Freedom Day . . . At Long Last!

This is the day we've been waiting for. All the ludicrous restrictions we've had to live under for the past two years are being abandoned. Let's say it; the pandemic is over, although Boris Johnson has said that the coronavirus hasn't gone away. Let's just say, it's hiding. We have to learn to live with it. 

It may be 'Freedom Day' if that's what you want to call it, but we now have all this overshadowed by the Ukraine Crisis with Russia threatening to invade that small country. Vladimir Putin making out it's their fault, and they're the aggressor. All this is done to deflect things from problems within Russia, mostly financial.

Thursday. 9.45 a.m. I have just got back from taking Alfie out for one of his walks and, as we walked along the path that runs beside Strudwick Drive, I notice a bright yellow pencil that looked as if it has been thrown away. Nothing wrong with it, an ordinary Staedtler wooden pencil, HB grade. I'm thinking, 'I'll have that!" So I picked it up and put it in my jacket pocket. But further along, I picked up more and in total there were 10 of them. I just hope they were thrown there by a pupil from Milton Keynes Academy or even the Primary school which is just over the road. Are children so stupid as to throw away stuff they are given to use in their lessons? I know some children don't have such items given to them by their parents as they don't have the income to afford such items as pens, pencils and other things, so why waste these by throwing them on the grass. There are children in Africa who would be pleased to have even a scrap of paper to write on or a pencil to write with. I don't think the children around here realize how lucky they are to have even the basic things free of charge for use in their education.

Perfectly good pencils, rescued from the grass along Strudwick Drive this morning. Just a waste to throw them away.

7.30 a.m. As I've mentioned in earlier blogs, I have upgraded my MacBook and now have a MacBook Pro. I'm more than pleased with it. I'm really surprised how thin and light it is, compared with my MacBook Air. I had been searching online to find some way of recycling it and, hopefully, get a fair price for it. This morning it has been collected by a courier from DPD, packed it up in a sealed box and is now gone. It was in excellent condition, mostly because it has had a plastic cover. I had managed to remove the bottom cover, but not the top one. Which shows how effective it has been in protecting this laptop.  I always attempt to look after all my gadgetry, because it is expensive and if I want to use it there's no point in it getting damaged if it's cared for properly. I had wiped the surface with a wet wipe but got the driver to remove the top cover. Also wiped clean and hopefully, this will affect the price I eventually receive. 

I'm somewhat annoyed that the laundry room is locked until 8 a.m. Just crazy that I have to wait until 8 o'clock to do my washing. I haven't been told about this stupid new rule. More rules and regulations. Just annoying.

It seems that Freedom Day was somewhat overshadowed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Just tell me, when did Kiev become Kyiv? It seems that the names of quite a few places have more or less overnight been changed in their spelling. Most western nations have taken their eyes off the ball (you might say.) Biden, US President' is as much use as a wet fish. Probably has early-onset dementia. Meanwhile, our politicians have been more concerned about parties in Downing Street than watching what's happening centre stage.  No wonder Rome burns whilst Nero fiddles. Sorry, I'm mixing my metaphors. No wonder Putin has managed to do what he's done. Puts me in mind of the Munich Crisis in 1938 before the beginning of World War 2. Strange how history repeats itself.

10.30 a.m. It is quite sunny and warm. A pleasant enough day to wander slowly around Oldbrook Green.

I have been back baking. I got the Sainsbury's Magazine last time I was shopping and inside is a recipe for chocolate cookies, so I have bought the ingredients (not actually from Sainsbury's. I decided to go to Waitrose instead. It is quite an effort to make anything complicated in my tiny kitchen because there isn't much in the way of surfaces. It's a bit of a juggling act. Measuring out the flour, butter, sugar and so on and attempted to roll out the dough and then put it on baking trays, but my efforts have been worthwhile. The results have exceeded expectations. Now I have had all the boxes removed from the pantry/cupboard, I have more space to store the equipment, such as the food processor and the trays and pans. I need to get a good deal more organized next time I do a bake.

I have hit the 10,000 steps target today! That's approximately 5 miles. I took Alfie out  at around 4 p.m. as it was bright and sunny and it seemed a pity to not take advantage of the sun. I don't think Alfie was going to miss the opportunity to have a good walk and sniff around in the grass. Just glad to get the steps total in and finding the Fitbit is motivating me to get out of the flat.

One Law For Them . . .

Saturday 15th January. 8.15 a.m. I was somewhat surprised by thick fog as I took Alfie out this morning. As I write this, the BBC Breakfast weather forecast has said that there is 50-100 feet visibility. I can believe it. I don't have to go anywhere in the car, so I won't have to drive through it.

Sunday. 7.45 a.m. A dark and dreary morning. I took Alfie out as he kept on scratching on the bathroom door when I was using the toilet. I took the little pocket torch with me. We weren't outside long, so the torch wasn't necessary. It needs a new battery installing because the light from it is too weak to be of any use.

It looks as if Boris Johnson's tenure as PM is on the line. There have been revelations about Christmas parties being held in 2020 when we were in lockdown and, under Government laws, such gatherings weren't supposed to take place. Boris is attempting to wriggle out of any responsibility for such events (there are several which have come to light, but one clearly showing him attending one in the garden of Number 10. ) There is an inquiry underway, but as it stands, Boris is still PM and as such should have taken responsibility as a leader. One minute he goes on the Downing Street press conferences and announces new measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, and behind the scenes, he is allowing gatherings. Real hypocrisy. A definite case of 'do as I saw, not what I do', or, 'one law for them and one for us.' Only time will tell whether he leaves Downing Street as Prime Minister.

2.30 p.m. I've been to church this morning. Sunny and bright as I drove up Chaffron Way. It's still extremely sunny as I took out Alfie. The hall was packed. Phase 2 of the building project (for the Oaktree Centre.) has been revived. 

I got back from church, parked the car, and I thought I heard the fire alarm going off within Dexter House. I hoped it wouldn't be that, but as I walked inside, it was all too obvious that it was. The doors along the corridor leading to my flat had shut (which they do automatically when the alarm goes out, presumably to contain smoke if there is a genuine fire.) I'm never sure whether it's an emergency or some sort of fault with the system. There was definitely no sign of smoke or even flames, no smell of burning. Had someone burnt their toast, left a cigarette burning in an ashtray, or forgotten something in their oven? You never can tell. The sound is deafening and as I entered the flat, Alfie started barking. He really doesn't like the noise. I have to admit it is deafening. I suppose it has to be if it's going to wake people if they're asleep if there's a fire. We're supposed to remain in our flats if there is a fire. Which I'm not doing. That was the instruction given to the tenants of  Grenfell Tower in 2017 and look what happened to them when there was a terrible fire? I have always taken Alfie with me when the alarm goes off, and we go and stand outside the front door until the fire service gives the all-clear to re-enter the building. The din continued for several minutes, after which I pressed the emergency alarm and was told that someone was coming to sort out the alarm, and around 5 minutes later the noise stopped. No doubt it was caused by a fault with the system, which it always seems to be, unfortunately.

Monday. 1.45 p.m. It was icy when I took Alfie out as usual around 7.30 this morning. I intended to go to Sainsbury's, as I needed items to form my lunch when I go to Camphill tomorrow, so I had to spend a good ten minutes defrosting the car. Fortunately, I had bought a fresh can of antifreeze spray from Homebase when I went there the other day, so it didn't take too long.

I am continuing with my writing, which requires transcribing onto word processing. It may have to wait until I can rely on my MacBook to behave itself. It seems fine at the moment, but it has a habit of shutting itself down. I have no idea what's causing this, but I still think the only solution is to purchase a new model which will have the newest version of all the software on it. Unfortunately, the MacBook doesn't have enough memory to install the latest version of the operating system. It is over seven years old, which is supposed to be the average life of a computer, so I reckon I've got plenty of work out of it over the years and it has done good duty.

Late Night

Thursday 13th January.1.05 a.m. Here I am at my MacBook, which seems to be working relatively well, allowing me to sit and write this blog post. Another case of not being able to sleep. I have been doing domestic chores, washing up last night's things from making my meal and generally tidying the kitchen. I don't like having piles of dirty plates, pots and pans left in the sink. I think it goes back to being a temp and doing kitchen jobs in various units around Bedford in the 1990s. Kept the bills paid and a rich source of material for my writing. 

There is noise outside. I think it's on or around Oldbrook Green. The sound of what I think is a motorbike or scooter. Revving engines and bursts of engine noise. At this time of night, it shouldn't be allowed. People want to sleep, so why aren't the police intervening and preventing it? It's really not acceptable.

7.15 p.m. I have been to get my hair cut at Central Barbers this morning. I had booked online yesterday, which made it a good deal easier, even paying. I will have to get Alfie booked in at The Groom Room as he is in real need of a haircut himself.

10.25 p.m. Another sleepless night. Does it really matter? Not really. I've been watching an episode of 'My Family', the BBC sitcom with Robert Lindsey and Zoe Wanamaker. All the episodes are on iPlayer and I'm working though all the episodes. It's not exactly the most original of sitcoms, but it's their acting and general involvement which lifts it out of the rut of a lot of what you'd call studio sitcoms into something special. I think it's their chemistry as actors which makes it.  If I have a niggle with it, how come their son, Nick, played by Kris Marshall, who must be in his 20's, is still living at home and doesn't have a proper job? His career has certainly taken off since he was in this show, which finished production in around 2010, plus or minus a year or so, and has since starred in such television shows as 'Death In Paradise'.   There is virtually no sitcom on terrestrial television that comes anywhere near the quality of this show, and certainly no as there used to be once upon a time, or, say, the standard of something like 'Fawlty Towers' or 'The Good Life.' They used to make sitcoms in small batches, of, say, six or seven.  Modern television seems to demand a run of perhaps twenty or more episodes, rather in the fashion of American television. They usually write their shows with a group of writers and not with a single writer or even a couple of writers, which is how 'Steptoe and Son' was written by Galton and Simpson. In fact, generally, television has become really dull and unimaginative, something I've discussed elsewhere on this blog.

Friday. 10.15 a.m. Some dear soul in one of the flats beneath me is coughing. It isn't for a short period, but going on continuously. I have an idea it's because they smoke. So I have to be sympathetic so someone with a cough who smokes? No, definitely not. It's self-inflicted. Why not merely get some cough sweets to suck or some cough mixture of some sort or just drink something to relieve it. It's just becoming annoying and interrupting my writing and general peace and quiet.

I've done my washing for the week. Friday is always washing day. I had the machine on a good deal earlier than normal, around 7.30. I have purchased a garment steamer and I've been trying it out on one of my Marks and Spencer polo shirts. It certainly does it's job and gets rid of any wrinkles in a garment and saves having to get the ironing board out, plug in the iron and the stand and iron. I'm fine doing this job, but it still takes a lot of effort. 

Quite sunny and bright out, but frosty when I took Alfie out. 

Dying Macbook

 Sunday 19th December. 2.35 p.m. My MacBook Air has finally given up and died. This must have been around Tuesday or Wednesday this week. Then my internet connection began to play up. There are three yellow lights on the router and when you have a steady internet connection all three will come on, but the centre one didn’t come on I realized that something was wrong somewhere, but what it was I didn’t have the faintest idea. I thought perhaps I should ring my service provider, Sky, to see if they could sort things out. I had noticed that sometimes, when watching streamed video, there was often a point when the video would freeze or stutter. I came to the conclusion that my internet connection needed upgrading to a faster connection. I would need to ring up Sky to help sort out the problem or even find an alternative internet provider. 

Then I got a telephone call. A lady with a vaguely foreign accent who told me she was from the Sky technical department. I have to admit, it was far too much of a coincidence that I was to get this call and was somewhat suspicious. I asked if she was real and she said she was. Then she put on the line a man with an equally foreign accent who said he could sort out my technical issue and that I would need to download an app from the App Store, which I did. It was when he asked me for a number which came up within th.is app that I became very suspicious and because I had real difficulties understanding his thick accent, I hung up.All I can say is, thank goodness I did.

The next day I decided to call Sky about the concerns I’d been having with my internet connection. It took me a while to find the right telephone number on the Sky website. You really have to search for it, because it is really buried in the most unlikely place.  It is certainty  not given prominence on the home page. It wasn’t long before I managed to speak to a human. (How I hate those voice-activated ‘menus.’ They never seem to recognize what I say. You end up eventually having to speak to a real person.)

I was told that Sky never rings customers in the fashion the fake callers had done. They would never ask you to give passwords, bank details or ask you to download anything, such as an app. It was too much of a coincidence that I had the call when I did. It was just as well I hung up when I did.

As a result of all this I have now upgraded my internet connection and have a new router which is now running and there is definitely a faster connection and the buffering has stopped when I'm watching streamed video. All set up and I  now have all my devices re-set with the new wifi password.

Troublesome Technology

Tuesday. 7.45 a.m. A bit wet when I  went out earlier with Alfie. Not exactly pouring rain, but a bit what I'd call drizzly. Thin rain might be a better description.

I forgot to mention that the fire alarm when off in Dexter House yesterday morning. The system has been tested by a technician, who presumably knew what he was doing, but it went on for around an hour. At first, I wasn't sure if it was the weekly test, which usually lasts around a minute. Then, when it continued on, whether it was more serious. It was no good because it gives me a headache and Alfie can't cope with it either, I imagine it hurts his ears as dogs can hear sounds at a different, lower, frequency to humans. So I put on my trousers (well, not such a good idea to go without, don't you think?) and gathered Alfie up, and we proceeded to leave the flat and go out into the street. I could still hear the alarm and thought it best to walk around the block, giving Alfie a surprise outing in the process.

Wednesday. 10.20 a.m. The other morning, there was a sound rather like a baby crying. It was around 3 o'clock in the morning. It was very close, whatever it was, more likely a cat, sitting on the ledge outside my bedroom window. As the window as open, that might have accounted for the rather loud volume. I was expecting Alfie to react, but he seemed to remain asleep beside me on the bed.

Thursday. 7.55 p.m. I have never mentioned the online surveys I do, for which I receive both cash and vouchers which can be redeemed for high street goods and services. Not only am I doing the online surveys, but I have more recently done some focus groups. Most are done via Zoom, the computer video platform, basically, because it's easier than having to set up face-to-face groups and even more so with the current pandemic restrictions. I won't mention who or what is said in any of the surveys, as I'm not supposed to. Privacy and confidentiality and all that. I did one a couple of Mondays ago, and the latest one was yesterday evening. You have to make sure you're all set up well in advance of the set time, which I did. On this occasion, I used my iPad and had it set up on the gooseneck support which I got from Amazon. The idea with this is that it brings the iPad up closer to my face and is easier to use than having the MacBook at table height. I also had my iPhone set up on another gooseneck support, for emergencies. I should describe a gooseneck as being a device that is made of strong spring-like material that keeps its position once adjusted. It holds your tablet or phone in a firm, spring-loaded grip, and you can move it around to get the best position. The focus group began, but after around thirty minutes, the iPad began to die on me. I had thought it was fully charged, but it just died completely. I then decided to use the iPhone, and then I couldn't get the sound to stop on the iPad (don't ask me why or how. It really illudes me completely.) It began to cause sound problems, which I couldn't fix until I put the iPad in the kitchen. Then I had to continue on the iPhone, but eventually decided to use my MacBook to finish the session It was all very annoying and embarrassing, but I was determined to continue because I knew that otherwise I wouldn't be paid the incentive for the focus group. Then I couldn't get the sound to work and had to continue with the discussion using the 'chat' facility on Zoom, which actually worked quite well. I could write relatively fast in answer to some questions and make comments, easier than waiting for people to finish speaking. Considering I had all my devices fully charged and it was just as well I had an alternative to the iPhone and iPad. Just typical that they should fail me when I really needed them to work properly.

Lockdown Frustration

I entitled this blog 'Frustration,' because I'm still cooped up like a battery chicken in a relatively small space, I speak to very few people during my day, each one becoming an exact copy of the last one, the fact that it's almost a year since all this lockdown business began (well, it will be by the end of March.) and there seems to be no sign of an end to this situation, even though we now have several anti-coronavirus vaccines being rolled out. There is no evidence, as yet, that these vaccines will actually make a vast difference, particularly whether they prevent cross infection between people, or, indeed, how long their effects last. I could go on, but I won't.

 (Monday) My  Apple MacBook Air needs to be charged, as any battery-operated laptop computer does. It has around 10 hours when fully charged. I like to keep it as fully charged as possible. It has a charger which has a magnetic plug which fits into the side port. Unfortunately, due to fair intense use over the years (it is around 6 years old.) But unfortunately, due to the constant use, plugging and unplugging, the cable has got worn. The actual metal cable had worn through and on some occasions I have felt a slight shock. Although not dangerous, I had meant to replace it. I think we had to replace the same cable on Carol's smaller MacBook, which was purchased through a scheme they had at Milton Keynes Academy, where by Carol paid in installments, take monthly from her salary. The MacBook I have (and on which this is being written.) was a birthday present she gave me.

I bought my iPad from Very, the on-line retail outlet. We bought quite a few items through them when we lived in Eaglestone. I had to buy a fridge/freezer when I moved to Dexter House and once it was paid off I decided to treat myself to an iPad, and since the lockdown which began in March 2020 it has been really useful as a tool to aid communication. I am still paying for it in instalments. I discovered that Very had Apple accessories, including the MacBook Air charger available, At £79 it's expensive, but at least I could buy it and add it to my account and pay that in instalments. It's quite a large outlay to pay for that if I'd gone to John Lewis or the Apple store which is in Milton Keynes shopping centre, so it was the right option. So, I ordered it and it arrived last week. I was a bit concerned that it might not be the right item, but when it arrived I opened the package and it does work and the old, worn, adapter was put in the recycling. 

The MacBook charging device arrived on Friday when I was out walking Alfie. It was left with my neighbour and he gave it to me as I got back. I was glad that it was the right device and I immediately had it connected to the laptop and the old, worn device has gone in the recycling. Then the next day I came in again and my neighbour presented me with exactly the same package, the same shape and wrapped in blue plastic. A sense of  de javu. Why would I have a second parcel containing exactly the same device, particularly as I hadn't ordered it. I immediately opened the parcel to discover, to my annoyance, that it was indeed the same items as the first parcel which I had received. So, I would need to send it back to Very, as I didn't need it. Perhaps I could have kept it as a spare, but as these things cost £79, I wasn't keen to have to pay out twice for the same thing. 

I managed to wrap the MacBook charger in wrapping paper and got it sealed up with a healthy amount of Sellotape, having put  the returns form inside, stuck the return label on the top and left it to take to post in the morning. This morning, Monday, I drove to One Stop in Coffee Hall as there is a Post Office inside. I had to wait for a good twenty minutes as someone had goodness knows how many parcels to go through the system. The man behind the counter had to weigh each item and then put sticky tables on each one and it went on interminably. It was then my turn to hand over my parcel, and the man told me he couldn't take it! It had a pre-paid address label and he said I should take it, I'm not sure exactly because, having to wear a face-covering I think effected my hearing. I left, not exactly pleased, and drove to the next Post Office I knew of at Netherfield. He had said, next to the Coop, so I assumed it was there that he meant. I went into the Coop and soon realised it wasn't where the Post Office was. I then realised it was only a few shops along, so I went in and the lady behind the counter told me she wasn't supposed to take my parcel (for whatever reason, I can't think why. After all, that's what the Post Office is for, or I assumed it was. Anyway, I handed over the parcel, and that was the end of the matter, thankfully.

(Tuesday) It's 7.25a.m. I'm sitting here in my armchair typing away at this. It dark outside and I'm about to take Alfie out. He won't like it, because it's raining. At least, I have a good idea that it is, because earlier, when I was in the bathroom, there was rain running down the outside of the window, but as far as I know, it might have stopped, but I'm not entirely sure.

I had to order medication which was on the point of running out. On Sunday I went into the app I have on my iPad which allows me to order my medication and make appointments with my doctor as well as see my notes etc. But when I went into it on Sunday I found that Bisoprolol couldn't be ordered, for what ever reason. I attempt to make sure that I have enough of my medication on hand and that I don't run out. It can sometimes take a week for an order to go through, from the doctor authorising a prescription to it being sent to Lloyd's Pharmacy in Sainsbury's, to them making it up and then texting me to say it's ready for collection. On Monday morning I attempted to ring the surgery, but, unfortunately, after listening to a long splurge on this and that and in particular, information about Covid 19 and not going to the surgery unless it was an emergency, the system hung up on me. Not what I needed at that precise moment. So, after some thought, I decided to go into the surgery website and managed to leave a message on the site. Which must have been read and acted upon, as later in the afternoon I got a text message saying the prescription was made up and ready for collection. Bisoprol is a beta blocker, meaning it slows down my heart rhythm and hopefully, helping prevent another heart attack, which was why I was eager to have a plentiful supply as I take one tablet each morning and I don't know what would happen if I was to not take it for more than a day. Might be unpleasant and a bit dangerous.

Things To Do

Well, I have now got a flat sorted out, at last somewhere to move to from this house. I don't mind telling you that it's been a long hard journey and I only wish that someone had told me earlier that I could move to sheltered housing. It's almost as if wires got crossed somewhere. What I mean is, having claimed Housing Benefit at the Council offices, what with Carol dying and me being over the age of 60, someone would have noticed that I was living in a 3-bedroom house and that the Council wasn't paying the entirety of the rent. Well, there it is, just need to find a company to do the removals for me and get the small bedroom emptied of it's contents, sorting out what is worth keeping and what needs taking to the tidy-tip and I'm all done and to be honest, I'll be glad when it's over and done with.

I needed to take the tenancy agreement into the council offices, so that my Housing Benefit could be transferred to the flat in Dexter House along with Council Tax. I had been given this when I went in to collect the keys to the flat on Wednesday. I drove into the centre of Milton Keynes early and was in the Civic offices at just past 9 o'clock.

I had the tenancy agreement with me, because I was expecting this to be needed for the transfer of benefits be completed. I had to get help as I usually do, to use the touch-screen check-in system at the reception area. The young man who helped me wasn't a lot of help because it appeared he didn't know what I was there for. I was given a numbered ticket from the machine and then sat down to wait for the number to appear on the digital screens. After about 20 minutes it came up, and I walked to the desk with the relevant number, but it turned out that I was in the wrong place and was told  that I would need to fill in an on-line application. I could do it there in the office or go home and do it on my own laptop.

I couldn't remember my National Insurance number, so I couldn't complete the on-line application so I had to go home and set it up on my MacBook and THEN had to have the rent account number for the flat in Dexter House. I rang and couldn't speak to the warden lady, so left a message on the voice mail and then she rang about 10 minutes later, gave me the number which meant I could complete the change of address form. The first time I got it wrong and went to 'Change of Circumstances,' but then realised it should have been 'change of address.'

I'm still stuck with all the stuff in the small bedroom. I have been on line and have managed AT LAST to find someone who can actually deal with this situation. They are licensed to deal with material which can be taken to the tip and I rang this morning and they are coming this evening (Friday) to have a look and give me a price. I only hope they can do the job and I have been told that they could clear the room this evening, which will be a huge weight off my mind as this situation has been going on for months now. I have known that I would need to empty the room but how and when was an unknown quantity until I had somewhere to move to, but now I have somewhere to actually move to, the matter of the small bedroom looms large.

I went out yesterday afternoon with Alfie. It was attempting to rain, but only just, but this didn't put me off. I wore my blue Peter Storm jacket, which has a hood. Alfie seems impervious to a little bit of rain. As we walked around Eaglestone Park (well, I walked. Alfie runs.) the skies opened and it just pelted down. We just trudged on and got home before we got to soaked. Alfie shaking himself at regular intervals and once we were indoors, I used a towel to attempt to dry him. As a result of the soaking, Alfie's coat became more than ever curly, looking for all the world as if it had been permed.

The man with the van arrived at around 7.30. He had one look at the bedroom and all the stuff in there and sent a photo to his partner on his mobile. I had at first said I was prepared to pay £60 for the job, but he told me that he wouldn't be able to take everything for that amount and then said it would cost £160. I was reluctant to pay that amount, but if it meant that everything was cleared, the I would pay that amount and as a result I agreed and he started the job, taking everything out to his van which was parked in the space where I usually parked at the front of the house, having moved the car further along the road. He uncovered bits and pieces that I hadn't seen for  long time, and lots of Daniel's computer game discs, as well as a rather nice camera bag I hadn't known was buried in there. But most of it will be dumped, which he can do because he has the relevant licence. I discovered that he lived in Cardington village, where I lived and grew up in and he knew Malting Farm. He managed to finish the job at around 9 o'clock, and all I can say is that I'm relieved that its done, apart from the removal of the single bed which he said he could come back for either today (Saturday) or Monday.

Fenced In!

I thought the work to install fibre broadband which has been going on around Milton Keynes for the past few weeks had finished in this area, but was surprised this morning when one of he workmen knocked on my front door to say that I ought to move my car because they were going to start work along the front of the house. They put in the orange fence and then began to dig up the paving blocks and had a small digger in to take out the sand and then the mauve plastic pipe went in. It would appear that the telephone line has been suspended meanwhile so that the work can continue, but it is somewhat inconvenient.

It would appear the landline telephone won't work. I think the workmen have cut this off because of the installation of fibre broadband. Phil and Robert Shepherd were coming this morning, I'm sure it was after 10 o'clock, but it's now midday and still no sign of them. If they did come, they'd find it difficult to get to the house. Currently a workmen is knocking the paving blocks back ito the trench they dug, so I trust the work will be completed soon.

Shelly, my neighbour, has come in and suggested how I should pack and how to sort out what to keep and what to take and later, her husband, Garry, came to give me some tough black bags, far better than the one's you use in a bin, some tape and some flat-pack boxes which I have started to construct and have already started clearing the books on the book unit.

The sound of a machine for cutting the blocks outside can be here. Not a nice noise. They are gradually replacing the blocks.

Philip Shepherd rang. He said that they had packed up the lawnmower and other equipment in one car and set off and the car had a problem and they had to return and packed it all in Robert's car and got as far as Eaglestone and saw the workmen and the fact that my drive was inaccessible so they didn't go any further and returned home. He apologised and said he'd ring in the week and fix another time to cut the grass.

I have written a letter on the MacBook, which is initially handing in  my notice on this house and I have made a list of the problems which have never been resolved so at least it's in wiring. I have now been to the post office in the Eaglestone store and posted the letter off. I had to drive around the estate to get there, only one way, because it's virtually impossible to get through with the workmen putting in the fibre cable.

Garry tells me that Joe and Jas are definitely going to take over the tenancy on this house and it's clear they intend doing a lot of refurbishment before taking over. The landlord accepts this, and they are meeting again on Tuesday.

I  feel that things are moving steadily forward and can see that it will be better all round for me (as well as Alfie, of course.), not having to pay so much rent and being in a new environment which is smaller but more appropriate for a single man. It's just going to take time to get everything sorted and packed.

John from church was supposed to come after 2 o'clock with his trailer to help clear out the small bedroom. He hadn't arrived by 2.45 so I rang on my mobile and he said that he though we were doing the work next week. He said he'd come on Thursday and if necessary we can carry on on Saturday afternoon (very likely as there is so much. Shelly came round and helped me start to organise how to clear the house, because to be honest, I feel like a rabbit in the headlights because I don't really know where to start. Then, later, Garry came round to give me some flat cardboard boxes and tape to put them together, as well as some really tough black bags, far better and stronger than the average black bin bags. I had made up some of the boxes and I have already started clearing some of the book unit in the lounge, putting books I want to keep in one and another box for books which will go to a charity shop.

The workmen has now left. You would never know that they'd dug up the road, put the fibre cable in and refill it, they've done a good job clearing up after themselves. I have to say I'm impressed. I just hope the road can now be free to vehicles and I can get out tomorrow to get to church.