Keeping The NHS Busy- Part 1

Monday. 9.50 a.m. I have been out with Alfie, although he was somewhat reluctant to go much further than the piece of grass along Strudwick Drive, but I insisted on walking around Oldbrook Green. As we came to the point where we cross over Oldbrook Boulevard and back along the path towards Dexter House, we saw the lady with Toto. She was sitting in an electric shopping scooter with the dog on her lap. She said she was waiting for a hip replacement operation. Well, to be honest, if it's on the NHS, she's likely to have a long wait, as they are making excuses over any sort of operation or procedure in the wake of the so-called pandemic. 

There seemed to be an excessive amount of traffic along all the roads within Oldbrook. I then discover it's due to our dear old friend, Milton Keynes Marathon. It seems a lot of the roads are closed off to traffic, so that puts an end to my idea of going into the shopping centre to have a look around. More as an excuse to get out of Dexter House for a couple of hours. I think I might leave it until tomorrow. I still don't know why they can't run along the Redways instead of causing inconvenience to everybody, but, of course, that is far too easy.

Tuesday. 6.05 a.m. As it was light outside, I took Alfie out around 5.30 this morning. Yet another mild and pleasant morning.

2.15 p.m. After yesterday when I couldn't drive into the centre of Milton Keynes due to the marathon, I decided to go in this morning. I had a need to just escape from the flat as it can get incredibly claustrophobic. It was good to just wander about and in the shops. I have had really itchy skin and I needed something to relieve it. I found that E45, which is a lotion for such a skin condition, might be suitable. I had looked on the Boots website, but it was apparently out of stock in their Milton Keynes store, so I tried Superdrug, and, hey presto! they had it, so I went into their store and bought some. I now have Superdrug's loyalty card and set up an account when I got back to the flat. The only problem I have with these cards is that they soon fill up your wallet. How many do I have? Probably a dozen or so. The most used are Nectar, which is connected with Sainsbury's and Argos (which is now owned by Sainsburys) Tesco Clubcard, Waterstones, Costa coffee, Body Shop, IKEA, Lakeland, Boots, Morrisons, T.K. Maax, Pets At Home and no doubt many more. The trouble is they take up so much space in my wallet, so when I get to the till to pay at one of these retailers, I can spend a long time rifling through my wallet in an attempt to find the relevant card. Although you can have an app which is supposed to do the same job as a plastic card, I don't always have my iPhone on me.

I have been having what I can only describe as 'mini' angina 'pains', although they're not really pains. I suppose they could be best described as sort of pin-pricks of discomfort in my chest. I know exactly how an angina episode feels and more than sure of what a heart attack feels like, although the pain of a heart attack and heart burn, or indigestion, can feel very similar. I have tablets to check heartburn, Gaviscon, which are actually quite pleasant to suck, unlike a lot of medication and do work. I have them in my medication drawer for just this sort of moment. 

On Wednesday night I was woken up by Alfie poking me with a paw and needing my attention. I realised be probably needed to go outside, but it takes quite a while for me to come round from deep sleep, put on my clothes and stagger out to the grass outside alongside Strudwick Drive. This happened again a couple of hours later, but, unfortunately, he couldn't wait and I ended up clearing up after him. One of the reasons I have kitchen roll handy for such an incident. Then it happened again a few hours after that, by which time my patience was wearing a bit thin, unfortunately, but it was no good blaming Alfie. Well, at least he is capable of telling me, in his own original way that he needed my assistance. This was when the strange angina-like 'attacks' began, and I was thinking I ought to do something about it. Although not actually serious, or so I imagined, it might be advisable to contact my GP and discuss it with him/her.

Due to the weird angina-like symptoms, I thought it might be a good idea to get checked out by a GP. I wasn't expecting that I would get an appointment immediately, but nevertheless, I rang the surgery and found out that they now have a system which allows you to key in a number on your phone's keypad and they will ring you back when your number gets to the front of the queue. It certainly saves having to hang on for what can be hours until you hit the front spot. I spoke to a receptionist, and she listened to my symptoms and said that I would get a call-back from a doctor on Thursday afternoon. But then an hour or so later they rang and said that a doctor would see me face-to-face at 4.40 p.m. The doctor checked my heart rate and stuck that thing on my finger. What is it called? Oximeter or something. He decided I would need to have an E.C.G. and a blood test, just to see what was going on, and I arranged this for the next day with the receptionist.

Friday. 5.00 p.m. I went to the surgery to have my E.C.G. and blood test at 9.20 a.m., but I got there well in time and as a result, I was called into the room to have the tests. The lady doing the bloodletting, sorry, taking my blood, had a real problem finding a vein. So, what's new. In the end, she gave up and said she would need to have a second nurse available to help with this, and I would need to book another appointment. The E.C.G. caused no problems. Well, all I have to do is lie down on the bed and have those contact things stuck on me. No problems. All done and then I went home.

A Marathon To Get To Church (and Other Matters)

(Sunday) I hadn't remembered that there was going to be a marathon run around Milton Keynes today and tomorrow (Monday.) So, when I realised that I might be stuck in Eaglestone with runners going along the road in front of my home, I panicked because I wanted to get to church. I came out of the estate near the Eaglestone shops, because the exit onto Saxon Street (opposite Milton Keynes Academy) was closed off with signs and barriers and there were people with high vis jackets on. Then, when I came out onto Chaffron Way, I found I couldn't turn left and had to turn right and then down and onto Marlborough Street.

Now, don't get me wrong. I have nothing against marathons, so long as you don't expect me to take part. Just not my thing.  Just the thought of having to possibly wear Lycra doesn't appeal to me somehow. There's noting wrong with people doing what they enjoy. And a lot of cash is raised for various charities and it's a community thing. There's not enough 'community' going on in this country as it is, we need events that bring people together. What with Brexit and all the divisions that's caused, it would be wrong to oppose something such as a marathon which brings people closer. My only objection is that it has to come down the road where I live and it means, if I want to get out in my car, I can't. O.k., you say, but it's only a few days in the year and then only a couple of hours on a Bank Holiday or a weekend. Well, yes, true. But if it's the only time you have with your partner or other members of your family, why do we have to be inconvenienced by this event? It could be easily be re-routed along the Redway, which is only a few yards away. Then I notice it comes along Golden Drive and then, further along, goes onto the Redway, so why not all the way along the Redway? If I so much make a comment to this effect on Facebook, I get the full force of someone or other's complaints. It's as if I'm not allowed to make a simple comment, a statement of common sense, I get shot down in flames. Oh dear, even say something in opposition. But the fact is, this person is easy to wind up. He/she has no sense of the irony. Doesn't take much to get them upset, riled I think the word is (must look that one up. I have just had a look. Perhaps I've spelt it wrong. Perhaps it's spelt with a 'y' instead of an 'i'.) I'm quite good at winding people up. Just need someone to take the bait and get them started, ranting and raving! Quite a few people out there like that. Just put the word 'Brexit' into the conversation and light blue touch-paper. Probably best to retire to a safe place and stick your fingers in your ears . . .

To more mundane matters . . .

I'm going to have to defrost the fridge/freezer. What excitement. Not. It has built up a great deal of ice and the fridge part has water that runs down the sides and gathers on the floor and when you open the door it tends to gush out. The freeze temperature probably needs adjusting. It hasn't been defrosted since it was first installed, I can't remember how long ago. The plastic drawers in the freezer section cause a problem, because with the amount of ice, some of them don't close properly. I have a problem that, if the door isn't closed properly, then there is a tendency for there to be a certain amount of thawing of the food inside. I have, unfortuntely, broken a couple of these drawers, because of the difficulty of pushing the drawers back inside. As a consequence, several have got severely broken. One has now got a large piece broken off completely and there is  danger of food inside the drawer falling out. I need to get these drawers replaced as soon as possible. So I found the manufacturer's website on-line yesterday and their telephone number, which, fortunately, being a Sunday, they were open for business. The manufcturer of the fridge/freezer is Candy, which I didn't realise was part of Hoover. I had to find the details of the fride/freezer on a label inside the fridge section, in the 'crisper' department. I spoke to someone at the call centre and, when he was given the relevant details of the fridge/freezer, was able to look up whether they could supply replaceent drawers. They can, but they don't have all the drawers in stock at he moment, and if I ring back in a couple of week's time, they will hopefully have the relevant items in stock and can dispatch them to me. Once they arrive, I can empty the fridge/freezer, get it defrosted and cleaned and the whole thing back in proper working order once again.

Later. I can't get out  in the car at the moment (11.15a.m.) because the Milton Keynes marathon is going past. Odd assortment of humanity, all shapes, sizes, colours, genders (to be 'diverse.') Why do some men have absolutely no idea of what they look like? Dressed in inappropriate clothing. I'll say no more. Just that, in the summer, when it's hot, why do men have no idea (not every man, of course.) that sometimes they look awful in shorts and tee shirts. Just not going there . . . Don't their women-folk tell them off when they get the horrible baggy shorts out? Go and by some better-fitting shorts. Not difficult to find. I have a vague idea what I look like. Just USE A MIRROR before going out!

Someone, somewhere near is using a Strimmer or a similar gadget in their garden. It's making a horrible noise. Why is it people insist on making this sort of noise whenever it's a Bank Holiday and all I want myself is to be quiet and relax? The D.I.Y companies, such as B and Q and Homebase, seem to think they can make more money by having offers of things like lawnmowers, Strimmers and other grass cutters, not realizing that they are condemning the rest of us to the dreadful noise they create.

There is a mystery. A white mattress has appeared just opposite my kitchen window. I'm intrigued as to where it's come from, and why someone would think it a good idea to dump it at the side of the road. There is really no need to just dump anything. You can take such items which have no further use or are just worn out or broken, to the tidy-tip in Bleak Hall. I took a photo with my iPhone and sent it with an email to the council so that they would be aware of this item. It is actually fly-tipping and as such it's an offence and whoever dumped it there can be fined heavily, and they deserve to be done for this.

Sorting Things and Settled Weather

(Wednesday) Gareth has disappeared. Where he went I have no idea. Probably met up with Freya and having a lovely time in the Bahamas or on a tropical island. Having a blow-out somewhere.

I had a call from Camphill this morning. They seem really keen for me to work as a volunteer and will be going to a taster session on Tuesday morning, to work with their video production students. Sounds perfect for me. I can't believe they've got back to me so quickly. I'm really looking forward to starting there. I'm sure that Carol would be pleased for me.

I've managed to sort out a lot of Carol's clothes. Most gone to the Barnardo's shop in Oldbrook. I have been thinking of sorting the things out, but it's been difficult for me. I had asked Shelley next doo to help me, but in the end i just wanted to get it done on my own. I now have more space in the wardrobe and I've discovered stuff in there I haven't seen before or other things that I just haven't seen in years.

Amongst the things I found was a small cube speaker. I think we bought it in Sainsbury's. It's about a couple of inches square, coloured white and mauve. I don't think it cost much more than £10. It was bought to use on one of the laptops to improve the sound, or it may have been to connect to something else, but I have no idea what. Anyway, it had several leads sticking out of it, one for connecting to a U.S.B. port on a computer and the other has a jack plug to connect to a sound output. But I didn't realise that it was Bluetooth. I have two other larger speakers which are Bluetooth, along with a  Godmans soundbar which is connected to the television. It improves the sound a great deal, giving more bass tones. It will also connect to my iPhone and the Kindle, which has Alexa in it. Just connect and speak and Alexa will play music from my Amazon playlist, through the Goodmans soundbar or the other speakers. If I want radio on in the bathroom, I can use an app on he iPhone and it connects so I can have music on when I have a bath. It's taken a while to figure out how to get this to work, as only one device can be connected via the iPhone at one time, otherwise the things get confused. Amazing technology.

Sunday. I just realised, when I took out Alfie earlier, that we have to endure the Milton Keynes marathon going past the house this morning. They've already been round and stuck letters through our letter box informing us that the marathon will close off Golden Drive for several hours, so I can't get out in the car to get to church. I'll just have to stay at home until it's finished. Now, don't get me wrong. I find the marathon a good thing, people enjoying themselves, good to raise money for various 'good causes,' but when it inconveniences people, the fact you can't get out of your home in your car for a few hours and particularly in a Sunday, which is perhaps the only day of the week when people, particularly families, get together and go out for the day, it does seem really unfair and annoying and if you even suggest making a slight tweak to the route, you get some person or other complaining, as I did a couple of years ago when I even breathed a word against this fairly obvious suggestion (that they reroute it along the Redway, which is only a few yards away.) Oh, it's so easy to wind up some people! Just . . . . oh, I can't be bothered. Not going to listen or even agree to disagree! I'm staying put this morning and will miss church, but never mind for one Sunday. I may go out to Sainsbury's or Waitrose later as there's some items I need as I want to bake a cake.

It's bright and sunny, but still chilly. So it should actually be quite a good day for the marathon.

Later. I've managed to do some washing-up. Sorting out one of the cupboards. I thought we had a digital set of scales. If we have, I can't find them. Just a thought, but is scales in the singular or plural? Why a set of scales? Is it when you had an old-fashioned 'set' with the mechanical device onto which you put individual metal weights, in various amounts of weight? I digress, but it did make me wonder and 'scales' in the plural is still used when your device becomes more sophisticated, such as digital or more like a machine with a dial. I've been thinking about this a bit further. What about other items which are only plural, such as trousers? You never have 'a trouser,' much as with scissors, you never get 'a scissor.' Neither would be much use on their own. You wouldn't get far with a scissor, because it needs the other half to make it into scissors and wouldn't function properly, much the same as you couldn't really have a trouser. You could hardly go out with only one leg covered. It wouldn't work and wouldn't make sense and I doubt somehow it would work, apart from looking odd and you'd probably get some odd looks and might end up getting arrested!

I've now done a load of washing. It takes 45 minutes on eco setting, and the washing is now out on two lines in the garden, because it's sunny and there's a good breeze, so it shouldn't take long to dry. That is, unless it rains, which i trust it won't. This will be the first washing I've put outside this year.
I looked out of the bathroom window a minute or two ago (10a.m.) and, lo and behold! There are runners going past on the road! I just hope this marathon, or at least the part going along Golden Drive, is over soon rather than later, so I can get out in the car and go to Sainsbury's.

Oh dear! I knew if I mentioned on Facebook that the so-called Milton Keynes Festival of Running was going past my home this morning and that I was going to be inconvenienced by it (which I am, up to a point) that someone would respond in a 'oh my goodness, someone doesn't like it! Oh, I don't like it when someone doesn't agree with me' sort of attitude, hey presto! The response has been just as I expected. They took the bait! I've got the sort of response I would expect. The fact is, I couldn't actually care less what people do if they want to. It's just that some people (look at what's happening over Brexit.) don't like it when someone dares to have an alternative opinion. Sad really. Just love winding some people up. Naughty, I know, but really loved to see what happened, and it did.