Still Sunny!

Thursday. 7.55 a.m. Today, 9th May would have been my mother's 98th birthday. So sadly missed. It would have been wonderful if she'd been alive to see me and my grandchildren. I'm sure she would have loved to see them. She was only 56 in 1981 when she died. 

It's still bright and sunny. I just hope it stays that way.

I have always managed to put a link on my Facebook profile, which links to this blog. But several times recently, when I have attempted to do this, it has been refused by Facebook. It is only there as a means to an end, as I say, to provide a link for those who want to read my posts. I will give it another go and see if it is refused again. It doesn't always happen when I attempt to make the link available. A few seconds ago I tried to set up the link to Facebook, and it has worked. I don't understand why one moment it works, but another time it is refused.

I was going to drive off to The Oaktree Centre this morning, for our Thursday morning Bible Study, at around 9.20. When I got to the car, in its usual parking space, I found an Asda online delivery van parked across the exit, meaning I couldn't get out. The driver was busily sorting out his trolley with trays of produce balanced on it and ready to be taken into one of the flats within Dexter House. He said he would move the van down the street so that I could get out. But I saw that he was busy, so I said that I didn't mind waiting. I wasn't in a rush, so it didn't matter to me that a few minutes wait wouldn't make much difference. Then he pushed the trolley off along the street, and he disappeared into Dexter House. But it seemed to take longer than I anticipated, and when he eventually reappeared, he spent a good ten minutes stacking empty delivery boxes and sorting out his van. Fair enough, because he would want his van neat and tidy and nothing loose which would fall over and possibly get damaged. But this all took a good deal longer than I had hoped, but he eventually finished and drove away, which allowed me to drive out and go to the Oaktree Centre.

2.45 p.m. I must have mentioned somewhere within these posts, about how I used to order my repeat medication prescriptions, then have it made up by Lloyd's Pharmacy within Sainsbury's, and, further, how Lloyd's in Sainsbury's closed down and how I set up an account via the Lloyd's app (called Lloyd's Direct. Well, it took some time to get it to work, what with one thing and another, such as setting up a password. It had been working well enough for several months, but a few weeks ago I was informed that Lloyd's would be merging with another pharmacy company called Pharmacy2U. They would take over processing my prescriptions, but I would need to set up an account with them. It has taken me several days, attempting to set up an account with them and the frustration of setting up a password so that I could sign in and order my repeated medication. It has caused no end of annoyance, but eventually, it was done and it works. Or, I should say, it seems to work.

A Bureaucratic Nightmare

Thursday. 7.30 a.m. It's a great deal colder and far wetter than it's been in quite some time, so it was something of a shock to myself and Alfie when I took him out at around 7 o'clock. He didn't intend to hang around too long outside and soon took me back inside and, as I write this, is tucked up on my bed.

Friday. 4.00 p.m. Some things defy description or logical explanation. Let me elucidate further. I may have mentioned them in these blog posts before, so, if you have read about them before, bear with me. The first is Mears, the contract company who do the maintenance in Dexter House. You may recall that my kitchen was upgraded during the summer. In fact, the work began at the beginning of July and went on for around a month or more. Before the work began I had a visit from two ladies who set out my options for such things as the type of worktops I could have, the cupboard fronts as well as handles on the drawers and cupboards. I asked at that time about the possibility of having an extractor fan fitted, because of the fire alarms being set off when I burnt toast or something in the oven. This has already happened and it means the entire place has alarms set off and the arrival of a fire engine which can be very embarrassing. I was informed that, yes, I could have such an extractor fan and that it would be fitted in the window near the sink. All well and good. There was even a special socket installed near the window, which was where the phantom extractor fan would be located.

Work on the kitchen was completed. I was told by the foreman or manager of the work that the extractor fan would be installed once the kitchen was finished. But nothing happened. And nothing happened, and I waited and, nothing happened. This went on for weeks. I rang Mears and got nowhere. I rang a few weeks ago and had another go and was told 'an order has been raised.' Which raised my hopes that the work would be done. How long would it be before I heard anything? Pigs might fly. Who knows? Then, a day or so ago I was speaking to Barbara, the SHO here at Dexter House, and she told me a workman had turned on Tuesday, totally unannounced, when I was at Camphill, ready to do the installation of the extractor fan. My question is, why just TURN UP unannounced? Did they just expect me to be at home, ready to let them in and do the work? Why did they not contact me via email, text message or phone, to arrange a convenient time to do the installation of the extractor fan? I still await some sort of communication regarding this issue.

The next issue regards my glasses. I had my eyes tested by a visiting optician and around a week later the completed glasses arrived at my door. I had distance glasses as well as reading glasses, but the reading glasses fell apart around six weeks ago. The lens of one side just fell out of the frame. I hardly touched them and I have to wear a pair of ready-made reading glasses I bought in Sainsburys.

I didn't have any idea what the name of the company was who tested my eyes, or any idea how to contact them, but I have now found it, thanks to Barbara, the SHO (Supported Housing Officer) at Dexter House, who has given me a card with the optician company's name on it, together with two telephone numbers to ring. (The company is called Kindsight.) So, I rang the first number and, lo and behold! There was nobody on the other end, just a recorded voice. (How many companies work on this principle? Just a remote telephone number, not even a call centre with a human answering the telephone, and working from 'computerized 'voice activation'?) I had to 'speak after the tone,' and then press the hash key on my telephone keypad to 'save' the message. Will I get a response and get my reading glasses repaired? It is, as they say, in the lap of the gods. When these companies rely on digital or telephone communication, I'm not sure how much you can actually trust them.

The third and final issue revolves around one of the medications I take and have on repeat with my doctor's surgery and then made up at Lloyd's pharmacy in Sainsbury's. I have Atorvastatin which I take in the evening with other medications. I do a regular check to see what I have left and whether I need to do a repeat prescription. Having been a carer, I used to look after peop-le's prescriptions and medications and in some cases do reviews for them. I do the ordering via an app called Airmid, which is connected to my doctor's surgery, Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre in Bradwell Common. You used to be able to contact the pharmacy and then would put the order in, but now you have to go direct to the surgery and they do all the ordering (they use electronic prescriptions which, I presume, saves paper and should, in theory, be far more efficient.) 

I found, when I came to do the order on the Airmid app, that Atorvastatin was 'greyed out', meaning I couldn't order it for some reason or other. I did put in the order through the 'message' feature on the app and assumed that would be fine. On picking up the order the following day (they seem to be able to make the prescription up relatively quickly these days. It could be up to a week after I put in a repeat order.) Atorvastatin wasn't included. I was told by the pharmacist that I needed to have a review, and then I thought I might be able to have that done by Lloyd's. But apparently not. The doctor needs to do it. WHY? I would have thought the pharmacist, whose job it is to know all about the various drugs they deal with, could have done that. Then it turned out that the surgery had rung me so I rang (a day or so after the message had been left as a voicemail, which I never think to listen to. Perhaps, on reflection, I ought to.)

I rang the surgery and got through relatively quickly and spoke to a receptionist. I was expecting to have to make some sort of appointment with a doctor to review the Atorvastatin, but the receptionist ordered the meds for me and the repeat has been sent to Lloyd's pharmacy in Sainsbury's and, as I write this post, the order is ready to collect from Lloyd's as I had a text to tell me it was ready yesterday. So, what's this about a review? Have I still got to have an appointment? What ON EARTH is all this about? I just don't understand any of this. It's no wonder the NHS is in such a mess. Far too much bureaucracy. Things have really got worse, not better. It is stressful, first off, not knowing if I will actually GET the meds, and attempting to be offered some sort of appointment at the surgery. Even now, I don't have any idea of the outcome of this issue.

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.

'Ere We Go Again!

Friday. 10.35 a.m. I'm currently attempting to make a cheesecake. It's for the 'bring-and-share' lunch at church on Sunday. I made one some while ago and I was quite pleased with it. But it was an American recipe and all the measurements are in crazy American quantities. How do you interpret such things as 'a cup' or 'a spoon'? I would rather have a recipe which uses metric measurements, as they are far easier to deal with. I'm making the biscuit base but underestimated the quantities and so have had to make far more. I think the secret is to put the butter and caster sugar in the pan and heat it until it does a bit like toffee and then add the biscuit crumb. This is made using my food processor. Easy to make crumbs and very fast. The base is now cooling in the fridge, which I spent the whole morning the other day cleaning it out as it was a necessary task, but now it is sparkling. I know it's boring, but in some ways I find it therapeutic, because it turns a dirty or untidy situation into something better, cleaner and life is improved. In this case, the fridge is, hopefully, safer and at best, free from bacteria which can turn food that is stored in it, bad and possibly give me food poisoning. It also makes me feel better, and I look at it and think, 'a job well done!' Apart from that, it passes the time. How many jobs such as this have been done during lockdown, due to the pandemic? I imagine quite a few people cleared out stuff from their loft or garage during lockdown, or got rid of stuff which they no longer had a need for.

4.00 p.m. After quite a bit of effort, the cheesecake is finished! It remains in its tin and will remain so until I get to church and release it. The tin is one with a loose bottom and a spring catch which released the metal ring. Hopefully, and I say, hopefully, it should come out of the tin in one piece. I now intend to buy some raspberries which I shall get in Sainsbury's as I need to go and pick up a repeat prescription from Lloyd's pharmacy which is within Sainsbury's store. 

6.15 p.m. The flat is exceptionally warm-again. My digital thermometer currently reads 82ºF. That's with my electric fan on full, a window in the bathroom and absolutely no other heating on. Why would I have the heating on in the middle of summer? 

Saturday. 6.40 a.m. It's a good deal cooler in the flat this morning. The digital thermometer currently reads  77ºF. 

10.30 a.m. We met at Morrisons at Westcroft for our monthly Men's Breakfast. It was scheduled to begin at 8.30. I got there extra early and because it was a bright and sunny morning there seemed no excuse. This particular store has been upgraded, and the café is now far more modern and laid out differently. I used to bring one of my people here when I was a home carer for Guardian. He used to do some shopping and then we'd go into the café for a snack and cup of coffee. Another situation where they were short-staffed. This is becoming a real problem, not helped because of the pandemic and people either being laid off or leaving to work elsewhere. We had to queue up to order our breakfast and then go to another counter to get tea or coffee but there was a real hold-up. If they'd had a couple of extra members of staff it would have been so much quicker. Then we went into what they term the 'Community Room' which seems to be a new addition since the recent make-over. Like a boardroom with a large table in the centre with chairs all around, whiteboards and somewhere to make tea and coffee and a sink. It made me think of 'The Apprentice' on television and Lord Sugar pointing at one of the participants and shouting 'You're fired!" We ate our breakfasts and it was good to share stuff with one another. It looks as if we're going to use it on a regular basis and it's free which makes it even better.

3.25 p.m. A walk around Oldbrook Green mid-afternoon. A couple attempting to fly a kite and making a real hash of it. If he had a shorter string and walked backwards from the direction of the wind he might have got on better. 

Sunday. 5.40 a.m. Alfie and I were out on the grass alongside Strudwick Drive around 5.15 this morning. It's another really fine and sunny day and it looks like it's going to stay that way for the rest of today.

4.30 p.m. I have earlier mentioned the bring and share lunch at church. It was this morning. We had worship as usual and I don't think I've seen the Oaktree Centre so busy. Absolutely packed. I took the cheesecake with me and  all the food was stored in the kitchen ready for it to be put out on tables in the café area and then, once the service was over, everyone came through to serve themselves from the tables, which was set up as a buffet. I got to try the cheesecake. I have to say it was something of a let down. It tasted fine, but it was just boring. Pity it was chocolate or fruit flavoured, but there was a certain amount of lemon in it. It must have been a success in some way, because it all went and not a single bit left, thankfully, as I didn't want to take any of it home with me.

An Ordinary Week

Wednesday. 6.45 a.m. It's relatively still and quiet on the weather front at the moment. Not a great deal to report, so I'll leave it there until I have more to discuss.

As I reported in yesterday's blog post, I went to Sainsbury's to collect a repeat prescription from Lloyd's pharmacy within the store. I was handed two bags containing the medication and did my shopping around the store and then went to pay using a self-service till. I paid and then went to load everything into my car in the car park below the store. Not only that, but I unloaded it all on return to my flat and then discovered that part of the repeat prescription order was missing. I had only one of the two bags with me. I hunted all over the place for it, including in the back of the car. Likewise, I distinctly remembered putting it in one of my 'bags for life' when I was at the self-service till. But no sign of it anywhere. I looked at the app which I use to order my repeat prescriptions, and it was clear on there that I had ordered all the medications I needed, always done on time before they run out. There was nothing for it but to ring the pharmacy, which I did after 9 o'clock this morning, to be told they had it. I had unfortunately left it by the self-service till. But at least it had been retrieved by Sainsbury's staff and taken to Lloyd's pharmacy. Now been to collect it with some further items for lunch and now panic over. Just shows that a slip of concentration can lead to such problems, but, thinking about it now, it wasn't really a problem at all.

There was a ginormous great big grey concrete mixing lorry parked in Strudwick Drive, opposite The Cricketers pub when I took Alfie out at around 1.15 this afternoon. One of the workmen involved in the construction of the scooter sheds was ferrying wet concrete from the lorry and into the community garden and pouring it into what will be the foundations for these sheds. More time and effort it seems to be spent in the construction of these than the ancient Egyptians spent on building the pyramids!

Thursday. 6.20 a.m. There is a pad of drying cement where these exciting scooter sheds are to be constructed (do you sense a slightly ironic tone to my words? I can't in all honesty think of them as EXCITING!) I am tempted to put my foot on it and so be immortalized in concrete. Note: Is it concrete when it's set and cement when it's in its liquid state or is it the other way round? All answers on a postcard please . . .) 

I had another strange dream last night. Well, most dreams are strange in some way or another. I have mentioned that I've been doing family history research and got back around 12 generations. The dream was about me going to New Zealand to meet some of my relations (I don't know how many times removed as I'm not good at that sort of thing.) But so realistic and almost like I had gone there. Talking about fish and chips amongst other things. But, in reality, I wouldn't have been able to go there at the moment, because, watching BBC Breakfast this morning, they've closed their borders to incoming flights due to the pandemic.

Friday. 6.25 a.m. The week is virtually over. Things are very much the same as they were at the beginning of the week. I'm attempting to increase how far I walk and get my number of steps to increase. I went out with Alfie as usual and we did a complete circuit of Oldbrook Green. I may have to do two circuits instead of one to get to the target. All this is recorded by my FitBit, which I have set up correctly.

Have A Nice Day!

Tuesday. 10.55 a.m. Alfie and I were out by 5.45 this morning. I think the mild weather is having a positive effect on us both. I'm not one to lounge about when it's mild and sunny. I was bought up on a farm and work usually started early and I would never be allowed to stay in bed, even if I wanted to. My mother would never allow us to stay in the house during the day when it was the summer holidays. Even the thought of daytime television (which wasn't introduced until the 1980s.) would have been heard of. And anyway, there was always something to do outside to keep us occupied.

I had to do some shopping. Running low on stuff like milk, breakfast cereal, and dog food. I can't have Alfie going without his dinner. I have been eating more fruit since lockdown. I have an apple and a couple of what they call 'easy peelers', which are small oranges, which, as the name implies, are easier to peel than ordinary oranges. Some are better than others. It's a case of 'you pay your money and make your choice. Some are juicy and sweet, like the ones from Sainsbury or Waitrose, whilst others can be tasteless, bitter, and just pith. I got some doggy treats, some of which are supposed to keep Alfie's teeth clean and freshen his breath. I got to paying and decided on using a self-service till. The confounded thing was really playing up. It didn't want to play ball (not literally, you understand. It would be interesting to see one of these machines playing tennis or even football.) It wouldn't recognize that I'd put an item in the infamous bagging area, and on at least three occasions I had to get a member of staff to sort things out. I threatened the machine with Alexa. I didn't think it was impressed, that is, if a machine can have any sort of feelings. Really didn't take much notice as far as I was concerned.

Wednesday. 6.30 a.m. Yet another sunny and bright morning. Out before 6 o'clock once again. Let's see how the day develops before I write anything further.

Transcribing of my writing is going well. I just can't do more than about fifteen to twenty minutes at a time as it's quite intense, concentrating and working on the laptop keyboard, but it's getting there.

Thursday. 6.15 a.m. It's cooler this morning. A definite possibility of rain. I have an idea that I felt rain or at least a drop, so we're likely to get a downpour later in the day.

Later. 12.05 p.m. I'm not sure exactly what the weather is doing, but I don't think it's raining at the moment. I suppose that if I stuck my head out of the window I could find out, or just look outside, but at the moment I don't want to.

Friday. 6.25 a.m. I was surprised when I went out with Alfie at 5.45 to discover that there was light rain. As a result, Alfie didn't stay out for long. A couple of spots of rain and he turned tail and took me back indoors.

I've had some problems attempting to order a repeat prescription. I always make sure I don't run out and do a regular check because I know it can take a week for the whole process to go through. I can get my medication a good deal quicker and I get a text message from Lloyd's Pharmacy in Sainsbury's so that I can go and collect it. The problems started when I set up an account with something called Echo. The idea behind it is that you have an app on your phone or tablet and you set up an account, nominating your doctor's surgery and then put in your medication, and Echo, which is part of Lloyd's Pharmacy, will deliver your medication to your home, free of charge. I'm not sure whether it comes via post or whether they deliver via courier. I attempted to put in my medication but several didn't have the right dosage which I require, so I abandoned setting it up. Further problems came when I attempted to order a repeat prescription via the NHS app which I have been using successfully. I usually give at least a week so as to allow for the order to go through my doctor's surgery and then be sent on to Lloyds for them to make it up. I did this last Sunday when I realized that some medications were running low. When I didn't get a notification to say the order was ready for collection, I rang my doctor's surgery, Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre and they said that I couldn't order those particular medications as I had enough, according to their system. After several telephone calls to both Lloyd's and the surgery, I discovered that the repeat prescription had gone via Echo, which I thought had not been connected to the surgery. I imagined it had not linked to the surgery. Lloyd's have made sure that my repeat prescriptions will continue to be made up by them and I have since removed the Echo app from my iPad and through the app, I disconnected it from further connections with the surgery. I had thought that, because Echo was part of Lloyd's, the in-store pharmacy would make up my prescriptions, but that is not the case.

Saturday. 6.40 a.m. A somewhat unsettled day on the weather front. It was relatively dry when I was out with Alfie an hour ago, but I felt a slight drop of rain and Alfie scuttled back indoors when he must have felt a few drops of rain. I think we're in for a wet day head.

More transcribing. It's going really well and I'm making modifications as I go. I'm really pleased how it's going. The whole thing is over 28,000 words long.

Sunday. 6.45 a.m. A sort of undecided day. I'm nut sure whether it's going to rain, but I felt a few drops when I went out with Alfie around  6 o'clock this morning. It was slightly misty over the centre of Milton Keynes, but it will burn away once the sun comes out.

June Is Bustin' Out All Over!

Okay, okay! Another blog post title quiz question. . . Where is this title from? Another musical . . . written by Rogers and Hammerstein. . . It's from their musical 'Carousel.' I actually thought it was from 'Oklahoma!', but after a Goole search, I found out my guess was wrong.

Saturday.7.10 a.m.  Yet another bright and sunny morning. It does seem that June is definitely 'Bustin'' out all over Oldbrook and further afield. Trees in full leaf. Flowers popping up all over the place. Birdies building their nests and fledglings taking their first flight. Goodness knows what else, but things are definitely bustin' out all over!

10.25 a.m. I decided I needed a hand mixer for use with my baking. Something simple, a hand mixer, which would make whisking up cake mix, batter, and other items far quicker and easier. I had a look on the internet, Amazon as a start-off, but so many brands that I haven't heard of, some cheaper than others and some definitely more than I was willing to pay. Then I thought of Argos and the fact I had quite a few Nectar points which I've collected through shopping in Sainsbury's and which I get with having a home contents insurance policy with Sainsbury's Bank. I had a look and then read the reviews of some of those hand mixers, the cheapest not having very good or at least, mixed (sorry about the pun! Just couldn't help it I'm afraid.) one saying it was liable to over-heat, so no good. I expected to pay a bit more, so I found a Kenwood model, a good brand, and supposedly reliable, so I decided on that one and at £22.99 seemingly good value. Multi-speed and you can store it with the whisks disconnected and stand on its flat base. So, it seemed ideal for my kitchen which has limited storage space.

I wanted to pay online and use the Nectar points and buy it through 'Click and Collect,' which I have done with some other items I have bought recently, such as my electric kettle, toaster, and more recently my food processor. It took several attempts to get the website to function and I had to pay 49p with my Debit card as the price of the food mixer was that much more than the number of nectar points would allow. Only possible to use £2.50 worth of points at a time if that makes sense. I eventually got the site to work for me, paid, and then an email to say that I could collect the item after 9 a.m because that was when Argos opened on a Saturday morning.

I needed to go to Lloyd's pharmacy in Sansbury's to collect a ready prescription, Beconase, which my doctor had prescribed when I mentioned the coughing I am experiencing at the moment and discussed during the telephone I had with her on Friday afternoon (I will mention this in the next blog post.) I also needed some shaving gel, because I had reached the end of the current pack and I cannot shave without gel, together with one or two other items. In and out relatively quickly and from there I had intended to drive to Argos, a short trip down Avebury Boulevard, or should have been until I discovered that the road was closed off due to work being done to construct a roundabout and traffic lights on the intersection with Avebury Boulevard and Grafton Street. It took me quite a while to work out a route to Argos, eventually driving further up Child's Way and going 180 degrees round the roundabout on Watling Street and then back towards the city centre and into the turning for Morrisons and through the car parks and park outside Argos. A good 20 minutes wasted in the process and several extra miles are driven somewhat unnecessarily, but I managed to collect the Kenwood hand mixer and return home, having completed the mission. 

later. I had been searching for cardboard bowls. For what purpose? Well, having made those scones I have mentioned in earlier posts, I found what I wanted in Sainsbury's this morning. I am giving them to my neighbours in Dexter House. I am putting the two halves of one scone in each bowl, buttered (actually it's Sainsbury's Olivia spread, but it's about as close to real butter and made of olive oil.) along with a teaspoonful of raspberry jam in an improvised kitchen foil container. I am attempting to be sustainable and environmentally friendly, having my containers fully recyclable wherever possible. My first delivery was to two tenants in the flat below me. I shall continue with further flats as the week progresses.

Now I have the mixer I want to experiment with other recipes. I have done scones before as well as brownies, which I may attempt once again and probably try something slightly more complicated, such as a fruit cake. I've made Victoria sponges, but I will need to buy some new baking tins and I think it's worth buying better quality, made of higher-grade materials because cheap, thin tins rust quickly and don't last as well as better, higher grade tins. It will be worth visiting T.K.Maax or Homesense, which is a subsidiary of T.K.Maax. You can buy some really good quality homeware items in both stores and at great discounts, up to around 60%. Never pay full price on anything if you can get something for a reduced price. 

Life, The Universe and Something or Other . . .

(Thursday) My hair is in need of being cut. I can't remember when it was last cut. I know so many businesses are closed due to the confounded coronavirus lockdown, but going without this necessity means my hair is getting really annoying. Under normal circumstances I would have it cut around every 4-6 weeks. I have booked an appointment for 14th April through Central Barbers website. Paid and booked, so all I have to do on the day is merely turn up on time. Don't even have to worry about payment as it's done. A good deal easier and you don't have to wait. I think in the future I shall keep doing this.

Later. I turn on the television with the expectation of watching the latest edition of The Repair Shop, when the announcer says ‘there’s a change to our schedule with another coronavirus press conference.’ My heart sinks, as I really don’t need to listen to the doom mongers droning on relentless. Pointless is transferred to BBC2, but I just switch off the television instead.

I've signed up to a streaming service, much like Netflix, called 'BroadwayHD,' which works through my Fire Stick. As a result of the pandemic lockdown, which means that all live theatres have been closed, I am more than delighted to be able to enjoy recorded theatre performances through this service. I have already enjoyed a performance of Noel Coward's sparkling comedy, 'Private Lives,' and I'm currently watching the RSC's amazing nine-hour version of 'Nicholas Nickleby' which was one of the earliest productions shown on Channel 4 when it opened in 1982. I did watch it then, but am so glad to be able to revisit it now. Ideal material to enjoy, done in 9 parts and a definite binge-worthy piece of theatre or television.

(Friday)12.55a.m. I've woken up. The usual thing, wander to the toilet. I can hear the wind whistling around the building. It's quite an odd sound. No rain, as far as I can tell. I hope it stays dry, but somehow I doubt it. Alfie comes into the bedroom to find a comfortable space next to me. Then I get a sudden urge to cough. I've had this annoying cough for some while, and I'm more than certain that it's caused by one of the medications I'm on, one of the side-effects. Having done a search on-line, I find that it is one of the side-effects. I bought Robitussin, a cough syrup, in Lloyd's in Sainsbury's and it seems to keep it in check so I've just taken a dose, finishing off one bottle and I have another in reserve.

I had to order atorvastatin, one of my medications. I realised when I did my evening meds that the one I took yesterday evening was the last one, so I went on the appropriate app on my iPad and ordered it. I was more than a bit surprised to find a text message from Lloyd's pharmacy telling me the meds were ready to collect this morning so I went to Sainsbury's, where Lloyd's pharmacy is to pick it up. I did a bit of shopping, milk in particular. I parked as normal in the underground carpark (that's not actually correct. It isn't 'underground,' It's underneath the store.) Usually the moving walkway or travelator (I've spent some time on Google trying to find the right word for this.) whisks you up to the store, along with the annoying voice which keeps on telling you that you must 'stand still and hold onto the rail' or whatever it is and reminds you to 'push your trolley off the walkway,' rather like some teacher taking to a classroom full or rather dim primary school-age children. As if you're going to forget to push your trolley 'off the walkway,.' What do they expect you to do, crash onto the floor in a heap? It is somewhat patronising. Never mind. Enough digression. The aforementioned walkway wasn't operating as it should (it seems the lifts and walkway in Sainsbury's has a habit of failing when it shouldn't.) So it was odd walking up the walkway when it wasn't moving. 

When I had finished my shopping, I paid, having used a self-service till (getting quite good at using these things by now, and the thing seemed to work perfectly!) I pushed my trolley towards the top of the travelator and almost got on it, as a member of staff stopped me, so I had to go down in a lift to the carpark. It's virtually impossible to go down on the travelator with a trolley when it's not running, because the wheels get caught in the grooves on the surface and you can't move the trolley off until you get to the bottom.

Spring Is In The Air!

It may still be winter- officially- but there is a definite spring-like feeling in the air. The sun is out, the birdies are singing their little hearts out and there are even snowdrops coming out all over the place. I'm not sure of crocuses, but they can't be far off blooming. I saw daffodils on sale in Sainsbury's (which reminds me. Next time I'm in there I'll have to buy some as they were Carol's favourite flowers and I'd buy some for her when I could and put them in a vase. Can't think where the vase is, but I'm sure I can find one somewhere.) Next thing you'll see will be Easter eggs.

(Thursday) Another day. There's a surprise. Schools not going back until the beginning of March. It must be difficult home schooling. Getting children to concentrate. Glad it's not me.

I keep getting telephone calls. I had a landline phone and a mobile. When I answer, there's invariably a bit of a pause. A voice, sounding Indian or at least Asian. They can never pronounce my name, Murdoch, comes over as Murdosh. I get the idea. It's a scam of some sort. They usually ask 'our technical department has detected a problem with our computer.' Sometimes they say 'Microsoft,' which isn't the operating system of my computer. Or, they say there's a problem with my internet connection, which I know full well there isn't. Or my bank account, with a bank company i'm not with. I shan't say here. Do they think I'm naive and just go ahead and give them my bank details? Certainly not. 

It's sunny and bright when I take Alfie out. A definite feeling of spring in the air. Definitely no sign of snow or ice.

(Friday) A really mild and particularly unseasonable morning. Got out with Alfie a little after 7.30 and came in through the side door. I now have a key, which saves time, rather than coming back in through the front door. This is because next week the central area of Dexter House will be out of bounds as workmen are removing asbestos. I wouldn't have been able to take Alfie out through that area, hence the extra key to get out through the side door.

Yesterday afternoon, around 330 or so, I got a telephone call from Lloyd's Pharmacy to say they couldn't make up my latest repeat prescription. The alternative was for me to go into Sainsbury's and retrieve the printed prescription so as to get it made up elsewhere. I coupon't think where to take it without having to traipse around Milton Keynes, visiting endless pharmacies. I've never had this problem before with any of my medication, so this was something of a surprise. Probably something to do with the supplier they use, but I'm not entirely sure. I then thought I might go to Aldi which is opposite my doctor's surgery in Bradwell Common where there is a branch of Boots and then I can shop in Aldi's as they do a great selection of puddings and I can get a piece of steak for tomorrow's evening meal, a bit of a treat. So, I first went to Sainsbury's after I'd done my washing and drove to fill the car with diesel at the Esso station in Child's way and then on to Sainsbury's. I got the printed-out prescription and bought two bunches of daffodils, which is something I do (as mentioned elsewhere about the fact that Carol loved daffodils and I gt them at this time of year as a sort of memory.) Then, on to Bradwell Common. Boots didn't have the medication in stock (where have I heard this before?) but they could order it and I might be able to collect it tomorrow if I ring them to check they do have the medication. Just means a further drive tomorrow at some point or other during the day. Never mind.

When I got back from my little outing, no sooner I'd got through the door (I was preparing to take Alfie out at this particular moment in time.) the telephone rang. Hello, I thought, I can have a bit of fun here! It was another of those Asian voices, who can never pronounce 'Murdoch' properly. Also, being on my mobile, the number they are ringing from is displayed, Manchester. I immediately realise what their game is and say 'there really is nothing wrong with my computer or my broadband connection,' and say, 'I know this is a scam!" and they put the phone down sharpish. As my mother would say 'I may be green, but I'm not cabbage-looking!' or something like that as regards this type of thing.

(Later) I've had yet ANOTHER of those telephone calls. Again, I had a game with the person who rang. Do they really think people will fall for their scam? Probably some people made, but I'm not going to to fall for their game. I know that, generally, I am fairly what you'd call 'on the ball' with this sort of thing, but there are those who fall hook line and sinker for this type of thing and, unfortunately, get ripped off and some hand over their life savings to these criminals. There is even one sick person 'out there' sending either emails or making telephone calls attempting to get people to hand over money for the latest coronavirus vaccine, which as we all know (or at least, we should know) these vaccines are free. But people do fall for the scams.

Weather Warning

 (Tuesday morning) There is an urgent weather warning. A yellow, covering most of the country, including Milton Keynes. A real danger of flooding and people told to keep well away from rivers. There  are some people who won't heed the warnings and get themselves into trouble and need rescuing. It's been called Storm Christoph. I know they use names which are in alphabetical order and alternate male and female names.

I had a text message from my doctor's surgery about making an appointment to have the covid vaccine. I rang this morning and it's booked for this Friday at 3.20p.m. Well, at least that will be done. I think we can definitely see a  light at the end of the tunnel with this current pandemic. I'm not suggesting for one moment that we can all go around hugging each other and that life will immediately return to normal, because it's not likely to. For a start, the scientists who have developed these vaccines aren't sure how long they will be effective for and, probably more importantly, whether, once you've had it, will you be able to spread the virus, which is the main problem and basically why we have to have social distancing.

Alfie has recently had the strange habit of sitting on the sofa next to me and staring at me. I hadn't the slightest idea what it's about. I took him out earlier and thought he needed to 'do his thing,' (do I need to explain further? Probably not.) Yes, he did. But when we got back in the flat, this 'staring' business continued. Then I had a lightbulb moment. Possibly he was hungry. Staring at me was his way of trying to communicate with me. So, I gave him one of the meat sachets I use to feed him in the evening. He scoffed it down completely, so that explains the staring at me. Situation resolved and he now seems a good deal happier.

(Wednesday) I didn't wake up until 7.30 this morning. I don't think I've woken so late for goodness knows how long. On taking Alfie out we found it was windy and wet, but not the torrential rain I was expecting. We'll probably get a real downpour later in the day.

(Later) I had to go to Lloyd's Pharmacy in Sainsbury's to pick up a prescription which had been made up for me and got one or two other items at the same time. It was relatively quiet and easy to get in and out including parking the car. As I write this, the wind is blowing half a gale outside (well, it would be worst if it was inside!) They were warning on BBC Breakfast about heavy rainfall in the north of England, particularly in the area of Yorkshire that we had holidays in, the Calder Valley in particular. I feel sorry for the householders who get flooded on a regular basis in that area. I don't expect their insurance companies will pay out if you have repeated flooding. 

(Later) I've been watching the Inauguration of Joe Biden, which had been shown on television. BBC1 had it as well as the BBC News channel. As expected, Donald Trump didn't turn up, although his vice president, Mike Pence, did.  Biden's Vice President, Kamala Harris, the first woman and of colour to become his Vice President also sworn in. 

Lockdown Frustration

I entitled this blog 'Frustration,' because I'm still cooped up like a battery chicken in a relatively small space, I speak to very few people during my day, each one becoming an exact copy of the last one, the fact that it's almost a year since all this lockdown business began (well, it will be by the end of March.) and there seems to be no sign of an end to this situation, even though we now have several anti-coronavirus vaccines being rolled out. There is no evidence, as yet, that these vaccines will actually make a vast difference, particularly whether they prevent cross infection between people, or, indeed, how long their effects last. I could go on, but I won't.

 (Monday) My  Apple MacBook Air needs to be charged, as any battery-operated laptop computer does. It has around 10 hours when fully charged. I like to keep it as fully charged as possible. It has a charger which has a magnetic plug which fits into the side port. Unfortunately, due to fair intense use over the years (it is around 6 years old.) But unfortunately, due to the constant use, plugging and unplugging, the cable has got worn. The actual metal cable had worn through and on some occasions I have felt a slight shock. Although not dangerous, I had meant to replace it. I think we had to replace the same cable on Carol's smaller MacBook, which was purchased through a scheme they had at Milton Keynes Academy, where by Carol paid in installments, take monthly from her salary. The MacBook I have (and on which this is being written.) was a birthday present she gave me.

I bought my iPad from Very, the on-line retail outlet. We bought quite a few items through them when we lived in Eaglestone. I had to buy a fridge/freezer when I moved to Dexter House and once it was paid off I decided to treat myself to an iPad, and since the lockdown which began in March 2020 it has been really useful as a tool to aid communication. I am still paying for it in instalments. I discovered that Very had Apple accessories, including the MacBook Air charger available, At £79 it's expensive, but at least I could buy it and add it to my account and pay that in instalments. It's quite a large outlay to pay for that if I'd gone to John Lewis or the Apple store which is in Milton Keynes shopping centre, so it was the right option. So, I ordered it and it arrived last week. I was a bit concerned that it might not be the right item, but when it arrived I opened the package and it does work and the old, worn, adapter was put in the recycling. 

The MacBook charging device arrived on Friday when I was out walking Alfie. It was left with my neighbour and he gave it to me as I got back. I was glad that it was the right device and I immediately had it connected to the laptop and the old, worn device has gone in the recycling. Then the next day I came in again and my neighbour presented me with exactly the same package, the same shape and wrapped in blue plastic. A sense of  de javu. Why would I have a second parcel containing exactly the same device, particularly as I hadn't ordered it. I immediately opened the parcel to discover, to my annoyance, that it was indeed the same items as the first parcel which I had received. So, I would need to send it back to Very, as I didn't need it. Perhaps I could have kept it as a spare, but as these things cost £79, I wasn't keen to have to pay out twice for the same thing. 

I managed to wrap the MacBook charger in wrapping paper and got it sealed up with a healthy amount of Sellotape, having put  the returns form inside, stuck the return label on the top and left it to take to post in the morning. This morning, Monday, I drove to One Stop in Coffee Hall as there is a Post Office inside. I had to wait for a good twenty minutes as someone had goodness knows how many parcels to go through the system. The man behind the counter had to weigh each item and then put sticky tables on each one and it went on interminably. It was then my turn to hand over my parcel, and the man told me he couldn't take it! It had a pre-paid address label and he said I should take it, I'm not sure exactly because, having to wear a face-covering I think effected my hearing. I left, not exactly pleased, and drove to the next Post Office I knew of at Netherfield. He had said, next to the Coop, so I assumed it was there that he meant. I went into the Coop and soon realised it wasn't where the Post Office was. I then realised it was only a few shops along, so I went in and the lady behind the counter told me she wasn't supposed to take my parcel (for whatever reason, I can't think why. After all, that's what the Post Office is for, or I assumed it was. Anyway, I handed over the parcel, and that was the end of the matter, thankfully.

(Tuesday) It's 7.25a.m. I'm sitting here in my armchair typing away at this. It dark outside and I'm about to take Alfie out. He won't like it, because it's raining. At least, I have a good idea that it is, because earlier, when I was in the bathroom, there was rain running down the outside of the window, but as far as I know, it might have stopped, but I'm not entirely sure.

I had to order medication which was on the point of running out. On Sunday I went into the app I have on my iPad which allows me to order my medication and make appointments with my doctor as well as see my notes etc. But when I went into it on Sunday I found that Bisoprolol couldn't be ordered, for what ever reason. I attempt to make sure that I have enough of my medication on hand and that I don't run out. It can sometimes take a week for an order to go through, from the doctor authorising a prescription to it being sent to Lloyd's Pharmacy in Sainsbury's, to them making it up and then texting me to say it's ready for collection. On Monday morning I attempted to ring the surgery, but, unfortunately, after listening to a long splurge on this and that and in particular, information about Covid 19 and not going to the surgery unless it was an emergency, the system hung up on me. Not what I needed at that precise moment. So, after some thought, I decided to go into the surgery website and managed to leave a message on the site. Which must have been read and acted upon, as later in the afternoon I got a text message saying the prescription was made up and ready for collection. Bisoprol is a beta blocker, meaning it slows down my heart rhythm and hopefully, helping prevent another heart attack, which was why I was eager to have a plentiful supply as I take one tablet each morning and I don't know what would happen if I was to not take it for more than a day. Might be unpleasant and a bit dangerous.

New Medication

I'll be perfectly honest and admit that discussing depression isn't the easiest of subjects. It has hit me quite hard since Carol died. I have had various forms of medication and  it's not just that form of medication I have had, sleeping tablets mostly. I was put on Zopliclone, but, having taken it for around 2 weeks, it hasn't really had much of an effect. I have got a routine to get myself to sleep before going to bed: a soak in a hot bath and then a hot, milky drink, of Ovaltine and then, just before I get into bed, take the medication. But I only sleep a few hours, probably waking at 2a.m. or a bit after and then I'm unable to get back to sleep. Usually I have to get up in the night to go to the toilet (just something you have to live with as you get older, I'm afraid.) I rang my surgery to get an appointment with my doctor on Monday, but then found I couldn't get one until later in the week, on Thursday, when a doctor would ring. It tied in with the delivery of the fridge/freezer. Then I got a call at mid-morning, around 11-11.30. I explained to the doctor what I needed, and he suggested increasing the dosage of the Zopliclone, and explained what was going on with my sleeping, or perhaps, not sleeping. Also, depression reared it's not insubstantial head (what Winston Churchill described as his 'black dog.') He suggested another anti-depressant (I forget which one) and said he'd send the prescription to Lloyd's in Sainsbury's, but after about 5 minutes he rang back to ask me if I was allergic to any medication, or any of the previous anti-depressants I had been prescribed. I said that, years ago, when I was prescribed another brand. it made me feel awful. I found it quite difficult to judge when to cross the road, so I didn't get run over by the passing traffic, and just a feeling of nausea and feeling light-headed. As a result, he suggested I came into the surgery for a proper doctor's appointment, and it was made for the next day, Friday, at 3.40, with my registered doctor. So I went for that appointment. I have now been given Temazepam 10 mg. Tablets to take just before I go to bed and Sertraline 100 mg to take in the morning. I slept reasonably well as a result, but in the morning I was reluctant to take the Sertraline because I wasn't sure what the side-effects would be. Having taken two at around 9.30, it took a while before they had an effect (I know that most medication don't really work for you until you've taken them for a period, probably a month, but I began to feel nauseous and later on I had to rush to the toilet. (There's no point in explaining in too much detail what I mean, but you can guess.) I think the Temazepam left me feeling slightly unsteady on my feet earlier this morning, and as such, I wouldn't have been safe to drive (which is what the warning is on the packet they come in from the pharmacy.) I was earlier put on Diazepam, which isn't a full-blown anti-depressant, but seemed to help me sleep, but, unfortunately, because they can become addictive, you can't take them for much longer than a month. I have to go back and see the doctor mid-january, to discuss any reaction I might have to any of these medications and to probably see if there is an alternative which I can take which isn't addictive or at least have side-effects.

This And That

I've been doing The Bible Course at church and fortunately it's being run during the day, which is better for me, because if it was run in the evening, as most of these courses are, by about 8 o'clock I'm beginning to flag somewhat and my concentration goes out of the window. There is one more session next week and the 8 weeks is over. I think I'll give it a rest on the course front for a while. I went from the Oaktree Centre to Sainsbury's, because I had been texted by Lloyd's pharmacy that my repeat prescription was ready to collect. I can't believe they had it ready so quickly, because I did the order on line only a couple of days ago. From there, I went home, and had lunch, a sandwich bought in Sainsbury's, sitting and watching Bargain Hunt, something of a habit, I know, but nevertheless, I have learnt quite a bit about antiques from this show. It was being done in aid of Children In Need, with Debbie MaGee and Joe Pasquale and Richard Cadell and the infamous Sooty (in a box. WHY? We all know it's a man with his hand up the backside of a bit of fur fabric, so why the pretence? And why does Sooty never speak??? I've always wondered that, as a child, and even more so as an adult. Well, the wretched Sweep squeaks, so why doesn't the bear talk?) what has happened to Sooty? He looks different. His face is fatter. Has he been stuffing his face on cakes and buns? It's not the same Sooty I remember as a child. Mind you, when I was an A.S.M. at Liverpool Playhouse in the early 1970's I remember Harry Corbett bringing Sooty to the Playhouse for a week of shows, and being disappointed that there was actually more than ONE Sooty! I saw the many and various versions of Sooty as a puppet and it somewhat spoilt the illusion that they used more than one puppet. How soon the innocence of youth can be spoilt by such things.  But, it was for a good cause. Then, with his pleading eyes, Alfie insisted on going for a walk around Oldbrook Green. (Well, he'd been left all alone since I went out at about 9.15, so he did deserve it, poor little mite.)

A lot of really good television drama coming up. 'His Dark Materials' has already got to the second episode, of, how many? Is it eight or ten? Well, at least they're giving it space to breathe and do justice to the really complex storyline. Season two already in the works, so I believe. They're got the feel of the 'alternative Oxford,' Sort of steampunk feel, with airships as a form of transport. The Daemons are C.G.I., photo-realistic and seem to work very well, fitting in to the action very well and don't look as if they've been pasted on as some C.G.I. characters do, such as has happened in the revived 'Doctor Who.' Then, following that series, 'The War of The Worlds.' I'm intrigued to see how they manage to do this, set in the late 19th century, at the time it was written. I read all of H.G.Wells science fiction books when I was a teenager, 'The invisible Man,' 'First Men In The Moon,'The Time Machine' and 'The War of The Worlds.' Wells was amazing in that he was writing far in advance of his time and probably best described as The Father of Science Fiction. His short stories are also worth looking at and some are really creepy. Then 'The Crown' returns on Netflix, with Season 3, which, as far as I can understand, takes up the story in the 1970's and I think covers the Miners' Strike and other matters. Meanwhile, not to be outdone, Amazon concludes 'The Man In The High Castle,' which I've been following and have found to be really intriguing and I'm looking forward to how it all ties up. Can't wait to see what all these channels and other television services come up with. I know Apple TV + has just started and then there's Britbox, which is a joint venture between BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

Confounded Technology!

As I've mentioned in an earlier blog post on here, the way I have to order my repeat prescription is changing. From September I won't be able to merely ring Lloyd's in Sainsbury's and give them the order for medications, which will then be electronically sent to Ashfield Medical Centre for the doctor to then return the relevant prescription which will be then sent back to Lloyd's for them to then actually make up the prescription. You can always take your order directly to the surgery and put it in the box on the reception desk and it is supposed to be ready for collection within 48 hours, the order then being sent via electronic means to your chosen pharmacy, mine being Lloyd's, but it should be easier, with an internet connection, to order through the Ashfield website. Well, in theory, yes, but in practice, not easy.

I had to get a new password and went to the surgery yesterday morning with identity, my photo driving licence, proof of address on my bank statement and Council Tax documentation and I was given a printed-out letter with a new password. But when I got home and attempted to set this up on-line (I have a feeling I already had an account but I have never used it.) it simply refused to work and after a couple more attempts to re-set the password, I gave up. Does it mean I have to go back to Ashfield Medical Centre and get a new password? Probably, yes, but I don't have a lot of faith that the system will work.

(Monday) On Friday Phil and Robert came to give the grass another cut. Unfortunately, the mower Phil bought wouldn't start. Something to do with the 'pull' mechanism. Robert cut some of the back lawn (grass plot, not lawn!) with the trimmer and Phil had the idea of using my electric mower to cut the grass, but it turned out that the plastic cutters were missing, or just worn down. The state of the shed where this is kept is deteriating by the minute. It's beyond repair. It leaks, or must do, because the roof is falling in and our beloved landlord doesn't care less. He should be responsible for such repairs but I think his bank balance if far more important than any necessary repairs. Anyway, Phil managed to improvise cutters/blades by attaching fishing line and it worked! I have a pack of these plastic blades, but I hunted high and low and couldn't find it, so we were left with the fishing line alternative.

Yesterday we had the South African Braai at church. I'm not sure how many people were there, but it was quite busy and we had to queue around the cafe area to get the food. I think there may have been quite a few neighbours who came along as a lot of faces I didn't recognise, although, going to the first of the two Sunday services I don't always see new people who only go to the second service at 11.15 so I may start going to the second service just to get to know some new people. You see lot during the interval between services, when coffee and tea is served, so I may go to this service when we go back to two services from this Sunday.

It's  August Bank Holiday Monday and the sun is shining! I thought it  good excuse to give Alfie a bath. I have to make sure he doesn't get out into the garden once he's been bathed as I know he has a tendency to roll and it would defeat the object of a bath if he then goes and gets dirty again! I shut the patio doors into the garden and ran the water so it was warm enough but not too deep. I can never work out whether he likes it or not. He does make a fuss when he first goes in, but once you start shampooing him, I rather think he enjoys it. Anyway, as I write this (at 11.15a.m.), he's laying on the sofa next to me, giving me a look as if to say 'what next?' Let's be honest, it's far too hot to go out as I don't fancy getting too hot as it's not such a good idea if you have a heart health problem.

So, I did some washing . . . if it's going to be hot, surely it would dry quickly, and, sure enough, it did.  Have to take advantage of the weather and not leave it when it's likely the weather is going to change and be wet.

Change For Change Sake

I've been to Bleak Hall Motors after 9 this morning (Thursday) to book the Renault Captur in to have it's annual MoT. I discovered that the current MoT runs out on 8th August, so it's as well I had thought to have it done. It's booked in to be done at 1p.m. on Monday. I just hope it doesn't need much doing to it to pass. I have a feeling that the brakes might need doing as last time it was MoT'd they said one was in need of replacing. The other thing I was told was that, because it's a diesel car, the timing belt will need replacing before December, another expense, but it has to be done. It has something to do with how the pistons are timed. It can't be left, but with my financial situation, it will have to be done in the next month after my pension has gone into my account. It will cost around £300 or so.

As I was driving along Standing Way, going to Bleak Hall and was turning right on the roundabout, a car very nearly hit me, speeding across without stopping. Another couple of feet and he would have hit me. No wonder my nerves are a wreck after driving. Stupid idiot, it's people like him who make the roads a battlefield and are responsible for high motor insurance premiums. I wouldn't be surprised if this youth, because I saw him as he sped by, doesn't have any insurance, so if he had hit me, goodness knows what would have happened. Scary.

From Bleak Hall I drove to Sainsbury's. I had to collect medications I only recently ordered over the phone, one of them being Diazepam. I was surprised that the Bisoprolol which had only been ordered a day or so ago was ready for collection. I have heard from the pharmacist at Lloyd's that the procedure for ordering will be changing in September. I won't be able to order as I currently do, by merely ringing Lloyd's and giving them the medications on my repeat list. They contact Ashfield Medical Centre to get the doctor to provide the prescription, which is signed and then emailed to the pharmacy. But from September I will have to order direct from Ashfield. I can set up an on-line account with the surgery and use that to order what I need to have on repeat. It worries me that this isn't going to work. I don't think I trust the system. I will be on edge that if I order that the surgery will get the order and then contact Lloyd's to make up the order. I feel sorry for the older patients who don't have access to the internet, let alone a computer, and wouldn't have any idea how to use one, so how are they expected to reorder their repeat medications? Does it mean they have to go to the surgery and make a paper order? Am I expected to do that? Why change a system which is working so well? It has been so easy, just to ring in my order, which I do when there are enough days for order to go through before my stock runs out. Some crazy pen-pusher somewhere, with no idea of the dress and upset this will cause seems they have to change things for change sake. If enough people were to complain I reckon it could be left alone. It's the people who waste such things as appointments, make them and never actually go to them, wasting N.H.S. resources in a really negative fashion.

Friday. Noon. It's a bright and sunny day. But the sun keeps going in and out. One minute, Bright, the next, it clouds over. Never mind. I'm actually bored silly. If Carol was here, we'd be going out and about, to Whipsnade, probably London, one of the National Trust properties, Wimpole Hall perhaps. But she's not, and my life's empty. I mustn't get myself upset, but it's days like these when the loneliness is the worst.

This morning I was planning to go to the Oaktree Centre to sample the food in the newly-opened café. One of Shenley Christian Fellowship members, Tim O'Brien is part of a musical group called Fadin' Shoes. It was he who drove me to the John Radcliffe Hospital to have my stent fitted. I drove out of Eaglestone at around 11.40 which would have given me plenty of time to get to Shenley, but, driving down Chaffron Way, the road ahead, at the roundabout where it intersects with Fulmer Street, there was a road sign in red stating quite clearly 'Road Closed, and a gang of workmen, presumably resurfacing the road. There was absolutely no advance warning as I drove along Chaffron Way, so this came as rather a shock, to say the least. I turned left and came to Standing Way and eventually got onto Watling Street and drove as far as Childs Way with the intention of hopefully getting into Chaffron Way further up towards Morrisons at Westcroft, but even that road was closed off at the roundabout at the intersection with Fulmer Street. So, not feeling very happy that my day had been ruined, I decided to head home along Fulmer Street and get home. Annoyed isn't the word, because I have wanted to listen go the music and have something to eat in the newly-opened café which has been a long time in the planning.

All Sorts

I'm really overwhelmed that two people I know, who are doing the Church Course on Thursday evenings have offered to drive me all the way to Worcester to see my new Grandson, Arthur. It's arranged with my daughter Chloe, and I'm going next Monday. Really looking forward to going.

The medication I had last Tuesday when I went to see the doctor, has now run out, so I've had to make another doctor's appointment this morning. Fortunately it didn't take that long to get through on the phone, but I'm now sitting here waiting for a doctor to ring and arrange the appointment.

Later. I was actually quite surprised by how quickly I got a doctor's call. I didn't have to go into the surgery to have a face-to-face appointment. The prescription for Diazepam was sent electronically to Lloyd's pharmacy in Sainsbury's, so I made a trip there as I had a few items I needed for my pack-up lunch which I will take with me to Campbell tomorrow.

I had texted Chloe about me coming to visit to see grandson Arthur. Chloe has soon responded and I'm going next Monday and will be there around midday. I'm not likely to see George or Eddie because they will be at playgroup. I will be able to take Eddie's birthday present which I had all wrapped up ready but was unable to take because I couldn't go two weeks ago.

Wednesday. I went to Camphill yesterday. I left to drive there a good deal earlier than I would otherwise and I'm glad I did. The pinch-points at the roundabouts along Brickhill Street, where there is usually heavy traffic heading into the centre of Milton Keynes are difficult to cross and made more so when you have a driver close behind you who has no patience and would happily see you crash into one of the vehicles negotiating these two roundabouts, on Childs Way and Portway. One miscalculation and you'd get run into, which is something I don't intend to do, but it is quite stressful and not good when you have a heart condition as I have. I sometimes think that if they were to just install traffic lights at these points, the other one being on the Saxon Street/Standing Way roundabout, then it would make life easier and safer, probably just at those times such as early morning and evening. But I imagine to just suggest it would not go down with a lot of drivers, probably those who love to tail-gate other drivers and drive excessively fast. The driving speed around the Grid Roads of Milton Keynes needs to be lowered to around 50 M.P.H.

We spent the morning being split up into groups to continue with Stranger Danger. I was working with one of the students who work with us as support, attempting to get two of the residents to really push things further to find the comedy in the piece, going over it several times, with me reading the lines of one of the residents who wasn't with us. We were working in what they call The Crypt, and not in the main theatre, because they were setting up the lighting for a show that was being put on in the Chrysalis (the name of the theatre at Camphill.) Once we'd spent around 30 minutes on this rehearsal we then went back to the Crypt to show to the others what we'd done and it was remarkable how, with a bit of effort, we could get laughs where possibly there hadn't been before. After lunch there was a training session for the residents on food safety and handling. Probably I've done this several times before, and we spent quite a lot of time shifting chairs and tables, the result of which really made me very tired. Possibly that and the effect of the new medication I'm on. They then had a community assembly after the trining session, but I didn't stay because I was feeling totally washed out. A pity, but perhaps on another occasion I will stay to see what this entails.

This morning I couldn't get the Freeview box to respond. I kept getting a 'No Signal' message. I couldn't see how to resolve it until I thought that perhaps it needed re-tuning. This usually happens at night. So, I managed to do this and now it's working perfectly. As a result of not having the Freeview box working I couldn't see BBC Breakfast, but, honestly to goodness, with the constant news about Brexit, I think I am better off not watching.

Later in the day I managed to upgrade the Freeview box. Often, when you start it up you get a message that says, 'upgrade now,' because there's new channels which are added. So you press the 'OK' button on the remote control and the thing does it's thing and then another message says 're-ordering channels,' and that's what it does. Not such a problem, but it does it so regularly that you have to let it 'do it's thing.'

More Unnecessary Aggravation

(Wednesday) I've mentioned on an earlier blog post, that I went to our doctor's surgery a week or two ago to find out whether they had received notification from the John Radcliffe Hospital regarding my new medication so that when I made a new repeat prescription it would be up-and-running and there would be no problems. The discharge information was given to me when I left the hospital and a copy would have been forwarded to my doctor's surgery. I was informed when I went to speak to the receptionist she looked on the computer system and assured me that the new medication was record. Little did I realise that actually this wasn't the case. Or if it was, then part of the information was missing, or at least it would appear so.

I went to Sainsbury's early this morning and went to the Lloyd's pharmacy within the store, which is our nominated pharmacy for all our repeat prescriptions. We've been using them for several years now. But when I went to give them the new order I was informed by their pharmacist that they couldn't do the order without first having it on THEIR system. I would need to ring Ashfield Medical Centre and speak to them to have the new medications recorded before the pharmacy could make up the order. As you can imagine, what with having had a heart attack three weeks previously and also having Carol in hospital, this is only adding to stress and frustration which is certainly not what I want at the moment.

Having completed my shopping in Sainsbury's, I returned home and immediately telephoned the surgery. I was expecting it to take some while to get through, there also was an option on the menu which you have to select when you ring, to phone a special prescription help-line, but this 'after 11 a.m.,' which didn't exactly please me as I wanted to go and visit Carol and if left too late it would be difficult to find a parking space for the car. I just rang the normal telephone number intended for making appointments, but told the receptionist my repeat prescription was urgent. I ran through what I wanted to order until I reached Ticagrelor, which I had been prescribed especially because it's supposed to protect the stent I had put in at the John Radcliffe. The receptionist had never heard of it, which was a surprise. It now seems a doctor will have to approve this additional medication before they can make out a prescription, which will then be sent electronically to Lloyd's before the repeat prescription can be made up. There seems to be some sort of bureaucratic glitch in all this somehow.

I'm having problems with a cough, which I have mentioned in earlier blog posts. Apparently it is a side-effect of taking Ramapril. I spoke to the pharmacist about this matter, because I spent most of last night awake with this horrible cough. Nothing seems to alleviate it, no amount of cough linctus or cough sweets. I just concerns me that it might spark off something like another heart attack. The pharmacist looked at all my medication already held on their system and she saw I was on Candesartan. Which apparently does the same job as Ramapril, but without the side-effects. So it does seem odd that the doctors at John Radcliffe should charge this medication regardless of the fact that I had no problem with the Candesartan but now have to endure a horrible cough with Ramapril.  I decided to go into the Cardiology department at Milton Keynes Hospital when I went to visit Carol this morning, with the intention of mentioning this to the cardiology nurse I spoke to last week. I was fortunate to be seen by her briefly when I went in. She said that  the cough would most likely be as a result of the Ramapril but she couldn't change it for me, I would need to speak to my GP. It would appear that Ramapril is a standard medication given to patients after they've had a heart attack. So, I need to telephone Ashfield, how ever long that is going to take, and ask my doctor to see if he can change the Ramapril for Candesartan or a similar drug.

Having said in the previous post that it was getting colder, it's actually been quite warm for the past couple of days. The weather is getting so confused. I came out of the hospital yesterday and there was bright sunshine, similar to what we have today (Wednesday.)

Here and There

I went out for the, by now, routine walk with Alfie, around the park. He came back slightly damp because the effect of the recent rain had left the grass quite wet and he also came in the house with bits of twig and other plant matter stuck into his coat. He really doesn't like it and kept stopping to pull it out with his teeth.

Carol had to be at the Maple Centre this morning to have the P.I.C.C. line removed. This was scheduled for 10.30, but on the way we went to Ashfield to check to see if a repeat prescription was ready for collection. One was for oramorph, is a controlled medication so the prescription can't be sent electronically to the pharmacy at Lloyd's at Sainsbury's as can other medications. You have to sign specifically for it. Fortunately it was ready for collection. We got there at around 9.30 which meant we would be far too early at the hospital so we drove to the Ouzel ValleyPark, somewhere we've taken the dogs to but haven't been to for a long while. It's a pleasant place and not far from our home. We walked for quite a way, and considering Carol's health condition we managed to go quite a way and then came back to the carpark and sat at one of the picnic tables. It was a warm and sunny morning. It was actually strange walking without a dog and may come back tomorrow with Alfie.

We then drove to Milton Keynes hospital. We managed to park the car directly opposite the Maple Centre so it wasn't too far to walk. We reported to the reception desk in the A.E.C.U., which is within the Maple Centre. We came here a few months ago when we had to wait for Carol to see a doctor after a blood test and we waited something like six hours. Not a particularly pleasant experience but there's nothing you can do to avoid it. Fortunately this time Carol was attended to very quickly and the nurse managed to remove the P.I.C.C. line relatively quickly and they did all the obs they always do, blood pressure, temperature and so on. After having the P.I.C.C. line in her arm for so long (actually the second of two. The first put in late last year before the 12 cycles of chemotherapy began in December and the second when she was in hospital for a total of 4 weeks.) Carol was totally relieve to be without it as it has been rather restricting having it in place for so long.

We then drove across town to Sainsbury's to have the two prescriptions made up at Lloyd's pharmacy and to do some shopping and then returned home.

Snow . . . Gone!

The snow is gone. Well, it had no chance, seeing how it's a good deal warmer this afternoon. The sun is out and it's almost spring-like. Apparently we are now officially into spring. 

Carol gave Alfie a bath. He was getting a bit smelly. We're still not entirely certain what has caused it, no doubt he's been rolling in something disgusting in the garden. He still has those nasty bits under his eyes which he just will not let us pull off. His coat is still in need of a good grooming, but what with one thing and another, we haven't managed to fit an appointment in with his usual groomer's. The mess on his face seems to be irritating as he keeps on rubbing himself on the sofa cushions and other places. If you attempt to deal with this he just growls at you.

We went to Sainsbury's this morning. We got a call from Lloyd's pharmacy yesterday evening to inform us that the patches that Carol needs have arrived, having been held up because of the snow. We've used up our Nectar points and bought a new toaster. It should be better than the old one and is able to cook four slices of bread in one go. A good deal more rugged than the old one. 

We have been informed that there is to be a series of marathons running past our house on Sunday 11th March. I saw the yellow sign up near the entrance to Eaglstone the other day and the organisers have seen fit to put a letter through our letterbox which also gives details. I'm not that bothered by this event, but I still can't see why it can't be rerouted along the Redway, which is only yards from Golden Drive. I remember when I made a comment about this on Facebook last year I got some rather scathing reactions from one particular individual. I think I'm entitled to have an opinion, even if it wasn't in agreement to his. Never mind. Some people are just so easy to wind up. For whatever reason, it just annoys me that we have to be inconvenienced by this event, meaning we won't be able to get in or out with the car whilst this is on. Never mind, I'm sure we'll be able to manage somehow.

I ordered a binder for my collection of BBC History Magazine at the beginning of February. I have been a subscriber for about four or five years and have kept all the copies. Most are in magazine racks, but I want to get the official binders so that each volume, which is 13 copies, kept together so they are easier to store and read. I went on-line to the publisher's website, Immediate Media, and ordered one binder through the website. I imagined that the binder would arrive in the post a few days later. But it's at least two weeks since I ordered, paying with my Debit card. This morning it still hadn't arrived, so I rang the helpline. Not a great deal of help. I was told that the order hadn't gone through, but checking my bank statement the cash has gone of of the account. On enquiring further, they weren't entirely sure whether the binder I wanted was out of stock. I have to say I'm not very impressed. If this particular binder was out of stock, they should have let me know at the time I ordered and paid, show this information on their website or at least email or write to me to let me know. The woman I spoke to said the binder might be sent in a couple of week's time. Why be so vague? Either they have it or they don't. Surely they would know where the particular product was in their system. I'll just have to wait and see what happens in the next couple of weeks.

Shopping Trips and Haircuts

I mentioned a few weeks ago how I had intended getting my haircut and went to the usual barber's in Monkton Park, only to discover, after waiting around 15 minutes and finding they weren't going to open up, that the business had closed down. The company is called Essential Barbers and they have another branch in North Furzton. So I decided to give things another go and drove there before they opened at 9.30 yesterday morning. So, hair now cut and won't need doing for at least a couple of months. 

From North Furzton I drove to Beanhill to go to Ashfield Medical Centre. I've mentioned on several blog posts the problems we're experiencing regarding Carol's repeat prescriptions. I still don't understand how it can take somewhere in the region of ten days to get a prescription ready so that it can be made up and ready for collection at a pharmacy. We give ample time for this. It should take no more than 48 hours. I attempt to make sure that Carol doesn't run out of any of the medications she has on repeat, particularly as we've managed to get the pain she's experiencing under control. On asking at the reception desk whether the prescription was ready, I was told that one item was ready and printed, but the rest of the items was not. I also had to ask for a fresh medical certificate for Carol as she needs one since she's off work sick. I was told that the doctor would ring to confirm this. So I returned home and no sooner had I got in the house and the telephone rang and it was the doctor for Carol. Then I heard from Lloyd's pharmacy at Sainsbury's with a phone call that they had some of the stoma material. But why had it been delivered to Lloyd's? The whole thing is going crazy. The stuff from Fittleworth should be sent direct to our address. Carol was determined to come with me to Sainsbury's as she wanted to get out of the house. So we drove there. It's perhaps the first time she's been to Sainsbury's for at least six months. One part of the repeat prescription was ready for collection, along with my own medications, which I had ordered earlier in the week. I seems odd to me that my repeat prescription was done within days, but Carol's has to take at least a week to be ready. The doctor had told me that the prescription which he had written and had printed out, would be ready on Monday  after 2 o'clock. So I drove there after 2 o'clock BUT THE PRESCRIPTION WASN'T READY! The receptionist at the surgery told me that the prescription was probably going to be in the doctor's surgery and couldn't be taken until the doctor was without a patient. This whole thing is now getting out of hand and as a result causing a certain amount of stress for both of us.

This morning (Tuesday) we had another attempt to get the prescription out of the surgery. One was ready for collection but the second one was still unready. We went to IKEA as we were looking for a new rug for the lounge, and, after a look in the rug and carpet section we couldn't find one which we liked, but we bought several other items of use and then went to get a hotdog, chips and a drink near the exit to the store. Plenty of it and extremely good value.

As I write this blog post, I'm watching Michael Portillo's television series 'Great Railway Journeys,' on BBC2, and as I write this he's at the Swiss Garden near Old Warden in Bedfordshire, somewhere we've visited and near where I used to live at Cardington. A really beautiful place to visit, part of the Shuttleworth Estate and directly next to the Shuttleworth Collection of aeroplanes and cars of various ages.