More Over-Used Phrases

So, what 'overused phrases' am I talking about? The one that has been done to death is the one which was used during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's unprecedented. It had become something of a cliché. Why? I think it was an attempt to make out the pandemic was really worse than it was made out to be, mostly by the unelected scientists who were actually pulling the strings. And Boris fell for it, and we, the electorate of the United Kingdom, were forced, more at less at gun-point, to accept house arrest without question.

Kicking the can down the road. This means, in effect, putting something off, usually unpopular or unpleasant. For example, a sort of denial, knowing full well that something has to be done. One example would be a Chancellor of The Exchequer knowing that the country's finances are in a total mess and putting up taxes.

It is not always over-used phrases that annoy me, but those clichés the news media use, particularly television news. Here's a list. These are a few, but I'm sure, over time, I will discover plenty more.

1: Inflation, money: Piles of one-pound coins, stacked up, or images of one-pound notes. Shots of the Bank of England. Computer screens, with facts and figures over-laid or Photoshopped on. A person taking cash out of a cash machine. 

2: Care, usually of the elderly: Old people, usually seen from the waist down, with wrinkly stockings, tatty slippers, shuffling along, holding onto a Zimmer frame. Often out of focus. Or elderly people eating soup, or being served some food, usually looking revolting and totally unappetizing. Usually, the elderly portrayed are supposedly around 85 plus. So at what age do we become 'elderly'? That is a good question, and not easy to answer. 

3: Children/Education. Rows of empty desks, piles of exercise books, something written on a blackboard (which hasn't been used in schools for decades.), naughts-and-crosses on a blackboard, or some complicated bit of algebra. (Do schools teach algebra these days? They attempted to teach me that subject when I was at school, but I have never found a use for it.) Children are seen in a playground, probably playing, and we see just their feet. Sitting on a bench, just their backs, faces blurred or just from the waist down.

4: Law/legal: Shots of the statue on top of The Old Bailey. The one with the woman holding the balancing scales. Piles of documents, tied in red ribbons. 

5: NHS/Medical. Doctor in a white coat, with a stethoscope around his/her neck. Someone has their blood pressure taken. Piles of hypodermic needles, packets/bottles of tablets. Nurses looking after patients, filling in forms on clipboards, looking at X-Rays. A patient's arm with a blood pressure cuff on, with a nurse assisting. 

6: Employment: Shots of a Job Centre sign, job boards in a Job Centre. People queuing up to collect their benefits in a Post Office.

7: Recession. Boarded-up shops on a high street, in some undisclosed town. Factory gates locked, with weeds growing through pavements, bits of litter blowing in the wind. Then, graphs of numbers of employed and unemployed. 

T'was On A Monday Morning!

 Monday. 7.35 a.m. The title comes from that of a song by the musical partnership of Flanders and Swann. It's about waiting for various service engineers to arrive, to repair certain things, like leaks, boilers, windows etc. It's how each workman seems to bodge things so much, that another has to come to fix it. 

Tuesday. 1.05 p.m. Miracle of miracles! There is a workman in my kitchen, finishing things off. I can hear an electric drill or screwdriver going as I write this, so, hopefully, the job will be complete, and I can start to return stuff to the cupboards and drawers.

Some shelves in the newly installed cupboards aren't the right height to take some bottles and packets, such as breakfast cereal. I didn't know it was possible to take the doors off the units without having to unscrew them. The workman showed me a small lever on the hinges which allows the doors to be removed without the need to unscrew them. He did this on one of the cupboards, so now my packets of breakfast cereal fit inside and not on their sides as they used to, being stored in the only place they could fit, and that was on the top of the old units. I then attempted to take off the door of another of the units but now find I can't replace it and the small lugs which support the internal shelves will not come off. I will have to find someone to help me with this, so I can store items which won't fit inside otherwise.

Someone still needs to come and install the extractor fan I have been promised, which I asked for and was surprised when it was agreed I could have one. In most modern kitchens, you can have a cooker hood, which is designed to take out all steam and smoke as you cook. We even had one at the house in Eaglestone. This is a real necessity because otherwise, if you burn, even toast, it creates smoke, and then it sets off the fire alarm, and who wants to be responsible for having a fire engine called? I don't, and it would be embarrassing, to say the least. I did, when something I was baking, cookies I seem to recall, burnt because the oven's temperature was set too high. 

Wednesday. 5.25 a.m. I have just taken Alfie out, to discover yet another mild morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 75ºF. 

10.45 a.m. I've been to Sainsbury's. It was easy to get in and out because it would appear most people do their shopping at the end of the week, or after work. No such problems, being retired. 

I have managed to put the cupboard door back on. Thank goodness, as I like to do such things myself and not having to ask someone is rather embarrassing and a bit annoying.

Thursday. 6.45 a.m. Alfie was fast asleep when it was time to go out. I think he was somewhat surprised when I was ready to take him out. It's relatively mild this morning, but according to Carol Kirkwood on BBC Breakfast a few minutes ago, we're likely to get another few days of heat. I just hope it's not going to be as hot as it was a few days ago. The digital thermometer currently reads 76ºF. 

In The Loop

Friday. 6.25 a.m. I'm just thinking of relevant titles for each of my blog posts. This one, 'In The Loop', seems relevant, in relation to the lack of communication I have had regarding Mears and the work done on my kitchen. In the leaflet they sent, entitled, 'Mears: Resident Information Pack-Kitchen Refurbishment,' there is mention of the 'Role of the Customer Care Officer.' I quote 'The Customer Care Officer should be your first point of contact if you have any questions regarding the work to your property, however trivial they may seem.' Then, further on it says 'Your customer Liaison Officer/Planned Works Supervisor, will visit each day to check that you are happy with how the works are progressing.' Well, I haven't seen this person in all the time the work has been going on, and they certainly haven't been to see me in my flat. Then, I didn't get a reply, as promised, to either of the two telephone calls I made yesterday. There is no indication regarding the electric works that are supposed to be happening, either yesterday or today.

11.20 a.m. Still, nothing doing as regards completing work on my kitchen, even with an electrician in Dexter House. This seems to get worse and worse, even though I have telephoned Mears again.

4.35 p.m. The electrician has been, replaced the board and the fridge/freezer and oven are back in their original place in the kitchen. Someone is coming next week, hopefully on Monday to 'sign off' the whole process and finish off things like the power sockets which need screwing fully into the walls and there's a certain amount of finishing at the skirting board level regarding the floor which needs doing, but that is it. I have just moved the freestanding unit back into the kitchen, which takes the microwave. Just great to have had the oven and fridge/freezer and oven moved as you had to manoeuvre around them when they were in the hallway.

Saturday. 2.30 p.m. The kitchen is more or less finished, as I've mentioned above. We had our monthly prayer triplet on WhatsApp at 10.00 a.m., although I had fallen asleep on my bed and the sound it makes woke me up. Then I went to Sainsbury's to do a top-up shop. Having spent the past week or so eating microwaved meals, it certainly will make a change to eat proper, cooked meals again.

Sunday. 3.30 a.m. I hope we're not heading for another excessively hot period. I say this because my digital thermometer is currently reading 80ºF. The temperature had gone down considerably since last Monday, when we had record temperatures in this country, which made life very difficult.

Monday. 7.25 a.m. A milder morning, but the temperature in the flat is 78ºF.

There was a problem with the electric supply yesterday evening. I couldn't understand why the reading light, which is next to my armchair, wouldn't work. Also, this MacBook and my iPad wouldn't connect to the internet. It would appear that the circuit that they were on had tripped out, but I had no idea why. I have since managed to get it back working, by flicking a couple of switches on the new panel which was installed on Friday afternoon, but now I can't boil my kettle to make a cup of tea, so I imagine the kitchen sockets are on a different circuit. I'll just have to wait until the workmen come later to sign off the kitchen work and, hopefully, get that circuit operating. I'm concerned that the fridge/freezer goes off, and I lose all the contents if it defrosts, but it appears to be functioning properly at the moment.

A Good Deal Cooler!

Wednesday. 10.15 a.m. The painter is here! So, we're on the final lap and hopefully, by this evening, if all goes according to plan, the entire kitchen should be back in working order. That is, provided an electrician comes to turn on the power so all the electric points are operating and my fridge/freezer and oven are put back in their spaces. By which time I'm hoping I can go to Sainsbury's, so I can have some proper food and not microwaved.

12.00 p.m. I have just looked in the kitchen. It looks amazing with the fresh paint. I can't believe how light and airy it has become. It's amazing how just a lick of paint can improve things. It was getting incredibly scruffy and out of date, but now, with all the new units in place, it's modern and far more inviting.

5.45 p.m. I was hoping an electrician was going to arrive to sort out the power points in the kitchen so the oven and fridge/freezer could be moved back in, but no sign of such a person. Let's trust this will happen tomorrow.

Thursday. 3.50 a.m. Yes, I know. It's extremely early. But Alfie doesn't know that. He just needed to go out, and urgently. I had to get dressed hurriedly, and he doesn't give up with the barking. I had a rather nice electric torch, one of those LCD jobbies, but where it's gone I don't have the faintest idea. So we managed to get out and I was pleased to get back indoors, as I write, Mr Alfred is curled up and asleep on the sofa. Job done.

10.30 a.m. I am sitting here, in my flat, with the work on the kitchen completed, but still no sign of an electrician coming to connect the power so I can have my oven and fridge/freezer reinstalled. I have started to move a lot of stuff back, particularly saucepans, which are back in the sink unit, in virtually the same place as they were in the old unit. I have since telephoned Mears about the current situation by, as I write this, there's no response whatever. Just annoying me as I want to go to Sainsbury's.

1.15 p.m. I rang Mears again and got to speak to someone. Apparently, the electrician needs to change the fuse board for this flat and they should be coming tomorrow. The job will take four hours. She said that she would phone me back to tell me what time they would come. I'm still waiting. I was hoping I would be able to buy food and stock up the fridge/freezer, but it looks likely that won't happen today, now the electricity isn't being put back on in the kitchen. I have been to Sainsbury's to get something for lunch and I'll order a takeaway for tonight's meal.

6.00 p.m. Still nothing from Mears. I really hope this business is sorted out tomorrow.

My digital thermometer currently reads 77ºF. Thank goodness it's cooler than earlier in the week.

Friday. 5.30 a.m. I was awake earlier than usual. It was too good to lie around in bed, so I was out with Alfie around 5.10. I don't think he was fully awake, but nevertheless, I just didn't want to hang about. It is mild, and the thermometer currently reads 69ºF. Now to get Mears to get the electricity dealt with, so I can get the flat straight.

Finishing The Job!

Tuesday. 7.45 a.m. I took Alfie out just after 5 this morning. I saw a glass on the grass (sorry for the rhyme.) and thought it was broken, but, on picking it up, I found it was complete. Not broken at all. It was a stemmed Stella Artois glass and, one Alfie had finished his morning session on the grass (a good sniff around in the leaves and, by now, extremely parched grass.) I took him and the glass back to the flat and I've washed it up and put it in my cupboard in the partly-completed kitchen. I assume the glass came from The Cricketers public house which is directly opposite Dexter House and was discarded on the grass along Strudwick Drive,  by a drinker sometime last night after they left for home.

8.20 a.m. I had a real surprise 'buzz' on the intercom from the front door of Dexter House a few minutes ago. . It was one of the workmen, saying he had come to complete the kitchen! I wasn't expecting anyone to come today, after yesterday's incredible heat, and especially as the met office has told us that today's temperature was likely to be around 100ºF. The digital thermometer currently reads 84ºF. So, hopefully, and I have to repeat, hopefully, the kitchen can begin to be returned to somewhere near normal by this evening, that is, one the fridge/freezer and oven are put back in their correct position and I can go and get some proper food for my evening meal this evening. 

10.50 a.m. The two workmen have only just left, after tiling my kitchen, or, at least, part of it. Along the wall behind the electric cooker (which is still in place in the hallway.) and then around behind the sink unit and a short run on the wall beside the sink. All that remains to be done is for a decorator to come in and paint the walls and someone to turn on the power, and then the fridge/freezer and oven can be put back in their correct spaces. By which time I can go to Sainsbury's and do some shopping and the job will be finished. I am told the decorator won't come until probably tomorrow, but never mind, things will return to more or less normal by the end of the week.

Currently, the temperature is 88ºF in the flat. It seems to be steadily creeping back up. I just hope by tomorrow it has dropped back to a far more workable or, at least, pleasant level.

4.15 p.m. The temperature, according to my digital thermometer, is currently 96ºF. Crazy temperature.

5.20 p.m. It's even hotter than ever in my flat! The thermometer currently reads 97ºF. Just sweltering in the lounge. I have swapped around the fans, the one that I had in the bedroom is now in the lounge.

I had a bowl of ice cream with chocolate sauce (!). A thought I'd see how Alfie managed with his own small helping, so I put a spoonful in a small bowl. He soon lapped it up! I think he enjoyed it. I think I'll try him on another portion sometime soon.

Wednesday. 6.10 a.m. The temperature according to my digital thermometer reads 83 ºF as I write this blog post. 

I woke early and I walked Alfie around Oldbrook Green at 5.10 a.m. I am still of the opinion, that I never hang about when I'm awake early in the morning. I'd rather be up and about instead of lounging around in bed. Overcast, cloudy and no sunshine. I only hope that it continues to get cooler. I think Alfie would agree with that!

So, regarding my kitchen renovation. I just hope the painter comes to finish off work and I can get the fridge/freezer and oven back in their original spaces and complete the work, and then put all the things back in the cupboards and drawers. This will be a very good excuse to throw out a lot of stuff.

The Home Straight!

 Sunday. 6.45 a.m. Bright and mild, and, thankfully, not too hot. Currently, the temperature reading on my digital thermometer is 75ºF.

I've made up cheese and tomato rolls for today's church event. Everything is packed in the cool box and ready to take with me to church later this morning.

Monday. 6.20 a.m. A good time was had by all at the Oaktree Centre yesterday. Worship was outside, with the band under the gala tent and we were sitting in awnings, tents and other shelters to be out of the direct sun. There was a barbecue, with hot dogs and burgers, and a Pimms's tent. Only trouble is, I can't stand Pimm's. 

On  BBC Breakfast, they are making a real issue out of today being possibly the hottest day on record, with the temperature reaching around 100ºF. 

No sign of any workmen this morning, then I'm told that they're unlikely to come today, or tomorrow for that matter, because of the heat. I was so looking forward to having everything completed, with the walls in the kitchen painted and the tiles put up. I could have the oven and fridge/freezer put back in place and then put the stuff back in the cupboards, but I suppose I'll just have to be patient and wait until later in the week.

I've spent the morning watching the first episode of the BBC version of 'House of Cards', on Britbox, which I worked on as a supporting artiste, back in the mid-1990s. I'm really enjoying it, but haven't actually seen myself in any of the scenes I was in, although, being an S.A. isn't about being seen. You're in the background and aren't supposed to distract from the principals. Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart puts me in mind of some of Shakespeare's villains. Think Richard III or Macbeth. His asides directed through the 'fourth wall' to the audience is a clever technique which puts you in mind of Shakespeare again. He's confiding in you and telling you things which the other characters are unaware of.

1.30 p.m. Currently, the temperature in this flat is 88ºF. I think that's the highest it's ever been, even with an electric fan on in the lounge and another in my bedroom and the windows open. I may take Alfie out later and hopefully it will have cooled down considerably by then.

7.35 p.m. The temperature at the moment is 92ºF. I just hope it doesn't get any warmer.

Some Like It Hot!

Saturday. 6.10 a.m. The title is from one of my all-time favourite films, 'Some Like It Hot', starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe.  It really can't be bettered and must never, under any circumstances, be remade. 

Another warm and sunny morning. The temperature, as recorded by my digital thermometer, reads 72ºF. This is about as low as it's been in quite some time.

We are being warned that the temperature is going to reach somewhere in the region of 104ºF on Monday and Tuesday. There is a red warning in place by the weather forecasters, which is the first time this has been issued in Britain. But do we really need to be warned? Can't we make our own minds up? It smacks of infantilization. This never ever happened years ago, particularly during the heatwave of the summer of 1976. The government has called a 'national emergency.' Crazy. Just going somewhat over the top.

2.50 p.m. We had another men's breakfast this morning. We met in Morrison's store in Westcroft. Richard, who is the leader of the group (whether he likes being called that is another matter.), but he has covid, so he didn't appear. This group is now officially meeting in the community room in Morrison's, but none of the staff seemed to know, even though it was clearly written on the whiteboard outside the room. Not really a problem. We all ordered our food and then it was bought in as it was ready by staff. When we finished at around 10 o'clock, a group of us then went to the Oaktree Centre to assist with the construction of a tent, or to be more precise, a 'gala' tent. It was/is made up of a series of metal tubes which lock together. A bit of an enigma until you begin to put it together, following a printed manual. Once the sections are connected one to the other, there are bolts that screw the various sections together and are then tightened with an Allen key. We only constructed the roof section and once this was assembled it was moved into the open courtyard space where it would be completed tomorrow. This is for an outdoor service tomorrow and is part of the summer festival.

The temperature currently reads 79ºF on my digital thermometer.

On the way home, I went into Sainsbury's to buy some food for the picnic at church tomorrow. As I don't have a working oven at the moment, I bought salad stuff, a sun hat (a rather natty trilby, by the way!) and some spray sunblock, which I find easier to put on rather than greasy sun lotion which I hate. When I got home I decided I needed a cool box for carrying food to the picnic and went on the Argos website and ordered one and immediately went to their shop in Grafton Gate to collect it. I was also hoping they might have some of those freeze blocks you can get which you put in your freezer, and they freeze and are used to cool your picnic items in your cool box. But they had sold out, not surprising because of the hot weather. I then went round to Morrison's, which is behind the Argos store and asked a member of staff, and she said they didn't have any, but I could have a load of industrial cool blocks they used to keep stock cool. I was taken into a storage area, not normally accessible to customers, and a young man gave me a pack full of these cooling blocks without me having to pay! 

Floored!

3.45 p.m. The first layer of the kitchen floor has gone down and is dry; as I write, the top layer is being laid. It looks good and has a vast improvement on the awful tiles there before. A delivery of kitchen units came around 2 o'clock and are stacked up in the space outside near the laundry room and have tarpaulins over them, just in case it rains. I can't see why they couldn't put them in a space at the entrance to Dexter House, but who's complaining? I hope it doesn't rain or these units could get stolen at night. I'm surprised that the units are ready assembled. I assumed they were flat-packed, like IKEA units. This should mean they should be quicker and easier to install, which should happen tomorrow. Then, once they are in place, the wall tiling should be done and that should be the job complete! 

6.05 p.m. The kitchen units have been carried into my flat and are now piled up in the kitchen. So, hopefully, the work of completing the work in the kitchen will be done tomorrow.

Friday. 5.45 a.m. Another really fantastic, sunny and bright morning. My digital thermometer currently reads 69ºF, which must be the lowest it's been in quite a while. Maybe it's because the window is open, but it's certainly a temperature which makes it easier to live here. 

8.10 a.m. I was more than a little surprised when a workman turned up at 7.45 to install the kitchen units. I was on my way to put my washing on, and then he bought in a load of boxes, screws, tools etc on a trolley and as I compose this, I can hear him moving things around. So, crossed fingers and so on, the work will be completed enough today for me to be able to start transferring things which are currently in boxes and bags in the lounge and bedroom into some newly installed cupboards. I do hope so, as having everything piled up around me is beginning to get on my nerves. Making a cup of tea is a real effort because the kettle is on the floor next to my armchair, the milk is in the fridge, out in the entrance, and sugar is on the unit, so pouring out the boiling water is an accident waiting to happen and then spilling sugar all over the place is a real possibility. 

2.45 p.m. The workman has finished installing the kitchen units. He has taken out all the rubbish, his toolboxes and other equipment. The sink has hot and cold running water, but the electric sockets aren't working, so I can't put the cooker and fridge/freezer back until Monday when the whole kitchen will be painted and tiled. I am going to order a takeaway from Just Eat as I can't cope with another microwave meal this evening. I will do a shop in Sainsbury's after we have our Men's Breakfast tomorrow morning. I must say I'm very pleased with the result of all the work. Much better than the old, out-of-date kitchen I've had since I moved in back in  October 2019. I don't think it's been upgraded since Dexter House was built, probably in the late 1970's.

Getting Plastered!

Wednesday. 8.50 a.m. No, not drunk and disorderly, but having the kitchen walls plastered. The man who is doing this arrived at around 8.15, came to look at the kitchen briefly and then disappeared. The problem we have is that the workmen are doing two flats at the same time, which is all very well, but it means you don't know when they are going to be working in this particular flat. Then he has gone off to work somewhere else, and Barbara tells me he will be back 'within an hour.' If Mears, the company doing all this work, had a project manager who kept track of the work and coordinated things and then kept the tenant informed, things would be far better. As for the sink being reconnected, Barbara has rung the office and the contractors will organize the reconnection. It can't come fast enough, as I have a pile of unwashed pots and plates, and I'm slowly running out of things to eat off.

The temperature currently in the flat is 77ºF.

1.20 p.m. I now have a temporary sink in the kitchen, which means I was able to do the washing up, which was beginning to build up from Monday. Then the plasterer came, and he did his job and soon left. The next stage of the kitchen renovation is to come tomorrow, with new flooring being laid. According to the leaflet that I was given by Mears, once it's down I can't walk on it for five hours.

I went to Sainsbury's to get something to drink and ice cream. It looked as if there was a run on ice cream in the freezer section of the store. Possibly caused by the current heatwave. Or perhaps panic buying. Could they perhaps freeze the price?

6.00 p.m. Temperature on my digital thermometer currently reads 83ºF. 

Thursday. 6.30 a.m. Here we go again! I know, this is getting incredibly boring and somewhat monotonous, but it's a bright and sunny morning here in Milton Keynes. Alfie is asleep on my bed. I don't really blame him. We have been out, as usual, but it was a very short outing. 

I am waiting for the next stage of the renovation of my kitchen. Today, apparently, the flooring will be laid and I have been told that I mustn't walk on it for five hours, as I have already mentioned earlier in this post.. I have washed up everything from last night and breakfast things and I am ready for the person who will lay the floor to arrive, hopefully after 8 o'clock. The plaster on the kitchen walls looks as if it is drying well, so the next stage, presumably tiling, can go ahead. Things seem to be going well. Oh, the excitement of it all!

Hotter and Even Hotter!

Monday. 10.20 a.m. Regarding the kitchen revamp/remodel/refurbish or whatever you want to call it, the units have been removed, and my electric oven and fridge/freezer are now parked in my hallway, with the fridge/freezer working, plugged into an extension lead into my bedroom. The floor is torn up as I write, and I have discovered that the appalling tiling someone attempted was put over pre-existing tiling! A crazy way to do a job and a total waste of time and money. I can't wait to see what state the floor tiling in the bathroom reveals. Probably someone buried underneath? A pot of hidden treasure? Oh, in that case, 'The Oldbrook Hoard, of coins, buried a few millennia ago, by a passing Saxon king, Olaf The Unmentionable or someone, along with a ship? No? Oh well, one can only fantasize.

12.30 p.m. Work has been progressing well, until the workmen decided they couldn't find the stopcock, to turn off the water, to install the temporary sink. Never mind. I'll just have to continue being patient until this problem is resolved.

3.05 p.m. Work on the kitchen has finished for the day. Which meant I could take Alfie out for a brief respite. He must be wondering who all the people are who are coming and going. One bit doesn't make a lot of sense. They've ripped out the sink unit. Well, to install a new one, what else do I expect? Then, they bring in another similar sink unit and put it in the space where the old one went. They then tell me it requires a plumber to come in and fit it, so I have running water, hot and cold, to do any washing up I need to do. But it can't be done until tomorrow. I can do any washing up in the bathroom wash basin which has adequate hot and cold water. So at least I know where I stand. No more workmen coming in and I can relax for the rest of the day. It turns out that they are working on another flat's kitchen elsewhere in Dexter House. Well, I suppose it's a better use of workmen and more economical.

8.00 p.m. Currently, the temperature, according to my digital thermometer, is 88ºF. Far too hot, and it's going to make sleeping very difficult. In fact, there's an amber 'extreme heat' weather warning from the Met Office.

Tuesday. 1.10 p.m. There have been no workmen in the flat until midday. There are three here, currently rewiring the kitchen. The mains' power has been off, but it came back on a few minutes ago. Currently, a high-pitched grinding noise emanates from the kitchen. Not particularly pleasant, but if it means the next stage of the upgrading can continue, I'm not really bothered. I'm getting an extractor fan, which is going in the window because it means smoke and steam can be taken out when I cook. It just seems crazy that this isn't a standard item in a modern flat. I can't have an extractor hood over the oven, but a fan in the window should work just as well. I am also having more double 13 amp plugs which should make life easier as I have a toaster and a food processor.

I'm still waiting for a plumber to come in and connect the temporary sink unit, so I can do some washing up, but it's another thing to put up with.

The current temperature in the lounge is 84ºF. 

5.40 p.m. Workmen have been to rewire the kitchen. A great deal of noise as they drilled and made holes in the walls to take trunking for the wiring. I now have extra power points, one especially for the fridge/freezer and double points which should be useful when I use my toaster and food processor. Also, they replaced the single light fitting in the centre of the ceiling, with an L.C.D. strip light. It makes a far brighter light and is supposed to give off far lower carbon. I am to get an extractor fan in window, though I'm not sure when that will be installed.

I am still without a connected sink, as I was promised that the temporary sink would be connected, so at present, I can't do any washing up. I just hope that this can be done tomorrow. Tomorrow a plasterer should come to plaster the walls, covering up the wiring and trunking. Supposedly, one that is dry, the tiling can go on. Things are progressing well, even though I am living in a war zone, or what seems like one.

Still, no connected kitchen sink, even though I have asked several times. 

The current temperature in the lounge is 86ºF.

Wednesday. 5.40 a.m. It's a good deal cooler, meaning I slept far better. I just hope it doesn't suddenly get any hotter

Wheels Came Off The Bus

Saturday. 7.30 a.m. So, the wheels did actually come off the bus with Boris Johnson's resignation. The big question I have is, did he jump, or was he pushed? I think he was totally deluded if he thought he could remain as Prime Minister, considering what has been going on regarding 'so-called' 'Partygate' and the goings-on regarding Chris Pincher (I won't go into details on THAT.) 

This morning I have now moved the unit which had my microwave on it into the lounge. A bit of effort was required to do this, rather like a big game of Tetris. One thing moves, another thing goes into the space created, and then another bit of furniture is moved in. It has taken a considerable amount of thought and effort to achieve this. A bit like when I worked in stage management, working out how scene changes would be achieved, and often in a very short space of time. The problem is, now there's more furniture than the room can really take. It's going to be a bit of a squeeze, which is something of an exaggeration, but I will have to cope until the work in the kitchen is completed. 

12.50 p.m. I now have china and other kitchen items stored in the unit, which I moved from the kitchen (it was opposite the oven. I was hoping I might have got a new unit in that space, and, as there are what must have been screw holes in the wall above, I assume at one time there was a wall unit, but unfortunately I won't get this, as they are only replacing 'old for new.' Shame, but it's just as well I have this unit, which came from Amazon. 

I went into the main Milton Keynes shopping centre around 9.30. I just needed a break from the flat and all the shifting of stuff. I had intended to buy a magazine I have had on occasion, called 'Current Archaeology.' But W.H.Smith, from where I have managed to buy it before, have seen fit to rearrange their magazine section and the magazine doesn't appear to be there. Just very annoying. I think it might be worthwhile having a subscription and, as a result, having each monthly edition delivered, the same way I have two other magazines, 'BBC History Magazine' and 'History Today'.

The mention of those two magazines makes me think about how they are delivered, by the Royal Mail. But there is a slight problem. Well, not actually a problem. You may recall all the flats within Dexter House had their front doors replaced. But the letter box in each of these doors has a flap inside, a sort of curved metal buffer if you like (I can't think of a better way to describe it.) It may be fine if ordinary letters are inserted through the letter box, but with this metal contraption, anything larger, for example, a magazine, will get mangled. Not such a clever device. Meant, one supposes, to prevent smoke from getting into the flat should there be a fire. But nobody tested these things to find out how they would prevent larger items from being put through the letter box. 

Sunday. 5.30 a.m. Another warm and still morning. 

12.35 p.m. I didn't go to church this morning, but watched the service online, via Facebook. 

Currently, the temperature, according to my digital thermometer, is 82ºF. Just quietly roasting, but does it matter? Seems not. I have attempted to get this reduced, but no one will listen. Crazy.

5.00 p.m. Alfie has been for a second visit to the family who is, hopefully, going to look after him when I go to visit Worcester. He seems to be settling down and enjoying being with them. We will have one more session and then let's see what happens next.

Monday. 6.45 a.m. So, this is it! All the waiting, all the frustration, the screaming, the shouting, the stamping of little feet. What am I referring to? Why, of course, the runners and riders in the race to select the replacement for Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party after the resignation of Boris Johnson. It makes me laugh when you see the two-faced behaviour of these MPs, one minute, all smiles and patting each other on the back, and, no sooner as any of them come forward as candidates, they're stabbing each other in the back (metaphorically, of course!) Rather like something out of a Shakespeare drama, such as 'Julius Caesar.' More like the television series (which I worked on, the BBC version, that is.) 'House of Cards.'

The last of the things have been moved out of the kitchen, and here I am, ready for the workmen to arrive to refurbish my kitchen. It's a bit of a squeeze in my lounge, with more than enough extra bits of furniture, but if it means I get a new, improved kitchen, then I don't mind.

8.25 a.m. Two workmen have come to start breaking up the units in the kitchen. I am going to have a temporary sink so at least I can wash up and make a cup of tea. Temporary that is, until the brand, spanking new sink unit is installed. (Intend to post each step of the journey from old to new kitchen on here. I am photographing it as well.)

Wheels Coming Off The Bus

Wednesday. 7.40 a.m. A bright and sunny morning. I have already managed to clear out another cupboard! So, the whole clearing-of-the-kitchen is going well.

3.15 p.m. Alfie has been invited back by the family he met last Sunday. I have to say that I'm really pleased as it shows that he can settle down if given a chance. So, he has his own fan club! Also, it means I     can likely go to Worcester without him and have some time with Chloe and her family.

Thursday. 6.30 a.m. It looks like Boris Johnson will soon be forced to resign as Prime Minister.  The wheels are falling off the bus, as they say. 

12.40 p.m. I've been to help set up the Acorns playgroup at the Oaktree Centre this morning. As I wrote this, I have come home and I'm watching BBC 1, with a live report from outside Number 10, Downing Street, regarding the resignation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. It was expected, although he did his best to cling on, regardless of the number of his ministers who resigned. He came out of Number 10 and gave a speech, saying he would remain Prime Minister until a replacement is chosen.

My replacement debit card arrived in the post this afternoon. I'm just grateful that the incident with my bank card being used fraudulently has been resolved and the money that was taken has been returned to me. I'm really amazed at how quickly the replacement card was sent out. Well done Nationwide Building Society!

Friday. 7.25 a.m. I have more or less finished moving stuff out of the kitchen. Two cupboards are left to clear out and the microwave is now sitting on my desk. There's really nowhere else for it to go. I really just want to get the job started and, hopefully, and I say hopefully, it won't take ten days as specified. The electric oven and the fridge-freezer will be moved by workmen on Monday, into the hallway, and then they would be able to start hacking away at the tiling and the flooring, which is in very poor condition.

11.45 a.m. I've just got back from Sainsbury's. They continue to change things around in there. Why? Is it some made management exercise, just to annoy their customers? Some of it seems absolutely pointless. I'll give you an example: the pet aisle. Dog things on one side, cat things on the opposite side. They have merely swapped them around! I can't think of a good reason for this. No more, or less, space. No new products. Just shifting things across the aisle!!

Bright sunshine this morning. Inside, my digital thermometer reads 82ºF. I'm not sure what the outside temperature is at the moment, but probably around 10-15 degrees less than inside. 

I mentioned on here, quite a few months ago, about the construction of scooter sheds (no, not THAT sort of scooter.) They had to be provided because where they are currently parked, according to the fire officer, they are a danger. So, specially constructed sheds have been constructed outside, with electric points for charging etc. But they can't be used because a special door needs to be constructed so that users can get in and out of the building. Why on earth can't this be completed? There's no sense. SOMEONE in Milton Keynes Council needs to sign the relevant paperwork and get the work finished, so these confounded sheds can be used.  It would be an irony if there was actually a fire and the confounded scooters go in the way of people attempting to leave the building. Oh, wait! If there is/was a fire, we're supposed to remain in our flats. Not a good idea. Look what happened to the tenants of Grenfell Tower, who were told to remain in their flats when that awful fire took place in 2017. Just don't expect me to sit in my flat and not make any attempt to escape.

Let The Sun Shine In!

Saturday. 6.10 a.m. I think the spray I bought to relax Alfie so that I can leave him behind with a carer. Allowing me to go to Worcester, is working, and it's having a similar effect on me!

It's another pleasant, sunny morning. What more can I say?

Sunday. 5.20 a.m. The current temperature of my flat is 74ºF. The digital thermometer is working properly since I put in new batteries. 

Monday. 6.20 a.m. I went to church, as usual, yesterday morning. I found a text message on my mobile, informing me that there was a payment of £70 on my bank account, which might or might not be a fraud. I attempted to phone the number they gave, but I could not get a response, and even when I got home I could not get a response. It may have been a Sunday, but surely if you're going to have this hotline, at least have people available to respond to this sort of call. I will have to have a further attempt this morning.

After I had wrestled, although unsuccessfully, with the bank helpline, I got ready to take Alfie to meet the family who would hopefully look after him when I eventually visit Chloe and her family in Worcester. I have used the spray on his bedding and the sofa, which seemed to calm him down. (It also had a similar effect on myself!) He was put in the cage in the back of the car and I drove across Milton Keynes to near Stony Stratford, with Alfie barking loudly for most of the journey.

When I took him into the house, there were quite a few people there, including Whitney. Alfie didn't really know what to make of things, and spent a while running around, barking. I was thinking to myself, 'this is never going to work!' but then I went into another room, to see if he would notice I wasn't around. That worked, and then I went and sat in my car which was on the drive outside, and he really seemed to settle down.

To really test Alfie and see if he would settle in with the family, I drove home for two hours, and then we would know if he was happy there. Which is what I did, and it worked! So we are relatively confident that I could go off to Worcester, safe in the knowledge that he would be happy.

This morning I rang the Nationwide fraud line and have managed to sort out the matter of the payment which was made that I knew about. Several attempts to use my card, which I was unaware of until I got the text message on Sunday. My current bank card is stopped, to prevent further payments such as this and a fresh one is ordered, and I should receive it within five days or hopefully less. I can withdraw cash from the Nationwide branch in the shopping centre, provided I can show some sort of identity, such as my driving licence. The whole situation is extremely inconvenient, but, fortunately, it is now sorted out and something else with a positive outcome. It still makes me wonder how on earth my bank details could be used without my consent or knowledge. So much technology, such as the internet, it does make this sort of scam far easier. I am very careful about my bank details and don't share them with anyone, but it would appear, that even when you're careful, you can still be vulnerable to this sort of thing.

4.30 p.m. I've started clearing the kitchen cupboards, ready for the refit of the kitchen. I know it doesn't start for two weeks, but I want to do it slowly, doing one cupboard each day. I have several plastic boxes, which I had from the time I moved from the house in Eaglestone. I have cleared a space in one corner of my bedroom, which was made when the two large boxes of odds and ends were moved out and most of their contents taken to the tidy tip a couple of weeks ago. I have ferried the contents of the under-sink cupboard into one of these boxes and sorted out stuff which is only fit for the rubbish bin. 

The Sun Has Got His Hat On!

Thursday. 6.30 a.m. Yesterday evening I fell asleep on my bed. I think it's a combination of getting up early and the heat in this place. How many times have I mentioned it? Currently, it's 77ºF. , according to my digital thermometer. You would say, I'm sure, far too warm, considering we're in the middle of summer, with outside temperatures fairly high. But I digress.) I woke suddenly and looked at my watch, though it was morning, and got ready to go out, including taking Alfie out. We were walking along the path beside Strudwick Drive, towards Oldbrook Green, and I saw children playing football. I thought, 'shouldn't they be at school?' Well, at around 6.45 p.m., no, they shouldn't. By the time I got back indoors and poured out some cereal into a bowl and sat and watched television (with the BBC News channel on.) I realized my mistake! Only a few hours too early. Crazy! Goodness knows what Alfie thought.

I'm considering buying a spray which is supposed to calm dogs who have anxiety. I'm going to go to Pets At Home this morning and give it a go. You can also get a gadget which you plug into an electric Power point, rather like the gadget which we used to have when we lived at the house in Eaglestone which gave off a rather pleasant aroma. You put a gel capsule into it which, when the thing heated, produced a vapour. I think the thing I'm mentioning must be similar. Anything to solve the situation with Alfie is fine by me.

5.30 p.m. I've been to the Oaktree Centre to set up the playgroup. It's not difficult, but pushing the trolleys around with the chairs stacked on them can be quite tiring. I'm also back on the Genesis team, setting up Sunday services, but I won't be involved for a few weeks yet. Just one Sunday a month. Mid-morning, I'm part of a Bible study. I have used the Version Bible app on my iPhone as it's easy enough to use, but the other week I took my Living Application Bible, but I found it far too big to sit on my lap, so I looked for an N.I.V. (New International Version) on the internet. I eventually found one. Quite difficult to find a straightforward one which wasn't a) bright pink b) fluffy c) covered in flowers or non-appealing in some other way. It's ordered from a website called Eden. 

Later, having finished at the Oaktree Centre, I drove across Milton Keynes to the retail park where Pets At Home is situated. I looked down the shelves where the doggy medications were. I could have bought a diffuser which plugs in and you put the calming essential oils in it and, as it heats up, a gentle mist is released, similar to the scented oils that we used to use when we lived in Eaglestone. The only problem is, on the package, it suggests plugging it in at floor level. Which is out of the question here, because all the power points in this flat are halfway up the wall and not at floor level. So, I choose a spray bottle and will give that a try.

Friday.8.20 a.m. I started using the spray yesterday evening. You have to spray a small amount on surfaces, particularly soft furnishings. So, every couple of hours I have sprayed onto the sofa and Alfie's bed. I think it might be working, as he seems to be quite calm. Let's just hope that it keeps on working. Which is one of the reasons I started using it well before Sunday afternoon, to give it a chance to work.