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.

Technology Troubles

The Fitbit, which I've mentioned in these blog posts, has failed. It wouldn't charge. I have rung the helpline and run through some things that might have been causing it not to charge, like cleaning the contacts which take the charge on the charging station, but still nothing. I have been given a special number which I shall take with me when I go to John Lewis in Milton Keynes, which is where it came from, and they should give me a replacement or I can have a refund, which I don't want. I have to say, as this brand is supposed to be a leader in this type of technology, that I'm more than a little bit disappointed. It may do more things than the cheap model (not a Fitbit) and purchased through Amazon, lasted a good deal longer, even though the strap broke. I expect these things to last a lot longer than a week. Just have to wait and see when I return it.

I had to get to Ashfield Medical Centre for 10 o'clock because my appointment with Doctor Haye was scheduled for then. I needn't' have bothered to get there so early, because 10 o'clock came and went and I still wasn't called by 10.15 so I went to the receptionist and told her that I was still waiting. I think some people spend the 10 minutes, (which I believe is the average time your doctor's appointment is supposed to be.) spend far too long talking and don't think that there are other people waiting. I may be wrong, but I'm not one to over-spend my time with my doctor.) It was around 10.30 when my name came up on the digital screen. I have been re-prescribed diazepam, but the doctor is trying to get me off them because they can become addictive. I did manage to get through last night without taking the one I have left. He wants me to take them alternate nights, or at least, every third night, so I will take one tonight (the one which is left.) I had attempted to take the tablet a good deal later, around 10, rather than earlier, usually around 8. But I am still waking in the early hours of the morning. I have just seven in the current course so I'll have to wait and see what happens with them this time. I was out of his office within around 3 minutes, annoying as I don't get a chance to discuss anything with him. Perhaps that's because I now have the Integrated Community Team to call on if necessary. As I walked back along the corridor on my way out, I noticed they had their names on a door and there is a social worker in the team.

I could have taken the prescription to Cox and Robinson, the pharmacy a couple of doors along from the Ashfield Medical Centre, but because I was going into the centre of Milton Keynes to take the Fitbit back to John Lewis I thought I might go into Boots. Having driven in and parked near The Point, I walked into the shopping centre. In Boots there was a long queue at the pharmacy, so I didn't bother waiting and then walked through the shopping centre. I headed for Central Barbers, right next to John Lewis to get my hair cut. Jade cut my hair, the young lady who goes to Shenley Christian Centre. There was a really odd conversation going on as I was having my hair cut, begun by another of the hair stylists, about horses. I think he knew what he was talking about, but it was somewhat surreal, a bit like a Monty Python sketch, or from a play by N.F.Simpson. Really strange, but nonetheless, fascinating. I only wish I'd had a tape recorder, because it was something that would make the basis for a piece of writing.

I went into John Lewis and made my way up to the electronics department, which is one floor below the restaurant where we meet for the Willen coffee mornings on a Monday. I took the Fitbit in it's packaging. along with the code which I'd been given by the helpline when I'd rung yesterday and explained to the assistant at the counter what was wrong, the fact that it wouldn't charge. He plugged in the charging gadget and put the Fitbit into this and, lo and behold! It showed it was charging! I don't know what's wrong with it, or, indeed, whether it was actually faulty. It might have been that I hadn't put the thing in the charger gadget correctly, with the three contacts touching the contacts on the charger. Makes you wonder. It isn't entirely clear when the thing is set correctly.

Coming out of John Lewis and walking across Middleton Hall (correction: I couldn't actually walk across Middleton Hall because workmen are currently dismantling the summer attraction, which had at the heart of it a beach with sand. I saw them scooping it up the other day, and had wondered how on earth they would deal with its removal. There was a collection of those heavy-duty builder's bags scattered across the floor, so I imagine someone has the unenviable task of actually scooping it up with a shovel, into these bags, which are then loaded on to a lorry, probably taken outside the shopping centre on fork lift trucks.) I saw a display which turned out to show the proposed redevelopment of the former Food Centre. The old Sainsbury's unit has been empty for years. This is where the Age UK office is, and when I was in there several months ago, a couple of the volunteer ladies were discussing this proposed redevelopment and I was wondering where Age UK was going to transfer to once they start moving out and the demolition work begins. I had a good look at the designs, a mixture of commercial buildings with shops and offices. The multi-storey carpark is to remain and there are to be several storeys to some of the buildings, which seems to go against the original concept for Milton Keynes when it was originally proposed in the late 1960s, buildings weren't supposed to be much higher than the average tree, probably no more than three storeys. I had a chat with a lady who made notes of my suggestions, one of them being that there should be a concert hall included (not that it's likely to be built.) but that's the whole point of a consultation.

I went to Sainsbury's, because I had the diazepam prescription and I had asked at reception if the other repeat prescriptions had gone to Lloyd's pharmacy in Sainsbury's and they had apparently, so  drove there after my trip into town and I had a bight to eat in the café whilst I was there.

Having done my shopping and gone through the checkout, I had to go down to the carpark on the travelator, the moving walk-way or whatever you prefer to call it. Anyway, the moving slope which allows you to be whisked down to the carpark levels. It can be rather a bumpy ride. Something must be wrong with the mechanism, because part-way down you sort of lurch forward. This time it stopped dead, about three-quarters of the way down. I couldn't budge the trolley, try as I might to push it. What was I to do? Some kind man came and helped, but lifting the front of the trolley the remaining few yards of the, by now, stationary walk-way. The wheels of your trolley lock into grooves in the surface I imagine to keep it steady as you move down. I'm not sure whether they manage to get this moving once I'd left the carpark, but it was somewhat comical to say the least. But  not all this technology can be expected to work according to plan, the amount of work it gets, probably running for quite a few hours continuously when the store is open.

Then I drove home, unpacked the few bits I had bought and then put the Fitbit on charge. This time it seemed to charge without a problem. I have to say it's not easy to know exactly whether it's charging. With some items when on charge, such as the bluetooth speaker I have, you know it's charging because it has a red light that glows, the same with the Canon digital camera battery, the charger has a light that is red for discharged and green for charged. With the Fitbit it has no indication of whether it's actually taking the charge, but as I write this, it's on my wrist and working.

The bird feeding station is extra-busy at the moment. I have managed to keep it topped up with food, usually peanuts, but unfortunately it seems that the local squirrels seem to think it's a free-for-all for their use and the little blue tits (I imagine that's what they are, but perhaps I should do a more accurate identification.) come and around 6-8 of them are constantly feeding. I think perhaps I should get a disc which fits around the stand of the feeding station and prevents squirrels climbing up. Amazing that they can do this, but I really don't want them to.

At the end of all this, I had a problem of another sort. I have mentioned that I can no longer order my repeat prescriptions by merely ringing Lloyd's pharmacy in Sainsbury's and giving them the list of items required to be ordered, and then they contact Ashfield Medical Centre and it's all done electronically. But some bright spark, some bureaucrat within the N.H.S. has decided that this is inefficient use of their resources and that we now have to order direct from our doctor's surgery. We can take our order to the surgery and fill in the required order form and the repeat prescription will be signed off by the doctor and then sent electronically to our pharmacy (as was the case originally.) But, if you have access to the internet, you can order on-line, provided you set up an account (and this is through the surgery website.) I already had an account set up but needed to have a new password (you have a username and then put in the password when prompted.) But I have attempted to do this several times, having been given a fresh password by reception at Ashfield, but on each occasion it will come up when it doesn't work with 'unrecognised' or 'wrong password and username.' Let's be honest, it just doesn't want to work and no amount of resetting will allow it to work, adding further to the frustration. So, I beg the question, why do they have to change something which was working perfectly well??? What is the benefit of all this? Words fail me. I certainly don't trust this new set-up and wish they'd left it well alone. Not a happy bunny when I just want to make sure my meds don't run out.

Moving Forward

At last! I had my appointment at the AgeUK office in the Food Centre yesterday morning (Thursday). I'm grateful to my lovely Mother-In-Law for suggesting this to me. I rang the Age UK branch in Milton Keynes, which is actually only a short distance from home and was given the telephone number of their central Milton Keynes office. I got an appointment yesterday at 11 o'clock. It seems I can claim further benefits and he will help me with the various bits of paperwork and references so that I can at last move out of this house and pay far lower rent which housing benefit will cover. It has been a long journey to get a positive response to all this and once I am moved I can get on with my life. What I need to do is go on line to websites such as Rightmove and begin to search for suitable accommodation, one bedroom, bit of garden for Alfie and with a rent level which will be covered by housing benefit.

(Friday) I've been looking on Rightmove for suitable, affordable accommodation, fitting in with the budget I've been set by housing benefit. It's not easy. I thought I'd found somewhere absolutely suitable in Bradwell, reasonable monthly rent, nice looking (having seen photographs on the website,) with a bit of garden and what looks like a great kitchen, but looking again this morning it's a shared house. I really don't fancy sharing, but if I can't find anywhere that fits what I can afford then I may have to rent out the spare room here, with our landlord's permission as well as the housing benefit people. I know I've just said I don't want to share, but in the end if that is the only way to be able to afford the rent here, then I may have to go down that avenue.

(Saturday) It was frosty when I went out with Alfie earlier this morning. Because of the clocks changing, it's light so much earlier, so we manage to get out by 6.30. Alfie's always eager to get out for his run around the park, so he doesn't mind. There's been a really beautiful sunrise these past couple of days. I did manage to take a photo with my iPhone but unfortunately it doesn't do justice to the actual sunrise. It doesn't show the diffuse nature of the view. I can't describe it any other way.

On Saturday morning I went to the men's breakfast at 8 o'clock. I was informed that I was on what is called the Genesis rota for Sunday morning, but I didn't realise this. I am supposed to get either a text message or email a few days in advance, but I didn't get either. It was as well I went to the Saturday morning breakfast. Great to get a full English breakfast, the works, a bit like what you'd get if you were on location, filming for the good old BBC. It was one of the perks of doing 'walk-on' work, getting to a location, deep in the heart of the countryside, signing in with one of the A.D's  (Assistant Directors)or unit manager (or whoever it is who is usually in charge of the S.A.'s (Supporting Artistes) and then going to the catering van and getting a good plate of food.

It's been quite frosty the last couple of mornings, usually when I take Alfie out for his run (I can't really call it a walk. I might walk, but he runs!). This morning (Sunday) it is sunny but there was ice of the windscreen of the car, so I went out early and ran the engine, which allowed me to put on the heating so as to melt of the ice. It was thawed within a few minutes, enough to have a clear view so I could drive to Shenley for the first service and help set up things up.

I got to the Oaktree Centre,  at around 8.15, home of Shenley Christian Fellowship and helped put out the chairs in the main hall. Not a difficult job. We had a sermon given by Ross, the Pastor, on the subject of 'Excellence.' During the break between services, when tea and coffee are served and a chance is given for conversations with various people, I had a chat with someone who has been through a lot of what I've been through, having a wife who had cancer similar to Carol and was in Willen. I was mentioning to him about my difficulties attempting to find new or possible accommodation and having to make sure the rent fits in with what I'm getting from Housing Benefit. He says he'll come with me to any appointments I have and will help me with my accommodation. I now feel a good deal more positive with the situation knowing I can have this sort of support.

Having left Shenley, I drove to Morrison's. I had originally intended buying something for lunch, but when I arrived in the underground carpark, I changed my mind and decided to go into their cafe and have something to eat, possibly a sandwich or roll and a coffee. I might as well have given up, because on arriving in the cafe there were absolutely no sandwiches in the chiller unit near the till, so I went for a fry-up, or, as it's called on the menu, a 'Big Breakfast.' Nothing wrong with it, intact, when it eventually arrived at my table, a good sized portion of bacon, sausage, baked beans, mushroom and so on, what they usually call a 'Full English' breakfast, and the sort of thing you would get when you arrive on location (as I have done.) whenever I've done any 'Walk-On' television work for the BBC or any television company. It's the first thing you get whenever you get to the location in the early hours of the morning, usually before 6 a.m. But, having heard Ross speaking about 'Excellence,' this wasn't the word I'd use to describe Morrison's cafe this particular lunchtime. Dirty tables which hadn't been wiped clean. Slow service and general lack of anything resembling quality and professionalism.

Sunny But Windy

I had a really great morning at Camphill yesterday morning. I am definitely going to be a more permanent volunteer there. I have do provide identity material so they can do a disclosure and it takes a while to do this. It's because of working with a vulnerable client group. Next week I will be doing a short induction, which gives information regarding the principles that underpin what Camphill does, how it was set up and other matters. They now tell me that they would like me to do a whole day there, not just up until midday which I do at present. I was really just testing to see whether I would get on there, and the only real reason I don't do a longer day is because I get so tired, due, I'm certain, because of the medication I am on and more likely due to my heart condition. I think I might mention this when I see the cardiologist at John Radcliffe in a couple of weeks time. Perhaps he will recommend me having a change of medication or even a reduction of the dosage of some of them or even withdrawing one completely.

I'm continuing with the house search. I had a look on-line earlier to see if I could find any agencies within Milton Keynes who did private rental properties. I discovered half a dozen, one being within Oldbrook so I drove there and attempted to use my iPhone to track the place down. If it was there, I couldn't find it, so I went to park in Sainsbury's carpark because another agency was further down the street, actually on the corner of Witan Gate and Childs Way, called Luminous House. I don't think it glowed in the dark (ha!ha! But why call it that?) I asked at the reception desk and was told that one, called Prestige, wasn't actually at that address? Why? I did find that there was another agency on the corner, so I went in and asked about rental properties, explaining my situation. Not really a lot of help, but said I should try Gumtree. So, on returning home, having been into Sainsbury's to buy something for lunch, I went on the Gumtree site and set up and account and also downloaded their app onto my iPhone. As I write this, nothing of any use has come up when I search, but I will have another go at seeing if there's anything suitable on this site.

It has been suggested I contact AgeUK as they might be helpful in pointing me in the right direction regarding this matter. Their office is very close to home so it would have been an easy matter to drive or even walk to them. I went on line to find their website and on searching I found the telephone number of their Milton Keynes branch. On ringing I was told that they have an advise person with whom I could explain my situation. I was given this number, of another office in the Food Centre in the middle of Milton Keynes and got an appointment tomorrow morning (Thursday) at 11 o'clock. I just trust I'm given some helpful advice so that this situation can be resolved.

I've at last managed to track down distilled water!  (As discussed in an earlier blog post.)What excitement, you say, in ironic tones. Well, having spent around a week attempting to track this down, it was with some relief when I went on Asda's website and managed to see that they had it. I just had to visit their store in Bletchley to make sure it was actually on the shelves. And it was, within the motoring section, but in far smaller bottles than I usually buy. I bought two, just for good measure.