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.

Back To Normal?

So, what is 'normal' after something like eighteen months of various forms of lockdown? We're obviously not going to return to life as it was before the pandemic, that is for certain. It would be great to think we will, but I'm certain our beloved politicians will want to keep us under some form of regulations for as long as possible. Never in peacetime has Britain had so many regulations in place to restrict citizens' rights. And with nobody making any sort of effort to question any of these laws and regulations. We seem to have rolled over and just comply. It makes you wonder what would happen if we were invaded, as we were very nearly during the second World War.

Saturday. 3.40 p.m. I was sitting reading, minding my own business, just after I'd had a bite to eat for lunch. Then, for no reason, the fire alarm went off throughout Dexter House. Alfie doesn't like it. He hates loud noises. Our other dog, Poppy, was similar. She was scared witless by fireworks and around the time of Bonfire Night, November 5th, she would hide in any place she thought she was safe, like under our bed. But this fire alarm is so loud and ear-piercing (well, I suppose it has to be, particularly if it went off at night and you were fast asleep. Enough to wake you up.) But it gives me a splitting headache, so I decided it would be a good idea if we went out, hopefully, until it stopped. Which we did. Ending up doing three circuits of Oldbrook Green. No doubt someone in another flat had burnt their toast or forgot to take something out of the oven. But as I sit here, several hours later, I have a sneaking suspicion someone in one of the flats below me IS SMOKING! Well, what people do in their private space is up to them, but when it comes through into MY private space, that's another matter. I'm beginning to wonder if it's that which set the fire alarm off. I don't know who managed to stop the fire alarm. Last time we had a similar experience the fire service turned up. I went out and stood with Alfie on the pavement outside until we got the all-clear to return to our flat. Perhaps some people just should never be left alone with matches.

Monday. 7.35 a.m. What's this? Nothing for Sunday? Probably because there wasn't anything to report. Now, there's a thing.

12.40 a.m. I've been cleaning the kitchen. Well, the excitement is too much. But it had to be done. I've cleared away a great deal of clutter. Some have gone in the cupboard in the area where the kettle is, along with the tea-making equipment plus mugs. The sugar canister which I purchased in T.K.Maax several years ago had begun to get rusty. That's the problem with anything metal. So I decided it had to be retired and replaced and I drove to Waitrose as I have been in their homewares department and thought I could get just the thing to replace the old canister. It's perfect and made of pottery, so it's not going to rust. Just right and looks quite stylish. No rubbish in my home! I also needed to get some easy-peelers, those small easy-to-peel oranges (or are they satsumas or tangerines? I'm not sure.) Around a year ago, probably more, but around the time we had the first lockdown (probably March 2020.) I thought it would be a good idea to eat more fruit, possibly the 5-A-Day the government recommends. I hit on at least three of these small, juicy citrus fruit, together with an apple and probably fruit juice. Sainsbury's have them, but also most other supermarkets. Some are better than others. Some can be very pithy and almost inedible. You occasionally get a not-so-good batch, but most are very tasty. Good as they have vitamin C in them. I also take a vitamin D tablet with my morning medications, as directed by my doctor and I've taken them for well over a year.

Tuesday. 6.45 a.m. I'm determined to reach my daily target of 10,000 steps, recorded by my FitBit. I think around six circuits of Oldbrook Green must be at least that many steps. It's supposed to equate to around five miles, so it makes you realize how far I must have walked since I've moved to Oldbrook. Alfie has become somewhat reluctant to walk that far, insisting some morning that we return home directly once he's done what he needs to do (I don't need to describe what I'm referring to.) He is a very determined little person, amazingly strong when he wants to be.