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.

Health Issues

 Thursday. 3.00 p.m. I have a cold. I haven't had one in years. In all the time I was with Carol, I didn't have one cold. I can't think where it has come from, presumably caught from someone at church or perhaps in Sainsbury's or the shopping centre. It's not heavy, but I keep sneezing and have a sore throat, and it's just unpleasant and makes sleeping at night difficult, because of a really unpleasant cough. I have sweets to suck and I've taken Paracetamol. I'll just have to put up with it until it clears up.

6.30 p.m. I have been for an appointment at Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre. It was scheduled for 4.30, but I was still waiting at 4.50, so I asked the receptionist and was told that they were running late. I eventually got called to go to Room 16, which came up on the digital screen. I had assumed that I was going to have an appointment with a doctor, but when I walked through the door, I then discovered that I was seeing the pharmacist. I was to have my blood pressure taken.  The pharmacist lady did my blood pressure sitting down, but, after looking at the results, I had to stand up for the second test. It was shown that there was a difference in the readings between when I sat down and then stood up to have my blood pressure taken. It would have been blood pressure which was the cause of my collapsing on the floor and then being taken to hospital.

It was odd seeing my writing on the computer screen when the pharmacist had a look at the blood test results when I had to check it over a week.

As a result of the blood test results, I am going to have to wear a blood pressure cuff for 24 hours, and this will begin next Tuesday. It doesn't concern me, but it will be quite difficult to have to wear it in bed. Then I will have to go back to the Medical Centre to give the pharmacist the device so it can be checked to see what the results find and have an E.C.G. done, which will check my heart health.

Friday. 7.30 a.m. I have put my washing in the machine. It's supposed to start at 8 o'clock, but I can't be bothered waiting. Just get on with it and start the machine. No point waiting, I say!

It looks like another mild morning. Please, no rain or wind!

Saturday. 12.25 p.m. It's bright and sunny. I can say, for the first time this year, that I've gone out WITHOUT A JACKET ON!

This morning we had Men's Breakfast at the Oaktree Centre. I arrived at 8.40 and the smell of frying bacon as I approached the building. So, a superb cooked breakfast of fried eggs, bacon, sausage and tea. I rarely eat fried food, so it is a treat and great to not have to cook it myself.

Richard, who usually leads this event, wasn't in attendance, so someone else was leading.

Sunday. 1.15 p.m. I haven't been to church this morning and attempted to watch the service via Facebook. I say 'attempted', because of technical issues. I have a Portal, which sits on the top of my television set and has a camera and microphone in it. It should allow you to communicate using Facebook (it is a product of Meta, the company which owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. At one time you could view video from Facebook on it, but for some reason, this feature has been removed. You can use Zoom on it and other apps, which was handy during the Covid pandemic, when we weren't supposed to meet 'face-to-face.' 

I started watching the service through my iPad, but part way through things went pear-shaped, I lost video and only had sound and then that went, by which time I gave up, unfortunately.

Too Darn Hot!

 Friday. 9.30 a.m. Last night was incredibly hot and sticky and somewhat difficult to sleep, even with a window open and an electric fan on in the bedroom and lounge.

I have rung Mears, having had a letter telling me about having my kitchen upgraded. I have rung and someone is coming to see me next Wednesday between 9a.m and 2 p.m. to discuss my options, which must refer to the colour of worktops and cupboard doors etc. I'll just have to wait and see what happens next.

11.00 a.m. It's hotter than ever! My beloved digital thermometer currently reads 80ºF. Getting hotter than ever.

I took Alfie out for a whirl around Oldbrook Green. On the way back inside, I was walking along the corridor when there was a loud sound like a gun going off. It almost made me jump out of my skin (well, it would, understandably.) Workmen are currently replacing the glass in the recently newly replaced front doors in all the flats in Dexter House. The glass has become cracked in mine and probably in many of the other flats. I was at the point of going out to Sainsbury's when there was a knock on my front door and a workman told me he was going to replace the glass. Just as well I was going out as the noise would have been unpleasant. As Alfie was in the lounge with the door closed, I don't know what he would have made of the noise. Having just got back from Sainsbury's, the glass has been replaced and the job completed.

Saturday. 8.10 a.m. It's a good deal cooler out this morning, thank goodness. It was far easier to sleep. That is, outside. Meanwhile, within this flat, my digital thermometer reads an exceptional 81ºF. I still have one electric fan running.

My Goodmans soundbar stopped working. What is it with technology? One minute it works perfectly and the next it won't function. I put new batteries in the remote, but still, it refused to work. I decided that if that was the case, the thing needed replacing. It really improves the rather tinny sound you get from a television set. So I looked on the Argos website and, as I had enough vouchers from doing surveys, I decided to cash some in. The cost of the actual soundbar was actually a few pounds more than the one I had my eye on. My thinking is it's better to go for a better model as it will have more features, such as Bluetooth connectivity and generally better quality build etc. So I ordered the vouchers and thought I won't get them for a couple of weeks. That is if they were paper vouchers. But I then found an email had come in informing me of the online codes for Argos. So, I wrote down all the codes and then ordered the soundbar, the make being LG, and put these codes into the relevant online space and was able to go to the Argos store in Milton Keynes to collect the item. All done, collected and the soundbar is working and I'm really pleased with the thing!

1.45 p.m. What a difference a day makes, as the song goes. And it's true. From baking hot for the past couple of days to a good deal cooler and wet! Not bucketing down, no cats and dogs, stair-rods, or whatever, but still moderately wet. I have taken Alfie out twice and on each occasion, he has turned tail and come back indoors when he's felt even the slightest drop of moisture on his back!

Horrible Sainsbury's Fire Alarm Test

(Saturday)I had hoped that I could have a bit of a lie-in this morning. Instead of getting up before 6 o'clock and having breakfast as I usually do, I hoped I could get up around 7 o'clock, but Alfie being Alfie, this wasn't going to happen. He had slept on the sofa in the lounge and came upstairs to find out where I was and what I was doing. No peace for the wicked, as the saying goes, but I don't think I'm wicked. I don't know what Alfie thought, but no doubt he was thinking I was a lazy old so-and-so, that he wanted his early-morning jaunt across the park and I wasn't going to be allowed a minute more in bed!  So, I got dressed slowly, with the close eye of one small, active Yorkshire Terrier observing my every move. I had to go downstairs and make sure Alfie is in the lounge so I can complete my routine of putting on my outdoor shoes, jacket and so on, and have the doggy bags in one trouser pocket, another with my iPhone in the other and then, when all is present and correct, I collect the lead from it's hook in the kitchen and then prepare to connect the lead to Alfie's harness and get out of the front door. But, no sooner have I opened the door from them hallway into the lounge than Alfie begins his barking and it's quite an effort to get him calmed down so I can connect the lead to the harness and then open the front door and go out into the road.

Having taken Alfie out and done a circuit of Eaglestone Park, we came home and I had a mug of tea and bowl of Weetabix for breakfast whilst watching BBC Breakfast on television. They're still bleating on about Brexit and the results of the local elections, so the television didn't remain on for long. I really don't want to listen to a load of politicians, of whatever colour, tying to justify themselves.

I needed to go to Lloyd's phrmacy in Sainsbury's because they had a repeat prescription which needed collecting. I thought that I might have a coffee in the café in Sainsbury's before I started the shop. I don't think it was entirely successful. Nothing particularly brilliant about it, but as I stood waiting at the till for my latte to be prepared, there was a rather loud voice coming over the Tannoy system, saying, 'this is a fire alarm test.' It kept going off at intervals, and nothing happened for a while. But it was getting really annoying. Also, quite loud. Then there were two blasts of the fire alarm, so loud that it began to hurt my ears. At one point I wasn't entirely sure whether it was an actual fire alarm and whether we were supposed to leave the building, but nobody seemed to take a bit of notice and remained doing what they were doing. I ate my cheese and ham toastie and drank my latte. The horrible voice came back. I have a feeling that someone had not the slightest idea how to turn off the fire alarm. But what would have happened if there're been a real fire and an emergency? I know from experience that you have to test your fire alarms on a regular basis, but why have it on what must be one of the busiest days, a Saturday?

I finished eating and drinking and left the café and made my way into the supermarket and the computerised voice continued to bleat on, but eventually it came to an end and everyone gave a sigh of relief, not least myself. If nothing else came of all this, at least I got to write about what happened in this blog post.

On the drive back home I went along Saxon Street and at the road leading into Milton Keynes Academy there was what appeared to be a van in the road, looking slightly smashed in on the front headlamp, with bits of glass and metal in the road. I couldn't make out exactly what had happened, whether the van was pulling out into Saxon Street and had been hit by another vehicle, hence the smashed van's front, but whatever had happened there were police on site and other people in attendance. I couldn't see an ambulance, and all this was holding up the traffic from the opposite direction from that I was driving. People do take risks, and pulling out of that particular road and attempting to make a right-hand turn would be difficult and dangerous. If it had been me, I would hav made a left-hand turn and gone round the roundabout and doubled back on myself, so as to avoid the situation those vehicles found themselve in. Coming out of Eaglestone, it's easier to drive around Golden Drive towards the exit near the shop rather than taking the more obvious exit onto Saxon Street, because if you were intending making a right turn into that road, it would be difficult and dangerous because of the volume of traffic, particularly at around 8-9 in the morning when people are going to work.

Windy Night and Messed-Up Repeat Medications

There has been a howling gale all night. As I write this, at 8.15 a.m. the wind seems to have dropped. I put the rubbish out including the recycling, sorted into two pink bags and when I went out to the front of the house I was surprised how mild it was. That was at around 6.15.

I'm changed the time I take my morning medications. I have been experiencing light-headedness in the evening and thought that perhaps I've been taking my heart medication, including the one for blood pressure, far too early. It used to be at around 6 a.m., in line with when Carol was working. We always got up early, around 5.45 and had tea whilst we watched BBC Breakfast and I used to take my meds at the time I went downstairs to make tea. It just occurred to me the other day that if I took them two hours later, at 8 a.m., it might help to relieve the light-headedness. After only two days of this I have found that this has indeed solved the problem. Just goes to show that, with self-management, you can sort your health issues out. Saving me time in having to go to see my doctor, booking an appointment (which is an issue in itself, as you will realise if you've read earlier posts on here.) Another advantage of having worked in care myself and having done a medications administration course. 

Further to medications. I always order my repeat prescription in good time for Lloyd's at Sainsbury's to put in the order through our surgery, Ashfield Medical Centre. This is done electronically, saving time, energy and hopefully paperwork. You used to have to go to the surgery and put in a written repeat prescription. 48 hours later you'd have to return to the surgery to pick up the paper prescription and then go to any pharmacy to get the prescription made up. All this, meanwhile, meaning a lot of driving to and from the surgery. For the past few years they brought in the electronic system, whereby you nominated a pharmacy which would be inputted on the surgery computer system. Then, when you needed to reorder a repeat, you'd either go direct to your nominated pharmacy or telephone them and give them the order. They would then send in the order via the electronic system and the doctor at the surgery would sign off the order. Generally I would allow at least a week for the completed order to be made up and then go to the pharmacy to collect the order. Obviously I don't want to run out of any of my medications so I give plenty of time for the completion of the order. So, why have Ashfield not completed the repeat, because I had to ring Lloyd's at Sainsbury's to order something for Carol, and at the same time I asked if my repeat prescription to be told that Ashfield hadn't sent the prescription through for it to be made up? I shall ring Lloyd's later to see if it is ready. As I write I think I have one tablet left of one particular med. I'm not likely to want to NOT have that medication ready to take as I don't know what would happen to me without taking it. I think it might be dangerous to not take it, as it's likely to have nasty consequences.

I've been to Sainsbury's this morning. We had a few bits and pieces we needed for our evening meal and I needed to collect my repeat prescription order. I had rung earlier just to check that it was ready and it was. I cannot think what was up with Ashfield Medical Centre regarding the prescription, although it doesn't now matter since the order was made up.

Carol has had to ring the Oncology Doctor at the hospital, or rather, his secretary, as she has to set up an appointment. Now made for Friday morning. Apparently she was supposed to see the doctor after every chemotherapy session. It seems she has disappeared off the radar regarding this. So, who has been prescribing the chemotherapy materials that they've been using in the Oncology Department?

Carol's boss, Kevin, and the lady from the H.R. department at Milton Keynes Academy have been to see her at lunchtime today. A curtesy call, but just keeping a check on her. Asking questions about when she is likely to return to work and what assistance she is likely to need when he does eventually return to work. They are building new laboratories for the science department as well as a new restaurant. It seems that this work has only just started and it's all supposed to be completed before September. These new laboratories should make life easier for all the teaching staff.

Another Doctor's Appointment

Carol needed to have a doctor's appointment made this morning (Monday). Never always just a straightforward process, as you will probably realise if you read my blog posts regularly. It's never just a matter of ringing and getting an immediate answer and merely turning up. I get the impression that they are attempting to weed out the time-wasters, those who think it's fine to waste N.H.S. resources by making appointments for things like a cough or a cold, a broken finger-nail or a minor injury. I think people think of the N.H.S. as a first resort for every ailment they may have. My mother, who had been a nurse before she married, would have had a range of medications in her armoury of cures about the house when we were children, from a good stock of plasters, bandages, aspirins, and other first aid equipment. I don't ever remember going to the doctor for minor injuries. I don't ever remember going to Casualty or A and E (Accident and Emergency) as a child. She could always deal with these matters herself. Why can't people today take more care of themselves and not expect everything to be dealt with by the N.H.S.? Common sense seems to have been left behind. When the N.H.S. is stretched to the limit, not just financially, but by staff shortages, it would be better if most people learnt to be self-reliant. Just stock up on basic things in a first aid cabinet, and how to deal with minor injuries and ailments. Leave the doctor's surgery as a last resort, even going to a Walk-In Centre of A and E department unless it's a real emergency or you can't deal with it yourself.

I began ringing the surgery at Ashfield Medical Centre yesterday morning at around 8.30 a.m. I was surprised how quickly I managed to get through and there wasn't that endless wait with that annoying music which you have to listen too. Carol managed to explain why she needed to see a doctor. She had been sent a letter from Ashfield asking her to make an appointment with her registered doctor, but apparently he was on leave so she had to have an appointment with another doctor. The appointment was at 9.50.

I've just seen a piece on BBC Breakfast about how many doctor's appointments are wasted by people who make an appointment and don't cancel them when they don't turn up.  Usually young affluent men according to research. WHY? Is it possible to merely ring the surgery and cancel your appointment if you don't need it? Somewhere in the region of £160 million is wasted when this happens. So, here's one area which needs sorting out as it's a scandal that people don't turn up for an appointment they've made. Just think what could be done with that amount of cash if it was saved.

We drove to the surgery, giving ourselves plenty of time to not only get there but to find a parking space. The surgery was surprisingly deserted when we arrived in the waiting area. One or two people and one poor man with a really awful cough. I can attest to a horrible cough myself which I'm still dealing with.

Carol was called in to the doctor's surgery. Well, you don't get 'called in', as your name appears on a digital screen. You have to sign in using the compute system when you arrive (which seems to have been up-graded since my last visit.) One of the lady doctors, one we haven't seen before (I always go in with Carol when she has an appointment.) and Carol had to go through all the medications she is on since leaving hospital (quite an extensive list.) Some meds have had their dosage increased and a new one which is a sleeping tablet. Hopefully these changes will help deal with the pain Carol is experiencing and should help her have a decent night's sleep. I have to say that this doctor was very sympathetic and took her time to deal with Carols' concerns and we weren't rushed through as we might have had with some of the other doctors in this surgery. We had to order some of her repeat medications and the doctor printed out several prescriptions which we took to Cox and Robinson's pharmacy which is a couple of doors along from Ashfield.

We had to wait what seemed an excessively long time to get the medications made up from the prescriptions. The staff seemed to be on a go-slow for whatever reason and it can't have been because they were busy as there weren't that many other people waiting. But never mind. Actually would have been better if we'd gone to Lloyd's pharmacy in Sainsbury's but, as Cox and Robinson's is so close it seemed the obvious place to go to get the prescriptions made up. Sitting and waiting and being bored silly in the process. Moan over.

Carol was pleased to be out with me in the car, away from the house. We then drove to Marks and Spencer near the football stadium. Considering it was so close to Christmas, it was quiet and we managed to park close to M and S. We did some food shopping and had a browse and by the time we'd finished it was time to return to the car and go home.

M.R.I. Scans and Mild Weather

The weather continues to be unseasonably mild. I'm going out without a jacket or a sweater on. Just doesn't make a lot of sense, since we're well into October. I've been out on some days, thinking it's going to be cold (some early mornings start of cold.) put on a thick sweater and find, once I'm out, that the sweater is making me far too hot so I remove it. I end up carting the sweater around with me as I did when we went to the shopping centre the other morning. The trees all along the various grid roads around Milton Keynes are changing colour. Quite striking and surprising.

We're still waiting to hear from Basingstoke. Carol had an M.R.I. scan yesterday morning. It took a good deal longer than I was expecting, but at least it's done. Not at the hospital, but at a, presumably, private provider called In Health, which is based in the same block as Sainsbury's, just off Witan Gate. I expected the appointment to be at the hospital, but it was here. A very different atmosphere to the usual N.H.S. facility. Decent chairs to sit on and not lots of other people sitting and attempting to avoid eye contact. The staff were very good, very professional and caring. So, with this last scan, the various departments will now have all the information they have to deal with this 'thing.' Every day we wait patiently for either a telephone call or a letter.