Return of Winter?

Saturday. 10.15 a.m. It might be bright and sunny, but there's a chill wind blowing. As the old proverb goes, 'it's an ill wind that blows no good,' which is true in relation to Boris Johnson. We're now into February and I just wonder whether we will escape a freezing and snow-covered rest of winter. It seems possible that we might, but let's see how things turn out.

3.15 p.m. I've been for a walk at the Ouzel Valley Park, which is just down Chaffron Way from where I live in Oldbrook. I let Alfie off his lead in one of the meadows, checking beforehand that there was no livestock, as there is often either sheep or cattle in these places. I know he wouldn't annoy them, but cattle can be quite territorial when dogs are near. It was extremely windy, which is still is as I write this. I clocked up a little over 8,000 steps, as recorded on my new Fitbit Versa 2, so when I got back to Dexter House I wanted to get to my daily target of 10,000, so I took Alfie around Oldbrook Green and I managed to get to the target. 

Sunday. 3.40 a.m. I woke to hear wind howling outside. I went to the loo and shaved. Just no possibility of getting back to sleep now with that wind making that noise.

Last night I watched Billy Elliot: The Musical on Broadway HD. All I can say is, 'wow'! Not disappointed in the slightest. It's truly amazing. I always wanted to go and see it when it was either on in the West End or the tour when it came to the Milton Keynes Theatre (has anyone never come up with a decent name for the local theatre here in Milton Keynes? The recently opened theatre in Aylesbury is called 'The Waterside Theatre,' does at least have some sort of originality, but ours? Lacking some sort of originality, I must say. I would warn you that the show has quite a lot of expletives in it, which, in context, do make it more realistic, but can become somewhat contentious, especially if you were to take young children to see it, although it's not really suitable for children below, say, the age of around 12-13. I'm not sure, but I think the original film had a rating of around 13.

9.25 a.m. It has been raining. I have been keeping a watch-out to see if it had stopped, but just in case I decided to get Alfie rigged out in his Regatta rain jacket, and I put my bright yellow raincoat on. We went out and Alfie wasn't sure of the weather, although at that time it had stopped raining.

4.45 p.m. I went to church. There seem to be more people there than ever. It almost always happens that when the service starts there are quite a few seats available and then people arrive. Just the way it is. I usually get to church about half an hour before the start time, but it seems strange to me that people don't get themselves sorted out so they have to arrive late, just after things start.

On the way home I went into Morrisons to buy something for lunch because the service finished later than usual and then there was coffee. It seems as busy as ever. Once I'd had my sandwich and drink when I got home I took Alfie out around Oldbrook Green. It was exceptionally windy so I didn't intend spending any more than necessary out. As I write this, I can hear the wind whistling around the building outside.

Too Darn Hot

Yet another 'hot' blog post title! Very appropriate, with the weather being so warm. Are we in a heatwave, and, will this title be redundant by the time I have finished writing it in a few days? Who knows, but with British weather so unpredictable, anything is possible. 'Too Darn Hot' is the title of a song in the musical 'Kiss Me, Kate.' I watched a recording of the 2019 production on the streaming service Broadway HD. It's one of those shows I have wanted to see for a long time. I know most of the songs and vaguely know the story, based loosely on Shakespeare's 'Taming of The Shrew', but up unit last weekend when I watched it, I had never seen a stage version. I know there is a film version, but I'm not a fan. It's one of those films where the colour looks over-saturated and it was made in 3D (Not sure about that, but I have a sneaking feeling.), so there's a lot of scenes where it's been set up to have things coming close to the camera, some things thrown to help with the 3D effect. I think it was a gimmick because TV had become available in everyone's home, Stateside, and in Britain, and it was done in an attempt to lure audiences away from the 'square box' in the corner of the room. The film 'South Pacific' is filmed in awful garish Technicolorr® which is plain awful, like one of those photographs you sometimes see which are monochrome but have had colour added. It just looks over-cooked, a bit like how colour television could be when it was introduced in the early 1970s. My father was forever fiddling with the first set we had, usually making the picture look dreadful. It would have been great to watch a programme with him forever altering the colour.

Sunday. 7 a.m. It's hot, and the sun has hardly risen over the horizon. We went out around 6.15. I didn't wake up as early as I usually do, but what does it matter?

The kitchen is hotter than ever. I won't be doing any baking for a while, that is, not until this heat is less intense. It's not made any better when the outside temperature is so high. Apart from anything else, it would make cooking considerably more difficult, particularly with ingredients such as butter, and with the oven on, even more, an impossible environment to work in. I will wait until later in the week and then have a go with scones, but this time I will make twice the amount of ingredients and use a larger cutter and see what a difference it makes. Those scones I made yesterday were a success and tasted excellent. I think even Mary Berry would have been impressed. Good texture, even bakes, good distribution of fruit, and delicious, even though I say so myself. And, dare I say it, no soggy bottoms!

The cough seems to be easing. I reckon the confounded medication which was causing the problem is working its way out of my system. I shall remain at home and won't go to church, but watch the service online as I did last year. 

Later. I have to clear out of the way as we walk down towards Oldbrook Green this morning. A Runner wasn't going to get out of my way and then, further round the path on the Green, a cyclist came up behind me and tinkled her bell, making me almost jump out of my skin. Far enough, I was warned, but I wasn't expecting it. Quite hot so we didn't walk the entire circuit of the Green and came back. I have my electric fan on to cool the lounge down. Even with the windows open, the place is still warm. The kitchen is excessively warm, as I've mentioned before, and with the window open, only slightly, because you can't open any of the windows fully, no doubt because the Council thinks the tenants who live in Dexter House have a habit of falling out, or, for that matter, let people climb in. It was the same in Milton Keynes Hospital when Carol was a patient. Even in the hottest weather, it's virtually impossible to get a draught to cool the place sufficiently. They did bring in portable air conditioning units, which is what's needed here, but I doubt they'd even consider installing them.

Later. As usual, absolutely nothing worth watching on broadcast television. Any more football and I think I shall ask for a refund of my television licence. The BBC seems obsessed with the wretched game. I could go on in this mode, but I won't. Otherwise, it will turn into a rant.

After some consideration as what to watch, I turned to streaming service Broadway HD and watched the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre production of 'Into The Woods.' Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics and James Lapine wrote the book. I'm a bit of a Sondheim fan, His shows are anything if not inventive and imaginative, and this is very imaginative. Not sure it's his most successful on its original outing, but it seems to have become quite popular and might even be regarded as having something of a cult following. This production has an interesting staging design, multi-storied if that's the correct term. In fact, thinking about it, the plot is 'multi-storied in the sense that it intercuts several well know fairy-stories by The Brothers Grimm.

The Spring Has Sprung!

Tuesday. It's relatively warm and sunny this morning. Let's hope it stays that way.

Wednesday. Well, not a lot happened yesterday as you can see from the above.

Although I have watched 'Kinky Boots', the musical, on Broadway HD, a Netflix-style streaming service which has recordings of Broadway and West End musicals and plays on its service. It's a real spirit-lifting show, based on a real story and set in Northampton, which is no more than a twenty-minute drive from Milton Keynes. I have also watched the 1982 RSC production of 'Nicholas Nickleby,' as mentioned in an earlier post on here, as well as 'Private Lives,' and a one-woman show by Elaine Strich. Plenty more I want to watch and should keep me endlessly happy when there's not much else to watch, which is the case with traditional television at the moment.

It's surprisingly mild and dry this morning.

I had a telephone call from The Groom Room, in response to the message I left yesterday regarding a haircut for Alfie. The only appointment I could get was for July 9th, although I'm taking him to have his face trimmed next Thursday week as he can't really see where he's going. Then there's the build-up of mess under his eyes which he won't let me deal with.

Later. I have been into the MK Centre to get my hair cut at Central Barbers, and I have to say I feel a good deal better about it. Around six months since my last trip to the barbers. Enough hair cut off to stuff a cushion or more likely two cushions!

Thursday. Another bright and sunny morning. Also, not a great deal to report on here. Now there's a surprise.

I have to do a bowel cancer test every two years. It was time for it again, which I did (no need to explain the details.) I have had a response and it's a negative, so I'm all clear in that area. I only wish that Carol could have had a similar test. I have to have one done as I'm over 60, but because of her age, she didn't fall into the age group to be tested. I think it's about time age shouldn't come into it and everyone a good deal younger has to be tested, perhaps for all types of cancer.

I had my eyes tested this afternoon. There seems not to be anything wrong with my eyes and I get a new pair of glasses on the NHS, and the new glasses will be ready and bought for me at Dexter House in around two weeks.

Friday. 5.45a.m. It's still dark and I'm here sitting in my armchair writing this blog post and waiting to take Alfie out.

I had a plotline written some while ago, probably well before Carol's cancer diagnosis. I haven't worked on the writing project in some time and have only fairly recently picked it up again. Some points didn't make any sort of logical sense but now I have managed to find a way to tie things together, which I will not disclose here. All of which means that I can now continue with writing. All will be revealed, hopefully, in the fullness of time!

Life, The Universe and Something or Other . . .

(Thursday) My hair is in need of being cut. I can't remember when it was last cut. I know so many businesses are closed due to the confounded coronavirus lockdown, but going without this necessity means my hair is getting really annoying. Under normal circumstances I would have it cut around every 4-6 weeks. I have booked an appointment for 14th April through Central Barbers website. Paid and booked, so all I have to do on the day is merely turn up on time. Don't even have to worry about payment as it's done. A good deal easier and you don't have to wait. I think in the future I shall keep doing this.

Later. I turn on the television with the expectation of watching the latest edition of The Repair Shop, when the announcer says ‘there’s a change to our schedule with another coronavirus press conference.’ My heart sinks, as I really don’t need to listen to the doom mongers droning on relentless. Pointless is transferred to BBC2, but I just switch off the television instead.

I've signed up to a streaming service, much like Netflix, called 'BroadwayHD,' which works through my Fire Stick. As a result of the pandemic lockdown, which means that all live theatres have been closed, I am more than delighted to be able to enjoy recorded theatre performances through this service. I have already enjoyed a performance of Noel Coward's sparkling comedy, 'Private Lives,' and I'm currently watching the RSC's amazing nine-hour version of 'Nicholas Nickleby' which was one of the earliest productions shown on Channel 4 when it opened in 1982. I did watch it then, but am so glad to be able to revisit it now. Ideal material to enjoy, done in 9 parts and a definite binge-worthy piece of theatre or television.

(Friday)12.55a.m. I've woken up. The usual thing, wander to the toilet. I can hear the wind whistling around the building. It's quite an odd sound. No rain, as far as I can tell. I hope it stays dry, but somehow I doubt it. Alfie comes into the bedroom to find a comfortable space next to me. Then I get a sudden urge to cough. I've had this annoying cough for some while, and I'm more than certain that it's caused by one of the medications I'm on, one of the side-effects. Having done a search on-line, I find that it is one of the side-effects. I bought Robitussin, a cough syrup, in Lloyd's in Sainsbury's and it seems to keep it in check so I've just taken a dose, finishing off one bottle and I have another in reserve.

I had to order atorvastatin, one of my medications. I realised when I did my evening meds that the one I took yesterday evening was the last one, so I went on the appropriate app on my iPad and ordered it. I was more than a bit surprised to find a text message from Lloyd's pharmacy telling me the meds were ready to collect this morning so I went to Sainsbury's, where Lloyd's pharmacy is to pick it up. I did a bit of shopping, milk in particular. I parked as normal in the underground carpark (that's not actually correct. It isn't 'underground,' It's underneath the store.) Usually the moving walkway or travelator (I've spent some time on Google trying to find the right word for this.) whisks you up to the store, along with the annoying voice which keeps on telling you that you must 'stand still and hold onto the rail' or whatever it is and reminds you to 'push your trolley off the walkway,' rather like some teacher taking to a classroom full or rather dim primary school-age children. As if you're going to forget to push your trolley 'off the walkway,.' What do they expect you to do, crash onto the floor in a heap? It is somewhat patronising. Never mind. Enough digression. The aforementioned walkway wasn't operating as it should (it seems the lifts and walkway in Sainsbury's has a habit of failing when it shouldn't.) So it was odd walking up the walkway when it wasn't moving. 

When I had finished my shopping, I paid, having used a self-service till (getting quite good at using these things by now, and the thing seemed to work perfectly!) I pushed my trolley towards the top of the travelator and almost got on it, as a member of staff stopped me, so I had to go down in a lift to the carpark. It's virtually impossible to go down on the travelator with a trolley when it's not running, because the wheels get caught in the grooves on the surface and you can't move the trolley off until you get to the bottom.