A Little Wet and Windy

 Monday. 7.45 a.m. Another week begins. It's relatively bright and sunny outside, but when I took Alfie out around an hour ago it was quite chilly. I think perhaps it's time to put my shorts away for the winter months. A pity, as I've got used to wearing them. I may have to find some cargoes made of similar material. They're Weird Fish brand shorts with plenty of pockets, which are useful, particularly when walking Alfie, as I can put treats in one pocket, keys in another, and doggy bags in another. 

Wednesday. 4.20 p.m. I've had two letters in the post. One from Milton Keynes Council about having my bathroom refitted. Is it possible? Might I have a proper full-sized bath that I can actually lay down in and have a decent soak? Most people are at least 5-6 tall, and most, if not all normal people would expect to be able to lie full length in it when they have a bath.)Anyway, having contacted the number on the letter, I have someone coming to survey the aforementioned bathroom to see what can or cannot be done. I will report on here after I have had the visit. I hold my breath in anticipation (metaphorically that is.) The other letter was from Lloyd's Pharmacy offering me a flu jab. Booked through their website and it's going to be on 28th October at their branch in Sainsbury's.

Thursday. I've made a batch of scones to take to the quiz night on Friday evening. They aren't bad. Taste good, texture good and I'm sure Marry Berry would be pleased with the result, but to me, they don't look very good. I will have another try tomorrow and hope the second batch turns out better.

Saturday. 8.10 a.m. I've been somewhat lax this week, in the fact that I haven't been writing blog posts for the past couple of days. Very lazy, but, I'll be honest not a great deal to report. 

I've made another batch of scones, and this time I've used my food processor and they've come out looking considerably better than yesterday's batch. The food processor certainly speeds the process considerably. 

I went into Sainsbury's and had intended to purchase ink cartridges for my Canon printer/scanner. I hunter along the shelves in the stationary section of the store and could see none, so I asked a member of staff and was told that they had been removed from the store because they are stolen by people who then sell them online, no doubt on sites such as eBay. Crazy that things have come to this. I have since managed to order them from Viking, the online stationers. They should arrive, hopefully, in the next couple of days.

We had a quiz night at the Oaktree Centre this evening. Raising funds for the second phase of the building.  A good evening was had by all and it was great to be around people once more and not virtually.

Sunday. This afternoon I went out with the intention of topping up the car with diesel because it is running low. There is no ulterior motive other than my usual topping it up. I'm not driving a great deal at the moment, but the fuel gauge is showing there's not much in the tank. I drove around to the ESSO station on Childs Way to discover a huge queue of vehicles stretching from the roundabout on Marlborough Street. I wasn't going to join the queue and I could say a similar queue on the opposite carriageway at the BP station. I then drove to the Shell station on Grafton Street and, seeing there was no queue I drove in, but most of the pumps were blocked off, signaling they had no fuel. So, I drove away and have decided perhaps I will wait until later in the week to have another go at getting a tank full.

Tuesday. 10.30 a.m. Alfie had a bit of an accident last night, requiring a complete change of bedding and floor-mopping. He spent the night in the lounge as I didn't want a repetition of things. He was quiet until the early hours of the morning and then began barking. I had to do a further clear-up, but as I write this he seems fine. I'll have to monitor things and see what transpires. He seems to be his usual perky self and we've just got back from another walk around the park. It's bright and sunny this morning.

I have been attempting to fuel the car. I know it's not urgent as the car can go for quite a long period before it needs fuel. The gauge is looking low, so it will need diesel sometime soon. I went around Marlborough Street and to the Esso station along Child's Way, but they had nothing, and then to the BP station on the opposite carriageway, but, again, nothing. I'll have to leave it until the end of the week and give it another attempt. Then I drove on to Sainsbury's. A great many empty spaces on the shelves but I managed to get the few items I needed.

Troublesome Technology

Tuesday. 7.45 a.m. A bit wet when I  went out earlier with Alfie. Not exactly pouring rain, but a bit what I'd call drizzly. Thin rain might be a better description.

I forgot to mention that the fire alarm when off in Dexter House yesterday morning. The system has been tested by a technician, who presumably knew what he was doing, but it went on for around an hour. At first, I wasn't sure if it was the weekly test, which usually lasts around a minute. Then, when it continued on, whether it was more serious. It was no good because it gives me a headache and Alfie can't cope with it either, I imagine it hurts his ears as dogs can hear sounds at a different, lower, frequency to humans. So I put on my trousers (well, not such a good idea to go without, don't you think?) and gathered Alfie up, and we proceeded to leave the flat and go out into the street. I could still hear the alarm and thought it best to walk around the block, giving Alfie a surprise outing in the process.

Wednesday. 10.20 a.m. The other morning, there was a sound rather like a baby crying. It was around 3 o'clock in the morning. It was very close, whatever it was, more likely a cat, sitting on the ledge outside my bedroom window. As the window as open, that might have accounted for the rather loud volume. I was expecting Alfie to react, but he seemed to remain asleep beside me on the bed.

Thursday. 7.55 p.m. I have never mentioned the online surveys I do, for which I receive both cash and vouchers which can be redeemed for high street goods and services. Not only am I doing the online surveys, but I have more recently done some focus groups. Most are done via Zoom, the computer video platform, basically, because it's easier than having to set up face-to-face groups and even more so with the current pandemic restrictions. I won't mention who or what is said in any of the surveys, as I'm not supposed to. Privacy and confidentiality and all that. I did one a couple of Mondays ago, and the latest one was yesterday evening. You have to make sure you're all set up well in advance of the set time, which I did. On this occasion, I used my iPad and had it set up on the gooseneck support which I got from Amazon. The idea with this is that it brings the iPad up closer to my face and is easier to use than having the MacBook at table height. I also had my iPhone set up on another gooseneck support, for emergencies. I should describe a gooseneck as being a device that is made of strong spring-like material that keeps its position once adjusted. It holds your tablet or phone in a firm, spring-loaded grip, and you can move it around to get the best position. The focus group began, but after around thirty minutes, the iPad began to die on me. I had thought it was fully charged, but it just died completely. I then decided to use the iPhone, and then I couldn't get the sound to stop on the iPad (don't ask me why or how. It really illudes me completely.) It began to cause sound problems, which I couldn't fix until I put the iPad in the kitchen. Then I had to continue on the iPhone, but eventually decided to use my MacBook to finish the session It was all very annoying and embarrassing, but I was determined to continue because I knew that otherwise I wouldn't be paid the incentive for the focus group. Then I couldn't get the sound to work and had to continue with the discussion using the 'chat' facility on Zoom, which actually worked quite well. I could write relatively fast in answer to some questions and make comments, easier than waiting for people to finish speaking. Considering I had all my devices fully charged and it was just as well I had an alternative to the iPhone and iPad. Just typical that they should fail me when I really needed them to work properly.

A Little Win

 Monday. 8.55 a.m. I haven't done the National Lottery in a long time. I can't even remember when I last played it. When I lived in Bedford, I used to buy a ticket in W.H.Smith in Midland Road. You had to buy a paper ticket and you held on to it and didn't lose it (some people did and then their numbers came up and then panicked when they couldn't find it to prove they had the all-important winning numbers. How crazy! To loose out on a life-changing amount of cash!) I have downloaded the app and have played once. It is so much easier as you don't even have to leave your home to play. You have to sign up and create an account and use your bank card (credit or debit card.) and then put money on your account (up to a limit of £500, although I don't put much more than £5 on mine.) As the price of a ticket has increased from £1 to £2 and I think some games are probably £1.50.) I decided this week to play. I had tickets for the main game, Lotto, and another for the Set For Life game, where you can win something like £10,000 per month for 30 years or something. I forgot all about it until Sunday morning when I looked at my emails as normal and there was an email from the National Lottery to inform me that I had won! I was excited as you can imagine and it took a while to sign in to the app. I had won £5! But My earnings were reapplied to my account and I got a free 'Lucky Dip' draw for later in the week. I remember the very first draw, I think, back in around 1994. I won £10! I won several of these £10s, but nothing higher. I think it would be better to let people win smaller amounts rather than millions of pounds going to one winner, just a few thousands, particularly when there's a roll-over or even several roll-overs.

Oh well, there's always next time, of course. . . 

Thursday. 10.15 a.m. I haven't posted anything for the past couple of days, as you will have noticed. Just discussing the same old seemed a bit pointless, so I didn't, but here I am again.

It's been really warm the last couple of days. I packed away my shorts and though to myself that autumn was upon us, but, lo and behold! It's been bright and sunny, so got them out again. It was actually too hot for me at one point. I took Alfie out, and we didn't get far, well, not much further than the start of the circuit of Oldbrook Green, when I developed a really horrible headache, so we returned home. I have worn my sun hat, but it didn't make a lot of difference.

My FitBit isn't functioning properly. I had it working successfully, but it has decided not to work correctly. The time is totally out. It is supposed to communicate with my iPhone via Bluetooth. It decides it will connect but then nothing more happens. It's getting to the point that I can't be bothered with it. I keep attempting to sort it out, but it might just as well be at the bottom of a drawer if it can't behave itself.

3.25 p.m. I've been out with Alfie. It was dark overhead and I think I felt a few drops of rain. If it wasn't, then I really ought to know what it was. 

My writing is still at the planning stage. I think I now have the scaffolding and can hopefully start the actual writing. That's the bit I enjoy most, but, as I've said in earlier blog posts, I can't begin the process of writing until I have a sort of roadmap in place. A bit like going on a car journey without knowing where you're going. Making sure you have a route planned out. But I still don't know how it will end.

Monday. 8.50 a.m. Goodness gracious! It's Monday again! What is going on? We seem to be spinning out of control. As Hamlet says, 'the time is out of joint.' Very much so. I can't believe we're halfway through September. We'll soon be seeing the usual junk in the shops, ready for Christmas. But we have to endure the total rubbish which is sold for Hallow'een first. The things that shops attempt to flog us just to make a quick buck is appalling. 

I had another attempt at the National Lottery. And hey presto! I draw another couple of numbers which have already been entered for a lucky dip. I just hope that eventually I might win more than a few quid, not a lot, a few hundred would be nice. Just top up my bank account somewhat. The thing is, with the app it's far easier to have a go at the Lottery rather than going out to buy a paper ticket. You don't even have to leave your home.

All Well and Good

Wednesday. 2.50 p.m. I now have a new toilet seat! The excitement is far too much. For far too long I have had to endure a loose toilet seat and the prospect of falling off the aforementioned toilet seat because it wasn't fixed properly.  Don't laugh. Oh go on, have a titterHow could this happen? I don't know, but I'm responsible for the seat and not the bowl! Don't laugh, but that was what I was told when I inquired about having it repaired and/or replaced. Ivor, who is a genius at this type of thing, came from church to investigate the matter. I went to Homebase to purchase a replacement and he came to fix it for me. Job done! Does it mean that when (or if) I leave, I can take the toilet seat with me? Would seem like it.

The battery-operated fob I have which I use to open and close the front door here at Dexter House wasn't working and we came to the conclusion that the battery needed replacing. I went to Sainsbury's this morning and I purchased new batteries, Duracell, two in a pack for £5. The screws which keep the fob together and need removing before the installation of new batteries can be done, requires a very small screwdriver to undo the screws, but that is now done, and I can enter and leave the premises without resorting to attacking the door with a hatchet (I know, I exaggerate.)

Thursday. 7.45 a.m. The week is speeding by. September now. How did we get here so quickly? It seems with so many confounded lockdowns we've been in a sort of ground hog day, each day being more or less the same as the last one. Still, nothing of great importance to report on here.

Friday. 7.00 a.m. So, the big news this morning is that Abba, the Swedish supergroup from the 1970s is reforming and writing new songs. You have to be a huge fan to get excited about this news. I quite like their music but I'm definitely a superfan. They seem to be as popular as ever, even though they broke up in 1982. Shows and films such as Mamma Mia, which are based around their music and songs, are probably responsible for this interest, so you can see why a reforming of the group would be on the cards.

On a somewhat different subject. As they often do on BBC Breakfast, a 'live' session was shown from a Taekwondo centre in Hyton, near Liverpool. The reporter asked one of the members why they liked doing taekwondo, she replied that she 'liked kicking people!' I think the other title for this sport is kick-boxing. 

Another trip to Sainsbury's this morning. I didn't have my regular mug of tea because the milk was on the point of turning. Bits in the mug which meant it wasn't good to go. I was somewhat surprised to find quite a few shelves empty in Sainsbury's.  I think it has something to do with there being a shortage of HGV drivers to drive the lorries which deliver to the store, amongst other things.

Saturday. 12.15 p.m. Quite a mild day. I was somewhat surprised by the sunshine when I took Alfie out mid-morning. As I write this, it's become more overcast. 

Sunday. 4.55 p.m. It's really quite sunny and warm this afternoon. I'm not sure that it's what they call an Indian Summer, but I have no idea why it would be called that and whether it's entirely politically correct to use that term.

Monday. 8.50 p.m. Another bright and sunny morning and the schools have gone back, or so I suppose, unless someone has decided that they need to keep their children away because of some virus thing which is supposed to be sweeping the nation. Come on folks, don't ruin your children's education because of this thing. They need to be in school. More damage due to mental health issues than caused by the virus thingy.

August Bank Holiday

 I  often wonder, do banks really DESERVE to have a holiday? Considering the mess many of them got into in 2008 (I may have got the year wrong.) when the government bailed them out with taxpayer's money, THEY should be paying US!

Sunday. 11.35 a.m. We haven't had a proper church service for a few weeks now, because it's August, and the thinking is that, as most people will be away on holiday, there's really no sense in full service. Last week we had a community picnic and this week we have the famous church barbecue. I have made up a salad and done a few baked potatoes, which I put in the oven at around 6.30 this morning. I had gone to Sainsbury's yesterday after another of our prayer triplet sessions at a friend's home in Conniburrow. I then realized, when I got home, that I should have got something to drink to take with me. I drove to the Tesco Express store in Oldbrook Boulevard. Because of social distancing, you are supposed to follow a one-way system around the store. I picked up what I wanted and then made my way to the check-out, going to a manned till because there was someone using the self-service tills. I arrived at the back of a reasonably long queue and for some reason wasn't sure who was queuing. Then a young man let rip at me, accusing me of pushing in. Untrue, but he was adamant that I had. He continued to rant at me, using bad language which I won't repeat here. I thought he was going to end up hitting me, so I stood back. Then he hurled a packet of sweets or chocolates at me and then stormed off out of the store, continuing to rant and rave. It left me feeling somewhat shocked, and I think the same could be said of the rest of the customers who were queuing ahead of me. I have a feeling he was probably from a residential home nearby, probably with a severe type of learning disability or another mental health issue. Which made me wonder why he was allowed out on his own.

Monday. 11.00 a.m. So, Bank Holiday Monday! It's not exactly a baking hot day. Drizzling when I took out Alfie earlier. I'm not doing a lot, just pottering around. His Nibs is asleep on the sofa as I write this.

I had another odd dream last night. I know, most dreams are odd. I have mentioned before in these blog posts my time working in stage management and on one particular play I was A.S.M. on at Greenwich Theatre some fifty years ago, 'A Voyage Round My Father', written by John Mortimer. In the dream, I had a visit from his wife (not sure of her name.) She wanted to give me a copy of a book John Mortimer had written (I have no idea of its title.) and I told her about working on the play. She signed the book, and that was all. Strange, particularly as I haven't been thinking of that play or anything to do with it recently. Mortimer also wrote the Rumpole stories and television series, which I love.

Tuesday. 4.10 p.m. I am currently working on a sort of subplot for my writing project. I wouldn't call it a fantasy as such, but as my main character is a writer it's a sort of spoof of a genre of writing very much inspired by 'The 39 Steps' by John Buchan. I have always loved the Hitchcock version, which veers off course from the original story to a large extent. I watched the BBC television version which seems to stick to the original to some extent then uses some of Hitchcock's ideas and then changes the ending, what exactly are the titular 39 Steps? It seems as if each version has different suggestions, but it's one of those films and stories which is the blueprint of many later espionage thrillers.