Don't Rain On My Parade!

Sunday. 5.20 a.m. Yet another song from a musical used as a blog post title. It comes from 'Funny Girl', and the central part of Fanny Brice played by Barbra Streisand. I don't think Fanny Brice was as well known on this side of the Atlantic as she would have been in America. 

2.00 p.m. For the past couple of weeks I have had to endure the most unpleasant itching (I know, it's not something to have to mention, but there it is.) It's on my back and nothing much will relieve it. I was searching in my medication's drawer, when I realized that I had some Piriton, which is for the relief of hay fever. On reading the packet, it mentioned skin irritations and allergies. I wasn't sure if what I had was an allergy. I don't usually suffer from hay fever, but I thought I would take a tablet to see if it would work and, hopefully, bring some relief. So, I took one and then, after a couple of hours, I had the side effect, which they mention on the packet; it made me feel drowsy. It also states, if that happened, to not drive or operate machinery. Which is why I didn't go to church this morning. It does seem to have relieved the symptoms, so I will keep on with it today, with one more tablet, and then leave it for the next couple of days.

5.30 p.m. I've mentioned the George Foreman grill I have, and the fact that, when I have used it, the smoke and steam it produces sets off the fire alarms within Dexter House. I have waited for the best part of a year to have an extractor fan installed in the kitchen window, which is now up and running. So, this evening I was going to use the grill to cook pork chops. All is well and good. Everything went according to plan, but then. . .  The fire alarms went off! I had the fan on full, so I assumed that the steam and smoke would be taken out, but it didn't seem to make any difference. Which meant I had to experience the total embarrassment of having a fire engine arrive outside and having firemen knocking on my door and having to explain what had happened. I  hadn't set anything on fire, no burnt toast, just attempting to live my life. I don't know what to do next. It's such a good gadget and cooks chops quickly and effortlessly.

Monday. 8.50 a.m. I didn't get up quite so early this morning, which means I wasn't out with Alfie as early as I have for the past few weeks.

It's bright and sunny as I write this and the digital thermometer reads 23ºC, so a good deal more comfortable and better for sleeping. In fact, I seem to be sleeping a good deal better than of late.

The skin irritation seems to have gone. Well, not entirely, but I'm not going to take the Piriton if it means I feel drowsy and can't drive. I'll just have to see how it improves or not.

3.45 p.m. I went to Sainsbury's and looked in the healthcare section for non-drowsy hay fever medication, but I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. But as I was driving into Sainsbury's car park, it occurred to me that the small Boots the Chemist branch near my doctor's surgery in Bradwell Boulevard might be a better place to find this sort of medication, so, having finished in Sainsbury's, I drove there and got exactly what I needed. I took one of the tablets (it's a one-a-day medication) and as far as I can tell, I don't feel drowsy.

I've just got back from the Monday Club session at the Oaktree Centre. Good conversation, cake and tea for all.

Currently, the digital thermometer reads 25ºC. 

Day, By Day, By Day!

 Wednesday. 4.55 a.m. Oh, dear! What an evening! Let me explain. I had a text message from AA motor insurance when I was at Camphill. I usually check my phone during the tea and lunch breaks, and it was during the morning tea break that I saw it. It was thanking me for renewing my insurance with them, but I have already got a better deal with a different company, so it was somewhat annoying. I attempted to phone using my mobile, but there was absolutely no chance of me getting through and cancelling the policy in the time I had before continuing in the theatre. 

When I eventually got back to my flat in Dexter House, fed Alfie and generally got myself organized, I had another go at getting through to AA Insurance. No chance. At one point I got cut off, for whatever reason, I don't know, something technical on their end. You have to go through a long set of menus, and then the recorded voice gives you a spiel about their service and products. Endless recorded music and a voice saying 'you are in a queue' etc. No chance of getting through and then, after more than 2 hours (yes, 2 hours!) I thought I'd try their online 'chat' system. Well, at least you don't have to put up with the music and hold the telephone handset to your ear. Then, at around 6.45, it told me that it was closing down for the day and I had to fill in a survey about their service. Non-existent. I will have another go today, but I don't have much faith it their system and getting through to resolve this issue.

8.15 a.m. I have now managed to deal with the above situation via the AA website's chat feature. I am never entirely sure that I am dealing with a human or an AI, but it seems the insurance policy will close after the next payment and I then move over to the new insurance company which is called Yoga (no, not Yoda, although it would be funny if it was. )

The current temperature, reading on the digital thermometer, is 22ºC.

12.20 p.m. The electrician arrived at around 10.00 this morning to install the extractor fan. It took around 40 minutes and seemed a good deal more complex than I imagined. It has been wired so the cable that connects it to the socket in the wall, which was installed when the kitchen was upgraded around a year ago. It has several speeds and continues to work when it is turned off, which I suppose makes sense, so it makes sure that any steam or smoke is removed for a few minutes after it is turned off. Now it uses my George Foreman grill and really puts it to the test!

Currently, the digital thermometer reads 23ºC.

3.45 p.m. I took the car to Anglo Continental Cars, which is in Mount Farm Industrial Estate. I got there far too early and then, once they started work on it, I was told that it was actually too early for the test. I knew it was, but I wanted to get it done so that I could concentrate on other things, in particular, sorting out dates to go and visit my daughter and grandchildren in Worcester.

The good news is, it passed, but I was told that one of the rear brakes is binding and will need work done on it, but I may leave it until next month for them to deal with it.

Well, at least that is done until next year.

All Is For The Best, (In The best of all possible worlds)

Monday. 4.55 a.m. Here we go! Yet another fun-packed week at Dexter House. I'm being very sarcastic, but life goes on. What else to do? I have a hospital appointment this morning at Milton Keynes University Hospital at 11.50 a.m. It's not so much the actual appointment which is the problem, it's managing to find a parking space which causes stress which is more of a problem. I'll just have to get there in plenty of time to make sure I can park the car and then walk through to the department where I have to have a kidney scan. The letter I got, which rescheduled the appointment for 16th June, tells me I have to drink at least a litre of water. Well, as I'm keeping hydrated because of the hot weather, that's not going to cause much of a problem.

12.25 p.m. I have been to the hospital for my appointment. It was scheduled for 11.50, but, because of finding a space in the multistory car park, I went earlier. Fortunately, I found a space, which relieved the stress. When it came to walking to the ultrasound department, I at first went in the wrong direction and had to be directed by a helpful man who sent me back to the reception area and I soon found the department.

I was met by a lady who asked me my name when I walked through the door. It turned out that she was going to do the scan, so I was checked in and then the usual wait. Not long after I was called into the room and had to lay on a narrow couch/bed thing and the scan began, laying on my left side, then my right. The reason for this scan was that when I first moved to my current surgery, my doctor got me to have a blood test, which showed up something related to my kidneys and possibly caused by a side effect of taking some of my heart medication, which I have been on since my first heart attack in 2006. The technician doing the scan said this 'thing' was like a birthmark or tag, and was about 5 cm across, but when she did the scan it wasn't viable. In fact, she had to have a second look and still, nothing! So hopefully that's the end of that. No more to be said on that matter, but I should get a letter from my GP surgery with details, which will have been sent from the hospital.

I took Alfie to the dog-sitting lady at about 1.50 and left him to find out how he would behave, rather, if he would settle. I then went to Monday Club at the Oaktree Centre, which is on the opposite side of Shenley Brook End, and returned when that ended at 3.30. I was pleased to find that Alfie had done well, although he did bark a small amount. So it looks as if I can leave him there, so I can go to Worcester.

Tuesday. 5.15 a.m. Thankfully, it's a good deal cooler this morning and, as a result, far easier to sleep. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºC.

4.25 p.m. A relatively straightforward drive to Camphill this morning. I know that it will be somewhat easier when the schools are on holiday, but it couldn't be that, as schools haven't broken up yet for the summer holidays.

Most of the theatre workshop gang was in the theatre today. We got to hear some of them talk about their holidays when we did check in. It seems to take longer and longer each time, probably because there are far more members of the group, and certainly more than when I first went to Camphill in 2019. It took a good hour today. 

I was moved to another of the silent movie projects. I was with the time-travel movie, and last week, when there were so few people in the workshop because they were on holiday, we didn't rehearse that project so I had to take over the pirate project. I have to say I'm disappointed because I had been working on developing the story with the gang and would have loved to see it completed. 

Terrie had managed to construct sets for the time travel movie on the Chrysalis Theatre stage so that some of the movies could be filmed using an iPad. I can say that it's so easy with modern technology such as iPads and iPhones, and editing is relatively easy. 

Because the time travel set had a prison set, the Western video group used it to film footage for their project. It seemed to go well, and they got all the materials they needed. While all this was going on, the pirates' team rehearsed in the hall part of the theatre. Terrie had gone off to have supervision with the manager of Camphill and came back a good deal later than expected. Her supervision was supposed to last an hour but overran by about thirty minutes, so by the time she returned we had more or less finished and there wasn't time to start anything else. So, it was a day of bits and pieces, but in some respects, successful, considering some filming was done.

Wednesday. 5.30 a.m. Yet another mild morning. I slept a good deal better than I have for the past couple of weeks. The digital thermometer currently reads 24ºC. Alfie and I did a circuit of Oldbrook Green, although he was somewhat reluctant.

12.55 p.m. I knew I was due to have a glazier come and replace the glass in the window of the kitchen this morning so that an extractor fan could be fitted. The man was due between 9 and 1. He turned up at about 10.30. It was done really quickly, the old glass taken out and the new one, including the cut hole to replace it. He then went off, mumbling something, which I didn't catch. So, I am now with a beautifully cut round hole ready to receive the extractor fan. But when is it to be fitted? Presumably to be done by a different contractor. So I rang Mears, yet again about this situation (I have now lost count), to be put through to a lay, who said she'd raise an order for the fan. But my question is, when can I expect this? It seems to go around in circles, a bit like a dog chasing its tale.  I JUST WANT MY EXTRACTOR FAN. But, whilst they're at it, what about my bathroom? It's no good asking. When this confounded fan (more of a FAN-tasy than an actual fan- get it? A pun!) I can actually use my George Foreman grill, which is waiting to be used, without setting off the fire alarm.

Grills 'n' Spills!

Tuesday. 6.30 a.m. I have a cold today. I have been sneezing a lot and as a consequence, I won't be going to Camphill. I don't think it's a good idea to go and then spread it around an already vulnerable group. 

I may just add, as a sort of footnote, that there may be grills, or at least a grill, mentioned in this post, but nothing about spills, whether slipping over in the ice and snow or any sort of spill requiring me to clear up something spilt. Just thought you'd like to know. Well, it's not a footnote, come to think of it, as it not at the foot of the post. Just to clear things up before I get into this post.

I purchased a George Foreman grill from Argos a few days ago. I had around £ 40 worth of vouchers, so I didn't actually pay with cash. I have mentioned the monthly men's breakfast which we have where we usually go somewhere such as Morrison's at Westcroft or The Fountain at Loughton but we had discussed having it in the café area at The Oaktree Centre once again. The main obstacle to this is not being able to use the kitchen, which is fully equipped but hasn't been gas safety certified. (Actually, it wouldn't be a problem if the certification didn't cost in the region of £250.) I thought that a George Foreman grill would be handy as you can cook paninis on it and some fried/grilled food such as sausages. 

Wednesday. 6.45 a.m. On Monday evening I was going to have pork chops for my evening meal and I usually sear them in a frying pan before I put them into the oven to cook through thoroughly. Because of having the George Foreman grill sitting on the shelf and unused and the fact I was determined to try it out for the first time, I got it out and set it up on the work surface in the kitchen. It didn't take it long to warm up and when it was ready I put the chops on it. But, as it began to cook, it produced steam and a bit of smoke, which set off the smoke/fire alarm. It didn't just go off in my flat but throughout Dexter House. I waved a tea towel under the fire alarm in the ceiling and I think it cleared the smoke. But thinking about it now, why did nobody come and see what set the alarm off? Fortunately, it didn't go off for too long, otherwise, we would have had a visit from the fire engines which is what usually happens when a fire alarm is set off. I was supposed to have an extractor fan fitted to my kitchen window by Mears, but I am still awaiting this installation so that this sort of thing doesn't happen. Pigs might fly!

Another box ticked. I have ordered my grandchildren's Christmas present from Smyth's website and the present will be delivered straight to their home in Worcester. It saves me having to go out and buy it and then wrap it and then go wherever (probably not a Post Office, because of the current strikes.) and have it sent by whatever means. All this was done at around 3 a.m. because I was wide awake and couldn't sleep.

10.10 a.m. Yet another snowy day, although we haven't had any more fall. Probably just as well. As I write, the sun is out and I have been out to clear the car of ice. I have sprayed the windows and had the heaters on, but I have mislaid the scraper. I'm keen to have it clear enough to see out properly as I am going to have the blood test at 11.20. I don't relish having needles stuck in my arm, as I must have explained in earlier posts. If it's done quickly, then I don't mind. It's when they say 'I can't find a vein' that it worries me. After I'd had my first heart attack back in 2006, they wanted to take blood and at one point the nurse (venipuncturist? Is that the correct name?) had a problem taking blood and wanted to take it from one of my hands. No way would I allow it. It would be far too painful. It should come from a fleshy part of your anatomy. They took it from my leg. I left the hospital with one arm looking black and blue where they'd attempted to take blood, and more like I'd been in some sort of accident, or a battle. Yes, the battle with a needle. All this because I have narrow veins and at one surgery they decided that they needed to use a needle which was really narrow and suitable for taking blood from babies!

1.45 p.m. I have been for my appointment to have blood taken for a blood test. It was scheduled for 11.20 a.m., but I almost always attempt to arrive at such appointments early, so that I can possibly be seen earlier. I signed in, using the computerized system, but then I had an urgent need for a toilet (I'm afraid age has a large part to play in this.) To be honest, I prefer to look for toilets on my own, without having to ask. Well, it can't be too difficult to find such facilities without having to ask. Most toilets are well enough signposted or at least, market 'Ladies' or 'Gents.' But when I had a wander, the only one I could find was locked. You needed a special Radar key, which I know about, having been a carer of people who require facilities and so have the special key with me for such an eventuality. But, in a doctor's surgery, you would imagine that toilets would be easily accessible without having to resort to such a key. So I had to go to the reception desk and ask where the nearest toilet was and was then told to use the Radar key, which was in a special container at the front of the reception desk. Which is what I did and was able to use the aforementioned facilities.

I returned to my seat in the waiting area and then someone came out calling for 'Mr Gillespie.' It made me look up, as my middle name is Gillespie, which was the surname on my maternal grandmother's side of my family. At one time I even double-barrelled it and called myself John Gillespie-Murdoeh, but looking back that sounds somewhat pretentious. I went with the nurse to the room and told her I would need to lie down to have the blood taken. So, I lay on the couch and she started to look for a vein in my right arm. It was then that I began to worry that she wouldn't be able to find a suitable vein and be able to take blood. She then decided to have a go at my left arm and after some effort, she did manage to take some blood. 

When I go for such an appointment, I am usually able to start some sort of conversation, but she wasn't going to communicate in any other way except about the job at hand. I find, in such situations, that some sort of rapport can elevate the tension, particularly as I have terrible experiences with giving blood (as mentioned earlier in this post. She seemed in rather an uncooperative mood and a bit glum, to say the least, but at least the blood sample was taken and I should get the result in a couple of days. I said 'perhaps I am bloodless' and 'I wouldn't make a very good vampire,' but to no avail. Never mind. Some falls on stony ground. I just have to accept that some people just don't appreciate my sense of humour, such as it is. 

Landlord Refuses To Replace Worn-Out Oven

The seemingly endless saga of the worn out oven has had some sort of resolution. It would appear that our cheese-pairing, cheapskate landlord won't replace our/his oven which I have reported on here had given up and caused me some little concern when it exploded (I do exaggerated, but if I say 'popped' it sounds a bit pathetic!) Apparently he won't cough up for a new one because he says it was new around 15 months ago, when the last one died the death. The truth of the matter is, this one was CHEAP, a Bush AE56SW and came from Argos, so don't bother wasting your money on a Bush electric oven from Argos.  Perhaps if he'd spent out a good deal more then the confounded thing MIGHT conceivably have lasted a bit longer. It has worn very poorly, it takes an eternity to warm up, the front panel has paint  that is chipping off (or whatever covering the front is covered in) and the plates are rusting really badly. I think for a relatively new oven it hasn't done very well at all. Please don't bother buying this model as it is not worth the money. I know it's the cheapest oven (or was, I don't think it is in the Argos catalogue any longer, and I can see why if this is the quality.) As we won't expect a replacement from our beloved landlord any day soon, we have decided to wait until the end of the month and buy our own. Considering what happened with the washing machine and the mess that was caused when the landlord got someone who had no idea about plumbing to install it and didn't remove the restraining bolts on the back of the machine (see earlier post.) and the ensuing problems with the plumbing near the sink (we have had a constant drip from the point where the washing machine is plumbed into the water pipe and have had a bucket there to collect the water that drips since then.) I'm not in the least bit surprised by our lack of help with the cooker. The simple fact of the matter is he DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND ANY MONEY on this house! Perhaps the landlord has forgotten the address of this house and don't know the way here. It is, of course, absolutely likely as he hasn't set foot in it for a good while now.

We have managed to do quite well without the oven, surprisingly. We have managed to cook some meals using the microwave as well as the George Foreman grill, and have cooked a couple of meals in the slow cooker, even making Bolognaise sauce in this really useful kitchen gadget. It's really surprising how you can manage when 'push comes to shove.' We've also had several salads so we've eaten relatively healthily, but even so it has caused a certain amount of inconvenience.