Saturday Musical Evening (and other things)

(Saturday)I was going to get ready to go to the musical evening at around 6.30 on Saturday evening. I went into my bedroom and for some unaccountable reason, I thought the wardrobe was going to collapse. There has been a problem with one of the doors on the front of this IKEA unit. One of the hinges has broken and it hangs on just one. It wouldn't take much to repair this, but, on going to our local IKEA to get a replacement hinge, I was informed that they don't use that type of hinge any more. Just typical that they don't stock such things as hinges or other items that don't get used on more modern pieces of furniture they sell. Anyway, it doesn't make a lot of sense probably now, but it occurred to me that the wardrobe was leaning forward. I don't know why I got that impression, but it looked like that and there was no way I was going to allow it to collapse. I think it gave this impression because of the door which doesn't close properly. Well, it didn't collapse, fortunately, and I was able to get dressed and then drive to Shenley to go to the Oaktree Centre for the musical evening, remembering to take the two Victoria sponges with me. I put them on the floor, in the footwell on the passenger-side in the front because I wasn't going to have the cakes ruined if I put them on the back seat and then shooting forward if I had to brake suddenly.

My two Victoria sponges were given pride of place on the counter at church and had clear plastic covers put over them. I did actually manage to eat a slice, and, although I say it myself, they turned out really well, light and fluffy. What would Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry or Prue Leith, judges on 'Great Britsh Bake-Off' have to say? I'll have to try other cake recipes. The very last slice was eaten on Sunday morning during the break between the two services. Made me very pleased to think that both cakes were consumed and not a piece left, so it must have been enjoyed, which is the best reason of all to make cakes!

As regards the musical evening. I'm just amazed at the talent on show, playing a wide range of different styles of music. Very enjoyable. There is going to be another of these evenings in a few month's time.

(Monday)I've been into the Milton Keynes Council offices this morning, because I had an appointment with the Homeless Prevention officer. It turns out I'm not actually homeless because I have a house to live in, but I'm not going to be able to remain in this house because of the cost of rent. They won't pay me the full amount of rent as housing benefit and I've now learnt that I'm not going to have the Death In Service payment because Carol came out of the system, no doubt at the time we lost the house in Crownhill and had to pay the debt off because of what Sam did to our bank account (I'm not going into any more detail than that, but I have described it all in an earlier blog post.) I rang Teachers' Pensions this morning to be told this. So I now know what my financial situation is and as a result will have to look for accommodation myself, having been given a list of agencies who might be able to help. I need a one-bedroom house or bungalow, with a bit of enclosed garden for Alfie. I really no longer need a three-bedroom property, so it makes a lot of sense.

I got back from the city centre and had something to eat. I had been into Greggs and bought a ploughman's lunch roll, some egg custard tarts and a small bottle of fresh orange juice. Very crafty, Greggs, because you queue up right next to all the enticing food items, so you can't avoid jam doughnuts or sausage rolls. Or other very fattening food which you shouldn't really eat if you're diabetic or have a health problem. They never put how much fat or sugar they contain or the number of calories, but generally Greggs are good, fairly cheap and good value and they've managed to put their stores in places where they know the public will go to buy their lunch or whatever.

Having eaten my lunch, sitting down in front of the television and watching the BBC lunchtime news, but wishing I hadn't bothered, because it was more about Brexit, which is about as enticing as having your eyes piked with a sharp stick. Boring and negative. I think I'll attempt to avoid any more television news until this thing has been resolved or MP's can get their act together and vote so the ting can move on and we can at least leave the EU, for good or ill.

It was such a warm and sunny afternoon I couldn't possibly spend the rest of the day indoors, so I decided to take Alfie out for a second walk. I think it was something of a surprise, as I very rarely take him out a second time. It causes such a stir and I see the other side of Alfie as soon as I make moves to take him out. Trying to clip his lead to the harness he wears causes him to turn into a sort of Tasmanian Devil, barking and jumping around. Anyhow, we did get outside and walked down the medway towards the Grand Union Canal, going under  the bridge at Marlborough Street, then walking along the tow path that runs besides the canal and back over the canal at the next bridge. 

Storm Gareth Brings Strong Winds

We have another storm expected to come in raging today, called Gareth. I just wonder who gives these storms names? As I sit here in my lounge, it's early morning, I can hear the wind outside raging somewhat. Not shaking the windows, but definitely blowing quite strongly outside.

Later in the day. It's been raining. Not particularly hard, but still raining.

Wednesday. I had to go into Boots opticians to collect my new glasses. I was supposed to be there at 10.30. I got to the carpark in plenty of time and then had to fill in about 30 minutes, so I went to Clarks shoe shop because I saw a style of shoes I rather liked in their window when I was in the shopping centre the other morning. Being Clarks they are not cheap, but considering the quality of the workmanship and also the fact that they are made in this country, the price doesn't really come into it. The Adidas trainers I currently have are beginning to wear out. I can feel something through the soles. The top part are fine, it's the soles that are wearing through. I have already looked in Sports Direct, which is where the trainers came from, and I couldn't see anything I liked, so Clarks seemed the next option. I only had a quick glance as I didn't have enough time to really have  decent look and couldn't try any of the shoes on for size, so decided, once I been to collect the glasses I would return.

I got to Boots and went upstairs to the opticians department. I was soon being dealt with by a young man who got me to try on each of the two pairs, one for distance and the other for reading. They both needed a slight adjustment because I don't want them sliding down my nose when I wear them. Not a problem and I had to wait when he went off to do the adjusting of the glasses frames. I was soon walking out with the whole transaction complete and I walked back towards Clarks shop and looking at several pairs of shoes and trying on one pair which I purchased. I was by this time feeling rather hungry and decided I'd go into Greggs, because I was going to sit and eat in their store and a few tables were vacant and there wasn't too much of a queue at the till, so I joined the back of what queue there was and selected a baguette, a bottle or fresh orange juice and a packet of three egg custard tarts and waited patiently to reach the till so I could pay. But it seemed to take an eternity for the staff to do their job, paying at the till, making a coffee for one customer and generally get round to dealing with me. I think it took a good ten minutes. They seemed to be having a go-slow or something. Not exactly impressed. It wasn't as if the place was heaving with customers, not lunch-time, so no office workers queuing up for their lunch. I think if there had been, I would have walked out and found an alternative for food and drink. I think it might be because there is such a wide range of alternative outlets within a short distance and they just don't manage to get staff to work in these places. Still not an excuse to have such slow service.

Having finished in the shopping centre, I make my way back to the car. When I get inside and I'm about to drive off, I see the completed application form for volunteer work at Campbell laying on the passenger seat. I had bought it with me with the intention of taking it to deliver to Camphill, but I had forgotten after my time spent in the shopping centre, buying shoes and having collecting my new glasses. So I made he decision to drive to Camphill immediately and deliver the form. No time like the present.

I parked my car in he carpark and then realised that Camphill had it's own carpark, which was within the campus. But I didn't realise this until I began walking in through the entrance. I got to the offices and said I wanted to hand over the completed application form. Then I was introduced to a man in another office off he main office. I'm not entirely sure what his role is, but I think he is the manager of he site or at least administrator of the facility. He seemed really interested in my application and he spoke to me for some time about Camphill and was quite keen to have me work there as a volunteer. He took me to see the theatre and told me that they also have workshops and I could be working as a support for those people who lived at Camphill, who have learning disabilities. So, I have to wait until someone else who is in charge of taking on volunteers, who will invite me to come to a 'taster' session, just to see how I like it and whether I want to proceed with the application. They would obviously have to do a disclosure (similar to a Criminal Records check) before I could work there and  contact my referees before I can work there. So, it looks very positive and I will have to wait for them to go through all these procedures before I can start at Camphill.

I'm sitting her on a Wednesday afternoon . It's almost 5 o'clock and it's light outside. The wind has dropped, fortunately, but there are no birds on the bird-feeding station. I can't think why it's not attracting birdies. The feeder has been full of food for the last two weeks, but I have to say that it's a real disappointment because I want to see it busy and it's just not attracting anything. I suppose I'll just have to be patient and if I wait then in time it might possibly be attracting all manner of different varieties of birds.

Christmas Shopping

I went into the Central Shopping Centre on Friday (what is it's proper title, I never know. MK Central Shopping Centre? You ask me. I really don't know. Does it matter? It's called the Centre MK) It was later than I'd have chosen. We had a Sainsbury's delivery, as we'd decided it was easier to do the grocery shopping on-line. It cost £6.50 for the privilege, but once in a while it's worth it. You have what you've ordered before saved in 'favourites,' so you can go to that at the beginning of your 'shop' and it saves traipsing around the store with a trolley. I could go on about the ease of on-line shopping versus shopping in the actual store, such as why they insist on changing where your usual items are because it's Christmas and things like crackers, wrapping paper and mince pies get preference over jars of sauce or breakfast cereal. We'd booked the delivery between 10-11 a.m., but the delivery man decided to come early, so it was unpacked and put away a good deal quicker than anticipated. Which is why I drove into the centre of Milton Keynes when I did.

The ground-level carpark where I usually park was jam-packed. Not a single spare space. So I had to find a space outside in the other parking area. It cost more. It's £1 for two hours in the larger carpark but £4.50 for a few hours in the outer area. I had a problem parking and when I found a space I have to admit I didn't park as tidily as I might have done.

The shopping centre was heaving. I don't think I've ever seen it as busy. What on earth is it going to be like closer to Christmas Day?

I had to go to Marks and Spencer first. I shan't say what it was I was looking for because if Carol reads this it will spoilt the surprise of one of her Christmas presents. I'd seen whatever it was when I was in there a while ago, on one of the displays when you walk in. I couldn't find what I was looking for immediately, so I had to ask a member of staff who was really helpful and we located the item very speedily. I then had to pay for it and the queue at the till was quite long, but there was no alternative but to wait to pay.

I had intended stopping to have something to eat in one of the numerous places to eat, but each time I walked past places such as Costa, Starbucks or Gregg's, there were long queues so I gave up. I reached Middleton Hall, which is where the annual Christmas display was situated. There was the usual mini train ride, a carousel and an array of wood cabins which were set up selling all manner of craft items.  I have to say it's been rather a disappointment for the past couple of years. They seem to have lost any sense of imagination, unless they have less money to spend on it. It seems more focussed on getting people to part with their cash, for example, so that children visit Father Christmas in his grotto. It's just not as good as it used to be, I'm afraid. They had a Peter Pan-themed display one year, which was rather good, with a life-sized ship and Peter Pan standing on the rigging. But this year's is rather feeble I have to say.

I went into John Lewis. The store is next to Middleton Hall. I walked through to the escalator as I wanted to get to the haberdashery department which is on the second floor. It always used to be on the ground floor and was easy to find, but when the store was refurbished a few years ago, it was moved upstairs. Also, the restaurant was moved up there, too, and used to be on the floor at the front of the store overlooking Middleton Hall. At Christmas you could drink your coffee and eat your sandwich or whatever and watch people as they walked through the Christmas display.

I was going to look for a work box for Carol's crochet work. She had ordered something on Amazon, but for some strange reason it got lost. Don't ask me how. The cost has been refunded, but she was somewhat disappointed when it didn't get delivered as promised. I wasn't that impressed by the selection in John Lewis. I had a look into the restaurant with a view to stopping to have a coffee and a bite to eat, but even there it had a long queue to wait so I gave up and left. Infact, by now I was getting a little bit fed up with shopping and decided to make my way back to the car.

It seemed an extremely long walk back to the carpark. As I drove out, I noticed that someone had tucked a piece of paper under the lefthand side windscreen wiper blade. I ignored it, thinking it was probably some sort of  piece of publicity which would have been placed on all the vehicles parked in that carpark. I didn't bother to take it off, but it was annoying when I had to turn the wipers on when it began to rain and it still wouldn't come off as they moved back and forth across the windscreen. It wasn't until this morning, when I went out to get Carol some ibuprofen and came back in to park at the front of the house that I noticed what had been written on it 'Idiot' or something, as a reference no doubt to the way I'd parked earlier the previous day. I'm sorry someone had thought it necessary, in their bad temper, to leave such a note on our car. Just shows that, during the stress of Christmas shopping, people don't have any patience for others., particularly those attempting to park correctly in a carpark.