Splish! Splash!

Thursday. 5.30 a.m. Oh, dear! I knew this was going to happen. The title of the last blog post now seems rather out of date. As I write this I can hear rain outside (best place for it, really.) But it has at least cooled things down. It really was far too hot yesterday evening. I don't think Alfie is going to appreciate it when we go out, but out he must go. A quick visit to the green and pleasant area along Strudwick Drive and back inside. Let's wait and see what transpires.

Later. 8.45 a.m. The rain has finished, but it is now overcast. Perhaps we can expect further rain. I'm not actually bothered because it has cooled down and it's a good deal more comfortable.

I'm not entirely sure whether the cough is now caused by hayfever. I don't usually suffer, although several years ago I did suffer. This is usually worse when the weather is hot as it is now and the pollen count is high. I was prescribed Beconase nasal spray by my doctor. I've been taking it for barely a week and I'm not sure whether it is working or not, but the horrible cough seems to have settled down, although I have had a few coughing episodes, but not as unpleasant as they have been in the past. I think I just need to keep on with the medication as I expect it will take a week or two to really take effect.

Later 5.45 p.m. I'm rather pleased with the two pages of dialogue I've managed to write. Dialogue isn't the easiest to write as it can often come over as unrealistic. What you say is never in complete sentences, often in short phrases. it's the same with plays, nobody waits when someone finishes speaking. We usually overlap our speaking or interrupt.

Friday. 5.40 a.m. I'm not sure whether it's been raining overnight. It is considerably cooler than it has been for the past few days. I'm just about to take Alfie out and then I will know.

Alfie has a rather, how should I say it? Rather a naughty habit. Poppy had the same ability, which was to make rather unpleasant smells from his rear end. I think you can describe it as 'silent but deadly.' I immediately thought, 'he needs to go out.' Which may or may not have been true. But, to avoid any accidents I decided it was probably best to take him out. As it was raining at the time, I put on my bright yellow Regatta raincoat. We arrived on the grass immediately outside alongside Strudwick Drive and Alfie obliged with several wees. But he immediately decided, because it was raining, that he would head straight back home in the dry. I couldn't really blame him, but I was determined that he should oblige with the 'other business. But, try as I might, he pulled towards home. Even when we got to the grassy area opposite The Cricketers pub, he did a further couple of weeks but then made a determined effort to get out of the rain and I gave in and we went home. A very strong-willed little dog to say the least!

I have to say I'm not impressed with the shoes I bought, Skechers, which I bought on Amazon. I haven't had them for much more than six months and THEY LEAK! My socks are wet from coming in from the rain and walking on wet grass. Not just the fact that they leak, but the uppers are flaking off. The 'leather' (which can't be genuine.) is coming apart. I really don't expect a £60 pair of shoes to more or less fall apart after such a short length of time. I put it down to the fact that the soles are made of a rubbery substance which just splits, hence the leak. Not impressed.

Later. 10.35 a.m. I've done more writing this morning! Well, as they say, no time like the present. I've had GBN Breakfast this morning. I thought I'd give it a try. It takes a while to get used to something like this. I've always been a BBC Breakfast viewer for I don't know how many years. I think they need to tweak their format. There's no news bulletin which we get on BBC1 and all the other 'traditional channels. Perhaps a sort of headline section. I could also suggest an arts section, which seems to have been forgotten. Sport, as usual, gets all the attention. 

I wanted to get some plastic folders to put the sections of writing in. I had already got some from Sainsbury's several months ago, the idea is to put the handwritten manuscripts into these so that I could refer to them and use them when I transcribe them onto word processing. I decided to drive to Sainsbury's to buy some more and buy milk which had run out, so I couldn't have my customary cup of tea (actually, mug. I haven't got a single cup in the flat, or a saucer to go with it. I have at least half a dozen mugs to choose from.) On arriving at the Sainsburys stationary aisle I discovered they don't seem to stock the same sort of clear plastic sleeves, so got what are called 'popper' sleeves, more substantial than the other sort I had and with a sort of overlapping bit that 'pops' closed. Then I can write on each one with a felt-tip pen so that I can recognize what's in each folder. When I got home I tore each handwritten page out of the notebook which I had numbered carefully and had to tear off the bit along one edge which had holes in and fortunately each has a convenient perforated edge which makes tearing it off easier.

Later. 2.15 p.m. I'm still attempting to get out with Alfie. It's been raining continuously since early morning and there seems to be no sign of it easing off. One single raindrop on his coat and he more or less refuses to stay outside and takes me back home. There's not a lot I can do to convince him to stay out. This is a dog who definitely dislikes rain and getting wet.

Saturday. 5.35 a.m. It would appear to be quite rain-free as I write this. I hope so, as I'm about to take Alfie out. He's currently laying on my bed. Just about to finish this so I can publish it.