Sunshine, Sneezes and Grass Cutting

So, we're now into September. I suppose it's now downhill to Christmas. The shops will be brim-full of the usual tat that passes for 'Christmas' stock, all the junk you couldn't possibly want but seem impelled to purchase. It's such a pity that B.H.S. no longer exists as we always found it great fun to visit their Christmas shop because it used to be chock full of the exact tat I've just mentioned above, furry slippers with Father Christmas hats on, party packs of chewing gum and assorted mints in Guinness glasses. You name it, some idiot has thought of it and it's packaged and made available to the general public. So, which shop will take the mantle from those eager to buy this stuff?

Further thoughts on B.H.S. Why did it deteriorate so rapidly? When it was run by Conran's under the umbrella of Storehouse (or some other name) along with B and Q and Superdrug (which, incidentally, are still going strong as separate companies) but when Philip Green took it over did it become nothing but a disaster, the standard of the stuff they sold really poor quality? Further to that, what happened to the stock that was left when it went into administration? The same could be said of Woolworth's when they, too, went bust. What happened to the stock that they had left when it closed down? Is it in a  warehouse awaiting being sold on to some other business.

I've been sneezing for the past few days. Considering all our health issues over the past couple of months, the last thing I wanted to get would be a cold. I suppose it's no surprise, I probably picked it up from sitting in waiting rooms. I remember a couple of years ago when I went into hospital when I had a glitch with an angina attack which didn't stop, I came out of hospital and came down with a severe bout of noro virus. Just typical, you go into hospital with one thing and come out with another. Not nice and something we could well do without. Since then, I have noticed when we've been to hospital, how much effort is now made to keep the various places clean, there's always someone cleaning the floor or surfaces, how much effort they seem to make when they change the beds.

Well, anyway, as I say, I've been sneezing a lot the past couple of days. I haven't had a cold in a few years now. My general health has been good. I haven't had any severe angina attacks or anything heart-related for quite a while. If I do anything too strenuous I always manage to use a G.T.N. spray. For example, whenever we go swimming at Nuffield Health I have a few puffs before I get into the pool. Or, if we go out and go for a walk I often use the spray before we set of or at least take one with me. I have several spare in the box I have to keep my medication.

It's possible that the sneezing is because of the grass-cutting, but they can't be linked as it stopped before I cut the grass.

I've put it off for long enough. It's not a job I particularly relish, but there was no point in putting it off much longer. The weather was fine, so I just went and cut the grass. Anyway, it was long and if I ignored it for much longer the mower wouldn't make much of a job. Considering the machine has such a tiny plastic cutter, it's a wonder I managed to make much of an impression on the grass at all. It was slightly wet which didn't exactly help, but at least it's now done and should not need doing again for another couple of weeks. Mention as I have above about using a G.T.N. spray I usually use it before mowing the grass and stop several times as I'm mowing as I don't want to get an angina attack. Makes sense really. One reason to cut the grass is, that our beloved landlord will visit at some point within the next month, and probably the only comment he will make will be 'have you cut the grass?' Well, if he was to merely take a glance into the garden he would be able to see whether it was cut or not. He and his wife usually ring us during August to come and visit (having to give 24 hours notice) but, up until today, they haven't done so. Why, I begin to ask? Have they forgotten? Is it because they trust us to look after the house? Or is it they don't want to have to spend out on repairs to the place, one such repair desperate for something or other is the toilet cistern in the bathroom. It doesn't stop water flowing into the bowl after you flush the thing. And quite a few minor things that need doing.

Anyway, returning to my sneezing attacks. It seems to have passed. It didn't develop into a full-scale cold, thank goodness. Probably a sort of hay fever attack. Which, incidentally, isn't something I'm prone to.

Better NOT go to SpecSavers, but Happy 50th Birthday Milton Keynes!

Yesterday was Milton Keynes 50th Birthday. Not sure exactly what actually happened on 23rd January 1967, but I think it was when the Milton Keynes Development Corporation was set up. It was decommissioned by the Government of the day 25 years later. I have been living in the City (is it a town or a city? It has never received City status. It is has always been the butt of many jokes, particularly over such things as the number of roundabouts and the famous or infamous 'Concrete Cows.' It's an easy place to find your way around, because the grid roads have so many roundabouts that if you loose your way you can always go to the next roundabout, which are at approximately every mile and merely turn round. It can be difficult to imagine that it has so many people living here because of all the trees and driving through the place you can never always see the houses as they are screened by trees which line the roads and then the banks that run along the grid roads are where most of the trees grow.

On Saturday morning we went into the City centre, specifically to visit the Central Shopping Centre. We were looking for flip-flop footwear. It probably sounds strange to learn that we wanted them because, at Nuffield, walking back and forth between the changing rooms and the swimming pool, it is quite slippery. It seems that most of the other people wear something on their feet, such as flip-flops. We walked the length of the shopping centre, stopping at several shops on the way to try and buy myself and Carol our own pair. No success. Probably because they are a seasonal item, which most people buy when they go on holiday, for use on the beach or at the pool-side. We eventually ended up in John Lewis, but no flip-flops of any kind could be discover. We went to their cafe to have lattes and cake, as by the time we'd arrived at John Lewis's we were exhausted. We eventually visited Sports Direct, which has a branch in Midsummer place and it was here that we discovered the flip-flops we wanted. On trying mine on at home, I found that I couldn't wear them as the central 'bar' that goes between my big toe and next toe was hurting my foot so decided that I really needed to purchase what are called 'Sliders.' These are made of a similar material as flip-flops, but are more like backless slippers, but made of water resistant material, a sort of plastic/rubber combination. I have since been to the Sports Direct branch at Bletchley, the retail park on perhaps the worst roundabout combination in the area and got a pair of 'sliders' there.

There is currently work going on in the Central Shopping Central. It's being renovated. The entrance we went into near Marks and Spencer has been given a real spruce-up. It has new flooring, and there are areas which are currently screened off, where the old flooring has been taken up, no doubt ready for new tiling to be laid. Along the malls at one end, there are new seating areas and it seems that a lot of the plants that used to be set into raised beds have been removed. Well, to be honest, some of the plants were beginning to look a bit tired. Quite a few died. They've been in position since the shopping centre was opened by H.M. The Queen, in 1979. It seems amazing that this is Grade II Listed and it can't be altered substantially. It would appear that the rest of the shopping centre (which must be one of the first covered shopping centres in Great Britain, probably after the Brent Cross shopping centre just outside London.) H.M.V.'s store is about to close. They have a sale on, due to 'relocation.' No doubt because they don't need such a big unit. Also W.H.Smith's did the same. They have now moved into a much smaller unit, I think it was where the Post Office was originally when the shopping centre opened. That then moved to a unit in one of the 'Walks' which link the two sides of the centre, but has since transferred to a new unit near the theatre, which has been open a few years now. It would make sense that, instead of closing a store to refurbish, the company moves to a new unit, which would allow the old unit to remain until the new unit was completed. B.H.S. has been closed down since the company ceased trading last year. Also, Woolworth's, the old unit they had opposite W.H.Smith's old shop is now a T.K.Maax.

This morning I went back into the City centre as I had an appointment at SpecSavers. If you've read my earlier blog post, you will know that I had my eyes tested in November. I had gone to Boot's opticians, but took the prescription to SpecSavers to have the glasses made up there. I wish I hadn't bothered. The staff in this place is either dumb or just plain stupid. Just being fair and reasonable, but speaking the truth. I wanted TWO pairs of glasses made up, under their 'Two pairs for £69.' Not too difficult to explain, surely. A week later I go back to collect the order and discover the stupid girl who took the order had got it wrong and given me TWO PAIRS of the same glasses, for distance. Doh! So I had to get them to get it right, and a few days later I get the correct order and then discover that the reading glasses are not suitable  for close reading as well as working on the computer (as now). I went back today to have a re-test. The optician did a good job, but the staff at reception or front's-house, or what ever, who take the prescription to have it made up into glasses, well, another really dump girl who couldn't get what I wanted and I had to explain I don't know how many time that I wanted reading glasses made up for more distant reading work. Dumb or what? Not particularly on-the-ball. I don't trust them to do exactly what I required and will not in future be going to SpecSavers. I think they ought to train their staff better. Just poor customer service in my opinion.

Swimming and Bacon Rolls

We got to D.W. Fitness at around 8.25 this morning and found the swimming pool empty so it was really pleasant to be able to have the place to ourselves for at least twenty minutes until the children's swimming teacher came in. The steam room wasn't very hot so I didn't remain in there long and then went in the Jacuzzi for 10 minutes or so. Carol been swimming in the pool and came and joined me by which time the children came in to start their swimming lesson and the was getting crowded and the noise-level getting quite loud so we went out to get dressed and went to B.H.S. which is oposite the carpark from D.W. Fitness with the intention of having something to eat in their restaurant which was totally deserted when we arrived, no customers around, a  tray on one of the tables full of dirty plates and cups, the till umanned, all the food open to the public. We looked at the menu on the wall behind the counter and had decided we wanted bacon rolls or sandwiches and coffee, but no staff member came to serve us, but after 10 minutes a young man came out of the room behind the counter,  presumably the storage area. We asked for bacon rolls or sandwiches, which he said weren't available. He said we should go to Marks and Spencer, which was a few doors along the row of shops. We weren't exactly impressed by this response so we left, and on the way we went to a cash desk and told another member of staff that we had waited for ten minutes before the staff member came to serve us in the restaurant and then we went to the restaurant in Marks and Spencer where we were served very efficiently and had lattes and bacon rolls. On the way out of the store we bought some food items for this evening's meal and then drove home.

Hottest Day Of The Year

They had forecast this as being possibly the hottest day of the year so far. I can well believe it, because, as I write this (at 10.47 a.m.) the sun is out in full force. Carol and I have been into the Central Shopping Centre (Centre MK as it's called) and parked the car in Debenham's multi-storey car park, as it's the best place to park as you are more or less guaranteed a place, even though you have to pay. It was virtually empty when we arrived at around 8.45, having dropped Sam off at Maplin's where he recently started working. We walked down through Debenhams and out into the shopping centre. We were going to Boot's opticians, and they have a branch outside their main store, but it didn't open until 9.30, so we walked to the main branch and upstairs, where I made an appointment for my eye-test for 9.00 a.m. on Monday. We browsed for new glasses and selected three frames, so I will order these once my eyes are tested. You should get a second pair, for reading, when you get the distance glasses as theres a 'buy one, get one free' offer on in Boot's. We went into Marks and Spencer as Carol was looking for a skirt. We went up several floors on the escalator, and found it exceptionally hot the further up the building you went. There must have been something wrong with the air conditioning in Marks and Spencer, and they had several industrial air conditioning units dotted around the various floors, one of which we stood in front of to get the benefit of the cooling air.
Several other people came to enjoy the breeze from the air conditioning unit. But it was far too hot to remain inside the store, so we left, to find it a good deal cooler at the lowest level. It would be a good idea if Marks and Spencer was to rectify the fault in their cooling system, especially on a Saturday, which would, no doubt, have been their busiest shopping day of the week, and even more so with the current state of the country's economy. We left the building and walked to Gregg's, bakers, confectioners, call it what you will, and purchased two delicious-looking buns, with icing and surmounted with glace cherries, which we later consumed at home with our coffee. We browsed in W.H.Smith and then B.H.S. and then returned to Debenham's and went up on the escalator to the carpark. When you enter the carpark you have to take a ticket at the barrier, which rises to admit your vehicle, and then, on leaving, you put the ticket in another machine which tells you conveneitly how much you have to pay, and it returns the original ticket to you, which you then use in the machine at the barrier to let you out of the carpark.
Both our dogs can't cope with warm weather. Alfie, in particular. I must have mentioned that we took the dogs to Marston Mortaine where there is a country park, when it was exceptionally hot, and Alfie almost collapsed and died because it was so hot. It was very distressing, but we got him home and he got over it. Things are not helped by our neighbours, whose dog barks at our dogs through the fence, which sets Alfie off, barking and generally getting really wound up. So we have to call him into the house, but our beloved neighbours make no attempt to stop their dog behaving in this fashion. Dogs being dogs, I suppose it's in their nature to behave like this, territorial behavior or something, but we don't want our dogs getting over-hot. So, it end up with them having to come indoors and the French windows into the garden shut, to stop them going outside, which is rather unfair on them, particularly as they enjoy pottering around the garden.