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!

Doing This and That

I had a telephone call from Theresa, who is part of the Family Support group at Willen Hospice. She spoke a lot to Carol when she was in Willen. She was ringing to discover how I was getting on since Carol passed away. She said I might like to have bereavement counselling, which I agreed. She said that she would pass on my name and try to find someone to come and see me. I got a call a few days later from a lady called Hilary and she came out to see me last Friday morning. I was told that there was a group of people who met in the  John Lewis restaurant on a Monday morning. Hilary was there when I arrived at 10a.m. I was introduced to the group and it was a pleasant time just getting to know people and having a chance to chat. They have outings and also meet in a pub for a meal somewhere in Milton Keynes. I believe it's called The Barn, somewhere in the City centre.

I've recently bought a soundbar for my Hitachi High Definition television. It's made by Goodmans. I got it because it was on offer in Sainsbury's. I had some fun setting it up. It will connect using Bluetooth, to my Kindle as well as my iPhone. I have the BBC 'Sounds' app on the iPhone and you can listen to radio, podcasts or download broadcasts, such as comedy or drama. I had a problem getting it to connect to the television. In the manual which came with the device they suggest that for best results to use the 'optical' connection, but a lead for this did not come with the device so I had to go to buy the cable from Currys. I attempted to connect it to the sounder but it would not work. The actual plug just wouldn't connect to either the television or the soundbar. I tried this several times but almost gave up. I then decided to use Google and I found a YouTube video. Low and behold, it suggested removing the plastic covers on each end of the cable. No? Why was this not in the manual or other places? So, I took off these clear plastic covers, and would you guess? The lead fits perfectly! I assumed these clear plastic covers were part of the lead, not there to protect the end of the lead. Why is no mention of this in the manual? Then I followed the instructions in the manual and now the thing connects perfectly and boosts the television sound considerably!

I was in the kitchen, preparing my evening meal. I just happened to look out of the patio doors and, lo and behold! I see it's snowing! Quite heavily. Alfie was wandering about and it looked as if he might need to go out into the garden. I slid the door open and he stuck his head out. He had one look at the falling snow, and withdrew into the house. I can hardly blame the poor little dog. He doesn't like cold and he wasn't going to venture forth. He's currently curled up on the sofa, in the bundle of blankets he likes very much.

(Wednesday) I put the rubbish out for the bin men early this morning and I was more than a little surprised to discover we'd had a fall of snow. Not a lot, but enough. When is there ever enough snow?

A bit later . . . I've discovered a load more of Carol's medication in one of the kitchen cupboards. I put it all together in a carrier bag and took it to Lloyd's pharmacy in Sainsbury's this morning. I have also thrown out no end of part-used packets, bottles and jars of stuff from one of the kitchen cupboards and as a result there's a good deal more space in that cupboard. It needed doing. It's all gone out in black plastic bags and now taken away by the bin men. I was surprised that it had all been taken away when I got back from Sainsbury's.

The sun is out and it's quite warm now (11.00 a.m.) Now sitting in the lounge writing this and resting after the exertions of going to Sainsbury's and then emptying the cupboards. It's quite therapeutic. I think that's the word.

Next Wednesday I'm booked to have my second stent fitted at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. I had a telephone call from one of the nurses there to find out if I was alright. I told them I wanted the think over and done with. I'm on the morning list and may be there until about 5p.m.