Hunkey Dory!

 Monday. 9.35 a.m. It's a good deal cooler this morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 24ºc. 

The drains are to be cleared. Oh, happy day! That is, along the corridor in which my flat is. We can't flush the toilet, have a shower or wash up in the kitchen and let out the water. I have already done the washing up, so there's no problem with that, don't currently need a shower, but I don't know about flushing the toilet. Such is the fun at Dexter House.

Tuesday. 8.00 a.m. It's a good deal cooler again this morning. My digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc, so a 2º drop on yesterday's temperature.

3.55 p.m. I've just taken Alfie out, to the usual spot on the grass alongside Strudwick Drive. There were quite a few people walking along the path, a lot of them from Milton Keynes Academy, which is just the other side of Chaffron Way. Then I saw a group of around three youths, on electric scooters, the sort I mention regularly on here, riding along the road. To me, this is extremely dangerous, because they could easily get hit by a car, or fall over in the road. If this was to happen, the chances are they would be killed. As they rode on, going past The Cricketers public house, one of the male youths was weaving in and out of the centre of the road and at that point, a few cars were driving behind the group. As I have said, it only needed a slight misjudgement and a wobble, and that youth could have fallen off his scooter and into the path of one of those cars.

Wednesday.2.25. p.m. I booked a haircut this morning, online, and have been to the appointment, which was a 1.40 p.m. I drove to Unity Place, where the barbers is. I parked the car and then walked to the ticket machine. I thought it would have a slot for my £1 coin, but there wasn't one, so I attempted to use the card reader facility. You have to key in your car's registration number, but I still have no idea whether it worked. No ticket issued and nothing came up on the screen. Just so annoying. I walked into Unity Place, and saw a statue of a cow. What on earth is the significance of a COW?? I have absolutely no idea.

Friday. 8.35 a.m. Washing in washing machine, washing-up more or less done. Floors mopped (actually partially) Alfie asleep in his bed, the sun is out and it's still warm. My digital thermometer currently reads 27ºc. 

4.35 p.m. Unfortunately, when I went to do my washing this morning, I found the drier I normally use was out of action. So, I had to use the second one, which I rarely use. By the time my washing was done and I need to use the dryer, I put everything in it and hit the first button. There is no help anywhere to show which button does what and for how long, so when I came back an hour later, the load wasn't entirely dry. I put the drier back on for ten minutes, but even then it didn't dry completely. This meant I took the load back to my flat and put most of it on the drying rack in the bathroom.

I have been continuing with editing and revising my writing. It's going well. I am rounding out some of the characters and adding some new ones. Also, doing a bit of research to get some details right, and this should help give the piece some realism.

Here We Go Again!

Tuesday, 9.15 a.m. I have been putting off a job for a while now, It was to clean the kitchen floor. I have to admit, it was getting dirty. I have a Vax steam cleaner, and it's a good deal more effective than your traditional mop-and-bucket. If I were to use that method to clean the floor, it would require hot water and some sort of detergent and the mop would require rinsing out and, at the end of the process, disposing of the dirty water. Probably down the toilet. Then you get left with a really smelly mop to find somewhere to store it, along with the bucket. I don't have space for them. The Vax steam cleaner uses water and a special detergent, which you put in two separate tanks. Relatively easy to fill, as the whole unit comes off the handle of the steamer. If I have a fault with this, it's the fact that the tank filler is on the side which means you can never fill up with either detergent or water, which go in separate tanks, because as soon as you turn the unit on it's side to clip it onto the handle, water and/or detergent leaks out. It would be far better if they'd designed the tank filler to be on the top of the unit. Just a minor fault with an otherwise great piece of kit. You have to give the steamer enough time to heat up and then produce steam. It's of no use using it like a conventional mop and just pushing it across the floor quickly. It doesn't work in the same way, because it's the heat of the steam which removes any dirt and stains. The steamer doesn't leave the floor soaking wet. Of course, there is a certain amount of moisture, but this takes about ten minutes to evaporate and you are left with a clean floor.

Wednesday.  10.20 a.m.I've been to Sainsbury's again. The down travelator is still not running, although but it appears to be in a near-complete state, with workmen still working on it. Let's hope it is running soon.

A mild and sunny morning. No sooner had I got in from shopping in Sainsbury's and unpacked, than I took Alfie out. I didn't put a coat or top on, and it's the first time this year I've been out without either piece of clothing. The daffodils are out on the piece of grass opposite The Cricketers' pub.

Friday. 6.15 a.m. I was supposed to have a doctor's appointment on Wednesday. I wasn't aware of this fact and only discovered it when I got a text message. I wasn't sure whether it was going to be a face-to-face appointment or a phone call. I have had several phone calls from the surgery's pharmacist, and this was actually what I was expecting. Once I had learnt about the prospective appointment, I left a message on the Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre website. You aren't supposed to telephone now, because of the triage system they now have. I was hoping the surgery would either text me or phone me to let me know what type of appointment it was. The appointment was supposed to be at 11.10 a.m., but the time came and went, and no call. 

A good deal later, I got a telephone call from the surgery. They had only just seen the message I'd left on the website, and a fresh face-to-face appointment was made for the 11th of April. The appointment is to review my medical situation (i.e.: concerning my 'incident' when I collapsed and went to hospital.)

The weather is somewhat dull. Overcast, I suppose you'd call it, with a thin rain falling.

Finishing The Job!

Tuesday. 7.45 a.m. I took Alfie out just after 5 this morning. I saw a glass on the grass (sorry for the rhyme.) and thought it was broken, but, on picking it up, I found it was complete. Not broken at all. It was a stemmed Stella Artois glass and, one Alfie had finished his morning session on the grass (a good sniff around in the leaves and, by now, extremely parched grass.) I took him and the glass back to the flat and I've washed it up and put it in my cupboard in the partly-completed kitchen. I assume the glass came from The Cricketers public house which is directly opposite Dexter House and was discarded on the grass along Strudwick Drive,  by a drinker sometime last night after they left for home.

8.20 a.m. I had a real surprise 'buzz' on the intercom from the front door of Dexter House a few minutes ago. . It was one of the workmen, saying he had come to complete the kitchen! I wasn't expecting anyone to come today, after yesterday's incredible heat, and especially as the met office has told us that today's temperature was likely to be around 100ºF. The digital thermometer currently reads 84ºF. So, hopefully, and I have to repeat, hopefully, the kitchen can begin to be returned to somewhere near normal by this evening, that is, one the fridge/freezer and oven are put back in their correct position and I can go and get some proper food for my evening meal this evening. 

10.50 a.m. The two workmen have only just left, after tiling my kitchen, or, at least, part of it. Along the wall behind the electric cooker (which is still in place in the hallway.) and then around behind the sink unit and a short run on the wall beside the sink. All that remains to be done is for a decorator to come in and paint the walls and someone to turn on the power, and then the fridge/freezer and oven can be put back in their correct spaces. By which time I can go to Sainsbury's and do some shopping and the job will be finished. I am told the decorator won't come until probably tomorrow, but never mind, things will return to more or less normal by the end of the week.

Currently, the temperature is 88ºF in the flat. It seems to be steadily creeping back up. I just hope by tomorrow it has dropped back to a far more workable or, at least, pleasant level.

4.15 p.m. The temperature, according to my digital thermometer, is currently 96ºF. Crazy temperature.

5.20 p.m. It's even hotter than ever in my flat! The thermometer currently reads 97ºF. Just sweltering in the lounge. I have swapped around the fans, the one that I had in the bedroom is now in the lounge.

I had a bowl of ice cream with chocolate sauce (!). A thought I'd see how Alfie managed with his own small helping, so I put a spoonful in a small bowl. He soon lapped it up! I think he enjoyed it. I think I'll try him on another portion sometime soon.

Wednesday. 6.10 a.m. The temperature according to my digital thermometer reads 83 ºF as I write this blog post. 

I woke early and I walked Alfie around Oldbrook Green at 5.10 a.m. I am still of the opinion, that I never hang about when I'm awake early in the morning. I'd rather be up and about instead of lounging around in bed. Overcast, cloudy and no sunshine. I only hope that it continues to get cooler. I think Alfie would agree with that!

So, regarding my kitchen renovation. I just hope the painter comes to finish off work and I can get the fridge/freezer and oven back in their original spaces and complete the work, and then put all the things back in the cupboards and drawers. This will be a very good excuse to throw out a lot of stuff.

Splish! Splash!

Thursday. 5.30 a.m. Oh, dear! I knew this was going to happen. The title of the last blog post now seems rather out of date. As I write this I can hear rain outside (best place for it, really.) But it has at least cooled things down. It really was far too hot yesterday evening. I don't think Alfie is going to appreciate it when we go out, but out he must go. A quick visit to the green and pleasant area along Strudwick Drive and back inside. Let's wait and see what transpires.

Later. 8.45 a.m. The rain has finished, but it is now overcast. Perhaps we can expect further rain. I'm not actually bothered because it has cooled down and it's a good deal more comfortable.

I'm not entirely sure whether the cough is now caused by hayfever. I don't usually suffer, although several years ago I did suffer. This is usually worse when the weather is hot as it is now and the pollen count is high. I was prescribed Beconase nasal spray by my doctor. I've been taking it for barely a week and I'm not sure whether it is working or not, but the horrible cough seems to have settled down, although I have had a few coughing episodes, but not as unpleasant as they have been in the past. I think I just need to keep on with the medication as I expect it will take a week or two to really take effect.

Later 5.45 p.m. I'm rather pleased with the two pages of dialogue I've managed to write. Dialogue isn't the easiest to write as it can often come over as unrealistic. What you say is never in complete sentences, often in short phrases. it's the same with plays, nobody waits when someone finishes speaking. We usually overlap our speaking or interrupt.

Friday. 5.40 a.m. I'm not sure whether it's been raining overnight. It is considerably cooler than it has been for the past few days. I'm just about to take Alfie out and then I will know.

Alfie has a rather, how should I say it? Rather a naughty habit. Poppy had the same ability, which was to make rather unpleasant smells from his rear end. I think you can describe it as 'silent but deadly.' I immediately thought, 'he needs to go out.' Which may or may not have been true. But, to avoid any accidents I decided it was probably best to take him out. As it was raining at the time, I put on my bright yellow Regatta raincoat. We arrived on the grass immediately outside alongside Strudwick Drive and Alfie obliged with several wees. But he immediately decided, because it was raining, that he would head straight back home in the dry. I couldn't really blame him, but I was determined that he should oblige with the 'other business. But, try as I might, he pulled towards home. Even when we got to the grassy area opposite The Cricketers pub, he did a further couple of weeks but then made a determined effort to get out of the rain and I gave in and we went home. A very strong-willed little dog to say the least!

I have to say I'm not impressed with the shoes I bought, Skechers, which I bought on Amazon. I haven't had them for much more than six months and THEY LEAK! My socks are wet from coming in from the rain and walking on wet grass. Not just the fact that they leak, but the uppers are flaking off. The 'leather' (which can't be genuine.) is coming apart. I really don't expect a £60 pair of shoes to more or less fall apart after such a short length of time. I put it down to the fact that the soles are made of a rubbery substance which just splits, hence the leak. Not impressed.

Later. 10.35 a.m. I've done more writing this morning! Well, as they say, no time like the present. I've had GBN Breakfast this morning. I thought I'd give it a try. It takes a while to get used to something like this. I've always been a BBC Breakfast viewer for I don't know how many years. I think they need to tweak their format. There's no news bulletin which we get on BBC1 and all the other 'traditional channels. Perhaps a sort of headline section. I could also suggest an arts section, which seems to have been forgotten. Sport, as usual, gets all the attention. 

I wanted to get some plastic folders to put the sections of writing in. I had already got some from Sainsbury's several months ago, the idea is to put the handwritten manuscripts into these so that I could refer to them and use them when I transcribe them onto word processing. I decided to drive to Sainsbury's to buy some more and buy milk which had run out, so I couldn't have my customary cup of tea (actually, mug. I haven't got a single cup in the flat, or a saucer to go with it. I have at least half a dozen mugs to choose from.) On arriving at the Sainsburys stationary aisle I discovered they don't seem to stock the same sort of clear plastic sleeves, so got what are called 'popper' sleeves, more substantial than the other sort I had and with a sort of overlapping bit that 'pops' closed. Then I can write on each one with a felt-tip pen so that I can recognize what's in each folder. When I got home I tore each handwritten page out of the notebook which I had numbered carefully and had to tear off the bit along one edge which had holes in and fortunately each has a convenient perforated edge which makes tearing it off easier.

Later. 2.15 p.m. I'm still attempting to get out with Alfie. It's been raining continuously since early morning and there seems to be no sign of it easing off. One single raindrop on his coat and he more or less refuses to stay outside and takes me back home. There's not a lot I can do to convince him to stay out. This is a dog who definitely dislikes rain and getting wet.

Saturday. 5.35 a.m. It would appear to be quite rain-free as I write this. I hope so, as I'm about to take Alfie out. He's currently laying on my bed. Just about to finish this so I can publish it.

Easing Lockdown

(Wednesday) So our dear Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announces in the Commons, that some of the lockdown restrictions have beed eased. The two metre social distancing regulations have been lowered to one metre, but the thought of going to a pub or restaurant is not something I would bother with as it's so complex I'd rather stay at home, thank you.

Blogger, which is owned by Google, and which is what this blog is created on, is to be upgraded, if that's what it's supposed to be called. I have been using it for a good many years and have got on well with it, so why does it suddenly have to be changed so radically? It's the same with Facebook, which has been changed dramatically and is now more difficult to use. I really don't like it and why change things when the work well? You never get any sort of help with how to use any of these sites. It just because they can change things that problems occur. As the saying goes if it ain't broken, don't fix it. You have to learn yourself what the various 'buttons' and gizmos do without any sort of instruction, which is the same with most things you buy, which includes computers. When I bought my iPad recently went of YouTube to learn how to do things.

Out walking with Alfie this morning at about 9.30. We stopped for a rest on the furthest side of Oldbrook Green and sat on the very conveniently placed bench. I was shocked by the amount of litter strewn all over the ground nearby. Somebody had sat and eaten a takeaway meal and there was definite evidence, paper, polystyrene containers, Pepsi bottles and goodness knows what else. As there was a litter bin nearby, within arms reach, it would have taken long to put their debris in this when they had finished, just laziness. I have also seen disposable gloves thrown on the ground, also near a bin. It's not just the fact they were thrown aside, expecting someone else to deal with them, but environmentally harmful, especially if small mammals get stuck in them or try to eat them. I digress- as I seem in the habit of doing, and as I sat with Alfie on my lap, I saw a large lorry moving along Oldbrook Boulevard and turn into Strudwick Avenue and then into the yard behind The Cricketers pub. Obviously about to make a delivery, ready for the pub to reopen since the pandemic restrictions have been lifted. A definite positive sign that things are going to improve.

Later. It's far too hot. Wait a minute. This is crazy. We wait most of the year so we have some warm and pleasant weather, and all we do is complain that it's TOO HOT! The problem I have is I'm more of a temperate person. I don't like getting too hot. As a result of the weather, I decided to pack Alfie into the cage in the back of the car and drive the short distance down Chaffron Way to the Ouzel Country Park. I knew the moment I opened up the car that it was going to be far too much for Alfie and certainly not good for me. I put on sun block, the sort you spray on and donned my sun hat. Alfie was really suffering and so was I. We walked along the gravel path and met a group of ladies pushing someone in a wheelchair and they weren't sure whether they could go through the gates, which I told them it would be fine, so long as they shut them behind them. Some have cattle grids to stop livestock going through. There were sheep in the meadow we were walking through, several groups sheltering under the trees and Alfie started to bark so I decided to walk in a different direction. The sheep began to stir. I don't think they like dogs. I suppose they think of them as a threat. I didn't want Alfie to cause them stress, so I walked on.

I don't think it was such a good idea to bring Alfie out in such heat, or, if it comes to that, it wasn't good for me either. I was told by one of the cardiology nurses who looked after me when I went to a rehab session after my first heart attack in 2006, that I should keep out of the sun and always wear a hat. At one session, when it was really hot, about as hot as it has been today, I very nearly passed out and had to have first aid, which really frightened me.

Social 'Bubbles'

Apparently 'social bubbles' are something which is being bought in by the government to allow those who live alone (which would include myself) to meet up with another household, but if either 'family' or household suspects they are infected, they all have to self isolate for fourteen days.

What I want to know is, what happens when the bubbles burst?

I have taken out Alfie at around 9 this morning as it was overcast and it looked as if it was going to rain. You can't hurry Alfie as he has to sniff every blade of grass and leaf as we walk along the path towards Oldbrook Green. He has this funny little habit of pottering and this is done very slowly and deliberately. I think it's a terrier habit. He stops to wee on every lamppost and tree and has the same places we have to stop at as we walk around the Green. It takes probably three or four times as long as it would if he didn't stop along the way.

(Later) 10.15. It is raining quite hard so I made the right decision to go out when I did. I would have got soaked and so would Alfie.

I got the call from the cardiology department at around 12.30, although I had been told it would be at 3 o'clock. It was just as well I was in when the call came, on my iPhone. It would appear I have no problems and that things will continue as they are regarding my medication. Nothing further to report.

It has turned out dry for the remainder of the day, although there is quite a strong wind blowing as we went out this afternoon walking along Strudwick Drive on our way to Oldbrook Green.

Friday. It's rather overcast and somewhat humid this morning. Done washing up and about to start clothes washing. Exciting, but that's all there is to report at the moment.

I have a new idea for my writing. I'm not going to reveal here what it is because it's not cut-and-dried.

(Saturday) We had a  SCF Zoom quiz last evening. It was an interesting experience.

This morning looks a good deal brighter. The sun is out and it seems much more summery.

We walked down Strudwick Drive towards Oldbrook Green this morning, just before 7 o'clock and we stopped as Alfie was intent on sniffing as we proceeded, and a blackbird was sitting on the fence to the garden of Dexter House and I stood and looked at it and it looked at me. It was a great pity I didn't have my camera with me as it would have been worth a photograph. It sat there for quite some time and didn't move. Made me wonder what on earth was going through it's mind.

Later. Going out later with Alfie and there's youths playing football on Oldbrook Green. Not that I'm in the least bit interested, but it's good that they are having fun, enjoying themselves. People watching from the sidelines.

I went to have a cream tea with Mike and Margaret, friends from church. Absolutely amazing to actually meeting up with people and getting away from the flat. Just not good staying indoors when it's so warm and sunny.

(Sunday) I have taken Alfie out twice now and it continues to be sunny and pleasant. I sat on the bench nearest to The Cricketers and saw a father attempting to teach one of his young children how to play cricket (very appropriate since this was so near the pub and the fact that the road names around Oldbrook are after cricketers.) He can't have been much more than 6 or 6. It wasn't helping him to have such a large bat and the younger child was wandering around in the background. It's good to see fathers particularly with their children like this. In general there seems to be a more relaxed atmosphere about the place since the lockdown was slightly eased.

Stir Crazy

(Tuesday)This confinement is not easy. Just being stuck in my flat with just Alfie for company is having a somewhat deleterious effect on me. Mentally and physically. We are being told by the government that we can have one exercise session per day (which is all very well, but one small Yorkshire Terrier needs a good deal more than one walk per day.) I am reading a good deal more than I have done in some time, not just my book '"The Age of Decadence" by Simon Heffer, but articles from BBC History Magazine as well as History Today. Watching television has become somewhat predictable. Daytime television has become one endless session about buying and selling houses, mostly people who insist on moving to the countryside because they have more money than sense, and why would you want a house which is far too big for a couple, and probably have extra bedrooms for friends and family to stay so they can be entertained in the surroundings of a large house. Antiques are fine, but it's just becoming boring, experts driving around the British countryside and buying antiques which they find and attempting to sell them for a profit.

The government has bought in stricter controls to attempt to slow down the spread of the coronavirus. Over the last weekend a lot of people have not heeded the social distancing. People crowding onto Underground trains in London as well as at beauty spots. If they are young people, in the 18-30 age group, the chances are they don't watch broadcast television and probably not read newspapers (at least in print-form at any rate.) and are not interested in politics and wouldn't watch the daily press conferences. In general, the British don't like being told what to do. Unlike communist countries where the population is spied on and their citizens controlled by The State. Bureaucracy gone crazy. Just look at the EU and then you have a good reason for the Brexit vote. Many European countries, such as Greece and France, were invaded by the Nazis during the Second World War, so you can see how they would just roll over and be subjugated by the EU. A load of 'you can't do-this-and-that.' Control gone made, so that explains why it has such a hold over people's lives. Rant over.

(Wednesday) The sun is shining. It's a lovely spring morning. No wind and no rain. But we have to remain in our homes. I've taken Alfie out for his second walk of the day. It's eerily quiet. Rather like a bank holiday. Very little traffic around. But the silence is strange, to say the least. People seem to be making an effort to be socially distant. At Dexter House we can't use the lounge or kitchen. It doesn't bother me because I don't utilise them much anyway.

(Thursday) The weather has changed. That's what makes the United Kingdom what it is; the fact that the weather is so changeable. It has turned quite cold and there was a light frost on the cars as I walked Alfie along Dexter Avenue before 6a.m. this morning. It is sunny and bright, but as I say, it has turned chilly.

If anything, this current situation has got we writing again. I have pages of notes as well as part-written bits and pieces of stories, which are part of a far longer piece. I have started off on an entirely different tack with my current piece of writing, sparked on my a BBC documentary presented by Lucy Worsley about Jane Austen. I've always loved Lucy's programmes and she has a wealth of knowledge. I won't divulge too much of what I'm creating, but I can't think of a better way to spark off an idea than from Austen.

Later. I spent some more time writing. As a consequence, Alfie didn't get an earlier afternoon walk, but I took him out at around 4.15. I noticed that some of Oldbrook Green has been mown. They had done the end nearest The Cricketers public house, but the opposite side had only been mown along the edge. Such is my life at the moment that I have to mention such mundane matters as mowing. Unfortunately, whoever does the mowing, they have to run their vehicles over the grass and leave horrible tyre marks. It would be nice if this doesn't happen.

There's been a crazy woman (I'm not sure if she lives at Dexter House or not, or whether she's a friend of one of the residents. I doubt it, because visitors aren't supposed to come here at present.) who has been outside in the garden, sitting on a deckchair and who has been wearing what looks like a thick coat with a fur collar. She must be a bit loopy, because it has been really warm today. I saw here when I was standing at the kitchen sink doing some washing-up. She must have seen me because she waved. Another woman was with her and I get the distinct impression they have been drinking, what is probably wine, as I saw them with glasses in their hands and one of them produced a bottle and poured whatever the contents were into one of the glasses. The things you see from your kitchen window when you are doing the washing up!

Friday morning. I was surprised by how cold it is out this morning, when I took Alfie out for his walk. It was well before 6 o'clock. Am I crazy, or what? No, definitely not. If it's light, we'll go out, regardless, even though he makes a great deal of noise as soon as he catches on I'm in the process of getting ready to go out.

Calmer Weather and Camphill Days

I'm now taking Alfie out for his early morning walk a good deal earlier now that it's light by 7.30. I had to wake him up, which is unusual because it's usually the other way round. I was surprised that there was some ice on the car's rear window when we walked past and it was good that the howling wind had gone and no rain! The puddle along the path which we walk along towards Oldbrook Green was gone and I am glad we don't have to walk through it. By the time we'd crossed Oldbrook Boulevard and went to the doggy bin I saw the 'Mystery Lady' walking along the road near The Cricketers public house. She was hardly dressed appropriately for such a cold morning, although I don't see her stop any vehicles.

I went to Camphill as usual. We did a rehearsal of 'Stranger Danger' and I stood in for one of the regulars who doesn't always appear in the morning. I got into trouble from one of the ladies. I'm not sure exactly what I was supposed to have done wrong, but anyway, we didn't rehearse for long because after last week, when we had the visitors and things were disordered as a result of not knowing they were coming, this week we watched more of 'Oliver!' and then began to work on the improvisation that Teo had suggested. We still have to more of the films to watch, which I expect we will get round to next week.

(Thursday) Another calm day on the weather front. I'm going to Camphill this morning, helping with a teacher's conference which is being run in the Chrysalis Theatre. I'm not leaving home until after 9 o'clock in an attempt to avoid the aggressive driving I have to endure as I drive there and the volume of traffic should hopefully be very much reduced.

I left for Camphill a good deal later than usual and the traffic wasn't as hectic as it is if I go earlier. Cross the roundabouts at Marlborough Street, Childs Way and Portway, before I eventually reached Camphill was a good deal easier than on other occasions.

Three tables had been set up in the foyer of the Chrysalis Theatre, with coffee and tea and cups as well as biscuits and other snacks ready for the conference delegates. A couple of the residents who are part of the Tuesday drama workshop were already in attendance behind one of the two bars, organising coffee and tea, but Matthew, who has latched on to me since I started volunteering with the group, wasn't around and I soon learned that he was in hospital. He is diabetic and he doesn't take control of his blood sugar levels, which often get dangerously high. So, because he wasn't there, I had to help serve tea and coffee and make sure that there were adequate supplies when they ran low. The delegates arrived around 9.45 and we started to serve them their tea and coffee. The first session the delegates had was at 10.30 and two of the residents did the introduction to The Chrysalis Theatre, which we had done several weeks ago as a practice and it reminds those who use the Chrysalis things such as fire safety and where the toilets are. This gave us time to get the cups washed and they were stacked in the washing machine behind one of the bars and then taken out when finished and repositioned on the tables ready for when the delegates came out (which was around 12.15.) I had been wondering what they were going to eat for lunch and discovered that they were having pizza, but I imagined that they would order from Domino or Pizza Hut and have them delivered, but I soon discovered that they were being made in the Camphill bakery and that we would have to go and collect them with two trolleys. We went over to the bakery with the trolleys and, walking into the bakery kitchen, there was a delicious aroma, of pizzas and on several metal serving platters were the pizza slices, which were placed on the trolleys and then taken over to the Chrysalis. Unfortunately they had to be put on tables which had been set up on the stage, behind the screen which had been lowered for the conference, being used for the computer projector. We had to sneak into the theatre with the trolley and put the pizza on the tables, but we weren't actually supposed to go in with the conference still in progress, but there was no other way to get in and set the platters up. It has only just occurred to me that the Chrysalis doesn't have dock doors which would allow scenery to be taken in or out and very little space to store scenery as you would normally have in a theatre, something I have used and seen in the theatres I've worked in. This would normally been how we could have got backstage without disturbing the conference.

A lot of the pizzas didn't get eaten. There were several platters which came back to the foyer and it meant that we could eat some of them! The remainder were taken to the various homes within the Camphill community. I just don't think the teachers who came to the conference were all that keen on pizza, but Camphill and in particular, the Chrysalis, doesn't have a professional kitchen to prepare food, with the main consideration being storage of food in refrigerators to keep food at the correct temperature.

The conference came to a close at 2.30. We were wondering if the delegates would come out and spend time in the foyer chatting and want coffee and tea, so we were ready, but nobody wanted a drink although some gathered in the foyer area but gradually dispersed. One the theatre was clear we began clearing up, folding the tables, folding the table cloths and generally tidying and I was finished by 3.30.

Mystery Building

I've been watching with interest the building work that is currently going on the opposite side of Oldbrook Green to The Cricketers public house. There are three constructions on Oldbrook Green, all built to a similar style. I think one might have been a public convenience, but it is closed off with fencing around it, another a sort of strange brick construction with a brick roof and this supported by posts and the third, at the furthest side to Oldbrook Boulevard and on the patch which leads to the city centre, what could have been used for storage but has certainly seen better days and built to a similar design to the other two. Workmen have been working on site to the right of this construction, starting off with the foundations (well, how else do you start a building?) and gradually building a wall and as I write this, the brick-work is more or less complete and it now has the trusses in place for the roof. It would appear that they are renovating the main building, with the gable-ends being replaced and repainted. But I'm intrigued with what the new build is going to be. It isn't particularly large and the height matches the rest of the original building. I thought at first it might be used as a cafe, tea kiosk or similar, but I can see no windows or even doors in it as it rises. No sign at all of what is going to be. The workmen appear to be restoring the rest of the site, with a low wall being built of brick to one side. I will just have to wait patiently to see what it turns out to be. Probably it will boringly just turn out to be somewhere for them to store equipment, such as lawn mowers, wheelbarrows and whatever else is needed to tend the grass on Oldbrook Green.

Walking past the 'mystery building' later on Thursday, I noticed that there were metal gates now installed to the side of the area where the mystery building is being constructed. They have sharp-pointed tops to the metal bars, so it begs the question; what needs to be protected by metal gates and why the sharp spikes along the top? It makes me wonder if it's going to be a storage area for valuable items, because who wants to climb a gate and get cut by spikes? Just an idea. It looks as if they're making a sort of yard area which would explain the wall that they are building.

Oldbrook Green, the actual grassy area that is, is really soggy. At the furthest side, opposite The Cricketers, it tends to flood when there is heavy rain. Part-way along the path the actual path gets flooded and when I'm out with Alfie I have to negotiate this flood and Alfie doesn't really like getting his little paws wet. Walking on the grass is somewhat like walking on marshy ground, or at least sponge. There is a dip in the grass which tends to fill with water when it rains and it's been like a water feature, or at least, a pond. Over the past few days there have been ducks on there, an almost perfect place for them to have a paddle.

I took Alfie out at around 10.30 and as we walked along Strudwick Drive, along the fence that encloses the community garden belonging to Dexter House, Alfie stopped as he often does and came face-to-face with a black cat which was inside the garden and just inside the metal gate. Alfie began to bark at the cat excitedly and even tried to get through the gap in the gate, but, fortunately, he was too broad to squeeze through. The cat made the typical 'don't-come-near-me-or-I'll-scratch-your-eyes -out' noises, which didn't really bother Alfie and the cat just stared at him. It was definitely a question, 'who's going to blink first?' sort-of situation, but I decided to move on, so I pulled gently on Alfie's lead and we continued our walk along the pavement. I think it's the closest that Alfie has been to a pussycat!

Even more blossom coming out on the trees around Oldbrook Green, this time it's white. I presume it's hawthorn or May. But isn't it too early for blossom? We're barely into February.

The mystery woman who keeps stopping cars along Oldbrook Boulevard has been seen again, standing on a traffic island near The Cricketers pub. It was frosty and bitterly cold at just before 7.30 yesterday morning. I have mentioned this on Nextdoor, the social media site I recently discovered and then subscribed to. It would appear that quite a few other people have come across her, but it would appear that nothing has been done to try and find out first, what her name is, and second, where she lives. The police have been informed of her activities, on several occasions and I have spoken to someone at Milton Keynes social services department, but until we know her name and where she lives it's impossible to deal with this issue. It is more a safety matter that concerns me, because she is putting herself at risk by standing in the road and the fact that she keeps asking for money will eventually cause further problems.

I have now been told where this lady lives, but I'm not going to divulge this information on here, but it should make things easier as we begin to find out who this lady is so we can deal with this issue.

(Friday morning) I've been out with Alfie, around 7.10. It was frosty and foggy, but it was great to be out so early.

I've been sent some dog food from one of the market survey companies. Great, because it means I don't have to buy any dog food and as the current food for Alfie is about to run out and I was going to have to buy some more, probably from Lidl or Sainsbury's.