Christmas In Worcester

On Thursday I got back from Worcester, having stayed with my daughter Chloe, Steve and the children, George, Eddie and the newest grandson, Arthur. I drove there on Christmas Eve (Tuesday), stayed over-night into Christmas Day (yesterday, Wednesday) and drove back today (Boxing Day.) It seemed to take longer than anticipated going and somehow it took less time, or seemed to, driving back to Milton Keynes.

I had intended to leave Milton Keynes around 10 o'clock, but then I decided to leave earlier, around 9.30.  I had to get Alfie safely installed in the cage in the back of the car, with the luggage shelf in place and then loaded up my luggage, managing to take a minimum of stuff with me. I stopped at the Shell petrol station along Grafton Street and put more diesel in the car and then drove off towards Buckingham and eventually got on the M40. Unfortunately the weather changed somewhat. It was dull when I left Milton Keynes, with dark clouds building, but beyond Buckingham the sky cleared and the sun came out, but by the time I got on the M40 it clouded over and rained and the other vehicles threw up a really horrible spray, so it was well that I kept my distance from the vehicles ahead of me, but I kept my windscreen wipers on and they managed to clear off any thrown-up spray.

I got about half-way to Worcester and suddenly realised, far too late to do a anything about it, that I had left the three grandson's Christmas presents behind in the flat. I had ordered books from The Book People and had them delivered by post and they were wrapped up and ready to take, but they were in the bookshelf and there was no way I could go back and pick them up. In my rush to get out and start the journey, I had unfortunately not packed them.

I arrived at Chloe and Steve's around 12.30. Alfie was somewhat over-whelmed by the two boys, my grandsons, George and Eddie, and spent the first hour or so barking loudly, but eventually settled down and was fine for the rest of my visit.

Chloe and Steve are having an extension built to their house. There will be an extra bedroom as well as a utility room and the bathroom will be moved from it's present position. They are hoping to have the work started around May/June 2020 and it is hoped to take a few months to complete. I've slept on a folding bed which was set up in what is called the playroom, downstairs at the front of the house. Last year, when I came for Christmas, I had the small bedroom which Steve used as an office, but this year it is the third grandchild, Arthur's, bedroom.

At around 2.30 Chloe and Steve took the children to what was called the Manger Service at the local church. I remained in the house and they came back at around 3.45.

Once the two grandchildren had gone to bed, Chloe and Steve bought the Christmas presents out of the loft, where they had been hidden. I was shocked by the number of presents (not all for the two boys, you understand!) One present was a bicycle for Eddie, which had to be wrapped with old wallpaper in an attempt to disguise it. Not easy, because of it's shape. But it was placed near the Christmas tree. Chloe had to set up something for Father Christmas to eat when he came during the night to deliver the children's presents, a glass of milk and a mince pie (with a bite taken out of it.) and a carrot for Rudolph (again, with a bite taken out of it.)

The next day, being Christmas Day, the house was a hive of activity, with Christmas lunch being prepared.  George and Eddie came downstairs and began to open their presents, which were under the Christmas tree. Chloe and Steve had got the vegetables ready for preparation and I was detailed to do the Brussel sprouts. Steves parents arrived at around 10.30 and they had bought with them turkey and other foods.  More people arrived at before lunch could be served we had to rearrange the furniture, with the dining table taken into the lounge with one of the sofas removed to the space the table had originally taken and the second sofa moved to a different position. The table has an extension which was put in and then chairs placed around it and eventually the table was laid for 12 people, including two babies and one toddler.

New Medication

I'll be perfectly honest and admit that discussing depression isn't the easiest of subjects. It has hit me quite hard since Carol died. I have had various forms of medication and  it's not just that form of medication I have had, sleeping tablets mostly. I was put on Zopliclone, but, having taken it for around 2 weeks, it hasn't really had much of an effect. I have got a routine to get myself to sleep before going to bed: a soak in a hot bath and then a hot, milky drink, of Ovaltine and then, just before I get into bed, take the medication. But I only sleep a few hours, probably waking at 2a.m. or a bit after and then I'm unable to get back to sleep. Usually I have to get up in the night to go to the toilet (just something you have to live with as you get older, I'm afraid.) I rang my surgery to get an appointment with my doctor on Monday, but then found I couldn't get one until later in the week, on Thursday, when a doctor would ring. It tied in with the delivery of the fridge/freezer. Then I got a call at mid-morning, around 11-11.30. I explained to the doctor what I needed, and he suggested increasing the dosage of the Zopliclone, and explained what was going on with my sleeping, or perhaps, not sleeping. Also, depression reared it's not insubstantial head (what Winston Churchill described as his 'black dog.') He suggested another anti-depressant (I forget which one) and said he'd send the prescription to Lloyd's in Sainsbury's, but after about 5 minutes he rang back to ask me if I was allergic to any medication, or any of the previous anti-depressants I had been prescribed. I said that, years ago, when I was prescribed another brand. it made me feel awful. I found it quite difficult to judge when to cross the road, so I didn't get run over by the passing traffic, and just a feeling of nausea and feeling light-headed. As a result, he suggested I came into the surgery for a proper doctor's appointment, and it was made for the next day, Friday, at 3.40, with my registered doctor. So I went for that appointment. I have now been given Temazepam 10 mg. Tablets to take just before I go to bed and Sertraline 100 mg to take in the morning. I slept reasonably well as a result, but in the morning I was reluctant to take the Sertraline because I wasn't sure what the side-effects would be. Having taken two at around 9.30, it took a while before they had an effect (I know that most medication don't really work for you until you've taken them for a period, probably a month, but I began to feel nauseous and later on I had to rush to the toilet. (There's no point in explaining in too much detail what I mean, but you can guess.) I think the Temazepam left me feeling slightly unsteady on my feet earlier this morning, and as such, I wouldn't have been safe to drive (which is what the warning is on the packet they come in from the pharmacy.) I was earlier put on Diazepam, which isn't a full-blown anti-depressant, but seemed to help me sleep, but, unfortunately, because they can become addictive, you can't take them for much longer than a month. I have to go back and see the doctor mid-january, to discuss any reaction I might have to any of these medications and to probably see if there is an alternative which I can take which isn't addictive or at least have side-effects.

General Election and Fridge/Freezer Delivery

So, we had a General Election yesterday. I took Alfie out as usual after 7 o'clock yesterday and no sooner had I bought him back to the flat, I went back out and walked immediately to the Community Centre in Oldbrook, just opposite the Green and next door to The Cricketer's pub, which was being used as a Polling Station. I was amazed by how many people were coming and going. I don't think, considering the early hour (the polling station would have just opened at 7a.m.) I have seen so many people at a polling station for a General Election.

As mentioned in my last blog post, I had to deal with the fridge/freezer defrosting and failing miserably and, as a result, ruining an entire load of food, which had to be thrown away. I was scratching my head to find a solution and came up with one fairly quickly, by ordering a brand new, full-size fridge/freezer from the on-line retailer, Very.  As a result I could pay it off in instalments, and because it's a larger fridge/freezer (actually twice or even more in size to the pathetic thing I was given, and which has let me down big time by breaking down.) Fortunately I had managed to clear the account and was glad that I hadn't closed it down completely. The replacement fridge/freezer was expected to be delivered on Thursday (yesterday), but when I ordered the thing I was not sure at what time of day it was likely to be delivered.

On Wednesday I got a text message to let me know that the fridge/freezer was scheduled to be delivered between 12.15 and 2.15 on Thursday. Then yesterday, Thursday, I got another text message telling me it was going to arrive at around 12.30. Then, by following a link through an email I was sent by the delivery company, I could actually follow there the lorry was on a map. It arrived at around 12.45.

Having got the new fridge/freezer into the flat, carried by two men from the delivery company, it had to stand for several hours before plugging in. This, in order to allow the refrigerant in the system to settle, because it had been on the lorry and then carried into the flat, on it's side. It was quite a difficult job to unpack it, as it was packaged in cardboard, polystyrene and plastic, leaving a large amount of this packing, which will now have to be disposed of, probably taken to the tidy-tip in Bleak Hall. Having allowed the machine to stand for 4 hours, I plugged it into the power point and  I turned on the mains. I had to store milk and other items in the community kitchen, otherwise it would have gone off if left in the kitchen belonging to the flat.

All day the weather had been appalling. When I first went out with Alfie for his early morning walk on Thursday morning, it was cold and wet. Rain falling and a strong wind. No sooner had Alfie realised that it was raining, wet and miserable, he turned tail at the front door and more or less went back in the flat. But he seriously needed to go out, so we walked along Strudwick Drive towards Oldbrook Green, but before we'd even reached the crossing over Oldbrook Boulevard, he turned round and refused to go any further, and, honestly, who could blame him?

Today, (Friday) it is cold and windy, but it's quite bright and sunny.

Failing Fridge/Freezer

A bit of a disaster this morning. I found the fridge/freezer, which was given to me by the Council when I moved in, had defrosted, which meant all the contents had to be thrown away. A good week's worth of food and my money is running out rapidly before I get my next pension payment next week. I have now ordered a new, larger model on Very and I will pay it off by instalments. Fortunately I cleared the account before I moved to Dexter House. The thing should be delivered by the end of the week and once I am paid I will stock up on food to go in it. The old fridge/freezer was far too small, meaning it was extremely difficult to put larger items, such as frozen vegetables, in it. Also, it's so low that I have to kneel on the floor to be able to see what's inside it. The new model should therefore make life considerably easier. I will need to remove the stupid little fridge/freezer as I can't keep a redundant kitchen appliance in the flat. It will need to be taken to the tidy-tip in Bleak Hall, and they're welcome to it as far as I'm concerned. It's not even 3 months old and conked out. I'm not impressed. Just a load of total junk. The best place for it is in the skip.

Alfie is being his usual self. I went to Lidl to do some shopping and got a sandwich to eat when I got back. Alfie, as ever, sat staring at me from his position on the sofa, almost willing me to give him a bit of the sandwich. I resisted for as long as possible, but Alfie got as close to me as he could, by which time I give in and break off  a corner of the sandwich. He eats this morsel, and I continue to munch, but relent and give him  tiny bit more. He doesn't take it, pokes it with his nose. He often does this when you offer him a bit of food. I put that bit on the sofa, next to him, and he pokes it further with his nose and then pushes it on the floor. He does it with a second piece. How amusing, I think. He doesn't like cushions on the sofa, ether, and he pushes them off, again, with his nose.

I had to ring Ashfield Medical Centre to make a doctor's appointment. I started ringing at around 8.15 and eventually got through. The system would seem to be turned off until the staff can be bothered to have it on and actually answer (probably I'm wrong, but that's how it appears to me.) I had to wait for two people in the queue in front of me (the system tells you how many people are ahead of you in the queue.) How long does it take to explain to the receptionist what you need to see the doctor for? If it's me, it can't be more than 30 seconds at most.) I was told I couldn't have an appointment until a few day's ahead. Eventually they told me a doctor would ring me on Thursday (Which is General Election Day) Then, for some inexplicable reason my imagination took over and I said 'Well, as long as I'm at home because I'm expecting Boris Johnson to ring me as I'm advising him on Brexit and the way his election campaign is going.' I don't know what hit me at that specific moment, but it just came out. And the woman on the other end of the telephone said, 'Oh, really!' as if what I had just said was true- well, of course it wasn't and unlikely to be and I had to say it wasn't true, just in case, to make it clear.
Sometimes these things come into my head and I have to 'go with the flow.' I certainly did on this occasion!

Busy At Camphill

I haven't written a blog post for about a week. There wasn't a great deal to write about, but now, thinking about it, I can tell you what we've been up to at Camphill.

Last week there was a bit of a panic at Camphill, due to the fact that they were to have an inspection (I think it must have been C.Q.C. (Care Quality Commission) who do annual inspections and give a few days notice (I actually think it's rather pointless in that case, because if it was a secret and they just tuned up they would get a more accurate picture.) We had to do something, a piece of learning (for want of a better description.) taking it from the beginning and through to completion and then show evidence for that 'piece.' In this case it was to start by writing an introduction to read to the audience over a microphone and then do just that. We sat around a table to start thinking of what should be said and once it was decided and completed, each resident in the drama workshop had to speak it through the microphone which was set up on the stage. Paul, who is Teo's assistant in the drama workshop, did the first announcement, and the others had to follow, doing it in their own style. Even the Co-Workers had to do this, including myself. I have to say it's not as easy as it might sound, particularly as it's odd having your voice coming back at you through the 'live' speakers in the theatre auditorium. I'm glad I had a chance to try this. As I say, it's odd to hear your voice coming back through loudspeakers. I've recorded my voice onto tape and then heard it back afterwards, but it's unusual to speak on an 'open' microphone and hear your voice come back at you, but it was a good experience and worth doing. Then they had to write a report on each individual resident as evidence of the task being completed.

Not all the co-workers were available last week. A couple of the drama regulars were away or ill. One, who has attached himself to me somewhat, is diabetic and his sugar-levels were too high and didn't come to the drama workshop. I had to read in his lines but he did appear with a co-worker during yesterday's session.

We couldn't use the stage in the Chrysalis Theatre because it was set up for the Milton Keynes Theatre of Comedy production of 'Blackadder's Christmas Carol.' It was therefore important that we didn't disturb the props for this show which were set up around the back-stage area. We had to bring out chairs which are stored either side of the stage. I know, from my own experience of prop-setting, that you don't want anyone to disturb your setting, particularly if actors need to find a specific prop and it's moved to a different position.

This week we had to complete forms which would be used to show how each individual resident who participates in the drama workshop was developing. I had the task of using a MacBook and using the software and inputting details of the various residents. My main concern was that I wasn't going to save each individual resident's details, but one of the co-workers was able to show me where on the programme I could save the work. It was quite a long process and took more or less all day. Then there were a couple of residents who usually join us on a Tuesday where weren't there or at least came in later in the day. Fortunately I have the I.T. skills required to do this work and am so pleased I did something called a C.L.A.I.T. course(Computer Literacy and Information Technology) as well as learning the basics of computing when I did my abortive degree course, one at Luton and then DeMontfort University (both now merged into what is now The University of Bedfordshire. You couldn't hand in work that wasn't word processed in whatever system.

All this material would no doubt be inspected by the C.Q.C. inspectors because they would need to see such things as care plans and these documents would be included as being such material.

After lunch on Tuesday we did three run-throughs of 'Stranger Danger,' but missing out scenes where the actors weren't available. It seems to go really well. It has now been decided that there won't be  performance for Phoenix Rising on the last day the workshop meets before the Christmas break on 17th December, because not all the actors have been available to rehearse, along with some co-workers being on holiday or off ill. Then we sat in a circle and played the game 'fortunately/unfortuntely,' and ended on the game whereby you tell of two real things and one unreal (fictional/non-fiction.) which we've played before. By this time it was around 3.45 so each resident and volunteer or co-worker had to talk about that they were going to do for Christmas. Place tidied up and returned items to their places and by then it was time to go home!