It's All Action? . . .More like Inaction!

Monday.  2.25 p.m.  Action, did I hear you say? This is Dexter House we're talking about. I have mentioned the matter of the scooter stores, which were built outside against one outside wall of this building. They were constructed because the fire officer did an inspection of Dexter house some while ago, (probably before I moved in more than three years ago), and said that the electric mobility scooters which some tenants use, can't be stored in any of the common areas, mostly in the corridors. They have to be parked there at present, so they can be charged overnight. A great deal of money has been spent building these sheds, which have concrete floors, electric power points, lighting etc, but cannot be accessed from the main building because of ramps and special doors which can be opened automatically so that scooters can get in and out of the building, but nobody at Milton Keynes Council will take any responsibility for paying for the work to be done to install these doors. Total incompetence on the part of the Council to get this work completed. It rather defeats the point of having the sheds built. Meanwhile, it's a trip hazard to have doormats on the outside of flats!!!! Meanwhile, if there's a fire in this building, some of the exit routes are blocked by mobility scooters!!!

I took my car to Bleak Hall Motors for its service, which was booked for 10.00 a.m. I try to get to appointments early so, if there is a chance of them starting earlier, then it's always worthwhile.

The mechanics soon had it in the workshop and I just sat in the waiting room as there was no point going home. I could have walked, but then I would have had to walk back. I read one of my books, which I had taken, and my reading glasses (or, at least, one pair that were usable and not broken.) 

After about an hour and a half, I was told that the brake fluid needed topping up, so I agreed to have it done. The whole procedure was finished by 12.20 or thereabouts, so I paid and left. I wanted to post some Christmas cards, which at that point I hadn't purchased, but I thought I'd get the stamps first and so drove into Coffee Hall, which is opposite Bleak Hall. The post office in the One-Stop shop in Garraways has a post office inside, so that seemed the obvious, and closest place to get stamps. Unfortunately, on arrival, I discovered it was closed for lunch. From there I drove to Waitrose at Oakgrove and got the Christmas cards and a book of postage stamps and as I was driving back home along Chaffron Way I realized that I had left the Sainsbury's bag which I had taken with me to Bleak Hall Motors was still in their waiting area and so I drove all the way back, retrieved the bag containing my book and glasses and then drove home to have lunch which consisted of a sandwich which I had purchased in Waitrose.

Tuesday. 6.25 a.m. It's been raining during the night. I could hear it when I woke up at around 2 o'clock. 

4.40 p.m. The drive to Camphill this morning was virtually free from the aggressive drivers and the long queue getting across the various roundabouts on the way. I imagine this is due to schools being on holiday and parents not driving their little darlings to school.

It has been really sunny and mild today. Considering how cold it was barely a week ago, with snow on the ground and surfaces in some places slippery and covered in ice. It's almost like spring. 

After the usual check-in, we did a game which had a Christmas theme to it. We stood in two lines across the hall, facing each other, and as you were in pairs, facing each other, you had to pretend it was Christmas morning and were giving your opposite number a present, which you had to mime giving to them, and then they opened it and then they gave you a present. A great deal of fun and a good way to use your imagination.

Terrie, the leader of the drama workshop, got the cast of 'Twelfth Night' to do a run-through of the first act of the play. A bit rough around the edges, but everyone remembered most of their stuff, and it was done because it will be several weeks before there will be further rehearsals.

The rest of the day was fun (well, in general, the drama workshop at Camphill is fun in some way or  another .) 

After the tea break, Terrie announced that we were to play the game 'Taskmaster', which was originally on one of the UkTv channels but is now on Channel Four. The idea is that a panel of five contestants are given various tasks and each is scored and the contestant with the most points is the winner. Mitchell, who is a new member of the leadership team within the drama workshop, went off and filled a bag with all manner of items and then the contestants, who sat on the stage, had to guess what was in the bag by feeling it. 

Several more tasks were given to the contestants and after lunch, one more go with a different set of contestants. Then there was Camphill's 'Great British Bake-Off.' I was chosen to be Mary Berry and Mitchell was Paul Hollywood (who are judges in the television show, if you didn't already know.) We made a bit issue of tasting the two cakes which some of the Camphill residents had made, which being definitely over-the-top. The two teams of bakers had to mime making their cakes (similar to how it's done on the television show.) and then we had to mark the cakes. In the end, we decided (at least I decided.) That there wasn't a lot between the two bakes and said that it was an equal win for both.

The final hour of the day was divided between having a dance around in the hall to Christmas music and the final half-hour was taken up with Terrie telling one of her stories which were very interesting and entertaining, by 4 o'clock when the drama workshop ends, it was all 'Happy Christmas!' to all until the group meets up again on 11th January 2023.

Here We Go Again

Friday. 10.25 p.m. I've just come back from the Oaktree Centre. We had a quiz evening. It's just great to be able to have this type of event after the confounded lockdowns restricted everything. There were around eight teams and my team won! After the first round we were at the bottom, so it was great that we managed to win. We won a bucket (!) with smaller items, such as single-serving bottles of wine and chocolates. I got a bottle of wine. There was also the famous (or probably, more likely, infamous) 'Roll-A-Coin' game. Prizes are laid out at one end of the room, things such as bottles of wine, chocolates, candles and other things, and you stand some distance from the items and you rolled a pound coin at the items. If your coin hit an item, you win it!  As the whole idea of the evening was to raise money for the building of phase two of the completion of the Oaktree Centre, it was very successful. Anyway, I managed to win a bottle of wine.

Another 10,000 steps were done according to FitBit. I looked at it as I came through the door, and it rolled over to 10,000 at that precise moment.

Saturday. 6.45 a.m. I was up, dressed and out with Alfie at 5.20 a.m. It is, as I write this, overcast, but dry and relatively mild. We did a circuit of Oldbrook Green, and then I drove to Oakgrove to take some cash out of the cash machine outside the Metro Bank next door to Waitrose. I am going to the men's breakfast at the Fountain in Loughton and we will have breakfast there, which means I don't have to cook. Good fellowship and excellent time together. We last met a few months ago, and I must have mentioned it in these blog posts.

12.25 p.m. I've been to the men's breakfast at The Fountain in Loughton. We've met there before. People arrived just as I drew into the car park, and then we went inside the pub. We had the same set-up as last time, several tables pushed together in the same part of the restaurant area. Around 15 people and some people came in late. I ordered a cooked breakfast, and it was great to fellowship with others from SCF.

From there I drove to Sainsbury's to get a few items and then home. I think Alfie was somewhat bemused that he hadn't been able to come with me.

In Sainsbury's, I used one of the self-service tills. Why do I always have a problem with these things? Whatever you do, however careful you scan each item and put it in the correct place, the thing will inevitably stop functioning and a horrible electronic voice will scream at you so everyone in the vicinity hears that you've messed up yet again! Can they just cut that voice? So, a staff member comes to help and you feel such an idiot that feel you're incapable of doing the most simple of tasks.

Sunday. 6.10 a.m. I was out around 5.20 this morning. Good gracious! Whatever next? Lounging around in bed? Not me. I then had a real surprise. As we started walking towards Oldbrook Green I saw a fox standing on the surrounding path a hundred yards ahead of us. It stood and stared at us for about twenty seconds and then turned and went into the bushes that fill the area between the Dexter House garden and the next unit, SIA (Spine Injury Association.) Something of a shock and a real surprise. We did a circuit of Oldbrook Green, which Alfie wasn't keen on and tried to take us home, but I refused. Well, he can just snuggle back into bed or lie on the sofa. But I insisted. Then, on arriving back in the flat, I was washing up in the kitchen and I saw the fox in the garden below my window. It even lay on the grass and seemed to be having a great time.

Waitrose Café, Service Slipping

I should have had a pension payment in my bank account this weekend. I have a fairly good idea when it should be paid, working backwards from the last payment by going on-line to my Nationwide account and it should be paid every four weeks. But I had checked on Friday and nothing and then Saturday, so I had to have a final look this morning, fairly early, before I took Alfie out for his walk. But, again, nothing. This has caused some stress, as you can imagine, what with bills to pay and the added stress of clearing out this house so I can move to the flat. Fortunately I have managed to save sufficient money in a savings account with Metro, which was intended for he purpose of buying a Yorkshire Terrier puppy which would eventually replace Alfie, not that I see him popping his clogs for a couple of years, hopefully. Also, I needed to have sufficient funds in my other account which is with NatWest and I knew I would have to cover that with a transfer from the Metro bank, but the account is only operational by taking your cash into a branch and having them transfer money from one to another in branch. Annoying that I have to do this, but there is no alternative and thinking about it, the rent payment will be the last to the landlord of this house before I vacate the property.

After church I came home to pick up the bank details necessary to do the transfer as describe above and then to drive to Oakgrove, a relatively short drive down Chaffron Way where there was a branch of the Metro Bank, fortunately open on a Sunday (one of the advantage of being with this bank is they open when the customer needs them and not necessarily to fit round their staff, which is how any business should be run. It's surprising how busy it gets there, what with cars coming into the carpark, which is down quite a steep incline and you have to be careful as you get to the bottom of the slope as there are barriers in the way which I imagine are there for just this purpose. Also, the Metro Bank was ram-raided some months ago and they've put bollards in front of the unit which I imagine are to prevent, or at least deter, further ram-raiding. Whether they would stop this sort of criminal activity is doubtful, because if criminals are determined enough they will just smash the wall of a building and then use whatever it takes to remove the A.T.M. (hole in the wall machine.) with a fork-lift truck or whatever. Anyway, once parked I walked to the bank and the business was done. They recognise me apparently because as soon as you give your details, there is a digital photograph of me on their computer screen to prove my identity. All done and dusted and then a walk along the pavement to Waitrose and a snack in their café. I ordered a hot chocolate with marshmallows, cream and sprinkles for a change from the standard latte as well as a cheese and ham toastie and something rather tasty called a 'Yum-Yum. Is this confection named after a character in the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, 'The Mikado'? I have no idea, but it's worth a try speculating.

I seem to have stood in he queue for some time before a member of staff took my order. It wasn't that busy and when I eventually got my drink and Yum Yum I had handed over the cold ham and cheese toastie to the girl behind the counter for it to be heated, and then took my tray, together with the number 12 which was put on a stand, which would be placed on my table so when the toastie was ready the member of staff who bought it out would find me. I sat at the far end of the café and waited for the toastie to arrive. I drank what was a really lovely hot chocolate (with all the trimmings) and waited  . . . and waited . . . and waited, what seemed forever. It must have been 20 minutes later . . . that I went to the counter to tell the girl on the till that I hadn't yet received my toastie and said, under my breath, but someone must have heard me, that I would knock three stars off my Trip Advisor review when I wrote it (actually not done as I write this.) I returned to my table and waited . . . and waited. The toastie eventually arrived, by which time I had more or less lost interest in eating it, although I did eat it and then the rather delicious toastie. Then a member of staff arrived, and asked me if I would like a drink? I said, 'provided I didn't have to pay,' and I got a bottled apple juice, which I drank and it was tasty. I think this was offered as a sort of apology for the length of time I had waited. Waitrose, if they're going to have the café open on a Sunday, should sort the issue of staff, because there are obviously not enough to cover for the amount of customers they have on a Sunday. It can't be too difficult to recruit staff, or is it? Are some people just not going to lower themselves to do catering work, and on a Sunday? But that's not an excuse. They needed at least two more staff members behind the counter, one on the till, probably one making hot drinks and another, taking orders from customers further back in the queue if it's busy. That's how they seem to run the ship if you go to other similar eating establishments, such as Starbucks or Costa, so why not here at Waitrose? They have a good reputation and the food and drink is good, if a bit pricey, but that's what you expect in a John Lewis or Waitrose store. This business has quite a good reputation for service and quality, but this won't do it a lot of good. They will loose customers because as soon as such things a service slips people go elsewhere and it takes a long time to build that reputation back up again.

Baking and Driving

I've been baking. Now, there's a thing. I had made Victoria sponges before, but intended taking a couple along to the Thursday-evening 'Freed To Lead' session. I've been involved in this course at the Oaktree Centre, home of Shenley Christian Centre, for the last couple of months and wanted to contribute something in the catering line. I have bought the necessary equipment from Sainsbury's, two cake tins, a pallet knife, cooling rack as well as the ingredients, as suggested by Delia Smith on her website and printed out her recipe from the website. I already have a mechanical set of scales, but when I came to use them, they're not particularly accurate for weighing out metric weight so the cakes I have already made have come out fine but probably would be better if I could weight more accurately, so I have ordered a set from Amazon, made by a reputable manufacturer, Salter, which should, hopefully arrive sometime today. So I will be able to make the second cake once these scales arrive. I'll have to wait and see how things turn out, literally, once I have made the second cake.

I took out Alfie around 6.30 this morning. It was quite mild, no wind blowing, no ice on the car windscreen. The grass in Eaglestone Park has been mown. I wasn't aware yesterday, but I think I heard the mower, but not sure what it was. There's quite an acreage to cover so it must have taken some time, no doubt one of those ride-on mowers. They missed  bit, a sort of triangle of grass, but never mind. Only problem with them mowing the grass was that, when I got home I had grass stuck to my shoes. Just annoying. Never mind.

I've been to Camphill this morning. I thought it a good idea to leave the house around 8.30 because I knew the traffic was going to be heavy. I drove round the inner ring road to come out of Eaglestone near the shop and then left onto Chaffron Way where traffic cab build up approaching the Four Bridges roundabout, but it wasn't too bad, fortunately. I then went round the roundabout and headed back towards the Marlborough Street roundabout where the traffic was fairly heavy, but I carried on along Chaffron Way. A large four-by-four insisted on tailgating me until I got to the roundabout just beyond Waitrose at Oakgrove. Can't people think that some people are quite happy driving at a reasonably safe speed, and that it's dangerous to tailgate another car? If you come to close behind and I have to brake suddenly, you will run into the back of my car and cause quite a nasty accident, or don't they see this? Apparently not. They just want the road to themselves and you out the way.

I got to Camphill and parked in the carpark (where else would you park? Crazy really.) I then walked into the office and the lady there took me to the class doing work on computers, because she thought that was where I was meant to be, but after about half an hour another lady came in and said I was going to be working with residents in the theatre, so I was taken there and introduced to the 'actors' who were sitting in a row. I had to give them a sort of introduction to myself and they all introduced themselves. A very talkative inductive bunch. The leader of the group and one other assistant gave me a sort of run-down of what they had been doing; a project which uses the 'Three Little Pigs' as the basis for a play and video to explain 'Stranger Danger.' One of the group wasn't so good at remembering his lines, so they went through them, using what they described as osmosis to retain and learn these lines. As the lines are in verse, it would make it a good deal easier to remember, well, it would if it was me. I wasn't allowed to get away with just observing, I had to join in with them, and the whole group had to repeat the lines. Considering these are guys (and when I say 'guys', I'm referring to both sexes.) who probably don't have good communication skills (but some of them had extremely good communication skills!) it was quite amazing how well they did all this. I worked as a student support assistant at Barnfield College at the Westbourne Centre in Bedford, and I got involved with the drama students and it was really amazing what some of those guys achieved.

Mid-way through the morning, a man who I believe was previously a BBC television producer (forget his name now) and who is a governor of Camphill, came in to start work on the video they are making. He had been editing footage which they had been filming over the past few weeks and he showed the rough footage to us and I was really impressed by what he had done and what the students had achieved. Using a lot of technology, such as green-screen, to create a lot of the effects, such backgrounds. The film/video isn't complete. It needs sound extra work doing on it. Sounds which we helped record, will be added and a voice-over and then it's complete. I'm looking forward to going back next Tuesday to continue working at Camphill.

I had hoped to try out their café at Camphill, but it's closed. The chef/cook/baker who works in the kitchens apparently is in the Himalayas, not sure exactly what she's doing there, climbing a mountain, (not sure whether it's Everest.) so the café is closed at the moment, but hopefully it will be open agin once she returns. I'm really looking forward to trying the bread she makes.

No doubt there will be some paperwork to be completed, stuff like a disclosure (formerly called a C.R.B. check (Criminal Records Bureau) before I can work at Camphill. But  a really positive time spent there.

Sunny, Vet's Visit and a Picnic!

Alfie had one more appointment at the vet's in Oakgrove this morning (Thursday). We took him for a walk across Eaglestone Park earlier and went to vote in the local elections at the community centre near the shop, just opposite from Brother's Fish Bar, which we used last night as we didn't fancy cooking. Alfie doing his usual 'thing' of letting the whole neighbourhood know he's about with his excited barking and yapping as well as running ahead of us like a little hare. We thought if we took him for a walk it would mean he would have used up some energy before we took him in the car to the vet's.

We got to Pet's Practice and were seen well before the appointment time. No further treatment is necessary. The scabby mess under each of Alfie's eyes has cleared sufficiently. I have one more half tablet of antibiotics to give him with his food this evening and we have to keep cleaning the wounds. The open wounds have healed quite nicely although the skin there is still quite pink, but the vet said that the colour in probably unlikely to return. I'm certainly happy about the outcome. We just have to keep an eye on things and to not let a build up of the matter to return and keep it clean.

Chaffron Way is still inaccessible, due to continuing road works. They seem to be putting some form of traffic calming measures in, no doubt to stop people speeding. It's probably a good thing, but all this means we have to drive round via Standing Way to avoid this work rather than going more directly along Chaffron Way. We took Alfie home before we went to the Shell filling station in Grafton Street and put some air in the tyres before we drive to Oxford tomorrow for Carol's appointment at Churchill Hospital. I have my father's voice still  ringing in my ears, even around 20 years after he died, regarding always doing the various checks you need to do to your car before going on any journey, such as the old, water, tyres, etc etc. A good thing to have to do, but as I say, he always said all this 'have you checked the water . . . tyres . . .oil?'  . . . etc etc

We then drove over to Roosksley as Carol wanted to look in one of the stores there, Decathlon, which  stocks sports clothing and equipment. She rather likes the Regatta jacket I bought the other week and would like something similar. I don't think she'd get one for the same price as I paid as it was on line. They have a good range of styles, colours and brands in Decathlon, but not the same sort of price. We then went into Halford's a few stores along as I wanted to get valve caps to put on the car tyres. One is missing and I really want to keep the tyres in good order, so caps seem a good idea to replace.

Coming out of the carpark at the retail centre at Rooksley you can only turn left instead of right and onto the grid road. To prevent this, the council has put a sort of island in the centre of the road and it's quite clear, with adequate signage, that you must turn left, go round the roundabout near B and Q and then come back towards the main road. But, no, certain people just refuse to do as they're told. So the barrier to prevent a right turn has been made even larger so in effect it would be quite impossible to get round it. Why do some people insist on disregarding such safety measures???

As we were driving out of the estate, Carol suggested we have some sort of picnic as it was really pleasantly sunny and warm. It would have been a great pity to not take advantage of it, so we drove to the shop in Two Mile Ash to buy sandwiches, crisps and drinks and then went to sit at a picnic table at Loughton Lodge. It would appear to be quite a busy dog-walking area, as we saw quite a few people doing just that.

A couple of youths turned up with a bulldog as we sat eating our picnic. Well, I say youths, but they were probably around 20. One had driven in a rather ancient V.W. They stood and admired the car, regardless of it's age. How could they manage to spend a mid-morning standing around chatting in a carpark? Didn't they have to be at work, or collage? They were something of a cliche, how you'd expect a group of youths to behave, along with the huge, fat dog they had with them. No doubt the idea of having such a dog made them look 'ard. No, on second thoughts, it really didn't. Just fat and lazy. Carol said it looked pregnant. I don't think it could move very fast, certainly not very aggressive. It had a thick metal-studded collar on, a bit like the dog in Tom and Jerry cartoons, which is always chasing around after the cat or mouse. Anyway, these youths spoke in a series of grunts and one of them when to deal with the poor dog which cowered, which made us think it was not treated well to behave in such a way.

So we finished our picnic and returned home. At least we hadn't spent the morning staring at daytime television. With the weather improving and the daylight hours longer as the days move on we can at least get out and about.

Alfie Has another Vet's Appointment

At 3.30 this afternoon (Monday) we had to make a return visit to the vet at Oakgrove. I think the residents of that area around Waitrose, of which there are likely to be quite a few, along with the customers coming and going at Waitrose, which is opposite Pet's Practice, will have heard Alfie's barking and general noise. He makes so much noise, barking vigorously as we get out of the car and then walking towards the surgery. We had to wait in the waiting area, but Alfie continued to let the whole world he was about, and then Rebecca, the vet, came out and we took him in to the consulting room. The antibiotics are working. The current course has been completed. I have been giving Alfie half of one of the tablets, crushed and put into his food twice a day. The congealed matter under each eye is receding gradually and the open wounds are healing nicely. Rebecca has given me a further course of medication, to again be given to Alfie twice a day and, again, crushed and put in his food.

Pets are expensive. The cost of this treatment is mounting up. But if you have to take a dog to the vet, for whatever, it is going to cost. I don't mind. Alfie deserves to have the treatment as it's no good leaving nature to take it's course. He gives so much love and deserves to be able to look after him properly. Dog's can't ask when they're unwell. Not that he has been seriously ill.  We let him get very untidy before he was groomed recently. His nails needed trimming. He was somewhat neglected because Carol's chemotherapy had to come first, for obvious reasons. But hopefully the rawness under each eye, due to the build-up of gunk, is responding to treatment with the antibiotics. 

When Alfie was a puppy we had him microchipped (as was Poppy, alas, no longer with us.) But, when we had to leave the house in Crownhill, we lost the details of how to get into the details of our address registered for the microchip. So, unfortunately, if he got lost or even stolen, and the microchip was scanned (as mircrochipping of dogs is now a legal requirement) the address that would come up on the register would not be our current address. So they did a scan for us and revealed the registered number so we can have the address changed, however it is done, on-line, or by filling in a form (which the receptionist at the vet's did for me.) I now need to go on-line and have this information revised so that if the worst happens he can be traced and Alfie returned to us.

Alfie Visits The Vet

Alfie has had a really nasty build-up of the weeping eyes on his face. I think most dogs seem to have this problem. It would normally be easily removed by dabbing with a piece of wet cotton wool, but it has got worse over time. The lady who groomed him the other week took of some, but it has got to looking really red and sore, so we had no alternative but to get a vet to look at it. I rang the surgery which is near Waitrose in Oakgrove called Pet Practice and booked an appointment for 2 o'clock this afternoon. It would have been easy enough to get to by car but for the fact that Chaffron Way was closed off from the Eaglestone end, so we had no alternative but to drive round onto Child's Way and approach Oakgrove via Brickhill Street, but we missed the turning right and ended up going round onto Tongwell Street and round the city and down Brickhill Street. Fortunately the end of Chaffron Way was accessible for the entrance into the Waitrose carpark so it was easy enough to park and conveniently close to the vet surgery.  During all this journey, Alfie was being held by Carol on her knee, otherwise I was going to have to put the cage in the back of the car for Alfie to ride in, which might have been easier and safer in the long run, as he was determined to sit on my knee as I drove, but that was totally impractical and possibly dangerous. The vet had a look at the two nasty areas under both eyes and managed to remove some of the built-up matter under one eye. But Alfie didn't like it as no doubt it stung and began to growl when she tried to remove the built-up matter from his other eye. After a rest, she had another attempt and got some more off leaving the area under each eye looking red and raw. She has given us two lots of medication, one a pain killer and another antibiotics which have to be administer mixed with his food. She wants him to come back on Thursday to check on how things are progressing. I think Alfie was expecting to go for a walk when Carol got out his lead when we were about to leave the house, and was somewhat shocked when he discovered he was being taken to the vet, a bit like a few weeks ago when the mobile groomer came to the house and took him off to her van to be bathed and then clipped. I just hope that the roadworks along Chaffron Way is finished and that it's possible to drive there without going on a detour to get to Oakgrove on Thursday.

Alfie Has A Haircut

We've been looking for a dog groomer for Alfie. It's not the simplest of things finding someone who can do the job. I kept ringing numbers found through the internet. Most seem to be fully booked well into the summer months. It would have been easier to get a mobile groomer as it would mean less stress for him. We had someone do this a few years ago, but Poppy was very difficult to get groomed as she didn't like being handled, particularly her paws. It got to the stage where her nails got really bad. Alfie, on the other hand, seems to relish being pampered and made a fuss of. We took them to the Grooming Room which is within Pets At Home, there being two branches within easy reach, one at Bletchley and the other at Rooksley. I attempted to book Alfie in at the Bletchley branch but they were over-subscribed. Anyway, his coat was beginning to look very untidy, his claws needed trimming as they were getting caught in various bits of clothing and bedding and the build-up of black mess under his eyes was looking really horrible and was getting really serious. Anyway, I eventually found someone who who do the job, booked about a month in advance. The lady in question was put in the diary for 2 o'clock today.

We went to Waitrose to do a bit of shopping earlier in the morning. We went to Newport Pagnall because Carol's mum and dad are coming up from Bournemouth and staying in a hotel in Tickford Street. Carol wanted to drive over to find it. We went down Chaffron Way and then cut across towards Monks Way. There were signs up at the Eaglestone end that the road was going to be closed off for resurfacing work (well, I assumed it was resurfacing, as they are doing most of the Milton Keynes grid roads.) On the way back we found we couldn't get into Oakgrove, where Waitrose is located, as the Chaffron Way section was closed off for the resurfacing. We managed to get in via Brickhill Street. On arrival at the Waitrose carpark, the place was virtually empty, likewise the actual store. I imagine they will be loosing a lot of custom due to the roadworks. But it meant we got what we wanted in the store a good deal faster than we normally would. I also took out cash to pay the groomer lady from the Metro Bank A.T.M. near Waitrose.

We got home and unpacked the shopping in the kitchen and then I did some washing up. As I stood at the sink, the telephone rang. It was the groomer lady. Would it alright if she came earlier? I said, fine. She would be with us in around 45 minutes, making it about 11.45.  Carol had Alfie on his lead, and had intended taking him out for a walk, but he gets so stressed out whenever he realises he's going out for a walk, that it wasn't going to happen because the groomer lady knocked on the door and we handed over Alfie to be sorted.

So, about 90 minutes later, another knock on the door, the sound of a very distinctive bark, and Alfie is handed back over, shorn, looking very different. None of his curly coat left, we can see his eyes, so he can see where he's going and the horrible mess on his face- gone- but the skin underneath looking very red and raw. He looked somewhat shocked, his ears laid back on his head. But he does look better and far neater. Really worth the wait and effort expended. We'll have to make sure that he doesn't get into such a bad state before he has his nest haircut.

Macmillan Unit Appointment

On Wednesday morning we had an appointment at the Macmillan Unit at Milton Keynes Hospital with a lady from Citizens' Advice about benefits. Very positive and helpful. We have to ring a telephone number to start the process, and once that is done and the D.W.P. (Department of Work and Pensions) sends a completed application form we will have another appointment with the lady from C.A.B. to complete the application. It wasn't as bad as it might have been, having myself been through this process when I lived on my own in my flat in Bedford after my heart attack in 2006. Fortunately we managed to park the car in the regular car park. Just as well the appointment was early in the morning because, from experience, this can become very full later in the day.

When we arrived, a good deal earlier than we needed, we made use of the time by going into the Oncology Suite as Carol needed to have the P.I.C.C. line changed. Fortunately they weren't busy and a nurse did this in time before we went to the Macmillan Unit. The line has to be checked and changed to prevent any blood clots.

We picked up the stoma bags which had been left behind the reception desk and then left. As we walked out of the hospital it was bright sunshine, but earlier, when we got in the car at home, there was a smattering of what looked like snow on the car. Also, it was quite chilly and very likely there would be snow later.

Carol was determined to go out for a coffee somewhere, anywhere, so we drove to Waitrose at Oakgrove and had latte and a snack in their café. You get the coffee or tea free if you have a My Waitrose card, and we both have our own so we both get the coffee free, but you have to have something to eat it you use the café, which is reasonable enough. I had a Danish pastry and Carol had a custard tart. We then browsed the store and bought quite a bit, together with a free copy of The Guardian, as you also get a free newspaper if you spend over a certain amount, I think it's £10. They've redesigned The Guardian and changed the size from Berliner to Tabloid. I quite like the new size but I'm not sure of the new masthead. I don't think it suits a newspaper of the calibre of The Guardian somehow, but I suppose I will get to like it, with time.

Well, I think Carol enjoyed her morning out, even if it began at the hospital. We haven't been out for quite a while due to her illness. Being stuck indoors for such a long time is beginning to pall, as you can imagine, and the fact that it was bright and sunny, although cold, made all the difference.

Swimming At Nuffield Health

Daniel phoned early this morning. He has been selected for a second interview for the job he came back to Milton Keynes last week, as mentioned in my blog post of a couple of days ago. So we expect him to come back home in two week's time. At least he has good news.

We went swimming at Nuffield Health at Kent's Hill on Tuesday and then again this morning (Thursday.) When we arrived we thought it was very quiet and empty. On going through to the swimming pool I found it full of people in the water and music playing. There was an aqua aerobics or something. Not sure exactly what they call it, but doing exercise of some sort whilst standing in the swimming pool and, frankly making an exhibition of themselves. Can't resist laughing as it looked quite comical, to say the least. It did mean we couldn't get in the water and swim, so I went in the sauna for about ten minutes, followed by the steam room for another ten and then joined Carol in the spa (jacuzzi) for a good 15 minutes.  Not sure I would want to make such an exhibition of myself by joining in. Then those doing the exercise in the pool came out and we were able to get in the pool to swim. By this time I wasn't exactly over-keen to swim, my enthusiasm had unfortunately wained considerably but I managed around ten lengths of the pool. Having got dressed and by then feeling quite hungry we drove to Waitrose to have a snack. This is on our route back home at Oakgrove. A coffee and sandwich in the café and buying a few bits for our evening meal.

Better Weather

Well, it seems that the weather is improving. As I write this post, the sun is shining. It's almost spring-like outside. Alfie is enjoying it. The patio door into the garden is open and he's running in and out, pottering about in the garden. I've bought a brush so that I can attempt to sort out his coat which was beginning to get quite tangled and matted. One of the problems you get with a dog with a fairly long coat. Alfie's is very silky and does need detangling on a regular basis. We had a brush with metal teeth which was effective at removing these tangles, but Alfie doesn't like it because it can snag on these knotty bits and I expect it hurts him to some degree. He growls to tell me he doesn't like it. The new brush, which I got from the newly-opened pet shop, imaginatively called Pet's Corner at Oakgrove, near Waitrose yesterday, is far more gentle and is better as a starting point to a grooming session. Hopefully, once I get the worst of the tangles out of his coat, I can start to use the metal comb and the metal brush. His coat looks really so much better once it's been brushed out. He has some nasty patches under his eyes, which most dogs seem to get, which he will not let me touch. I want to pull these nasty bits off, but he's not going to let me. He's booked in to have a full groom at the end of the month at Pets At Home at Bletchley.

Too Darn Hot!

It's been exceptionally hot for the past few days. Trying to keep cool has been quite a problem, not just for both of us, but the dogs too. They just don't know what to do with themselves. Alfie keeps wandering around the house, attempting to find a cool spot to lie, but not achieving anything. Poppy keeps panting, but she won't let us cut her thick coat, which would alleviate the problem. We have got windows open in all the rooms and have an electric fan on in the bedroom. This morning, as I write this, there is a gentle rain falling and the sound is almost musical. It's cooled the air considerably, thankfully. We just don't seem to be able to cope with warm weather in this country. Having had a heart attack, the excessively warm weather is quite dangerous. We don't want to go out in it. Alfie was whittling to be taken out for a walk, but he can't cope with it so we stayed indoors all yesterday, but hopefully we will go somewhere tomorrow. I spent a good deal of the night reading. I'm continuing with Bill Bryson's book "The Road To Little Dribbling: More Notes From A Small Island." It's definitely one of those books that, once you start reading, you can't put it down.

Carol has gone into Milton Keynes Academy at around 8.45 because today is G.C.S.E. results day. I have no idea what sort of results they have achieved, but I expect I'll learn when she returns later in the morning.

A bit later. Carol returned at 11.45. She was expecting her friend Pauline, who she used to work with her in the Science Department at Milton Keynes Academy. Pauline was expected to arrive at 12.00 to collect Carol so they could go to Waitrose and have coffee in the cafe. You get free coffee if you have a My Waitrose card, but you now have to buy something to eat if you sit in their cafe. Not a bad idea.
It turned out that the G.C.S.E. results were considerably better than expected, so that's good for all concerned. Pauline arrived about three-quarters of an hour later, in her flash new convertible car. Carol was much taken with it and they drove off to Waitrose. The perfect car for a sunny summer's day. I'm not that impressed by cars, I'm afraid. But it is nice all the same. I bet the insurance is high, though.

I was scheduled to go and collect Carol at 2.30 from Waitrose. I left a bit later than I had anticipated and was prevented from getting to Waitrose via Chaffron Way, just below the roundabout, as it was shut off with a 'road closed' sign. I went in and drove through Woolston, a very up-market area of Milton Keynes which I have never visited before. I have had no reason to. All very large houses, many hidden by either high hedges or walls and set back a long way from the road. Exclusivity is written all over the place. No piles of rubbish piled at the roadside as you get in Eaglestone. No abandoned cars or any broken furniture laying around. Anyway, I had to drive right through and exit the opposite side to which I'd gone in and had to drive right round to get to Waitrose at Oakgrove. I was about 20 minutes late and I found Carol, Pauline and another teacher from Carol's department waiting outside and Carol had done some shopping in Waitrose for our tea. We left them and Carol drove back into Oakgrove to show me how they are still building houses and flats in this area of Milton Keynes. Very modern design. Including what looked like a new school or college, probably the 6th Form block for Oakgrove School.

The road being blocked off is because they are currently resurfacing most of the Grid Roads around Milton Keynes. Certainly needs it as a lot of the roads are badly pot-holed.