Covid Rears It's Ugly Head . . .

Tuesday. 5.20 a.m. A reluctant Alfie came out with me for our early morning jaunt around Oldbrook Green. It was worth it, if just to see a really amazing cloud formation over the centre of Milton Keynes, straight out of a J.M.W. Turner painting, who just happens to be one of my favourite artists. Anyway, I di around 1800 steps, as measured by my FitBit, which tells me, via the app, which is on my iPad and iPhone, that I do on average around 40,000 steps per week, which is approximately 30 miles, which can't be bad. I have worked out my B.M.I. (Body Mass Index), which is 29.6, which suggests that I am somewhat overweight. I put the blame on the so-called pandemic, being shut up like a prisoner for approximately two years, and eating stuff which I shouldn't have, for example, cake and biscuits. Definitely one of the minuses of such an event.

4.40 p.m. Another really great day at Camphill, in the performing arts workshop.

A longer than usual check-in. It took around an hour. Some people can spend around ten minutes discussing what they've been doing. I think there should be something like an egg timer, so people keep to a set length of time when they are talking.

A warming up session, to get the day started, but barely enough time before it was tea break. You can't possibly NOT have a tea break! Some of the group would be mortified if they were told they couldn't have a tea break, but no tea bags! Disasterville! So, someone goes off to find some.

Back to work, having to set up the green screen for our 'pirates' 'video. Terrie had managed to hang the main cloth on one of the bars on stage, which are usually there to suspend bits of scenery, curtains (technically called 'tabs', short for 'tableau.') Also, we have to put a green cloth on the stage floor. This is done so that backgrounds in scenes for the video can be edited into the footage to give the illusion of such things as being on a beach, in a shop or another place, without actually being there.

A great deal of hanging around, waiting to sort out costumes, some of the actors have makeup applied and our leading lady was involved in the 'western' video, which was being shot elsewhere, on location somewhere in Milton Keynes. We did manage to do some filming on the stage, the fight between the two pirate gangs. This means that, with only a small amount of footage needed, our video will be finished, apart from the editing.

Meanwhile . . .  The 'time travel' video, which was the original video I was working on and was supposed to have a part . . . It was being edited in another part of the theatre. It appears that they have the first third of their video editing.

So, things are going really well. Hopefully next week we will get to see the completed videos!

Thursday. 7.10 a.m. I have currently got an unpleasant cough, which includes really unpleasant phlegm at the back of my throat. It kept me awake most of the night and nothing seems to shift it, although sucking on a Ricola sweet relieved it somewhat.

1.20 p.m. I was shaving early this morning and looking at myself in the mirror and thought, 'Your hair looks as if it could do with cutting!' which prompted me to go online to Central Barbers and book an appointment for 10.30 a.m., so that is exactly what I did, and it was done, and I feel a good deal better for it. I took a couple of Paracetamol tablets before I drove into the centre and I think they did the trick. I had been feeling lousy, what with the cough and a slight flu sort of feeling.

4.15 p.m.I am still feeling fluey. I have taken two more Paracetamol and have just done a COVID-19 test. It has come out positive, so I think I will need to isolate for five days.

Drama Workshop At Camphill (And A Few Minor Matters!)

Monday. 7.55 a.m. It's a somewhat blustery morning as I write this blog post. Alfie and I ventured forth, as we usually do early morning, to find plastic bags being blown along the path as we walked towards Oldbrook Green. Only a day ago I remember almost slipping over on the paving slabs on the path in more or less the same place where the plastic bag was being wafted about in the breeze. 

A blustery day makes me think of Winnie The Pooh. Disney made an animated film of the A.A. Milne story, Winnie The Pooh and The Blustery Day. I think it was shown in cinemas with a full-length Disney film, but I have no idea what it was.

10.45 a.m. I have had a letter from Milton Keynes Council regarding my rent, which is going up. I couldn't make head nor tail about how much I was actually going to pay, and then I was told that my account was actually in credit by a considerable amount. I had been paying too much. This is good news, but you would think, someone would let you know, probably giving a statement or similar which broke down how much I had paid.

I've taken Alfe out again, and we walked around Oldbrook Green. We bumped into Woody, one of Alfie's friends, a large rather ugly dog, with a flat face, which resembled the dog which appears in the 'Tom and Jerry cartoons. Big, stupid and with a loud bark. Sort of, his bark was worse than his bite. Anyway, Woody comes up to me and gives me a look and thinks he's going to get a treat from me, but I rarely have dog treats in my pockets, so he was somewhat disappointed when I didn't produce one. We walked on around the Green, but it threatened to rain, so we needed to get back quickly. It is really windy and there's a definite chill in the air, almost enough to freeze your face. I think it's very likely we'll get another load of snow.

Tuesday. 6.35 a.m. I was awake in the night. I'm not entirely sure what time it was, but probably around 1.30. There was a sudden rainstorm. I could hear it rattling on the windows, and then I could see raindrops running down the glass outside. As I write this, it's relatively calm and dry, but I expect there to be puddles along the road and possible flash floods around Milton Keynes.

4.30 p.m. I have just got home from a day at Camphill. It's been a really packed day. Terrie has been away for several weeks as her father is ill and has been in hospital. But she was back in charge today. As usual,, we had the regular check-in, which seems to take longer and longer each time. Last week they had videoed an improvised silent film (I wasn't at Camphill last week.) which was shown projected onto the large cinema screen, which is electronically bought in from above the stage level.

Mitchell, who is a third member of the leadership team in the theatre workshop, and who is a musician who created music for 'Twelfth Night', is currently on holiday in Bulgaria with his girlfriend. The holiday was delayed because of the travel restrictions which came in due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The holiday is at a skiing resort, but Mitchell damaged a leg so can't partake in any skiing, so is spending time relaxing in the hotel where they are staying. He had sent Terrie pictures which obviously showed that he was bored, having to sit around in the hotel, so she decided to send him photographs of the drama group on 'holiday', but constructed out of photographs found on the internet and then projected onto the cinema screen and with members of the drama team standing in front of the screen. It may sound crazy, and everyone had fun deciding where they would like to go on holiday. Then Terrie took photographs of the team standing in front of these photographs and in a variety of poses. 

After tea break, Terrie gets us all doing an exercise based on character archetypes, the sort of characters you would find in a silent film, and in turn, as seen in traditional melodramas in theatre, such as 'The Villain', 'The Hero', and 'The Damsel In Distress.' 

After lunch, we had to mime the archetypes, all without speaking. Actually quite difficult.

The final session of the day, this time, after the afternoon tea break, we were broken into groups of about five or six and had to improvise a short sketch, based on what we learnt. I lead one of the groups and the improvisation was about a couple living in a house and not being able to afford to pay their rent and the landlord, the 'Evil Villain' came in and demanded they pay their rent, which had presumably been increased., The 'The Hero' came in, who was going to pay their rent for them. It ended with 'The Hero' coming back and having a fight with 'The Villain' and winning with the two 'Damsels In Distress' (the tenants, smashing 'The Villain' over the head with a saucepan (mimed!) and throwing 'The Villain' out! All through this, I directed the piece.

Repeat of Leadership Race

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

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

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

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

More Over-Used Phrases

So, what 'overused phrases' am I talking about? The one that has been done to death is the one which was used during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's unprecedented. It had become something of a cliché. Why? I think it was an attempt to make out the pandemic was really worse than it was made out to be, mostly by the unelected scientists who were actually pulling the strings. And Boris fell for it, and we, the electorate of the United Kingdom, were forced, more at less at gun-point, to accept house arrest without question.

Kicking the can down the road. This means, in effect, putting something off, usually unpopular or unpleasant. For example, a sort of denial, knowing full well that something has to be done. One example would be a Chancellor of The Exchequer knowing that the country's finances are in a total mess and putting up taxes.

It is not always over-used phrases that annoy me, but those clichés the news media use, particularly television news. Here's a list. These are a few, but I'm sure, over time, I will discover plenty more.

1: Inflation, money: Piles of one-pound coins, stacked up, or images of one-pound notes. Shots of the Bank of England. Computer screens, with facts and figures over-laid or Photoshopped on. A person taking cash out of a cash machine. 

2: Care, usually of the elderly: Old people, usually seen from the waist down, with wrinkly stockings, tatty slippers, shuffling along, holding onto a Zimmer frame. Often out of focus. Or elderly people eating soup, or being served some food, usually looking revolting and totally unappetizing. Usually, the elderly portrayed are supposedly around 85 plus. So at what age do we become 'elderly'? That is a good question, and not easy to answer. 

3: Children/Education. Rows of empty desks, piles of exercise books, something written on a blackboard (which hasn't been used in schools for decades.), naughts-and-crosses on a blackboard, or some complicated bit of algebra. (Do schools teach algebra these days? They attempted to teach me that subject when I was at school, but I have never found a use for it.) Children are seen in a playground, probably playing, and we see just their feet. Sitting on a bench, just their backs, faces blurred or just from the waist down.

4: Law/legal: Shots of the statue on top of The Old Bailey. The one with the woman holding the balancing scales. Piles of documents, tied in red ribbons. 

5: NHS/Medical. Doctor in a white coat, with a stethoscope around his/her neck. Someone has their blood pressure taken. Piles of hypodermic needles, packets/bottles of tablets. Nurses looking after patients, filling in forms on clipboards, looking at X-Rays. A patient's arm with a blood pressure cuff on, with a nurse assisting. 

6: Employment: Shots of a Job Centre sign, job boards in a Job Centre. People queuing up to collect their benefits in a Post Office.

7: Recession. Boarded-up shops on a high street, in some undisclosed town. Factory gates locked, with weeds growing through pavements, bits of litter blowing in the wind. Then, graphs of numbers of employed and unemployed. 

Bring Me Sunshine!

Monday. 10.15 a.m. Oh dear! After several days of warm and sunny days, we now have light rain! Not something a small Yorkshire Terrier is going to relish! It was certainly a surprise when I went out mid-morning, dressed in my shorts and short-sleeved polo shirt! But never mind. That's the good old British weather for you, totally unpredictable.

12.32 p.m. On Saturday, I got a text message from the N.H.S., informing me that I had come into contact with someone who had been infected with the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. I was told to order a test kit, which I did, clicking through the text message. I was over-pleased that I was expected to fork out £1 for postage, which was a bit of an affront. Why couldn't they pay? Having done this, I had my doubts that it was genuine. Well, with the number of scams that are going around, it's often difficult to tell what is real and what is fake. But I'm sure it's genuine. So, I suppose I will have to wait and do the test when it arrives and see what happens. I don't feel under the weather, so I'm reasonably sure it's going to be negative.

It's still raining fairly hard, so McNugget (alias Alfie) won't like it. I don't blame him, because I don't relish getting wet either.

Tuesday. 6.45 a.m. Another bright and sunny morning. What more can I say?

Wednesday. 6.30 a.m. It's not quite as bright and sunny this morning as it has been for the past couple of days. It must have been raining overnight, as there were definite signs when I took Alfie out this morning.

If you recall in my earlier posts, I mentioned how I had hoped to be able to leave Alfie with a young lady who would care for him over a long weekend at the end of May, and then, how it was abandoned because he didn't like the idea of being left? Well, that young lady's mother had suggested that perhaps she could have him for a few hours so that he got used to the idea of being left with her. It's the abandonment thing which he doesn't like; the idea that I won't be coming back, which isn't true. I think the fact that he barks at the grandchildren (and other children, which is when we're out and children approach wanting to stroke him.) is probably to protect me. I don't know exactly what's going on, but some of this behaviour is because he doesn't understand small children, particularly because they talk with higher-pitched voices than adults and move around far more unpredictably. Anyway, with all this in mind, I'm taking him to her house on Sunday afternoon just to attempt to get him settled so I can have time in Worcester with Chloe, Steve and the four grandchildren.

2.00 p.m. I've been into Sainsbury's, shopping, this morning. I went in a good deal earlier than I would normally, for no other reason than I just wanted to get it out of the way. Not only that, but I'm really glad that I did because it was very quiet. What does annoy me, though, is that they don't have more people at the check-outs. I think it's to encourage you to use the self-service tills. I'm fine using them, but whenever I use one, there's a problem. 

I was queuing up to use a check-out and several people were ahead of me. I couldn't help reading a notice at the end of the checkout line. It read: 'Bags for life now cost 30p. Replace old bags free.' Which made me think, I can think of quite a few old bags I'd like to replace . . . free!

I realized a few days ago, on looking through the pile of cards which inhabit my wallet, in amongst the loyalty cards, that my free bus pass ran out last year, so I decided to apply for a new one. It's an easy job and made easier when I have my birth certificate photographed and on my MacBook Pro, along with several digital photographs. You just fill in the online form on the Milton Keynes Council website and upload proof of age and photograph (easy and far better than going to their offices and having to queue up.) The replacement card came in the post this afternoon. Now to decide where to go by bus, using the card. It's just a shame I can use rail as I fancy going further afield for a day out.

How Time Flies!

 Monday 7.40 a.m. The weeks fly by. Goodness! It's Monday again. Tempus Fugit, as the Romans would say. 

Still and mild as Alfie and I went out at around 7 this morning.

Yesterday, Mike and Margaret collected me to take me to church. I took the fuel can with me and then afterwards we went to Morrisons and I managed to fill the can sufficiently to then decant into my car when I got back to Dexter House. I trust when I go out later this morning, I can top the tank up enough to resolve the fuel issue. I am trusting that the ESSO fuel station on Child's Way will have sufficient fuel, or if not the Shell station in Grafton Street.

12.40 p.m. I have now been able to fuel the car sufficiently with diesel at the ESSO filling station in Childs Way. I think it must be the first time in many months that I have had a completely full tank. Furthermore, I just hope I don't have to go through another similar situation, and I trust I have learnt to keep the car fully fuelled in case of a similar emergency.

Tuesday. 8.45 a.m. Another seemingly mild and undistinguishable sort of autumn's day. I'm going to get my booster covid vaccine later this afternoon. I had one booked, but then, because of the issue of fuelling the car, I had to cancel it.

1.45 p.m. I have just got back from Milton Keynes centre. I was scheduled to have my covid-19 booster vaccination at 11.45. I made the mistake of thinking it was at the Council offices next door to the NatWest branch, but when I asked at the front desk I was told that the Saxon Court was opposite the former Debenhams store (now Next Home and Beauty.) This didn't exactly help my stress levels, because I am rarely later for anything, probably always the first person at anything, theatre performances, doctors appointments or anything else. So it was a good twenty-minute trek back through the shopping centre and inside the building, where I had to sign in, using my registration number from the text message I had received, having booked online yesterday. First I had to wait with dozens of other people in what I would refer to as a holding area, and then we were herded through to the main vaccine area where, again, we had to sit and wait. People coming and going and some going through to the 'Observation Area' once they'd had their vaccine, as you have to wait fifteen minutes, just in case you have any sort of reaction to the vaccine.

Having spent fifteen minutes in the observation area, no reactions such as my hair turning green or developing boils all over my face, so I left and walked into the shopping centre, deciding to buy something to eat from Boots. I am more than a bit surprised that they no longer have manned tills (am I allowed to say that? Personed?? If so, it sounds crazy.) Using the self-service till, I then found I couldn't use my Advantage card to put points on. I don't know why. Just awkward. I also bought some paracetamol in Boots as the nurse said that, if I felt as if I had 'flu, to take it if necessary

So, I returned to my car and drove home, to eat my sandwich and watch the midday news on BBC 1.

Wednesday. 10.40 a.m. I can report that I began to feel exhausted and that the point in my upper arm, where the vaccine was injected, began to hurt somewhat. Nothing serious, but it was uncomfortable to lay on in bed at night. As I write this, the discomfort has more or less worn off. Nothing unpleasant to report.

Thursday. 12.25 p.m. It was foggy when I took Alfie out for his usual walk at around 7.20 this morning. But it had dispersed when we went out at 9.30. It's quite mild, but the heating in this flat is so overpowering I have got all the windows on and even the electric fan. I have ordered a smart room thermometer from Amazon, which should arrive tomorrow. I need to keep a record of exactly how warm it gets. It's crazy to have to keep the windows open to let out the heat! Just sweat pouring down my face. It seems such a total waste of energy. I have mentioned it to Barbara, but it seems nobody is interested, which is annoying and totally idiotic.

There have been a couple of thefts within Dexter House, so someone has put together a petition so that the tenants in this unit can get the Council to install C.C.T.V. to keep a watch on those who enter and leave the premises. I have signed the petition.

Pandemic . . . Over and Out?

So, is that the end of the covid-19 pandemic? Is it now an epidemic rather than a pandemic? Boris has always said that he would 'follow the science.' The data shows that infections have fallen.

Sunday 6.30 a.m. I woke a good deal later than usual. I waited to take Alfie out and when we did, we found it quite windy. Alfie obviously doesn't like the wind, so he took us back home. When he doesn't want to do something, he makes sure he gets what he wants and that includes not getting wet or enduring wind. Funny little person!

I arrived at church at around 9.50 this morning and I was somewhat surprised that there were no chairs put out. So myself and several other people were drafted in to bring them in on the trolleys. It's surprising how quickly this was completed when everyone works together. No restrictions! No horrible masks! Ability to sing properly! Just great to have things almost back to some sort of normal. Then, after the service had finished, we had to remain to clear up the chairs and put them away on the trolleys. Twenty-two on each.

Monday. 6.20 a.m. Alfie was just not bothered about walking this morning. He's just becoming rather lazy. Not like him at all. I found him on the bed, in my usual place. Curled up and fast asleep. I attempted to move him but he growled at me. Not his usual behaviour.

I've spent most of the morning moving half of the furniture in the lounge so that I could sweep up the dust and other bits off the floor and then steam mop the floor with the Vax steam mop. It's quite a military exercise as the armchair was quite difficult to get through the door and put it into the hallway. No end of cables for such things as the floor light, the wifi router, and the chargers for the iPhone and iPad. I've already cleared out a lot of paperwork and generally cleared away clutter. It now means I have the second half of the room to clean, which will mean moving the television unit, the desk, and the sofa. 

Tuesday. 6.36 a.m. Another relatively mild and pleasant morning. But, saying that, just as I settled down to go to sleep at around 10.30 yesterday evening, there was an almighty rainstorm. It seemed to go on for quite a while, but there wasn't much to suggest rain when Alfie and I went out before 6 o'clock this morning. He really is getting reluctant to walk the entire circuit of Oldbrook Gree, but I am really determined to do the steps which are being recorded on my FitBit.

11.10 a.m. I've been to Sainsbury's this morning. I had to collect a  repeat prescription which was ready and pick up some bits and pieces, particularly milk and dog food. I can't have Alfie going without, now can I? I was surprised by how many gaps there were in the aisles, breakfast cereal being one. No doubt this is because of people being 'pinged' by the ridiculous app which tells you to self-isolate if you've been near someone who has been found to be infectious with covid or whatever. No end of the staff in various industries have had this happen, in what is called the 'pingdemic.' Crazy. 

St Swithin's Day

Thursday. 6.30 a.m. So, the wearing of face masking is no longer going to be compulsory! It will no longer be going to be a legal requirement in certain circumstances, for example, when you go shopping and in other enclosed spaces. I'm so glad about this! Wearing a confounded mask means that my glasses steam up and my face ends up like it's been in a sauna, breathing in my hot breath, and it can make me feel really sick and starts off my cough. You can't have a decent conversation with a piece of fabric across your face which makes communication very difficult. I think it's about being responsible for yourself and being able to make your own decisions. 

The Government is considering bringing in a tax on sugary and salty food products, such as chocolate bars, breakfast cereals, crisps, and other products. It might sound like a good idea in an attempt to reduce dietary-related medical problems, such as obesity, diabetes, stroke, and other illnesses. But there again it's the nanny state controlling people's lives. Just educate people to understand nutrition and what it's better to eat, for example, five pieces of fruit and vegetables a day, a lower intake of salt and sugar, more fibre, eat less fast food. Learn where food comes from, for example, how milk is produced and processed, what goes into fast foods, and other matters. Just start by relating science and domestic science, less reliance on academic results and more on practical matters.

So, it surprises me how the British people have just rolled over and let authoritarianism take complete control of their lives since the covid-19 pandemic began back in March 2020. Nobody has commented on how our lives have been overturned by some totally draconian legislation that takes power away from the individual and puts it in the hands of our politicians and in some cases those who have really no political power and aren't democratically elected. We're not supposed to leave our homes unless it's for 'essential' shopping, such as for food or a medical emergency, we're not meant to meet up in other people's homes unless it's our immediate 'bubble.' Does nobody question any of this? I can't believe how easily British life has been controlled, no dissent of any sort, or if there has been, it's immediately stamped on, disallowed, no mention in media, television, or print. I worry because think about how easily the German public allowed the Nazi party to infiltrate their society and prevent any form of disagreement with their legislation, how they closed down any form of dissent, and, again, total CONTROL?! It just goes to show how far we've gone, in a very short space of time, and all for the sake of our 'safety because of this confounded virus. It's a question 'you must' all for the sake of protecting the NHS, this great monolithic construct, which may be a good force in one respect, but is overwhelmed with bureaucracy, over-manning, poor management and become some sort of beneficent aunty who hands out freebies left right and centre, a bit like great aunt Freda arrives and we expect to get 6d for being a good boy or girl. Or a packet of sweeties or other presents.

Today is St Swithin's Day, which means that if it rains (according to legend.) then it's supposed to rain for forty days, and if it's warm and sunny, then there will be forty days of warm and sunny weather. So, let's see what happens if it rains, or whether we get forty days of warm and sunny weather.

So, the weather is bright and sunny! Does it need to stay this way for twenty-four hours for it to remain fine for the next forty days? Let's wait and see!

Later. 4.35 p.m. I'm working on the plot of the next section of my novel (or whatever it is. Not sure it's officially a novel.) I'm using the internet, which is a valuable source for such research, particularly as you have videos on YouTube and news reports, data such as statistics, locations, etc. Just great. I am building up a fair amount of information before I can do the actual writing, which is the easy part. The playwright is supposed to write his plays in around three weeks, but I suspect he has done preparation before he puts pen to paper, such as the plot, characters, and incidents which happen in each act and scene, so he can then sit down and do the actual writing. Well, considering he's written around 70 plays, he must know what he's up to. I don't think I could write a play because I find dialogue difficult and it's not easy making it convincing. I find prose far easier. The fact is when we talk we don't speak in neat sentences, and we certainly don't always wait for the other person we're talking to, to start speaking. There are overlaps, incomplete sentences, and so on, making dialogue used in plays very false. Natural speech doesn't have 'cues,' where you wait for the other person to finish before you begin, although to a great extent, to be polite, you do wait, but not always.

Life's Little Mysteries

This blog post is the 1550th. I can't believe that I have managed to reach this landmark. I know a lot of what I write on his is just mundane, but I bet Samuel Pepys, who kept a diary, had days when he had to write mundane things to keep his famous journal alive, and just think how valuable that has become to historians, giving a vivid insight into life in London between 1660 and 1669, which included mention of the Great Plague, which in some ways reflects with the current covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. He also mentioned the Great Fire of London. What a time to live through! Can the same be said of this current time? Maybe not, but someone in, say, 200 years will be intrigued by all this.

Why is it, when you do washing, you almost always find one sock that doesn't get washed and is left alone in the basket when you've started the machine? By which time it's too late for it to go into the machine because you can't open the door to put it in? Again, why is it when you do washing up (incidentally, I don't have a washing-up machine, so it has to be done by hand.) there's invariably one or two items of cutlery, usually teaspoons, which get left at the bottom of the washing up bowl once the job is over? Is it some freak of nature that these things happen? 

How many of you out there have trouble with child-proof bottles? They are usually how many medicines are packaged. I bought Robitussin cough syrup a few weeks ago. I think I told you I bought some in Boots (no, not that sort of Boots! I mean the high street chemists. Doh!) I really needed to open the bottle, but you really have to press down on the cap and twist to get it open. If I can't open the thing, what about someone who has arthritic hands or other problems with their hands. No chance of a child would be able to open the bottle. The same on the plastic box in which my washing gel tabs come in. I know you don't want your child to eat these things, but that box is difficult to open.

It's not just child-proof bottles. I had bought some raspberry jam a few days ago and when I came to open it, or at least I attempted to open it, I had real problems. I assume these bottles are put on and tightened by a machine. The only way I could open it was to stab the thing with a sharp knife, which released the pressure inside and the lid was then easy to open.

Why do those wretched television commercials for carpets and furniture have to have voice-overs that shout at you? Is it the only way they can communicate their lowbrow products to people who can't comprehend basic English? Brash, loud and totally horrible. It seems that some of the lesser digital channels have this sort of advertising because they can't get space on any of the other, mainstream channels. Then these companies have obvious names such as Carpets 4 Us or Oakwoodfurniture.co.uk Can't they come up with more original names. Oakland, I think it's the name of a furniture company, presumably sells furniture made of oak. Am I right? Why not call it MDF World or chipboard world. Would that put people off investing in such pieces of furniture. Well, IKEA furniture is made, generally, out of MCF and chipboard, but they don't make a big issue out of the fact. How about Put-it-together-yourself.com, or Flatpackworld.com.  Trymaypatience.com, when you find the instructions which come with the flatpack furniture extremely difficult to understand and when some of the bits go missing, like the screws or bolts which keep the whole thing together.

Just thinking of when they audition for the voice-overs for those furniture adverts where they shout. How does it work, do you think? Do they expect the voice-over actors to stand the opposite side of a field and shout? They wouldn't have to have amplification. Why not get someone like Brian Blessed to do it instead? He has a voice that's so loud he wouldn't need a microphone and if he did, his voice would probably break the recording equipment.

'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.

Covid Regulations Lifting

Saturday. 7.30 a.m. Today is the 1st of May! It's incredible to believe that we're almost halfway through 2021.

 It seems that the covid vaccines are working and reducing infections and thankfully, deaths. This means we are gradually coming out of this pandemic lockdown and even more so, HOPEFULLY, we won't have to have any more in the 'relatively near future.' On the 21st June, as part of the Government's 'roadmap' out of this situation, we can get back to some sort of normal.

Sunny and bright out and really pleasant. Let's hope it stays that way.

I took Alfie out at gone 2 o'clock. Sunny and bright. There were lots of people on and around Oldbrook Green. A group on the far side playing cricket. Children playing football, or at least kicking footballs into the goal in the tarmacked area on the 'Cricketers' side. There is a board which has 'Oldbrook Green' emblazoned on it and a list of 'does and don't (More don'ts as you would expect from a beaurocracy, Campbell Park Parish Council.) One of them says 'no cricket,' 'no organized games.'What about disorganized games? But, please explain what you mean by an organized game? So, what on earth is the point of this large piece of grass if it's not for playing games? I must say it was great to see people enjoying themselves and not being locked up in their homes because of the pandemic. So, what happens if you get caught playing cricket? Not that I'm a fan, but I'd love to see how they could stop this sort of thing. Sounds a bit like life under Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans. Would you get arrested and shoved into a van with handcuffs on? Staring out through bars? Clapped in irons? Makes you wonder. Would be mean you get a criminal record? Look a bit silly on your record: arrested for playing cricket. Who makes up these rules, and why?

Later. 10.00 p.m. I've been watching a musical version of 'The Wind In The Willows' on BroadwayHD. It has music and lyrics by Styles and Drew who did the additional songs for the Cameron Macintosh/Disney stage musical of 'Mary Poppins.' Book by Julian Fellowes, who wrote the ITV series 'Downton Abbey' and did the adaptation of 'Mary Poppins.' Bright and breezy and very clear story-telling, At least the animal characters aren't dressed in obvious costumes. Suggestions that they are a particular type of animal by the addition of hats, ears stuck on, tails, etc., while the actor's faces are kept clear. No real attempt to be 'realistic' which includes the set design.

Sunday. We have to book tickets for church through something called Eventbrite. As we can only have 40 people in the hall, including musicians, it seems the best way to keep control of the numbers, to make sure we adhere to the government's regulations. I thought I had booked my ticket, but it turns out that I hadn't. Just can always trust technology.

Spring Has Sprung!!

Life during the last year, caused by lockdown to prevent the spread of the covid-19 virus, has been turned totally upside down. Just sitting in a small room, with only a little dog for company and rarely seeing another soul, except on Zoom or FaceTime, isn't my idea of how to spend your time. I'm used to be outside doing things, such as going to Camphill on a Tuesday, or even at church, generally going places. As a child my mother would never allow us to stay in doors during the day when we were on school holiday. The idea of daytime television would be totally frowned upon. In fact, I don't think we turned the television on until around 5 o'clock when children's television started. (Mind you, I don't think in the 1960's children's  television probably sorted somewhat earlier. 

(Tuesday) A mild and sunny morning here in Milton Keynes. Not much else to report at the moment (7.45a.m.)

Later. 9.55a.m. I've just got back from Sainsbury's. I had to collect meds from the in-store Lloyd's and I had a shopping list prepared so to kill two birds with one stone (sounds cruel, but never mind.) I thought I might as well get the things until I get paid next week. It's a good deal easier when there aren't lots of other shoppers in the store. It's still bright and sunny and reasonably warm. It's the sun which is encouraging the trees to burst forth with leaves and the flowers to bloom. So, you might say that spring has sprung at last

So warm I'm considering opening the windows and wearing my shorts! My goodness, what ever next?

 6.00p.m. Just heard on BBC News that it's been the warmest March day since 1968. People going mad in a Nottingham park. Crowds of people not paying attention to social distancing. Well, having been locked up for months on end you can hardly blame people for this sort of behaviour.

One of my all-time favourite film directors, Alfred Hitchcock, is reputed to have said 'Drama is life with the boring bits removed', or words to that effect. That's what is probably this blog is probably NOT, because I tend to write more or less everything which happens to me during the course of the day, mundane and interesting. It's really intended to be a sort of observation of human life, such as it is at the moment, and probably more so since all these lockdowns caused by the covid-19 pandemic. People are fascinating and I continue to be intrigued by those I observe. A good basis for my writing. 

I'm shocked to find that, on taking Alfie out for his mid-morning trot around Oldbrook Green, how much litter there is today. Yesterday, probably because some of the restrictions have been eased, was more like a Bank Holiday. A more carefree atmosphere, but people are being somewhat lax in their litter-dropping habits. The same can be said about the amount of dog fouling (sorry to mention it, but I must.) Not nice when there's children playing on the grass. And amongst all the plastic water bottles, coke cans, sweet wrappers and so on, I have to report that a large amount of discarded face-coverings seems to be getting worse. Surely it isn't to difficult to put them in a bin or even in your pocket until you can dispose of it in your rubbish when you get home, but apparently not it would seem,

Really warm and sunny. I actually went out WITHOUT MY JACKET this morning! I'm sitting here at 11.20a.m., busily writing this with the window open and the electric fan on next to me. It has got incredibly stuffy in this flat. The fact that the kitchen is boiling hot because you can't turn the heating down (which I think I have mentioned before on here.) doesn't exactly help. Have it warm when the temperature drops below freezing, when there's a hard frost or show outside (which we had for a couple of days during the winter months.) but is totally unnecessary to have it so warm. It means I can't leave some food items out, such as milk, because it will go off, or bread, and it goes stale faster. There should be some sort of control to turn the heating down, as you would have with central heating.

I mentioned the Zoom market research I did on Monday morning. I've already been paid, and it's in my bank account. I wasn't expecting it to be my my account so quickly, probably a week or two, but not days after the work was finished. I'm now having problems attempting to get into the on-line account to keep an eye on the balance. The number of passwords and 'security codes, etc is really annoying. I realise it's to keep things secure, but it is driving me crazy. Then it tells me 'account frozen' because I've made too many attempts. But I will get into it soon. My Nationwide account is so much easier to get into, with a card reader, into which you put your PIN number and then it gives a series of numbers which you put into the site and then you can see your statement. Easier than for the Metro account.

Been out and walking round Oldbrook Green. Groups of people sitting on the grass. The litter is worse than ever. 

(Thursday) A mild morning. I woke up and then went back to sleep and then didn't wake up until around 7.30a.m. It's not like me to sleep so late. I took Alfie out and we came back inside as we usually do. I took him out again at 10.00a.m. but we didn't go far as there was the possibility of rain. I felt a few drops and the sky was clouding over so we went back to the flat.

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.

Never-Ending Covid and Interminable Lockdown?

Now learnt that we're going to have to put up with covid-19 . . . forever!  As delivered by Matt Hancock, Minister of Health. Or is it Minister For Health? That the vaccine's effectiveness wears off and we're going to have fresh vaccines to keep it at bay annually, the same way we have flu jabs every year. Oh no, just doom and gloom. It's fine if you have a family or a partner, but what about those of us who are single (not by choice, I can inform you by the way.) and have to spend most of our day shut up like a battery chicken and don't see anyone all day to have a respectable conversation with. I don't believe half of what we're told by either the government scientists or those who should know better. A year stuck in limbo is just not on. We need to get out of this lockdown situation fairly rapidly. Every time we seem to be heading out of this limbo, something happens to prevent lockdown being lifted, for example, the scientists suddenly discover a 'new variant,' which they say is more virulent than the original virus. So, stricter regulations are bought in, or they decide that children can catch it, or that another group can catch it, or it spreads more rapidly etc etc. It's almost as if they don't want it to end. Why is it people are just believing all this? Why does nobody question the reliability of the data that is thrown up? Are we to be caught in this trap forever? Is there no way out of it? If not, it seems like it to me. It's the same scare tactics that were used during the Brexit referendum campaign, saying that, if we leave the EU (which we have, fortunately.) that it's equal to the end of civilisation as we know it. Well, it isn't. It's got to the point that we have to cower in our bunkers and baton down the hatches and just put up with pubs, theatres, gyms and so on being closed down. Just not life any more. Just like some awful dystopian novel. More like Noddy In Toyland than 1984 or Brave New World.

Boris Johnson is supposed to be giving some indication tomorrow at another of the delightfully enlivening press conferences about how lockdown is to be lifted, if only partially. I learn that we will be able to meet a friend on a park bench for a coffee. Wow! So exciting! And then you'll be able to play a game of tennis. Woopee! The most ridiculous bit of news I heard recently was that pubs could reopen, but couldn't sell alcohol. Well, what is the point of that? A pub that can't sell a pint of best bitter or lager any other alcoholic drink isn't worth visiting then, is it? Who's going to bother? It wouldn't be a pub, but a cafe, if they can provide food.  There are some backbench MPs who want it lifted completely. It's obviously not going to happen in one go, but in bits and pieces. Some are saying that the effects of the lockdown on people's mental health is far worse that the effects of covid-19. I can well believe it. PLEASE can we get out of this situation before we all turn into blocks of stone, or get eradicated by some alien space creatures who sneek  up on us when we're not looking. I think a lot of people are just so apathetic that they wouldn't notice. I used to be apathetic but now I just don't care. I used to be conceited but now I'm absolutely perfect. Not! Just had to put that in.

When the scientists give the figures, that is, for those who have been infected by the virus as well as those who have succumbed to the virus and then died, can you please give us a comparison with figures in a normal year of those who die of virus such as from flu? Then, break it down into ages. Presumably there is more likelihood of older people, say, in their 80s and older, would be going to die anyway (I don't wish to be cruel here, but it needs to be said.) They just bandy these figures around without any real context. Not a good way to present scientific evidence surely. Nobody dares question any of this data, which they should.

I think it's the fear-factor, the 'doom and gloom' or all this that annoys me most. The way the government have infantilised the public. We're being treated like little children. We know there's a risk with this confounded virus, but can't people be allowed to make their own minds up over what they do and live their lives? There's a risk in many areas of our lives, from merely crossing the road, getting in a car or aeroplane or in some cases, merely breathing. They've managed to take away our freedoms without much complaint or scrutiny and it's that which get's my goat the most.

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.

Cooler Weather

The British weather isn't very predictable, even though we get reasonably accurate weather forecasts on television. As I write this on Saturday 18th April, it's 5.30a.m. I'm awake because I can't sleep properly and I can hear what I assume is rain, so I peer out of the window and, yes, it is raining, although not heavily. Alfie will need to go out as normal. Yesterday he spent most of the day staring at me, regardless of the fact that I had taken him out at more or less the same time as we usually go out. I have to say that Oldbrook Green is beginning to be somewhat boring, just walking around it is not the most inspiring piece of grass in the country. I see that the metal construction (how to describe, a sort of bus shelter, with seats inside. I think, intended as a place for the local youth to sit. I wish I'd had somewhere similar when I was their age. The enclosed space. I think you call it a skateboarding park) with skateboarding equipment inside is meant similarly. It is enclosed by a fence and gates, but one gate is missing.) The Council has had notices fixed up telling people that their use is banned, but they could at least put 'please' and 'thank you' on them, but I don't think the type of bureaucracy who writes and prints these notices uses these words, but it would present a far more friendly attitude which might help in these times of lockdown due to the pandemic.) As I was saying, the metal shelter has tape all over it, with the intention of preventing anyone using it, but I see as I last walked past that it has been torn down. It just looks a bit unpleasant and unnecessary. It's the sort of blue and white tape that the police use when there's been an 'incident' usually of a criminal nature.

(Saturday) I have been out with Alfie and it's a bit of a shock to my system to discover that it's quite chilly outside. We weren't out that long and came back and I turned on my television to find that Bill Gates was being interviewed (presumably via Skype or FaceTime) by Charlie Stayt on BBC Breakfast. This man is amazing. He should be President of the U.S.A. instead of the raving idiot that is Donald Trump. He's pouring millions into healthcare, and will hopefully be responsible for funding research and the eventual production of a vaccine to combat the coronavirus, Covid-19. Putting his personal fortune into so many good causes. I can't see Trump doing anything anywhere similar. He has stopped financial support for the W.H.O. (World Health Organisation) what is his problem? A total maniac. Narcissistic idiot. He thinks it’s fine to end the lockdown in the U.SA. He knows nothing about the science of the virus that’s causing all this. Bill Gates is supposed to have predicted this pandemic a few years ago, but nobody took any notice and we weren't prepared. I don't think Trump could predict to the end of his stupid nose.

Later. I've been to Sainsbury's. I didn't really want to, but I had to collect a repeat prescription from the ins-store Lloyd's pharmacy. I had ordered on line yesterday morning and was amazed when I got a text to say that it was ready to collect. That must be some sort of record, because it usually takes a couple of days. I imagine that my new doctor's surgery was keeping up with repeat prescriptions. No doubt because they won't be any patients visiting the surgery for appointments. I can't imagine Ashfield Medical Centre working so hard.

A queue to get into Sainsbury's when I got there, around 8.15, and certainly not as far back into the lower carpark as it was a week or so back. People are being very cautious, as I imagine they would be, and the store is far easier to navigate compared to pre pandemic.

It is raining fairly hard now and Alfie will have to wait until it stops or at least isn't so torrential before I take him out. His treat tin is well and truly stocked up because I bought some more in Sainsbury's and he knows perfectly well that they are in the . So, he got a couple and he's now laying contentedly on the sofa near me.

(Monday) It's bright and sunny this morning, which makes life under lockdown considerably easier. I'm signed up to do another Futurelearn course, this time from Strathclyde University about the lives of those who worked in 19th Century Mills and Factories. This is something that interest me because most history is told from the viewpoint of the upper classes, the aristocracy, monarchy and politicians. It's great to get the voices of those who worked, were generally downtrodden and in a lot of cases, ignored.

I've continued with some of my writing. Not necessarily new material, but stuff which has been on my MacBook for some time. I've unearthed the handwritten stuff in the notebooks I have and transferring much of that to the iPad, using the dictation. Mind you, as I have already said. I have to keep an eye of what it writes as so much of it is incorrect and some of the things it comes up with are hilarious, as I've said. I continue with that and see how far I can get, but I think i'll give it a rest for the day as I've been on it more or less continuously for most of the morning. Alfie has been staring at me and I gave in at last and have just been to take him out. I have heard that the little Westie, belonging to a lady who lives in another flat in Dexter House, has died. I did wonder if there was something wrong with this dog, as he seemed to have strange breathing difficulties. I have been given the dog food which he had left over (not actually sure if it was a he or she.) but it is sad nevertheless. Fortunately it's the same food which Alfie already has.

(Tuesday) It's 6.15a.m. I haven't taken Alfie out yet, but he's laying on the sofa next to me and he keeps looking at me to see if I'm going to take him out. It seems quite a bright and sunny morning, so it should be pleasant out. I have done my medication and have found I have run out of dispersible aspirin. It's quite difficult to keep up with the medications which run out at different times. At one time I could order everything in one block and it was easy to keep up with repeats but somehow or other everything runs out at different times, making it difficult to keep it going. This is made more difficult at the moment with the lockdown caused by the virus thingy. I will just have to go to Sainsbury's and get some over the counter. They sell aspirin dispersible in small pots, which I prefer to those horrible blister packs. I suppose I can see why they are preferred by pharmacies as they are easier to store and probably more hygienic. Never mind, I can go and get some more fruit and a few more other items which should last for a week or two. Only problem is I have to write a list so I don't spend more time in Sainsbury's than is absolutely necessary and can just go in and me out relatively quickly. The only problem is you have to queue up which can add around 45 minutes to the shopping trip.