Ups and Downs

 Wednesday. 7.45 a.m. Here I am, up bright and early. I don't actually know whether I'm feeling bright, whatever that means, but definitely early. I've taken Alfie out, and he's now fast asleep in his bed, which is in front of the window and next to the television unit. I've washed up, sorted the recycling, which goes into three bags, and taken it to the bin room. I think you call it that, anyway, the unit into which your rubbish goes. 

10.10 a.m. I had to go to Sainsbury's. Alfie needed his mixer, which goes in his bowl, and then I put a pouch of food on top. He then has something to nibble throughout the day if he feels hungry. There was more I needed, just to top up, so I shouldn't need to go again until next week

Thursday. 1.35 p.m. I went to the Thursday morning Bible study, which begins at 10.00 a.m. Before I got there, I went to Boots at Westcroft, which is a short distance from the Oaktree Centre. I wanted something to relieve the horrible cough I have had to endure for quite a while now. When it starts up, which it does frequently, it's difficult to stop. A lot of phlegm at the back of my throat seems to be what causes it, so I mentioned this to the doctor when I had my appointment last Tuesday, and she suggested I go to a pharmacy and check with the pharmacist there, so I could have a suitable cough mixture. She also listened to my chest, but could not find anything that might suggest it was caused by an infection. Which was a relief. So, in Boots, I was recommended Benylin non-drowsy. So, I have started taking it, every four hours. I have had another unpleasant coughing fit, so I can't say exactly whether it's working, but here's hoping.

Friday. 6.20 a.m. It's another bright and mild morning. The sun has been up for quite a while, and it's attempting to shine. At least it's not raining!

I took a dose of Benylin at around 8 p.m. yesterday, and it appeared to ease the cough, although I did get a coughing fit during the night, and I'm due to take another dose at about 7.30. You are supposed to take it every four hours.

1.50 p.m. It's surprisingly sunny this afternoon. I took Alfie a few minutes ago, and I didn't put a jacket on.!

I am reading a book at the moment, written by Ruth Goodman. It's called 'How To Be A Victorian', and covers how the Victorians lived, how they dressed, ate, and far more. She bases a great deal of what she writes about on her own experience, and, having seen many of her television programmes, including 'The  Tudor Farm' and the 'Victorian Farm', as well as a pharmacy seen over several eras, she does what I would term 'learning by doing.' Many archaeologists use a similar method to find out how certain functions were managed throughout history. Again, learning by doing. It's interesting because it's how ordinary people live. Most history is about those in power, kings, emperors, and Prime Ministers, so to learn how those lower down the pecking order lived is in some ways far more interesting to me.

Saturday. 9.40 a.m. Another unpleasant coughing fit, but I think the Benylin is beginning to have an effect. The phlegm is loosening. 

I finished watching 'Ripley' on Netflix. It has been a real treat, lots of twists and turns with the plot and I hope the next novel in the Patricia Highsmith series of novels, which feature Tom Ripley, gets made. Such an interesting and multi-faceted character.  I have watched a video on YouTube, which explains the ending of this series (I won't mention too much of the content here, as it would give away the plot.), but it also provides a critique of the production, symbolism etc, which makes viewing more interesting.

Eclipsed!

 Monday. 6.20 a.m. There is a solar eclipse today. I have an idea it would be seen in Great Britain. No doubt, if it was, it would be obscured by clouds and there would generally be poor visibility.

Tuesday. 5.25 a.m. I know, it's far too early to be writing this, but never mind. It's blowing a gale outside. I woke up and thought I heard rain, but it wasn't.

5.55 p.m. It has remained windy all day, but the sun has been shining.

I haven't done a great deal today, apart from going to Sainsbury's. I wouldn't normally have gone there on a Tuesday, but since I've stopped going to Camphill (I can't believe it's more than six months since I went there last.) I have time on a Tuesday to do my shopping. I completed my shop, and there was a free manned till (actually operated by a woman. (Thinks: are we allowed to say 'manned' in these woke-filled times? Better be careful. Might get arrested for having a thought that someone else doesn't like.)

The travelators were working, both the up and the down! I can't believe how often these have been out of service and how long each one has been worked on by engineers. 

Wednesday. 6.35 a.m. Another mild day. 

I've been watching the new 'limited drama' on Netflix, 'Ripley', which is based on 'The Talented Mr Ripley' by Patricia Highsmith. I have read the novel and seen the film version which came out in 1999, directed by Anthony Minghella, starring Matt Damon and Jude Law. I have to say, it didn't really have much of an effect on me at the time. It didn't seem to work for me, but then I saw the Hitchcock film 'Strangers On A Train', based on another Patricia Highsmith novel, but not realise it was based on one of her novels at the time. I read that novel and then read 'The Talented Mr Ripley' and enjoyed it immensely. It's so tightly plotted, and Ripley is such an engaging, clever character, that I got hooked and have since read several more of her novels, so I was fascinated to learn that Netflix was doing an adaptation, done over several episodes and starring Andrew Scott as Ripley. I think it would be described as a psychological thriller. I think what interests me, is that we, the reader, know that Ripley is the instigator of the drama in the story, but most of the other characters, do not. Also, how Ripley gets away with what he does. They have kept the period it is set as the early 1960s. It wouldn't work if it had been set in the 21st century, because Ripley would have been found out due to technology such as closed-circuit television, the internet and mobile phones.

2.55 p.m. The on switch on my electric kettle came off. It just wasn't substantial enough for the purpose it was made for. It is a Russell Hobbs, and its main body is clear glass which lights up blue when it's working and has a Brita water filter inside it, so when you fill it, the water gets filtered. You have to replace the filter around every month. There is a sort of meter on the lid, which you set up when you put a new filer in, press the thing and four blocks show, each one disappears as each week ends, so, when the thing is blank, you know to put a new filer in. As this is a hard water area, it means all the minerals that produce limescale is removed, making your cup of tea taste better. You don't get that horrible scum on top of your cuppa.

Anyway, I digress. I was mentioning the on/off switch breaking off. I've put up with it for about a month, but I decided to attempt to repair it. I thought I'd try super-glue and went into Sainsbury's the other day (I know, I seem to spend a lot of time in there.) and looked in the stationary department and found Loctite, which is one of those special glues which you have to be careful of when you use it, otherwise, you could stick your fingers together or any other part of your body, which could be rather unfortunate. Well, having bought this tiny tube home (no, a tube is the wrong word. It's not your traditional tube, just a tiny plastic job, with a nozzle. Well, I did read the instructions and was attempting to open the confounded thing. What an effort! I could not gert the contents to come out. So, I left it on the kitchen work surface, and haven't attempted again until this afternoon. I took it to Vashti, our SHO at Dexter House, but she couldn't get it to open. Then, I suddenly had a brainwave. I remember Carol using some sort of long needle when she used to do crochet, and, with a bit of effort, it worked! Glue put on the aforementioned on/off switch, and, having only just checked, after the required 10 minutes you are supposed to leave it, it has held. So, mission accomplished!

Goodness Gracious Me!

 Friday. 5.25 a.m. It's bright and early, and I've already taken Alfie out. 

Yesterday, after going to The Oaktree Centre for Bible study and help with packing up Acorns, playgroup (I don't go earlier because it opens earlier than it used to. There are two sessions, and the second one finishes at 12.15.) I drove home and immediately went into the shopping centre to have a browse and go into Costa which is opposite Marks and Spencer. I had a cold drink, caramel (not sure what it's called), cheese and ham toastie and banana and pecan cake.  Very tasty. Then into Waterstone's. Bought two books, one from Anthony Horowitz, 'The Magpie Murders'. It's currently being shown on BBC1 and on 'Britbox', although I haven't watched it. I may once I've read the novel. The other, 'This Sweet Sickness', by Patricia Highsmith. I've read a couple of her novels, 'The Talented Mr Ripley' and 'Strangers on A Train' which was made into a film by Alfred Hitchcock. I think her novels are best described as psychological thrillers.

Saturday. 5.05 a.m. Alfie and I were out well before 5 o'clock this morning. He was doing his usual barking when he saw me getting ready to go out. The buildings in the city centre, which are normally seen from Oldbrook Green, were obscured by fog. Completely hidden by grey and gloom, but it was reasonably mild out.

12.20 p.m. My Sky mobile SIM contract will expire in June. I wasn't aware of this. I was under the impression that it was paid for with my iPhone payments, which are paid in instalments. I had an email informing me that this was about to happen and that I could end my contract or continue. I don't want to change to a different provider, so I telephoned the call centre (I was wondering if it should be open this morning, as it's a Saturday. Fortunately, it was. The young man who answered was extremely helpful. He informed me that I hardly use my data allowance, and he advised me to go for a lower allowance, which would reduce my costs considerably. So, I now have 6 GB of data and cost £7 per month. I also learned that my contract, which pays for the iPhone 12 I currently have, expires in June next year, meaning that I can upgrade to a newer model iPhone when the contract ends and the phone is paid off.

Sunday. 7.00 a.m. I have been up since well before 4 o'clock this morning. The reason was that there was a noise somewhere within Dexter House. I have a feeling an ambulance was called because someone fell over in the corridor, but I'm not sure, and I didn't investigate. Because I couldn't sleep, I read a chapter of my current book, 'Les Misérables.'  I did some clearing up in the kitchen and even cleaned the bath! I know, rather odd, but it's cleaner than it's ever been since I moved into the flat.

I took out Alfie at around 5.15, with him barking outside the bathroom door, where I get dressed. As I write this, the sun is shining and it's relatively mild.

2.45 p.m. I have been watching the National Theatre production of 'Much Ado About Nothing' on the National Theatre At Home app (and shown on my Hitachi HD television.) This production, which was originally in repertoire in the Lyttleton Theatre at the National Theatre's South Bank Home, is set in a 1930s hotel and has Katherine Parkinson as Beatrice and John Heffernan as Benedict. There was an element of a 1930s film musical about it, mixed with that of a Marx Brothers film, with mistaken identity and plenty of visual gags. I have also seen the David Tennant/Catherine Tate production of the same play, and, of the two plays, I think they had a far sense of chemistry than in the more recent National Theatre production.

Reading and Viewing

I've completed reading the last of the Dominic Sandbrook books, 'Seasons In The Sun', which took the history up until 1979 with the election of Margaret Thatcher. A hefty read, but well worth it. I have now read all his books, from, 'Never Had It so Good', taking in The Suez Crisis of 1956; 'White Heat', which covers the 1964 election which bought Harold Wilson to power; next 'State of Emergency', covering the years 1970-1974 and that followed by 'Seasons In The Sun', 1974-1979.

I really want to find a book which covers the Second World War, but, as yet, I haven't found anything, and then perhaps a book which covers the period directly after the war and into the 1950's which would cover the Clement Attlee government and the foundation of the welfare state and birth of the N.H.S. I think I may have found something on Amazon. I have found books which I wouldn't otherwise have found if it hadn't been for Amazon. At any rate, even going into a traditional bookshop such as Waterstone's (as good as they are) I very much doubt I'd have come across them. It's obvious that a traditional bricks-and-mortar bookshop has limited space to stock every book that might be of interest, so an on-line bookshop like Amazon does have the advantage.

I'm currently reading 'Ripley's Game,' the second of the Patricia Highsmith's brilliant crime series. It's every bit as brilliant as the earlier novel, 'The Talented Mr Ripley.' The detail is amazing and some of the sequences, particularly that one on the train, is like reading a screenplay for a film. She must have done a great deal of research to get it accurate. You can almost feel your are there as you read it. Certainly a book you can't put down. Mind you, it wouldn't work in the early part of the 21st century, what with mobile phones with cameras and Closed Circuit Television everywhere. Or social media like Facebook and Twitter.

What am I watching on television. Good question. Several drama series. The first of the second run of 'The Frankenstein Chronicles', which is on ITV2. Not really what I'd call a mainstream drama series, and probably all the better for that. More aimed at the 18-30 age bracket and not something that is ever likely to end up shown on a Sunday evening at 9 p.m. Gruesome in the extreme. It has Sean Bean in the central role of John Marlott and set in the 1830s, at the time the first of Sir Robert Peel's policemen are on patrol. Not something for the faint-hearted, but it does have a sort of appeal, if you like that sort of thing. At least it has a sort of honesty about it, and considering it must be made on quite a tight budget, it's remarkably well made and acted. There are so many twist and turns of the plot that take you by surprise that it's that element which makes it such a good read. Thriller-writing at it's best.

Then there's a brand new Sky series called 'The Discovery of Witches.' It's based on a trilogy of books by the author Deborah Harkness. It's partially set in Oxford, and considering how Oxford has played such an important part in my life since my heart attack. I can think of no better place for a drama to be set. How many books can you name which are set in Oxford? Well, the first that springs to mind would be the 'Morse' series, which was made into a highly successful ITV series starring John Thaw and Kevin Wateley and then the spin-off series 'Endeavour' and then 'Lewis.' But think of Lewis Carroll and his 'Alice' books, first 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Through The Looking-Glass,' then C.S. Lewis who wrote the 'Narnia' children's books and of course J.R.R. Tolkein, who was a friend of Lewis, author of 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of The Rings.' Both were connected with the university in some way or other (not sure of their exact job-titles.) but they lived and worked in Oxford. The there's the Philip Pullman series 'His Dark Materials' which are set in an alternative Oxford and have been adapted for the stage by the National Theatre and the first of the books made into a not altogether successful film. Coincidentally, the production company which makes 'The Discovery of Witches' is scheduled to adapt the Pullman novels for television, but as yet there's no news of when it's likely to be produced and then broadcast.

As to 'Discovery of Witches.' It started off promisingly, but it stayed sort of static for several more episodes. I was on the point of giving up but stuck with it until episode 5 and I'm glad I did as it has moved in a different direction and I shall stick with it until the end of the series.

I'm also watching 'The Man In The High Castle,' which is on Amazon Prime.  I've been following this since it began in 2015 and it's been worth waiting for the third season of this Philip K. Dick adaptation which has now really got into it's stride and as absorbing as ever. Somewhat chilling (when you realise the concept of the plot, being a 'what if' thriller, of a dystopian nature, imagining what would happen if the Nazis had won World War 2.) Good acting, script-writing and production values. It must have a large budget and the use of C.G.I. is well done and not too obvious.

Then 'Doctor Who,' which began it's latest season two Sundays ago. Lots of changes, with, of course, the biggest being Jodie Whittaker taking over from Peter Capaldi as the first female Doctor. Also, a new show runner in Chris Chibnall. He was writer of the hit ITV series 'Broadchurch' where he would have worked with Jodie Whittaker and another former Doctor in David Tennant. A new broom, introducing new titles for the show as well as brand new theme tune and incidental music as well as several new companions, one of whom is Bradley Walsh. When I first heard that he had been cast in the latest series, I thought it was a hoax, but soon I discovered that it was correct. Certainly  long way from his compere role in the ITV gameshow 'The Chase,' although I'm half expecting Anne Hegarty or any of the other Chasers to pop up in 'Doctor Who' as villains! They've redesigned the interior of The Tardis, giving it a far more organic look. I don't have a problem with Jodie Whittaker. I know there was a lot of fuss when it was announced that a woman would take over as The Doctor, but she's making a perfectly good job of it. There is always some sort of fuss whenever a new actor takes over in the role, so it's perfectly normal when this happens. It will take several episodes before things settle back down. It's important that she gets good scripts and that the villains (monsters) are good (not necessarily 'good' but you know what I mean.) Unfortunately the monsters in the first two episodes have been rather feeble. Just a pity that we won't be meeting any of the 'classic' monsters in this series, such as the Daleks or Cybermen. Perhaps they have tended to rely to heavily on them over the past couple of series and haven't spent enough time and energy creating new, convincing ones to replace them.

Working on Story Ideas

I've been working on a brand new story idea I've had for some time. I have written the central section for this and had written an earlier section, but it hadn't worked quite how I had hoped and left it alone for a while. I have been reading some of Roald Dahl short stories, some that had been adapted for television and called "Tales of The Unexpected" which were produced by Anglia Television in the late 1970's- early 1980's. (Currently being shown on Sky Arts and available to download from Sky +) Also, I've started reading one of Patricia Highsmith's novels, "Strangers On A Train" and both these authors work have influenced to some extent my style of writing on this new writing piece. I rather like the way Highsmith has developed her central characters and also Dahl's humorous style. Both have a sharp wit and a black sense of humour which gives their work a sort of slewed sense of style, which I think will fit in with what I'm trying to achieve, hopefully lifting what could start out as just plain ordinary into something quite unique. Well, I do hope so. I have up-loaded some of my material to a website called Shortbread stories. I seem to have had quite a few people look at what I put on there, with only a handful of people actually leaving comments. Then it's difficult to tell whether people read all the way through the material, or whether they read a page or two then abandon reading. But at least it's being seen and read. Do go on-line there and have a look and read what I have on there as well as other peoples' writing. There is a lot of good stuff there.