Too Darn Hot

(Thursday) On BBC Breakfast this morning  we being told that today will be very hot. 31°, hot and humid. But if that's in Centegrade, what's that in Fahrenheit? I'm sorry, but I'm from the generation which is used to Fahrenheit, the same as with metric measurements. I still think in feet and inches. Why on earth we didn't change over completely to metric which is actually far easier, I can't think. You would have though when we joined the EU it would all change, but it didn't, so we're stuck in between them, betwixt and between as they say.

I have put on sun block, a handy spray version, which is a good deal easier than a cream. Just need to get it topped up as the day progresses. Alfie doesn't like the heat and finds it extremely difficult to find a place cool enough the flat.

(Friday) A hot and humid night which made sleeping difficult. I was in need of a fan to cool down the flat, so I have ordered on on the Argos website and I can go and collect it later from the Grafton Gate store. 'Click and Collect' as they term it, so it should be relatively easy to collect it without having to spend time in the store. Lets wait and see what happens when I go there later. I have washing on, so will have to wait until that is complete before going.

(Saturday) It's a good deal cooler this morning. It is drizzling outside (well, just as well it's not inside.) not raining, but damping things down. It's 6.45a.m. and I'm on the point of taking Alfie outside. I have the tower fan I got from Argos yesterday on and I think I'll leave it running to keep the flat warm. Alfie is asleep on the sofa. Poor little thing has been trying to find a place where he can keep cool.

Later. When I took his Nibs out a bit later, we didn't manage to escape the wetting caused by a sort of drizzle again. Alfie doesn't like getting wet and was appreciative of the fact that we went home fairly rapidly. As we were walking back home a wind got up from virtually nowhere, which presaged rain and I walked as fast as I could, with Alfie, as usual, sniffing ever blade of grass and taking his time as he has a habit of doing. He just loves pottering around.

Sunday. The lockdown is having more of a negative effect on people than actually helping to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. People are becoming totally fed up with being locked inside their homes, which includes me. I'm not used to sitting and doing virtually nothing and under different circumstances I would be doing things outside my home.

There was supposed to be a church meeting/worship via Zoom this morning, but I don't really think it's possible to have worship through this form of technology. Just not viable. But I couldn't get the connection to work, after several attempts, so I gave up. I suspect it may be because there are so many people using this technology as well as the internet being over-loaded at the moment, with so many people using it and it not being capable to cope with so many users on line. But, as a result, I decided to watch something via television catch-up, and 1994 episode of Time Team, about the discovery of a Roman iron smelting site on a golf course in Sussex (well, I think it was sussex.)

Easing Lockdown

(Wednesday) So our dear Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announces in the Commons, that some of the lockdown restrictions have beed eased. The two metre social distancing regulations have been lowered to one metre, but the thought of going to a pub or restaurant is not something I would bother with as it's so complex I'd rather stay at home, thank you.

Blogger, which is owned by Google, and which is what this blog is created on, is to be upgraded, if that's what it's supposed to be called. I have been using it for a good many years and have got on well with it, so why does it suddenly have to be changed so radically? It's the same with Facebook, which has been changed dramatically and is now more difficult to use. I really don't like it and why change things when the work well? You never get any sort of help with how to use any of these sites. It just because they can change things that problems occur. As the saying goes if it ain't broken, don't fix it. You have to learn yourself what the various 'buttons' and gizmos do without any sort of instruction, which is the same with most things you buy, which includes computers. When I bought my iPad recently went of YouTube to learn how to do things.

Out walking with Alfie this morning at about 9.30. We stopped for a rest on the furthest side of Oldbrook Green and sat on the very conveniently placed bench. I was shocked by the amount of litter strewn all over the ground nearby. Somebody had sat and eaten a takeaway meal and there was definite evidence, paper, polystyrene containers, Pepsi bottles and goodness knows what else. As there was a litter bin nearby, within arms reach, it would have taken long to put their debris in this when they had finished, just laziness. I have also seen disposable gloves thrown on the ground, also near a bin. It's not just the fact they were thrown aside, expecting someone else to deal with them, but environmentally harmful, especially if small mammals get stuck in them or try to eat them. I digress- as I seem in the habit of doing, and as I sat with Alfie on my lap, I saw a large lorry moving along Oldbrook Boulevard and turn into Strudwick Avenue and then into the yard behind The Cricketers pub. Obviously about to make a delivery, ready for the pub to reopen since the pandemic restrictions have been lifted. A definite positive sign that things are going to improve.

Later. It's far too hot. Wait a minute. This is crazy. We wait most of the year so we have some warm and pleasant weather, and all we do is complain that it's TOO HOT! The problem I have is I'm more of a temperate person. I don't like getting too hot. As a result of the weather, I decided to pack Alfie into the cage in the back of the car and drive the short distance down Chaffron Way to the Ouzel Country Park. I knew the moment I opened up the car that it was going to be far too much for Alfie and certainly not good for me. I put on sun block, the sort you spray on and donned my sun hat. Alfie was really suffering and so was I. We walked along the gravel path and met a group of ladies pushing someone in a wheelchair and they weren't sure whether they could go through the gates, which I told them it would be fine, so long as they shut them behind them. Some have cattle grids to stop livestock going through. There were sheep in the meadow we were walking through, several groups sheltering under the trees and Alfie started to bark so I decided to walk in a different direction. The sheep began to stir. I don't think they like dogs. I suppose they think of them as a threat. I didn't want Alfie to cause them stress, so I walked on.

I don't think it was such a good idea to bring Alfie out in such heat, or, if it comes to that, it wasn't good for me either. I was told by one of the cardiology nurses who looked after me when I went to a rehab session after my first heart attack in 2006, that I should keep out of the sun and always wear a hat. At one session, when it was really hot, about as hot as it has been today, I very nearly passed out and had to have first aid, which really frightened me.

Same Old Same

(Monday) Another fun filled week in store. Oh, the excitement is too much! Note the ironic tone of this blog post.  Cooped up in my flat like a battery chicken when it's really sunny and warm. I am hoping and even praying that the government will reduce the social distancing. It's a bit of a joke when I went out yesterday evening with Alfie and seeing people definitely not social distancing, children playing on the equipment in the playground at Oldbrook Green. The 'Rate of Transmission' of the infection rate of the coronavirus has been reduced to whatever number, I think it's 3, moved down from 4. I'm not entirely sure.

People on Oldbrook Green flying a kite. The wind was more or less perfect for such an occupation. There is something fascinating about kites. I really like them. We took Sam and Emerline to Dunstable Downs to fly his kite many years ago, although not entirely successfully. When we used to go on holiday to Frinton-On-Sea I used to fly a rather incredible box kite, which wasn't mine. It belonged to my younger brother, Sandy, who had been given it as a present, I think, by his godmother, Jane, but he wasn't in the least bit interested, so I got the pleasure of flying it. Quite high, from what I remember, on the Greensward, the grassed area between the road, The Esplanade I believe, and the promenade where the beach huts were. Quite a strong wind off the sea and it took some effort to get it to fly to the furthest extent of it's string.  A lot of effort to keep hold of it and probably a danger to low-flying aircraft. More on holidays to Frinton-On-Sea in an earlier blog post but I may write more in a future blog post.

(Tuesday) 4.02a.m. I haven't slept much. Someone in a flat below me has a television or radio on with a voice that never stops. I can't think what it can be. Not BBC or Sky News because there's no music, advertising or those 'stings' or whatever they cal them, the bits of music between items or over credits or the opening of programmes. Whatever it is, it's difficult to get to sleep. I turn on BBC News and have a cup of tea. Something to watch or listen to. They have an item about a digital television channel calle 'Talking Pictures' which has seen it's ratings rise since the start of the pandemic lockdown. It shows old programmes, most of which are black and white and run by a handful of staff. Apparently the main channels don't show black and white material. Why? Does that mean some of the classic films of the early days of the film industry aren't important because they aren't in COLOUR? So, that means that Laurel and Hardy, the Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton and a whole host of other comedy films are worthless? Absolutely not. Then how about: Casablanca, Sunset Boulevard, and probably the best film comedy of all, Some Like It Hot aren't worth bothering with? Are audiences so dumb that they can't be doing with black and white films? I don't think so. Surely it's the story, characters and just plain charm of these early films which makes them what they are. They survive because they are so brilliant. Oh, and then, how about the priceless Ealing comedies such as Passport to Pimlico (which is on tomorrow as I have looked at the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide), Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Ladykillers (I think the only Ealing comedy to be made in colour and also the last one made.)

The social distancing is likely to be reduced from 2 metres to 1 metre today, after the Cabinet has met this morning. It has to happen. BBC Breakfast has said that we can expect high temperatures in the next few days, possibly the highest temperatures of the year, towards the end of the week. Heat kills viruses, so it's going to wipe out the coronavirus. Just wait and see.

Later. 'I just don't believe it!' as Victor Meldew would say repeatedly in the brilliant sitcom 'One Foot In The Grave.' I have mentioned the problems I have had regarding my Television Licence. If you need a reminder, when I moved into Dexter House I made sure I had this set up so that I was 'legal , decent, honest and truthful' (an advertising slogan which was used by the Advertising Standards Authority.) I'm rambling. Going off-topic. Not keeping to the script.  Digression is the word I'm looking forAnyway, I discovered that I didn't need to pay a full licence living at Dexter House. Don't ask me how or why. You can, but you won't get an answer. I paid by cheque and it must have cleared as it shows up on my bank statement so the licensing people have proof. But I keep getting letters, beautifully printed and posted, no doubt at great expense. So . . . what on earth is going on? Making a mockery of the whole confounded TV licence business and must cost a fortune, money which could be going to the BBC to pay some hard up celebrity on their payroll who needs to probably put petrol in his/her Rolls Royce or to buy more caviare or pate de foie gras from Harrods or Fortnum and Masons.

Later still. So, that's it. Boris Johnson says the social distancing can be reduced to one metre and that more businesses can reopen. Thank goodness! Being a prisoner in your own home is no joke. But lockdown can be reenforced if there's any new infections, or something, I'm not sure of the exact words. But it's not going to happen. It's summer, the sun is out and viruses don't survive in a hot climate.

(Wednesday) A hot and humid night and I found it difficult to sleep, but the kitchen is as hot as ever. Why on earth can't the heating be reduced? It just doesn't make sense and I have mentioned it but it seemed impossible to get anyone to deal with this situation.

Come Rain Or Shine

(Wednesday)It's been a hot and stuffy day.  When I looked out of the kitchen window early this morning it was a foggy view which greeted my gaze. Not what I was expecting. Not a great deal happening. I took Alfie out at around 1 o'clock and we were the opposite side of Oldbrook Green when it went overcast. Dark clouds hurtling across the sky and then there was a clap of thunder. Trying to hurry Alfie wasn't going to work as he has to sniff every blade of grass but I thought it vital that we get back to the flat quickly. It began to rain but we got indoors in time and as I write this there is an almighty thunder storm going on and Alfie has given me a look. I'm not sure  if he's bothered by it. I know Poppy, our old dog, was really upset when it thundered and would hide in a convenient place until a storm passed over. It's raining heavily and sounds like a sound effect recording. It's as well we got in before this started, but it should clear the stuffy air somewhat.

(Thursday) The rain continued into the night. I woke up at around 3.30 and could hear rain rattling on the windows and it appeared to be quite torrential. I took Alfie out at about 7.10 and wasn't aware until we steep out of the door into Strudwick Drive that it was still raining hard, so we didn't stay out for long and will have to go back out as Alfie only did a wee.

I am watching the BBC documentary series which is on iPlayer, 'The Story of England,' which is presented by Michael Wood and focusses on a village in Leicestershire called Kibworth. Good solid presentation and the sort of programme which the BBC does best and which they should produce more of. There's more than enough stuff to watch on catch-up if you can't find anything else to watch elsewhere on broadcast television. I think I seem to watch most in this way instead of when it's being broadcast 'live.' The other series is 'A House Through Time,' presented by David Olusoga, focussing on a house in Bristol.

Later.  5.50 p.m.After all the rain we had earlier in the day, it is now sunny and bright.

Friday. So, the week ends, but it's not a lot different to the beginning. A rather overcast sort of morning as I look out of the kitchen window at 6 o'clock. What does the day bring? Probably not a great deal.

I was right. Not a great deal happened. So there.

Saturday. It's bright and sunny. Not much more I can tell you.

I made out a shopping list and went to Sainsbury's, after I had taken Alfie out for his early morning walk down to Oldbrook Green. I'm getting good at organising myself so the wait in the queue is cut to the minimum and arrived in the underground carpark at around 8.15. I suppose there was about a 15-minute wait in the queue and I was in the store and through the self-service check out really quickly. I'm getting quite good at using these check outs, the trick is to be organised and to be able to find the bar codes on each item so that you can scan and pack each item. If anything, they really should make the bar codes larger and put them where they are easy to find. Some are almost hidden and not very obvious and some small and difficult to scan. I got home, did some washing up and then took Alfie out for yet another trot around Oldbrook Green.

June Is Busting

Trying to keep this blog going. I have another quite interesting idea for writing, but, again, I'm not going to disclose it on here.

It's another beautifully bright and sunny morning and the kitchen in this flat is like a furnace. It's crazy that there is no way of turning off the heating. A waste of energy and not very good for the environment. Why do all these flats need to be heated in he middle of the summer? No sense at all.

Non-essential shops are opening this morning after around three months of lockdown. I won't be rushing out to the Milton Keynes Central Shopping Centre, although I would love to. Once they have cut the social distancing then I might be prepared to go.

(Later) The weather is continuing fine and sunny. Not a lot more I can say than that I'm afraid.

This morning, as we were walking along Strudwick Drive towards Oldbrook Green, we had just come out of Dexter House and there was a large crow on the grass and, having walked past, I got a glimpse of a very large bird which swooped up from the ground and flew away. It was only a glimpse but it might have been some sort of predatory bird, such as a red kite, which I have seen drifting across the estate. It was gone very quickly but the colour was fawn with darker markings.

Tuesday night. I had just gone to bed and was asleep when the deafening sound of the fire alarm went off. Alfie came running into the bedroom and jumped on the bed. I wasn't sure exactly what was going on, whether it was an actual fire or a test (most unlikely as no staff on duty at that hour.) I wasn't keen to remain in the flat as the noise is deafening (no point if it doesn't wake you up.) I had to use the toilet and then put on my dressing gown and then put Alfie's lead on and he started barking (he thought he was being taken out for a walk.) As I opened the flat door I could see smoke pouring out of the flat opposite mine. The tenant smoking and no doubt this set off the alarm. We made out way to the front door and left the building and stood and waited outside. Within minutes we could see flashing blue lights as a fire engine arrived. Several firemen enter the building, but they have no idea where the flat is and I have to show them on a map which shows the layout of the building. I have to hold onto Alfie because as soon as put him on the ground he begins to bark. After about ten minutes the alarm stops and we go back into the building. The alarm sound is too loud to stay within the flat as it upsets Alfie and really hurts my ears. Oh well, if nothing else it's given me something to write in this blog post. End of the excitement for today. As I write this it's just turned midnight and a new day has begun.

Social 'Bubbles'

Apparently 'social bubbles' are something which is being bought in by the government to allow those who live alone (which would include myself) to meet up with another household, but if either 'family' or household suspects they are infected, they all have to self isolate for fourteen days.

What I want to know is, what happens when the bubbles burst?

I have taken out Alfie at around 9 this morning as it was overcast and it looked as if it was going to rain. You can't hurry Alfie as he has to sniff every blade of grass and leaf as we walk along the path towards Oldbrook Green. He has this funny little habit of pottering and this is done very slowly and deliberately. I think it's a terrier habit. He stops to wee on every lamppost and tree and has the same places we have to stop at as we walk around the Green. It takes probably three or four times as long as it would if he didn't stop along the way.

(Later) 10.15. It is raining quite hard so I made the right decision to go out when I did. I would have got soaked and so would Alfie.

I got the call from the cardiology department at around 12.30, although I had been told it would be at 3 o'clock. It was just as well I was in when the call came, on my iPhone. It would appear I have no problems and that things will continue as they are regarding my medication. Nothing further to report.

It has turned out dry for the remainder of the day, although there is quite a strong wind blowing as we went out this afternoon walking along Strudwick Drive on our way to Oldbrook Green.

Friday. It's rather overcast and somewhat humid this morning. Done washing up and about to start clothes washing. Exciting, but that's all there is to report at the moment.

I have a new idea for my writing. I'm not going to reveal here what it is because it's not cut-and-dried.

(Saturday) We had a  SCF Zoom quiz last evening. It was an interesting experience.

This morning looks a good deal brighter. The sun is out and it seems much more summery.

We walked down Strudwick Drive towards Oldbrook Green this morning, just before 7 o'clock and we stopped as Alfie was intent on sniffing as we proceeded, and a blackbird was sitting on the fence to the garden of Dexter House and I stood and looked at it and it looked at me. It was a great pity I didn't have my camera with me as it would have been worth a photograph. It sat there for quite some time and didn't move. Made me wonder what on earth was going through it's mind.

Later. Going out later with Alfie and there's youths playing football on Oldbrook Green. Not that I'm in the least bit interested, but it's good that they are having fun, enjoying themselves. People watching from the sidelines.

I went to have a cream tea with Mike and Margaret, friends from church. Absolutely amazing to actually meeting up with people and getting away from the flat. Just not good staying indoors when it's so warm and sunny.

(Sunday) I have taken Alfie out twice now and it continues to be sunny and pleasant. I sat on the bench nearest to The Cricketers and saw a father attempting to teach one of his young children how to play cricket (very appropriate since this was so near the pub and the fact that the road names around Oldbrook are after cricketers.) He can't have been much more than 6 or 6. It wasn't helping him to have such a large bat and the younger child was wandering around in the background. It's good to see fathers particularly with their children like this. In general there seems to be a more relaxed atmosphere about the place since the lockdown was slightly eased.

No Social Distancing

I was out with Alfie quite late yesterday afternoon.  (Monday)Well, when I mean late, I don't mean it was dark, with the sun going down. I mean, around 4.45.  Oldbrook Green was busy, but any sense of social distancing had been totally disregarded. There were youths in the skateboard park, using it to . . . skateboard. People sitting on the grass in groups. We walked around and one boy was on a bicycle, attempting to ride it on its rear wheel. He came up behind me on the final lap, near the children's playground, and didn't make any sort of sound, which made me jump somewhat. What would have happened if he had come off and hit his head, requiring hospitalization? There were a couple of girls climbing over the fence into the children's playground, which was locked and had a notice clearly stating it was banned from use, due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it was obvious that they wouldn't have seen this notice and then proceeded to sit on the swings, not designed for people of their size.

I had a telephone call this afternoon. Wow! That's a thing. From the cardiology department of Milton Keynes Hospital. I am going to get a call on Thursday at 3 p.m. from one of the cardiology doctors to see how I'm getting on. Not bad, just bored and sick of the lockdown, but I don't suppose they can do anything about that. Or maybe they can. Would be good if they could.

(Tuesday) Here I am, wide awake at 4.55a.m. I have had a shave, and done all the washing up (my kitchen must be the tidiest in the country.) Lockdown has turned my world upside down. It's no use sleeping, as I just can't get back to sleep. I have watched a further episode of the Peter Ackroyd 'Thames' documentary series on History Hit. It's fascinating. Read a bit more of the Simon Heffer book, 'The Age of Decadence,' and currently reading the chapter on the Suffragettes. What a brave lot of women. When people say that they don't intend to vote in an election, they should bear in mind all those who fought to get them the right to have a vote, not just women, but men as well. The force-feeding of women in prison would be considered abuse by today's standards.

I needed a different place to take Alfie for a walk this afternoon, so I put the cage in the back of the car and installed his nibs in it and we drove down Chaffron Way to the Ouzel Valley Park, which Carol and I visited on many occasions with the dogs. I was able to let Alfie have a run, and he seemed to appreciate the fact that he could run free, but I made sure that there was no livestock in the meadow we were walking across, although there were cattle in the adjoining meadow. There were lots of other people who had the same idea as myself, many with dogs, in family groups and many with children in various forms of pram and buggy. We walked through several kissing gates. This is how Wikipedia describes kissing gate:

'A Kissing gate is a type of gate that allows people, but not livestock, to pass through.

The normal construction is a half-round, rectangular, trapezoid or V-shaped part-enclosure with the free end of a hinged gate trapped between its arms. When the gate is touching an arm, it must be pulled or pushed to pass through. The gate may need to be pushed to give access to the small enclosure, and when in the enclosure, the person pulls the gate past the bulk of the enclosure to exit. Some examples have latches. Most are installed self-enclosing, to the side away from the pasture (livestock field), by hinge geometry, a spring or weight.'

So, if you didn't know, now you should. They are usually installed where livestock are in a meadow and allow people to move through without allowing the livestock to go through, usually where there is a cattle grid. (no, I'm not going to explain what they are here.)

We went through several kissing gates and then began the walk back towards the car. Several more people with dogs and then as we approached the car park, a couple was coming towards me with a large dog. Alfie was on his lead and when we got closer Alfie began barking and the dog came at him, attempting, well it seemed to me, that it wanted to pick him up in its mouth. I scooped up Alfie in my arms and the couple were most apologetic. Alfie was just as much to blame, barking as he always does, but he always wants to be friends with every dog he meets, as he has virtually no fear. The other dog continued to growl. Probably because it didn't like Alfie's aggressive noise, or so it probably was thinking. What do dogs think? That's a matter of dispute. I was upset, as anyone would be who has their dog attacked by another dog. But it probably wasn't. The bigger dog was probably just putting Alfie in his place, a big dog telling off a smaller one. We walked on and I put Alfie in the cage in the car and drove him.

(Wednesday) It has been raining, although very lightly, this morning, and we didn't remain out very long. I think Alfie was quite happy to return home quickly when he discovered that he was getting wet. We needed the rain, whatever the amount. It didn't last long, and it barely laid the dust. The grass is beginning to look very brown and parched in many areas.

I have managed to stitch together various parts of my writing project and it is now over eighty pages long. I cut and pasted these elements into the 'core' storyline, and I'm grateful to the technology because I can't imagine writing it in longhand or on a typewriter. 

Saturday Shopping and Afternoon Thunderstorm

(Saturday)This is becoming a habit. I go shopping once a week since the lockdown began and I go on a Saturday. I think most people don't get out of bed early on a weekend, (and who can blame them?) but I find that usually if I go shopping in Sainsbury's early it is easier to get in and out. I have learnt to go early enough, just before 8 o'clock, when the queue to get in is only a few people long, a lesson I learnt a few weeks ago when I got there at 7 and didn't realise that key workers and N.H.S. staff got preferential treatment so as not to have to queue. Anyway, I was in and out of Sainsbury's in a little over an hour, which was fairly good as far as I'm concerned. Having a shopping list makes all the difference but I do wish some of the shoppers would at least smile as they all look as if they're 'doomed' as Frazer used to say in 'Dad's Army' with monotonous regularity.

(Later) I've been watching a documentary series about the River Thames, presented by Peter Ackroyd on the History Hit platform (of which I'm a subscriber.) I have reached the third episode and then it goes dark outside. It was attempting to rain when I last went out with Alfie around 1.30, but I didn't let a bit of drizzle put me off, or Alfie for that matter. Then there was an almighty clap of thunder, very much like a bomb going off, and then it rained as if the whole world was going to end. It made me jump and I don't think Alfie liked it very much. It is still dark (relatively for being daylight at 3.20 approximately) and the thunder is still rolling around Milton Keynes. I don't think we will be going out for a while or at least not until the rain has stopped.

(Sunday) It's a rather dull outlook this morning. Probably just as well because the past week or two it's been unbearably hot.

I got the Apple Pencil delivered yesterday morning and I'm attempting to get it working, charging by putting it on the iPad. It's difficult to know how to get this going because it didn't come with a manual, which seems how most computer equipment comes delivered. I have to go on line and also watch YouTube videos to find instructions. I also got a parcel from Bibliophile, the discount book company, because I had ordered a rather beautiful book on Art Nouveau which I had seen when their catalogue arrived in the post and ordered on line. It has taken almost two weeks to arrive, probably held up due to the coronavirus pandemic. Likewise with the Apple Pencil.

Later. I've just been to the Tesco Metro store in Oldbrook Boulevard. It's almost comical, attempting to avoid other customers as I walk around the store. I think there's a game in there somewhere, a bit like Monopoly. It could just be called 'Lockdown.' I might even be an afternoon gameshow on television. How it would work I don't know. Probably start off with a load of points and as you go around the board you loose points if you meet other people and have to answer questions to move on round. Anyway, I wanted to get a Sunday Times and get some chocolate. Only in there five minutes and then home to then take Alfie out for another walk. 

Easing Lockdown

So, the lockdown is being slowly eased. We can apparently meet six people in open spaces, such as parks and gardens. Horray! As it is, we can't remain in lockdown forever, otherwise the country is going to become bankrupt. It will be great to be able to go shopping for what they term 'Unessential items,' for example, clothes, which, as far as I understand aren't unessential unless you want to go around stark naked, which might not be such a good idea, although with the weather so warm it wouldn't be such a bad idea but just don't try it!

I am taking Alfie out through the side entrance which goes out directly into Strudwick Drive. He's a bit shocked I think to find himself outside on the grass area next to the road, but at least it's quicker than going through the front entrance and walking round along Dexter Avenue.

Some delightful soul has seen fit to break glass and all the pieces are on the pavement as I walk Alfie towards Oldbrook Green earlier this morning. Fortunately I was able to move some of the larger and positively lethal pieces onto the side so that Alfie and anyone on a bicycle doesn't run over them. If they got in his paws he could be horribly cut and it wouldn't be pleasant for him. I saw hi-vis clad council workers in the distance as we approached the crossing onto the green and at first thought they were streaming the grass, but it appeared that they were picking up rubbish. The amount has got worse since the lockdown began. As we got to the furthest side of the green I saw that one of the workmen had put black bags into a shopping trolley. I saw a Morrisons and Lidl trolley left abandoned a few days ago and it seems rather odd because if they were taken from either supermarket then whoever used them must have walked quite a distance to unload their groceries and then take them to abandon them in the middle of Oldbrook. Doesn't make a lot of sense.

(Saturday) They continue to drone on relentlessly about the pandemic on BBC Breakfast. The issue of Dominic Cummings is still being raked over by all the media, probably because they can't talk about much else as there isn't much else TO talk about. The BBC becomes more and more biased against the government as the days go on.

(Wednesday) I can't believe I haven't written anything since Saturday. It is becoming rather repetitive, hence the lack of anything fresh to say on here.

I've been to fill the car up with fuel, going to the ESSO station on Childs Way. I decided to go there because of getting Nectar points. Virtually no traffic on the roads and then I went to Waitrose to buy some fruit as I eat at least several pieces a day. There was a short queue and it was in and out relatively quickly. Actually improved when the place is virtually empty of customers and this means no queueing at the tills and it's easy to move around the store.

(Friday) Nothing much to report, except that it's quite blustery out this morning when I took Alfie out at just turned 7 o'clock, which was a bit of a surprise.

I was due to have a hospital appointment today at 1.20 at the X-Ray department. It was to be a scan rather than an actual X-ray. I was all prepared to go and I knew from the letter I received from the hospital offering me the appointment that I wasn't to eat anything after 6 hours before the time. But I have cancelled the appointment, mainly because of a fear of catching the wretched virus. I have managed to get this far without anything, so I'm not going to get infected. I know it wouldn't be the staff's fault and that they would have sufficient Personal Protective Equipment, but I will have to get the doctor to refer me again for another appointment in probably two month's time when the risk is likely to be very much reduced.

I can spend ages hunting for ideas for stories, or at least, where a story I'm working on should go next. But I would never have believed that I would dream ideas. This has happened twice recently, but I won't give away what the dreams were about and where those story ideas are being used. I think it's best to write down these dreams and even if I don't use them immediately then I never know when they might be used in the future. I'll wait and see if and when I have dreamt another story idea.