whoever has the parcel has to remove one layer of paper. This continues until the final layer is removed, and whoever has the parcel and removes the paper wins the prize.

We had a 'Secret Santa.' If you don't know how this works, everyone had to buy a present, costing no more than £5 and wrapped, put into a pile, and you pick a present, but you don't know who bought it. I got a cuddly Christmas pudding! I know, a bit crazy, but that was the idea.

A good time was had by all.

Monday. 1.20 p.m. Yesterday morning at church, we had a 'Carols By Candlelight' service. There are no real candles, but electronic ones. Just as well, because real candles can cause smoke and fumes which make me cough.

My friend Margaret at church asked me if I could sit with her husband, Mike, who has Parkinson's. She was going to the hospital visiting and when she came back we shared dinner together. A really pleasant evening.

Tuesday. 5.00 p.m. I had one or two items to get in Sainsbury's this morning. It means I'm ready for Christmas Day. The place was heaving. I thought, if I went early enough, it would be far easier. How wrong could I be? People had trolleys full to the brim, and more. It's like they had the idea that things were going to run out, so grab it and put it in the trolley.

Someone wasn't doing their job when I went to get a trolley. There is usually a young man who collects the trolleys and brings them up to the store on the travelator. Two rather ratty trolleys, a couple with wonky wheels which makes pushing them difficult.

One of the items I had on my shopping list was a Christmas cake. Probably a small one, or at least a wedge of Christmas cake. I looked in the bread and cake area of the store but could not find a small cake. But eventually if went for a whole cake, which came in a box with a clear window so you could see the cake inside. On unpacking this when I got home, I was somewhat surprised to find that the cake was a good deal smaller than the packaging suggested. Looking through the window on the packaging, it was clear that they were deceiving customers because the cake was on a sort of plastic base and there was a lot of space around it. It was certainly not as large as I was expecting.

I'm waiting for my dinner to finish cooking. Pork chops are in the oven, green beans are done and roast potatoes are done.

Wild, Windy and Wet

 Saturday. 6.30 a.m. Another storm raging across the country. This one is called Storm Darragh. I'd really love to know who comes up with these names.

3.50 p.m. I went to Sainsbury's this morning. Milk was running out and there were other things I needed. It's the best time to go, just after 9, because it's never busy on a Saturday morning. The self-service I used was behaving itself, which made things easier than usual.

The wind has been raging around the building all day. I think it must be the extractor fan in the kitchen which makes strange noises which are rather scary. Very blustery out and quite dangerous, with the possibility of tiles coming off roofs and bits of tree falling on you. Perhaps it's best to stay indoors, and I hope the wind settles down soon.

Sunday. 9.10 a.m. The wind was howling around the building all night. As I write this, it seems a good deal quieter, but still a bit gusty.

I have been unable to connect my Panasonic Freeview box to my new Vodafone Wi-Fi router. I have attempted to put the password into the relevant place, but it doesn't work. A really difficult job, because the password is so long, and you have to put in upper and lower case. Annoying and fiddly. I am also having a similar problem with my Canon printer. It is virtually impossible to connect the thing to Wi-Fi, so I think the only solution is to use the cable which I already have, so I will use that and forget the Wi-Fi connection. These things seem to cause no end of problems, but the cable is the best solution. There is supposed to be a way to connect via the Canon app, but I have spent some considerable time attempting to get the thing to connect, but nothing.

Tuesday. 7.30 a.m. Here I am, shaved, and dressed, Alfie has been out and sitting here writing this.

I have been doing more writing. Some things have prompted me to restart writing, one being a survey I did online, which was about food for older dogs. Alfie, being such a dog (can't believe he's 17. I don't know what that is in human years.) and part of it was to imagine I was Alfie and write a piece as if I was him and see the world as he sees it. I had real fun writing it and I think I got quite carried away. Hence, I ordered some new Pukka pads from Viking, the online stationery company, and have managed to write about a page and a half. I have had the idea circulating in my head for ages, so it was relatively easy to write. 

The weather seems relatively calm at the moment. I just hope we don't have the gale-force winds we have had over the past few days.

Friday. 9.25 a.m. The past couple of days, it's been overcast and gloomy. It's misty or, at least, thin and foggy outside. It would be great if the sun shone but don't expect miracles, as we are in December, so the weather can be expected to be cold and gloomy.

Saturday. 1.15 p.m. It's not so wild, windy or wet today, fortunately. The sun is shining as I write this and it's quite pleasant out.

I had a doctor's appointment at 10.30 this morning. As usual, I arrived early and it was worth it, because I was called into the doctor's surgery about 15 minutes early. The doctor said I was in good health, but I should lose some weight. I suppose he's right. I've never been into sport, but I suppose I could go for the occasional swim. I might look out for a gym which has a swimming pool. Carol and I used to belong to two gyms, one down near the football stadium and then Nuffield Health at Kent's Hill. Each of these gyms had the usual gym facilities, but also swimming pools, saunas and jacuzzis. I cancelled our Nuffield memberships after Carol died. It might be a good idea to get back to swimming as a form of exercise.

On the way back from the doctor's I dropped into Sainsbury's which actually wasn't such a good idea, as it was heaving, people in there no doubt making sure they had sufficient mince pies, Christmas puddings and wrapping paper before it all ran out. Not likely, but it seemed like it. The travelator wasn't working so I had to walk up without it moving and then come down in a lift when I had done my shopping.

New Month. Almost Christmas

 Monday. 2.30 p.m. Yesterday was Café Church at SCF at the Oaktree Centre. I was on refreshment duty. We had a few problems with the new coffee machine. The thing has two cartons inside, one with mild and the other with coffee in syrup form. It is operated with a touch screen, similar to an iPad. I was given the secret code which will open the thing, so the cartons can be replaced when they run out, which they did during the morning.

Tuesday. 9.05 a.m. I saw the weather forecast on BBC Breakfast yesterday morning, and they mentioned that it was going to be a good deal colder with a chance of frost. I have been thinking that I ought to check the antifreeze in my car because I don't want the water in it to freeze and then damage the car. I was constantly being told by my late father to 'check your tyres, oil, antifreeze', whenever I was going out in my car and his voice always seemed to be at the back of my mind. Bearing this in mind, I went to get fuel for the car at the ESSO station in Child's Way and picked up a bottle of antifreeze. I then had to wait for the car to cool down before attempting to open up the bonnet to put in the antifreeze. When I eventually got outside to check under the bonnet, I wasn't sure where to put the antifreeze. After some thought, I thought it would be a good idea to drive to the Renault dealership near Morrison's in Westcroft, a short distance from The Oaktree Centre. When I got there, I found it almost impossible to park. I drove around behind Brayleys, the Renault dealership, but I couldn't find anywhere and then thought it best to park in the car park which is for people shopping in the shopping centre which includes Morrisons. It was extremely busy, considering it was a Monday morning. I assume it was people doing their Christmas shopping, but the amount of traffic coming into the car park and leaving, made things difficult. I eventually found a space, parked the car and then walked to Brayleys. 

I wasn't sure which door to enter, but went in the first one I came to but eventually found the spares department, quite a walk across the yard which was full of cars, closely parked and making me think that it would be difficult to move any of them, particularly those at the back of the site. It made me think it would be rather like a game of Tetris, move one to move another which moved into the first car's space and so on.

I got to the service and parts department and was confronted by two people, sitting behind computer screens. I spoke to one and asked about the fact that I wasn't sure where I should put the antifreeze. I was told that he would come and show me, but I would need to bring the car from where it was parked near Morrisons. So I walked back to the car, and it took me some considerable time to get out of the car park, due to the amount of traffic coming in and leaving the car park. I eventually drove towards Brayleys and, after some time, eventually found a parking space, behind Morrisons, and near their loading bay. I then walked back to the service department and the gentleman came with me to the car I lifted the bonnet, and he showed me where antifreeze should be poured in, but then he said, as the plastic bottle showed, there seemed to be plenty of antifreeze already in it and I needn't put any more in. I also asked about turning on the digital message which keeps appearing on the car's dashboard, telling me that the car needs servicing in 10 days. He said that it would need to be brought into the garage so that they can use a device which is used to adjust the digital screen. I would need to bring it in at a later date to have this adjusted.

So, I thanked him for his help and I felt better knowing that there was no need for antifreeze in the car.

Deep and Crisp and . . . It's gone!

 Tuesday. 7.35 a.m. I was somewhat shocked, when I opened the curtains this morning, to discover snow, not just fluffy bits falling from the sky, but covering the road and the garden outside. My car, which I can see from the window, was covered in a fairly thick blanket. I thought it only fair to find Alfie's Regatta jacket and put it on him before we went out, and I put on my hooded jacket. I don't think he appreciated the cold when we eventually left the building. As I write this, it continues to snow, and it doesn't appear to be stopping. I don't ever remember snow this early in the winter.

Thursday. 8.15 a.m. As I said in the above post, the snow came and went just as quickly. This morning we again have snow, but it's left a rather thin layer of the white stuff on the grass in the garden.

Yesterday morning I was about to drive to the Oaktree Centre, but had to spend around 10 minutes scraping ice off the car's windows. I have antifreeze spray, which I had the foresight to buy in Sainsbury's a few weeks ago, so I shall use that in future.

Saturday. 7.10 a.m. This morning there's rain and it's a good deal colder. I have just been watching BBC Breakfast, and there's a weather warning in place. Storm Bert is on the way. There's snow falling in the north of England, and it looks as if Scotland will be covered in the white stuff.

Sunday. 6.30 a.m. I awoke, due to needing the loo. I could hear the wind howling around the building. There was no way I could get back to sleep, so I decided to go online. I have a new family research site membership, My Heritage. It has more details of people as well as pictures, so I can at least see what some of my ancestors looked like. The new fibre broadband is working well.

Wednesday. 1.05 p.m. I have now got a second online genealogy subscription with something called MyHeritage. I have got back 40 generations, which is amazing. I have uploaded the Gedcom file from Ancestry which makes things easier and quicker and I have many new people on my family tree. I have one of Henry VII Is wives in my tree, Catherine Parr. 

A really typical November day. I went to Sainsbury's earlier and couldn't believe how dark it seemed. It has turned really cold and wet, and we have yet another storm coming in and Milton Keynes is on flood alert. This one is called 'Storm Connal'. Apparently, the name was given by the Dutch Met service.

Thursday. 8.00 a.m. Cold and frosty this morning when I took Alfie out. I reckon the car will need defrosting when I go out later. I have a new bottle of antifreeze spray ready, which I got in Sainsbury's a few weeks ago.

Hap, Hap, Happy Day!

 Saturday. 7.35 a.m. A rather gloomy and overcast day. Quite chilly when I took Alfie out. I don't think he couldn't care less, because he's having a sleep on the blanket in the bedroom.

Today I have to get my flu shot done at Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre. I knew it was today, but I wasn't sure of the time. I searched for the details in my emails and text messages, but nothing. I thought I could easily drive to the surgery to get the information, but then I thought I might just as well telephone the surgery, which I did. I was number 4 in the queue. It gradually shrunk down and I was number one and I got the information from the receptionist. The appointment is at 9.55 this morning, so that was a relief. I think I might have deleted the text or the email.

12.20 p.m. I've been to have my 'flu shot. I was at the surgery well before the allotted time and signed in with the computerised screen. I was called into the room and the nurse soon gave me the vaccine and out in less than three minutes.

Yesterday, late afternoon, I just happened to have a look at my mobile and the text messages, and one jumped out at me. It said that a suspicious amount of cash had been taken from my Nationwide account, and I should ring the number, which was included in the text message. I was somewhat surprised and rang the number. It was the Nationwide fraud line. It turned out that this was a scam and, with the help of the gentleman on the other end of the phone, checked things out and nothing was taken from my account, thank goodness. The scam works if you panic and then receive another call or text, and they take money from your account. A really horrible feeling of panic, which is what the scammers want.

Friday. 10.15 a.m. It's another typical November day, dull and overcast.

I am moving to a new broadband provider. I have been with Sky for around 10 years. I am moving to Vodafone Fibre. An engineer is coming on 20th November to install it, and it requires a hole to be drilled through the wall from the street to bring in the line. I will receive the router in a couple of days. 

The router arrived in the morning. I came via courier. I opened the large box and not only the router inside, as expected, but also a smaller box containing an Apple TV device. Having done some research on the internet, it would appear to be similar to a Fire Stick. As part of my Vodafone fibre broadband contract, I forgot I got Apple TV free as well as Amazon points, which I don't expect to receive until well into the New Year. So, I will have more to stream when the system is up and running. I have also subscribed to a relatively new streaming service called Marquee, which streams theatre, dance, ballet and other artistic performances. This seems to be the way forward for television and particularly theatre when plays and musicals can be videoed 'live' and then either shown in cinemas or through online streaming platforms.

Sunday. 8.15 a.m. I am waking up later and later each day. It's probably because the clocks went back recently. 

Another rather dull day, but the weather people on BBC Breakfast tell us that it will get colder as the week progresses. There has been snow in part of the north of England and parts of Scotland. It seems quite early to be having snow.

Monday. 8.10 p.m. I had a haircut today. As I wrote in an earlier post, ROK, the barbers I usually go to, has recently moved from their shop in the Central Shopping Centre to Unity Place. I had driven there to find out exactly where they had moved, a couple of weeks ago. It's easy enough to park outside and had only a few minutes to wait before it was my turn to have my hair trimmed.

I left ROK and walked along the road and wanted to explore what else there was at Unity Place. There is a restaurant and at the end of the building an aptly named shop called 'The Corner Shop.' As I entered, I was confronted by a barrier, similar to what you get on the London Underground, where you swipe your ticket. But here you had to swipe your bank card. There were no tills in the traditional sense. A lady was there, who at first I thought was a customer, but it transpired she was there to assist customers. I chose several items in the sweet section and she said, to pay, I just had to leave through the barrier and the value of the items would automatically be taken from my bank account. So, this is a taste of the way retail is heading. But my question is, what happens when the system fails, or there is a power cut?

Isn't It A Lovely Day Today?

Sunday. 6.45 a.m. The clocks have changed, and gone back an hour, so it's a good deal lighter at this time. I've been out with Alfie, although he must have been a bit shocked, as I had to wake him up. It was really beautiful out, with the leaves on the grass and a thin fingernail of a moon more or less directly overhead. 

Thursday.  7.15 a.m. It's a rather overcast sort of day as I write this. 

Alfie was again asleep when I took him out about forty minutes ago. He didn't seem to object, in fact, I think he was more or less asleep as I carried him along the corridor.

Friday. 8.50 a.m. It's a somewhat overcast sort of morning. Never mind, it's what you would expect for a November day.

I was busy yesterday. I went to the Thursday Morning Life Group (which I've always called 'Bible Study' which it is, but it's a lot more than that. A lovely group of people.) I came home and had something to eat. I watched something on History Hit, which is a streaming service which has a very wide range of history documentaries to watch. This was about how would a modern man deal with wearing s suit of Medieval armour? Very informative, and also quite amusing.

Then, at 1.40 I had an appointment to have an echocardiogram. I'm not sure whether I've had one of these before. The location of the appointment was in Lloyds Court, opposite MK Centre shopping centre. I wasn't entirely sure where it was, but I looked on Google Maps, and even then I wasn't sure. I drove to the usual car park and then walked through the shopping centre and out about halfway down and across to Lloyds Court. I had the number, 30, but I walked along one side which seemed to be almost all restaurants and take-away establishments. I eventually found the place and walked in. 

By now I was exhausted. All that walking had paid it's toll. I reported to the receptionist and was sent upstairs. I had to sit and wait in the 'F' area. You couldn't miss the sign, painted on the wall in the biggest lettering you've ever seen. I think it was meant to be easily seen by those with poor eyesight. I had the feeling of the place, rather like the set for some science fiction film, set on a spaceship in the far distant galaxy, a bit like in Doctor Who, when then dematerialise in the Tardis and it's a space station, and the huge lettering on the walls are to inform you of the level you are on, but probably not numbered, probably in some sort of script used by some alien race. Also, clinical and empty, lifeless and probably uninhabited. One other couple was waiting. They didn't speak. There was no one else around, except a cleaning lady, sweeping the floor with one of those weird mop things which has a sort of hinge in the middle. Someone came out and called the name of the lady who was with her husband (although I assume he was. Never mind.) The person who appeared was dressed in a sort of green/blue oversuit, making him look like a surgeon or similar. The couple walked away and I was left on my own, with the cleaning lady pushing her mop around. The place had a sort of clinical feel to it. Well, as it was an N.H.S. establishment, it's not surprising, but no pictures on the walls, no television to watch on the walls, not even a pile of ancient magazines to read. Sterile, I think you'd call it. Plain white walls and the sort of seating which tend to become very uncomfortable the longer you sit on them. 

Then I was called into one of the rooms. The gentleman who called me said he was sorry for the delay. Well, my appointment was scheduled for 1.40 and it was well past 2 o'clock when I eventually stepped into his room. I had to take my shirt off along with my shoes. I was weighed and my height measured and then I had to lay on a bed and in such a position that I faced the wall and as far up the sloping head end as possible. the doctor (I presume he was a doctor.) proceeded to scan my heart, and it was fairly difficult to hold the same position with one arm held over my head. I could hear strange noises, but couldn't see a thing because I was lying facing away from whatever device he was using. Then I had to move to another position. It was then that I heard a sound like a pump, but splashing water and I then realised it was the sound of my heart! Not something I ever expected to hear. Rather like the sound of an ancient, rather inefficient washing machine! 

Saturday. 10.20 a.m. I haven't finished my Thursday adventures if that's the way to describe things.

To continue. I left the diagnostics centre, being told that the information found with the procedure would be forwarded to the cardiology department and no doubt I would be contacted regarding where my care would go from there.

I left the building and walked towards the shopping centre. As I did so, I saw a group of teenagers in front of me, one very blatantly smoking a spliff. I knew that was what it was, by the smell, and it was far bigger than a normal cigarette. He wasn't likely to be stopped by a police officer as there are never any about on foot as would be the case years ago, which might explain his smoking the spliff so openly.

I went home and had something to eat, as I usually do at midday.

At around 3.40 I drove to The Oaktree Centre because I had volunteered to help with the Light Party which was being held that evening. It's to be an answer to Halloween, which was on Thursday. As a church, we don't do Halloween and the idea of the Light Party is to show children that it's Jesus who is the light and Halloween is darkness. 

The hall was laid out with tables for a wide range of crafts, and I was in charge of one with black sheets of card which you scratched off to reveal colours underneath and the children could use stencils to make art or draw freehand. Other tables had drawings, lamp making and other crafts. After around half an hour there were games, one very similar to a game I think I must have played a bit like musical chairs, except there weren't chairs, the children had to simply sit on the floor when the music stopped. Then there was a short piece of drama and the evening ended with the children going through to the café area to have a tea of sandwiches and cakes. Oh, I should say that they then went back into the hall, which, by that time had been cleared on the tables, to have a dance around.

We cleared up and that was the end of the evening.

I must say it was a really successful event and I was surprised by how many children and parents turned up. I think it must have been around 30-40.

More Of The Same

 Saturday. 4.00 p.m. It's a rather dull and overcast sort of afternoon. The morning started relatively sunny and pleasant, but as the day progressed it gradually became more and more overcast. I had hoped that I could go out with the video camera and do some filming, but it didn't seem such a good idea. I am gradually getting to grips with the various settings, thanks mostly to the various YouTube videos I have been watching.

I have been doing some housework. I have a Vax steam mop, which is extremely good for cleaning the floors in the flat, but it does take a great deal of effort to use. I have avoided getting a traditional mop and bucket but decided that the kitchen floor needed a decent cleaning, so I bought a Vileda mop and a bucket at Sainsbury's the other day. I put some Flash liquid in the hot water in the bucket, and I was surprised at how effective it was. I have cleaned the kitchen floor, and the bathroom, which has now got a new floor (I must have mentioned this in an earlier post.) Also, the entrance hall. It was whilst cleaning the bathroom floor that I thought I could get some new mats for the bathroom. The old ones were falling apart. I attempted to give them a machine wash a few weeks ago, but unfortunately, the sponge rubber backing came off and caused a real mess in the machine when I'd finished, and it took quite a lot of time and effort to remove it. Also in the tumble drier. So, yesterday morning I went to The Range, to buy replacement bath mats. Usually, you get a bath mat and a matching mat for the toilet, with a bit cut out to go around the pedestal. I wandered around the store, and it took me a long time to find any bath mats. What I eventually found was really not my taste, and when I did find something suitable, there was no matching mat for the toilet. I gave up and then went into Homebase, and, again, after some time wandering around the store, I left with absolutely nothing. I drove away and then went into Dunelm, which is close by. Again, a good deal of searching of the store, but, regrettably, absolutely nothing that even vaguely resembled a bath mat. By this point my patience was beginning to expire and, because my mission to purchase these items had produced nothing, I then decided, to return to my flat, to have a look on the Amazon website and, sure enough, there were plenty to choose from.  I eventually found what I thought to be perfect for the job and ordered a set and hopefully, they will be delivered this evening.

It only shows how it is so easy to find what you want on Amazon (other online stores are available.) Such a wide choice. In fact, it can often be extremely difficult to decide on an item when there is so much to choose from. Because I have Amazon Prime, I don't have to pay for post and packaging, and the item will usually be delivered the next day. 

5.00 p.m. The bath mats have been delivered from Amazon. They are a great colour and are exactly what I wanted.

. . . And More Rain!

 Monday. 7.30 a.m. Oh dear! I was hoping for a dry day today, but no. I took Alfie out just now and it was. . . raining! As you may know, if you are a regular reader of these posts, Alfie doesn't like getting wet, especially when it's raining. 

Wednesday. 10.25 a.m. It's pension day, so I've been to Sainsbury's. The car park was virtually empty, so there was no problem finding a space and, because there were few shoppers around, it was quicker and easier to get what I wanted. The down traveller wasn't working, so I had to use the lift to get back down to the car. Signs of Christmas throughout the store. More 'stuff' which they seem to think people will rush in to buy.

Friday. 7.55 a.m. It's foggy this morning. It's not thick, and it's likely to clear as the day progresses.

This evening we have another quiz night at the Oaktree Centre. As part of it, there's the famous 'Roll-A-Coin' session. The idea is that there is a selection of items on the floor at one end of the hall, and you have to stand, at a distance, and roll a £1 coin at the items, if your coin hits an item, you win it! Members of the church (and other guests who come along.) bring gifts to be prizes. I have managed to buy several, one at each shopping visit to Sainsbury's, which I intend to take this evening. As for the £1 coins, that can be quite difficult, basically because I rarely use cash and mostly pay with my debit card, contactless or with a P.I.N., which means I don't often have change and certainly not a pocket full of £1 coins. So, yesterday at midday, after the Thursday Morning Life Group meeting at the Oaktree Centre, I went into the centre of Milton Keynes. Unfortunately, I went down the wrong street for the car park I usually park in. You would think, after around 18 years of living in Milton Keynes, I would have remembered which road to use, but I find so many of the streets around the place so similar that it's quite difficult to distinguish one from another, but I eventually managed to get to the usual car park. I then had to use the RingGo app on my iPhone to pay, but for some reason, it had to be downloaded again before I could use it, so I had to wait a good ten minutes before it was downloaded. I went into the shopping centre and sat on one of the seats inside the entrance and managed to get the confounded app to work and paid for the parking session. I then went to the Nationwide branch and took out £20 from the A.T.M. within the branch and took £5 of the cash to have it changed at the teller into £5 in coins. So, mission accomplished.

I notice some changes within the shopping centre. Barclays Bank has a new branch right next door to Nationwide. It's not yet opened because it's being fitted out, Starbucks is moving into what used to be Carluccios, and another restaurant is replacing Café Rouge. I'm not entirely sure of the name of the new restaurant. 

Saturday. 9.35 a.m. I woke up a good deal later than usual. I think it was probably because yesterday evening's quiz night finished at around 10 o'clock. On taking Alfie out, we discovered a light rain, which hasn't stopped. It has put paid to my videoing which I had planned for today. Oh well, once the weather improves, I will give it a go.

Sunday. 7.40 a.m. I did go out with the new video camera yesterday mid-morning. The sun shone, and it seemed perfect for what I wanted to do. I went down to the canal and walked along the bank and then back to where I parked the car. Unfortunately, the footage, which I looked at when I got back to the flat, was high speed, due to having the wrong setting in the camera. I'm glad in a way, because it proved to me that testing the camera out before attempting something more serious was a good idea, so I now hope I have it set to replay at the correct speed. It just goes to show how versatile this little camera is and how it is deceptive. It looks simple but certainly isn't in the least bit.

It seems windy out this morning. I think I might have to leave any further exploits with the camera until the weather improves.

Rain!

 Tuesday. 8.15 a.m. As I write this, I can hear rain, and see it through my window.

Thursday. 8.10 a.m. It is getting a good deal colder. Well, I suppose it's to be expected, now that we are into October. 

I am taking Alfie to The Groom Room in Pets At Home in Bletchley to have a haircut. I have already put the cage in the back of the car. First, I need to go to the petrol station in Childs Way to diesel in the car, as it is running low. The appointment at The Groom Room isn't until 11 o'clock, but I like to be organised and have things ready beforehand.

4.05 p.m. I went to get fuel at the Mobil station in Childs Way, as mentioned above. It was just after 9 a.m. But done and then came back to Dexter House.

At around 10.35 I left to drive to Pets At Home, and coming out of Strudwick Drive and onto Chaffron Way, I was expecting to get to the Eaglestone roundabout and turn right into Saxon Street as I normally do when driving to Pets At Home. But, coming out of Oldbrook, I immediately discovered that the road was closed off, and I had to make a detour through the estate near Milton Keynes Academy and come out on Grafton Street and make a circuitous journey to get onto Saxon Street and get straight to Bletchley, driving past the football stadium. So, you can imagine the frustration of all this, particularly as I'd left earlier than I needed to, but, considering the extra journey time due to the diversion, it was probably just as well.

When I eventually got to the car park outside Pets At Home, it had begun to rain. I got Alfie out of the back of the car. As usual, he wanted to jump down, and he was barking loudly. I carried him into Pets At Home and walked through to The Groom Room, which is at the back of the store. I went in and the ladies who do the grooming were still working on another dog, but I went through how I wanted Alfie clipped and explained that Alfie had a lump on his side, which they checked out. It doesn't appear to be sinister, but it was a good idea to let them know before they began clipping him. Because he is getting old, his eyesight is poor, and he has problems with his joints, it was decided to reduce any stress to him and just give him a short trim, clear off the mess around his face and, if there was a problem, they would ring me on my mobile, because, when I left, I went into Gregg's, a few doors along from Pets At Home, to have a coffee and salad baguette. Sure enough, barely 15 minutes after I had left The Groom Room, I got a call to say that Alfie was getting stressed and that they would cut short what would normally be around an hour for a grooming session. I returned to discuss things, and they said that they could clear the mess around his face and give him a bit of a bath, which I agreed to, and waited in the vets' area until he was finished. So, I paid for the groom and got another session booked for the first week in January.

Sunday. 2.20 p.m. Yesterday afternoon I went out with the DJI Pocket to experiemnt with taking video footage. I went to Campbell Wharf Marina. It seemed the ideal place to go with the camera. I'd been there on Tuesday, with Pastor Ross. We had coffee in a new coffee shop I've never been to before. Infact, I'd never been to this area of Milton Keynes before. I had been to the canal further on with Alfie, and I think I'd been there with Carol and our dogs. As it turned out, it wasn't an entirely successful mission because it was quite cloudy and overcast and I couldn't find a way to get down to the wharf where the narrow boats were moored. I did get some footage, which I have since viewed, but, as it was just an experimental operation, not entirely a waste of time, becuse I merely wanted to find out how the various features of the camera worked.

Sunny Saturday

 Saturday. 8.25 a.m. I haven't quite got the hang of using and operating the DJI Pocket. I didn't actually record any footage when I walked around Oldbrook Green, but I have since discovered that you have to give the record button a couple of presses to make it work. I know it sounds simple, but you only discover this sort of detail when you find YouTube videos which teach you how to operate the camera. You get an extremely basic instruction leaflet with the gadget (I think this is the case with most devices today.) Also, merely playing with the various buttons on the device to find out which one does what. I am now discovering how the wireless microphone connects to the camera. It uses Bluetooth and WiFi to connect. Another YouTube video explains the procedure.

As the title of this post suggests, it's a sunny day. What more can I say on the subject?

4.00 p.m. I have been out once more with the DJI Pocket and been around Oldbrook Green. I have now viewed the footage, and I'm more than pleased with the result. I didn't have the wireless microphone attached, although I have discovered how to connect it, having viewed a YouTube video on the subject. The secret of using a camera with a gimbal is that, don't play around with the settings. Once you have it how you want it, leave it alone. I had the camera facing away from myself, and the gimbal managed to keep the horizon level. Perhaps I should hold the device a little bit higher, but that's a minor point. I think if the manufacturers were going to make any adjustments to the DJI Pocket, or any of their next generation, to make the handle more rounded, so it's comfortable to hold.

Sunday. 8.25 a.m. I have now managed to extract the microcard from the DJI Pocket 2 put it into the adaptor and into the reader, and then plug that into my MacBook. I have to say that removing the card is very fiddly and because it's so tiny, no bigger than the nail of my little finger, and, if you're not careful, it could easily spring out and then shoot across the room and get lost. But I have managed to watch the footage I took when I walked around Oldbrook Green yesterday, and I'm more than pleased with the result. For a first attempt, it's better than expected, and I have high hopes for using it for future work.

4.05 p.m. We had Café Church this morning. I was doing the usual refreshment thing. There is a new coffee machine installed in the café area. It produces a range of coffee, latte, Americano etc. It's easy enough to use. It has coffee syrup in cartons inside and a touch screen to select what a customer wants, so it's easy to use and more or less foolproof.

Monday. 3.00 p.m. I need to have video editing software so that I can manipulate the footage I film on the DJI Pocket. I did a Google search and I discovered that my MacBook has it's own software for that purpose, called iMovie. 

Tuesday. 7.45 a.m. I am definitely sleeping a good deal better than I have been. I think the sertraline tablets are partly responsible. 

Yesterday I started to transfer some handwritten material into word processing. I was looking through all that I had written, which is in various notebooks, and I discovered some which hadn't been transferred. I'm editing as I go through it.

The day has begun and the conditions on the weather-front looks as if it's overcast and, according to BBC Breakfast weather, it looks as if we can expect rain later in the day.

October Begins

 Tuesday. 8.10 a.m. So, here we are in October. I can't believe that the summer is more or less over. It is definitely getting colder. On Sunday, I went to church without a jacket or coat of any kind, but I think it will probably be the last time and next week I will have to wear my jacket or at least a fleece or jumper.

Thinking about the drive to church, I was minding my own business, driving at a reasonable speed along Chaffron Way, after coming out of Strudwick Drive. This driver comes up behind me, attempting to get me to drive faster. I don't like it when I get tailgated like that, as I've probably mentioned in these posts somewhere or other. Well, I was driving along, when suddenly this idiot driver overtook me, driving on the 'restricted' part of the road in the centre. By restricted, I mean marked in red. It really shook me, and, fortunately for that driver, there wasn't anything coming in the other direction.

We've had a great deal of rain over the last week or so. There's a great deal of flooding all around Milton Keynes and neighbouring villages and towns. The A421 dual carriageway, which runs between the M1, Milton Keynes to Bedford, is completely flooded on this side of Marston Moreteyne. In some places it is around 8 feet deep, so, as a result, it has been shut. There have been attempts to pump off the water, but, as there's no river to pump the water into, it will be a long time until it gets clear and can be used by traffic again. Goodness knows how traffic will get through that area by avoiding that stretch of the road, but I expect it will take some complicated route to get to Bedford and beyond, no doubt going through local villages which were bypassed when this new stretch of dual carriageway was opened.

Wednesday. 7.45 a.m. As a result of the various incidents I have endured, driving around Milton Keynes, and elsewhere, and involving other drivers, cutting me up, tailgating me and generally bad behaviour on the road, I long ago thought it might be an idea to invest in a dash cam. So I bought one through Amazon. But it's difficult choosing the right one, and I wanted one which would be able to view the road in front as well as behind. Then, with so many to choose from, which was going to be best for what I wanted, It's a bit like potluck in a way, because it isn't until you get the thing and set it up do you discover whether it's suitable for the job. I have the front camera set up but have, as yet, to deal with the rearview camera.

Thursday. 7.25 a.m. We're going out a good deal later. I suppose it's because it's dark until around 6.30, although I do have a small torch to see what I'm doing with Alfie.

I am going to get back to some writing, but I need to have something to write on, so I have ordered some writing pads from Viking, an online stationery supplier. We don't have Staples any more in Milton Keynes, where it was possible to just walk in, have a look around and buy there and then. A great shame. I think they have an online presence, but it's not the same as just being able to go in and buy a product there and then. It looks like a lot of businesses are going that way. It will take a day or two for the order to arrive, obviously.

Friday. 7.55 a.m. There was a thin fog when I took out Alfie at around 7 o'clock. But as I am writing this, the sun is out, although it is somewhat weak and the fog has cleared.

I have bought a mini video camera from Amazon. It is a DJI pocket 2 and I ordered it at the beginning of the week and it arrived yesterday. I think it came from somewhere overseas, but I'm not sure where exactly. This would explain why it took several days to get here. I am currently figuring out how it functions, but it connects to my iPhone and you install an app on that to install software and learn how to use it. For something so tiny, which sits in your hand, it seems quite sophisticated and even has a wireless microphone. It will take a few days before I can make use of it. 

9.50 a.m. I think I have managed to set up the DJI Pocket. I have it on charge at the moment, but when it is fully charged, I intend to go out around Oldbrook Boulevard and 'give it a go.' For something so small, it certainly packs a punch. I have watched some of the footage I took yesterday when I first set it up, through my iPhone. I would like to watch some of it through my Firestick on my television. I'm going to have a lot of fun with this! Watch this space!

11.00 a.m. I have just been around Oldbrook Green with the DJI Pocket. I trust the thing has worked and I can watch the video that resulted.

Man The Lifeboats!

 Monday. 10.45 a.m. It has been raining more or less continually all night. It is pouring down as I write this. I didn't go to church yesterday morning because of the rain. Pathetic, I know, but huge puddles are appearing everywhere on the grid roads around Milton Keynes.

On Friday morning, I had a workman come to look at my bathroom floor, and he ripped it up and replaced it with a new one. So much better and easier to clean. I can't believe, that after all this time and effort, it is done. I am supposed to have someone come out to look at possible changes to my bath, either taking the bath out and giving me a shower unit, or at least moving the current shower, which is over the bath, to a higher position on the wall, so I can at least have a shower without having to stoop to get under it. I'll hold my breath and wait until after this person visits.

12.15 p.m. A young man came to survey my bathroom. He was here about 30 minutes ago. He measured the bathroom with a gadget, I presume it has a laser in it and a red light comes on when it hits a wall or solid surface. He told me I should get a shower unit, with a shower tray a screen and a curtain, a new toilet and a wash basin. I will still hold my breath over this. It has taken around 2 years to get this far and, although the floor has been done, the rest is sort of 'in the air.'

It is still raining and there is a sort of waterfall from off the roof near the communal lounge. I don't hold out much hope regarding leaks, particularly along the corridor where my flat is.

Tuesday. 10.15 a.m. The rain has stopped, at least for the time being. I don't think it rained overnight. I have just returned from my weekly shop in Sainsbury's. I was talking to the lady on the tills, and she said the store had to be closed yesterday afternoon because of flooding. I'm not sure how they managed to clear up the water, but customers were told to leave (I trust it was done apologetically and appropriately.)

Wednesday. 10.25 a.m. When I got home from Sainsbury's yesterday morning, I found a parcel on my doorstep. I had obviously been out in the rain because it was partially damp. On opening it, I found it to be a copy of 'Legion' which I had ordered from Amazon, but which has since been replaced. It makes me wonder where on earth it was left. Well, certainly not at Dexter House, and quite obviously outside. I needed to return it, and, fortunately, I had retained the packaging the replaced book came in.  I had a roll of parcel tap somewhere in the flat, which I had used some while ago, but I could not find it anywhere.  I had to have this tape to close up the parcel and had to go back to Sainsbury's this morning to buy some more. Fortunately, it came on a roll which incorporated a cutter, thus making the job far easier. I went on the Amazon website and printed off a QR code, which I took to a shop in Bradwell Common and it was scanned, a label attached to the parcel, and it will return to Amazon. So that job was completed!

I had a text a few days ago about having a second shingles vaccination. I made the appointment online, which definitely makes things so easy, but I couldn't remember the day or time. It occurred to me, as I was so near to the surgery in Bradwell Common, I could drive a bit further and ask one of the receptionists. The shingles vaccination is on Saturday morning. The receptionist asked me if I wanted to book by annual 'flu vaccination, which I agreed to, and it's on 9th November, so that's organised. So, with that done as well as dealing with the Amazon parcel, I can say I've managed to kill two birds with one stone!

In Sainsbury's, it would appear that the effects of the deluge they had the day before are very much in evidence. The area where some of the self-service tills were cordoned off and there were buckets dotted about the store, no doubt to catch drips from the ceiling. It makes me wonder what happened to the flats which are above the Sainsbury store as well as the underground car park.

The Rain It Raineth Every Day . . .

 Sunday. 7.40 a.m. The weather has changed. I woke in the night to use the toilet and there was an almighty crash of thunder and then there was a heavy rainstorm which went on for around ten minutes.

Friday. 8.40 a.m. We've had more rain, but as I write this, the sun is out, and it's really pleasant, but it's getting chillier. Well, we are now into September, so it's to be expected.

Yesterday I got a letter from the cardiology department of Milton Keynes Hospital. It was regarding the transmission of data from the implant I have. It says, 'We are pleased to confirm all checks and automatic measurements are within expected parameters.' Since this was several weeks ago and the fact that I had this information when I spoke to the receptionist on the telephone, it seems somewhat irrelevant. But at least it leaves my mind that things are fine and don't need to worry about it.

Another sign that Christmas is on its way. Not more mince pies, but in Sainsbury's the other day, I noticed a pallet with a pile of Quality Street. I think I have worked out why. It's so they can mark them up at a lower price closer to Christmas, and, to comply with legislation regarding sales, items have to be shown at a higher price for many weeks or months to then be offered at a lower price.

Saturday. 12.45 p.m. The weather is still pleasant, but there's a definite chill in the air.

I have been to Sainsbury's this morning. I needed to get some batteries and when I was in there I bought something extra, one of Sainsbury's delicious hot fudge puddings. I know, I should keep off this sort of thing, and keep out of the biscuit and sweet aisles. But I was shocked to see, as I came up the travelator from the car park, a notice informing customers that it was time to order their Christmas food!

On Thursday, I ordered some items from Amazon, using points I had from one of the survey companies I work for. Scanning my shopping on something called Nielsen IQ. I have been thinking of buying a dash cam for my car, but it's difficult to decide which one to go for. There was one on Amazon half price, so I decided on that one, as well as a book I wanted, related to a recent exhibition about the Roman army at the British Museum, which I would have liked to have gone to. Also, I wanted a King James Version Bible, and there was one called a Cultural Background Study Bible. So I went for that. The Roman army book, called 'Legion', was supposed to have arrived on Thursday evening, but I thought it was stretching it a bit, considering I had only ordered it at around 7-8 that morning. But, having looked via the Amazon website, I saw that it said 'Delivered and put through the letterbox', which I knew wasn't correct as I certainly hadn't received it and, anyway, the book in its packaging, would never have fitted through my letterbox. I attempted to contact Amazon and, after some effort, found that, if I sent my phone number, someone would phone me, which they did. It transpired that they would send me a replacement of the book about the Roman army. It didn't explain what had happened to the original book. I'm intrigued to know where it went.

The next day I was expecting the NKJV Bible and the dashcam to arrive, but at around 7 p.m. I just happened to check again on the Amazon website to see when or if these items were going to be delivered, and saw, much to my surprise, that they had been delivered, but not to my door. So I went down to the entrance of Dexter House and there I discovered a pile of parcels, and two of them were addressed to me. So much for me instructing delivery drivers to come to my flat to hand over my purchases. The Roman army book was delivered to my door. I wasn't too pleased to have my items just left where anyone could have stolen them.

I have managed to set up the dashcam on the windscreen of my car, although I'm yet to set up the rear camera, which I might do tomorrow afternoon after I get back from church.

Chloe WhatsApp'd me during the week and said she was coming to Stony Stratford, and we could meet up for coffee. She would be there at around 2 o'clock with George, my grandson.

I was getting ready at around 1.30 to leave to drive to Stony Stratford when there was a clap of thunder. I was thinking, just typical! No rain all day until I want to go out! But it didn't deter me, and I took my bright yellow Regatta raincoat with me. I had the new dash cam working as I drove up Watling Street. 

Sunday. 4.10 a.m. I awoke, as usual, to go to the loo. As I got back in bed, I heard the sound of rain. I wasn't sure if it was raining, so I went into the kitchen to look out of the window, and, sure enough, it was pouring. By the time I came through to the lounge to sit and write this, only a minute or two later, the storm had passed.

8.30 a.m. It's still raining. I expect there will be large puddles on the road when I drive to church later. They usually appear at the point where the roads meet the many and various roundabouts across Milton Keynes.

Cardiology Procedure

 Tuesday 3rd September. 10.25 a.m. I know, I don't normally put the date on my posts, but, since I haven't posted in a while, I thought it might give some sort of idea of the length of time between the last one and this.

I have mentioned in earlier posts about the procedure I had at the cardiology department at Milton Keynes Hospital, and the electronic device, called an I.L.R., (Implantable Loop Recorder) that was inserted subcutaneously into my chest. It's tiny, and I assume it has an electronic chip in it, similar to a SIM card which can be found in a mobile phone. Anyway, I was informed at the time of the procedure that I would need to upload data from the device after six weeks and had a letter given to me informing me of this, and I was shown how to use the electronic device which looked somewhat like a telephone with a handset which I set up near my bed and also a small device, about the size of a luggage label which I put on my key ring. By holding the key-ring device near the I.L.R. and pressing a key on it so that it lit up, data would be transferred onto it, and then you use the gadget near my bed to upload the data which goes via the mobile phone system to the cardiology department. 

Six weeks after the procedure, I had to make sure I uploaded the data from the I.L.R. I followed the instructions, and it seemed to work. This was the Thursday before the Friday when I was to expect a remote consultation, which was scheduled for 1 p.m. I sat and waited. The time came and went. What had happened? Had I got the day and time wrong, perhaps? I checked on the N.H.S. app and both were correct.

So . . . I will cut to the chase. As the following Monday was a Bank Holiday and I assumed that the cardiology department would be closed, I thought it a good idea to telephone on Tuesday to find out what was going on. I didn't have the telephone number of the cardiology department, although I must have got it somewhere, probably in a letter, but I had no intention of going through all my paperwork to find it, so I went on the hospital website. I found the number, or so I thought. When I rang it, it certainly wasn't the cardiology department, and was told, by the lady who answered, to ring the main hospital switchboard, and they could put me through to cardiology. So, that was what I did. I explained to the receptionist about not having a telephone call on Friday, and she looked up my details on her computer and then informed me that they don't telephone unless something untoward showed up in the data from the I.L.R. Mine was fine, so no phone call. I should get a remote consultation in around six months. So, that was that. It was good, but I think it would have helped if they had told me I would only get a call if there were a problem showing up in the data. I have to say, I feel fine at the moment. Certainly no strange heartbeats, arrhythmias or whatever it's called.

Wednesday. 8.20 a.m. A fine and pleasant morning. It's not sunny and the thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

Yesterday morning I went shopping in Sainsbury's. I couldn't believe they have mince pies on offer. I had to have a second look, but it was true. We're only just into September and Christmas goodies are on sale. Crazy. 

My Ancestors!

Tuesday. 8.05 a.m. Yet another bright and sunny morning. The digital thermometer is reading a far more comfortable 25ºc.

I have mentioned that I was doing family research on Ancestry. Well, it continues, with over 35,000 people on my tree! I have to admit that it's somewhat addictive. Once you start, you have to keep going. I can get back to well before the Norman Conquest of 1066, which is quite amazing.

My late mother kept on saying that 'we have Dick Whittington as an ancestor.' That is, obviously, on my maternal side. As Whittington had no children, I can't get a direct connection with him. The connection comes through his wife, Alice Witzwaryn. A connection nevertheless. I'm glad I've found it.

My mother also said that we were also supposed to be connected to Lord Nuffield. William Morris, set up and ran the Morris motor car business in Cowley in Oxford. I have done a lot of research and I cannot see any sort of connection, although I will keep on trying. I am glad that I might not be associated with him because I found out he had fascist leanings and helped to support Oswald Mosley in the 1930s.

I have also discovered the Gilkes family, who lived in and around the village of Deddington in Oxfordshire. Thomas Gilkes was a Quaker, as were many others of my ancestors. They weren't allowed, as Quakers, to go to university, or join any of the professions, such as law (and other professions.) As a result, they turned to clock-making. This was during the 18th Century. Some of these clocks are now valuable antiques, and, at auction, can sell for several thousand pounds.

Next on my list of discovered ancestors is  Thomas Early. (1734-1809). His family lived in Witney and were involved in blanket-weaving. Thomas Early was the first person to use the flying shuttle in the weaving process.

As we have just had the Olympic Games in Paris, I'm quite excited to discover that I have an Olympic medal winner in my family tree. His name was Charles Moss (1882-1963) and he won a Silver medal for cycling (Team Trial Race, Men) at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.

Now, for my most exciting discovery. I have had to check thoroughly that this is correct, and as far as I can find out, it is. I have a connection to William Shakespeare, not actually to him, because his family line died out, several generations after he died. My connection is to his wife, Anne Hathaway. (c1582-1623) Although I'm not DIRECTLY related to Shakespeare, the connection to Anne Hathaway is enough for me!

No for my paternal side. I have found Mungo Park (1771-1806) who was an explorer, who discovered the source of the River Niger in West Africa and died there. I had heard of him, but never imagined he could be an ancestor.

Busy, Busy!

 Saturday. 7.50 a.m. I got up a good deal later than usual. It's a bright and sunny morning and the digital thermometer currently reads 23ºc, so much more of a temperature which is easier to cope with.

I've just come back from Sainsbury's. It was quiet in there, no doubt- and I think I've remarked about this elsewhere in these blog posts- because it's a Saturday, most people don't get up too early and probably do their shopping a good deal later. I suppose you can't blame them, but there was a lot of space to park the car in the underground car park.

Sunday. 10.15 a.m. There's no church this morning, but there is what's called 'Messy Church', which is intended for children and families, although I don't intend to go. If it's too 'messy' I do hope they clear up after themselves when it's finished!

Thursday. 8.05 a.m. What on earth am I doing? I now get up a good deal later than I have in the past, which is a good thing. This is mainly because it's now darker for longer in the morning. As I write, there is a strong wind howling around outside (well, it would be worrying if it was INSIDE!

The Thursday Morning Life Group isn't meeting today, so I shall go shopping at Sainsbury's. Things should be back to normal next week. My pension was in my bank account yesterday. I had an idea it wasn't going to be there for at least another week, so it was somewhat of a surprise, which meant I could go shopping.

Friday. 6.15 a.m. It's wild and windy out this morning. A strong wind and rain is lashing the building. It's enough to blow you off your feet. This is Storm Lillian, and it's forecast to reach 80 M.P.H. in some parts of the United Kingdom.

Saturday. 3.20 p.m. It's been raining heavily most of the day, but as I write this, it has stopped, and it seems quite calm on the weather front. I just hope it stays dry because this is a Bank Holiday weekend. Next weekend it will be September.

I was supposed to have a telephone call from the cardiology department at Milton Keynes Hospital, in response to the upload of the data from the electronic device which was put in my chest some six weeks ago. I did as I was supposed to on Thursday, and sent the data as requested. I was supposed to get a call at 1p.m. on Friday. I sat dutifully near my phone but no call came. I don't know what happened, so I was somewhat annoyed.

Sunday. 7.55 a.m. I was up even later than yesterday. As I write this, it's sunny and bright outside. The digital thermometer reads 24ºc, so a good deal cooler.

Hot And Humid

Friday. 7.30 a.m. I am waking up a good deal later than usual, which is a good thing. It may be because it's so warm at the moment. I am working on Ancestry until quite late. I have fans running in my bedroom and the lounge, and the window is open. The digital thermometer is currently reading 26ºc. 

Saturday. 10.10 a.m. Incidentally, it's not the Saturday following on from the Friday of the above post. It's about two weeks later. 

The digital thermometer currently reads 24ºc, a good deal cooler than of late, thank goodness.

I had my hair cut on Wednesday. It was getting to the point where it needed trimming, so I booked an appointment online on Tuesday. 

Thursday morning, the Bible Study group met up at Mursley Farm Shop. I drove to the Oaktree Centre and was taken by Jennie, who leads the group. Virtually the entire length of Chaffron Way was lined with yellow traffic cones. I suspect that it was because of some sort of concert at the Bowl, which is en route to the Oaktree Centre. I imagined that any concert at the Bowl would be either in the evening, say, after 5 p.m., or at the weekend. But I am totally wrong on that count, so we have been bludgeoned over the head (or so it seems.) by loud drumming sounds coming from the direction of the bowl. This morning (Saturday) it started early, around 9 o'clock. At first, I thought it was from a car radio outside in the street, but, having stuck my head out of the window to have a look, I couldn't see a car and then realised it was coming from The Bowl. Considering that The Bowl is around two miles away from Oldbrook, it showed how loud it was. I can't imagine I would be the only person to be annoyed by such noise.

Sunday. 1.55 p.m. It was my turn on the rota to set up for Communion. I had to provide bread, which I had bought in Sainsbury's and then set up the trays which hold the little plastic cups which take the wine (actually not wine but blackcurrant squash.) It's then quite fiddly to put just the right amount into these cups with a bottle which has a tube in its cap which allows you to squeeze just the right amount into each cup.

I was expecting a clear run-up Chaffron Way to church this morning, but I soon discovered that many roads were closed off because of the 'event' at the Bowl, and, as a result, I had to make a detour to get to the Oaktree Centre.

Tuesday. 6.35 a.m. It's a sunny morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 26ºc, so a much better temperature to live with.

Almost August

 Friday. 6.25 a.m. A bright and sunny morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 23ºc. The window in my lounge is open and so keeping the flat cool.

Tuesday. 9.45 a.m. I haven't posted anything on here for a while, as you will have noticed if you read my posts regularly. I have been continuing with my family tree expansion on Ancestry and have made some interesting discoveries as well as completing my journey to find out whether I am descended from Dick Whittington. My late mother always went on about this, and I have at last made the connection! As Whittington and his wife had no children, the connection was actually with his wife, Alice Fitzwaryn. I worked as A.S.M. on a pantomime based on the traditional  'Dick Whittington' story in 1971 at Greenwich Theatre, and it now seems really strange to think he was in my family tree. My mother told me that there was a rumour that Whittington was in her family tree, and, obviously, in mine. I can't think how she would have known, because this was long before the internet and such sites as Ancestry. I sometimes think if something is a rumour, then there is a slight possibility that it could be true.

I took my car to Anglo Motors to have its annual MoT. It was due at 11.15, and I got there in plenty of time and found a parking space, which can be difficult as there are always many cars parked along the road outside and in the yard.

Being early, it meant the mechanics could get on with the test, which they did. I always attempt to get to an appointment well before the arranged time, whether for a doctor's appointment or for an MoT. The car passed without having to have any further work done on it, which was a relief. Well, I haven't been anywhere far in it over the last year. I paid and then found that the car was very low on diesel. The warning light came on, which means that you have around 5 miles worth of fuel in the tank, and then you come to a grinding halt, which isn't something I would want to happen. The nearest place I could think of to put diesel in the car was Asda, so I drove there. This is a self-service site, and you use your bank card by putting it in the pump, entering your P.I.N., removing your card and then filling your vehicle, which is exactly what I did. Having filled the car with diesel, I drove off and went home. 

When I got back to the flat, I was looking for my bank card, but couldn't find it. At which point I panicked, because without that card, I wouldn't be able to go shopping, buy groceries or do anything which required its use. It wasn't in my wallet, where it should have been. Then, it occurred to me that I must have left it in the fuel pump at Asda. So I drove there and absolutely no sign of it. I imagined, right or wrong, that if it had been left in the pump, someone could find it and then, horrors of horrors, start using it to pay for goodness knows what. Being a contactless card, it wouldn't be difficult to use without a P.I.N. number. I drove home and when I got in I found a number to ring my bank and got them to cancel the card and send me a new one. But, no sooner had I done that, I found the confounded card, in my trousers pocket! So all that panicking was for nothing.

2024 General Election (and other Minor Distractions)

Saturday. 7.45 a.m. Well, I sat up and watched the BBC's coverage of the General Election on Thursday night. The polling stations closed at 10 p.m. and I had been to cast my vote at 7.15 a.m., at the Oldbrook Community Hall, which is on Oldbrook Boulevard and opposite the Green. (No, I'm not going to reveal how I voted, it's between me and the ballot box.) I watched about the first couple of hours of the coverage and when the exit poll results were announced at 10, just after the polling stations closed, suggesting that Labour would have a landslide majority and the Conservatives were likely to get no more than 120 seats, I went back to bed.

I woke later to continue watching the election results as they came in. It was around 2 a.m. that it was clear that Labour had won, that Keir Starmer would be our next Prime Minister, and that the Conservatives conceded defeat. It has been revered that it was the largest defeat of the Conservative Party in its entire history. 

Saturday. 2.25 p.m. My genealogy research is going well. Actually, I should say more than well. I am nearing 10,000 people on my tree. I am surprised how many of them, particularly on my paternal side, went to America. One was a soldier in the Civil War and, as far as my research goes, another during the American War of Independence. On my maternal side, one branch, the Gylkes, was a Quaker family and Thomas Gylkes was a clockmaker, some of his clock are valued at well over £1000, according to my Google searches.

Friday. 6.05 a.m. As you will have realized, I haven't posted anything on my blog for quite a while. One reason is that the browser I use most, Safari, has not been working properly. I can't scroll up and down, which makes it virtually impossible to view many websites and in particular, the functions on Blogger are difficult to deal with.

Saturday. 7.20 a.m. I have been struggling to find out why Safari has been playing up (not scrolling up or down.) I have been looking at the settings and trying different settings to see if any of them will work and after a great deal of effort, I have solved the problem! I can't see how this particular setting got altered but it has worked and things are back to some sort of normal. I have been using two other browsers, Firefox and Chrome and find all of them have advantages over each other, but, as I have fot used to Safari that's the main one I have used more or less since the first time I got an Apple Macintosh computer.

I must have mentioned that I had an appointment with a consultant at the cardiology department at Milton Keynes Hospital a few weeks ago. As a result the consultant suggested I have an implant in my chest which would monitor any irregularities of my heart rhythm and hopefully prevent me from having a further episode of either a heart attack or blackout which I had in the early days of 2024. Yesterday I had an appointment to have this procedure done. It was scheduled for 12 mid-day. It was easy enough parking, immediately outside the department. That was one of my biggest worries, not being able to park the car and then having to find a space somewhere else and then not be late for the appointment.

Monday. 6.20 a.m. It is taking a good deal longer than usual to complete writing this post. I will attempt to do so now.

I digress . . . Continuing from the above. I waited for a brief moment in the waiting area in the cardiology department, before a nurse came out and called me in with another patient.

I had to change into a hospital gown. I hate these things! I know they get you to wear them if you have to have a procedure done or have an operation, but they only tie up with a few lengths of thin tape and the back is open, that is, if you don't manage to hold on to it to prevent your behind being exposed. I took off my shirt, remained in my underwear and socks, and just waited. Other patients in the six-bed unit came in and then disappeared to have their procedure done. Above all else, it was just boring sitting and waiting.  Eventually, at around 1.30 I was called in by a nurse, who took me into the (I won't call it an operating theatre. It did remind me of the room where I had the stents fitted after I had my second heart attack in September 2018, at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.)  The nurse got me to take off the gown and lay on a bench (for want of a better name. It was more like a bed, padded and not too uncomfortable. A surgeon, dressed in a gown (perhaps called a smock, but I don't know, also with a face mask and, one again, reminding me of the stent-fitting, with the surgeon wearing a green gown and a face mask. But the memory of face masks is related, to me anyway, more to the face masks we were expected to wear during the covid pandemic lockdowns, and the second heart attack was around 18 months before all that happened. The surgeon cleaned my chest and then said that I would experience a slight sting, which would have been when he made an incision in my chest, on the left, just over my heart, and the procedure was over, and I returned to the unit to wait, yet again.

A nurse came to talk to me about the gadgetry I was given, which communicates with the implant in my chest (I.L.R. or Implantable Loop Recorder.) I have a box, which looks vaguely like a landline telephone which includes a separate handset which sits in the cradle on the box, as well as a remote device, small enough to fit on my keyring and should go with me everywhere. If I hold the remote device over the implant when, or if, I have a irregular heart rhythm, the device will record an electronic measurement, similar to the reading that is given by an E.C.G. and this data is sent to the cardiology department at the hospital. I was also given a letter, telling me that a remote appointment had been arranged for the 23rd of August, and that I have to send data from the home monitor (the gadget I describe above, and which sits on my bedside table. So, having had the implant and given instructions on the various aspects of its use, which are also included in several leaflets I was given, I got dressed and then left the cardiology department.

Walking On Sunshine

 Sunday. 3.20 p.m. Yesterday I needed to get a birthday card for my brother Andrew, who lives in Norfolk. I had bought it in Sainsbury's. Once I had it, written an addressed, I needed a stamp (otherwise, how is it going to get there?) I drove to One Stop in Coffee Hall, which has a Post Office inside. I spoke to the guy behind the counter and said, 'are you using the Horizon software on your computer?' (alluding to the Post office scandal which was about faulty Horizon software which caused a great many sub-postmasters being convicted of theft when they were found to have allegedly taken the money, but the software made it seem as if they had, when they hadn't. The inquiry into this scandal is still taking place.) I was surprised to learn that this particular Post Office was closing soon, to be replaced by a counter which would allow only the basic services to be available. The nearest Post Office (although basic.) It is inside the Eaglestone shop, which I have used many times. So, Coffee Hall will have to manage with a much less serviceable post office.

It has been a really fine and sunny day today. Which accounts for the title I gave this blog post. The digital thermometer currently reads 28ºc, and, according to the weather forecast on BBC Breakfast, we can expect it to get even hotter.

There were three people baptised in church this morning, and, as a result, there were quite a few new faces in the congregation, no doubt family and friends of those who were baptised.

Tuesday. 7.30 a.m. Yet another bright and sunny morning. Temperature currently reading 25ºc on my digital thermometer. I've had the window open in the lounge, and it's pleasantly cool at the moment.

I have made a great discovery whilst doing my family history research. I now have over 5000 people on my tree. I am a descendent of Mungo Park, who was an explorer who discovered the River Niger in what it now Nigeria. Amazing what you uncover when you start your family history research.

Wednesday. 5.40 p.m. It has been the hottest day of the year, so far. Currently, the temperature reading on my digital thermometer is 29ºc.

Yesterday morning I went to the first pre-diabetic course which was held in the community hall in Great Linford. It was due to begin at 9.15, and I was concerned that the traffic would be heavy at that time of day. Fortunately it wasn't and the satnav came into very useful, directing me there, and I found a parking space which was handy. I was reluctant to go, but it was informative and interesting, and I think it will be worthwhile.

Friday. 7.30 a.m. It's another bright and sunny morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc. The window in the lounge has been open all night, hence making the place so much cooler.

Blog Post 1,900

 Saturday. 3.15 p.m. This, dear reader, is, unbelievably, the 1,900 blog post! I can hardly believe I am writing that, but it's true, and still rambling on about the mundane things of life! Sometimes the most mundane things are the most interesting, in a rather strange and ironic way.

Sunday. 5.10 a.m. I know it's very early morning. 

It was raining, although lightly, when I took Alfie out a few minutes ago, so we didn't remain out for long.

Wednesday. 10.25 a.m. Well, things didn't get off to a good start yesterday when I had problems opening the Safari browser on my MacBook. It meant that I could do virtually no work which required the use of the MacBook and the internet because Safari is the main browser I use. I thought at first that I had been hacked because I kept getting strange messages popping up on the screen, although I have software installed which checks for viruses and strange activity. As a result of this, and because I was hacked and had money taken from my bank account (although returned, thankfully.) I decided there was no alternative but to have the MacBook looked at and have the issue resolved. The only place I could think of where they would be able to do this for me was Curry's. I had taken the MacBook there a few years ago when I had been hacked (as mentioned above.) Knowing that Curry's was open at 9 a.m., I drove there, only to find that no one could deal with a MacBook at that time. I was told to return after 11 as the person who was trained to work on Macintosh computers would be able to have a look at the problem.

So, I went home and then, just after 11 a.m. I returned to Curry's and this time I was able to tell the young man who was trained in Apple computers what the problem was with the MacBook, and he told me it would take a couple of hours to discover what the problem was and, hopefully, fix it for me.

I went home and had lunch and at around 2.30 I got a call from Curry's that the MacBook was ready to collect. I drove to Curry's and collected the MacBook. I was relieved that it was working properly again. I then drove to Sainsbury's, as I wanted some ice cream and chocolate sauce (and why not? I managed to get it, paid, and then went home. Mission accomplished!

12.15 p.m. Earlier this morning, I had an appointment at the cardiology department at Milton Keynes Hospital. The appointment was for 9.30 and the letter I received from the department, a few weeks ago, told me that the appointment could take around three hours. I managed to park in the nearby Number 3 car park, which is where Carol and I used to park when she went for her chemotherapy appointments, and we would walk through Cardiology. Luckily there was no problem with parking as there were a lot of spaces when I arrived.

I reported to the reception in cardiology and I hadn't been sitting in the waiting area much more than 5 minutes, then I was called into a side room by a nurse. She took my height, apparently not 6ft 1 inch, which I have been for years. So, less than six feet tall? Surely not! Does that mean I'm shrinking? Weight, which I didn't know, although I have a rough guess, as I have my own digital scales. Next, I had to lay on a couch to have an E.C.G. done. Around a couple of minutes of that. Having to keep still when this is done and then a printout is taken off the printer.

I went through to see the consultant, and he went through my medication box as I had to let him know about the meds I was on. I should have made a list, but only realised I needed this, having reread the letter I had from the hospital regarding the appointment. I have to say, I was not impressed by the way he threw the various packets of tablets back in the box. I am very particular about keeping it tidy! He listened to my chest, using what I thought was a mobile phone (no stethoscope?) No doubt this is a new technology, an app on his phone.

Having checked me out, he then told me that I could have a device fitted under the skin of my chest, which would monitor my heart and, if it detected something wrong, it would alert the hospital, so I could be taken in for investigation and prevent another incident as happened in January when I was taken to hospital. He then dictated a letter into a recorder device, which, I trust, whoever has to unscramble it could make head nor tail of his words. At that, the consultation was concluded. I was somewhat surprised that it was less than thirty minutes since I had arrived at the cardiology department. I drove out of the car park and, when I went to put the ticket in the machine at the exit, it lifted the barrier, so I could drive out, pleasing me because I didn't have to pay!

1.45 p.m. Having dealt with the cardiology department at the hospital, at around 2.40 I drove to see my friends from church, Margaret and Mike. Mike has Parkinson's and has been in hospital and was discharged around three weeks ago. I drove out of Oldbrook and towards the roundabout which crosses Marlborough Street and came to a halt because there was so much traffic, which, for the time of day is quite unusual. I moved forward slowly and traffic coming to the right was quite heavy, but I eventually managed to cross over, but then there was a considerable queue of traffic coming up from Chaffron Way. I drove on, but then I saw an ambulance racing towards me, with lights flashing, and a siren blasting. If I hadn't slowed down and come to a halt, I would have had a head-on collision with it.

Jolly, Jolly Good!

Saturday. 1.05 p.m. We had our monthly men's breakfast at the Oaktree Centre this morning. I had intended to go to Aldi at West Croft, but when I came out of the Oaktree Centre and got to the junction onto Chaffron Way, there was so much traffic that I decided to turn left towards the centre of Milton Keynes and go to Sainsbury's to get a replacement for the joint of beef I had to return yesterday because it was around three months past it's 'best before' date. I went to pay and went into one of the areas with self-service tills inside and scanned and paid, and then this woman came up to me, a member of Sainsbury's staff, asked me if I had used a scanner, and I said no, but I couldn't get the app to work on my iPhone and she responded by telling me if I had a Nectar card I could use one of the hand-held scanners for the job and, in effect, I should use that particular self-service tell because it was meant for those who scanned with a hand-held scanner. A real sense of being well and truly told off, so I'm sure I won't forget it in a hurry.

Sunday. 7.20 a.m. Bright and sunny start of Sunday. That's all I have to say today.

Monday. 8.30 a.m. I wasn't sure whether it had been raining overnight, because I looked out of the kitchen window I couldn't be definite because I couldn't see signs of the path across the garden being wet, but when I went out with Alfie, there was a sort of drizzle, but, as I write this, it's bright and sunny. 

The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

3.20 p.m. It's still sunny, but there is quite a strong wind.

Thursday. 6.35 a.m. Another seemingly bright and sunny day. The digital thermometer currently reads 23ºc. 

I don't know whether I have mentioned this, but, when I had the recent blood test done at Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre, it was found that I had a high level of sugar in my blood. As a result, it had been suggested I take part in a course to help reduce my chances of becoming diabetic, so I have made an appointment to start the course, and then I had a telephone assessment done on Monday afternoon.

Friday. 7.40 a.m. Washing day again. The excitement is overwhelming! Everything in the machine and it's doing its job. So that will be done in around 50 minutes or so.

A bright and sunny morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

I'm currently reading a book entitled 'Churchill's Most Secret Airfield: R.A.F. Tempsford,' written by Bernard O'Connor. I only discovered this airfield from looking at Google Maps and seeing it identified. It's interesting what you find when you look at Google Maps. I lived around 15 miles away from this site, living in Cardington and Cople, as well as having a job in Everton as a support worker in a residential home for people with learning disabilities, which was only a mile or so away from this site. Like a lot of these places which were used during the Second World War, and in particular, Bletchley Park, which isn't far from where I now live in Milton Keynes, they were kept secret and have only until recently been revealed to be a major part of the war effort and many of those who worked there have only very come forward to tell of the secret work done there.  R.A.F. Tempsford was used as a base for agents of the S.O.E. (Special Operations Executive), who were flown into enemy territory in occupied France and other countries, and then parachuted in to engage with the resistance to cause havoc to Nazi defences and help bring about the liberation of France. The book is excellent, but it is printed in a minuscule type, which makes it quite difficult to read.

Saturday. 8.30 a.m. It's bright and sunny. Yippee! The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

11.45 a.m. I've been to Sainsbury's. I went a good deal earlier because it's Saturday. As I went out to the car, there was a light rain, but nothing to worry about. I know that Alfie won't like it, as he doesn't appreciate getting wet. So much for saying it was bright and sunny. Just typical British weather.