Technical Problems and Medication

I've been having technical problems with my Panasonic Freeview set-top box. I think I've mentioned that I replaced Sky with Freeview. It made sense, because I didn't get the best value from their service and it was costing quite a bit for the privilege of having their service, and Freeview is, well, free. The new set-top box has been working perfectly successfully, but they keep on upgrading the software (I presume that's what it does, you keep getting messages to do this and then when you try to find channels, they have moved them around or added new ones. Somewhat annoying.) But after one up-grade, for some reason or other the box wouldn't connect by wi-fi to the internet router, which meant that I couldn't use the catch-up facility which it has, so couldn't use BBC iPlayer or ITV Hub and all the other similar services.  No amount of fiddling with the various settings would re-connect to the router. I have now got it working again, not connecting via wi-fi, but by connecting a cable to the box and plugging it in to the router. The cable purchased from Amazon and ordered on Thursday and delivered yesterday evening. One of the advantages of having Amazon Prime, you get next-day delivery on virtually all that they sell. The Freeview box is now working as it should and I'm enjoying watching a lot of archive material on the BBC iPlayer.

I recently up-graded my Fire Stick to one which now has Alexa voice control. This was bought for half-price during Amazon's Black Friday period, so it seemed a good enough excuse to get one. Not only do you get the range of video material but by using Alexa you can have games, which are voice-operated. I was surprised how easy it was to set up and get running. I'm really glad that I bought this when I did.

I have mentioned that I had been prescribed Sertraline and Temazepam. The first is a anti-depressant and the second is a sleeping tablet. I took the Temazepam for only a couple of nights but found that there were unpleasant side-effects. I don't think it helped me sleep, even though I had a hot bath and a hot-milky drink before going to bed. I still wake at around 4a.m. and was then unable to return to sleep, but the next morning I felt really nauseous and got horrible shakes, which didn't go off completely until around midday. I stopped taking it a day or two before I was due to drive to Worcester for Christmas, because I don't think I would have been safe to drive the car.

Later. I took Alfie out for his usual early-morning walk, walking along Strudwick Drive and across Oldbrook Boulevard and I couldn't help seeing 'that woman' who stands in the road stopping cars and asking for money. This must be the sixth time I've seen her. I was keen to get back to Dexter House without the possibility of her stopping me or even following me back. She's dressed the same way as she has been before, tidily dressed, wearing dark trousers or leggings, a short top, like a bomber jacket, has short-copped hair, mousy-coloured, aged mid 40's early 50's, height around 5' 8. When I got back to the flat I rang 101 and told the Police of this woman, because I'm concerned for her safety, either getting run over or even stabbed by someone (unfortunately these things happen.) She must live somewhere nearby in Oldbrook and presumably in a residential home for people with either learning disabilities or mental health issues. If so (and it seems more than likely.) she must have a key worker or at least a support worker, or even a social worker who would look after her care.

Later still. Having sorted out the Freeview box (as explained above.) the Fire Stick was playing up on Sunday evening. It would not connect to the wi-fi router. I could not get a connection until I restarted it (having gone to the Amazon site and searching for 'help.' This worked and it soon joined the wi-fi router and the problem was solved.

Changeable Weather

(Thursday) It was a bit of a shock to wake up this morning and find that the house is really cold. I had to put the central heating on and wear my dressing gown to warm up. 'A cold and frosty start,' according to Carol Kirkwood on BBC Breakfast, as she does the weather forecast as I write this. 'A milder night,' tomorrow she told her viewers.

When I eventually plucked up courage to go out with Alfie I found that it was not only chilly, but there was a vague, light rain falling. I didn't intend making our usual detour of Eaglestone Park and we cut across and did barely half our usual walk. Alfie wasn't bothered, and he shook himself several times because he really hates getting damp. It was good to come back to a warm house.

I'm having to clean under Alfie's eyes. I have to do this every day and was told to do this when he went to the vet's to have the nasty accumulated mess that built up under each of his eyes and had been neglected due to my visits to Carol in hospital and in Willen. I shouldn't really use that as an excuse. I use  damp cotton wool, but he is beginning to get used to it. He's now coming to sit on my knee to do this. He doesn't mind me doing under one eye, but the other has far more of the built-up matter and he growls at me and bares his teeth. I don't think he'd bite me, but he doesn't like me doing this. It does, however, seem to be working, so all the fuss is worth the effort. I just don't want to have to take him back to the vet's, basically, because it costs a fair amount. No N.H.S. for dogs and I don't have pet insurance.

(Friday) A relatively mild morning, with the sun shining brightly.

(Saturday) The weather continues to be mild.

(Sunday) There's a howling wind outside this morning. I have a feeling it's been raining. At any rate, as I was shaving earlier in the bathroom, I could see dribbles of rain coming down the bathroom window, so that might suggest . . . rain?

I got up a good deal later than usual. I'm not going to the 9.15 service at Shenley Christian Fellowship this morning but instead going to the 11.15 service. I'm staying on afterwards fo the Newcomer's Lunch. I've been going there for near enough 2 years and haven't managed to get to one of these, what I'd call 'Introductory' meals, which gives some sort of background to Shenley. Nice to not have to make a meal for myself. As a result of getting up later this morning, Alfie won't be going out for his walk until past 8a.m.

Jut been out with Alfie. The wind still rages. Bitterly cold. I think it's what they call 'bracing.' I have to be careful, having a heart problem. Variations in temperature, either too hot or too cold, can set off an angina attack, so I didn't stay out too long. I don't think Alfie was that bothered. I don't think he's over-keen abut the cold either. I'm not going to risk things so it was better to come back to a warm house.

There is one thing to be said, and that's the fact that the days are beginning to draw out. It's getting lighter earlier and earlier each morning. I don't like winter particularly. I'm not all that fond of things when the clocks change to winter and we have to put up with it getting dark at around 4 o'clock in the afternoon. I'm a morning person and don't like having to go out after dark. Pity really. Carol and I were the same on that matter. We'd go out early and usually be the first to arrive at wherever we went, usually arriving at a National Trust property before everyone else and be the first when they opened their doors.

So, the Duke of Edinburgh has at last apologised to the woman who's car he ran into in Norfolk when he was coming out of a turn near Sandringham.  The Duke said in his letter that he had problems with a 'low sun,' which dazzled him. A letter which he must have been told be had to write. He signed it, but I can't imagine him saying anything to the woman face to face. Mind you, she's made a big issue out of the fact that he hadn't apologised and I bet she got well paid for her story by whichever newspaper it was that ran the story. But the issue is, should a man of his age, regardless of his position as a member of the royal family, and perhaps more importantly, consort of Her Majesty, still be driving? How many 97-year-olds who have had even a slight accident would still be allowed to continue to drive their cars? I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when Her Majesty bought the subject up. 'Philip, dear, I think it's really time you gave up driving that Range Rover.' And why was he driving a good 48 hours after the incident? And, to cap it all, not wearing a seat belt? I wouldn't have wanted to be the police officer who had to tell Philip off for not wearing said seat belt. If we'd done it, we'd have been prosecuted or had several penalty points on our driving license.

 I made good use of my time this morning because I didn't go to the early church service. I've had the washing machine on and it's done and everything now on the clothes driers. It's no good waiting to do such mundane things. I would have most likely have done this later in the week.  And I've read some of my book, 'A Classless Society,' by Alwyn Turner. I suppose I could have hung the washing out on the line in the garden because it's sunny, but I still don't trust that it won't rain. Never mind. At least the job is done. Also, I've managed to write this blog post. Which I haven't been doing regularly for the past month or two if you're a regular reader.

Later. A really good service from 11.15 this morning. There's a lot more who attend and lots of people I don't know, but that's probably a good thing. You can get a bit stale if you don't change things slightly. It was strange coming in at a time I'm normally going out, but the lunch was good, finding out a bit more about the background to S.C.F.

The wind is blowing as strong as ever. It rained during my time at S.C.F. But it has calmed down as I write this (3.15p.m.).

Later still. I've been watching the ITV drama series 'Cleaning Up,'  which stars Sheridan Smith. I tried to download it on my Sky Q box, but when I tried, I got a 'failed' message. I attempted it several times, but still it 'failed.' I then tried to watch through the Fire Stick, went to the ITV Hub app, managed to start watching but when I paused the thing to go to the loo, when I returned to continue watching, the whole thing froze. I tried to find the cause, but failed, until I went onto the Amazon website (the Firestick is part of Amazon.) I was told to unplug the power, replug the thing and then re-install the thing. This appeared to work and I was able to watch this show. I wasn't expecting to get so involved. A really thought-provoking show with believable situations and characters. I got drawn in and then watched the second episode immediately after the first. Cam't wait to see the third episode to find out how things conclude. There are altogether 6 episodes of this drama series.

Watching Doc Martin

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will have discovered that Carol and I enjoy television dramas of a wide variety. We like many of the 'whodunnits' that abound across all the channels, from Father Brown on BBC 1 to Grantchester on ITV to Broadchurch (although that was rather drawn out over three series. The first series was good and the second was just a rehash of the first and the third was reasonable, but all in all it was rather over-egged. Probably just to keep the rating high.) I have mentioned Downton Abbey in earlier posts so there's really no need to rehash what I've already said. The downstairs characters were so much more interesting than the upstairs lot. Nothing further to say on that score.

We're currently watching Doc Martin on catch-up. Fortunately all the past episodes are available through our Sky Q box as a box set. I'm not entirely sure how many series or even how many episodes there have been. We started watching through the Amazon Fire stick, when the first couple of series (seasons to American television audiences) were free. The newer episodes you suddenly had to pay for, which we somewhat objected to, so we stopped watching and then Carol found the later episodes on the ITV Hub through the Sky Q box. And, you don't have to pay for the privilege.

What I in particular enjoy about Doc Martin is that it's so quirky. The central character played by Martin Clunes has so many quirks, particularly his lack of empathy with his patients, his brusque manner with everyone he meets and indeed most of the people he comes into contact with. Then there are the locals, his patient-base, if you like. Most have some weird illness or at least have some odd quirk which makes them interesting. It certainly has a heart and soul which a good deal of modern television drama seems to lack. From the completely incompetent receptionist in Dr Ellingham's surgery to the agorophobic policeman Joe Penhale. You can identify with the characters and they are almost part of the family. Which is why you want to keep on watching. Then there's the location. Portwenn is actually Port Isaac in Cornwall. It looks such an inviting place to visit. I don't expect I'm the only viewer of this show to want to visit and I expect the show hasn't done the real place any harm by attracting visitors and greatly helped the local economy.

There are many television drama series which have managed to use the locations in which they're set to establish character and definite anchor for their storylines and character bases. Look at shows such as 'Inspector Morse,' set in and around Oxford, 'Lovejoy' in and around East Anglia or 'Bergerac' on the Channel Island of Jersey. There are, of course, many more.