It's All Action? . . .More like Inaction!

Monday.  2.25 p.m.  Action, did I hear you say? This is Dexter House we're talking about. I have mentioned the matter of the scooter stores, which were built outside against one outside wall of this building. They were constructed because the fire officer did an inspection of Dexter house some while ago, (probably before I moved in more than three years ago), and said that the electric mobility scooters which some tenants use, can't be stored in any of the common areas, mostly in the corridors. They have to be parked there at present, so they can be charged overnight. A great deal of money has been spent building these sheds, which have concrete floors, electric power points, lighting etc, but cannot be accessed from the main building because of ramps and special doors which can be opened automatically so that scooters can get in and out of the building, but nobody at Milton Keynes Council will take any responsibility for paying for the work to be done to install these doors. Total incompetence on the part of the Council to get this work completed. It rather defeats the point of having the sheds built. Meanwhile, it's a trip hazard to have doormats on the outside of flats!!!! Meanwhile, if there's a fire in this building, some of the exit routes are blocked by mobility scooters!!!

I took my car to Bleak Hall Motors for its service, which was booked for 10.00 a.m. I try to get to appointments early so, if there is a chance of them starting earlier, then it's always worthwhile.

The mechanics soon had it in the workshop and I just sat in the waiting room as there was no point going home. I could have walked, but then I would have had to walk back. I read one of my books, which I had taken, and my reading glasses (or, at least, one pair that were usable and not broken.) 

After about an hour and a half, I was told that the brake fluid needed topping up, so I agreed to have it done. The whole procedure was finished by 12.20 or thereabouts, so I paid and left. I wanted to post some Christmas cards, which at that point I hadn't purchased, but I thought I'd get the stamps first and so drove into Coffee Hall, which is opposite Bleak Hall. The post office in the One-Stop shop in Garraways has a post office inside, so that seemed the obvious, and closest place to get stamps. Unfortunately, on arrival, I discovered it was closed for lunch. From there I drove to Waitrose at Oakgrove and got the Christmas cards and a book of postage stamps and as I was driving back home along Chaffron Way I realized that I had left the Sainsbury's bag which I had taken with me to Bleak Hall Motors was still in their waiting area and so I drove all the way back, retrieved the bag containing my book and glasses and then drove home to have lunch which consisted of a sandwich which I had purchased in Waitrose.

Tuesday. 6.25 a.m. It's been raining during the night. I could hear it when I woke up at around 2 o'clock. 

4.40 p.m. The drive to Camphill this morning was virtually free from the aggressive drivers and the long queue getting across the various roundabouts on the way. I imagine this is due to schools being on holiday and parents not driving their little darlings to school.

It has been really sunny and mild today. Considering how cold it was barely a week ago, with snow on the ground and surfaces in some places slippery and covered in ice. It's almost like spring. 

After the usual check-in, we did a game which had a Christmas theme to it. We stood in two lines across the hall, facing each other, and as you were in pairs, facing each other, you had to pretend it was Christmas morning and were giving your opposite number a present, which you had to mime giving to them, and then they opened it and then they gave you a present. A great deal of fun and a good way to use your imagination.

Terrie, the leader of the drama workshop, got the cast of 'Twelfth Night' to do a run-through of the first act of the play. A bit rough around the edges, but everyone remembered most of their stuff, and it was done because it will be several weeks before there will be further rehearsals.

The rest of the day was fun (well, in general, the drama workshop at Camphill is fun in some way or  another .) 

After the tea break, Terrie announced that we were to play the game 'Taskmaster', which was originally on one of the UkTv channels but is now on Channel Four. The idea is that a panel of five contestants are given various tasks and each is scored and the contestant with the most points is the winner. Mitchell, who is a new member of the leadership team within the drama workshop, went off and filled a bag with all manner of items and then the contestants, who sat on the stage, had to guess what was in the bag by feeling it. 

Several more tasks were given to the contestants and after lunch, one more go with a different set of contestants. Then there was Camphill's 'Great British Bake-Off.' I was chosen to be Mary Berry and Mitchell was Paul Hollywood (who are judges in the television show, if you didn't already know.) We made a bit issue of tasting the two cakes which some of the Camphill residents had made, which being definitely over-the-top. The two teams of bakers had to mime making their cakes (similar to how it's done on the television show.) and then we had to mark the cakes. In the end, we decided (at least I decided.) That there wasn't a lot between the two bakes and said that it was an equal win for both.

The final hour of the day was divided between having a dance around in the hall to Christmas music and the final half-hour was taken up with Terrie telling one of her stories which were very interesting and entertaining, by 4 o'clock when the drama workshop ends, it was all 'Happy Christmas!' to all until the group meets up again on 11th January 2023.

No White Christmas! Good or Bad?

 Saturday. 8.10 a.m. Cold and snowy conditions continue here in Milton Keynes, but, according to BBC Breakfast, it's going to get warmer next week. So, if that's the case, we won't get a traditional 'White Christmas.' 

11.15 a.m. I needed to get an ice scraper and more de-icer spray. I managed to get a can of spray in Sainsbury's yesterday, but no scrapers to be had. So I thought it might be an idea to look elsewhere and then decided on going to Halford's. I drove to the store in Rooksley and had a good look around and eventually had to ask a staff member who directed me to the last remaining stocks of these essential winter items. I grabbed two bottles of de-icer, just in case I couldn't get any more later on as well as the scraper and paid. I had problems keying in my PIN on the card reader, and the lady on the till told me that the keys were worn down because of people using hand gel. Which made me think if that was what it did to buttons on a card reader, what would it do to the skin on your hands? I suppose it's because most of it is alcohol-based. Worrying.

From Halfords, I drove to Sainsbury's because I had to collect a repeat prescription from Lloyd's pharmacy, which is within the store. Upon arrival inside the store and eventually arriving at the pharmacy, I found a notice informing me that they weren't opening the pharmacy until 10.30, which meant I would either have to return home and come back until 10.30 to collect my prescription or wait within the store. I didn't want to go home and then come back, so I spent the 40 minutes browsing the store, bought a string of Christmas lights, which I had been looking for anyway and also bought a few items I knew I'd need. The prescription was important because I was concerned that the order wouldn't be made up in time for the Christmas holiday when everything closes for at least two weeks.

1.35 p.m. I've been out, and it appears that the snow is gradually melting away. I do hope so, as it makes life difficult underfoot.

Sunday. 9.45 a.m. Under normal circumstances, I would have driven off to church by now, but there is no service this morning. Instead, there is to be a carol service, with candles, I believe. My only problem would be that smoke, given off by the burning of candles, would cause me to cough, so I will watch it online instead.

It's certainly a good deal milder this morning. There are definite signs of a thaw. The next problem is likely to be flooding.

2.05 p.m. There's even less chance of there being a 'White Christmas because I have been out with Alfie and it's now raining, although very thin. The grass alongside Strudwick Drive is gradually disappearing, so if it keeps on in this way, tomorrow morning it will have completely disappeared.

Monday. 3.05 a.m. I am awake, well, almost. I needed the loo (What's changed in that department?) Once I'm awake, I can't always get back to sleep. So, no point attempting to sleep. I have a shave and that makes me even more wide awake, but worth it. I do my Bible reading, 'The Bible Through The Year With Nicky Gumble', which I have on my iPad. It's he who was one of the originators of the Alpha Course at Holy Trinity Brompton. 

I'm not sure about the weather, but, having looked out of the kitchen window when I did the washing up yesterday evening, I saw that most of the snow had disappeared. At that moment, I can hear the wind, whistling and roaring around the building. 

8.00 a.m. It's windy out. The snow is gone and it's so much milder. I'm glad because it means I don't have to scrape ice off the car before I drive off to Bleak Hall Motors so that it can have its annual service. 

Winter Draws Nearer

Saturday. 8.20 p.m. The weather is getting colder. There is the possibility of snow in some parts of Britain, according to the weather forecast on BBC Breakfast this morning.

I have been baking a traditional Christmas fruit cake. It's not something I have made before, so I had to have a look for a recipe and chose one by Delia Smith. I got most of the ingredients in Sainsbury's during the week. Except I left out the mixed dried fruit, which I don't like. I couldn't get brandy or port, or, at least, in small bottles. Do they call them half bottles? I'm not certain. I had bought a high-grade spring form tin to bake the cake in. Because my oven is difficult to get an accurate temperature, I bought an oven thermometer from Amazon. I think it's vital to have your oven set to the recommended temperature before you decide to make a cake or, indeed, anything you are about to cook. It required a good four hours to bake, which meant I needed time to mix up the ingredients and then allow plenty of time to bake the cake. So on Thursday, I began to follow the instructions in the recipe at around 9 a.m. It came out of the oven at around 6.30 p.m. I had managed to get a small bottle of port from Aldi when I went to Curry's to buy some leads for the Portal TV for when it arrived and would be required for setting it up. I mixed in some port to the dried fruit before stirring up the cake mixture and putting it in the tin and then the oven.

I have removed some over-cooked outer layer of the cake. I may have to have another go at scraping off some more more before I attempt to ice it. I remember my mother used to make Christmas cakes and ice them, with a first layer of marzipan and then the whole thing covered in white icing, I think it's called royal icing. You either like it or you don't. I don't mind so long as the icing isn't too hard. 

Tuesday 4.15 p.m. I have booked my car in to be serviced at Bleak Hall Motors. I have managed to arrange it via their website and paid, getting a discount in the process. It's booked for 8 a.m. this Thursday. I then went to Sainsbury's and bought marzipan and rollable icing which should make the cake icing a good deal easier. I don't think you could get pre-made icing or marzipan when my mother was around making Christmas cakes. Not only that, but I think you just roll each layer out and use warm apricot jam as a sort of glue to stick on the marzipan onto the cake surface. 

Wednesday. 4.10 p.m. I have managed to have a fascinating Zoom session from Bletchley Park on my new Portal TV about Britain and America and the Battle of The Atlantic during World War 2. It works really well and makes things a good deal better than having to peer at a small laptop screen instead. There are a couple more documentaries to go in a four-part series, and then they will be uploaded onto YouTube. Very pleased with the purchase of the Portal TV, which was on offer due to Black Friday offers. I have also bought the sixth and final book in the Peter Ackroyd 'History of England' series called 'Innovation,' which came from Amazon this morning. So, I have that to look forward to reading, although I have plenty of other reading material to read first and, looking at the pile of books atop my bookshelf, it should keep me occupied well into 2022.

Thursday. 2.25 p.m. I took the Renault to Bleak Hall Motors for the 8 a.m. service today. It has had to remain there until tomorrow because they discovered two rear springs which need replacing, and they can't get the parts until tomorrow. I walked back to Dexter House as it isn't particularly that great a distance and will wait until tomorrow when they should ring me to let me know it's ready. I was told I could have driven it provided I didn't go far or over any speed bumps at speed, but I didn't want to risk further problems if the remaining springs were to break. I was fortunate I took the car for service when I did because it could have broken down on the motorway going to Worcester over the Christmas period. Better to get it repaired rather than leave it.

Definitely a good deal colder today. Probably cold enough for snow. I hope not, but could be. There was a light icing on the car windows this morning before I drove to Bleak Hall Motors.

Friday. 8.a.m. Really very this morning. Storm Arwen about to strike, but according to BBC Breakfast it looks as if it's the north-east of England and Scotland which will be struck the hardest. They show it on the maps on the weather forecast in bright yellow which makes me think of those horrible plastic rain coats you used to have which made you hot and sweaty. Pac-A-Mac? I can't say I remember.

2.00.p.m. I had been waiting in expectation from the garage to ring to tell me they'd finished with the car. Then at midday I just happened to glance at text messages and they had sent a text to say the car was ready to collect. There was no point hanging around, so I walked to Bleak Hall. It has been threatening rain. It took me barely half an hour to walk the distance, and it was paid for and I came home soon after. As I write this, the wind has become stronger. I have taken out a few minutes ago, but as soon as we got outside, and I deposited him on the grass, his majesty turned round and came back inside. I don't blame him, but it was funny. He just doesn't like rain or cold.

Blog Post 1600

So, yet another landmark! This is blog post-1600. Still going strong. I know a lot of what I write is very ordinary, but probably it's that which keeps me writing. 

Thursday. 3.55 p.m. 

I took out Alfie as usual and one round of Oldbrook Green before I had to take the car to Bleak Hall Motors for its MoT. I am somewhat annoyed that some thoughtless person thought it a good idea to break some glass and leave shart shards all over the path at the Evans Gate side of the green. I think it might cause problems with cyclists as glass is likely to puncture their tyres. I managed to avoid it as I didn't want Alfie walking over it and cutting his paws. 

I took the Renault to have its MoT which had been booked for 2.30 this afternoon at Bleak Hall Motors.. I got there around 10 minutes early and they soon had it in the workshop. Barely 45 minutes later I was being informed that it had passed without any problems. I have looked at the certificate and it states that there is light rust on the exhaust. But at least I'm not having to spend out vast amounts to get it through its MoT. Now to wait until November to have it serviced. I will use some of my winter fuel allowance to pay for it as I did last year. I intend to keep it in good order, so service does at least keep things like brake fluid and engine oil replaced and filters replaced.

Friday. 7.15 a.m. The weeks go past at a rapid pace. Can't believe it's Friday again.

I didn't wake up until gone 6.30 this morning. I had a feeling that it had rained overnight, but it was relatively dry when we went out later.

Having done washing I took Alfie out and it was drizzling. You know what I mean, surely? Thin and watery rain (well, rain is watery, but meaning, less than proper rain.) Alife wasn't over-pleased so we went back to the flat. 

2.30 p.m. Really heavy rain as I write this. Alfie really not going anywhere when we went out at around 1.45. Even togged up in his rain gear he wouldn't go further than the door out of Dexter House. Even the workmen building the ark (sorry, bike sheds. Not, not that sort of bike) have given up and gone home. Just too wet.

Later. The rain did ease off later and I was able to take Alfie out. I think he was relieved (in more ways than one. Nothing further to report. So, goodnight Vienna!

A Little Rain

Tuesday. 7.00 a.m.  I woke a good deal later than normal. I seem to be sleeping better since the weather has cooled down. So, after several days of scorching heat, we now have rain. Not exactly heavy, although some areas of the country have had torrential storms and severe flooding. So it was a bit of a surprise to find it dribbling when I took Alfie out. His Nibs didn't seem in the least bit bothered by it.

I have bought a Vax steam cleaner. No, not some sort of steam engine cleaner, but a general domestic appliance to help clean the flat. I ordered it from Very on Friday and it arrived on Monday afternoon. It was straightforward to put the various pieces and I had it running within twenty minutes or so. I gave it a trial, having filled the water tank and I found it very effective in removing grime from the kitchen floor. Far more effective than just a mop and bucket. You know how it is, you spend an age slogging away with a mop,  cleaning the floor, to find when you've finished, that it doesn't look much different than when you started. It takes a fair amount of effort, but I have to say I'm pleased and all done with steam, although you can put detergent liquid in the second tank which helps make its job more efficient.

Wednesday. 3.35 a.m. Another case of waking up in the night and not getting back to sleep. I checked my bank account online to see whether my pension was in. It was. So some payments were made. It just makes you wonder how much easier it is to do these sorts of transactions when you have the internet. How did we manage before the internet? Even being able to check your balance using an A.T.M. was quite revolutionary. I remember the only way to get at your cash in your bank account at one time was to write a cheque and hand it over to the cashier in the bank. In those days the banks closed at 3.30 p.m. and certainly not open on a Saturday morning as they are now (well, probably some aren't. I'm not so sure about that.)

6.15 a.m. It's dry this morning, but I think I heard rain earlier. There was no sign that it had been raining when we went out at around 5.35 a.m. As we walked along the path towards Oldbrook Green I saw one of those electric scooters just left in the way. It seems crazy that they get left in such idiotic places. This one would be in the way for those who can't see properly, anyone with a child in a buggy or even a bicycle being ridden along the path. It was making a buzzing sound as we walked past and then, on the way back it has a flashing light. I presume that these scooters send out a wireless message which tells those that come to pick them up their location.

2.20 p.m. I have got my car booked in for its MoT tomorrow at Bleak Hall Motors at 2.30 p.m. tomorrow, I phoned then just after 8 this morning and I was so pleased that I could get it booked so quickly and for so soon. The test is an hour so I will remain there until it's done. I trust there are no problems, but I was told last year that the emissions would need doing this year in order to pass. I see no reason why it shouldn't. I haven't driven much over the past eighteen or so months, at least, since this pandemic started. Just the occasional jaunt out to church or Sainsbury's, but that's all. The only thing that might be a problem could be the tyres as its been sitting on the drive for so long. I'll just have to wait and see.

 I was surprised yesterday to see a couple of workmen drive up in Strudwick Drive yesterday and unload an assortment of items and then put up a metal fence around it all. I thought it looked like a dinosaur cage, but that was just being rather too imaginative. Then today some day-glow dressed workmen were seen opening up the gates from Strudwick Drive into the community garden belonging to Dexter House. They had a mini digger and a small dumper truck and were starting work on what will be sheds for tenants' electric scooters (no, before you ask, not THAT sort of scooter. The sit-on type.) This work, to build shelters for these machines, was done because the local fire officer has said that these scooters can't be kept within Dexter House. I suppose it makes sense as they could be seen as causing danger if they are in the way if there was a fire. A great deal of too-ing and froing with the dumper truck as the earth was removed and dumped in a huge heap on the grass along Strudwick Drive. It looked to me rather like a very large molehill. Although you'd have to have had a very large mole to create such a molehill, probably the size of a rhinoceros. Much vegetation was also being removed as well as a small shed which was in the area immediately in front of the area below my flat. 

It's Raining!, It's Pouring!

 Saturday. 7.45 a.m. I had a fairly good idea that it was raining this morning and I could see clearly that it was when I looked out of the kitchen window around 6.15. I made sure that I was well dressed for such weather conditions and so I put on my bright yellow raincoat. Alfie has his rain jacket on as we went out into Strudwick Drive. We weren't out more than a minute because no sooner had Alfie had done his wee on the grass than he took us back inside in the dry. You can't blame him really, but as I've said before, he doesn't like getting wet!

Later. 2.15 p.m. I was due to meet up with Nick in the Central Shopping centre at midday. I couldn't drive in as my car is inoperative at the moment, as you would know if you follow my posts regularly. Even though it was raining (and it still is as I write.) I decided to walk as it's no more than a 20-30 minute hike, crossing Oldbrook Green and then through to Avebury Boulevard and then a short walk into the central shopping centre. I noticed as I walked past,  Debenham's unit is to be taken over by Next (Debenhams went into administration a few months ago.) I was wondering what would happen to that unit when they moved out. Now I know. Also, the former House of Fraser unit is now something to do with Harrods, I think it looks like beauty products they sell, having seen as I walked past.

I had to find somewhere to sit. The management of the shopping centre has seen fit to remove virtually all of the seating within the centre to comply with government social distancing regulations because of the pandemic. What seating there is, is extremely limited. I managed to find a place to rest and sent Nick a text to let him know I was near Specsavers. Then a couple came to sit down, the husband was disabled so I let him have my place. I had to find another seat so moved along the centre. Nick appeared and we went to get take out food and coffee from Costa near Marks and Spencer's. We could have ordered using the Costa app which would have probably meant we needn't have to queue. As it was there was a queue outside so we had to wait to get in.

We managed to find a spot to have our coffee, me sitting on one of the vacant seats and nick on the wall nearby. Then we walked to John Lewis. It was surprising how few people there were inside and no queuing outside but I used the hand gel which was provided at the entrance.

By the time we walked back along the shopping centre, it was time for me to walk home. Nick remained a bit longer and then caught his bus back to Northampton. 

Sunday. As the car was inoperative, it meant I couldn't drive to church, so I watched the live feed via Facebook. For some technical reason, the video was somewhat jerky, but the audio was fine.

Monday. 6.55 a.m. A mild morning. Not a great deal happening at the moment and I don't really expect there to be. Slight rain and Alfie didn't intend to stay out any longer than necessary.

Later. I rang Bleakhall Motors after 8 o'clock but the mechanic who was back yesterday won't be back till later today. I'll ring again at 2 o'clock and hopefully, someone will come out and fix the problem. The batter needs testing to check that it isn't something else that is wrong with the electrics, but I still maintain that it's the battery that has failed, not charging so a new one will require installing.

I had a telephone call from one of the doctors at Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre. I was expecting it to be at around 10 a.m. but the call came at 9.30. I have to have a blood test, which is arranged for next Monday, this time to check my kidney function. One of my medications will be dropped as it is responsible for my dry throat and causing the horrible cough I get. No problem with that. I must say, telephone consultations with my doctor is easier via telephone because you don't have to worry about parking or even driving to the surgery.

3.10 p.m. I was expecting to have to telephone Bleak Hall Motors around 2 o'clock, but at 1.45 they actually rang me to say their mechanic was waiting outside, so I rushed downstairs and the mechanic was there with his van. We tried to start the car and he told me it was the battery that was the cause of why the car wasn't starting. He had two replacement batteries in the van. I chose the cheaper one but was surprised at the cost, but there's no point in having a car if you start worrying about running costs and repairs. It was soon fitted and the car run for a while. I later rang Bleak Hall Motors and paid using my bank card and that was that. Another problem solved.

Great Expectations?

(Wednesday) 10.55a.m. I gave this post the title 'Great Expectations?' not realising that it would be more than appropriate. Let me elucidate if I may. I get my pension every 4 weeks, on a Wednesday. I checked on line that the money was in my account and had my shopping list written, ready to go to Sainsbury's as I usually do. On going down to the car and attempting to start it, no life. Even a second and then third attempt- nothing, not a jot, sausage or whatever. I'm not exactly pleased, but blame myself for not taking it out for a run to keep the battery charged. So, quick thinking, I decided to transfer to order on the Sainsbury's website. I imagine that my account would be active, but it turned out it wasn't. So I had to set it up which took some time and then spent around an hour ordering, using the shopping list to help. I had to book a delivery slot and then discovered that I wouldn't be able to get a slot until tomorrow (Thursday- between 9-10p.m. Well, that's not a problem. It just means I will be a little short of some items until it arrives. I have since taken Alfie out and discovered that most of the snow has gone, although it's very cold, so we didn't hang around for long. It now means, having given the car another try to start it, I might have to ring Bleakhall Motors to get the car to start. Not that I really want to, but there really is nothing for it, unfortunately.

(Thursday) It's surprisingly mild this morning. Not sunny at the moment. 

I rang Bleakhall Motors and they weren't sure if they could come out to get the car started. They said they'd probably ring back later. Not being sure one way or the other I wanted to get an idea if anyone else could get it started, so I went on line and found several local mechanics who could come out. I took Alfie out mid-morning and when I got back I thought I would email the first mechanic to find out if they come come out to fix the car, but as I was writing the email I got a phone call from Bleak Hall Motors to say they were sending someone out to sort the car out. I went down to wait by the car and within 5 minutes a red car arrived and the mechanic had the car started really quickly, suggesting to me that there wasn't anything serious with the battery, for example. I went off to drive around Milton Keynes to get the battery charged fully. I will now have to keep on taking it out for drives to continue to keep the battery charged. It's no good having it standing on the drive and going nowhere. I just need to keep it in good working order and not let me down with a flat battery which would allow the car to start.

Later. The delivery window was between 8 and 9p.m. I was hoping that the delivery from Sainsbury's was going to be around 9p.m. But my thoughts on that fact were to be somewhat surprised when I had an idea the van was arriving outside. I peered out of the window, and sure enough, the Sainsbury van was parked below my window. I looked at my watch and it was 7.30, so I went down to meet the driver who was unloading several of the delivery crates onto a trolley and was pushing it towards the entrance to Dexter House. I said 'for Dexter House?' and he said 'yes.' Well, the delivery could have been for any of the other flats or the houses along Dexter Avenue.

The driver bought the crates into my flat and helped unload them onto the various work surfaces in the kitchen and then was on his way. I must say, it was a very efficient service and somewhat easier than going into the store, although at the moment it's about my only other excuse to go out into the world, apart from Sunday morning at church.

(Friday)10.40a.m. Another mild day. I've been for another circuit of Milton Keynes to make sure it's still running properly and the battery charged. Nothing untoward and came back home.

I had a text message from Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre asking me to make a telephone appointment to speak to my doctor as the results have come back regarding last week's scan at the hospital. Trying to get through would be a miracle. How long do they expect you to hang on? Interminable. The recorded voice that comes through after a few seconds tells you that it's possible to make an appointment on line. I went to a great deal of trouble to download the app to my iPad and order my repeat prescriptions through that and there's no problem, but for some unaccountable reason the surgery has disabled the facility whereby you can make an appointment. Begs the question WHY? Would make life easier and simpler, and then I ask why say on the telephone messaging thingy that you can make appointment on-line? Makes me think the right hand doesn't seem to know what the left hand is doing.

12.40p.m. I was settling down to have my mid-morning snack. The television was on and the programme was about paramedics. Interesting to see how they work. Having had several visits from paramedics and how vital they were in helping me when I have had heart attacks and also supporting Carol similarly. Then the screen went blank and a notice came up to inform viewers that a statement had been given to say that HRH Duke of Edinburgh had died this morning. Considering his age, 99, it was really no surprise. The poor woman newsreader who gave the news was finding it quite difficult to keep her emotions under control and actually get the words out.

Sunny, But Windy and Chilly

 So, lockdown version 2 is still continuing. It's meant to end on 2nd December. Let's hope that Christmas can go ahead as normal (well, as 'normal' as can be expected, due to the pandemic.)

It's a sunny but chilly morning. Alfie insisted on me taking him out at around 9 o'clock. I can't believe what I'm seeing. Most of the leaves are off the trees (well, we are almost into December, and barely a month until Christmas.) and the trees are putting on buds. I imagine, because it's so mild, they think it's spring. A sharp frost will either kill them off or slow down their growth. Definitely an odd sort of season.

I've re-subscribed to Netflix. Season four of The Crown has now landed. I watched episode 1 yesterday evening. A glaring error has been made. Princess Anne shown as a show jumper, but she was a three-day eventer and not a show jumper. Considering this show has a budget of some £100 million, I think they could have got their facts right. It's not too difficult to do a search on Google.

Yesterday (Sunday) Alfie and I were walking around Oldbrook Green when we saw Toto and his lady walking torwards us. Toto saw Alfie and ran to meet him. It's great that Alfie has doggie friends, at least one who doesn't bark at him or be otherwise really nasty towards him as some other dogs have a habit of doing.

A mist hanging over Oldbrook Green the other morning, giving a mysterious feel to the view.

(Thursday) I have the car booked in at Bleak Hall Motors for a service. I'm determined to keep the car in good order. I won't be able to a afford another and it's a decent car. I love it and it drives so well. I had messages coming up on the dashboard 'Car requires service in 30 days,' and going down gradually, so I had no choice but to have it done. I don't think it needs much, probably oil changing. It hasn't been on a long journey in ages, It's booked in for Thursday 1st December at 8a.m. The car has been there before, having had it's Mot done back in August, and they're a trustworthy garage.

(Friday) Foggy and overcast for most of the day. I was somewhat surprised when I took Alfie out just after 7 this morning. I was expecting the fog to be gone by midmorning, but it barely shifted.

My FitBit's strap has broken. It came with it when I bought it in John Lewis. It was made of a rubbery substance and it was the buckle which gave up. I bought a far better one from Amazon which is metal and it has a magnet which replaces a buckle and looks much better than the original one and is doing a good job. I trust it lasts longer than the original strap.

(Wednesday) More than a week has passed since my last post. The car went to have it's service yesterday act Bleak Hall Motors. £120 well spent and the oil changed and that confounded light has gone off which told me it needed servicing! Thank goodness. 

I saw a fox this morning when I went out at 7.15 with Alfie. It ran into the garden of Dexter House. This would explain why Alfie is always sniffing around in the hedge which borders the path along Strudwick Drive. I have a feeling I saw a fox (probably the same on.) the other morning, vaguely seen in the half-light of the early morning, crossing Oldbrook Boulevard and going into the playground of the primary school.

(Thursday) A bit of a surprise to find it was raining, although only slightly, when I took out Alfie earlier this morning. Alfie turned tail and decided to go home as he just doesn't appreciate getting wet and even when I took him out with his coat on a bit later (around 9.15.) I got the same reaction. He looks really bedraggled when he gets wet and ran around attempting to dry himself on various bits of furniture when we got back to the flat.

Restrictions On, Then Off and Then . .

Some of the pandemic lockdown restrictions have been lifted. We can now visit 'non-essential' shops, get our hair cut and a certain number of attractions, gardens and so on, have re-opened (I think these include National Trust properties, zoos, etc etc.) But if you visit a shop you need to wear a face covering (supposed to cover your nose and mouth.)

I went into the Milton Keynes main shopping centre to meet my friend Nick who lives in Northampton. Unfortunately not everyone is obeying the social distancing regulations nor is everyone wearing a face mask. I took mine, one of the handful I purchased in Lidl a few weeks ago. I don't particularly like having to wear one as it makes my face hot and my glasses steam up. You can't see people's faces clearly and it would be easy for someone, if they were inclined, to do something criminal, say, rob a bank or be objectionable to staff in a shop, and nobody would be able to recognise them, for example, on C.C.T.V. cameras.

Church is having a picnic on Sunday near Furzton Lakes. I have been attempting to find some sort of folding chair to take with me and went on the internet to have a look. I had hoped that Argos might have had some in stock. I looked at there website and sure enough they had quite a range but when I attempted to buy I kept being told that the Milton Keynes store had none in stock. I had an idea that Tesco would have these types of chairs. Whatever I buy needs to be folding, so that it will fit into the back of the car and then be stored in the flat in a corner.

(Friday) The Renault Captur was due for it's MoT in August. I rang Bleakhall Motors on Wednesday to book it in for this annual test and got an appointment for 4.45 yesterday afternoon. I drove there and the test went ahead. I waited in the waiting area and it was completed by 5.30. Thank goodness it passed without any further expense being necessary but they said that it would need the diesel emissions looking at before next year's test. I imagine it has something to do with the exhaust filter or something so I may ring them and ask what it entails. So, that's another year of driving. The tyres may need air in them, but considering that it hasn't been far in the last five or so months since lockdown, it's no surprise as there can't be much wear on the car in that time.

(Saturday) It seems there is an increase in infections of the coronavirus in some areas of the north of England, so some of the lockdown restrictions have been reintroduced. Some people are unhappy about this, but if we're to return to any semblance of normality then this has to be done. Five months of lockdown and a gradual reduction in infections nationwide. People must just adhere to the regulations and not become lazy, particularly with social distancing.

Unacceptable

(Sunday)I can't believe that people can behave so recklessly. I'm not sure if it's because of the pandemic lockdown, but I see no end of discarded masks and rubber gloves as I walk around Oldbrook Green with Alfie. It's not just that, but some dog owners think it's unacceptable to not clear up after their dogs. This afternoon I took Alfie out, after he kept staring at me, which is usually his way of asking to be let out, and walking along the right-hand side of Oldbrook Green (that is, facing the city centre and away from The Cricketer's, I saw two piles of flytipped rubbish. I don't see why people have to behave in such a reckless manner. I think Milton Keynes Council has enough to contend with at the moment without this sort of thing and I hope they get caught and fined, because it must cost a considerable amount of Council Tax to pay for it's removal and disposal and, with the coronavirus pandemic it's putting people's lives at risk having to deal with it. Also, there is the environmental aspect to consider. It attracts rats and other vermin and that in itself is going to have a health risk.

(Monday) I took photographs of the fly-tipped rubbish with my Canon digital camera and uploaded them onto Nextdoor, the social media site. I wrote a brief description of where it was and very quickly I got a response and someone contacted Campbell Park Parish council, who administer this area. This morning, as I walked past with Alfie, I saw it had been removed and close by, the workers clearing up other rubbish and litter. No doubt it was them who removed it and put it in their vehicle which was parked close by. There were hi-vis clad workmen elsewhere picking up litter. It's a real disgrace that people have to behave in such a thoughtless fashion, but it's good that this has been resolved and speedily so as to avoid any vermin getting into it or before it starts deteriorating which would make it more difficult to clear up.

I have this morning given Alfie a bath, basically because he is getting really mucky and a bit smelly. It's to be expected with a dog with a longish coat, which really needs grooming, but this isn't possible under the current pandemic lockdown restrictions. Also, being little and closer to the ground, he does tend to pick up mud and grime as well as getting bits of twig and leaves stuck in his coat. He doesn't like water particularly, but I think he enjoys the drying process because he gets a lot of attention. I had him on my knee in the bathroom and rubbed him dry with a towel and the he started running around the lounge, bouncing on and off the sofa and is now curled up in his pile of blankets on the sofa. His coat has gone all curly as a result of being wet.

I've now heard that a letter with an address was found in the pile of fly-tipped rubbish which means the perpetrator of this disgraceful incident will not be found and hopefully receive their just reward, probably a fairly hefty fine. It should be quite hight and then given some sort of media mention as a deterrent to others who might think it's acceptable.

(Wednesday) It's sunny but quite chilly this morning. Up and out with Alfie early and we walked round Oldbrook Green.

It looks as if the lockdown restrictions are going to be relaxed. Not a complete return to 'normal,' meaning how life was before the pandemic. I can't see how it can be, but from what I saw on the press conference on BBC1 last evening, it would appear that the number of recorded incidents of people with the virus as well as those who have died is beginning to flatten out. Mind you, there is far too much coverage of the pandemic and it's becoming to the point of saturation coverage.

I had intended going shopping in Sainsbury's this morning and I'd made a very detailed list to take with me and to speed up the actual shopping process and hopefully avoid the time actually in the store, but when I went to start the car I found it wouldn't start. It is most likely because the car has been sitting on the parking space and not being driven as it would normally, but because of the pandemic lockdown I haven't driven to church or to Camphill for a few weeks. I gave it a couple more attempts but nothing, so I rang Bleakhall Motors and they said they'd ring back in around an hour, and, as good as their word, someone came out and got the car started. I don't know how, but he had some sort of gadget, I don't know what it was, but it did the trick and was told I would need to drive around for about half an hour to boost up the battery's charge, which is what I did and drove part-way to Buckingham, going round one of the roundabouts and headed back into Milton Keynes. I will probably have to take the car out each day to keep it in running order, because I really don't want this to happen again in the near future. A lesson learnt.

I considered ordering via the Sainsbury's website, and did an order, but then discovered that I couldn't get a delivery slot because almost every one was taken for several weeks into the future. They have given preferential treatment to those who are 'vulnerable,' and I don't fit into this category, unfortunately. I'm wondering how they class someone as vulnerable, to the Covid-19 virus, as I would have thought I would have fitted this category as I have had two heart attacks, but apparently I don't come under this umbrella so I can't order food on-line, but it's fine for me to put myself at risk of the infection if I visit a supermarket.

(Saturday) I'm continuing with the photography project. I had a good excuse to take the car out and went along Chaffron Way and saw some poppies on the verge and decided they would be a good subject for said project, so I parked in Fishermead and walked back but, strangely, couldn't find the aforementioned poppies as it's quite a difficult matter to find a route through the trees and nettles, but in the process found quite a wide range of plants and flowers to photograph. Once I'd managed to take as many shots as possible I went back to the car and drove down Chaffron Way as if I was going to Camphill and eventually came back through the centre of Milton Keynes. It's so strangely free of traffic, except for the occasional vehicle, making it seem more like a Bank Holiday or even a Sunday, all due to the lockdown.

Alfie was expecting to have another outing so we went out along Strudwick Drive. On crossing Oldbrook Boulevard and onto the Green, I was shocked by the sight of a man, dressed in red football strip, having a wee behind a hedge, well, not even BEHIND it, standing on the road-side and making no attempt to hide. I have seen most things, but the sight of someone relieving themselves in this blatant fashion is quite unbelievable and actually quite unacceptable and I think if he was seen doing so by a passing police officer it is likely he would have been prosecuted for unacceptable behaviour. Not something one would wish to see in 'polite society' as they say.

Haircut and Car Service

(Monday) A bright but chilly morning. I took out Alfie before 6. I rang Bleak Hall Motors a little after 8 and got the car booked in for it's annual service tomorrow (Thursday). I'll have to get it there for 8 tomorrow and get a taxi back to the flat because I don't want to have to sit and wait there for hours and hours whilst it's being done. The Renault has this annoying computerised system with a digital screen right in front of my eyeline as I'm driving, with the annoying message that keeps reading 'Service now due,' with an orange light which remains on with a spanner symbol, in case I'm in any doubt that this work is required. Well, it's not driving at full capacity because of needing work doing, so I'll be glad when it's done, in time to drive to Worcester for Christmas with Chloe, Steve and the grandchildren. I'm looking forward to going, even if it's not for as long as last year.

A little later I drove into the city centre and parked near The Point (it really is looking terrible. I know I've mentioned it before, but this iconic building, which was the pride of Milton Keynes in the 1980's when it was one of the first multiplex cinemas in Britain, but now is an empty wreck, and the pyramid is just a rusting shell. Please, someone, do something with it, even if it's to demolish it and build something else on the site. Driving into Milton Keynes at night from Bedford you could see if from  distance as it was lit up.) I was going to the Central Barbers in the shopping centre to get my hair cut. They don't open until 9.30, so I had a good 15-minute wait, sitting on the seats conveniently placed outside. Getting chilly, but it's interesting to see the people who walk past. The Middleton Hall is now completely taken over with the traditional Christmas display. It seems somewhat mundane. It used to be excellent, with some sort of theme, one year it was pirates, or was it Peter Pan, with  large masted ship, with Peter Pan standing on it. But they seem to have run out of ideas or at least, originality, and it's just a sort of large-scale snow-dome in the middle, with Santa's grotto somewhere and a excuse to make money out of parents when there children insist on visiting.

Eventually got into Central Barbers and was sitting in the chair having my hair cut (so, what else would I be doing? No surprises there.) Very pleased with the result and soon paying and back out and walking back along the shopping centre and taking £20 out of the A.T.M. at the Nationwide Building Society, because I will need the cash to pay for a taxi once I've dropped off the car at Bleak Hall Motors tomorrow morning. Then, once the car is finished being serviced, I can get another taxi back home to the flat.

From the shopping centre I drove to Bradwell Common to do some shopping in Aldi's. Of the two discounters, Lidl and Aldi, I think I prefer Aldi. I'm not sure why, but they have a better range. I like the fact that there's no fiddling about at the checkout. The way they whisk the items through and you can pack your items on a shelf rather than actually at the checkout is a good idea and the way they put larger barcodes on each item is brilliant. They don't spend an age searching for tiny barcodes that you get on the products on any of the larger supermarkets such as Sainsbury or Tesco. And the bill is usually a good deal cheaper. Probably around a third of what it would cost in Sainsbury's.

Then home and unpacking shopping and one small Yorkshire terrier desperate to go out for a walk. You can't really avoid his gaze, or his yapping when he thinks it's time to go out. So, lead on, shoes on and out walking along Srudwick Drive. As we near Oldbrook Green, I notice a large black crow on the grass. It is standing near a discarded  clear plastic package, no doubt containing food that some thoughtless person has thrown there, having eaten the contents and not bothering to put it in a rubbish bin. The crow is having a good time, tapping the package with it's long, sharp beak. I stand and watch, totally intrigued by the antics of the crow. I manages to turn the box over and it attempts to gain entry by stabbing it with it's beak. It doesn't manage to get inside, although from where I'm watching I can't see if it has the remains of food inside. So why is it going through this business? Can it smell the remains of the food, or is it merely playing with this shiny item it has come across? who knows, but it makes good entertainment and I only wish I had my mobile with me to be able to video this incident. We walk on, to traverse the park, but by the time we walk past where I saw the crow with the plastic package, there was no sign of the bird. It probably lost interest and merely flew away. It just goes to show how intelligent these birds are.

(Thursday) I couldn't sleep last night. Nothing wrong, but just awake at around 2 a.m. I have sleeping tablets but the doctor gave me some new ones and says they can be addictive, so I'm reluctant to take them and I was concerned that I would be sleepy this morning because in the leaflet you get with them it says. 'Do not drive or use machinery if you feel sleepy the next morning.' It also makes me laugh when you get the label on the box they come in which say 'Can make you feel drowsy or sleepy.' Well, there's a surprise! Sleeping tablets which make you feel sleepy. Just tell me, what do they put on packets of Viagra? No . . . please don't reply to that! Just amuses me that now you can have Viagra without a prescription (incidentally, I can't have it because of my heart medication. And funnily enough, it was created for the treatment of heart problems, ironically.) Anyway, whenever I go to collect my medication from Lloyd's pharmacy in Sainsbury's, there's advertising all over the place for Viagra. You can't miss it.

I've taken the car to Bleak Hall Motors for it's service, which I managed to book by ringing them yesterday morning, as mentioned above. I got there in good time, gave the keys to reception and got a taxi home, because it's going to take around half a day to do the service. Then, when I got hack I immediately took Alfie out for a walk around Oldbrook Green.

For a couple of days, when I've been out with Alfie around Oldbrook Green, I've been stopped by a woman who keeps asking for money. At first I thought it might be for something like the use of a phone, but there's no telephone box anywhere to be seen. You just don't see the iconic BT telephone boxes any more, probably because most people have a mobile phone. She asked me for £1.50, but at this time I had no change on me. I don't usually carry change of any kind when I'm out with Alfie. Then, yesterday, she was out near the road crossing from Strudwick Drive over Oldbrook Boulevard. This time she wanted £2.50, but, again, I didn't have any change. She was standing in the road and I had to tell her to move out of the way because there were cars attempting to get past. This is when I thought that perhaps she wasn't mentally stable. It made me wonder whether she was from a residential home or perhaps from the Campbell Centre, which is part of Milton Keynes Hospital. By this time she was stopping cars and asking for cash, and there was a build-up of several cars because she was talking to one of the drivers. I don't know whether she got the cash she was asking for. She was well dressed, didn't look in any sort of distress, so it was unclear why she was behaving like this. When I lived in Bedford there were a couple of people who used to stand and constantly ask for cash. One became quite aggressive and had to be given a court order which prevented him being a nuisance, because he was putting off customers to certain businesses in the town centre. I don't know how they managed to stop either of these people being what were, in effect, aggressive beggars. I can't think where the woman came from, but presumably somewhere within the Oldbrook area of Milton Keynes.

Later. I got the call to tell me the car was ready for collection at just gone 11 o'clock. I rang for a taxi so I waited outside in the road and around 5 minutes later it turned up. I was somewhat surprised that the driver couldn't find Bleak Hall Motors. I was always under the impression that taxi drivers knew virtually every place in the town they operated in, but this wasn't the case with this driver. We eventually found it (I usually drive in from the opposite end. It's in a sort of service road and can be tricky to negotiate because of lorries parked all the way along and some pulling out of the various units along it's entire length.) I was somewhat shocked that the cost of the service was considerably more than anticipated, but they have done a good job, changing the oil, topping up water, brake fluid and replacing some parts, so it's done for another year. It will leave me rather short of cash for the rest of the month, but I will have to manage. I can't have the car not running efficiently, breaking down or not working properly, what with the winter weather coming up, so, in the end, it was worth it.

A Mixed Bag

(Saturday) This year is the 50th Wedding Anniversary (Golden) of Mike and Margaret Jobling, two of the loveliest people I know, and members of Shenley Christian Fellowship, both of whom have supported me throughout the ordeal of watching Carol suffer and eventually die from bowel cancer. On Saturday there was a tea party at the Oaktree Centre and I was invited. I have to say it was quite difficult for me in respect that Carol and myself only had 11 years together, ended so tragically as I have mentioned. Someone had gone to a great deal of time and effort to set up tables in the main hall, all with food set out beautifully on each, sandwiches, scones, jam and clotted cream, cakes of all descriptions and the whole decorated with golden decorations. A really lovely afternoon.

(Monday)I needed to get the car to Bleak Hall Motors for 8.30. I got there earlier and they were open. Thinking about it now, I wasn't sure they said they were open at 8.00 or 8.30. It didn't matter because it was soon signed in and they seemed to get it in the workshop and up on a lift and they had to order spare parts. It cost far more than I anticipated, but the work was needed as it was for one of the brakes. I was told last year when it was MoT'd that the brakes on one of the wheels (don't ask me which one, because I have no idea.) so, if it's gone a whole year without any problems, then it hasn't really cost much when I work it out. It has, unfortunately, got to go back before November to have a timing belt done. (No, I don't know what it does. But according to the poster in the garage waiting area it can be damaged because of the Captur being diesel and the test can damage it. Again, don't ask me how or why, because my knowledge of the engine in cars in very limited. I only drive a car, and I'm certainly not a motor mechanic. Fortunately the drive to Bleak Hall at that time in the morning was fairly straightforward. It can be extremely busy long Standing Way at that early hour although the traffic going in the opposite direction was heavy and was building up from the Watling Street direction.

The car was having brakes fixed, so I just had to sit and wait in the waiting area. Around 2 hours. I'm not the best person when it comes to waiting, I'll be perfectly honest. A television on, as you often get in waiting areas, wherever you are, but they were bleating on about Brexit, and if I hear any more about it I'm likely to scream. I'm glad they've closed down parliament for 5 weeks so at least it's not going to be on television every time I turn on the news. I had my iPhone with me and listened to a podcast about the Anglo Saxons, which was really interesting, some Cambridge University academic. The podcast which goes with BBC History Magazine which I subscribe to, so the time wasn't entirely wasted. And somewhat related to the book I'm currently reading about the Norman Conquest which is excellent.

Tuesday. Camphill as usual. Teo was interviewed by a man who turned up minutes after I arrived. I thought it was for radio, but it was soon revealed that it was a podcast. I don't know where it's going to be available, but as I listen to the occasional podcast, I would be interested to hear, but don't know when it will be available. While he was engaged on that, the rest of the guys did a run of 'Stranger Danger' and then Teo appeared. He's going to be away on holiday for several weeks and has left instructions for us. After tea break three of us were working away from the rehearsal, sitting at a table in the foyer area. We are working on ideas for a new theatre piece, not sure what form it's going to be, but Teo gave us a folder with pieces of poetry and scripts to read to see if any sparked any ideas. At this point I'm not sure of this at all and don't really have any concepts for anything. We'll have to wait and see, but it's better than just watching the rehearsal and not being involved.

Because there was training for the residents at Camphill, followed by a community assembly, there was no further drama workshop, but Teo took us down to the costume store, because when he is on holiday we will be sorting out and cleaning this room. Then I went home because there was nothing for me to stay for after lunch. I drove home and had lunch and, because it was so warm and sunny, I decided to take Alfie for a walk, but made a determined effort I wanted to go a different route, walking along the Redway past the Academy and then towards the Four Bridges roundabout and crossed over Chaffron Way and then Saxon Street and kept walking down towards the Grand Union Canal and walked along the towpath and back to Peartree Bridge and then back onto the Redway towards Eaglestone and home. All told, yesterday, we walked around 5 miles, which was with all the walking, first thing, during the day and after yesterday's afternoon walk.

It's becoming quite autumnal. It's a good deal chillier early when I take Alfie out for his walk and there are signs of fallen leaves, although, looking out of the lounge window at the moment (8.35 a.m.) there are still leaves on the trees at the end of the garden and seen over the fence.

Weather- Wet and Windy

(Wednesday)The blasts of autumn are upon us. I woke in the early hours of the morning and I was almost certain it was raining. I sprung from my bed (I exaggerate somewhat, I know. Poetic licence is what it's called.), drew aside the curtains and, lo, it was raining! At that early hour, around 3.30, there was no chance of taking Alfie for his routine walk around Eaglestone Park. Try as I might, I could not get to sleep, so I decided to go downstairs and switch on the television. I'm not so sure it was such a good idea. Talk of Brexit. At the moment, whenever the television news comes on, I switch over. Politicians bickering is one thing, but within their own parties, what is the sense? It would appear that the Tories lost a vote or something, a lot of MP's lost the Whip because they voted for a piece of legislation which would prevent a No Deal Brexit. The EU must be more flexible, if it ever can be, what's wrong with a bit of common sense and compromise? What's with the so-called 'Backstop,'? Something to do with the Northern Ireland border with the Republic of Ireland (which is in the EU.) So, could someone please explain how it is that a country, such as Switzerland, which isn't in the EU, manages it's borders with those country which surrounds it, which are within the EU? There must be quite a few other countries in a similar situation, I can't name many, but who aren't in the EU, but next to member states. I think this situation regarding the Northern Irish border can be resolved amicably and it's just an excuse to keep us forever shackled to the EU. I don't remember this matter being mentioned during the run-up to the referendum in 2016, so why has it come up more recently?

(Thursday) I have had to ring Ashfield Medical Centre because the diazepam are coming to the end of their course. As I only get ten in a packet, it's a question of having to get another prescription and I was told that I should have a review before I can have more. I rang at 8.10 and was more than surprised that not only were the lines open but that I got through in record time. I had to wait for a doctor to ring back and I have to see Doctor Haye at 10 tomorrow morning.  I am keen to get a skip to use to clear out the small bedroom and other bits and pieces before I can move out of this house. I am somewhat shocked to learn that it will cost at least £160, which will make a huge hole in my bank account and which I can't really afford. So, because of this I thought I'd go to Bleak Hall Motors to get the brakes on the car dealt with. I rang the other morning and was told to just bring it in, but on arrival this morning, they said there were eight other cars being dealt with. I could have waited, but it's booked in for Monday morning at 8.30. From there I drove to the Oaktree Centre because the café is now up and running. I had tea and a really scrummy bacon and sausage sandwich and, speaking to John, who runs the café, mentioned the cost of hiring a skip, and he's offered to help because he has a trailer and will come to help me on the Saturday after Willen Furniture Warehouse come to collect the various items (as mentioned in th last blog post.) So, that is another problem solved.

I started off this blog post by describing the weather as 'the blasts of autumn,' (a good expression, worthy of Shakespeare, I reckon. Thinking about it, I wonder if he had got there before me, but never mind.) But as I sit in the lounge writing this on my MacBook Air, I can see out of the window into the garden (if that space can be termed 'garden.' I think not. Just a fenced-in space with grass in, a ratty, tatty, crumbling shed and several yards of washing line stretched across the grass.) and that the sun is shining and it's really quite warm.

Went to Sainsbury's this afternoon and a large area is closed off for a re-fit. It's the area where the TU clothing is the focus, also, the household items, such as kitchen equipment. It must be difficult for stores to do a re-fit without totally disrupting things, by keeping other areas open to shoppers. All will be revealed in the fullness of time, as they say. I have to say it's somewhat annoying when you go shopping, especially if you go to the same supermarket as I do with Sainsbury's, you get used to the layout, you know exactly where items you regularly shop for are within the store and then suddenly, without any sort of warning, it's all moved around and you can't find what you want. They've done that in the pet food aisle. The cat food is where the dog food used to be. But WHY? I think it's to confuse the shopper, so you have to go and hunt for whatever it was you were looking for. Very annoying.

(Friday) I was more than ever determined not to get out of bed quite so early. There really is no need to be up and about at 6a.m., but it's convincing Alfie of this fact. I took my time, getting dressed, shaved etc etc and sorted some washing and we were out at around 7.a.m. I'm annoyed that the Fitbit has failed. (See next blog post.) so the number of my steps are not measured. Oh well, such is life! Let me finish this off and get it published.

Turn on the television to discover that Robert Mugabe has died, former President and tyrant of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia.) Makes a change from depressing news about Brexit.

Car Passes MoT

I'm somewhat relived that the car, my beloved Renault Captur, has passed it's MoT. I took it to Bleak Hall Motors in good time, arriving at 12.45, a good 15 minutes before the time it was booked in for. I sat and read my book, Breaking The Code, Gyles Brandreth's Westminster Diaries, from the early 1990's until well into the 2000s. It's actually a signed copy which I bought, I think, from Postscript, an on-line and catalogue bookseller which has good discounts on the books it sells. I have always liked Mr Brandreth, a good presenter of a range of television programmes such as 'The One Show,' and he's into subjects that I like, such as words, literature and being on Radio Four panel shows such as 'Just A Minute.'  I was told that the brakes on the Captur will need work doing, so I think I will book it in sometime next month, although the timing belt needs replacing.

I've just finished reading 'Zippy and Me,' by Ronnie Le Drew.  The book was crowd-funded and published by a company called Unbound.  I payed £30 and part of this went into the fund to produce and publish the book and all the ancillary work that would be needed to get it produced and I got my own, signed, copy, which arrived in the post about two weeks ago. I have a passing connection with Mr Le Drew, because in 1971, after I worked as an A.S.M. at Liverpool Playhouse, I needed work and eventually went to work as a technician, not exactly stage management, but near enough, working for the puppet company run by John Blundell, at the Midlands Arts Centre at Canon Hill Park, Birmingham. Ronnie was one of the puppeteers and it was from that job, operating a follow-spot on one of the shows, it might have been their production of Pinocchio or Peter and The Wolf, that I got interested in puppetry and my career (such as it was) took off in a slightly different direction. It's quite a difficult job, operating a lime (follow-spot), purched up high above the auditorium in the Studio Theatre at the Arts Centre, and attempting to follow various puppets with the light. It was a 'black theatre' production, which means the puppeteers are swathed from head to toe in black, even their faces are covered by black gauze, so that the audience can't see them, but the puppets are lit in such a way that they stand out clearly. I had to be able, at various points in the play, to turn off the follow-spot, and at another point, put it back on and accurately manage to pick out a specific puppet a bit later on, but do it in such a way so as not to illuminate the operator, no mean feat. Staring with concentration on a circle of light for any length of light tends to have a quite bad effect on your eyesight and you soon have blobs of light in your eyes for quite some time afterwards, which makes accuracy with a hot followspot, which needs to be kept at the correct angle otherwise it can tilt down, although you have handles on the back and sides to hold on to and knurled knobs which allow you to screw them up to make the thing stable.

I might have been a  trainee lighting assistant (I don't think I was exactly) and the man in charge of the lighting was a bit of a prankster. I was no more than 20, and what you would call 'green.' He would clamber up a ladder or onto one of those platforms that wheel about the stage, I think it's called a cherry picker, for he purpose of adjusting the lighting above he stage, or to take out the bulbs in several of the lights. I was detailed to stand below, presumably to steady the ladder, and he would undo a bulb and then throw it down to me below, where I was supposed to catch it. Much larger bulbs than your average domestic bulb and probably a good deal more expensive, so if I dropped the bulb, heaven forbid, I was in real trouble, but this never happened, fortunately. I also helped with the making of some of the puppets, which were going to be used in the next production which was a show based on two Hans Christian Andersen stories, The Emperor's New Clothes and The Steadfast Tin Soldier. The other puppeteer who went on to become well known was called David Claridge. I seem to remember it was he who designed the sets and puppets for the Hans Andersen double bill. He was responsible for creating and operating Roland Rat, saviour of TV-AM and the character went on himself to have his own television series in the 1980s.

I would have liked to have become a puppeteer there and then, but, first, there were no vacancies in the company, and, secondly, I wasn't a trained actor, because of learning lines and having some sort of experience of performance (apart from a few 'walk-on' bits-and-pieces when I was a Student A.S.M. at the Everyman, but certainly nothing concrete. So, if I wanted to become a puppeteer I would need to work for a company which used a pre-recorded soundtrack of the dialogue and work the puppets to that tape. Not always a particularly good way to work puppets, because once a recording is made it is 'fixed,' which means you can't vary each performance for the different audiences you would be playing to. In a 'live' performance, as with any play, the actors can vary the speed of their delivery when there is an audience reaction, for example, if they laught at a specific line, and would vary from performance to performance.

Change For Change Sake

I've been to Bleak Hall Motors after 9 this morning (Thursday) to book the Renault Captur in to have it's annual MoT. I discovered that the current MoT runs out on 8th August, so it's as well I had thought to have it done. It's booked in to be done at 1p.m. on Monday. I just hope it doesn't need much doing to it to pass. I have a feeling that the brakes might need doing as last time it was MoT'd they said one was in need of replacing. The other thing I was told was that, because it's a diesel car, the timing belt will need replacing before December, another expense, but it has to be done. It has something to do with how the pistons are timed. It can't be left, but with my financial situation, it will have to be done in the next month after my pension has gone into my account. It will cost around £300 or so.

As I was driving along Standing Way, going to Bleak Hall and was turning right on the roundabout, a car very nearly hit me, speeding across without stopping. Another couple of feet and he would have hit me. No wonder my nerves are a wreck after driving. Stupid idiot, it's people like him who make the roads a battlefield and are responsible for high motor insurance premiums. I wouldn't be surprised if this youth, because I saw him as he sped by, doesn't have any insurance, so if he had hit me, goodness knows what would have happened. Scary.

From Bleak Hall I drove to Sainsbury's. I had to collect medications I only recently ordered over the phone, one of them being Diazepam. I was surprised that the Bisoprolol which had only been ordered a day or so ago was ready for collection. I have heard from the pharmacist at Lloyd's that the procedure for ordering will be changing in September. I won't be able to order as I currently do, by merely ringing Lloyd's and giving them the medications on my repeat list. They contact Ashfield Medical Centre to get the doctor to provide the prescription, which is signed and then emailed to the pharmacy. But from September I will have to order direct from Ashfield. I can set up an on-line account with the surgery and use that to order what I need to have on repeat. It worries me that this isn't going to work. I don't think I trust the system. I will be on edge that if I order that the surgery will get the order and then contact Lloyd's to make up the order. I feel sorry for the older patients who don't have access to the internet, let alone a computer, and wouldn't have any idea how to use one, so how are they expected to reorder their repeat medications? Does it mean they have to go to the surgery and make a paper order? Am I expected to do that? Why change a system which is working so well? It has been so easy, just to ring in my order, which I do when there are enough days for order to go through before my stock runs out. Some crazy pen-pusher somewhere, with no idea of the dress and upset this will cause seems they have to change things for change sake. If enough people were to complain I reckon it could be left alone. It's the people who waste such things as appointments, make them and never actually go to them, wasting N.H.S. resources in a really negative fashion.

Friday. Noon. It's a bright and sunny day. But the sun keeps going in and out. One minute, Bright, the next, it clouds over. Never mind. I'm actually bored silly. If Carol was here, we'd be going out and about, to Whipsnade, probably London, one of the National Trust properties, Wimpole Hall perhaps. But she's not, and my life's empty. I mustn't get myself upset, but it's days like these when the loneliness is the worst.

This morning I was planning to go to the Oaktree Centre to sample the food in the newly-opened café. One of Shenley Christian Fellowship members, Tim O'Brien is part of a musical group called Fadin' Shoes. It was he who drove me to the John Radcliffe Hospital to have my stent fitted. I drove out of Eaglestone at around 11.40 which would have given me plenty of time to get to Shenley, but, driving down Chaffron Way, the road ahead, at the roundabout where it intersects with Fulmer Street, there was a road sign in red stating quite clearly 'Road Closed, and a gang of workmen, presumably resurfacing the road. There was absolutely no advance warning as I drove along Chaffron Way, so this came as rather a shock, to say the least. I turned left and came to Standing Way and eventually got onto Watling Street and drove as far as Childs Way with the intention of hopefully getting into Chaffron Way further up towards Morrisons at Westcroft, but even that road was closed off at the roundabout at the intersection with Fulmer Street. So, not feeling very happy that my day had been ruined, I decided to head home along Fulmer Street and get home. Annoyed isn't the word, because I have wanted to listen go the music and have something to eat in the newly-opened café which has been a long time in the planning.

Car Serviced

This blog post refers to events of over a week ago. Basically because of things the way they are, which will become apparent in my next post, I just haven't had the will to write anything, but now I think I'm able to continue with this blog.

As explained in the last blog post, I had to get the Renault Captur looked at because it wasn't running as well as it should. On Saturday morning I drove to Bleak Hall Motors to have it serviced. I arrived on their forecourt at 7.50. Not much traffic so it was fairly staightforward. It was getting closer to 8 o'clock. Other customers were turning up. Well, they couldn't be staff because they came to stand at the entrance of the garage. A few staff came in cars and parked to the rear of the building. 8 o'clock passed and still the front of the building which has the reception desk in it, remained shut. Once the mechanics had arrived, they took down details of each customer so that they could start on working on each person's car which had been booked in, mine included.

They eventually opened up the reception area so those waiting could sit in comfort, me included. There was no point in me going home as I'd only have to walk or get a taxi and I had bought plenty to read, including my Kindle which I soon got connected via free wi-fi at Bleak Hall and at one point watched the final episode of 'Blackadder Goes Forth' which I've seen on several occasions, but even after seeing it before it still brings a tear to the eye. Good comedy which goes from being screamingly funny one moment to deeply tragic the next. You know what's coming, but it's extremely profound and says more about the futility of war than a great many other plays, books and discussions about the First World War.

I got told, after an hour or so, that one of the front tyres on the Captur was worn, probably due to all the roundabouts in Milton Keynes. It would beed replacing, so I decided to go ahead and have it replaced whilst I was at the garage. No point having it there if it wasn't done so I let them do the job.

Anyway, after three hours the car's service was complete. I paid, and drove off and it was great to have it back, in better working order than it was before it went into Bleak Hall Motors.

Driving and other Motoring Matters

I needed to buy fuel for the car as the tank has run quite low, with all the driving to Willen and other places over the past few weeks. The Renault Captur is an extremely economical car and a full tank usually lasts over a month or more. So I decided to drive to the Shell station on Grafton Street, at around 9.15 this morning, making sure that most of the morning traffic had subsided. It's surprising how busy it gets around Milton Keynes just before 9 o'clock. Almost gridlock along many of the roads around Eaglestone and into the centre.

I drove out of the estate and came out near the Eaglestone shops. It's easier than trying to get out onto Saxon Street which is actually the nearest exit, but to turn right can be an impossibility when the traffic is heaviest. Usually if you turn left and then get to the roundabout on Standing Way, you can double back on yourself and came back onto Saxon Street, but it can be very busy on Standing Way, but in Milton Keynes you can always do this manoeuvre if you get lost, just get to th next roundabout and go back the way you came. So, I came out onto Chaffron Way and drove towards Grafton Street with the intention of getting to the Shell petrol station. But when i got there I discovered it was closed off 'for renovations,' or 'modernisation.' I had no alternative, I needed fuel, so I decided to drive on to the Shell station directly opposite so drove on to the roundabout on Standing Way and so drove around to the other Shell station. On arriving there, I had to drive to the furthest pump, but then discovered that the diesel pump had a notice on it, saying, out of use. Somewhat frustrating, I had no alternative but to try a pump further back on the forecourt, but it's a 'one-way' system in these petrol stations. You can't reverse to get to the pumps further back, so I chose to drive out back onto Grafton Street and drive to the next roundabout on Chaffron Way and then double back onto Grafton Street and drive back round the roundabout on Standing Way and end up at the first pumps at the Shell station, only to find that all pumps that served diesel were 'out of use.' Where else was I to obtain diesel? I chose to drive towards the city centre and use the BP station next to the Xcape on Childs Way. So, quite a long detour around Milton Keynes, along Saxon street and then right onto Childs Way. When I got there I could hear the most appalling sound, someone using one of those leaf-blowing machines. A rather pointless exercise, in my opinion. Just blowing leaves and other rubbish, out of the way, and not picking anything up.

I managed to fill up sufficiently with diesel and then returned home. I had to collect some things before heading off to Willen to see Carol.

The car has been playing up for quite some time. A light has been coming on and a digital message on the dashboard, telling me the car is in need of a service. I'm not getting full power from the car. It's not responding as it should. The journey over to Willen, although not particularly long, is quite difficult. I realise the car is in need of some sort of maintenance, perhaps a service, with a change of oil, filters and a retune. So when I leave Willen at about 1.40 I decide to check the bank balance at the Eaglestone shops where there's a convenient A.T.M. machine and then drive to Bleak Hall Motors, who did the MoT. On arrival I explain what the problem is with the car and one of the mechanics says  that, because it's a diesel car, it might be something to do with driving on short journeys. Not sure how they could fix this. He takes it out for a test run to find out what I'm on abut, and when he comes back he says, because the light is on permanently on the dashboard, it just needs a service, so I manage to book it in for this Saturday at 8 a.m. I'm surprised that they remember my name, which is what you don't often get nowadays with any business, which makes me feel a bit more comfortable with taking the car to this particular garage. So I feel happier that they can resolve the problems with the running of the car and it will hopefully be fixed on Saturday, probably taking two hours or so after which I can go over to see Carol in Willan Hospice.

It's quite foggy today when I drive to Garroways later this morning. An almost typical November morning. The weather forecast on BBC Breakfast says that we can expect it to get colder as the week progresses. Oh well, what do you expect as the winter draws on? 

More Weird Sports

So, we've spent the last couple of weeks watching the European Championships 2018, mostly from Glasgow, but some from Berlin. So, how weird is it to have something like this from two cities, hundreds of miles apart? Just think of the coordination. We turned on the television to be confronted by what was called a 'Walking Race'. Really? They didn't look as if they were walking to me, more like waddling. Who on earth invented this strange contest? Over, wait for it, 24 km? Did I read that right? What's that in miles? I don't know, but it certainly wasn't walking. If I was to walk like that, I'd get an awful stitch, or my hips would ache. Then, apparently, they had two events of this sort at the same time, the men and women. How did that happen? Something to do with there being an incident with gas or something. But it just looked so odd. Is it me, or was it odd? It was, no doubt. How come none of them just began to run? I know, it wouldn't be in the rules, but walking? Doesn't make any sense at all.  Then, a bit later, the B.M.X. something-or-other. Young men, on bicycles which looked far too small for them (most of them must have been around my height, around 6ft plus, on bicycles that looked to me as if they were build for children), then they hurl themselves down a very steep slope (!) and then bounce around jumping over what look like little more than concrete-coated waves, along the course, going round in circles. Land badly and you ruin your chances of fatherhood. No, seriously, or have a nasty accident, which several of them did. I just hope the saddles on those bikes were comfortable, although, most of the time, they didn't actually sit down on them, a bit like jockeys in horse races, when they don't actually sit in the saddles on those horses, sort of perched at a rather peculiar angle on top of their mounts. 

The decathlon is another event which is quite entertaining ( more than 'quite.' It's very entertaining.) Who invented this? Swimming, running and then cycling? None of the different 'parts' is exactly a walk in the park. Figuratively or literally. I mean, a run, swim, or cycle in a rather attractive Glasgow country park. Makes football look more like a game of tiddlywinks by comparison. And none of these competitors earn a penny, unlike those footballers who earn telephone numbers. Crazy. They'd have a hissy fit if they so much as got mud on their over-sponsored football boots. In the olden days, back in the mists of time, footballers earned realistic salaries and then had proper jobs in factories or coal mines and played football as a sort of hobby at the weekend.

Thinking again about the road races. I'm intrigued by the camera-work involved. No, really. The actual racing is fantastic, which is odd for me, particularly as I'm not really that interested in sport, particularly those sports that go on interminably, such as tennis, or cricket or, for that matter, football. The last lot we saw, was it during the World Cup from Russia, a couple of weeks ago, (although most of it I watched whilst looking at email or other stuff on my MacBook laptop.) I have to say, looked really bland and could have just as well been a computer simulation or a computer game. The grass looks unfeasibly green and more like astro turf of even fitted carpet and all that advertising that they had all around the pitch was a real distraction. What I meant to say, before I digressed, was the way they shot the events for television. They had a sort of camera fitted to a line stretched across the course, and a camera ran along this line, which must have been quite distracting for the competitors. Then, during the road-races, they had cameras on scooters. How on earth did those cameramen manage to balance on the back of these scooters, and how did they manage to not fall off? I couldn't see how they were sitting on the back of the scooters, usually several yards in front of the leading competitors,  then shooting backwards at them, managing to keep the camera steady, and, by the size of them, along with the lenses, managing to keep hold of the camera and focussing on the competitors and generally taking decent shots. How did they avoid all the 'health and safety' rules and regulations regarding this? Just think of the risk assessments for this, or if it comes to that, the B.M.X. events.

Well, if nothing else, I've managed to get quite a lot of blog posts out of watching these events. And, very surprisingly, become something of a fan along the way. Probably because they've had several sports involved, and you can enjoy the scenery if you get bored with the actual sports, which is quite breathtaking. Perhaps it's my Scottish ancestry coming out, because my father's side of the family came from Glasgow, or at least, just outside somewhere or other.

After so many weeks of scorching hot weather, it's actually pleasant to be having rain, as we had yesterday. I can't believe I just wrote that, because, generally, if it rains in this country, it brings doom and gloom. At first we had a miserable rain, no more than a sort of dribble, but it's now a good deal stronger. I just hope it's enough to freshen up things because the grass looks dead and shrivelled all along the Grid Roads around Milton Keynes. I had hoped to take Alfie for a second walk this afternoon, but it really wouldn't be such a good idea, because both of us would only end up soaked to the skin.

I took the car back to Bleak Hall Motors to have the work done so that it could have it's MoT certificate. Got there by around 7.50 so I had to wait until they opened up. Considerably cooler so I wished I hadn't worn my shorts. Anyway, round about 9.30 they told me it as completed, so payed using my debit card and left. I'm just glad that's done. Fortunately the brakes don't need any work doing, they seem o.k., so that's less of a worry, although the car could do with servicing.

I took Alfie was a shorter walk than usual, because of the on-and-off rain. He'd been expecting to be taken out earlier, but there wasn't time before I had to take the car to Bleak Hall Motors.

Saturday morning. It's a bright and sunny morning. No sign of rain. What rain we had over the past couple of days hasn't made much of an effect on the grass, the garden or any vegetation around where we live. Yesterday afternoon there was a quite violent rainstorm, with fairly high winds, but nothing too dramatic. There was quite a cascade of water running along the front of the house when the nurse came to give Carol her antibiotics. It seems she will still be getting visits until Sunday, so these visits haven't finished as we'd expected on Friday.

A Cooler Day

Thank goodness it's a good deal cooler this morning.

I had the car booked in at Bleak Hall Motors to have it's MoT. This was at 1.45 and I wanted to make sure I was there in plenty of time. I don't like being late for things. It's not far from our home and I got there by 1.30. I had to wait in the waiting area and the mechanics soon had the car in the garage by 1.45 and it was finished by 2.30. Some work needs to be done to get an MoT certificate, some rubber cover had perished which covers some mechanical part in the driving mechanism. I had to book the car in for Friday morning to have this work completed. One of the brake shoes needs replacing at some point in the not-too distant future, but at the moment it's not serious and won't effect the MoT. 

I learn from the mechanic at Bleak Hall Motors that the car isn't taxed. I say that because it's low emissions and economic on fuel it's exempt from tax but he says that it still needs registering, which I was totally unaware of. Nobody tells you this. You'd imagine you'd be informed of this in a letter or something. What with hospital appointments, getting Housing Benefits and other things organised since Carol was diagnosed with cancer, this has been more or less ignored. When I got home I told Carol and I had to find the letter from the D.V.L.A. (Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency) which came several weeks ago but I 'filed' somewhere but couldn't remember where I put it. I went on line and could have completed the transaction there but needed some number which I didn't have and then decided to ring the D.V.L.A. and was told the number required was on the Owner's Manual which Carol eventually found but then they needed an MoT certificate which I can't produce until after the work is done to the car on Friday once that work is completed and an up-to-date MoT certificate is produced and then I can ring back and sort the business out then. How complicated life can become if you let it. I think we need to sort out a better system to file all our important documents so this sort of thing doesn't happen again.

Well, with the car at last MoT'd we can get on with other things. Certainly one less thing to worry about.