Autumn Stuff

Wednesday. 8.15 a.m. Another really great day yesterday at Camphill, in the P.A.W., in the Chrysalis Theatre. Games played on the stage, one called 'Splat' (which I won't explain on here at the moment.) and other game called 'Who Stole The Cookie?" and then some voice warm-ups, then discussing characters and storylines for the World War two play project.

We sat on the stage. The front curtain was closed and the lights turned off. Then, a recording of Neville Chamberlain was heard, a recording of the 1939 speech in which war is declared on Germany after they invade Poland. It was really moving, listening in silence and hearing this speech, broadcast on BBC radio.

After tea break, Terrie came up with the idea for a game show, which was actually a furtive exercise to show call-up of troops and others for the wall. Everyone was give a slip of paper with a character on it, age, job and some other detail, and then you were called forward by the recruiting officer and had answer relevant questions to find out if you were suitable to be called up, if not for one of the services, but whether you had skills that might benefit the war effort, or whether you worked in a reserved occupation. It seemed a good idea to create possible characters for the play.

After lunch, a bit more work on story and character and at the end of the day, company work, which means drilling and marching.

Friday. 8.15 a.m. Autumn is definitely here, even though clocks change on Saturday night and Summer officially ends. I took Alfie out at around 7.20 and there was fog, although not particularly thick, and shrouding the city centre, seen from across Oldbrook Green. It's also noticeably chilly.

I bought myself a new waterproof jacket from the Regatta website.It's a men's Bosfield waterproof jacket, full price £130, and I paid £33, which has to be a bargain. I wanted a jacket that had zipped pockets and a hood, which this has. I need a jacket or coat with zipped pockets, so I can put my keys in the pockets as well as my wallet. This has all that I need, as well as being lightweight. If it's exceptionally cold, I can always layer up with a fleece underneath, which this will allow.

2.10 p.m. It's sunny but chilly. I have been out with Alfie. He was reluctant to walk far, although I can't blame him.

I haven't mentioned the fact that one of the two metal benches that are on the walk around Oldbrook Green is missing. It had a plate on it, in memory of some local councillor who was connected to the area. It had a rather nice design on the back of the seat. The one further round has been designed with soldiers, presumably of the First World War, on it in silhouette along with several poppies. I think it was probably put there for the centenary of the start of that war in 2014, although I may be wrong. 

No Fuel . . . Not Even For Ready Money

Monday. 8.40 a.m. I've taken Alfie out at around 7 this morning. It's getting colder as the days go by. I am wearing my blue Regatta jacket. I don't know what's happened to Alfie, it's not raining, but he does his wee on the grass and heads straight back indoors. It's not raining or excessively cold, so this isn't his normal behaviour. He's currently curled up on my bed as I write this. He will be due out shortly for another walk. I hope he doesn't repeat the 'shooting-back-indoors' act, as he needs a decent bit of exercise.

Regarding fuel for my car; I think I will wait a few more days, as the level of the fuel in the car's tank is low enough as it is, and driving around looking for diesel when it's at a critical level just means there is a real risk of it running out entirely. This whole situation is just causing a certain amount of stress.

I had heard that they was fuel at the ESSO station, so I drove round to Childs Way. Unfortunately, there was no diesel, which didn't help my stress levels. I then drove on to the Shell station in Grafton Street and the same there. By this time the light had come on which tells me the fuel level is low, so there's no sense in driving aimlessly around hunting for fuel when there's the danger of running out completely. I just need to  be absolutely sure I'm going to get fuel before I set off which is so difficult at the moment. I just hope this situation gets resolved soon as it is really annoying and stressful.

Thursday.  8.45 a.m. Alfie as taken completely by surprise at around 7 this morning. I was all ready to take him out, had his lead in my hand, suited and booted, as the saying goes, but he was curled up asleep on the sofa. Somewhat wet and windy as we got out onto the grass along Strudwick Drive. It doesn't look as if it's going to clear up and very overcast and murky. Oh well, we are into October now, so it's to be expected.

Saturday. 11.20 a.m. I have abandoned the idea of actually managing to find a petrol station locally which had a supply of diesel, so I could fill up my car. As a result I had to cancel my booster covid vaccine jab which I had booked for yesterday morning. There is no point in aimlessly wandering around Milton Keynes with a virtually empty tank of fuel and risking entirely running out of fuel. It would cause so many unnecessary problems, as you can imagine. I have done an online Sainsbury's shop, which is scheduled to arrive around 8-9 pm tonight. That was easy enough to do as I have so many items which I buy saved in the 'favourites' section, which makes ordering so much quicker and easier. All done in around 20 minutes or so. I have also ordered a fuel can from Amazon, with the intention of using it to be filled up later in the week and the contents put in the car, so at least I can actually drive to a petrol station when fuel stocks are back to some sort of normal after all the panic buying. I just need someone to drive me to such a petrol station to complete this operation. Watch this space for further news of this operation. Hopefully completed within the next week or so.

3.50 p.m. Any idea that I was going to take Alfie out late this afternoon was swept away when I peered out of the window and saw that it was raining. So, I decided to watch the Benedict Cumberbatch 'Hamlet' which is available on Amazon at the moment. I have watched the first half and have paused at the interval and will continue later or probably tomorrow afternoon. It is another 'Hamlet' to add to my ever-growing collection or at least, productions I have seen. The first, although I didn't watch it, but worked as A.S.M., when I was working at Liverpool Playhouse in 1971 (goodness, is it really 50 years ago? That's an amazing thought.) The production which was the first play I worked on when I arrived there that February, or might it have been late January, I really can't remember. I was entailed with operating the counterbalance fly system, which was worked from stage-level. Nobody had thought to train me in the operation of the system. During the technical rehearsal, when all the technical aspects of a play are first rehearsed and worked out, I had to bring in a curtain during a scene change in a blackout. Unfortunately, I wasn't sure when to stop the curtain and when the lights came up, the aforementioned curtain was laying in a crumpled heap on the stage. You can imagine how embarrassing it was, but I suppose, looking back, that's a good way to learn how to do something. The rope which operated the counterweight system went down into the basement of the theatre, below the stage, but the pulleys were in a kind of gulley which filled with water and as a result the ropes shrunk considerably because of being wet and this made the rope lines very taut, although it wasn't that which made the curtain lay crumpled on the stage floor.

Other versions include the National Theatre production with Rory Kinnear and Patrick Malahyde in it which I saw at the Milton Keynes Theatre with Carol before Christmas a few years ago, the Kenneth Branagh film which utilizes the uncut text and runs around four hours, and a version which I saw at the Derngate Centre in Northampton, again, in uncut text, directed by Peter Hall. It ran for around four hours, and it was two hours before there was an interval. Stephen Dellane and Donald Sinden in the duel roles of Polonius and Gravedigger. It was a matinee put on especially for schools, and you can imagine the reaction when, at one point, the mad Hamlet runs across the stage stark naked! The school girls in the audience shrieked and the whole auditorium erupted  into convulsions of laughter and surprise, which I suppose they would have be expected to behave.and this held up the action for several minutes. Gina Bellman was Ophelia and I have a connection with this actor in that she was in 'Blackeyes,' a Dennis Potter television drama series in which I was a stand-in/double for another of the actors, Nigel Planer.

As I've mentioned, I ordered groceries from Sainsbury's website. My delivery was scheduled between 8 and 9 p.m., but I got a telephone call from Sainsbury's to inform me that, due to a problem with the vehicle, the delivery would be around an hour later than scheduled. I imagine that it might possibly due to the fuel shortage due to panic buying. The delivery came around 9.30 p.m.  Not actually a problem, but it meant staying awake to receive the order. There were a lot of substitutes for items I had ordered, but that is no doubt due to the shortage of H.G.V. drivers. But that wasn't much of a problem.

Sunny and Bright!

Monday. 6.25 a.m. Yet another bright and sunny morning, but still fairly chilly when I went out onto Strudwick Drive with Alfie just before 6 o'clock. I had my red Regatta fleece on because it wasn't warm enough without.

Spent some time putting writing into word processing. It is really boring, because the creative part has already been done. I've made a few adjustments to what I had already written, but the rest is as I originally wrote in pencil.

Excitement! I've cleaned the bathroom floor! Woopee! Just thought you'd like to know. 'Such fun!' as the mother of the Miranda Hart character says in the 'Miranda' sitcom on BBC television, played by Patricia Hodge.

It still appears to be bright and sunny, but rain is expected later.

Tuesday. 1.50 a.m. Not exactly sure what the weather is doing at the moment. I can't hear any wind howling outside, or rain on the windows. It's another case of waking up and not getting back to sleep. I read my daily devotional 'Bible In One Year with Nicky Gumble' which I have on the Bible app, You Version. I have been using this for a couple of years now. 

Later. 9.40 a.m. The weather is somewhat undecided. It was raining earlier but it is dry at the moment.

I have just returned from taking Alfie out. I have a fairly good idea when he needs to go out as he starts staring at me and sits on the sofa next to me with a very determined look on his face. The other night he came in to the bedroom and got on the bed and was shaking and looking quite odd. I didn't pick up on what he waned quickly enough and the poor little dog did a mess on the bathroom floor. Yesterday morning he was sick on the floor. Easily wiped up, but it's unusual for him to need emergency exit in the middle of the night.

We walked down Strudwick Drive as usual. As we approached the crossing onto Oldbrook Green I saw a youth walking a large tan-coloured dog in the direction of the skate park. Alfie was sniffing around as usual and I had intended to walk in the same direction as the youth with the dog. I didn't take much notice as Alfie did his pooh which I picked up with the boo bag and eventually put it in the bin just beyond the skate park. Then a man walked into the Green from the primary school crossing. with what looked like a black spaniel, but I couldn't see clearly from where I was at that distance. The youth let his dog off it's lead and it went for the little black dog. It looked quite severe and the owner of the black dog separated the two dogs and he appeared to tell of the youth because of the bigger dog's behaviour. The youth put his dog on it's lead and appeared to walk away and the man with the other dog walked off in the opposite direction, but then the youth let his dog off it's lead AGAIN, but it went to attack the other dog with a certain amount of viciousness and the little black spaniel made a horrible amount of noise. The separated the dogs again and AGAIN the youth got a telling off from the man with the black dog. It was at this point that I decided it wasn't safe to walk Alfie in that direction and anywhere near the big tan dog, so we walked back toward the crossing and back along Strudwick Drive. Looking back I could see the youth had picked up his dog to carry, but I don't think he could have carried it far because of it's size and wait. I think it was some sort of cross breed, probably had a bit of Alsation or Doberman Pincher in it's make-up, probably one of the larger breeds which are used as guard dogs or perhaps used by the services, the army or police force. Whatever it was, it should be muzzled in public when near other dogs. Also, not socialised when a puppy. 

More of . . . The Same!

The more of the same old same old. What more can I say at the moment? So what has changed? Ab-so-lutely nothing! More sitting around reading or watching television. Though I'm glad that I have Sky Arts on my Freeview box as they're currently  running Sky Arts Landscape Artist of 2021. I wasn't sure whether it's a repeat of a past series, but it's new. It makes me wonder how they could film it with social distancing in force. The first episode came from West Wycombe Park, a National Trust property which Carol and I visited a few years ago. It seems to be a favourite location for quite a few television dramas such as Downton Abbey, The Crown, Austenland, Cranford, the more recent film version of The Importance of Being Ernest which starred Dame Judi Dench as Lady Bracknell and many more. I have recognised it in many period dramas over the year. In fact, I would say it's becoming somewhat over-used.

(Friday) 7.55a.m.  I've just got back from taking Alfie out and as we walked down Strudwick Drive I could see someone standing on the grass with what I assumed was a blanket wrapped around themselves. Then, as I gradually walked along I could see an ambulance parked on the road. There was no indication what was going on. I've had to call an ambulance enough times to know what was likely to be going on inside. Then, further along the pavement with Alfie, the door of the ambulance slid open and a youth came out, also swathed in a blanket. The paramedics were obviously coming to end of examining the youth and then slid the door shut and both the youth and the woman walked off in the direction of Milton Keynes centre, going through Oldbrook Green. I still had no idea what was going on and probably best not to know. 

Some delightful soul has seen fit to abandon a supermarket trolley at the intersection of Oldbrook Boulevard and Strudwick Drive. It was marked with 'Morrison's' on it's handle, which made me think, someone had pushed it a long way from Morrisons, which is a couple of miles away. If they'd bought it thus far, why not return it? Also, another electric scooter, abandoned nearby. As we walk past, Alfie cocks his leg against it! Good for you, young man, that's a good way to mark the thing, cluttering up the place as it does.

Washing done. Everything back on hangers and in drawers. Thank goodness that's finished for a week. Washing-up also done and kitchen tidy. Domestic duties done.

Later. I've been out again with Alfie. There were Council workmen, dressed in day-glo clothing, litter-picking. Why do people insist on dropping so much litter? More particularly discarded face masks. No intention of even doing the thing and putting them in the many and various bins located around Oldbrook Green. Just not nice and something of a health hazard.

It's a bright and almost spring-like day. Not a lot else to report.

2.05p.m. How quickly the weather changes! As I write this, it's pouring with rain and I'm wondering whether Alfie is going to appreciate getting soaked. I doubt he will enjoy it, so I will have to wait until the rain goes off.

Later. The rain doesn't go off. I take the plunge and gear up to take his nibs out. It's raining hard. No sooner does he get out than Alfie turns tail and takes me home. Probably just as well as it's teaming down. No sign off it easing off. Better to be inside in the dry. Alfie had on his Regatta coat and I had on my bright yellow Regatta rain coat. I'm so glad I purchased it when I did!

It's 'Sno' Surprise!

(Sunday) I watched church on-line from Milton Keynes Christian Centre, which is actually only a short walk from where I live in Oldbrook. I can watch via my Firestick in my Hitachi television and it has a YouTube app on it, so it has widescreen and sound through the sound bar connected to the television. At the end there was a Zoom hang-out which was a first, but seemed a good idea to get a chance to chat. I'm beginning to get the hang of Zoom. Afterwards I had to take Alfie out. I was somewhat surprised when I looked out of the kitchen window later to find heavy snow falling, and the garden below my window covered in a fairly thick layer of the white stuff. I got dressed up which included the dayglo yellow Regatta raincoat and got Alfie togged up in his Regatta jacket and we proceeded to exit Dexter House. I don't think he was particularly bothered by the snow, although, as I've mentioned on here before, he doesn't like rain and getting wet, but we walked towards Oldbrook Green and did our usual perambulation all the way round.

But it was really no surprise that we got snow over night because of the weather forecast yesterday which made sure people knew what was coming. I imagine there will be people who don't bother to watch or even listen to the weather forecast, rather like those who say they never listen to any news, particularly about the pandemic, and are surprised when they get fined for breaching the various regulations which have been bought in by the government.

(Monday) There's still snow on the ground. It's quite slippery on the path leading to Oldbrook Green. It is actually sunny as I write this, but still quite chilly out. It could be worse.

(Tuesday) Just wish I could be going to Camphill, as I would have been if things were normal, whatever 'normal' is with this confounded pandemic. I really miss those guys in the drama workshop. I just hope that it won't be much longer now there's a vaccine against the virus. I hope they are alright at Camphill. I have an idea they've all had the first vaccine injection.

It's another snowy morning, but it looks to me as if it's thawing. Still a bit slippery on the path towards Oldbrook Green.

(Wednesday) The snow is . . . gone! Not that I'm sorry to see it go. Scraping ice of the car is a real chore, generally getting the car going for example. Slipping and sliding all over the place as we walk along the path towards Oldbrook Green, getting togged up. Looking for hats and gloves. Well, there are worse things but snow is just a nuisance. Alright for children I suppose. Lovely to see my three grandsons, George, Eddie and Arthur, having fun building snowmen and other creatures, as Chloe sends me photos and videos of them.

(Later) I've been to Sainsbury's to do a shop. Virtually no other shoppers at 9a.m. on a Wednesday. That suits me. Having written a list, it means I don't waste time thinking what to buy which definitely speeds things up.

I have got the bolt and other bits which were missing from the coffee table. There was a package on the doorstep when I came back home from taking Alfie for a walk. I have also bought an electric screwdriver from Argos. I wasn't sure if such a thing was available and I was surprised to find it was. I had some of the voucher left on the Argos website so I ordered it. I then went to Argos to collect it before I went to shop in Sainsbury's and when I got home I charged it up as it comes with it's own charger as well as a set of interchangeable screwdriver heads. I was going to say drill bits, but it's not a drill. I have been able to put the drawer together and tighten up the screws, which was the whole point of the chargeable screwdriver. You can do it far more efficiently with this piece of kit rather than attempting to do it with an ordinary manual screwdriver. And I have completed the drawer with it's metal handle as well as finishing off tightening the screws holding the coffee table together. I have to say I'm really pleased with the coffee table. It's a good deal wider than the old IKEA coffee table I had when I first moved in, and came with me from the house in Eaglestone. I now want to get a replacement for the table next to my armchair which houses the wifi modem and telephone. 

I've managed to do a bit more writing. Been lazy really. I have a sort of storyline written and it's been on my computer for goodness knows how long, probably long before I moved out of the house in Eaglestone. It's just a matter of sitting down and making a serious effort to write, using the storyline as a sort of framework or even the scaffolding of a piece of writing. Glad I have as it went better than I'd hoped and the style is how I want it, if that makes sense. It may not to anyone reading this, but it does to me.

Wet and Windy

We are almost into November. (Well, we were when I began to write this blog.) The clocks have changed so that it's now light earlier in the morning so I can take Alfie out at around 6.30a.m. The leaves are falling fast and there's a carpet of them on the grass at the side of the path we walk along at the side of Strudwick Drive as we approach Oldbrook Green. The  leaves on the trees are rapidly turning colour, some bright orange, others yellow and a whole range of hues in-between.

(Saturday) It's wild and windy out on this Saturday morning. I have taken Alfie out but we didn't get far because, when he realised it was raining, he turned tail and bought me back to the flat! I bought myself a raincoat off the Regatta website. It's dayglo yellow and a week or two later I decided that Alfie should have a waterproof coat of his own and bought one on the Regatta site, but I made sure I measured him before ordering. It arrived really quickly and it fits perfectly and even has a button hole so that the ring on his harness can be attached to his lead. Absolute perfect fit. But it didn't really impress him when we went out in today's wind and rain. I think King Lear would be in his element (pun intended!)

Boris Johnson is giving a news conference later this afternoon. Because coronavirus infections are growing (I don't believe a word of this.) he will have been told by his scientist advisors that a further national lockdown will be needed in order to slow the virus down. So, more social distancing and more regulations. Which just tells me that it's not working and as a result the economy is being destroyed along with people's mental health (mine included.)

(Saturday 13th) I am finding it increasingly more and more difficult to find anything interesting to put in these blog posts. 

During the evening I heard fireworks being let off and when I took Alfie out for his first walk of the day at around 7 o'clock, the remains of fireworks would be seen stuffed into the rubbish bin as we got to Oldbrook Green. Don't the people who do this not realise that November 5th is Bonfire or Guy Fawkes Night? It's too late to be letting them off on the 13th November (unlucky or not.) I've since discovered that it might not be connected with Bonfire Night but more likely Dwali. Which is the Hindu festival of light. I know nothing more on the subject.

(Thursday 19th November) It is sunny as I write this (at 1.15 p.m.) but it has been raining and Alfie doesn't like it. I took him out for his early-morning walk but we didn't stay out too long and then two more jaunts, but by then it was raining, so he turned tail and we came home to the flat.

(Friday) So, will Christmas be cancelled this year? It's in the air. Boris is self-isolating in 10 Downing Street and we're supposed to come out of Lockdown 2 on 2nd December. 

Mixed Weather

It's really considerably colder this morning, as it has for the past few mornings. I think poor Alfie must feel the chill more than ever, since he was groomed last Tuesday and now has a close trim. He doesn't like being cold, or too hot, for that matter. I will have to go out and find him a proper little jacket for when he goes out in the cold. I've seen some dogs wearing jackets and have to go and buy him one. I have a Regatta jacket which I bought last year as well a Regatta fleece to wear underneath and this morning I had to find my gloves out of the car to put on before venturing out on our regular morning walk through Eaglestone Park. The sun, however weak, was attempting to shine.

Yesterday I had to make an appointment at Ashfield Medical Centre. I began ringing at 8 o'clock and eventually managed to get through at around 8.15. Then I had to wait for a doctor to ringback at around 9.15, to be then given an appointment with one of the practise nurses at 10.45. I have been finding it difficult to sleep at night and sometimes wake at around 2 a.m and don't get back to sleep for a long time, so I have been prescribed Zopliclone. Having read the leaflet which came with the tablets ( a week's worth.) I was put off after reading it, having found out what some of the side-effects are, but then decided to take one at around 9 o'clock and then didn't wake up until gone 6 a.m. Just going to have to see how I feel before continuing with the rest of the tablets. As I write, I don't feel too bad but still have to be careful that I'm not drowsy or sleepy if I'm going to drive the car.

I had to go to the Shell station to fuel the car. I have to be careful to concentrate as it's a petrol model. It would be far too easy to put petrol in the tank, but thankfully there's a reminder when I open the petrol cap flap on the side of the Renault Captur. Then I drove straight over to Willan. I was followed by a woman driver one of those 4X4 vehicles, high off the road, lots of bull-bars etc etc and she was insistent on driving right up behind her. Fortunately there are local speed areas along Chaffron Way driving near Waitrose. Then a tractor came out of a side-road and I had no choice but to slow down, but this woman wasn't too pleased. No, I refuse to drive faster than I'm comfortable with. Why do so many drivers insist on driving like this? It is a relatively small percentage of motorists who behave in this disrespectful manner.

When I got to Willan, Carol was in her room, with one of the doctors. It seems that they have got some of the pain under control. Carol not particularly chatty, due to taking medication to keep her calm. She has a new medication delivered by two pumps, which take 24 hours to complete their administration. They use a sort of skin patch to deliver this medication. Then Roz, a lady from Shenley Christian Centre, and who has been visiting Carol at home and when she was in Milton Keynes Hospital. She cycles from work to visit. But Carol was asleep for most of the time she was there, unfortunately, although shel did wake up several times during her visit.

I was surprised that not one single child knocked on our front door trick or treating because it was halloween. Not that it bothered me. We could hear fireworks being set off somewhere nearby and it seems that some people don't realise that Guy Fawkes Night (November 5th) and halloween are two different things.

Thursday. It was relatively mild first thing this morning, but Alfie and I cut short our walk across Eaglestone Park because it was trying it's best to rain. As the day progressed it got heavier and you could barely see the lake from Carol's room window at Willen when I arrived.

Friday. A bit of a sharp frost when Alfie and I went out this morning. A considerable amount of ice on the car windscreen, but never mind. We can cope with it. Regardless of the cold, quite beautiful bright, golden sunshine lighting up some of the park. Even when it's bitterly cold, the sun can shine and lift the mood of even the coldest Autumnal day. I'm having to put on my gloves now because otherwise I wouldn't be able to do up Alfie's lead.

I had to go into the bank to pay in a cheque this morning. I parked near The Point and walked through the shopping centre. I bought a sandwich in Boots because the bank wouldn't be open until 9.30 and then walked along the shopping centre. So many shops are relocating within the shopping centre. W.H. Smith is now in a much smaller unit, as well as Patisserie Valerie. Where I came into the shopping centre I noticed that Hawkins Bazaar has taken over the unit formally occupied by FatFace. I'm not sure where that company has relocated to, even if it's still within the shopping centre.

Having been to NatWest and paid in using one of their machines (not as simple to use as the system used by Nationwide.) I walked over back towards the shopping centre. I went into Marks and Spencer as I wanted to buy new slippers. My current pair are wearing out rapidly. I was surprised by the range they have in stock. I can't believe there can be so many varieties. But the one's I liked are over-priced. They seem to have increased the price considerably since my last purchase. I think I can get virtually the same for far less elsewhere. I'll have to have a look around.

When I arrived in Willen there was a sign up saying you wouldn't be able to park at the hospice, because there was an open day on. I had to park away from the hospice and walked down the road and in at the normal entrance. You can usually park directly outside the reception area. The place was really busy with visitors.

Carol was fast asleep when I eventually got to her room. I got about two minutes-worth of conversation before she fell back asleep. According to one of the nurses I spoke to she didn't have a good night and they're giving her some form of sedation to relax her which would probably account for her sleepiness. She work to have her lunch, really nice fish and chips and followed by fruit crumble and custard.

I left Willan just after 2 o'clock.

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.

Ninth Chemotherapy Cycle

Carol had to be at the oncology suite for 9 o'clock this morning. We had intended walking, but then decided that, as we had other things to do, we decided to drive. We had to go to Ashfield Medical Centre to discover whether the prescription for Carol was ready. Carol drove and I went in and fortunately not many people in he queue in front of me. A mother with two little girls ahead of me in the queue were having fun with the footprints painted on the floor, being able to stride onto each step, the older one had no problem, but the little, youngest one had to make a real effort. Good to see their mother interacting with them instead of fiddling with her smartphone. When I eventually reached reception, it wasn't clear whether the ordered repeat prescription was in the surgery or at Lloyd's in Sainsbury's. I went back to the car, where Carol was waiting, and she had to go back in to the surgery and, because she remembered which three medications they were. It then transpired that whatever it was had gone to Lloyd's. This is becoming so annoying, having to go through Ashfield to order medication and then not knowing whether Carol can have a particular medication and on top of that, where it is in the system. Our patience is at breaking-point and it's causing no end of stress as a result.

Our next stop was the hospital. Not a long drive, as it's relatively close to Ashfield, but there was quite a long queue along Saxon Street and back onto the Standing Way roundabout, another cause of stress as we'd barely given ourselves time to get from home to Ashfield and then on to the oncology suite at the hospital. The carpark near cardiology and oncology, where we normally park was, had plenty of spaces, so that was one less thing to get stressed about and the  entrance barrier was raised, so no ticket. No great bother, the thing is almost always out of order. I know we don't have to pay as Carol is on chemotherapy, but even so it is annoying to have to go through the process of having the tickets clipped in the Macmillan unit. On arrival in oncology is was beginning to get busy. One lady who came to sit opposite was at the beginning of her chemotherapy. She was having some sort of cap-arrangement set up to wear on her head. Carol said it was something that they use which is supposed to help prevent a patient's hair being lost as a result of chemotherapy. She suddenly went limp, and she fell backwards in her chair. As if from nowhere, a whole host of nurses and doctors appeared to deal with what was probably an epileptic fit, or seizure, or diabetic reaction to the treatment. We moved out the way, as they began to draw the curtains around her and it seemed only decent to not be party to the doctors speedy intervention. So we transferred to chairs around the corner to let them get on with their job. It wasn't long before Carol was seen, her blood test carried out and we were out of the unit and driving out of the hospital carpark. I'm just impressed by the speed of the doctor and nurses getting to the poor lady's reaction to whatever it was. No doubt she had an underlying health issue. It just goes to show how well trained and efficient the staff in that unit are and how quickly they came to that lady's aid. It makes you feel far more confident that, if something was to happen to Carol or even myself, with my heart issues, you would be dealt with in a very professional manner. Everyone knew exactly what to do in an emergency.

We had to go into the main Milton Keynes shopping centre because I had a cheque that needed paying in to my Nationwide account and Carol said she would like a coffee and something to eat. So we parked in Debenham's multi-storey carpark and we walked down through the store and out into the main shopping mall. First off, we walked to Pret-A-Manger and ordered lattes and croissants. Mine an almond one and Caro's a chocolate one. Good customer-service, a nice clean store and the girl who served us very friendly and gave eye-contact. Nice to be able to sit and relax after the experience of the hospital, and the fact that things regarding chemo going well. Hopefully by Thursday we should know when Carol will have her operation and more, the radiotherapy which will be done in Oxford.

We walked into the main shopping centre. Got to Nationwide and paid the cheque in via one of their self-service machines. How does the thing know how much the cheque is for? How is it able to read the printing and then allow you to see a sort of image of the cheque on the video screen and then print it onto your receipt? What I want to know is, why does it take so long for a cheque to clear? It used to be no more than three working days, so why does it now take at least a week? You'd think, what with modern technology, it would be shorter. I know that most people use contactless payments, chip-and-pin and other technology to pay for things as well as having money paid by B.A.C.S., so I can see no reason for it to take so long to clear. Just a little moan, I know.

Carol wants to replace a  silver chain which has a silver chain and pendant I gave her a couple of Christmases ago, but unfortunately the silver is tarnishing and she said she would like a replacement. It has a 'tree of life' design on it. We went into several jewellers to try and find a replacement. In one we were shown into a sort of lounge-area, where one of the sales assistants was quite helpful and went out of his way to find what Carol was looking for, but the price was more than we wanted to pay. He did a reasonably good job, but I think he was on commission so was going to be over-assertive to get a sale.  There are far too many jewellers in the shopping centre. How on earth do they survive when there is so much choice? No wonder that assistant was so assertive. We eventually went to another store and Carol got what she wanted. Not such a pushy sales assistant.

We walked along the mall and went to the Disney store. Why has their stuff become so cheap and tacky? They used to have far more quality things on offer, particularly from their classic period, collectable things as well as books on the 'making of' their animation in particular. Why no Henson stuff, particularly from The Muppets' which are owned now by Disney? Nothing that you'd buy for an adult, something with the original designs from the 'golden age' of the studio. It's a pity that Disney owns so much, from the Muppets to Marvel and 'Star Wars,'  as well as Pixar. Just becoming a conglomerate with far too much power. Why do they have to keep re-making their classic movies? Just a bit lazy to keep on re-hashing stuff. I think Walt Disney would have a fit if he knew what they've done to his studio. Just a pity that their films seem to be just an excuse for a load of merchandise. It should be 'story first,' 'quality movies' and then merchandise as s spin-off. Just a pity that the moves are, in essence, now just glorified advertising. Just love the hand-drawn animation from the 'Golden Age,' but some of the modern stuff isn't up to much. Pixar is the best at computer animation, but they shouldn't keep doing sequels to their best movies, such as 'Toy Story.'

A further walk towards Boot's. In the oncology suite, the nurse who had taken Carol's blood somehow over-looked the tube gauze she is supposed to have to cover the cannula she has for her chemotherapy. I was somewhat concerned that it might get knocked or even pulled off, even though it was taped on fairly securely. So we bought a roll of it, having to ask at the counter for scissors to cut of enough to cover her arm. We then went out of the store, having paid, and sat on a bench so she could pull it over her arm. Then on to W.H. Smith to buy a couple of notebooks and then a walk home towards Debenham's and up the escalator to the carpark and then to Sainsbury's to collect the medication that had been made up from the prescription.

On arriving home we had two parcels delivered. One had been left in the meter cupboard when we were out, a Regatta jacket I ordered from their website. A really good bargain as it was originally around £60 but bought for £25.50. A softsshell jacket, lightweight but very efficient to keep out the cold and wind resistant. It is so designed that it can be packed up into a small space and ideal to take away when we go out and might need a jacket if it's cold. Unlikely at the moment, as it's quite warm. Although, saying that, compared with the weekend, it's quite a few degrees colder so it was necessary for me to wear my fleecy top I bought in Dobbies a few months ago.

The second parcel was from Amazon, a set of head scarves for Carol to wear on her head when undergoing chemotherapy.