Freedom Day . . . At Long Last!

This is the day we've been waiting for. All the ludicrous restrictions we've had to live under for the past two years are being abandoned. Let's say it; the pandemic is over, although Boris Johnson has said that the coronavirus hasn't gone away. Let's just say, it's hiding. We have to learn to live with it. 

It may be 'Freedom Day' if that's what you want to call it, but we now have all this overshadowed by the Ukraine Crisis with Russia threatening to invade that small country. Vladimir Putin making out it's their fault, and they're the aggressor. All this is done to deflect things from problems within Russia, mostly financial.

Thursday. 9.45 a.m. I have just got back from taking Alfie out for one of his walks and, as we walked along the path that runs beside Strudwick Drive, I notice a bright yellow pencil that looked as if it has been thrown away. Nothing wrong with it, an ordinary Staedtler wooden pencil, HB grade. I'm thinking, 'I'll have that!" So I picked it up and put it in my jacket pocket. But further along, I picked up more and in total there were 10 of them. I just hope they were thrown there by a pupil from Milton Keynes Academy or even the Primary school which is just over the road. Are children so stupid as to throw away stuff they are given to use in their lessons? I know some children don't have such items given to them by their parents as they don't have the income to afford such items as pens, pencils and other things, so why waste these by throwing them on the grass. There are children in Africa who would be pleased to have even a scrap of paper to write on or a pencil to write with. I don't think the children around here realize how lucky they are to have even the basic things free of charge for use in their education.

Perfectly good pencils, rescued from the grass along Strudwick Drive this morning. Just a waste to throw them away.

7.30 a.m. As I've mentioned in earlier blogs, I have upgraded my MacBook and now have a MacBook Pro. I'm more than pleased with it. I'm really surprised how thin and light it is, compared with my MacBook Air. I had been searching online to find some way of recycling it and, hopefully, get a fair price for it. This morning it has been collected by a courier from DPD, packed it up in a sealed box and is now gone. It was in excellent condition, mostly because it has had a plastic cover. I had managed to remove the bottom cover, but not the top one. Which shows how effective it has been in protecting this laptop.  I always attempt to look after all my gadgetry, because it is expensive and if I want to use it there's no point in it getting damaged if it's cared for properly. I had wiped the surface with a wet wipe but got the driver to remove the top cover. Also wiped clean and hopefully, this will affect the price I eventually receive. 

I'm somewhat annoyed that the laundry room is locked until 8 a.m. Just crazy that I have to wait until 8 o'clock to do my washing. I haven't been told about this stupid new rule. More rules and regulations. Just annoying.

It seems that Freedom Day was somewhat overshadowed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Just tell me, when did Kiev become Kyiv? It seems that the names of quite a few places have more or less overnight been changed in their spelling. Most western nations have taken their eyes off the ball (you might say.) Biden, US President' is as much use as a wet fish. Probably has early-onset dementia. Meanwhile, our politicians have been more concerned about parties in Downing Street than watching what's happening centre stage.  No wonder Rome burns whilst Nero fiddles. Sorry, I'm mixing my metaphors. No wonder Putin has managed to do what he's done. Puts me in mind of the Munich Crisis in 1938 before the beginning of World War 2. Strange how history repeats itself.

10.30 a.m. It is quite sunny and warm. A pleasant enough day to wander slowly around Oldbrook Green.

I have been back baking. I got the Sainsbury's Magazine last time I was shopping and inside is a recipe for chocolate cookies, so I have bought the ingredients (not actually from Sainsbury's. I decided to go to Waitrose instead. It is quite an effort to make anything complicated in my tiny kitchen because there isn't much in the way of surfaces. It's a bit of a juggling act. Measuring out the flour, butter, sugar and so on and attempted to roll out the dough and then put it on baking trays, but my efforts have been worthwhile. The results have exceeded expectations. Now I have had all the boxes removed from the pantry/cupboard, I have more space to store the equipment, such as the food processor and the trays and pans. I need to get a good deal more organized next time I do a bake.

I have hit the 10,000 steps target today! That's approximately 5 miles. I took Alfie out  at around 4 p.m. as it was bright and sunny and it seemed a pity to not take advantage of the sun. I don't think Alfie was going to miss the opportunity to have a good walk and sniff around in the grass. Just glad to get the steps total in and finding the Fitbit is motivating me to get out of the flat.

Please Release Me!

Tuesday. 10.05 a.m. From this Thursday, 24th February, all restrictions imposed by the Government to reduce the spread of coronavirus, will be removed. A day of celebration, surely? A day to throw off the shackles and not be forced to wear a face nappy (a good description for face coverings or whatever you want to call them.) It seems that the powers that be had let CONTROL go to their heads. The population, in general, have just rolled over and let their lives be controlled, mostly with fear being used as a weapon. We all know that 'coronavirus hasn't gone away.' Well, that's what the scientists are telling us and that's what Boris Johnson said at yesterday's press conference. But surely any virus mutates (which is how we came to have the omicron and delta variants.) Then we need to build up natural immunity, which is what the human body does (Doesn't need much intelligence to learn this. Pay attention, to those at the back of the class!) But treating us like infants is really an insult and we do need to be able to make our minds up if we're going to do such-and-such, for example, washing our hands regularly and wearing, or not wearing, face coverings. Surely, that goes without saying. Over-cleaning can have the opposite effect, as it can kill off natural flora which fights bacteria. Look at what's happened with the over-use of antibiotics, hence M.R.S.A. But now the government wants people to start going back to work, those who are employed in offices and other workspaces where people gather. Some hope of there being a race back any time soon because we've been frightened into submission by the scientists. It won't be easy to change people's habits.  After all, who is running the country, or, at least, supposed to be running the country? It seems we've been controlled by scientists, who don't very often get things right, particularly the vast numbers they tell us are going to catch the virus and how many are going to die from it. All this after they have number-crunched and come up with a figure which turns out to be so over-the-top as to be unbelievable, and our government just rolls over and does what they say. These people are paid eye-watering amounts of money, yet they get things wrong. Boris Johnson should just tell them to get lost and just remove the crazy restrictions.

I've been to Sainsbury's this morning. I had a few items I needed, one of them being sugar. They have had it in the same position for I don't know how many years. I went up and down the aisles, back and forth. I was at the point of giving up when I discovered it moved to an entirely different place along the back wall. No sign on the old position, telling customers where it had moved to, which is too easy. Just very annoying to have to find it myself. 

I emailed my MP about the Partygate scandal, that is, the discovery that there had been parties within Number 10 Downing Street during the time we were not supposed to meet up with other people in large numbers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. I wasn't expecting to get a reply, but I didn't really expect to get a personal response! I am somewhat impressed that I got a personal response, not some prepared email that everyone gets. He has since emailed me again about the further situation regarding Partygate. To be honest, I think the whole thing has been set up to discredit Boris Johnson. As the photographs of Boris Johnson and other ministers in the Downing Street garden were first published when the story originally broke, in the Labour-leaning Daily Mirror, it seems to me there was a definite plot going on, even though the parties broke lockdown regulations. Then, who took the photographs? They must have been in a building over-looking Downing Street. Will we ever be told?

1.20 p.m. I have made some chocolate cookies. I'm not entirely sure if they're really successful. They taste great, but they might have needed a bit more cooking at a slightly higher temperature to be entirely successful. I think they should have been crisper than they are. A bit chewy but really tasty.

Mark, who cares for one of the tenants in Dexter House, has helped me dispose of the broken up boxes and packages I had in the cupboard in the kitchen, which I mentioned earlier. He has taken them to the area where the dustmen come to collect rubbish. So the cupboard/pantry is more or less empty, save for one or two items, such as the old electric kettle and toaster which I can take to the tidy tip for recycling, along with the old toilet seat which has been sitting against the kitchen wall since it was replaced months ago. It's good to have dealt with all this stuff that has been cluttering up the flat for so long.

One Law For Them . . .

Saturday 15th January. 8.15 a.m. I was somewhat surprised by thick fog as I took Alfie out this morning. As I write this, the BBC Breakfast weather forecast has said that there is 50-100 feet visibility. I can believe it. I don't have to go anywhere in the car, so I won't have to drive through it.

Sunday. 7.45 a.m. A dark and dreary morning. I took Alfie out as he kept on scratching on the bathroom door when I was using the toilet. I took the little pocket torch with me. We weren't outside long, so the torch wasn't necessary. It needs a new battery installing because the light from it is too weak to be of any use.

It looks as if Boris Johnson's tenure as PM is on the line. There have been revelations about Christmas parties being held in 2020 when we were in lockdown and, under Government laws, such gatherings weren't supposed to take place. Boris is attempting to wriggle out of any responsibility for such events (there are several which have come to light, but one clearly showing him attending one in the garden of Number 10. ) There is an inquiry underway, but as it stands, Boris is still PM and as such should have taken responsibility as a leader. One minute he goes on the Downing Street press conferences and announces new measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and behind the scenes, he is allowing gatherings. Real hypocrisy. A definite case of 'do as I saw, not what I do', or, 'one law for them and one for us.' Only time will tell whether he leaves Downing Street as Prime Minister.

2.30 p.m. I've been to church this morning. Sunny and bright as I drove up Chaffron Way. It's still extremely sunny as I took out Alfie. The hall was packed. Phase 2 of the building project (for the Oaktree Centre.) has been revived. 

I got back from church, parked the car, and I thought I heard the fire alarm going off within Dexter House. I hoped it wouldn't be that, but as I walked inside, it was all too obvious that it was. The doors along the corridor leading to my flat had shut (which they do automatically when the alarm goes out, presumably to contain smoke if there is a genuine fire.) I'm never sure whether it's an emergency or some sort of fault with the system. There was definitely no sign of smoke or even flames, no smell of burning. Had someone burnt their toast, left a cigarette burning in an ashtray, or forgotten something in their oven? You never can tell. The sound is deafening and as I entered the flat, Alfie started barking. He really doesn't like the noise. I have to admit it is deafening. I suppose it has to be if it's going to wake people if they're asleep if there's a fire. We're supposed to remain in our flats if there is a fire. Which I'm not doing. That was the instruction given to the tenants of  Grenfell Tower in 2017 and look what happened to them when there was a terrible fire? I have always taken Alfie with me when the alarm goes off, and we go and stand outside the front door until the fire service gives the all-clear to re-enter the building. The din continued for several minutes, after which I pressed the emergency alarm and was told that someone was coming to sort out the alarm, and around 5 minutes later the noise stopped. No doubt it was caused by a fault with the system, which it always seems to be, unfortunately.

Monday. 1.45 p.m. It was icy when I took Alfie out as usual around 7.30 this morning. I intended to go to Sainsbury's, as I needed items to form my lunch when I go to Camphill tomorrow, so I had to spend a good ten minutes defrosting the car. Fortunately, I had bought a fresh can of antifreeze spray from Homebase when I went there the other day, so it didn't take too long.

I am continuing with my writing, which requires transcribing onto word processing. It may have to wait until I can rely on my MacBook to behave itself. It seems fine at the moment, but it has a habit of shutting itself down. I have no idea what's causing this, but I still think the only solution is to purchase a new model which will have the newest version of all the software on it. Unfortunately, the MacBook doesn't have enough memory to install the latest version of the operating system. It is over seven years old, which is supposed to be the average life of a computer, so I reckon I've got plenty of work out of it over the years and it has done good duty.

Virus Variant and Proof of The Pudding

There's supposed to be another variant of the coronavirus. Well, there would be, wouldn't there? There has to be. Just to make sure, we have yet another lockdown Christmas. Can't we just get used to it and be done with it? As Mr Jones the butcher says repeatedly in 'Dad's Army,' '"Don't panic!" It's all negatives. The media seems to love negatives. In fact, they seem to thrive on it.

Saturday. 9.15 p.m. Boris has been on doing his impersonation of being Prime Minister, telling us like good sheep that the omivirus (is that it's new name?) has arrived at the UK's shores, and we must keep on being told what to do etc. I mean, omicron. Why is this variant named after the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet?

I have managed to ice the Christmas cake I made. A layer of marzipan and then soft white icing. No sooner had I completed it than I had a parcel arrive with the decorations, and they are now on the cake! I have really got no idea how it tastes, and I can't wait to try it around Christmas day.

Monday. 10.25 a.m. A layer of snow covering the grass and other surfaces when I took out Alfie at around 7.20 this morning. It's not very thick, but still, it's still snow. Whether we get further remains to be seen. Very cold and I must remember to find my gloves as my hands were beginning to go blue, which is never a good sign.

Tuesday. 10.30 p.m. It's been a good deal milder today. I think Alfie appreciates it when it's warmer.

I went to Sainsbury's. Basically, to collect a repeat prescription from Lloyd's pharmacy. I have been attempting to get a doctor's appointment for the past two days. The cough is getting annoying and I really need something to relieve it. You ring and ring and only get a stupid recorded voice. I did attempt to leave a message for the receptionist, but then they emailed me to say I should ring to make an appointment. So much for our 'wonderful' NHS! What are they doing? Having extended tea breaks? More likely they are using the pandemic as an excuse to not do their jobs properly. I bought a bottle of Robitussin which I have started dosing myself with. It seems to be working. I just have to keep on taking it and hope it does its job.

I bought a sweet little Christmas tree in Sainsbury's. A real one, potted and ready to decorate. 

Wednesday. 6.40 a.m. Goodness! The 1st December. Where has the year gone? Gobbled up by covid, unfortunately. We have to wear face masks if we enter shops (which I had to in Sainsbury's yesterday morning. I thought I would get away without one, but the thought police were on duty so fortunately I had one in my coat pocket.

I have started to decorate the Christmas tree. Not only that, but I bought two sets of LED tree lights but ended up having to untangle them. Not an easy job. I went to Hobbycraft this morning and got some crêpe paper. Goodness, even that is made in China. I can't believe we can't make it in Britain, instead of having to import it from the other side of the world. Just think of the carbon emissions produced to transport it. Crazy! I then went into Pets At Home, which is further along the parade of units, and bought a small water bowl for Alfie which we can take with us when we go to Worcester for Christmas. Oh, and some treats, which will keep his nibs happy. I then walked along the parade to have a look in Smyth's toys. I have to say, I'm not impressed. Just a load of junk basically and plastic which will eventually end up in landfill. Nothing I would deem in any way suitable for either of the grandchildren. I'll just have to have a word with Chloe as to what she suggests. Something they can share, although I don't think that Rosie is exactly of the age to be able to share.

7.00 p.m. As I write this I can hear the wind howling around outside. Sounds somewhat mysterious and I almost expect Cathy to start knocking on the window to be let in, her out of 'Wuthering Heights.'

Thursday. 8.10 a.m. We were out at around around 7.30 a.m. this morning. There must have been a slight flurry of snow overnight, because the grass was covered in a light dusting of the white stuff. Alfie was soon beetling back indoors, having done his usual sniffing around act. I can hardly blame him as I'm not over-delighted with snow.

I made some mince pies to take to the final session of The Prayer Course this evening. It was mid-afternoon when this decision was made. I had all the ingredients, so I thought it would be a good dry run for making a far larger batch to take to Worcester. I was more than pleased with the result. The pastry was rich and crumbly, and I have to admit they tasted far better than bought mince pies. As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and all seven were consumed at the Prayer course. So, I'm more than happy to make a larger batch, but may keep them baking a few minutes longer than I did this test batch.

As regards this new virus variant, I think the that term 'proof of the pudding is in the eating' can just as well be used in relation to the virus as well as mince pies. We are told that we have to wait around three weeks to discover how infections it is, and it will be well into January before we can return to anything close to 'normal.'

All Over The Place

Thursday. 7.10 a.m. I can't think of a title for this post, but no doubt something will come to me in the fullness of time.

It's early and I'm warm. The kitchen, as I must have mentioned in earlier posts, is roasting hot. I am well aware of the remark some American politician said which goes something like this 'if you can't cope with the heat, stay out of the kitchen!' (I'll have to do a Google search and find out who it was and the correct wording.) It's the heating system of Dexter House. They seem to think (they being someone or other in Milton Keynes Council.) that 'old' people need to be kept in accommodation that is so warm that a tropical plant would wilt. I may be over 70, but I don't consider myself old in any way. You can't alter the temperature with a thermostat. It is something to do with the hot water pipe which runs under the sink in the kitchen. It must run very close to the cold water pipe because sometimes when you turn on the cold tap, hot water comes out for a few seconds. When I first moved here, I, unfortunately, left out a bottle of milk and by the morning it had turned sour. You could have made cheese or yogurt out of it!

I have now looked up the phrase 'if you don't like the heat, keep out of the kitchen. It was said by the American President, Harry S. Truman.

Friday. 6.40 a.m. Watching Good Morning Britain on ITV. Richard Madely had taken over from Piers Morgan and he isn't in thrall of the scientists who are keeping us all frozen in time. I just want to know where his wife Judy is. They always worked together as a couple, having been the original presenters of  This Morning and then their own show at teatime on Channel Four. I am really getting tired of being lectured to by the BBC, which is why I've switched over this morning. On 13th June there is a brand new channel opening called GB News, lead by Andrew Neil. Quite a few former BBC reporters have been signed up, including Simon McCoy. It would seem that many BBC presenters are leaving the sinking ship, not just television. Classic FM has now got several former BBC presenters on-air, such as former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull, John Humphries, and Moira Stewart, who used to be a new reader.. I think there was a huge tidal wave of BBC personnel jumping ship (sorry about the puns.) when the BBC had to reveal how much they paid their personnel and I presume a commercial channel would be able to pay far higher salaries than the BBC.

Later. 9.05 a.m. I have written around two sides of A4. My 'project', for want of a better term (I don't know really whether it's a novel, or what you'd describe it as.) is growing. I've managed to find a way of linking the various elements together, which was actually quite obvious, but I won't mention it here

Well, we're all over the place (my blog post title coming into its own now.) as regards the variant of the coronavirus. We have the so-called Indian Variant, which is also known as the Delta Variant and now, give a round of applause to . . . the Nepal Variant. They are supposed to be more infectious than earlier variants and scientists are saying that the Government should be cautious of lifting restrictions on 21st June. A great deal of anger from various sections of society about the newest restrictions coming into force regarding traveling abroad. You have to quarantine for ten days if you return to some countries, not actually sure which, as the system of 'traffic lights' to show which are the highest and lowest countries to have levels of infections and so on because of coronavirus, is really confusing, which is probably why there is so much annoyance and anger, which I suppose is going to happen if you had intended travelling abroad for a holiday as well as the airline industry. But if that's the case, why not just stay in Britain and have a holiday here instead of trotting off to wherever increase the carbon emissions of the plane you will fly in and then spend a great deal of money on testing as well as having to isolate for however many days are required when you come home.

Bank Holiday Monday

Sunday. 7.00 a.m. It's a cool and misty morning. 

I've now taken Alfie out twice, the first at around 6.15 a.m. and then 9.30 a.m. He did his usual staring at me and what I call 'clucking' sort of chicken noises, which generally alerts me to to the fact that he needs to go out. So, we trotted down Strudwick Drive (I say trotted, but more of an amble and excuse to sniff virtually every leaf and blade of grass and we went along (I mean Alfie and not me, you understand.) He did need to 'go' as I politely refer to 'it' and 'it' was disposed of in its biodegradable bag and put in the bin at the entrance to Oldbrook Green. We walked home and I decided to sit down and read my book. It was then that Alfie began to clank around in his feeding bowl, which is hidden behind the sofa under my desk, along with his drinking water bowl. I attempted to ignore him, but it was virtually impossible, so I put my book down and thought I'd put some food in his bowl. He usually only gets fed in the evening, but on this occasion I thought he must be hungry, attempting to glean a morsel of food from the bowl, which is why he was pushing it about on the floor and making the clanking sound. I put a dry mixer in as I usually do and then food from one of the pouches I keep stored in the kitchen. When I put it back down for him on the floor, he soon scoffed the lot and returned to his place to lay down on the sofa, and as I write this he appears to be asleep. Problem solved and perhaps I should give him food in the morning as well as the evening.

3.40 p.m. I didn't go to church this morning. I would have like to have gone, but wearing a mask isn't exactly helping with the confounded cough I have at the moment. I mentioned this in a few posts back, caused by taking oxybutynin, but now stopped since I mentioned this to my doctor a few weeks ago. I was told that it would take a while for it to disappear completely, as soon as the medication is out of my body. No sign of that at the moment. Wearing a mask means you are breathing in your hot breath and that sets of the cough. Apart from that, it steams up my glasses. Just not pleasant having to wear the things for any length of time. Regardless of all this, I managed to see the service via Facebook. I have discovered that if I set things up correctly if I open Facebook on my iPad and set my television with the Fire Stick set up, then I can 'cast' the live video to the television. Surprising what you discover when you least expect it.

Monday. 5.20 a.m. Well, I'm wide awake and already done all my usual morning routine things, shaved, dressed, done my Bible reading, dressed, and even done washing-up, so the kitchen is tidy. I always feel that if all this is done, I can start my day better. Particularly shaving. I don't feel right if I miss a shave in the morning. When I was in the hospital the last time, after my second heart attack, I had none of my own things with me, not even clothes. I didn't have shaving items, so I had to endure several mornings without having a proper shave. I ended up being given a disposable shaver by one of the nurses on the ward, but it was like shaving with a blunt tin lid! (not that I have actually done that!). It wasn't pleasant. 

6.20 a.m. I took out Alfie at 5.50. It must be the earliest we've ever been out. It's still misty and quite chilly, but I have a feeling it will be warm today, and as it's a Bank Holiday, quite a rarity, as most Bank Holidays are wet and miserable. Add to all that the fact that lockdowns are being lifted gradually, it would appear that tourist areas will be crowded. But then the question is, will that mean that there will be an increase in coronavirus infections as a result? Only time will tell. PLEASE, can we avoid further lockdowns? I don't think the British people can take anymore. Patience is at a low point, but surely with so many people vaccinated we can climb out of this hole and ESCAPE!

4.50 p.m. I'm sitting here writing this with my Macbook Air on my knee. Alfie has had his dinner and has been whittling to get a couple of treats. I asked him what he wanted so he glanced at the tin which is on the top of the bookcase. I took three out of the tin and put two on the edge of the coffee table and another on the back of the sofa. He finds the two on the coffee table. He sticks his nose up over the edge of the coffee table and manages to grab one of the treats but doesn't find the second one. He then jumps up onto the sofa (which can cause him problems, probably showing his age.) and soon discovers where the third treat is. He eventually sniffs it out and has to reach up by standing up on his back legs and snaffles it without any problems.

It's been extremely warm and sunny today. What a real Bank Holiday Monday should be like. Walking around Oldbrook Green earlier this afternoon and there are people all over the place, even laying sunning themselves on the grass. The same old same old, men not having any idea they look ridiculous in shorts (not all by the way.) but that's just my opinion. Shorts only getting worn when the sun shines and they (and myself!) not always brave enough to wear for the first time this summer (I believe we are now in summer, officially.) But those infamous shorts not always in perfect order, often worst for wear and not up to standard in the fashion or sartorial stakes.

6.45 p.m. Just been watching Wallace and Gromit in 'A Close Shave.' I've seen all these brilliant animation films I don't know how many times, but it's so clever and imaginative. All of the Ardman Animation films are so well made and creative. It's all the little details that make them special, some things that you don't notice the first time around and add to the fun, for example, the headlines you see fleetingly in the newspapers that Wallace reads or the books they read.

Watching BBC news, which came on after Wallace and Gromit. There are some scientists who say that the 21st June deadline to end lockdowns may need to be postponed until data suggests that the Indian variant of the coronavirus is under control. Oh please, no! I think that if that happens and for a length of time there will be civil unrest. I think we've had our patience pushed to the limit. Surely, with the vaccines being delivered so successfully and the possibility of people not being infected, then there is no need to have further lockdowns.

I watched an episode of 'Miranda', the sitcom performed and written by Miranda Hart. I have seen it before, but it's so funny. She talks directly to the camera, 'breaking the fourth wall' in much the same way as Lovejoy did in that great series (I worked on quite a few episodes, filmed in and around Norfolk and Suffolk.) She is very self-deprecating, making comedy about her height and tripping over things. A great deal of visual comedy, which we don't get nowadays. They also showed an episode of 'Fawlty Towers.' One of the classic comedies of the 1970s. It must be because the BBC doesn't have enough new material to put out due to the pandemic.

'Cautiously Optimistic'

Wednesday. 6.25 a.m. 'Cautiously optimistic' was how Prime Minister Boris Johnson described how his infamous 'roadmap' out of lockdown which is supposed to be lifted on 21st June.  That is, unless there is a sudden rise in infections or something else to scupper the plans. He also said it about the Brexit deal that had been agreed with the EU. So, are we going to be celebrating our freedom from being bossed around? That is, if the by now more than a little bit famous Indian variant of the virus doesn't get a starring role over the next few weeks. 

Boris Johnson is a bit of what you'd describe as a 'loose cannon.' He is somewhat unpredictable and he doesn't work like any other Prime Minister I can think of.  The matter of making statements about letting dead bodies pile high rather than implementing lockdown, may or may not have been said by him. Also, the business around who paid for the alterations to his flat in 10 Downing Street, which  seems to have disappeared from being mentioned in the media, He gets away with all sorts of things that anyone else would be in court for. I see him as a combination of Winnie The Pooh, Bertie Wooster and Mr Toad, he of 'Wind In The Willows.'

As for the former political advisor to Number 10 Downing Street, Dominic Cummings, who has today been grilled by MPs in a Commons select committee about the Government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, or perhaps that should be, lack of it. He was removed from his post in No 10 back in November and it seems he is attempting to stab people in the back in a sort act of revenge, worthy of something out of a Shakespeare tragedy, such as Othello, with Cummings in the role of Iago. He's definitely not the sort of person you'd want as a friend. As someone said, 'with friends like these, who needs enemies?" He's stuck the knife into several government personnel, not least saying that Boris Johnson wasn't fit for the position of Prime Minister. Well, someone also said that 'you get the politicians you deserve', and in some respects that's totally true. It was American President Thomas Jefferson who came out with that one.

Today would have been Carol and my 14th wedding anniversary. It's no good dwelling on things and she would expect me to get on with my life, which I am, except that it's all been cancelled due to the covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

I was up and out before 6 o'clock with Alfie this morning. A bit overcast and it looked as if it might rain later, but one hopes not.

I have received a letter from the Nephrology department of  Milton Keynes Hospital. I have no idea what nephrology is, but never mind. I'm always keen to learn new words, so his is another to add to my growing collection.  It's regarding the 'incidental finding of a small renal angiomyolipoma' in one of my kidneys when they did the ultra scan. I have no idea what an angiomyolipoma is, but, having spoken to my doctor on the telephone recently, it isn't malignant, like a cancer. When I first heard about it I did panic, really as a response to not knowing clearly what it was, because of my memories of when Carol was first diagnosed with bowel cancer. The letter goes on to say that I should have an ultra scan done every 4-5 years just to keep watching it and seeing how it behaves. I shall be discussing this further when I speak to my doctor on the telephone on 11th June.

Normal Life? Don't Bank on It!

Thursday. 6.45 a.m.  So, what are the chances that we might return to some sort of normal life with lockdown restrictions being lifted, or at least, some of them? Let me think. Probably not going to be quite as 'normal' as one might expect, because there's still going to be the threat of further outbreaks of coronavirus infections. So, tomorrow (Monday) the first of the lifting of restrictions are going to begin.

My lovely daughter, Chloe, has just given birth to the fourth grandchild, a girl, Rosie Alice. Born 10th May, weight 7lb 15oz. Just hope I can go and visit them soon in Worcester. The three other boys, George, Eddie, and Arthur will no doubt make a real fuss of her! I can't wait to go and visit them. It's been so long since I went to see them. In fact, it was Christmas 2019 when I was last with them.

Friday. 7.00 a.m. It's overcast and mild. It was wet yesterday, so let's hope it remains relatively dry today.

During his Downing Street press conference the other evening, Boris Johnson was talking about how we will be able to cuddle once some of the lockdown restrictions are lifted. It was all mentioned with a very serious look on his face. The same could be said of the reporters who have been covering all of this on BBC News,  BBC Breakfast, and so on. How on earth they managed to avoid bursting into laughing I can't imagine. To be honest, it really would do no harm to let go and at least smile when discussing it. It is coming over rather like a sketch on Monty Python's Flying Circus or The Goon Show. Things have been pretty grim for the last year and more, so a guffaw or titter wouldn't hurt. 'Oh er, madam! Titter not!' as Frankie Howerd would have said. 'Cuddle not! Ooh er, Missus!' 

The other thing which might put the cat among the pigeons might be what they call the 'Indian Variant' of the coronavirus which has been identified within the United Kingdom. But we must get out of this current situation and we can't go on running away from this virus. We all know that viruses mutate and this one is no exception. 

Saturday. 8.10 a.m. Quietly sitting and working on the laptop. I've been out with Alfie, as normal. It's raining, but not heavy. A light shower, almost like a mist. ('mist-like would be better.) Then my ears are assaulted by the fire alarm going off. Just so loud it hurts my ears. It can't be a test, because that is done during the week when our S.H.O. is here, and it lasts about 30 seconds. Alfie barks and doesn't stop barking. Nothing for it, but to go outside. I abandon what I'm doing on the laptop, scoop up Alfie in my arms (which stops him barking. I suppose it's difficult to do so if he's being held.), and walk down to the front door and stand under the awning to keep out of the rain. Alfie is heavy to hold for any length of time, so I put him on the ground. He shakes like a leaf. I suppose, because dogs can hear higher pitch sounds than humans, it must hurt his ears, hence his barking. After around five minutes we can hear a fire engine approaching, and it roars up with lights flashing and one of the firemen gets out and I have to let him into Dexter House with my keys because the automatic door doesn't open without. (This needs repairing urgently and causes some annoyance and inconvenience.) It turns out someone left something cooking in their oven and it was that that set the fire alarms off. After around 15 minutes the noise went off and we could return to my flat. Panic over!

Things Can Only Get Better. Or Can They?

Today (Tuesday 23rd March 2021) is the first anniversary of the original lockdown. It hardly seems possible that we'd still be held in the grip of this 'thing.' We're now being told that the rate of infections and deaths in Europe (does that mean the EU?) is increasing, and there's the threat of a third wave of covid-19. Please can we stop running away from this thing and just get on with releasing us all from the prison of lockdown? So can things get better? One would hope so.

I went to Sainsbury's this morning, around 7.45. There were very few other customers so it was easier to get in and out quickly. It helps to have a shopping list and stick to that. There were no people on the manned check-out tills. I don't mind using the self-service tills, but I often think if you don't use the manned tills, supermarkets will see this as an excuse to not keep staff working on the manned tills. 

It's really sunny this afternoon. Warm enough to not have to wear a jacket? I'm not so sure, but getting that way. The daffodils are almost completely out on the grass walking down Strudwick Drive. 

(Wednesday) Not a great deal going on here, but no surprise in that.

Being told on BBC Breakfast that we are likely to get the 'Third Wave' of the coronavirus in Britain. Surely we just need to clamp down on people going abroad and not taking the restrictions seriously, such as quarantining. Let's just hope we can keep this thing out and keep things aiming for a complete removal of lockdown by the summer, if not earlier.

I've had a text message from the NHS to book my second Astra Zeneca covid-19 vaccination. I could have followed the link in the text message, but though it probably better to ring my surgery and got an appointment for Saturday morning at 10.10a.m., so that means once that's done, I should be a little less likely to catch this wretched virus. 

I keep on getting mail for tenants who have lived in this flat. You would have thought that, if and when you moved to a new address, you would take the time and effort to set up a redirection with the Post Office so that your mail is delivered to your new address. I did this when I moved from the house in Eaglestone. It was a simple process, done on line, for a reasonable cost and I had it for around 6 months, by which time all  my post caught up with me at the new address (I have to admit that my Driving Licence didn't get changed, as regarding my new address. But that is now rectified and my new licence arrived the other day, only after some considerable effort on my behalf. I got another piece of post the other day. It arrived late, I think around 2.30pm., which was a bit of a surprise (I have noticed post comes later and later. Possibly caused by the pandemic, but I'm not sure about that.) Anyway, I opened it. But unfortunately it wasn't addressed to me. Well, if it's come through my letterbox I assume it's for me and I will open it. As I have had post sent to a house in Dexter Avenue and not Dexter House, I thought it must have been for that address, so I went over to that house but the gentleman who lives there told me it wasn't for him and that the name of the former tenant which was on the envelope had moved away years ago. Well, it must have been some while ago as I've moved here a good eighteen months ago, more or less. So, what to do with this post? I could just chuck it in the bin, but no, I handed it to the SHO, Barbara, and she can give it to the postman who can send it wherever such post goes (probably in a bin! I only jest.)

Another Day Older

(Tuesday) Today is the first anniversary of the beginning of the first lockdown bought in as an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Covid 19. And what a year it has been! It's no exaggeration to say it has had an enormous impact on life in the United Kingdom, although why on earth Scotland and Wales, and possibly Northern Ireland, have different rules and regulations I can't understand. Surely it would be better to have all of the rules and regulations the same throughout the United Kingdom because some people would live in one country, for example, Scotland, but work over the border in England. Nicola Sturgeon would have different rules just to be awkward and because she doesn't like the English and wants desperately to be independent. I should leave it at that and not get into a debate on the pros and cons of Scottish independence.

It's turned out relatively mild today. Thank goodness the wind has calmed down.

I've got to really enjoy a great television show on BBC1 which has been running for a couple of years. I think it began on BBC2, but because it become so popular those in charge of these things at the BBC decided it ought to reach a wider audience, so it transferred to BBC1. It is usually on during daytime, at 4.30pm., where the latest season is currently and on every day during the week. It is also on during peak time, around 8p.m. on a Wednesday. What intrigued me today was an item which was bought into be repaired. a Kenwood Chef food mixer. My mother had one of these exact machines, being given one by my grandmother after she had been married for ten years. There was an earlier model, with a more rounded design, which was replaced by the more modern and squarer model. I do remember that the attachments, which included a mincer, juicer and a bean-slicer, worked on the original model, but when the later model came along the attachments wouldn't fit on the new model because the new model had metric screws, whilst the earlier model had imperial, so the attachments were somewhat redundant.

(Wednesday) 7.10a.m. Mild and dry this morning, but quite foggy nevertheless. I woke up and then went back to sleep and didn't wake up as I usually do and then immediately thought 'I ought to take Alfie Out!' and got dressed. I walked through to the lounge, at which point Alfie would normally have been barking and expecting me to slip the lead on his harness and take him out, tucked under my arm to carry him out, but he was asleep in his bed near the television, but as soon as I got close to him, it set him off on his usual noise.

2.16p.m. At last! After nearly seven months my Driving Licence arrived in the post this afternoon! Very late delivery I must say, but at least it's arrived and sorted out. I didn't think it would ever arrive and it still makes me wonder what on earth happened to the original Licence. Lost most likely.

Oh no! Yet another wretched Coronavirus press conference from Downing Street this afternoon. This means the BBC1 schedule is disrupted so there's no edition of The Repair Shop and Pointless moved to BBC2. I really don't want to have to endure another of these confounded doom-laden conferences, so I prefer to avoid them by watching BBC2 while I eat my evening meal.

(Thursday) Out with Alfie really early, just gone 6a.m. It's mild. Thankfully, none of that horrible wind and no sign of fog. So what does the day have in store? Probably the more of same.

Lockdown Easing?

 (Wednesday) Another mild day but not particularly sunny. I can't think of a great deal to write on here at the moment, but I'm sure I will have something as the day progresses. Oh, I have something! I had one of those irritating telephone calls on my mobile. I'm more than certain that it was a scam. A woman who couldn't make up her mind to speak as soon as I picked up the call. She said I could buy a tablet or phone at a discount. I don't want either, as I already have an iPhone and iPad, so that's the end of that. What I want to know is, where do these people get my telephone number from? How do they know my name? Makes me wonder.

(Thursday) Yesterday I had a surprise. The cabinet I had ordered from Amazon actually arrived! Having contacted the company who sold the item via Amazon, I think they made an effort to get me the item quickly, which they did and I began constructing it yesterday evening and I finished it off this morning. I now have to remove the red IKEA coffee table which I have beside my armchair and put the new cabinet in it's place. It is taller and considerably higher than the table and has a drawer and shelf which means I can store things inside it. As I write this the cabinet awaits it's new position in the room.

(Friday) It's a bit difficult to either write or record at the moment as there are workmen in the adjacent flat making a noise, doing goodness knows what, but with power drills and something else which is making a din. It's not entirely conducive to writing and certainly not for recording, so I will hold off on both until it's quiet. A lot of heavy footsteps up and down the stairs which also doesn't help. I hope all this will finish soon so I can return to writing and recording (which I haven't done in a while, so I have packed up the microphone.)

The coronavirus restrictions are to be relaxed over he next few months, but it doesn't look like it will all be removed any day soon, even with infection rates and deaths declining from what they were a few months ago. I think the issue is that we've been stuck in this 'limbo,' (for want of a term to describe it, but in a sense that's exactly what it is.) for so long, will people prefer the 'safety' of being in isolation in favour of being able to lead a 'normal' life (ie: as lead pre covid pandemic lockdown.)

11.15p.m. Just come back from taking Alfie out. Very insistent that he gets his walk. Staring at me again as I attempt to read. We go out through the door directly into Strudwick Drive. I have put some WD-40 on the lock and other moving pars of the door. (For those who don't know what WD-40 is, it is a light oily substance which comes in a spray can and can be used to ease metal objects such as seized-up locks and protects from damp in your car. I used it on the electric cables on my old cars, from the spark plugs etc, especially when it's cold or damp weather. I believe it's made in Milton Keynes, so if so it's a very local product.) Noticeably considerably colder, but still clear and dry. As we walked along the path towards Oldbrook Green, I saw a pair of horses, the riders in bright day-glow green jackets, also, the horses had similarly coloured coats on. As I got closer I realised they were police horses. They crossed over from the Green and went along Strudwick Drive. I think they must have been going back to their paddock which is along Chaffron Way and can be seen as you drive past.

Intrigued by a red sign on a tree as we came back round to re-cross Oldbrook Boulevard. I went to read it and saw it said 'Keep away: Rodent poison.' I could see within the bushes one of the rodent boxes which are set up to poison rats. I have seen one or two as they scuttle past us on our walk around the Green. They always say that you're always no more than six feet from a rat, which I can well believe.

(Saturday) Just another weekend. Going to have to just let it flow free and watch the world go by . . .it's another mild and relatively sunny day. Not more I can say on the weather at the moment.

All In A Day's Work

(Wednesday) It doesn't feel like Wednesday. If that's the case, what makes it FEEL like Wednesday? There is no definable feeling, but I think it's due to being in lockdown, where each day seems like the last one and the next and so on. Each day, even at the weekend, just blends into the last one like a sort of piece of film, going round and round in the projector. I suppose, a bit like the film 'Groundhog Day.'

(Thursday) We're now being told that lockdown can only be lifted when infection rates and deaths decline. I suppose that's obvious. But being infantilised doesn't help matters. Being treated as if you had half a brain does in my opinion.

(Friday) I went to Sainsbury's after I'd done washing. Not my most favourite occupation, but it has to be done. Infection rates from the coronavirus are falling, which is a really good bit of news for once. Anything positive at the moment is a good thing, meaning that we are another step closer to life returning to anything like normal.

It's windy but very mild today. I've written over 20 pages, which equates to around 8,000 words. Produced over several weeks, but at least I've written something. Going better than expected. It will obviously need editing and sections rewritten, but that's to be expected. Then I will transcribe it onto word processing, which takes quite a long time and patience.

(Saturday) Just not a great deal to report at the moment. i'm sure I will be able to think of something soon. As I write this (11.20a.m.) the sun is out, but also a fairly strong wind. Surprisingly mild for the time of year.

(Sunday) Out with Alfie before 7 o'clock this morning. It's really mild although a slight rain.

Moonflower which has bloomed for the first time in the  Cambridge University Botanic Garden which has caused great excitement. The gentleman on BBC Breakfast this morning described the scent when it first came out was like 'gardenias or honeysuckle, but now smells like public toilets,' which is a bit of a shock and I can't imagine anything else being described in that way!

Later. It's funny that Alfie goes bonkers if he sees a cat in the garden when I lived in Eaglestone, but if one is seen more or less close up, he doesn't seem to bother. I imagine it's to do with territory. We went out at around 9.15 and I saw a squirrel on the opposite side of Strudwick Drive. It hopped into the road and scuttled across and then over the path, but Alfie took not a blind bit of notice. A bit wet and it looked to me as it it was going to pour with rain, so I said to Alfie 'Home?' and he was quite happy to turn round and make for home. Not so sure whether it was going to rain or not, but I didn't want to risk getting a soaking.

Completed around 24 pages of writing. That done over the past month or so, but not bad considering.

Another Fun-Filled Week!

Do you sense a certain amount of irony in the title I chose for this blog post? Well, probably. As I put finger to keypad, or keyboard or whatever you want to call it, it's Sunday morning, 9.37. I went out with Alfie as usual. Quite nippy, and I assume there had been a sharp frost in the night. Walking along the pavement leading to Oldbrook Green, there is the usual patch of water. I can't think where it comes from. I reckon it's a leak from somewhere or other. Further down I nearly slipped over as there's a layer of ice, but you have to watch where you put your feet and I really don't fancy falling over. I will have to be more careful.

I  have being doing some more writing! Horray! I have just been lazy recently and really, honestly, I have had no excuse to NOT get on with any of it. Having a story arc or at least a set of notes which I follow, it's relatively easy. Just needed the inspiration to merely GET ON WITH IT! I'm a little surprised how things develop, once I get going. It needs heavy editing, but at least I'm working on it. It's not until I actually get writing that I find it often goes off in an entirely new direction and even new characters turn up and they can take things off in another direction. A bit like when you are on a car journey and you suddenly have to take a different route, probably because you might get stuck behind a slow moving vehicle and turn off the main road because it's probably quicker and as a result you discover something you wouldn't otherwise have come across, taking you into unexplored territory.

Another project of mine is to record stuff to upload onto Soundcloud. I'm using Garageband, the sound and music suite on my MacBook. I'll be honest and just say that I haven't really looked at this bit of kit and the MacBook is well over five years old. I can do most things on my laptop, but never really considered using this. I think digital recording is yet another area that's new to me. I have worked with reel-to-reel tape in the past and, as part of my job when I worked in stage management, I had to put together sound tapes for the plays I worked on and used reel-to-reel tape recorders (this was some 45 years ago, so digital wasn't around then. Recording wot digital is an entirely different ball game, no physical tape and it's far more sophisticated. The recently purchased microphone is now coming into its own. I is semi-professional and of fairly good quality and gives as good a result as I could have hoped.

(Monday)  A new month begins. It's the 1st of February.  The roll-out of the covid vaccine continues. Let's hope that it means that things can get back to some sort of normal, if that's possible. I really hope so. 

It's a mild morning. Thank goodness there's no ice to slip on as we walk along the pavement towards Oldbrook Green. But there is a fog, which hangs over the centre of Milton Keynes which you can see from Oldbrook Green. 

(Tuesday) Bedford Hospital is in the news because Sir Tom Moore, the amazing gentleman who did all that walking in the garden of his home for his 100th birthday and raised something like £30 million for NHS charities, has been admitted to hospital with coronavirus. This is where I was in May 2006 when I had my first heart attack. 

A mild morning.

(Wednesday) Sad to learn that Sir Tom has died of coronavirus. Make me a little bit cross that he had to die from the virus. Something wrong with the care he must have been given. But he has left an amazing legacy. A truly lovely man.

Tiers For Fears

(Monday)  Sorry, just couldn't resist using that as a title for this blog post! The fact is, Boris Johnson and his lot have been scaring us to death over this covid business. We can't meet up over Christmas for fear of killing granny or grandpa. The virus is transmuting into something more horrible than you could possibly guess. We can't visit, go  to shops which sell non-essential items (which must be hard to define.) Theatres are boarded up (pity!), restaurants and pubs also. It's like living under a facist regime. All the changes, a bit like dancing the conga ('in out in out and shake it all about!') Boris turning into Oliver Cromwell and cancelling Christmas. And now we're supposed to have a new variant of the coronavirus, although it's not supposed to be any more infectious as the original covid-19 virus. But surely they would have known that it was likely to mutate.

It's inevitable that  I will be stuck here at Dexter House on my own in the flat (with Alfie as support. Can't leave the little fellow out.) There will be other people around, but it's not going to be a 'normal' Christmas by any means. I have been to get a few more bits and pieces from Sainsbury's. I needed to get something for Alfie. It was relatively busy for the time of day. Probably people doing what I was doing, getting last-minute shopping done before Friday.

And to cap it all we in Buckinghamshire are now in a new tier, Tier 4, which is the highest tier, so we're having to lockdown every more severely. And this after Boris said that Christmas would be as normal as was possible.

I've been to Aldi at Bradwell Common. I haven't been there since Carol died. We used to shop there quite a lot. Very god value. I think I will shop there far more. The only problem is that you need a £1 coin so as to use the trolleys and I rarely have a coin. I will have to make sure I have one in the car and keep one in the car for this use. Amazing bit of Stilton (which I love!) About three times the size of a bit you would buy in Sainsbury's and probably a third of the price!

The Christmas Day service at Shenley Christian Fellowship will be on-line through Facebook because of the latest pandemic restrictions. I think it was felt that it was too risky with infection rates rising. A great shame, but I suppose it has to be done.

(Wednesday It has been raining for most of the morning. I didn't wake up until around 7.45. I don't think I've woken that late in years. I got dressed and took Alfie out as I normally do and then came back for my mug of tea and cereal in front of BBC Breakfast. Shots of HGVs parked up on an airstrip (I suppose it would be, but not sure.) Seems like thousands. Doesn't look real somehow. It's because France won't allow lorries in because of the new variant of the virus. It now seems they are doing rapid testing of the drivers and they can cross the channel if they test negative for the virus. What with that issue as well as a possible 'no deal' Brexit, things couldn't get much worse. And on top of that the possibility of the entire country being put into Tier 4. Lockdown under another name if you ask me. But don't.

Alfie taken out at 9.30ish. As soon as he realised it was raining, he high-tailed it home as quickly as his little legs would carry him.

On the pavement along Strudwick Drive there is a rather nasty puddle. Not the best way to describe it. It gets worse when there is rain (probably because the water has nowhere to run away to.) But one of the paving slabs is a bit loose and when you tread on it, you get your feet wet. Just unpleasant and if you need to avoid it and walk on the grass, you have to walk in mud (more mud than grass.) More unpleasantness!

Later. It's now worse than ever. The path is now more or less completely engulfed. It's been raining for most of the day, so no wonder. To cap it all, my trousers have split! 'Now missis, don't laugh!' (In Frankie Howard voice).' Titter not!' I bent down to pick up after Alfie (no more description needed.) and there was the sound of rending cloth, in a most embarrassing place, and I have to say, that puts paid to that pair. Unless I can find someone who is good with a needle and cotton.

Later Still. 10.45p.m. There is a strong wind blowing and whistling around outside (well, I just hope it is, and not inside, otherwise there would be a window open.) I just can't get to sleep with that noise going on, hence sitting here typing this. I think Alfie is attempting to sleep and has come into the lounge from the bedroom. He had got really cozy next to me but followed me and is now on the sofa next to me.

Vaccine Vacillations

 So, we now have a vaccine against the coronavirus. Will it make any difference to lockdowns, restrictions on everyday living, social distancing etc etc? It seems very unlikely in my opinion. It's all very well having a vaccine against this wretched virus, but getting people to have it is another matter. In a democracy, you can't make people have such a vaccine. It really against you human rights and liberty. There will be those who will believe conspiracy theories regarding it's use, for example, the government is putting microchips into people's bodies to track their movements (false, but never the less, this theory would be spread via social media etc.)

(Monday) It's a good deal milder this morning. As I write this at 8.50a.m., it appears sunny, or at least it seems so as I haven't yet opened the curtains. Alfie is sitting on the sofa next to me and waiting in anticipation of me taking him out for a jaunt around Oldbrook Green. I usually wait until past 9 o'clock because otherwise we will be inundated with children going to school and have to wait for the traffic to go by crossing the road onto Oldbrook Green.

I've been for a drive out in the car. As it's been sitting on the parking space at Dexter House and not being driven anywhere in particular, I thought it advisable to give it a run out to keep the battery charged and avoid having to get it started as I had to a few months back. No problems. It starts fine. It should do, as it's recently been serviced. I just need to keep it in good running order.

I drove past Crownhill,  which is where we lived after we were married in 2007. I can't believe the changes. The road layout is different because there is  now a housing estate opposite Crownhill,. which used to be open agricultural land when we lived there. The wooded area which borders it was where we used to walk the dogs, which now has an entrance driven through it into the estate, with a roundabout. Just unrecognisable.

(Thursday) I went to Sainsbury's in Witan Gate after 8 o'clock yesterday morning as pension money went into my account earlier. I had things to get for Christmas. As I will be staying here over the festive period, I wanted to make sure I could get stuff which was likely to be in short supply, such as mince pies, Christmas pudding, brandy butter and turkey, although I didn't intend buying a whole turkey. Just be far too big, would never fit in my oven, so I had a look on the Sainsbury's website and saw you could buy a turkey roast, boneless (presumably) and made of turkey meat and stuffing. So, ideal for my purposes. There was one on the shelf when I went to look in the store and snapped it up immediately as if it was the last one, what was the chance of there being more the next time I visited? Probably too big for one, but I can make the most of it when it's cold, in sandwiches etc, after Christmas.

I drove into the centre of Milton Keynes to meet up with a lady I met on a Christian website. We have met up several times before. I wanted to go to Costa for coffee to try out their limited edition drinks based on Nestlé chocolate products and had an After Eight hot chocolate which came with a very generous dollop of cream on top and a single After Eight mint and at the very bottom of the drinking glass was some gooey and thick chocolate sauce which you can only eat with a long spoon. I can recommend this and want to try the rest of the range, which I think is only available over the Christmas period.

When I got home I found that a card from the Post Office had put through the door, informing me that a parcel was at the sorting office, because the postman had attempted to deliver it. Having walked so far over the past couple of hours, I wasn't ready to drive to collect it from the sorting office in Brinklow (I knew exactly where it was as I've had to collect parcels from there before now.) According to my FitBit I had walked approximately six miles! I can well believe it. 

My anticipation for whatever the parcel contained knew no bounds. So, on Friday morning I drove to the sorting office in Brinklow. There was a queue outside as only one person at a time was allowed into the waiting area. I eventually reached the window and handed over the card which had been put through the door. I had to provide identity so I showed my Driving Licence. And, lo and behold! The lady behind the counter handed over a parcel and it was clear that it was from Chloe and Steve. In her usual style, Chloe had written humorous messages all over the box and it reminded me to 'not open until 25th December. Alfie had a good sniff when I put it on the floor in the lounge, so I imagine it contains (amongst other items.) some sort of food item, possibly some doggy treats for his nibs.

Foggy and Cold

It's a foggy and chilly morning. You couldn't see across to the opposite side of Oldbrook Green when I was out with Alfie at 7.30. It doesn't seem as if it's going to clear as it was just as foggy when we went out at 9.15.

(Tuesday) I've been to Sainsbury's to get a few bits and pieces and to collect a prescription order. I realised when I was doing my medication on Sunday that some tablets were on the verge of running out so I did an order through the NHS app I have on my iPad. The order goes to the surgery and then it's sent electronically to Lloyd's pharmacy in Sainsbury's. I then get a text message to let me know that it's ready for collection and that's it. Efficiency. I even bought a Christmas jumper! I thought I'd throw myself into the festive spirit as much as possible. I'm not going to Chloe and Steve's in Worcester because Chloe is expecting. Grandchild number four! Due to arrive in May. I can't imagine what their house will be like if it's a boy (probably the same if it's a girl!) but very noisy I can imagine. I can visit in the spring, but with the pandemic and the risk of passing on the coronavirus, (either me to them, and in particular, Chloe, as it might be dangerous if she's pregnant.) but also for myself.

Some of the residents of Dexter House have been busy creating what I would describe as tableau or presentations. The first one was to celebrate Remembrance Day in November. It consisted of a large model of an RAF plane flying over the White Cliffs of Dover and they had made poppies out of the bases of Coca Cola bottles painted red and stuck on pieces of wire, similar to the poppy sculpture which was displayed at the Tower of London in 2014 to be part of the centenary of the beginning of the First World War. Then a Christmas display was created, consisting of a 'set' of a room, with a fireplace (working. Not sure how, but very realistic with a fire inside it.) a Christmas tree and decorations and a Father Christmas model which was supposed to sit in an armchair. The walls of the room 'set' was made of cardboard covered in wallpaper. But . . . (there is always a big but in these things, I'm afraid.) someone from Milton Keynes Council, I think responsible for managing Dexter House, decided that it was a fire hazard so it had to be dismantled. I suppose he was right, but it was a pity after all the work was put in to make it.

(Wednesday) There are workmen in Dexter House, removing asbestos from the ceiling along the corridor where my flat is. They are currently working on the furthest section, which is closed off with firedogs, so I can't take Alfie out through the door which opens onto Strudwick Drive, although I can get out at the main door onto Dexter Avenue. Tomorrow I will have to stay in the flat with Alfie as asbestos is a dangerous substance.

(Thursday) A relatively mild day. I overslept somewhat this morning. Unlike me. The asbestos-removal was completed well before lunch. We were told it would finish around 4p.m. so I took Alfie out for a walk. He has been fidgeting all morning, with the hope of being taken out. I'm glad that the workmen have finished.

All Over The Place!

 So, we are returning to more restrictions, bought on by the coronavirus pandemic. The government seems to change the restrictions on a daily basis. Where did the number 6 come from, being the limit of how many people can meet? Just plucked from the air without any scientific basis. Why not 7, 8, 9 0r 10? Why do pubs and restaurants have to close at 10p.m.? What on earth difference will that make to the spread of the coronavirus?

Several of the electric scooters left all over Oldbrook Green. I presume the company who runs the business which operate these devices will collect them and return them to wherever they come from. It seems strange to just have them left in the middle of paths around the place and not in some sort of parking space, similar to the bike hiring scheme (there's a parking space for them near the Oldbrook Centre. I think Santander is sponsor of them.)

(Saturday) The last couple of days it's been raining. Not heavy rain, but rather thin and pathetic. Even so, Alfie doesn't like it very much. I took him out just a few moments ago (it's now 11.25a.m. on Saturday 3rd October.) We walked along Strudwick Drive, me wearing my new Regatta rain jacket, but as soon as Alfie discovered the rain, he turned tail and took me back home.

(Tuesday) The seat of the toilet in my bathroom has broken. It broke several weeks ago. Not the actual seat but the lid. The plastic bit came away from the mechanism which holds it onto the bowl, so I reported it to the S.H.O., Barbara, and was hoping that it would be mended, no questions asked. Well, I didn't break it deliberately, I didn't do a tap dance on the lid or poke it to make it break. I was told yesterday that it was my responsibility to repair it. The company who are responsible for maintenance of the flat look after the BOWL of the toilet, but not the SEAT! Crazy! 

I was quietly sitting and watching television when there was this noise. It sounded like something collapsing. I wasn't sure where or even what it was. I looked in the kitchen, thinking it might have been a box falling on the floor (not sure where or what, again) but it wasn't in there. Then I poked my head round the door of the bathroom and found that the shower curtain rail was the culprit. Weird, as I hadn't touched it or even been near it. These curtain rails are only held in place by a sort of rubber washer (for want of a better world) on the end of the rail in a sort of round arrangement which screws on the end and you screw it out until it grips the wall. I can't believe that that is all that keeps it in place. I have now managed to reassemble the whole thing and it's holding up, and it hasn't collapsed as yet (well, at least, as I write this but will keep you informed it it decides to collapse again.

(Friday) Still not a lot to write about. The Council have built a fence along the Oldbrook Boulevard she of the Green, presumably with the intention of preventing further traveller's caravans being able to get onto the grass. They completed around half and then some bureaucrat thought strong and hard and realised that caravans could be able to access the area the other side of the skateboard park, so a further fence has been constructed. Next to impossible for anyone to drive onto the grass now. Even a small bit of fence along the opening into Shackleton Place.

(Monday) I went on line to book an appointment to get my hair cut at Central Barbers. This was a couple of days ago. The last time I had my hair cut I went to their website and was able to book and pay for an appointment, so it made sense to repeat this as it saves having to wait and if you pay you just walk in before the appointed time and then at the end, be because you've paid on line, there's nothing further to pay. I wasn't sure that I had actually successfully got an appointment booked. There's nothing to acknowledge your booking, such as being sent an email as you get when you buy something from Amazon. So this morning I phoned the shop and it turned out I hadn't got the appointment booked, but they made the appointment over the phone, for this Wednesday (21st October.) at 10.15a.m.

The Excitement Is Too much!

(Sunday) It's mild, windy but clammy. There has been a blustery wind in force. How would Winnie The Pooh manage? Or Mary Poppins? Would she be able to manage with her flying with her umbrella if there was a high wind? Would she be a danger to aircraft? How does she manage to hold on to the handle and still manage to travel so far? Does she ever get cramp in the arm she uses to hold on, her hand never loosing it's grip? What happens to her? Does she fall to earth? Why does she not have a parachute? Doe she have insurance? Can she fly at night? Doe she have lights? Has she ever been hit by aircraft, or other forms of propelled flight? Has she done any sort of risk-assessment? How does health and safety come into things?  When I was at school, about the time the first film was released in the 1960's, one of my teachers made the rather obvious observation that, did she never worry about people seeing up her skirt? It does occur when you think about it. Not that I ever did. Like, later, when I was at college a good deal later, when Evita, the Lloyd-Webber/Tim Rice musical about Eva Peron came out, why would anyone want to see a musical about the wife of a fascistt  dictator? I suppose he had a point, but it didn't put me off buying the original concept album. 

I'm continuing with my writing. It's going gradually, having now found a way to move forward. It's taking a while to write but I'm getting there. As the day progressed I managed to get quite a considerable amount written. I will leave it until tomorrow and hopefully get this particular section completed, but I'm not rushing it.

Dominic Cummings is in trouble. His name is just about right as he's been coming and going and as a result some people, including members of the government, think he's getting away with breaking the lockdown regulations by going all the way to County Durham, but I'm not entirely sure why, to care for a child and his wife has been infected by the coronavirus apparently and so has he. He's a naughty boy. Who is he? Boris Johnson's political advisor or something. What does that mean and is he actually a Member of Parliament? Is he part of the Cabinet? What is his function? From the pictures I've seen in the Sunday Times today as well as on line on the Sunday Telegraph website, he just looks plain odd. Creepy, even. Why does he always wear that stupid wooly hat and go around in a thick jacket when it's so sunny and warm? No, he's not an M.P., but described on his Wikipedia profile as a 'Political Strategist,' whatever that means. It would be better if Boris Johnson go rid of him because if he doesn't watch out it will get out of control, as some sort of damage limitation. The left wing press, which I have to include the BBC as it seems full of lefties, is the biggest culprit, infact I would include most of the British media, who are doing more harm than good to the Conservative government, mostly the Remainers who are still not happy with the results of the 2016 EU referendum and the fact that we've left the failing EU. They keep picking away at it, rather like someone with a scab. As my mother used to say 'I'll never get better if you picket,' which someone should have said to Arthur Scargill duding the Miners Strike. Sorry about the dreadful pun, but it just came to me as I was writing this.

There have been people at Dexter House who shouldn't have been here at all, totally flouting the lockdown regulations. I had a sleep this evening, and woke up to hear voices. I imagined it was outside the confines of Dexter House, the sound of children, shouting and general noise. I went into the kitchen to do some washing up and could see in the garden below through the window people, mostly children, I don't know who they were, family members of others who live here, but clearly not observing the two-metre social distancing rules. I don't know what they were thinking, the parents just being irresponsible. We can apparently meet people outside, but only on a one-to-one basis, not in groups like this. Just making a nonsense and very likely to spread this wretched virus by their behaviour. If nothing else, putting themselves and others at risk of catching the coronavirus which has been causing all the problems over the last few months.

What's Going On?

So, they (meaning the government) expects schools to start re-opening at the beginning of June. The unions are opposed, as you would expect. I can't ever imagine unions agreeing with anything a Conservative government wanted to do. But is it safe for them to do so? Well, if other countries are gradually easing their lockdown restrictions, why not here? The number of cases of infection from the coronavirus are decreasing, even the total of deaths is going down, although even then it's a dreadfully high number. But we can't remain in lockdown forever, not necessarily because of the economic consequences, but for the effect it's having on people's mental health and children in particular should be able to be back at school with their friends and getting on with their educations. there will be safety issues to sort out, and getting children of primary school age to adhere to social distancing is not going to be easy, or. for that matter, expecting teaching staff to adhere to the regulations is going to be just as difficult, but it can be done, probably by having smaller class sizes and staggering such things as meal times as well as when they go out to play during their breaks.

(Tuesday) Another pleasant, sunny day. But I'm still stuck in the flat in lockdown. I'm really missing my Camphill drama workshop guys.  As it's Tuesday, I would have been there at around 8.45, ready for things to start at nine with everyone checking in. I'm wondering how they are managing. For some it will be quite difficult, particularly those with some form of autism, because their routines will be totally changed.

I haven't done any writing for a while. Now I have all my bits of writing sorted into plastic wallets, which is all handwritten in pencil, which is how I prefer to write as it means I can soon erase anything with a rubber. If it's in ink, I find it's far too 'fixed.' I will  have to sort it all into it's correct order and then do more transcribing into word processing. The opening of the 'core' story was going well until I decided it should go in a different direction, which I think I have no solved and I just need to give it a bit more thought before I commit pencil to paper. These things often happen, you start a bit of writing and then you can decide it's not going as you anticipated and have to sort of unpick what you'd already written and start off in a different direction. I often think it's a bit like knitting. Not that I've ever done any knitting, but my mother was a great knitter and would often undo what she'd done and start over again, probably changing the pattern as she did so. Interesting that so many words to do with writing and printing are connected with fabric; tie up the loose ends, to weave a story etc. In fact the work text is related to textile. Then there's spin a tale or story. I suppose a line of handwritten or printed text does resemble fabric that's been woven.

I had forgotten that on 18th May it was the 14th anniversary of my first heart attack. I think lockdown and all that's attached to the coronavirus pandemic had totally wiped the memory from my mind. I'm feeling fine, but I am still waiting to have an appointment at Milton Keynes hospital after I had a blood test at my doctor's surgery and the fact that it showed something connected to my liver which needed checking. I realise that the pandemic has swamped the N.H.S. and what the conditions are at the hospital, for example, social distancing and the staffing, but this test still needs arranging.

Wednesday. I've already  been out twice with Alfie. I was up early as usual. Alfie keep staring at me, so I decided that it was no use taking him out at gone 7.30, so I sorted myself out and we were out of the door by around 6.35. It's such a warm morning that I walked around Oldbrook Green. Quite a few people jogging or exercising in some other manner. Then, having had something to eat for breakfast, a bowl of fruit and fibre, Sainsbury's own-brand instead of Kellogg's, which is in where near as good, plus a mug of tea (who on earth has cups and saucers these days?) and after some time it seemed he really needed a second walk at around 8.30. It's no use with him staring at me like he does. It's hot at the moment, and even with the flat windows open, far too much for Alfie and he keeps on finding it hard to keep cool, laying on the floor in front of the sofa and, as I write this, I couldn't immediately find him and he's laying on the floor the other end of the sofa, just out of my sight. 

The 'New Normal'

(Saturday)What exactly are they talking about when people talk about 'The New Normal'? It's in connection with the coronavirus pandemic and how our lives have been altered since the lockdown was bought in as an attempt to stem the infection rate of the virus. Is it referring to the changes that we have to make for such things as social distancing? Not being able to meet in groups? Not being able to meet our families who don't live with us? Those things aren't what you'd call 'normal' particularly. So if they are the 'new' normal, what was the old 'normal' and what exactly IS normal in the first place? Life pre-pandemic? Before lockdown? Quite a lot to ponder on there.

Whatever measures the government brings in it's all very new territory. It's the bleating and moaning from a certain section of the country which annoys me, lead by the media and in particular the BBC. They seem to love negative news and seem to side step anything that might be positive.

(Sunday) It's 9.55 and it's still strange not going to church and meeting up with everyone. Having some sort of worship on-line, via either YouTube or Facebook is becoming the 'Norm.' But it still seems odd without others around to sing worship songs with, but I suppose you might say it's ;better than nothing.'

I watched the film 'Darkest Hour'  this morning which was originally shown on BBC1 last weekend during the VE Day 75th Anniversary celebrations. I watched it on BBC iPlayer. It was a film I had wanted to see for some time so it was an opportunity to watch it without paying as it would be through the Television Licence. It's about Winston Churchill and his rise to becoming Prime Minister after the removal of Neville Chamberlain as PM after the 'Piece of Paper' incident and the appeasement of Adolf Hitler. Gary Oldman convinces completely as Churchill, not just the voice of the great man, but with the aid of incredible makeup, which must have taken hours to create each day before filming took place. Today I watched the first part of a three-part documentary series on 'History Hit,' which I subscribe to and presented by David Starkey and originally shown on Channel 4, covering the story of Marlborough, Churchill's great ancestor who built Blenheim Palace, and comparing the background to the Battle of Blenheim and the build-up to the Second World War and the rise of Hitler and the Nazis.

Things were going really well at the moment (apart, of course, from the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown) but this afternoon my bed decided to cave in beneath me as I lay on it. It's an IKEA bed. a king-size, and we bought it when we lived in Crownhill and was dismantled and moved with us when we moved to the house in Eaglestone. Like a lot of IKEA furniture, it's one you construct yourself and, unfortunately, they don't like being dismantled and then reassembled. This happened again when I moved to Dexter House, although it did survive being reassembled, which was done by the removal company. But there is a problem in that it has slats which support the mattesss and it's supposed to have metal cross pieces which keep the bed in shape, otherwise it can get out of the correct, square angles and in that case it can collapse. The wooden slats come connected with webbing and you lay these slats across the frame and they sit on the wooden frame, right inside the outer edge. But unfortunately on the side I used to lie on the metal cross-members got broken and as a result the slats keep falling out and you have to lift the mattress to replace the slats in the sides of the bed. Whenever I moved to get out of bed, usually when I sit up and then swing my legs over the side of he bed, the slats move and some fall out. So I started sleeping on the other side of the bed, which has been fine for the past few months, until this afternoon, when even the slats on that side of the bed collapsed. There seems absolutely no way I can continue to sleep in the bed in it's current condition. The slats will not stay where they are supposed to go, so it now looks as if I will need to replace the bed completely. This isn't exactly made easy with the pandemic continuing and not being able to visit IKEA or any other furniture shop, so I may have to simply dismantle the bed and take the mattress off and put it on the floor of the bedroom and make it up with sheets and duvet and sleep on it on the floor until such time as I can entirely replace the bed, which isn't likely for some while with the lockdown continuing. Watch this space for further developments in the saga of the IKEA bed.

(Monday) I managed to sleep really well with the mattress on the floor of the bedroom. I think Alfie was a bit mystified by the fact that I was lying more or less on the floor. He came to have a look during the night, lay down with me but didn't stay long and went back to sleep on the sofa in the lounge. I'm quite happy with the new sleeping arrangements and I will need to take out the bits of the bed whenever it's possible to get the Council to come and collect it all. I'm not bothered about replacing the bed and may just leave things as they are until I can get a new replacement.

It's 6.25a.m. and it seems it's going to be another pleasant morning on the weather front. Washed, shaved and ready to take his nibs out at around 7.15.

Later. I've taken Alfie out again and it's odd seeing Oldbrook Green so free of people. Yesterday evening when we went out it was crowded and had the atmosphere of a Bank Holiday, with children with their parents, some sitting in groups on the grass, some playing football, others walking their dogs, like me, whilst others just strolling around. I'm still not completely certain how much of the social distancing is going on, but a definite more relaxed atmosphere generally.