Rain!

 Tuesday. 8.15 a.m. As I write this, I can hear rain, and see it through my window.

Thursday. 8.10 a.m. It is getting a good deal colder. Well, I suppose it's to be expected, now that we are into October. 

I am taking Alfie to The Groom Room in Pets At Home in Bletchley to have a haircut. I have already put the cage in the back of the car. First, I need to go to the petrol station in Childs Way to diesel in the car, as it is running low. The appointment at The Groom Room isn't until 11 o'clock, but I like to be organised and have things ready beforehand.

4.05 p.m. I went to get fuel at the Mobil station in Childs Way, as mentioned above. It was just after 9 a.m. But done and then came back to Dexter House.

At around 10.35 I left to drive to Pets At Home, and coming out of Strudwick Drive and onto Chaffron Way, I was expecting to get to the Eaglestone roundabout and turn right into Saxon Street as I normally do when driving to Pets At Home. But, coming out of Oldbrook, I immediately discovered that the road was closed off, and I had to make a detour through the estate near Milton Keynes Academy and come out on Grafton Street and make a circuitous journey to get onto Saxon Street and get straight to Bletchley, driving past the football stadium. So, you can imagine the frustration of all this, particularly as I'd left earlier than I needed to, but, considering the extra journey time due to the diversion, it was probably just as well.

When I eventually got to the car park outside Pets At Home, it had begun to rain. I got Alfie out of the back of the car. As usual, he wanted to jump down, and he was barking loudly. I carried him into Pets At Home and walked through to The Groom Room, which is at the back of the store. I went in and the ladies who do the grooming were still working on another dog, but I went through how I wanted Alfie clipped and explained that Alfie had a lump on his side, which they checked out. It doesn't appear to be sinister, but it was a good idea to let them know before they began clipping him. Because he is getting old, his eyesight is poor, and he has problems with his joints, it was decided to reduce any stress to him and just give him a short trim, clear off the mess around his face and, if there was a problem, they would ring me on my mobile, because, when I left, I went into Gregg's, a few doors along from Pets At Home, to have a coffee and salad baguette. Sure enough, barely 15 minutes after I had left The Groom Room, I got a call to say that Alfie was getting stressed and that they would cut short what would normally be around an hour for a grooming session. I returned to discuss things, and they said that they could clear the mess around his face and give him a bit of a bath, which I agreed to, and waited in the vets' area until he was finished. So, I paid for the groom and got another session booked for the first week in January.

Sunday. 2.20 p.m. Yesterday afternoon I went out with the DJI Pocket to experiemnt with taking video footage. I went to Campbell Wharf Marina. It seemed the ideal place to go with the camera. I'd been there on Tuesday, with Pastor Ross. We had coffee in a new coffee shop I've never been to before. Infact, I'd never been to this area of Milton Keynes before. I had been to the canal further on with Alfie, and I think I'd been there with Carol and our dogs. As it turned out, it wasn't an entirely successful mission because it was quite cloudy and overcast and I couldn't find a way to get down to the wharf where the narrow boats were moored. I did get some footage, which I have since viewed, but, as it was just an experimental operation, not entirely a waste of time, becuse I merely wanted to find out how the various features of the camera worked.

Sunny Saturday

 Saturday. 8.25 a.m. I haven't quite got the hang of using and operating the DJI Pocket. I didn't actually record any footage when I walked around Oldbrook Green, but I have since discovered that you have to give the record button a couple of presses to make it work. I know it sounds simple, but you only discover this sort of detail when you find YouTube videos which teach you how to operate the camera. You get an extremely basic instruction leaflet with the gadget (I think this is the case with most devices today.) Also, merely playing with the various buttons on the device to find out which one does what. I am now discovering how the wireless microphone connects to the camera. It uses Bluetooth and WiFi to connect. Another YouTube video explains the procedure.

As the title of this post suggests, it's a sunny day. What more can I say on the subject?

4.00 p.m. I have been out once more with the DJI Pocket and been around Oldbrook Green. I have now viewed the footage, and I'm more than pleased with the result. I didn't have the wireless microphone attached, although I have discovered how to connect it, having viewed a YouTube video on the subject. The secret of using a camera with a gimbal is that, don't play around with the settings. Once you have it how you want it, leave it alone. I had the camera facing away from myself, and the gimbal managed to keep the horizon level. Perhaps I should hold the device a little bit higher, but that's a minor point. I think if the manufacturers were going to make any adjustments to the DJI Pocket, or any of their next generation, to make the handle more rounded, so it's comfortable to hold.

Sunday. 8.25 a.m. I have now managed to extract the microcard from the DJI Pocket 2 put it into the adaptor and into the reader, and then plug that into my MacBook. I have to say that removing the card is very fiddly and because it's so tiny, no bigger than the nail of my little finger, and, if you're not careful, it could easily spring out and then shoot across the room and get lost. But I have managed to watch the footage I took when I walked around Oldbrook Green yesterday, and I'm more than pleased with the result. For a first attempt, it's better than expected, and I have high hopes for using it for future work.

4.05 p.m. We had Café Church this morning. I was doing the usual refreshment thing. There is a new coffee machine installed in the café area. It produces a range of coffee, latte, Americano etc. It's easy enough to use. It has coffee syrup in cartons inside and a touch screen to select what a customer wants, so it's easy to use and more or less foolproof.

Monday. 3.00 p.m. I need to have video editing software so that I can manipulate the footage I film on the DJI Pocket. I did a Google search and I discovered that my MacBook has it's own software for that purpose, called iMovie. 

Tuesday. 7.45 a.m. I am definitely sleeping a good deal better than I have been. I think the sertraline tablets are partly responsible. 

Yesterday I started to transfer some handwritten material into word processing. I was looking through all that I had written, which is in various notebooks, and I discovered some which hadn't been transferred. I'm editing as I go through it.

The day has begun and the conditions on the weather-front looks as if it's overcast and, according to BBC Breakfast weather, it looks as if we can expect rain later in the day.

October Begins

 Tuesday. 8.10 a.m. So, here we are in October. I can't believe that the summer is more or less over. It is definitely getting colder. On Sunday, I went to church without a jacket or coat of any kind, but I think it will probably be the last time and next week I will have to wear my jacket or at least a fleece or jumper.

Thinking about the drive to church, I was minding my own business, driving at a reasonable speed along Chaffron Way, after coming out of Strudwick Drive. This driver comes up behind me, attempting to get me to drive faster. I don't like it when I get tailgated like that, as I've probably mentioned in these posts somewhere or other. Well, I was driving along, when suddenly this idiot driver overtook me, driving on the 'restricted' part of the road in the centre. By restricted, I mean marked in red. It really shook me, and, fortunately for that driver, there wasn't anything coming in the other direction.

We've had a great deal of rain over the last week or so. There's a great deal of flooding all around Milton Keynes and neighbouring villages and towns. The A421 dual carriageway, which runs between the M1, Milton Keynes to Bedford, is completely flooded on this side of Marston Moreteyne. In some places it is around 8 feet deep, so, as a result, it has been shut. There have been attempts to pump off the water, but, as there's no river to pump the water into, it will be a long time until it gets clear and can be used by traffic again. Goodness knows how traffic will get through that area by avoiding that stretch of the road, but I expect it will take some complicated route to get to Bedford and beyond, no doubt going through local villages which were bypassed when this new stretch of dual carriageway was opened.

Wednesday. 7.45 a.m. As a result of the various incidents I have endured, driving around Milton Keynes, and elsewhere, and involving other drivers, cutting me up, tailgating me and generally bad behaviour on the road, I long ago thought it might be an idea to invest in a dash cam. So I bought one through Amazon. But it's difficult choosing the right one, and I wanted one which would be able to view the road in front as well as behind. Then, with so many to choose from, which was going to be best for what I wanted, It's a bit like potluck in a way, because it isn't until you get the thing and set it up do you discover whether it's suitable for the job. I have the front camera set up but have, as yet, to deal with the rearview camera.

Thursday. 7.25 a.m. We're going out a good deal later. I suppose it's because it's dark until around 6.30, although I do have a small torch to see what I'm doing with Alfie.

I am going to get back to some writing, but I need to have something to write on, so I have ordered some writing pads from Viking, an online stationery supplier. We don't have Staples any more in Milton Keynes, where it was possible to just walk in, have a look around and buy there and then. A great shame. I think they have an online presence, but it's not the same as just being able to go in and buy a product there and then. It looks like a lot of businesses are going that way. It will take a day or two for the order to arrive, obviously.

Friday. 7.55 a.m. There was a thin fog when I took out Alfie at around 7 o'clock. But as I am writing this, the sun is out, although it is somewhat weak and the fog has cleared.

I have bought a mini video camera from Amazon. It is a DJI pocket 2 and I ordered it at the beginning of the week and it arrived yesterday. I think it came from somewhere overseas, but I'm not sure where exactly. This would explain why it took several days to get here. I am currently figuring out how it functions, but it connects to my iPhone and you install an app on that to install software and learn how to use it. For something so tiny, which sits in your hand, it seems quite sophisticated and even has a wireless microphone. It will take a few days before I can make use of it. 

9.50 a.m. I think I have managed to set up the DJI Pocket. I have it on charge at the moment, but when it is fully charged, I intend to go out around Oldbrook Boulevard and 'give it a go.' For something so small, it certainly packs a punch. I have watched some of the footage I took yesterday when I first set it up, through my iPhone. I would like to watch some of it through my Firestick on my television. I'm going to have a lot of fun with this! Watch this space!

11.00 a.m. I have just been around Oldbrook Green with the DJI Pocket. I trust the thing has worked and I can watch the video that resulted.

Man The Lifeboats!

 Monday. 10.45 a.m. It has been raining more or less continually all night. It is pouring down as I write this. I didn't go to church yesterday morning because of the rain. Pathetic, I know, but huge puddles are appearing everywhere on the grid roads around Milton Keynes.

On Friday morning, I had a workman come to look at my bathroom floor, and he ripped it up and replaced it with a new one. So much better and easier to clean. I can't believe, that after all this time and effort, it is done. I am supposed to have someone come out to look at possible changes to my bath, either taking the bath out and giving me a shower unit, or at least moving the current shower, which is over the bath, to a higher position on the wall, so I can at least have a shower without having to stoop to get under it. I'll hold my breath and wait until after this person visits.

12.15 p.m. A young man came to survey my bathroom. He was here about 30 minutes ago. He measured the bathroom with a gadget, I presume it has a laser in it and a red light comes on when it hits a wall or solid surface. He told me I should get a shower unit, with a shower tray a screen and a curtain, a new toilet and a wash basin. I will still hold my breath over this. It has taken around 2 years to get this far and, although the floor has been done, the rest is sort of 'in the air.'

It is still raining and there is a sort of waterfall from off the roof near the communal lounge. I don't hold out much hope regarding leaks, particularly along the corridor where my flat is.

Tuesday. 10.15 a.m. The rain has stopped, at least for the time being. I don't think it rained overnight. I have just returned from my weekly shop in Sainsbury's. I was talking to the lady on the tills, and she said the store had to be closed yesterday afternoon because of flooding. I'm not sure how they managed to clear up the water, but customers were told to leave (I trust it was done apologetically and appropriately.)

Wednesday. 10.25 a.m. When I got home from Sainsbury's yesterday morning, I found a parcel on my doorstep. I had obviously been out in the rain because it was partially damp. On opening it, I found it to be a copy of 'Legion' which I had ordered from Amazon, but which has since been replaced. It makes me wonder where on earth it was left. Well, certainly not at Dexter House, and quite obviously outside. I needed to return it, and, fortunately, I had retained the packaging the replaced book came in.  I had a roll of parcel tap somewhere in the flat, which I had used some while ago, but I could not find it anywhere.  I had to have this tape to close up the parcel and had to go back to Sainsbury's this morning to buy some more. Fortunately, it came on a roll which incorporated a cutter, thus making the job far easier. I went on the Amazon website and printed off a QR code, which I took to a shop in Bradwell Common and it was scanned, a label attached to the parcel, and it will return to Amazon. So that job was completed!

I had a text a few days ago about having a second shingles vaccination. I made the appointment online, which definitely makes things so easy, but I couldn't remember the day or time. It occurred to me, as I was so near to the surgery in Bradwell Common, I could drive a bit further and ask one of the receptionists. The shingles vaccination is on Saturday morning. The receptionist asked me if I wanted to book by annual 'flu vaccination, which I agreed to, and it's on 9th November, so that's organised. So, with that done as well as dealing with the Amazon parcel, I can say I've managed to kill two birds with one stone!

In Sainsbury's, it would appear that the effects of the deluge they had the day before are very much in evidence. The area where some of the self-service tills were cordoned off and there were buckets dotted about the store, no doubt to catch drips from the ceiling. It makes me wonder what happened to the flats which are above the Sainsbury store as well as the underground car park.

The Rain It Raineth Every Day . . .

 Sunday. 7.40 a.m. The weather has changed. I woke in the night to use the toilet and there was an almighty crash of thunder and then there was a heavy rainstorm which went on for around ten minutes.

Friday. 8.40 a.m. We've had more rain, but as I write this, the sun is out, and it's really pleasant, but it's getting chillier. Well, we are now into September, so it's to be expected.

Yesterday I got a letter from the cardiology department of Milton Keynes Hospital. It was regarding the transmission of data from the implant I have. It says, 'We are pleased to confirm all checks and automatic measurements are within expected parameters.' Since this was several weeks ago and the fact that I had this information when I spoke to the receptionist on the telephone, it seems somewhat irrelevant. But at least it leaves my mind that things are fine and don't need to worry about it.

Another sign that Christmas is on its way. Not more mince pies, but in Sainsbury's the other day, I noticed a pallet with a pile of Quality Street. I think I have worked out why. It's so they can mark them up at a lower price closer to Christmas, and, to comply with legislation regarding sales, items have to be shown at a higher price for many weeks or months to then be offered at a lower price.

Saturday. 12.45 p.m. The weather is still pleasant, but there's a definite chill in the air.

I have been to Sainsbury's this morning. I needed to get some batteries and when I was in there I bought something extra, one of Sainsbury's delicious hot fudge puddings. I know, I should keep off this sort of thing, and keep out of the biscuit and sweet aisles. But I was shocked to see, as I came up the travelator from the car park, a notice informing customers that it was time to order their Christmas food!

On Thursday, I ordered some items from Amazon, using points I had from one of the survey companies I work for. Scanning my shopping on something called Nielsen IQ. I have been thinking of buying a dash cam for my car, but it's difficult to decide which one to go for. There was one on Amazon half price, so I decided on that one, as well as a book I wanted, related to a recent exhibition about the Roman army at the British Museum, which I would have liked to have gone to. Also, I wanted a King James Version Bible, and there was one called a Cultural Background Study Bible. So I went for that. The Roman army book, called 'Legion', was supposed to have arrived on Thursday evening, but I thought it was stretching it a bit, considering I had only ordered it at around 7-8 that morning. But, having looked via the Amazon website, I saw that it said 'Delivered and put through the letterbox', which I knew wasn't correct as I certainly hadn't received it and, anyway, the book in its packaging, would never have fitted through my letterbox. I attempted to contact Amazon and, after some effort, found that, if I sent my phone number, someone would phone me, which they did. It transpired that they would send me a replacement of the book about the Roman army. It didn't explain what had happened to the original book. I'm intrigued to know where it went.

The next day I was expecting the NKJV Bible and the dashcam to arrive, but at around 7 p.m. I just happened to check again on the Amazon website to see when or if these items were going to be delivered, and saw, much to my surprise, that they had been delivered, but not to my door. So I went down to the entrance of Dexter House and there I discovered a pile of parcels, and two of them were addressed to me. So much for me instructing delivery drivers to come to my flat to hand over my purchases. The Roman army book was delivered to my door. I wasn't too pleased to have my items just left where anyone could have stolen them.

I have managed to set up the dashcam on the windscreen of my car, although I'm yet to set up the rear camera, which I might do tomorrow afternoon after I get back from church.

Chloe WhatsApp'd me during the week and said she was coming to Stony Stratford, and we could meet up for coffee. She would be there at around 2 o'clock with George, my grandson.

I was getting ready at around 1.30 to leave to drive to Stony Stratford when there was a clap of thunder. I was thinking, just typical! No rain all day until I want to go out! But it didn't deter me, and I took my bright yellow Regatta raincoat with me. I had the new dash cam working as I drove up Watling Street. 

Sunday. 4.10 a.m. I awoke, as usual, to go to the loo. As I got back in bed, I heard the sound of rain. I wasn't sure if it was raining, so I went into the kitchen to look out of the window, and, sure enough, it was pouring. By the time I came through to the lounge to sit and write this, only a minute or two later, the storm had passed.

8.30 a.m. It's still raining. I expect there will be large puddles on the road when I drive to church later. They usually appear at the point where the roads meet the many and various roundabouts across Milton Keynes.

Cardiology Procedure

 Tuesday 3rd September. 10.25 a.m. I know, I don't normally put the date on my posts, but, since I haven't posted in a while, I thought it might give some sort of idea of the length of time between the last one and this.

I have mentioned in earlier posts about the procedure I had at the cardiology department at Milton Keynes Hospital, and the electronic device, called an I.L.R., (Implantable Loop Recorder) that was inserted subcutaneously into my chest. It's tiny, and I assume it has an electronic chip in it, similar to a SIM card which can be found in a mobile phone. Anyway, I was informed at the time of the procedure that I would need to upload data from the device after six weeks and had a letter given to me informing me of this, and I was shown how to use the electronic device which looked somewhat like a telephone with a handset which I set up near my bed and also a small device, about the size of a luggage label which I put on my key ring. By holding the key-ring device near the I.L.R. and pressing a key on it so that it lit up, data would be transferred onto it, and then you use the gadget near my bed to upload the data which goes via the mobile phone system to the cardiology department. 

Six weeks after the procedure, I had to make sure I uploaded the data from the I.L.R. I followed the instructions, and it seemed to work. This was the Thursday before the Friday when I was to expect a remote consultation, which was scheduled for 1 p.m. I sat and waited. The time came and went. What had happened? Had I got the day and time wrong, perhaps? I checked on the N.H.S. app and both were correct.

So . . . I will cut to the chase. As the following Monday was a Bank Holiday and I assumed that the cardiology department would be closed, I thought it a good idea to telephone on Tuesday to find out what was going on. I didn't have the telephone number of the cardiology department, although I must have got it somewhere, probably in a letter, but I had no intention of going through all my paperwork to find it, so I went on the hospital website. I found the number, or so I thought. When I rang it, it certainly wasn't the cardiology department, and was told, by the lady who answered, to ring the main hospital switchboard, and they could put me through to cardiology. So, that was what I did. I explained to the receptionist about not having a telephone call on Friday, and she looked up my details on her computer and then informed me that they don't telephone unless something untoward showed up in the data from the I.L.R. Mine was fine, so no phone call. I should get a remote consultation in around six months. So, that was that. It was good, but I think it would have helped if they had told me I would only get a call if there were a problem showing up in the data. I have to say, I feel fine at the moment. Certainly no strange heartbeats, arrhythmias or whatever it's called.

Wednesday. 8.20 a.m. A fine and pleasant morning. It's not sunny and the thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

Yesterday morning I went shopping in Sainsbury's. I couldn't believe they have mince pies on offer. I had to have a second look, but it was true. We're only just into September and Christmas goodies are on sale. Crazy. 

My Ancestors!

Tuesday. 8.05 a.m. Yet another bright and sunny morning. The digital thermometer is reading a far more comfortable 25ºc.

I have mentioned that I was doing family research on Ancestry. Well, it continues, with over 35,000 people on my tree! I have to admit that it's somewhat addictive. Once you start, you have to keep going. I can get back to well before the Norman Conquest of 1066, which is quite amazing.

My late mother kept on saying that 'we have Dick Whittington as an ancestor.' That is, obviously, on my maternal side. As Whittington had no children, I can't get a direct connection with him. The connection comes through his wife, Alice Witzwaryn. A connection nevertheless. I'm glad I've found it.

My mother also said that we were also supposed to be connected to Lord Nuffield. William Morris, set up and ran the Morris motor car business in Cowley in Oxford. I have done a lot of research and I cannot see any sort of connection, although I will keep on trying. I am glad that I might not be associated with him because I found out he had fascist leanings and helped to support Oswald Mosley in the 1930s.

I have also discovered the Gilkes family, who lived in and around the village of Deddington in Oxfordshire. Thomas Gilkes was a Quaker, as were many others of my ancestors. They weren't allowed, as Quakers, to go to university, or join any of the professions, such as law (and other professions.) As a result, they turned to clock-making. This was during the 18th Century. Some of these clocks are now valuable antiques, and, at auction, can sell for several thousand pounds.

Next on my list of discovered ancestors is  Thomas Early. (1734-1809). His family lived in Witney and were involved in blanket-weaving. Thomas Early was the first person to use the flying shuttle in the weaving process.

As we have just had the Olympic Games in Paris, I'm quite excited to discover that I have an Olympic medal winner in my family tree. His name was Charles Moss (1882-1963) and he won a Silver medal for cycling (Team Trial Race, Men) at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.

Now, for my most exciting discovery. I have had to check thoroughly that this is correct, and as far as I can find out, it is. I have a connection to William Shakespeare, not actually to him, because his family line died out, several generations after he died. My connection is to his wife, Anne Hathaway. (c1582-1623) Although I'm not DIRECTLY related to Shakespeare, the connection to Anne Hathaway is enough for me!

No for my paternal side. I have found Mungo Park (1771-1806) who was an explorer, who discovered the source of the River Niger in West Africa and died there. I had heard of him, but never imagined he could be an ancestor.

Busy, Busy!

 Saturday. 7.50 a.m. I got up a good deal later than usual. It's a bright and sunny morning and the digital thermometer currently reads 23ºc, so much more of a temperature which is easier to cope with.

I've just come back from Sainsbury's. It was quiet in there, no doubt- and I think I've remarked about this elsewhere in these blog posts- because it's a Saturday, most people don't get up too early and probably do their shopping a good deal later. I suppose you can't blame them, but there was a lot of space to park the car in the underground car park.

Sunday. 10.15 a.m. There's no church this morning, but there is what's called 'Messy Church', which is intended for children and families, although I don't intend to go. If it's too 'messy' I do hope they clear up after themselves when it's finished!

Thursday. 8.05 a.m. What on earth am I doing? I now get up a good deal later than I have in the past, which is a good thing. This is mainly because it's now darker for longer in the morning. As I write, there is a strong wind howling around outside (well, it would be worrying if it was INSIDE!

The Thursday Morning Life Group isn't meeting today, so I shall go shopping at Sainsbury's. Things should be back to normal next week. My pension was in my bank account yesterday. I had an idea it wasn't going to be there for at least another week, so it was somewhat of a surprise, which meant I could go shopping.

Friday. 6.15 a.m. It's wild and windy out this morning. A strong wind and rain is lashing the building. It's enough to blow you off your feet. This is Storm Lillian, and it's forecast to reach 80 M.P.H. in some parts of the United Kingdom.

Saturday. 3.20 p.m. It's been raining heavily most of the day, but as I write this, it has stopped, and it seems quite calm on the weather front. I just hope it stays dry because this is a Bank Holiday weekend. Next weekend it will be September.

I was supposed to have a telephone call from the cardiology department at Milton Keynes Hospital, in response to the upload of the data from the electronic device which was put in my chest some six weeks ago. I did as I was supposed to on Thursday, and sent the data as requested. I was supposed to get a call at 1p.m. on Friday. I sat dutifully near my phone but no call came. I don't know what happened, so I was somewhat annoyed.

Sunday. 7.55 a.m. I was up even later than yesterday. As I write this, it's sunny and bright outside. The digital thermometer reads 24ºc, so a good deal cooler.

Hot And Humid

Friday. 7.30 a.m. I am waking up a good deal later than usual, which is a good thing. It may be because it's so warm at the moment. I am working on Ancestry until quite late. I have fans running in my bedroom and the lounge, and the window is open. The digital thermometer is currently reading 26ºc. 

Saturday. 10.10 a.m. Incidentally, it's not the Saturday following on from the Friday of the above post. It's about two weeks later. 

The digital thermometer currently reads 24ºc, a good deal cooler than of late, thank goodness.

I had my hair cut on Wednesday. It was getting to the point where it needed trimming, so I booked an appointment online on Tuesday. 

Thursday morning, the Bible Study group met up at Mursley Farm Shop. I drove to the Oaktree Centre and was taken by Jennie, who leads the group. Virtually the entire length of Chaffron Way was lined with yellow traffic cones. I suspect that it was because of some sort of concert at the Bowl, which is en route to the Oaktree Centre. I imagined that any concert at the Bowl would be either in the evening, say, after 5 p.m., or at the weekend. But I am totally wrong on that count, so we have been bludgeoned over the head (or so it seems.) by loud drumming sounds coming from the direction of the bowl. This morning (Saturday) it started early, around 9 o'clock. At first, I thought it was from a car radio outside in the street, but, having stuck my head out of the window to have a look, I couldn't see a car and then realised it was coming from The Bowl. Considering that The Bowl is around two miles away from Oldbrook, it showed how loud it was. I can't imagine I would be the only person to be annoyed by such noise.

Sunday. 1.55 p.m. It was my turn on the rota to set up for Communion. I had to provide bread, which I had bought in Sainsbury's and then set up the trays which hold the little plastic cups which take the wine (actually not wine but blackcurrant squash.) It's then quite fiddly to put just the right amount into these cups with a bottle which has a tube in its cap which allows you to squeeze just the right amount into each cup.

I was expecting a clear run-up Chaffron Way to church this morning, but I soon discovered that many roads were closed off because of the 'event' at the Bowl, and, as a result, I had to make a detour to get to the Oaktree Centre.

Tuesday. 6.35 a.m. It's a sunny morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 26ºc, so a much better temperature to live with.

Almost August

 Friday. 6.25 a.m. A bright and sunny morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 23ºc. The window in my lounge is open and so keeping the flat cool.

Tuesday. 9.45 a.m. I haven't posted anything on here for a while, as you will have noticed if you read my posts regularly. I have been continuing with my family tree expansion on Ancestry and have made some interesting discoveries as well as completing my journey to find out whether I am descended from Dick Whittington. My late mother always went on about this, and I have at last made the connection! As Whittington and his wife had no children, the connection was actually with his wife, Alice Fitzwaryn. I worked as A.S.M. on a pantomime based on the traditional  'Dick Whittington' story in 1971 at Greenwich Theatre, and it now seems really strange to think he was in my family tree. My mother told me that there was a rumour that Whittington was in her family tree, and, obviously, in mine. I can't think how she would have known, because this was long before the internet and such sites as Ancestry. I sometimes think if something is a rumour, then there is a slight possibility that it could be true.

I took my car to Anglo Motors to have its annual MoT. It was due at 11.15, and I got there in plenty of time and found a parking space, which can be difficult as there are always many cars parked along the road outside and in the yard.

Being early, it meant the mechanics could get on with the test, which they did. I always attempt to get to an appointment well before the arranged time, whether for a doctor's appointment or for an MoT. The car passed without having to have any further work done on it, which was a relief. Well, I haven't been anywhere far in it over the last year. I paid and then found that the car was very low on diesel. The warning light came on, which means that you have around 5 miles worth of fuel in the tank, and then you come to a grinding halt, which isn't something I would want to happen. The nearest place I could think of to put diesel in the car was Asda, so I drove there. This is a self-service site, and you use your bank card by putting it in the pump, entering your P.I.N., removing your card and then filling your vehicle, which is exactly what I did. Having filled the car with diesel, I drove off and went home. 

When I got back to the flat, I was looking for my bank card, but couldn't find it. At which point I panicked, because without that card, I wouldn't be able to go shopping, buy groceries or do anything which required its use. It wasn't in my wallet, where it should have been. Then, it occurred to me that I must have left it in the fuel pump at Asda. So I drove there and absolutely no sign of it. I imagined, right or wrong, that if it had been left in the pump, someone could find it and then, horrors of horrors, start using it to pay for goodness knows what. Being a contactless card, it wouldn't be difficult to use without a P.I.N. number. I drove home and when I got in I found a number to ring my bank and got them to cancel the card and send me a new one. But, no sooner had I done that, I found the confounded card, in my trousers pocket! So all that panicking was for nothing.

2024 General Election (and other Minor Distractions)

Saturday. 7.45 a.m. Well, I sat up and watched the BBC's coverage of the General Election on Thursday night. The polling stations closed at 10 p.m. and I had been to cast my vote at 7.15 a.m., at the Oldbrook Community Hall, which is on Oldbrook Boulevard and opposite the Green. (No, I'm not going to reveal how I voted, it's between me and the ballot box.) I watched about the first couple of hours of the coverage and when the exit poll results were announced at 10, just after the polling stations closed, suggesting that Labour would have a landslide majority and the Conservatives were likely to get no more than 120 seats, I went back to bed.

I woke later to continue watching the election results as they came in. It was around 2 a.m. that it was clear that Labour had won, that Keir Starmer would be our next Prime Minister, and that the Conservatives conceded defeat. It has been revered that it was the largest defeat of the Conservative Party in its entire history. 

Saturday. 2.25 p.m. My genealogy research is going well. Actually, I should say more than well. I am nearing 10,000 people on my tree. I am surprised how many of them, particularly on my paternal side, went to America. One was a soldier in the Civil War and, as far as my research goes, another during the American War of Independence. On my maternal side, one branch, the Gylkes, was a Quaker family and Thomas Gylkes was a clockmaker, some of his clock are valued at well over £1000, according to my Google searches.

Friday. 6.05 a.m. As you will have realized, I haven't posted anything on my blog for quite a while. One reason is that the browser I use most, Safari, has not been working properly. I can't scroll up and down, which makes it virtually impossible to view many websites and in particular, the functions on Blogger are difficult to deal with.

Saturday. 7.20 a.m. I have been struggling to find out why Safari has been playing up (not scrolling up or down.) I have been looking at the settings and trying different settings to see if any of them will work and after a great deal of effort, I have solved the problem! I can't see how this particular setting got altered but it has worked and things are back to some sort of normal. I have been using two other browsers, Firefox and Chrome and find all of them have advantages over each other, but, as I have fot used to Safari that's the main one I have used more or less since the first time I got an Apple Macintosh computer.

I must have mentioned that I had an appointment with a consultant at the cardiology department at Milton Keynes Hospital a few weeks ago. As a result the consultant suggested I have an implant in my chest which would monitor any irregularities of my heart rhythm and hopefully prevent me from having a further episode of either a heart attack or blackout which I had in the early days of 2024. Yesterday I had an appointment to have this procedure done. It was scheduled for 12 mid-day. It was easy enough parking, immediately outside the department. That was one of my biggest worries, not being able to park the car and then having to find a space somewhere else and then not be late for the appointment.

Monday. 6.20 a.m. It is taking a good deal longer than usual to complete writing this post. I will attempt to do so now.

I digress . . . Continuing from the above. I waited for a brief moment in the waiting area in the cardiology department, before a nurse came out and called me in with another patient.

I had to change into a hospital gown. I hate these things! I know they get you to wear them if you have to have a procedure done or have an operation, but they only tie up with a few lengths of thin tape and the back is open, that is, if you don't manage to hold on to it to prevent your behind being exposed. I took off my shirt, remained in my underwear and socks, and just waited. Other patients in the six-bed unit came in and then disappeared to have their procedure done. Above all else, it was just boring sitting and waiting.  Eventually, at around 1.30 I was called in by a nurse, who took me into the (I won't call it an operating theatre. It did remind me of the room where I had the stents fitted after I had my second heart attack in September 2018, at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.)  The nurse got me to take off the gown and lay on a bench (for want of a better name. It was more like a bed, padded and not too uncomfortable. A surgeon, dressed in a gown (perhaps called a smock, but I don't know, also with a face mask and, one again, reminding me of the stent-fitting, with the surgeon wearing a green gown and a face mask. But the memory of face masks is related, to me anyway, more to the face masks we were expected to wear during the covid pandemic lockdowns, and the second heart attack was around 18 months before all that happened. The surgeon cleaned my chest and then said that I would experience a slight sting, which would have been when he made an incision in my chest, on the left, just over my heart, and the procedure was over, and I returned to the unit to wait, yet again.

A nurse came to talk to me about the gadgetry I was given, which communicates with the implant in my chest (I.L.R. or Implantable Loop Recorder.) I have a box, which looks vaguely like a landline telephone which includes a separate handset which sits in the cradle on the box, as well as a remote device, small enough to fit on my keyring and should go with me everywhere. If I hold the remote device over the implant when, or if, I have a irregular heart rhythm, the device will record an electronic measurement, similar to the reading that is given by an E.C.G. and this data is sent to the cardiology department at the hospital. I was also given a letter, telling me that a remote appointment had been arranged for the 23rd of August, and that I have to send data from the home monitor (the gadget I describe above, and which sits on my bedside table. So, having had the implant and given instructions on the various aspects of its use, which are also included in several leaflets I was given, I got dressed and then left the cardiology department.

Walking On Sunshine

 Sunday. 3.20 p.m. Yesterday I needed to get a birthday card for my brother Andrew, who lives in Norfolk. I had bought it in Sainsbury's. Once I had it, written an addressed, I needed a stamp (otherwise, how is it going to get there?) I drove to One Stop in Coffee Hall, which has a Post Office inside. I spoke to the guy behind the counter and said, 'are you using the Horizon software on your computer?' (alluding to the Post office scandal which was about faulty Horizon software which caused a great many sub-postmasters being convicted of theft when they were found to have allegedly taken the money, but the software made it seem as if they had, when they hadn't. The inquiry into this scandal is still taking place.) I was surprised to learn that this particular Post Office was closing soon, to be replaced by a counter which would allow only the basic services to be available. The nearest Post Office (although basic.) It is inside the Eaglestone shop, which I have used many times. So, Coffee Hall will have to manage with a much less serviceable post office.

It has been a really fine and sunny day today. Which accounts for the title I gave this blog post. The digital thermometer currently reads 28ºc, and, according to the weather forecast on BBC Breakfast, we can expect it to get even hotter.

There were three people baptised in church this morning, and, as a result, there were quite a few new faces in the congregation, no doubt family and friends of those who were baptised.

Tuesday. 7.30 a.m. Yet another bright and sunny morning. Temperature currently reading 25ºc on my digital thermometer. I've had the window open in the lounge, and it's pleasantly cool at the moment.

I have made a great discovery whilst doing my family history research. I now have over 5000 people on my tree. I am a descendent of Mungo Park, who was an explorer who discovered the River Niger in what it now Nigeria. Amazing what you uncover when you start your family history research.

Wednesday. 5.40 p.m. It has been the hottest day of the year, so far. Currently, the temperature reading on my digital thermometer is 29ºc.

Yesterday morning I went to the first pre-diabetic course which was held in the community hall in Great Linford. It was due to begin at 9.15, and I was concerned that the traffic would be heavy at that time of day. Fortunately it wasn't and the satnav came into very useful, directing me there, and I found a parking space which was handy. I was reluctant to go, but it was informative and interesting, and I think it will be worthwhile.

Friday. 7.30 a.m. It's another bright and sunny morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc. The window in the lounge has been open all night, hence making the place so much cooler.

Blog Post 1,900

 Saturday. 3.15 p.m. This, dear reader, is, unbelievably, the 1,900 blog post! I can hardly believe I am writing that, but it's true, and still rambling on about the mundane things of life! Sometimes the most mundane things are the most interesting, in a rather strange and ironic way.

Sunday. 5.10 a.m. I know it's very early morning. 

It was raining, although lightly, when I took Alfie out a few minutes ago, so we didn't remain out for long.

Wednesday. 10.25 a.m. Well, things didn't get off to a good start yesterday when I had problems opening the Safari browser on my MacBook. It meant that I could do virtually no work which required the use of the MacBook and the internet because Safari is the main browser I use. I thought at first that I had been hacked because I kept getting strange messages popping up on the screen, although I have software installed which checks for viruses and strange activity. As a result of this, and because I was hacked and had money taken from my bank account (although returned, thankfully.) I decided there was no alternative but to have the MacBook looked at and have the issue resolved. The only place I could think of where they would be able to do this for me was Curry's. I had taken the MacBook there a few years ago when I had been hacked (as mentioned above.) Knowing that Curry's was open at 9 a.m., I drove there, only to find that no one could deal with a MacBook at that time. I was told to return after 11 as the person who was trained to work on Macintosh computers would be able to have a look at the problem.

So, I went home and then, just after 11 a.m. I returned to Curry's and this time I was able to tell the young man who was trained in Apple computers what the problem was with the MacBook, and he told me it would take a couple of hours to discover what the problem was and, hopefully, fix it for me.

I went home and had lunch and at around 2.30 I got a call from Curry's that the MacBook was ready to collect. I drove to Curry's and collected the MacBook. I was relieved that it was working properly again. I then drove to Sainsbury's, as I wanted some ice cream and chocolate sauce (and why not? I managed to get it, paid, and then went home. Mission accomplished!

12.15 p.m. Earlier this morning, I had an appointment at the cardiology department at Milton Keynes Hospital. The appointment was for 9.30 and the letter I received from the department, a few weeks ago, told me that the appointment could take around three hours. I managed to park in the nearby Number 3 car park, which is where Carol and I used to park when she went for her chemotherapy appointments, and we would walk through Cardiology. Luckily there was no problem with parking as there were a lot of spaces when I arrived.

I reported to the reception in cardiology and I hadn't been sitting in the waiting area much more than 5 minutes, then I was called into a side room by a nurse. She took my height, apparently not 6ft 1 inch, which I have been for years. So, less than six feet tall? Surely not! Does that mean I'm shrinking? Weight, which I didn't know, although I have a rough guess, as I have my own digital scales. Next, I had to lay on a couch to have an E.C.G. done. Around a couple of minutes of that. Having to keep still when this is done and then a printout is taken off the printer.

I went through to see the consultant, and he went through my medication box as I had to let him know about the meds I was on. I should have made a list, but only realised I needed this, having reread the letter I had from the hospital regarding the appointment. I have to say, I was not impressed by the way he threw the various packets of tablets back in the box. I am very particular about keeping it tidy! He listened to my chest, using what I thought was a mobile phone (no stethoscope?) No doubt this is a new technology, an app on his phone.

Having checked me out, he then told me that I could have a device fitted under the skin of my chest, which would monitor my heart and, if it detected something wrong, it would alert the hospital, so I could be taken in for investigation and prevent another incident as happened in January when I was taken to hospital. He then dictated a letter into a recorder device, which, I trust, whoever has to unscramble it could make head nor tail of his words. At that, the consultation was concluded. I was somewhat surprised that it was less than thirty minutes since I had arrived at the cardiology department. I drove out of the car park and, when I went to put the ticket in the machine at the exit, it lifted the barrier, so I could drive out, pleasing me because I didn't have to pay!

1.45 p.m. Having dealt with the cardiology department at the hospital, at around 2.40 I drove to see my friends from church, Margaret and Mike. Mike has Parkinson's and has been in hospital and was discharged around three weeks ago. I drove out of Oldbrook and towards the roundabout which crosses Marlborough Street and came to a halt because there was so much traffic, which, for the time of day is quite unusual. I moved forward slowly and traffic coming to the right was quite heavy, but I eventually managed to cross over, but then there was a considerable queue of traffic coming up from Chaffron Way. I drove on, but then I saw an ambulance racing towards me, with lights flashing, and a siren blasting. If I hadn't slowed down and come to a halt, I would have had a head-on collision with it.

Jolly, Jolly Good!

Saturday. 1.05 p.m. We had our monthly men's breakfast at the Oaktree Centre this morning. I had intended to go to Aldi at West Croft, but when I came out of the Oaktree Centre and got to the junction onto Chaffron Way, there was so much traffic that I decided to turn left towards the centre of Milton Keynes and go to Sainsbury's to get a replacement for the joint of beef I had to return yesterday because it was around three months past it's 'best before' date. I went to pay and went into one of the areas with self-service tills inside and scanned and paid, and then this woman came up to me, a member of Sainsbury's staff, asked me if I had used a scanner, and I said no, but I couldn't get the app to work on my iPhone and she responded by telling me if I had a Nectar card I could use one of the hand-held scanners for the job and, in effect, I should use that particular self-service tell because it was meant for those who scanned with a hand-held scanner. A real sense of being well and truly told off, so I'm sure I won't forget it in a hurry.

Sunday. 7.20 a.m. Bright and sunny start of Sunday. That's all I have to say today.

Monday. 8.30 a.m. I wasn't sure whether it had been raining overnight, because I looked out of the kitchen window I couldn't be definite because I couldn't see signs of the path across the garden being wet, but when I went out with Alfie, there was a sort of drizzle, but, as I write this, it's bright and sunny. 

The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

3.20 p.m. It's still sunny, but there is quite a strong wind.

Thursday. 6.35 a.m. Another seemingly bright and sunny day. The digital thermometer currently reads 23ºc. 

I don't know whether I have mentioned this, but, when I had the recent blood test done at Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre, it was found that I had a high level of sugar in my blood. As a result, it had been suggested I take part in a course to help reduce my chances of becoming diabetic, so I have made an appointment to start the course, and then I had a telephone assessment done on Monday afternoon.

Friday. 7.40 a.m. Washing day again. The excitement is overwhelming! Everything in the machine and it's doing its job. So that will be done in around 50 minutes or so.

A bright and sunny morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

I'm currently reading a book entitled 'Churchill's Most Secret Airfield: R.A.F. Tempsford,' written by Bernard O'Connor. I only discovered this airfield from looking at Google Maps and seeing it identified. It's interesting what you find when you look at Google Maps. I lived around 15 miles away from this site, living in Cardington and Cople, as well as having a job in Everton as a support worker in a residential home for people with learning disabilities, which was only a mile or so away from this site. Like a lot of these places which were used during the Second World War, and in particular, Bletchley Park, which isn't far from where I now live in Milton Keynes, they were kept secret and have only until recently been revealed to be a major part of the war effort and many of those who worked there have only very come forward to tell of the secret work done there.  R.A.F. Tempsford was used as a base for agents of the S.O.E. (Special Operations Executive), who were flown into enemy territory in occupied France and other countries, and then parachuted in to engage with the resistance to cause havoc to Nazi defences and help bring about the liberation of France. The book is excellent, but it is printed in a minuscule type, which makes it quite difficult to read.

Saturday. 8.30 a.m. It's bright and sunny. Yippee! The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

11.45 a.m. I've been to Sainsbury's. I went a good deal earlier because it's Saturday. As I went out to the car, there was a light rain, but nothing to worry about. I know that Alfie won't like it, as he doesn't appreciate getting wet. So much for saying it was bright and sunny. Just typical British weather.

June Is Bustin' Out All Over!

 Saturday. 5.40 a.m. I thought that today was Sunday! Don't ask me why, but it felt like it was. How does it FEEL like a day? I have no idea, but I soon realised that it wasn't.  I am on the refreshment rota and it's also a café church. I could easily have gone there and found the place deserted! Oh, well.

11.15 a.m. As mentioned above, it's café church tomorrow. There will be live music as well as food, including a barbecue. I am hoping to be relieved of my duties behind the tea and coffee urn to be able to eat some of the barbecued food, so, as a result, I had to withdraw some cash from an A.T.M. machine as well as fuel the car at the ESSO filling station in Childs Way. So, I drove there, filled the car and paid and then went to the A.T.M. I put my card in the slot and then found I would have to pay £1.99 for the privilege of using the machine, but then the machine wouldn't present me with any cash! I drove away and as I did so, I had to think hard for an alternative A.T.M. and decided on Morrison's and drove there but then found there was a one-way system at the parking area and went round several times, and eventually came in from the road opposite the entrance into the railway station. Hence, having parked, I was able to withdraw the cash from the machine. So, about half an hour was spent driving around to find an A.T.M. On the way back home I then did another detour, so I could go to Lidl on Oldbrook Boulevard. There is a large poster up on the boarding which surrounds the building work for the new store, informing all and sundry that the store will close on the 2nd June, which is tomorrow, and the new store will open in January 2025. Tesco's Express store which used to be on that site used to have an A.T.M. and was incredibly convenient for me when I needed to have cash, so all the driving around to get to a working A.T.M. is the result of the A.T.M. at Tesco's no longer being there.

Monday. 7.55 a.m. I mentioned that yesterday (Sunday) we had another café church session at The Oaktree Centre. I was on refreshment duty, and as a result, I got there in very good time to set things up. It was a really fine and sunny day and a great many people turned up,  and many were new faces. Compared with last year, when the weather was really awful, with rain and wind and the entire gazebo which the musicians used, was moved onto the paved area and the sliding doors were opened to allow people to sit inside the café area to watch and listen.

Tuesday. 7.05 a.m. It's another mild day, but the sun is yet to shine. The current temperature in the flat, according to my digital thermometer, is 26ºc. I have my electric fan on.

Thursday. 5.40 a.m. Mild and pleasant on the weather front. The temperature reading on the digital thermometer is currently 23ºc.

My family tree currently has over 2000 people on it, and it is still growing!

Friday. 4.45 p.m. I had to go shopping in Sainsbury's. I went as usual after I'd done my washing. I picked up everything I needed for at least a week, including a pack of slow-cooked beef. I've had these sorts of joints on many occasions, particularly lamb shanks, which come in a double pack, so I put one in the freezer and have the other for my Sunday meal. They come complete with gravy and are really tasty. So I was not exactly over the moon when I got home, having unpacked my shopping, to discover that this pack of slow-cooked beef had a 'best before' date of March stamped on the front of the package. That meant it was around three months out of date! I was certainly not risking eating it, for fear of food poisoning or something worse. So I reluctantly decided to take it back, hoping to get a replacement. I wasn't sure where the customer service counter was, but, when I eventually found it, about a dozen people were queueing. There was only one woman behind the desk, and she was spending a great deal of time with a customer who had bought back a dress, presumably for a refund. A second staff member then got involved and time was ticking by. A young man behind me lost patience and put down a can of drink he was presumably going to buy and then stormed off. I really couldn't blame him, because there was only one woman on the desk. There should be far more staff. I think it's Sainsbury's getting rid of staff so that they can cut prices. The customer service generally has deteriorated, particularly when they have replaced manned checkouts with self-service tills. 

I eventually got to the lady on the desk and explained about the product being around three months out of date. A member of staff should have spotted it and taken it off the shelf, but, again, I think with so few staff available, that might explain how it came to be left where it was, for me to pick up and put in my trolley. Another member of staff was sent to get me a replacement, but when she came back, she said there were none left, at which point I left and went home.

Yes, We Have No Bananas

 Sunday. 8.25 a.m. Today, 26th May 2024, would have been Carol and my 17th wedding anniversary. Also, it would be 18 years virtually to the day, since I came out of Bedford Hospital, having spent a week in the C.C.U. (Coronary Care Unit) and I was discharged on 27th May. 

Tuesday. 1.20 p.m. Yesterday I didn't do a lot, although I spent most of the day working on my family tree via the website Ancestry. I now have reached the amazing number of over 1,500 people on the tree! It seems amazing how quickly I have reached that number, as well as being able to get back to the year 1033, thirty years before the landmark date of 1066. I have also discovered that some of my ancestors got on the wrong side of the law, for example, being caught in possession of stolen goods as well as one beating his wife and, on a happier note, finding that a young man had been apprenticed to a farmer to make bricks and this was for seven years, and more amazing, that this was in the St John's area of Bedford!

Thursday. 2.30 p.m. I have been into the shopping centre to get my hair cut at ROK Barbers (formerly known as Central Barbers.) The appointment was scheduled for 1.30 and when I got to the car park, where I usually park when I go into the city centre, I paid using the Ring Go app on my phone. But it wouldn't connect, most likely as there was a poor mobile signal. When I attempted to pay, I got the infamous spinning wheel, much to my annoyance, because I had no change to put in the meter before leaving. So, I left it and made a further attempt when I got into the shopping centre. Fortunately, it worked!

I walked through the shopping centre, towards John Lewis. ROK Barbers is next to it. I had forgotten it was half-term and this was why there were so many parents with children about and there was a play area in Middleton Hall, with rides and a sort of elastic thing (for want of a better way to describe it.) A large metal framework, a tripod arrangement, which has a sort of elastic material connected to a sort of harness which children were put in, and then they bounced up and down. Yes, it sounds somewhat stomach-churningly unpleasant and would be no good for me, as I would be too large and heavy. I don't think it was intended for adults!

I arrived outside ROK Barbers and sat outside as I usually do. The time came and went for the appointment, 1.30, and none of the barbers came out to tell me they were ready for me, and then I got a text message informing me I had missed my appointment! Crazy, when I was sitting outside. So I went in, and fortunately, I was able to have my hair cut.

When I took Alfie out earlier, I happened to look towards Oldbrook Green and noticed that the path had been fenced off with those orange barriers which are put up whenever there is some sort of building work going on, road-mending or whatever. I could see men moving about, dressed in day-glo overalls. I had a vague idea of what was going on, because, when we walked past the S.I.A. building (Spinal Injury Association.) the raised garden wall that runs along the path edge looked somewhat unsteady and likely to collapse. Having now driven past a few minutes ago, it did look like they were working on that raised garden wall (for want of a better way to describe it. It is supported by wooden arrangements to contain the gravel and earth into which plants had been planted, but some of the wood looked decayed, so it would be a good measure for it to be strengthened and repaired.)

Friday. 4.25 p.m. It's a good deal cooler today. My digital thermometer currently reads 22ºC. It's quite windy outside.

Another Bank Holiday

Friday. 11.05 a.m. It's yet another warm and rather pleasant day. The digital thermometer currently reads 23ºc. 

I've just come back from Lidl's, which is on Oldbrook Boulevard. I needed to get milk and ice cream. Just need something nice for my Saturday meal. The area where the parade of shops used to be, which included the Tesco Express store, is boarded up. The demolition has obviously finished, and I suspect they have done the basics which have to take place before they start building the new Lidl store, such as drainage, and footings (is that the right word? Foundations?) There used to be an A.T.M. on the outside of the Tesco's, which is gone, (obviously, if the building is no longer there.) and it is missed, as it was so handy having it and easy enough to park outside. I do hope the new Lidl has an A.T.M.

Saturday. 10.00 a.m. Yet another pleasant day on the weather front.

My family tree has now grown to well over 1000 people! It's really amazing how quickly it has grown. I still keep working on it.

3.40 p.m. A really fun-filled Bank Holiday Saturday afternoon! I was going to take Alfie out, but before we'd got to the door which leads out onto Strudwick Drive, I realised I didn't have my keys on me. I usually go through a route when we go out, with my glasses, Alfie and his lead and a handful of doggy bags for the inevitable pick-up. This could have caused a panic, but I went into the community lounge, where one of the lady tenants was about to have a birthday party with members of her family. She suggested pulling the emergency cord, which links to a response team that could possibly get the door open with a master key. When the gentleman arrived, he looked in the places where such a key would be kept, in drawers and the key safe which is outside the office, but no luck. It would appear that our S.H.O. must have gone home with the key on her key ring, and when he tried to ring her, there was no response. I can't blame her for having her mobile on mute, as she was on leave. So, the central office where the man worked suggested ringing Mears, and there was the possibility of me being charged for the lock being broken and replaced. But when the Mears man arrived, after some effort, he got the door open, by unscrewing the door handle on the outside which released the lock and allowed me access. I was more than grateful that there was a positive outcome to the situation, because otherwise I wouldn't have been able to have my meal, which was ready to prepare, and the possibility of spending the night sleeping on the chairs in the entrance to Dexter House! I shall be far more careful that I don't forget my keys from now on.

The Race Is On!

 Wednesday. 6.00 a.m. It's not so bright and sunny this morning. In fact, it's not bright and sunny at all. I took Alfie out, and it was raining, although rather thin and miserable. During the night, I woke up and could hear heavy rain. So, I suspect there will now be flooding, mostly on the grid roads around Milton Keynes.

10.15 a.m. Another trip to you've guessed it!- Sainsbury's. It was pouring rain (well, what else? Ink? Tea? Ribena? No.) There was a problem in the store (there always seems to be. Not the lift and neither of the translators this time,  but water leaking in from above. It would have been coming in from one of the flats, which are above the Sainsbury's store. This meant that I couldn't get into the self-service area, intended for trolleys, so I had to use one of the self-service checkout machines in the area which is intended for shoppers who had baskets.

Thursday. 6.20 a.m. I awoke later than normal. Which is fine. 

Alfie must have had a bit of an accident. If you can call it that. There are bits of the dry mixer he has with his food all over the floor near where his feeding bowl is. It's easy enough to clear up with the dustpan and brush. A job for later. Then, I heard this weird sound from the bedroom. I thought Alfie was being sick, but it was him sneezing! He then came into the lounge where I was sitting, and he sneezed again. He didn't seem to know what it was, as he seemed a bit surprised. I don't know what set it off, but it was certainly amusing.

Yesterday afternoon, at around tea-time, I had my television set on and there was a lot of anticipation regarding a speech which would be given in Downing Street, by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister. The media was there in force, with television cameras, microphones and cameras at the ready. It was a wet and miserable afternoon, raining heavily, and many umbrellas were being used in an attempt to keep dry. Then, from the famous door of Number 10, a couple of men came out, carrying the podium and placing it in the street. A few minutes later, Rishi Sunak came out and began his speech, and we were told that the General Election had been called, with him going to see King Charles at Buckingham Palace, to ask him permission to dissolve Parliament and have a General Election of 4th July. The Prime Minister was getting very wet as he stood and spoke, and it seemed strange that he wasn't given an umbrella to shelter under as he walked back inside Number 10, he was soaked.

All In A Summer's Day

Friday. 3.00 p.m. It is a fine and sunny day. My work on my family tree is going exceptionally well. I can't spell genealogy (not sure whether that's the correct spell, but the spell-checker hasn't made any comments, so I imagine it's fine.) I have around 500 people on it, and it goes back over 500 years.

Saturday. 2.50 p.m. I drove off to Chipping Norton, for the study day, which was about rebellion and revolution in Oxfordshire and, in particular, Chipping Norton, and featuring 'The Ascott Martyrs.'

I had done some research on Google Maps, in order to learn where I could park, and had found the postcode of one car park and had it ready to put in the car's built in satnav. I knew the route well, as   Carol and I had used the road on numerous occasions. It was a delight to be able to enjoy the Oxfordshire countryside as I drove along and got to Chipping Norton at around 9.20. I found a long-stay car park and then discovered that the town hall, where the study day was taking place, just over the road and there was a sign on the pavement to show the way into the Town Hall and up some stairs.

Going inside the town hall, I was greeted by a lady who checked me in on a list. I had bought my ticket online, and I didn't have a paper ticket, but my name was on the list. It just goes to show that technology makes this sort of thing so easy. In fact, if it hadn't been for a post on Facebook about this event, I would never have known otherwise. In fact, if it hadn't been for the internet, I would never have discovered about the Ascott Martyrs.

I then went up the stairs to the hall where the talks were to take place. It was a large, old-fashioned space,  that had seen better days. A typical multi-functional hall with a stage at one end, with rather worn set of curtains and a balcony the other end, presumably with seating for performance, and below, as I came into the hall, ladies behind a counter serving tea, coffee and biscuits.

The talks were due to start at 10 o'clock, so I had around 20 minutes to wait.

The three talks were as follows: 1: 'The Otmoor Riots In The Wider Context.' Given by Ciaran Walsh.

2: Priests, Property, or The Prayer Book,' Given by Adrienne Rosen.

3: 'A Restless Town: Civil Strife and Public Disorder in Chipping Norton.' Given by Simon Draper. This talk was the one that covered The Ascott Martyrs, although I didn't really learn much that I didn't already know about. Having said that, there was a great deal that I didn't know about, particularly The Otmoor Riots, The Bliss Mill strikes who happened in the period of the First World War, 1914-1918.

The talks finished at around 12.30, followed by an A.G.M. for the Oxfordshire Local History Association, who were responsible for the study day. After that, there was to be a guided walk around Chipping Norton, to look at the various sites that featured in the talks. I wasn't staying for the A.G.M., because I wasn't a member of O.L.H.A. and the walk sounded as it would be quite tiring for me, and, having had that blackout at the beginning of the year, I didn't think it was advisable to risk going on it. So, I decided to leave and find something to eat, such as a sandwich, and, on my way back to the car, I saw a Sainsbury's Local on the street corner, so went in and bought a sandwich, packet of crisps and a drink in their 'Meal Deal' and then went to the car park and began the journey home to Milton Keynes, with the intention of finding a stopping place on the road, to sit and eat my sandwich,.

Having done family history research, I am discovering ancestors who I had never known had existed (understandable, I suppose.) Also, in most instances, where they live, and many of the villages I went through on the drive to and from Chipping Norton, or were close by, where many of these ancestors lived. A really strange feeling, to be so close to where they lived and worked.

I didn't find a place to stop and eat my sandwich, so I just kept going until I got back to Milton Keynes.

Monday. 4.55 p.m. It's been a warm and sunny day, and, as I write this, it continues to be the same.

Tuesday. 7.25 a.m. I woke up a good deal later than usual. Alfie has been out and it seemed as if it had been raining. 

I think I mentioned the chat I had with the lady who was registering people as they went into the study day in Chipping Norton. I said I was there because of my possible connection to the Ascott Martyrs, through my family history research and their connection to my mother's family, who came from a village called Leafield, which is near Ascott Under Wychwood. I had hoped to have a further chat with her because she had mentioned something about a family history day, which was going to be held in Ascott in June. But it didn't happen, so I sent an email about all this, and she has since replied and told me that the family history day will be on Saturday, June 22nd, so if I go to this free event it is possible that I might find further connections with the Ascott Martyrs.

My family history research has exploded somewhat. I have almost 700 people on my tree and goes back as far as 1033, which is simply amazing. I thought, when I began all this work, that I might get back to about the time of William Shakespeare, which would be about 1560-70. But to get back before the Battle of Hastings in 1066 is fantastic!

A Little Heart And Soul

 Wednesday. 7.15 a.m. I have worn the heart monitor since yesterday afternoon. One of the contacts came off yesterday, probably because I was so hot, so I managed to use Sellotape to reattach it. It takes some time to get used to having the thing attached, so I couldn't shave this morning because I must not get it wet. I haven't done any washing up, so there's still dirty pots and pans in the sink. It will have to wait until tomorrow, after I've been to return the heart monitor. 

I was just thinking about the heart monitor. It's small and relatively easy to deal with. You have to plan ahead when you need to do anything, which was what I did when I went to bed last night. I was conscious of it becoming disconnected from my chest, that it might fall on the floor and that it would get in the way, and I was likely to lay on it. I didn't. Then I compared it with the complex and bulky heart monitoring system I had to put up with when I was last in hospital. I had no end of contacts placed on my body, and it was all connected to a large monitor, which kept on bleeping if I moved only slightly, and it was more or less impossible to sleep at night or lay down with all the cables everywhere. Surely they could have used a similar monitor to the one I have on at the moment.

Thursday. 6.15 a.m. It's foggy this morning. It's not thick and is likely to clear as soon as the sun gets warm.

I have had more problems with the heart monitor, because one of the contacts keeps on coming off, and I have had to use Sellotape to keep it on. Also, it's very itchy around the point where these contacts are stuck on my skin.

10.55 a.m. At around 9.20 I drove to the hospital to return the heart monitor. I must have made a wrong turning somewhere on the route, because I landed up goodness know where, somewhere down Chaffron Way, but I managed to get back on track and got onto Marlborough Street, which runs alongside Eaglestone and went into the hospital campus and then park in the street-level car park without any problems, where Carol and I used to park when she was going for chemotherapy. I went into the cardiology department and handed over the heart monitor and then returned to the car park and found, on putting the card in the machine which you pay, I found the barrier lifted without me having to pay, which is not surprising, as I was there for no more than five minutes. I then drove towards the ESSO filling station in Childs Way, to put some diesel in the car, ready for my journey to Chipping Norton on Saturday morning.

Then I drove to Sainsbury's (you never would have guessed, or would you?) Some stocking up was in order, and then back to Dexter House.

9.00 p.m. I got a letter this morning, from the Cardiology department at Milton Keynes Hospital (no, that isn't exactly correct, The letter had an address in Bristol, as the return to sender address. Which would suggest it wasn't sent from Milton Keynes Hospital.) Never mind. I have an appointment there on 19th June at 9.30 a.m. The appointment is supposed to take three hours, in which time they will be various tests, my weight will be taken and no doubt I will be put on a treadmill, to check my heart function and so on. I am only working on supposition, but I do have some idea what they are likely to do with me.

When I was there the other day, I was intrigued by the door with the title 'Echo Room.' I know, it's for doing tests on heart patients, using some sort of echo test (I think I've had it done at some point or other. I have an idea that the procedure is called an echocardiogram) But I can't help having this picture, in my vivid imagination, even though it's totally crazy, that it's a sort of vast echo chamber, where people go to let of steam, when they are having a terrible day, for example, so they go in there, shut the door and shout at the walls, and it echoes back at them (presumably it's totally sound-proofed?) I know, it is bonkers, but, if you've read some of my earlier posts, you will have realized that I am somewhat bonkers. 

Mad Dogs and Englishmen

 Sunday. 6.15 a.m. Another sunny and bright morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 20ºc and the flat is cool and pleasant, thank goodness.

3.30 p.m. I have now watched both Doctor Who episodes 'The Space Babies', and 'The Devil's Chord.' Regardless of what people have been saying on the internet, I really enjoyed both episodes. Ncuti Gatwa really throws himself into the role of The Doctor and gives it a real life and energy. He certainly has a charisma that shines out of the television set. It's difficult to take your eyes off him when he's on-screen. His co-star and companion in the Tardis, Mollie Gibson, playing the part of Ruby Sunday. It's clear that the Disney co-production has paid off, in that the production values are far greater, because it looks slick and has a cinematic look, the special effects, the sets and costumes look fantastic.

12.10 p.m. I have restarted my Ancestry account. It is a family history site, where you can find your ancestor's details. If you read these blog posts regularly, you will know how much work I have been putting into this work. I discovered my connection to The Ascott Martyrs, and that I am going to a study day in Chipping Norton this Saturday, to learn more about them (Chipping Morton featured heavily in the incident.) The day isn't just about those ladies, and what they did in 1873, but about other rebellions and protests which went on over the centuries in Oxfordshire. I have managed to get back at least 500 years and the family tree which I am building on the Ancestry website is growing and blooming daily.

Tuesday. 8.20 p.m. I have spent most of my Nectar points on a Nutribullet. For those who don't know what that is, it's a sort of blender into which you put vegetables and fruit to make into smoothies. I haven't yet tried it out, because I am slowly going through the manual which came with it, and I don't have any fruit or vegetables to put in it. So, as I write this post, it is sitting on top of my fridge/freezer and will remain there until I got to Sainsbury's or any other supermarket, or even the market near the shopping centre, to purchase some. I have bought ready-made smoothies in Sainsbury's, and it occurred to me that I could make my own, which would be a very good way to consume my five-a-day fruit or veg. I will let you know how I get on with the gadget when I have tried it out. 

Yesterday, at around midday, I got a telephone call from Milton Keynes Hospital. It was from the cardiology department, telling me that I had to have a heart monitor fitted, which I had to wear for 48 hours and that I should go to the cardiology department this afternoon to have the afore mentioned device affixed to my person. I got to the hospital and managed to park in the multi-storey car park. A car was reversing out of a space, not far inside the car park, so at least I didn't have to search for a space, which made things easier. I and then walked to the cardiology department. Little did I realise how far it was. I had to walk part of the way along the Redway which runs behind the house where Carol and I lived in Eaglestone. I used to walk along there when I used to go and visit Carol when she was in hospital after she was diagnosed with cancer. We used to park in the small car park near the entrance to the cardiology department and when she was first diagnosed and in hospital, we could see building work going on outside and which has now finished and the building which was being constructed was the new cancer unit.

I went into the cardiology department. We used to walk through here when we went to the oncology department, where Carol went to have chemotherapy. I reported to reception and then had to wait in the waiting area. I was eventually called in to a room by a nurse, and we were joined by a student nurse (I presume she was a student.) who was there to observe the procedure of me being connected to a heart monitor. It is a very small device, about the size of a small mobile phone, and it connects to my chest by way of the type of sticky contacts they use when you have an E.C.G. it has a clip on it, so I can clip it on to my belt or put it in a pocket. I will have to take it back and give it to the receptionist at the cardiology department on Thursday morning.                   

Sunny and Bright

Friday. 7.50 a.m. Yet another sunny and bright morning here in Milton Keynes. Temperatures have been hovering around the 28ºc mark yesterday, according to my digital thermometer. It currently shows the temperature in my flat at 22ºc. I have the window open, with the hope that it might keep the temperature low. Yesterday I had my electric fan on. 

Saturday. 7.15 a.m. Up early, as usual. It's bright and sunny again. The digital thermometer is currently reading 20ºc, a far more acceptable temperature.

Doctor Who is back today on BBC1, although it's available on BBC iPlayer and Disney+ from around midnight last night. As Disney are part financing it, to something in the region of £100,000,000, I suppose they would want it on their own streaming platform. I'm not sure if I like the idea of them financing it. I can see why, because the BBC, being funded by the Television licence, hasn't got the funds which would allow a show like Doctor Who to get the funding it needs to produce something that has the look and feel of a far bigger show, give it a cinematic look and attract actors to it who would give it an appeal internationally, as well as using the latest technology, such as C.G.I,  and animatronics, to create special effects, monsters etc.

I have been a fan of Doctor Who since its early days in the 1960s. I think I must have seen the very first episode,  'An Unearthly Child', which was broadcast on BBC television at 5.15, on 23rd November 1963.  It was somewhat overshadowed by the assassination of American President, John F. Kennedy the day before, in Dallas, Texas. I would have just had my 13th birthday, in October, so I presume I would have fitted into the age group at which it would have been aimed. There was nothing else at the time to compare it with. Most, if not all, adventure series aimed at boys particularly, were importations from America, such as 'Champion The Wonder Horse', and 'The Lone Ranger.' All in black and white as colour television didn't come in until around 1971, although the BBC introduced colour in 1967, when Wimbledon tennis was broadcast in colour on BBC2, as a sort of experiment. I remember being taken by my school to Granada Rentals, based in Bedford (probably to promote employment opportunities, but I can't remember.) and seeing a demonstration of colour television and a broadcast of Wimbledon.

The idea of a character who travels around in a machine, a time machine, called the Tardis, and allows it to move around in time and space and allow its passengers to stop off at historic periods and then move forward to the future, was intriguing. It had (and still has), different serials, and stories that ran for four or more weeks, and then, the Doctor and his companions would never know exactly where they had landed, in what period, who they would meet, whether friendly or not, monsters or whatever, which was one of the things I remember, never knowing exactly where they would land and so on. You had to keep on watching to find out. Most series on television would be set in the same location, with the same set of characters, from one week to the next. Doctor Who, on the other hand, changed, as I say, from one place and time, every couple of weeks. I would say that that element of the show is what has kept it going for more than 60 years. It can be refreshed very regularly, and the device of having The Doctor regenerated when the lead actor who plays him (or her, since Jodie Whittaker took on the role a few series ago.) and the show is given a makeover in some form or other.

Still Sunny!

Thursday. 7.55 a.m. Today, 9th May would have been my mother's 98th birthday. So sadly missed. It would have been wonderful if she'd been alive to see me and my grandchildren. I'm sure she would have loved to see them. She was only 56 in 1981 when she died. 

It's still bright and sunny. I just hope it stays that way.

I have always managed to put a link on my Facebook profile, which links to this blog. But several times recently, when I have attempted to do this, it has been refused by Facebook. It is only there as a means to an end, as I say, to provide a link for those who want to read my posts. I will give it another go and see if it is refused again. It doesn't always happen when I attempt to make the link available. A few seconds ago I tried to set up the link to Facebook, and it has worked. I don't understand why one moment it works, but another time it is refused.

I was going to drive off to The Oaktree Centre this morning, for our Thursday morning Bible Study, at around 9.20. When I got to the car, in its usual parking space, I found an Asda online delivery van parked across the exit, meaning I couldn't get out. The driver was busily sorting out his trolley with trays of produce balanced on it and ready to be taken into one of the flats within Dexter House. He said he would move the van down the street so that I could get out. But I saw that he was busy, so I said that I didn't mind waiting. I wasn't in a rush, so it didn't matter to me that a few minutes wait wouldn't make much difference. Then he pushed the trolley off along the street, and he disappeared into Dexter House. But it seemed to take longer than I anticipated, and when he eventually reappeared, he spent a good ten minutes stacking empty delivery boxes and sorting out his van. Fair enough, because he would want his van neat and tidy and nothing loose which would fall over and possibly get damaged. But this all took a good deal longer than I had hoped, but he eventually finished and drove away, which allowed me to drive out and go to the Oaktree Centre.

2.45 p.m. I must have mentioned somewhere within these posts, about how I used to order my repeat medication prescriptions, then have it made up by Lloyd's Pharmacy within Sainsbury's, and, further, how Lloyd's in Sainsbury's closed down and how I set up an account via the Lloyd's app (called Lloyd's Direct. Well, it took some time to get it to work, what with one thing and another, such as setting up a password. It had been working well enough for several months, but a few weeks ago I was informed that Lloyd's would be merging with another pharmacy company called Pharmacy2U. They would take over processing my prescriptions, but I would need to set up an account with them. It has taken me several days, attempting to set up an account with them and the frustration of setting up a password so that I could sign in and order my repeated medication. It has caused no end of annoyance, but eventually, it was done and it works. Or, I should say, it seems to work.

Sunshine On Milton Keynes!

 Monday. 6.15 a.m. It's May Bank Holiday Monday! For a change, it's dry and mild. Not so sure if it's going to remain dry, although traditionally (sorry, a bit of irony creeping in here!) it's supposed to rain.

2.15 p.m. I had to buy milk and dog food for Alfie. He would be most upset if he didn't get his dinner, so I went to Sainsbury's. Being a Bank Holiday, the underground car park was virtually empty, so it was easy enough to find a space. 

I am currently reading a book I have recently bought on Amazon, about the 'Ascott Martyrs', some of the ladies involved were ancestors of mine on my mother's side, and I discovered this when I was doing family history research. The book is entitled 'The Ascott Martyrs: Why Did the Rural Establishment Imprison Sixteen Women and Two Babies in 1873?' and it is edited by Keith Laybourn. It's actually a series of essays written by historians and others who have a background in the various elements of the story of these women.

Tuesday. 8.00 a.m. I woke up, went to the loo, went back to bed and, instead of remaining awake, I went back to sleep because when I eventually woke up, it was around 5 a.m. Alfie had to go out, so we went out briefly as we usually do. It's mild as I write this and the sun is out.

Wednesday. 5.25 a.m. I was surprised to find it was foggy when I took Alfie out about half an hour ago. It's not thick, but nevertheless, hanging over Oldbrook. It is mild and quite pleasant.

9.14 a.m. I had a text message from Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre a couple of days ago, telling me that an appointment had been arranged for me, for 8.20 this morning. I had no idea what it was for, but I imagined it was for a blood pressure test or something, I arrived in good time and found out that I had to go to room 21, which is on the first floor. I went upstairs and waited and, no more than five minutes later, I was called into the room. I then discovered that it was to have a blood test, blood taken to check my cholesterol level. The nurse told me that it was supposed to be a fasting blood test, but I hadn't been told, I decided to go ahead and let her take blood, but she couldn't find a vein in my right arm, so I had to lay on the couch, with my feet on the raised bit, where you normally put your head. Fortunately, she was able to find a vein and take some blood. Now I'll have to wait for the results and see if I have to go back for another blood test and make sure I haven't eaten anything beforehand.

From the surgery, I drove back along Witan Gate and went into Sainsbury's. (I seem to spend a lot of time, and money, in there. I was thinking, as I was driving, perhaps I should buy some shares in Sainsbury's, because of the amount I spend there. Just an idea. Anyway, having parked, I had to use the infamous travelator, and then discovered that the UP side wasn't working, and I had to walk, which was odd because you think it's supposed to move.

Unsettled Weather?

Thursday. 7.20 a.m. It's not quite so bright and sunny this morning. As I write this, I can hear the wind howling outside. Does it want to be let in? No, but the idea of wind howling does suggest that. 

Friday. 5.40 a.m. It's raining at the moment. I took Alfie out, and we didn't stay out long. I didn't want to get wet, and neither did Alfie.

11.00 a.m. I have been to Sainsbury's. The rain held off, not that it made any difference. 

I did my shop in Sainsbury's (now there's a surprise!) and at the end, when everything I had on my list was in the trolley, I went towards the tills. By this time there was quite a crowd of customers, queuing up, like me, ready to pay. I had accepted that I was going to have to use a self-service till, even though I dislike them, basically because they always go wrong, won't accept some items, hence you get 'item in bagging area' and suchlike messages. When I arrived in the fenced-off area, where the self-service tills are situated, many of these benighted machines had  'out of service' notices on their digital screens. Crazy, to have so many customers in the store, yet not have these devices ready for your customers. A few customers were using those machines which were operating. So, I pushed my trolley out of the self-service area and attempted to find a manned till. One, (and I state ONE) was in operation, but many other manned tills weren't open. There was quite a queue forming,  people ready to put their shopping through the till. But I wasn't over-keen to wait, and then I noticed that there were now self-service tills opening, so I rushed back to the fenced-off area and managed to check off my shopping. All went well, except for one item that wouldn't scan. I just hate them. If you must insist on having these machines, which replace human-operated tills, just make sure they aren't faulty.

Saturday. 11.00 a.m. The weather is fine. Let's just hope it stays that way.

Sunday. 7.25 a.m. Not a great deal happened yesterday, as you probably can see from the one line I wrote above. I did watch the first episode of the third season of 'Clarkson's Farm' on Amazon Prime. I know he's something of a Marmite individual, you either like him or hate him (I suppose I hover mid-way.) and I must say it's very entertaining and watchable. Compared with what the BBC has to offer, a lot of which is wokefied (if that's the correct spelling. Indeed, is that even a word?) it does make a change and it's entertaining.. He certainly isn't 'politically correct' in a lot of what he does and says. 

I woke in the night and I could hear strange noises going on outside. Someone racing a car engine, making sounds which must have been annoying if you lived nearby and were trying to sleep. I think there are goings-on which the police ought to deal with, like racing along the grid roads around Milton Keynes, which is more than a little bit dangerous. I think those that do that sort of thing think, because it's late at night, that they can get away with that sort of danger, and that there won't be any police around to stop them.

1.35 p.m. It was my turn on the refreshment rota at church this morning. I don't do it alone, the lady who I work with on this is in the Thursday morning Bible study. I got to The Oaktree Centre at around 9.40 and began by filling up the coffee urn. This needs to be on, filled with ground coffee because it takes the entire length of the service to be ready to serve. The service usually lasts an hour and a half, finishing at around 12.15, but today it was a family service and finished earlier than usual, at around 11.30, so I had to leave several minutes before the end, to just make sure things were ready for when everyone came out and expecting either tea or coffee.