Walking On Sunshine

 Sunday. 3.20 p.m. Yesterday I needed to get a birthday card for my brother Andrew, who lives in Norfolk. I had bought it in Sainsbury's. Once I had it, written an addressed, I needed a stamp (otherwise, how is it going to get there?) I drove to One Stop in Coffee Hall, which has a Post Office inside. I spoke to the guy behind the counter and said, 'are you using the Horizon software on your computer?' (alluding to the Post office scandal which was about faulty Horizon software which caused a great many sub-postmasters being convicted of theft when they were found to have allegedly taken the money, but the software made it seem as if they had, when they hadn't. The inquiry into this scandal is still taking place.) I was surprised to learn that this particular Post Office was closing soon, to be replaced by a counter which would allow only the basic services to be available. The nearest Post Office (although basic.) It is inside the Eaglestone shop, which I have used many times. So, Coffee Hall will have to manage with a much less serviceable post office.

It has been a really fine and sunny day today. Which accounts for the title I gave this blog post. The digital thermometer currently reads 28ºc, and, according to the weather forecast on BBC Breakfast, we can expect it to get even hotter.

There were three people baptised in church this morning, and, as a result, there were quite a few new faces in the congregation, no doubt family and friends of those who were baptised.

Tuesday. 7.30 a.m. Yet another bright and sunny morning. Temperature currently reading 25ºc on my digital thermometer. I've had the window open in the lounge, and it's pleasantly cool at the moment.

I have made a great discovery whilst doing my family history research. I now have over 5000 people on my tree. I am a descendent of Mungo Park, who was an explorer who discovered the River Niger in what it now Nigeria. Amazing what you uncover when you start your family history research.

Wednesday. 5.40 p.m. It has been the hottest day of the year, so far. Currently, the temperature reading on my digital thermometer is 29ºc.

Yesterday morning I went to the first pre-diabetic course which was held in the community hall in Great Linford. It was due to begin at 9.15, and I was concerned that the traffic would be heavy at that time of day. Fortunately it wasn't and the satnav came into very useful, directing me there, and I found a parking space which was handy. I was reluctant to go, but it was informative and interesting, and I think it will be worthwhile.

Friday. 7.30 a.m. It's another bright and sunny morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc. The window in the lounge has been open all night, hence making the place so much cooler.

Blog Post 1,900

 Saturday. 3.15 p.m. This, dear reader, is, unbelievably, the 1,900 blog post! I can hardly believe I am writing that, but it's true, and still rambling on about the mundane things of life! Sometimes the most mundane things are the most interesting, in a rather strange and ironic way.

Sunday. 5.10 a.m. I know it's very early morning. 

It was raining, although lightly, when I took Alfie out a few minutes ago, so we didn't remain out for long.

Wednesday. 10.25 a.m. Well, things didn't get off to a good start yesterday when I had problems opening the Safari browser on my MacBook. It meant that I could do virtually no work which required the use of the MacBook and the internet because Safari is the main browser I use. I thought at first that I had been hacked because I kept getting strange messages popping up on the screen, although I have software installed which checks for viruses and strange activity. As a result of this, and because I was hacked and had money taken from my bank account (although returned, thankfully.) I decided there was no alternative but to have the MacBook looked at and have the issue resolved. The only place I could think of where they would be able to do this for me was Curry's. I had taken the MacBook there a few years ago when I had been hacked (as mentioned above.) Knowing that Curry's was open at 9 a.m., I drove there, only to find that no one could deal with a MacBook at that time. I was told to return after 11 as the person who was trained to work on Macintosh computers would be able to have a look at the problem.

So, I went home and then, just after 11 a.m. I returned to Curry's and this time I was able to tell the young man who was trained in Apple computers what the problem was with the MacBook, and he told me it would take a couple of hours to discover what the problem was and, hopefully, fix it for me.

I went home and had lunch and at around 2.30 I got a call from Curry's that the MacBook was ready to collect. I drove to Curry's and collected the MacBook. I was relieved that it was working properly again. I then drove to Sainsbury's, as I wanted some ice cream and chocolate sauce (and why not? I managed to get it, paid, and then went home. Mission accomplished!

12.15 p.m. Earlier this morning, I had an appointment at the cardiology department at Milton Keynes Hospital. The appointment was for 9.30 and the letter I received from the department, a few weeks ago, told me that the appointment could take around three hours. I managed to park in the nearby Number 3 car park, which is where Carol and I used to park when she went for her chemotherapy appointments, and we would walk through Cardiology. Luckily there was no problem with parking as there were a lot of spaces when I arrived.

I reported to the reception in cardiology and I hadn't been sitting in the waiting area much more than 5 minutes, then I was called into a side room by a nurse. She took my height, apparently not 6ft 1 inch, which I have been for years. So, less than six feet tall? Surely not! Does that mean I'm shrinking? Weight, which I didn't know, although I have a rough guess, as I have my own digital scales. Next, I had to lay on a couch to have an E.C.G. done. Around a couple of minutes of that. Having to keep still when this is done and then a printout is taken off the printer.

I went through to see the consultant, and he went through my medication box as I had to let him know about the meds I was on. I should have made a list, but only realised I needed this, having reread the letter I had from the hospital regarding the appointment. I have to say, I was not impressed by the way he threw the various packets of tablets back in the box. I am very particular about keeping it tidy! He listened to my chest, using what I thought was a mobile phone (no stethoscope?) No doubt this is a new technology, an app on his phone.

Having checked me out, he then told me that I could have a device fitted under the skin of my chest, which would monitor my heart and, if it detected something wrong, it would alert the hospital, so I could be taken in for investigation and prevent another incident as happened in January when I was taken to hospital. He then dictated a letter into a recorder device, which, I trust, whoever has to unscramble it could make head nor tail of his words. At that, the consultation was concluded. I was somewhat surprised that it was less than thirty minutes since I had arrived at the cardiology department. I drove out of the car park and, when I went to put the ticket in the machine at the exit, it lifted the barrier, so I could drive out, pleasing me because I didn't have to pay!

1.45 p.m. Having dealt with the cardiology department at the hospital, at around 2.40 I drove to see my friends from church, Margaret and Mike. Mike has Parkinson's and has been in hospital and was discharged around three weeks ago. I drove out of Oldbrook and towards the roundabout which crosses Marlborough Street and came to a halt because there was so much traffic, which, for the time of day is quite unusual. I moved forward slowly and traffic coming to the right was quite heavy, but I eventually managed to cross over, but then there was a considerable queue of traffic coming up from Chaffron Way. I drove on, but then I saw an ambulance racing towards me, with lights flashing, and a siren blasting. If I hadn't slowed down and come to a halt, I would have had a head-on collision with it.

Jolly, Jolly Good!

Saturday. 1.05 p.m. We had our monthly men's breakfast at the Oaktree Centre this morning. I had intended to go to Aldi at West Croft, but when I came out of the Oaktree Centre and got to the junction onto Chaffron Way, there was so much traffic that I decided to turn left towards the centre of Milton Keynes and go to Sainsbury's to get a replacement for the joint of beef I had to return yesterday because it was around three months past it's 'best before' date. I went to pay and went into one of the areas with self-service tills inside and scanned and paid, and then this woman came up to me, a member of Sainsbury's staff, asked me if I had used a scanner, and I said no, but I couldn't get the app to work on my iPhone and she responded by telling me if I had a Nectar card I could use one of the hand-held scanners for the job and, in effect, I should use that particular self-service tell because it was meant for those who scanned with a hand-held scanner. A real sense of being well and truly told off, so I'm sure I won't forget it in a hurry.

Sunday. 7.20 a.m. Bright and sunny start of Sunday. That's all I have to say today.

Monday. 8.30 a.m. I wasn't sure whether it had been raining overnight, because I looked out of the kitchen window I couldn't be definite because I couldn't see signs of the path across the garden being wet, but when I went out with Alfie, there was a sort of drizzle, but, as I write this, it's bright and sunny. 

The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

3.20 p.m. It's still sunny, but there is quite a strong wind.

Thursday. 6.35 a.m. Another seemingly bright and sunny day. The digital thermometer currently reads 23ºc. 

I don't know whether I have mentioned this, but, when I had the recent blood test done at Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre, it was found that I had a high level of sugar in my blood. As a result, it had been suggested I take part in a course to help reduce my chances of becoming diabetic, so I have made an appointment to start the course, and then I had a telephone assessment done on Monday afternoon.

Friday. 7.40 a.m. Washing day again. The excitement is overwhelming! Everything in the machine and it's doing its job. So that will be done in around 50 minutes or so.

A bright and sunny morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

I'm currently reading a book entitled 'Churchill's Most Secret Airfield: R.A.F. Tempsford,' written by Bernard O'Connor. I only discovered this airfield from looking at Google Maps and seeing it identified. It's interesting what you find when you look at Google Maps. I lived around 15 miles away from this site, living in Cardington and Cople, as well as having a job in Everton as a support worker in a residential home for people with learning disabilities, which was only a mile or so away from this site. Like a lot of these places which were used during the Second World War, and in particular, Bletchley Park, which isn't far from where I now live in Milton Keynes, they were kept secret and have only until recently been revealed to be a major part of the war effort and many of those who worked there have only very come forward to tell of the secret work done there.  R.A.F. Tempsford was used as a base for agents of the S.O.E. (Special Operations Executive), who were flown into enemy territory in occupied France and other countries, and then parachuted in to engage with the resistance to cause havoc to Nazi defences and help bring about the liberation of France. The book is excellent, but it is printed in a minuscule type, which makes it quite difficult to read.

Saturday. 8.30 a.m. It's bright and sunny. Yippee! The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

11.45 a.m. I've been to Sainsbury's. I went a good deal earlier because it's Saturday. As I went out to the car, there was a light rain, but nothing to worry about. I know that Alfie won't like it, as he doesn't appreciate getting wet. So much for saying it was bright and sunny. Just typical British weather.

June Is Bustin' Out All Over!

 Saturday. 5.40 a.m. I thought that today was Sunday! Don't ask me why, but it felt like it was. How does it FEEL like a day? I have no idea, but I soon realised that it wasn't.  I am on the refreshment rota and it's also a café church. I could easily have gone there and found the place deserted! Oh, well.

11.15 a.m. As mentioned above, it's café church tomorrow. There will be live music as well as food, including a barbecue. I am hoping to be relieved of my duties behind the tea and coffee urn to be able to eat some of the barbecued food, so, as a result, I had to withdraw some cash from an A.T.M. machine as well as fuel the car at the ESSO filling station in Childs Way. So, I drove there, filled the car and paid and then went to the A.T.M. I put my card in the slot and then found I would have to pay £1.99 for the privilege of using the machine, but then the machine wouldn't present me with any cash! I drove away and as I did so, I had to think hard for an alternative A.T.M. and decided on Morrison's and drove there but then found there was a one-way system at the parking area and went round several times, and eventually came in from the road opposite the entrance into the railway station. Hence, having parked, I was able to withdraw the cash from the machine. So, about half an hour was spent driving around to find an A.T.M. On the way back home I then did another detour, so I could go to Lidl on Oldbrook Boulevard. There is a large poster up on the boarding which surrounds the building work for the new store, informing all and sundry that the store will close on the 2nd June, which is tomorrow, and the new store will open in January 2025. Tesco's Express store which used to be on that site used to have an A.T.M. and was incredibly convenient for me when I needed to have cash, so all the driving around to get to a working A.T.M. is the result of the A.T.M. at Tesco's no longer being there.

Monday. 7.55 a.m. I mentioned that yesterday (Sunday) we had another café church session at The Oaktree Centre. I was on refreshment duty, and as a result, I got there in very good time to set things up. It was a really fine and sunny day and a great many people turned up,  and many were new faces. Compared with last year, when the weather was really awful, with rain and wind and the entire gazebo which the musicians used, was moved onto the paved area and the sliding doors were opened to allow people to sit inside the café area to watch and listen.

Tuesday. 7.05 a.m. It's another mild day, but the sun is yet to shine. The current temperature in the flat, according to my digital thermometer, is 26ºc. I have my electric fan on.

Thursday. 5.40 a.m. Mild and pleasant on the weather front. The temperature reading on the digital thermometer is currently 23ºc.

My family tree currently has over 2000 people on it, and it is still growing!

Friday. 4.45 p.m. I had to go shopping in Sainsbury's. I went as usual after I'd done my washing. I picked up everything I needed for at least a week, including a pack of slow-cooked beef. I've had these sorts of joints on many occasions, particularly lamb shanks, which come in a double pack, so I put one in the freezer and have the other for my Sunday meal. They come complete with gravy and are really tasty. So I was not exactly over the moon when I got home, having unpacked my shopping, to discover that this pack of slow-cooked beef had a 'best before' date of March stamped on the front of the package. That meant it was around three months out of date! I was certainly not risking eating it, for fear of food poisoning or something worse. So I reluctantly decided to take it back, hoping to get a replacement. I wasn't sure where the customer service counter was, but, when I eventually found it, about a dozen people were queueing. There was only one woman behind the desk, and she was spending a great deal of time with a customer who had bought back a dress, presumably for a refund. A second staff member then got involved and time was ticking by. A young man behind me lost patience and put down a can of drink he was presumably going to buy and then stormed off. I really couldn't blame him, because there was only one woman on the desk. There should be far more staff. I think it's Sainsbury's getting rid of staff so that they can cut prices. The customer service generally has deteriorated, particularly when they have replaced manned checkouts with self-service tills. 

I eventually got to the lady on the desk and explained about the product being around three months out of date. A member of staff should have spotted it and taken it off the shelf, but, again, I think with so few staff available, that might explain how it came to be left where it was, for me to pick up and put in my trolley. Another member of staff was sent to get me a replacement, but when she came back, she said there were none left, at which point I left and went home.

Yes, We Have No Bananas

 Sunday. 8.25 a.m. Today, 26th May 2024, would have been Carol and my 17th wedding anniversary. Also, it would be 18 years virtually to the day, since I came out of Bedford Hospital, having spent a week in the C.C.U. (Coronary Care Unit) and I was discharged on 27th May. 

Tuesday. 1.20 p.m. Yesterday I didn't do a lot, although I spent most of the day working on my family tree via the website Ancestry. I now have reached the amazing number of over 1,500 people on the tree! It seems amazing how quickly I have reached that number, as well as being able to get back to the year 1033, thirty years before the landmark date of 1066. I have also discovered that some of my ancestors got on the wrong side of the law, for example, being caught in possession of stolen goods as well as one beating his wife and, on a happier note, finding that a young man had been apprenticed to a farmer to make bricks and this was for seven years, and more amazing, that this was in the St John's area of Bedford!

Thursday. 2.30 p.m. I have been into the shopping centre to get my hair cut at ROK Barbers (formerly known as Central Barbers.) The appointment was scheduled for 1.30 and when I got to the car park, where I usually park when I go into the city centre, I paid using the Ring Go app on my phone. But it wouldn't connect, most likely as there was a poor mobile signal. When I attempted to pay, I got the infamous spinning wheel, much to my annoyance, because I had no change to put in the meter before leaving. So, I left it and made a further attempt when I got into the shopping centre. Fortunately, it worked!

I walked through the shopping centre, towards John Lewis. ROK Barbers is next to it. I had forgotten it was half-term and this was why there were so many parents with children about and there was a play area in Middleton Hall, with rides and a sort of elastic thing (for want of a better way to describe it.) A large metal framework, a tripod arrangement, which has a sort of elastic material connected to a sort of harness which children were put in, and then they bounced up and down. Yes, it sounds somewhat stomach-churning unpleasant and would be no good for me, as I would be too large and heavy. I don't think it was intended for adults!

I arrived outside ROK Barbers and sat outside as I usually do. The time came and went for the appointment, 1.30, and none of the barbers came out to tell me they were ready for me, and then I got a text message informing me I had missed my appointment! Crazy, when I was sitting outside. So I went in, and fortunately, I was able to have my hair cut.

When I took Alfie out earlier, I happened to look towards Oldbrook Green and noticed that the path had been fenced off with those orange barriers which are put up whenever there is some sort of building work going on, road-mending or whatever. I could see men moving about, dressed in day-glo overalls. I had a vague idea of what was going on, because, when we walked past the S.I.A. building (Spinal Injury Association.) the raised garden wall that runs along the path edge looked somewhat unsteady and likely to collapse. Having now driven past a few minutes ago, it did look like they were working on that raised garden wall (for want of a better way to describe it. It is supported by wooden arrangements to contain the gravel and earth into which plants had been planted, but some of the wood looked decayed, so it would be a good measure for it to be strengthened and repaired.)

Friday. 4.25 p.m. It's a good deal cooler today. My digital thermometer currently reads 22ºC. It's quite windy outside.