Unblocking Writing (and Other Matters)

Thursday. 2.15 p.m. I have just received an email from Camphill, informing me that I can return to working in the theatre workshop. Until my DBS goes through thoroughly, I can't work one-to-one with any group, but I can work 'under supervision.' I understand why this is, because they belong to a 'vulnerable group', under safeguarding. If I was to work there without them checking my DBS (Disclosure and Barring) and the CQC (Care Quality Commission) were to do an inspection and found I didn't have a disclosure certificate, Camphill would be in trouble, I can see why all this has taken so long.

Friday. 8.10 a.m. A bit of a rush to get Alfie out and then put my washing into the machine at around 7.45 a.m. I'm actually scheduled to load my laundry at 8 a.m., but I don't see why I have to wait ten minutes to do so. It's dark outside until at least 7.30, and it's quite difficult to see what you're doing, picking up after Alfie and then walking to the bin which is across Oldbrook Boulevard and on The Green. I don't know why they can't put a bin a bit closer but never mind.

Saturday. 8.05 a.m. I was under the impression that it was raining earlier. So, I was relieved to find, on taking Alfie out, that it wasn't raining. I think there was a distinct possibility that it had been raining overnight, as the leaves which are on the grass alongside Strudwick Drive were wet.

1.30 p.m. It's now bright sunshine outside (well, it's not inside) because if it was, there's probably be no roof over my flat. Oh, what an absurd thing to say! Never mind, it's the effect of being incarcerated in this place. 

Sunday. 7.15 a.m. The clocks have changed. I haven't had the fabled extra 'hour in bed' which is what we always get told everywhere, on television news, in papers and generally. Because it was relatively light (does that make sense? I don't know. What does it matter? I mean 'reasonably' light, enough to be able to see what I was doing.) I took Alfie out.

9.00 a.m. I suddenly got the urge to do some more writing. This often happens, I get a bout of creativity and manage to write several pages and then I get stuck (writer's block?) and then leave it for a while, and then I pick it up again and continue. This current sequence has been through several drafts, and this time I think I've got it how I want it. I have discovered if I write from a different angle, things are easier to write. Or else I have what they have 'reported speech', whereby some important event happens 'off-stage' and a character describes whatever it is. Shakespeare does this a lot, particularly when it's something like a battle, which is difficult to put on stage. It also means you can have 'off-stage' characters who don't actually appear 'centre stage' which rounds out the story without the need for extra characters. Alan Ayckbourn does this and quite often has characters 'off-stage.' This, in particular in one of his best plays 'Absurd Person Singular' is set in three kitchens over three successive Christmases, with parties going on 'off-stage' and never actually seen.

2.05 p.m. After church this afternoon, we had a church member's meeting. The budget for the year was approved and one or two other matters were raised. Just as the meeting was coming to a close, the heavens opened and it rained, quite a torrential downpour, which made driving back to Dexter House along Chaffron Way quite challenging, to say the least. Some drivers didn't have their lights on, which was somewhat foolhardy. I had Classic FM on the car radio as usual and Beethoven's 7th Symphony blaring out as I was driving and, with the torrential rain, the whole was made even more dramatic with such powerful orchestral music playing. I love Classic FM, but it has too many advertisements on it, probably because it has grown it's an audience and once that happens, then it's bound to attract more advertising.

6.05 p.m. Another creative spurt, although the sequence I'm writing isn't finished. I will transcribe it all into word processing. I'm more than happy with what I've written. That's not always the case. I write something and then leave it for a couple of weeks and then return to it and, on re-reading it, I find it's not working how I want it to go and end up completely rewriting it. In the end, it's the best way to write for me, because the various drafts can be altered as I go along.

Gridlocked!

Tuesday. 9.30 a.m. Yet another typical autumn day, sunny but chilly.

Alfie and I have been out and walked around Oldbrook Green. I'm shocked to see so much litter related to fireworks, which I could hear last night being let off. It seemed to go on for several hours and, looking at the rubbish, someone had spent a small fortune on them. No thought though, to take their rubbish away with them. The sign for Oldbrook Green (which is under the umbrella of Campbell Park Parish Council.) clearly states 'no fireworks'. I think it was more to do with Diwali rather than Guy Fawkes Night, but it's still a lot of noise and upsets animals. Alfie doesn't seem to take any notice, and then we have Halloween to contend with next Monday. I'd love to know who the people that left the rubbish expect to clear it up. There are plenty of bins around the Green, so why not place some of it there, or, at least, take it home with you.

2.35 p.m. For the last year or so (I think it may be longer, but I'm not sure exactly.) I have been having a weekly telephone call from someone who is a volunteer at Age UK. His name is David, and we have an hour's chat for around an hour. I have never met him, until today. I had thought some while ago that he should have my mobile number and possibly my email address because he rings me on my landline number. The last time he phoned last week he said that someone had suggested to him that we meet up for a coffee so I came up with some possible places to meet, one being Costa at the retail park in Bletchley (along with Pets At Home, which is where Alfie goes to have his regular haircut (sorry, but the term 'groom' has another, negative connotation these days, although not the same as dog-grooming.) It was strange meeting someone who you'd spoken to but never actually met. He said he knew what I looked like because when I emailed him, my photo came up, which I wasn't aware of. David was waiting outside Costa as I drew up in the car and then we went inside Costa. It was something of a shock to discover it virtually empty. I say this, because if you go to one of the two Costa branches in the central Milton Keynes shopping centre, at the end of the shopping centre opposite Marks and Spencer and the other, which is on Middleton Hall and near John Lewis, you will no doubt find each one busy and will have to queue. I have often glanced into each one before deciding whether to queue up and then often leave to find another place to eat and have coffee, such as Cafe Nero or Pret A Manger which are also in Middleton Hall. As I say, it was virtually empty of other customers and it didn't take long to order my latte and ham and cheese toastie.

We spent around two hours chatting and by one o'clock I thought it was time to return home. I know that the car park is likely to have around a two-hour limit on how long you can remain parked and if you're not careful you can be fined. They have cameras which record your car's registration number and from that, they can find your address, and then you get a lovely letter asking you to pay a hefty fine, which I really don't want.

It was well I came out of Costa when I did because the whole car park was clogged up with cars attempting to leave, and it took me some time to get out of my space. Not many drivers were willing to let me into the queue and the queue moved at a snail's pace towards the exit. It then took a good deal of time to get into the traffic on Bletcham Way and eventually onto the large roundabout, which was more than ever clogged up. I could not discover what had caused this chaos. Possibly either there had been an accident nearby, possibly on the A5 or M1, or it was the result of roadworks, which are currently ongoing throughout the Milton Keynes grid road system, much of it for resurfacing works.

Another Day Older!

Saturday. 7.30 a.m. Well, it's my birthday today! I'm not going to be in the flat all day. I'm going to Aylesbury, to an archaeology conference on the finds which have been made during the building of the HS2 rail line (High-Speed 2.) It should be fascinating. I just have to find the place where it's being held, as I don't know Aylesbury all that well. I shall put the postcode in my satnav and trust it will get me there.

Sunday. 1.50 p.m. An almighty rainstorm this morning, about the time I was due to leave in my car to get to church to set up chairs for the service at 10.30. I got somewhat soaked as I walked to the car, on a few yards, but the downpour left me wet, so I had to dry my glasses on a tissue before driving off.

I should have mentioned it yesterday. That is my trip to Aylesbury, to attend the archaeology conference which was held at The Gatehouse, which is part of Aylesbury Vale District Council. The actual conference was in what is called The Oculus. This is a stunning circular space which has wooden baffles on the walls to help deaden the sound. At first, when I walked in, I thought they were either some form of seating, folded up or even shelving of some sort. But it was obvious that they weren't for that use. The seats are obviously moveable and can be arranged in any sort of configuration, but yesterday they were facing the stage, such as it is (not in what I'd call a theatrical stage at any rate.) Although, saying that, I think it could well be used for theatre, and in particular, theatre-in-the-round, if the seating was reconfigured. 

It was actually easy enough finding The Oculus. I had a look at Google Maps, so I had a good idea of where it was. Also, my SatNav came in handy. I have to admit, once I had found the place where the conference was, I had to go round the block once and then went into the car park which was right next to The Gatehouse. Mind you, I made sure you didn't have to pay and asked whether the gate would be locked. It wasn't, but, knowing my luck, there was the possibility of being locked in or fined for not having the appropriate ticket attached to my car.

The archaeologists who have been employed to do the work on the various sites along the path of the HS2 rail line have now completed their work, they have all dispersed and, by now, are probably working on other projects, so this was the final chance to learn what had been found. We heard about farms and some really fine houses which have now been demolished as well as a church at Stoke Mandeville (St Mary's) which, after examination, showed that there had been activity there going back to the Iron Age, through the Roman period and up until the time the church was constructed and then demolished. There were a few other sites mentioned, one at Southam, which I drove through only the other month when I came home from Kenilworth Castle as well as another site fairly close to where we were at the conference, Fleet Marston, which is on the A41, the road we used to drive along on our way to Waddesdon Manor.

Monday. 9.50 p.m. I have been having problems with opening the door which leads out of Dexter House onto the path on Strudwick Drive. There has been a problem with it on another occasion. You have to push on the catch and it won't release the door. So, because our S.H.O., Barbara, isn't here today, I have rung Mears to inform them of the problem. As this would be an exit if there was a fire, it must work.

Yesterday evening we had an almighty thunderstorm and torrential rain. I heard the crash of thunder but wasn't sure whether it was actually thunder. There were noises of fireworks being let off also, so I did wonder if it was that, but no doubt the rain put those idiots off. Why do people think it's acceptable to let off fireworks like that? In a public space. It's not even November yet. Apart from anything else, it's a waste of money. There is a sign on Oldbrook Green that says, the use of fireworks on the green is not permitted, but, like dog fouling, what's the point of all these notices and by-laws, if they aren't policed?

I'm glad that Boris Johnson has withdrawn from the election (or whatever the process to elect a new Conservative leader and Prime Minister is called). I can't imagine how he thought he could just walk back into Number 10 as if nothing had happened, but now the field is clear for Rishi Sunak to take the pole position and get the keys to Number 10. No doubt there will be some sort of announcement regarding all this around 2 p.m.

2.15 p.m. It has just been announced that Rishi Sunak has been announced as Conservative leader and, hence, Prime Minister. Boris thingy withdrew and the only other remaining candidate, Penny Mordaunt' withdrew from the election just before 2 o'clock.

Repeat of Leadership Race

Friday 8.00 a.m. I didn't wake up until 7.25, so, as you can see, it's barely thirty minutes later I'm writing this. I suppose it's good in some ways, but I had to get my washing in as usual, although it went in somewhat earlier because I have someone telephoning me at 9.30, and I will have to have the dried washing back in the flat before that. It has been a bit of a marathon and attempting to get my head straight, as you can imagine (or, perhaps you can't!). What I mean is, when you've woken up, your head is often swimming. Attempting to think properly, having woken up. Well, it was a bit of an effort, but I made it.

Boris Johnson has apparently put himself forward as returning as Prime Minister. Please, don't go there. We really can't have that idiot back in 10 Downing Street. He was thrown out by his own MPs over the 'so-called' 'Partygate' scandal and an enquiry regarding the fact that he possibly lied to Parliament.  It hardly seems possible that we've had three Prime Ministers within three years!

12.20 p.m. I have been to Sainsbury's, initially to go to Lloyd's pharmacy within the store to pick up a repeat prescription and to buy one or two items. I have been eating easy peelers, and small, juicy oranges, from the time when the first covid-19 lockdown was announced in March 2020 and haven't stopped eating at least three per day. I think the vitamin C which they contain has helped boost my immune system and prevent catching the infamous virus. I have more recently started taking a liquid supplement called Vitabiotics Feroglobin, which has iron, ginseng and other ingredients in it, basically to help counteract tiredness. It tastes quite pleasant, with an orange flavour, and it's easy to swallow. Also, at the recommendation of my doctor, I take vitamin D tablets.

Before going to Sainsbury's, I went to the ESSO fuel station in Childs Way to top up the car with diesel. As I'm driving to Aylesbury tomorrow morning, I thought it might be advisable to put more fuel in the car, even though the fuel level was reasonably healthy. I also get Nectar points there, so that was an incentive. But then, in an attempt to get to Sainsbury's, I had to contend with some of the grid roads being shut off for road resurfacing and by the time I got to the traffic lights near the store, there was a long queue of cars and they took a great deal of time to change. I may have mentioned this before in these posts, but some of the traffic lights seem to take an inordinately long time to change.

A Whitehall Farce!

Wednesday. 10.40 p.m. Scenes of total chaos in Parliament today. Well, that is what I have discovered, having watched the BBC Ten O'clock News. It looks as if the whole democratic process is in crisis and the Premiership of Liz Truss is crumbling. How long will this situation last? Will she be booted out? Who will replace her? How will the next Prime Minister be chosen, and can we expect around three months to be spent on the Conservative party electing a new leader?

I went into the main shopping centre to get my hair cut at Central Barbers. I had booked via their website earlier so it was just a case of turning up at 2 p.m. That was the easy bit. Even parking in my usual place, near the very dilapidated Point, was straightforward. Even the RingGo app worked and I had sufficient one-pound coins with me, just in case the app didn't work, as it has done on several occasions in the past. I drove home and then came across several diversions because sections of the grid road network were being resurfaced and they don't give you advance warning, so I had to make a more circuitous route around to get into Oldbrook. 

Thursday. 8.15 a.m. Oh, dear! I didn't wake up until 7.30 this morning. It's just not like me, because I'm usually awake early and take Alfie out around 6 o'clock. But oversleeping is not normal for me. I had to force myself out of bed and then get dressed and stagger out with his nibs. 

11.55 a.m. It's pouring with rain as I write this! I've been to The Oaktree Centre and helped with setting up the playgroup, although, by the time I got there the work had been done. The traffic was nose-to-tail all the way along Chaffron Way. It's certainly not the sort of journey I would contemplate having to make every day and I don't know how people put up with it. I think, if local businesses were to stagger their starting and finishing times, then this might be prevented, but as people almost insist on a '9-to-5' working day, then they have to endure this. It's also not helped by the current road works going on around Milton Keynes with resurfacing work going on.

4.00 p.m. So, Liz Truss has resigned. It seemed she had no choice. But was she pushed or did she jump? The question is, what happens regarding her replacement? They are saying that a new Prime Minister will be in place by 'Friday week', so how on earth is that going to be achieved, considering there was a three-month process whilst the Conservative Party had to go through its convoluted election process. Her Premiership will go down in history as possibly the shortest on record. As Shakespeare put it 'some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.' I don't, in all honesty, think this applies to Liz Truss. 

It's A Lovely Day Today!

Saturday. 9.50 a.m. I've been constructing a bookshelf, which I bought on Amazon. I ordered it earlier in the week and was expecting it to arrive next week, probably Wednesday or Thursday. I got back from the doctor's appointment yesterday and there was this large parcel left outside my front door, so I left it unopened until around 7.30 this morning and have been working on putting it together. It is now finished and it's in the kitchen, but it will eventually be put in my walk-in cupboard, which will then contain all the cooking ingredients which are still awaiting a home since before the kitchen was ungraded.

12.35 p.m.  Amoxicillin is making me feel very sleepy. I was told to stop taking the Piriton, which I have done, and the remainder of the packet is now stored in my medication drawer. Well, I presume it's the new medication making me sleepy.

So, we have a new Prime Minister in Liz Truss. Well, I use the term 'Prime Minister' lightly. She's only been in office barely a month, and it seems the wheels are falling off the wagon. She's made more U-turns than a learner driver in a cul-de-sac. Seems likely she's going to have the shortest Premiership in history. It can't be long before there's a vote of no confidence, and we have a General Election. If you thought Boris Johnson was a disaster as PM, then Trussy takes the biscuit. She has the authority of an inept primary school teacher who can't get her class to behave. If she is forced out, which seems likely, does it mean we'll have to go through the ridiculous circus which is the Tory party system of voting for it's leader, which took around two months last time. Who would replace her? There can't be many candidates left.

A great deal seems to have happened in only a few days, but, as someone said so succinctly, 'A week is a long time in politics.' How true. Apparently attributed to Harold Wilson, former Labour Prime Minister.

Kwasi Kwarteng must have had the shortest time in office as Chancellor of The Exchequer and is now replaced by Jeremy Hunt. The contents of the disastrous 'mini budget' have been more or less totally replaced by new tax rates and goodness knows what else. They should install and revolving door to Number 11 Downing Street. How many Chancellors have we had in the last year? 

It seems the Conservative Party has been responsible for several disasters. So many splits within it's membership regarding the EU ('Euro Sceptics, I think the term is.) which led to the craziness of Brexit,  and now splits regarding the former Chancellor's 'Mini Budget' is likely to bring the whole house of cards tumbling down. Meanwhile, we have had two years of lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic and now a war in Ukraine. Has nobody thought that closing down the economy for two years and paying people to sit at home doing nothing, would lead to soaring inflation, which is exactly what we have at the moment? Then, attempting to get people to go back to work, usually those in offices, when they've been told to 'stay at home and protect the N.H.S., and using scare tactics to prevent people from meeting up, and not understanding that you can't expect things to return to any sort of normal when people have been filled with this sort of stuff.

Monday. 8.05 a.m. My cough is certainly showing signs of disappearing. The medication must be working. 

4.45 p.m. I've done a considerable amount more writing. What I have created has already been word processed and there is far more. Things in that department are going surprisingly well.

Fog and Finds!

Thursday. 10.40 a.m. It was quite a foggy outlook when I went with Alfie along Strudwick Drive (or, more precisely, the path which runs alongside Strudwick Drive. I'm not that crazy that I'd walk along the road. Although some people ride on those electric scooter devices I've seen them riding along the road. Only yesterday I saw two, and on the wrong side of the road, which made it even more dangerous.)

I'm sitting here, waiting for a workman from Mears to arrive sometime today to unblock the bath and sink which aren't flowing very well. They tell me they will arrive between 8a.m and 6 p.m., which is annoying because if I  was considering going out (which, by the way, I'm not.) then I would miss them. Rather a waste of a day in my opinion.

1.55 p.m. The workman came at around 1.15. The bath and the sink are now emptying properly. So, that's another job ticked off the list. I am still waiting for the extractor fan to be installed. It's another week and a half or so since I rang and was assured that 'an order had been raised.' Which might be fine on paper, but it doesn't get the extractor fan installed in my kitchen. The workman who came to sort out the bath and sink commented on the upgrade of my bathroom and took a photo on his mobile. How long are you expected to wait for such work? How long is a piece of string?

Friday. 3.05 p.m. The horrible cough I have had to endure for some time hasn't eased since I went to the doctor's surgery last Friday. If you recall, I was advised by the practice nurse to take an antihistamine and was given Piriton by the pharmacist in Boots. I have been taking them as prescribed ever since, but with no great improvement. I'm still coughing up thick phlegm, and it seems to get worse at night. With this in mind, I decided to make a further doctor's appointment and rang the surgery at 8.30 a.m. I pressed the '1' key on my phone, which meant I didn't have to wait in a queue with the receiver stuck on my ear until I got to the front of the queue. I got a call back within barely five minutes and the receptionist booked me in for an appointment at 10.30 with the practice nurse. I drove to the surgery and was seen fairly promptly and he prescribed antibiotics, Amoxicillin, which I have to take three times a day. The prescription was sent electronically to Lloyd's in Sainsbury's, where I drove too following my appointment. I had to buy several items in there anyway, which was convenient and I started the course of tablets as soon as I got home.

I am a member of the Bucks Archaeology Society and I learnt via an email that there was to be a conference on the finds which have been made during the HS2 construction. It was to have been around a month ago, but it was postponed at the time of The Queen's funeral and period of mourning. It will be on Saturday 22nd October (my birthday, incidentally!) so I have managed to book my ticket. It will be all day, in Aylesbury. Very much looking forward to this, and it will definitely make a good birthday present for myself.

Action-Packed Week?! . . . Not!

 Monday. 6.25. a.m. I woke up, and I could hear what I thought was rain.  I'm fairly sure it is, but I won't know exactly until I take his nibs out. I am now dressed and shaved and sitting in the lounge waiting to take Alfie out and not going to go until it's a bit lighter. This time of the year isn't my favourite, basically because it's dark and cold.

9.45 a.m. I've been to Sainsbury's. I went a good deal earlier than I generally go, which meant there were far fewer other shoppers, but no staff on the manned tills, so I had no choice but to use the self-service tills. The one I used behaved itself, thank goodness. As a result of going earlier, I got in and out of the store reasonably quickly. No difficulty parking too as there were plenty of spaces. 

I do wish Sainsbury's would sort out their trolleys. So many have wonky wheels, or the wheels don't turn as they should, or the trolley bumps along as you push it or it squeaks. Surely a bit of maintenance wouldn't hurt sometimes.

It's sunny but chilly this morning.

2.50 p.m. I had an email the other day. It was Friday afternoon, informing me from Bedford Borough Council that I had made a mistake with my date of birth. Could I please inform them of my correct name, including my middle name, as well as my date of birth? I did as they asked. Apparently, I had accidentally ordered two birth certificates and this may be why they were asking me. They will refund the £11 which was taken from my bank account for the second certificate. What I want to know is, since this was ordered almost two weeks ago, why has it taken so long to realize there was a problem? The application, which was made online, must have been sitting in a file somewhere for that length of time, without anyone bothering to deal with it. Somewhat annoying, and I am still awaiting the birth certificate so my DBS check can be completed, so I can return to working in the theatre workshop at Camphill. Yet another case of bureaucrats controlling things and most likely not doing their jobs efficiently. 

Tuesday. 9.35 a.m. It's bright and sunny as I write this, but in actual fact, it was surprisingly cold when I went out with Alfie.

I am continuing with the Piriton, but they make me drowsy, and I fell asleep for an hour or so.

Regardless of how I'm feeling, I have managed to write a couple more pages. I think I've got over the hump in the writing process and will now have to transfer it all onto word processing and then do some editing.

5.00 p.m. I have completed the transfer of the handwritten writing to word processing. Not a great amount, but it's quality not quantity which counts.  Rather pleased it's done.

Wednesday. 9.30 a.m. My least favourite job is done! Changing my duvet cover and all the associated bedding. It has to be one of the worst jobs, replacing the cover on my duvet. There really isn't any easier way to do this job. It has to be done and everything will go in the wash this afternoon.

Windy City!

Saturday. 11.20 a.m. I have a Nationwide Building Society account. Well, in actual fact I have two, one a current account and the other a savings account. I manage them via the Nationwide website and their app. This morning I wanted to check the balance of the current account, so I went onto the website. But I couldn't get into my account because the customer number wasn't saved. I can usually manage to get further and actually see my balance and check payments in and out, and the basic information is usually saved, meaning I didn't need to input the customer number associated with the account. I don't have it written anywhere, so I had no alternative but to go into the branch in the Milton Keynes central shopping centre. I managed to get the all-important customer number from a nice gentleman in the Nationwide branch and then went to wander around the shopping centre. Well, I had walked all that way in, so there was no point going home until I had achieved something.

Part-way around one side of the shopping centre, it occurred to me I ought to get some one-pound coins. You need one if you go shopping in some supermarkets, to allow you to use a trolley or to park your car, and so I went back to Nationwide and intended to take a £10 note out of the A.T.M. outside the branch. But it had an 'out of order' sign taped to it, so I went back inside to use another machine. With my £10 note clutched in my hand, I went to queue up at the tills, not something I am used to because I usually either use an A.T.M. or the website or app. On getting to a free window, I asked the nice lady behind the counter whether I could have my nice, crisp, clean £10 note changed into one-pound coins. I was, told, not unless I paid it into my account. This seemed somewhat nonsensical, but apparently, you now can merely expect to have your ready cash transformed into coinage without having an account (which I have.) So, this is what I did. She told me it was because they have to have a 'paper trail', which is certainly a new approach to this whole business. I didn't argue, and she went through the process of paying it back into my account, for which I had to sign (!) and then she took £10 of one-pound coins out of her till, put it into a plastic bag, and handed it to me. Job done, but what a load of unnecessary bother, even faff!

Sunday. 12.05 p.m. Due to taking the Piriton, which leave you feeling drowsy, I didn't go to church this morning and watched via Facebook and viewed on the Portal TV gadget which is connected to my Hitachi television set. No problem with the sound, and I could hear everything loud and clear, but the video was very blurry. I don't understand the technology, so I can't say why the picture was so low tech. It is generally fairly good quality. Probably has something to do with the speed of the wi-fi somewhere between Shenley and Oldbrook.

Busy, Busy!

Wednesday. 7.05 a.m. I took out Alfie as usual and I was almost blown away when I stepped out into Strudwick Drive, around 6.25. It was really blowy and enough to sweep you off your feet.

Yesterday I completed the online course for Camphill, which included manual handling, infection control, safeguarding and more. It has taken several hours, and as you complete each section, you have to do an assessment and achieve at least 80% in order to pass and get certified. Fortunately, because I have done most of this sort of course on other occasions, I managed to pass, so I am now waiting for my birth certificate to arrive. Once that has arrived I should receive my DBS certificate and then be able to work at Camphill in the theatre workshop.

2.00 p.m. I've put my washing in to wash. (So, what else would you do with it? Oh, sarcasm!) I don't usually do mine on a Wednesday, but a change is as good as a holiday, as someone or other said. No sooner had I come back to my flat, than the heavens opened, and it began to rain. Quite hard, but it was only for a minute or so.

I have been wondering when I will get my annual flu jab. I looked on the Milton Keynes Central Medical Centre website, but no mention, but then I saw a text message on my phone, so I followed the link and I have to go to the surgery on Saturday morning to have it done. I did think that it should be no later than the end of October, otherwise it won't be of any use, the closer we get to the winter period when the chance of catching flu becomes more likely. It's just so easy to book online and I just walk into the surgery, register on the computer screen and wait my turn. I must say, this surgery is a good deal more efficient than the old one I was at, Ashfield, Medical Centre. 

Friday. 11.00 a.m. I have had a cough for a while. I can't say I can accurately date when it started, but it can be really irritating and annoying. I bring up clear phlegm (sorry, not nice, but I have to describe it.) The cough can strike at any moment, totally out of the blue, often in the middle of the church, which is why I attempt to have either a water bottle or some sort of sweet to suck which helps relieve it. It struck during the quiz night last Friday, and no amount of drink would relieve it. So, this morning, I decided enough was enough and made an appointment at my doctor's surgery, Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre. I rang at 8.30, which is when the phone lines open. They now have a system whereby you press a key on your phone's keypad and this allows you to put down your phone, and when you eventually get to the front of the queue, you get a call from the surgery and then make your appointment. Such a good idea and saves having to hang onto the line for however long it takes to get to the front of the queue and then manage to speak. I got my appointment with one of the practice nurses, and it was for 9.30. I drove there and signed in and there were quite a few people in front of me and I could see them going through, and the digital board was showing people's names, and it was well past 9.30 when I eventually went into the nurse's room.  He checked me out, blood pressure, heart rate and so on and there appeared to be nothing wrong there. In fact, I feel generally fine, except for this confounded cough. I thought it might be a side effect of my heart medication, particularly statins, but he didn't see it could be that, or even the beta blockers, which help with my heart rate. Instead, he suggested taking antihistamines, and not antibiotics, as it might be caused by a virus. So, I went into the branch of Boots, which is a short walk from the surgery and bought Piriton, which is usually taken if you have an allergy, such as during the hay fever season. I have taken the first tablet and will see if that improves things.

12.15 p.m. It's really quite sunny as I write this, but the wind is strong. It's what you might call typical autumn weather.

All In A Day's Work

 Saturday. 7.20 a.m. I woke up really late for me, around 6.30. 

8.55 a.m. The sun is out. It would appear that it's warm, but I have a feeling, when I go out, it will most likely be chilly, so I will need to put on a fleece or something. It's very deceptive.

5.15 p.m. I have no end of 'bits' of my manuscript, which are the various elements of the writing project I have mentioned in these blog posts. I use what is called 'clip' folders, which means you don't have to punch holes into the printed pages which you have to do if you use a ring binder, which I absolutely hate because the pages get torn and then look tatty. I remember from my days in college, years ago now, and my problems with the ring binders I used for the notes I had from the different classes I went to. So, being able to put my printed pages into the clip folder and no need to punch holes in the pages they are helped securely with a sliding metal clip and come in a neat and professional plastic folder with a transparent cover so you can see the title page through this clear cover. Problem solved. I have been searching all over the place to buy these folders, in W.H.Smith, Sainsbury's, Asda and anywhere else I could think of. We used to have a branch of Staples in Milton Keynes, but that has since closed down and gone online only. I think Staples merged with Office World, which had a warehouse which I used to past when I used to drive to Milton Keynes when I lived in Bedford. I'm not entirely sure if they still exist. I have bought stationary from a company called Viking, so I looked on their site, and, hey presto! They had clip files, so I have ordered a few and hopefully, they will arrive in the next couple of days.

Sunday. 12.40 p.m. There wasn't any worship as such at The Oaktree Centre this morning. Instead, we had what's called 'Café church, which could be described as 'open fellowship', with coffee, tea, pastries and biscuits and a chance to chat with anyone and everyone. The idea is to invite the 'unchurched' and be in a relaxed situation. It certainly was all that, and more. So much so, that there were so many people around in the café area that at one point you couldn't hear your own voice. Not that I'm complaining. It was good.

Monday. 7.25 a.m. A very mild and pleasant morning. The trees around Milton Keynes are rapidly changing colour, with amazing browns, yellows and a whole host of variations in between. Looking back towards Dexter House as I walked along the path beside Strudwick Drive, I could see the sky, which was a beautiful red. Where does the old saying go? 'Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning?' It also goes on 'Red sky at night. Shepherd's delight.' We'll just have to wait and see if all that is accurate as the day progresses.

10.25 a.m. I may have mentioned in these posts, the fact that I was supposed to have an extractor fan fitted in the kitchen window when my kitchen was refitted. As I write this, no extractor fan has been fitted. It was at the beginning of July that the work was done on the kitchen and a good month or so before that, the two ladies who did the initial assessment for the refit came to see me and I mentioned the possibility of having an extractor fan installed, basically because without one, when I cook and there is the possibility of smoke or steam being produced, it sets off the fire alarm with all that entails, the arrival of a fire engine and the annoyance and embarrassment that causes. I rang the company responsible for this work around a month ago and I was informed that they would contact the installers, but nothing happened. I have this morning contacted Mears yet again and this time they tell me 'an order has been raised.' So, let's hope that this time something eventually gets done. But don't hold your breath.

Autumn Days

 So, we're now into October! Where did September go to? It's now downhill to Christmas. I have to say, I don't like winter, dark days, cold, defrosting the car, slippery surfaces and all that that entails. I walked into The Range the other morning, in an attempt to find distilled water for my steam iron, they had Christmas stuff on one side and Halloween junk on the other. The shops are beginning to get stacked up with everything you can't possibly do without. But what is the point of stocking up with mince pies, when they will be stale before the festive season arrives? I call it junk, but let's be honest, most of it is.

8.30 a.m. It's surprisingly foggy this morning. I don't suppose it's really a surprise, as it's what you come to expect when the seasons change. 

I have my Friday load of washing on. I'm going to be a good deal more careful than I was this time last week when I did my washing. I had a load on and went down to check if it was finished, which I thought it had and opened the door of the machine and found the load sopping wet. Thinking about it now, I must have opened the door too early. The machine was probably about to go into its final spin. As a result, nothing would dry. I did attempt to get some clothes dried in the drier, but it wasn't going to happen as the clothes were far too wet. I had to resort to putting it all on drying racks and had one in the bathroom. Fortunately, I had the second one which we had at the house in Eaglestone, but the clothes weren't going to be completely dry until at least Sunday or even Monday and as a result, I had to contend with all my washed clothes hanging around and in the way for a couple of days. My fault and not a mistake I intend to make again.

1.50 p.m. It's got quite windy outside (well, it would be worrying if it was inside. Stupid man! What an idiotic thing to say!) In the short time, we were walking around Oldbrook Green, it seemed to get stronger and stronger

5.55 p.m. You know it's autumn when the television shows that have been off our screens return. 'Strictly Come Dancing is one and will be there in the schedules on a Saturday for around three months leading up to Christmas. I can't say it's my favourite show, although Carol loved it. I don't dislike the dancing, but I hate the way people can be so nasty, usually led by one of the judges, Craig Revel-Horwood. Picking holes in the contestants' dance performances. Anything with celebrities is a definite turn-off for me and many of them can hardly be called 'celebrities' in particular those who have been on reality television shows. The whole thing is driven by tabloid newspaper reporting and social media posts and picks up on the slightest mention of something which happens in the show.

As I write this, the fog has disappeared, but the wind has now been replaced by rain. It's falling quite heavily.

10.25 p.m. I've just got back from The Oaktree Centre, where we've had a quiz night, which is a money-raising for the second phase of the building. There were a fair number of people there, so it should have raised a good sum for the project.