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Tuesday. 1.35 p.m. I mentioned the fact that my washing got stuck inside the tumble drier on Friday before I was due to drive to Worcester. Well, the good news is that it has all been removed from the machine, although the drier isn't repaired. 

It's bright and sunny out. Thankfully, no wind or pouring rain. Let's just hope it stays that way, at least for a couple of weeks or so.

Thursday. 8.15 a.m. A wind and rain-free morning. I just hope it remains that way for at least the weekend.

I wasn't going to mention this, but I think I ought to. Two Tuesdays ago, which was Hallowe'en, I wasn't going to go to Camphill. But then I decided that I would go and drive there after 9 o'clock. As I walked into the Chrysalis Theatre, people were unloading pumpkins from a car parked outside. It was obvious that Halloween was going to be the centre of things and no work on drama was going to take place. So, I said to Terrie, the lady who leads the performing arts workshop, that, as a Christian, I 'didn't do Halloween.' She replied that it would be all Halloween stuff and that, if that was the case, I had better go home, which is what I did.

I didn't think any more about this situation until I got to Worcester on Friday evening and was looking at emails on my phone when I came across an email from the lady in charge of volunteers. It said that being a 'diverse' community, all 'religions' were included, and that my reaction was 'inappropriate.' The email was something of a shock and made me really upset. I don't remember that Halloween was a religion, but that doesn't seem to make a difference. I have given five years of my time (excluding lockdowns) for nothing, as a volunteer. I have no end of experience which the theatre group has benefitted from, and many relationships made and built on since I started there. The email said that maybe 'Camphill isn't the place for you.' Not true. I have set up an interview with Julia, the lady in charge of volunteers on 27th November, and I will apologize, even though I can't see that I've done anything wrong by stating my feelings towards Halloween. I can't be a true Christian and be dabbling in Halloween and all it stands for.

I have since contacted Bridge Builders, which is based in Milton Keynes and have an interview this Tuesday, to discuss being a volunteer for them. I will wait and see what this interview produces, which will mean I won't be going back to Camphill.

1.45 p.m. We prayed about the above situation at Camphill. The prayer group knows the situation. I have to walk away from Camphill without any sort of ill feeling, which is necessary if I am to expect a reference from them.

I have been to find Bridge Builder's office in Bletchley, just opposite IKEA. Very easy to find, and it makes it easier to know exactly where it is when I go for my interview there on Tuesday afternoon.

Friday. 1.00 p.m. I have been to Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre to have blood taken, so it can be tested for cholesterol. As I may have mentioned in an earlier post here, I have a problem with this procedure, because the nurse usually has a problem finding a vein. It went well, and I should get the result in about a week.

Autumn Stuff

Wednesday. 8.15 a.m. Another really great day yesterday at Camphill, in the P.A.W., in the Chrysalis Theatre. Games played on the stage, one called 'Splat' (which I won't explain on here at the moment.) and other game called 'Who Stole The Cookie?" and then some voice warm-ups, then discussing characters and storylines for the World War two play project.

We sat on the stage. The front curtain was closed and the lights turned off. Then, a recording of Neville Chamberlain was heard, a recording of the 1939 speech in which war is declared on Germany after they invade Poland. It was really moving, listening in silence and hearing this speech, broadcast on BBC radio.

After tea break, Terrie came up with the idea for a game show, which was actually a furtive exercise to show call-up of troops and others for the wall. Everyone was give a slip of paper with a character on it, age, job and some other detail, and then you were called forward by the recruiting officer and had answer relevant questions to find out if you were suitable to be called up, if not for one of the services, but whether you had skills that might benefit the war effort, or whether you worked in a reserved occupation. It seemed a good idea to create possible characters for the play.

After lunch, a bit more work on story and character and at the end of the day, company work, which means drilling and marching.

Friday. 8.15 a.m. Autumn is definitely here, even though clocks change on Saturday night and Summer officially ends. I took Alfie out at around 7.20 and there was fog, although not particularly thick, and shrouding the city centre, seen from across Oldbrook Green. It's also noticeably chilly.

I bought myself a new waterproof jacket from the Regatta website.It's a men's Bosfield waterproof jacket, full price £130, and I paid £33, which has to be a bargain. I wanted a jacket that had zipped pockets and a hood, which this has. I need a jacket or coat with zipped pockets, so I can put my keys in the pockets as well as my wallet. This has all that I need, as well as being lightweight. If it's exceptionally cold, I can always layer up with a fleece underneath, which this will allow.

2.10 p.m. It's sunny but chilly. I have been out with Alfie. He was reluctant to walk far, although I can't blame him.

I haven't mentioned the fact that one of the two metal benches that are on the walk around Oldbrook Green is missing. It had a plate on it, in memory of some local councillor who was connected to the area. It had a rather nice design on the back of the seat. The one further round has been designed with soldiers, presumably of the First World War, on it in silhouette along with several poppies. I think it was probably put there for the centenary of the start of that war in 2014, although I may be wrong. 

Water, Water

 Saturday. 12.30 a.m. It rained really heavily yesterday evening. So much so that I couldn't take Alfie out, as he really does not like getting wet. Come to think of it, neither do I.

We reached the fifth session of the Alpha Course this week, and I was due to go to the Oaktree Centre at around 6:40. I was in my lounge, watching television, and then I heard a tapping sound. At first, I couldn't work out where it was, or, indeed, what it was. Going into the flat's entrance hall, I noticed a dripping coming from the ceiling. 

Vashti, the S.H.0. (Sheltered Housing Officer) of Dexter House, had gone home. It was around 5.30. I decided to ring the Mears helpline and was told that someone would come and inspect the leak, but it might be 4 hours before they arrived. It was around an hour later that a man knocked on my door, looked at the place where the drip had come through the ceiling near the smoke alarm, and told me that it wasn't his responsibility and rang the contractor who was responsible. He did a check of the light fitting, which isn't far from the smoke detector, and did a safety check and found no sign of water or anything dangerous and then left.

I mopped up the water from the floor and that was the end of it, although I think there must be a blockage and possibly an overflow somewhere in the roof space due to the heavy rain.

Sunday. 9.25 a.m. It's bright and sunny, but chilly. At least it's cool enough to sleep. The digital thermometer currently reads 19ºC. 

Tuesday. 7.40 a.m. I went to Camphill yesterday evening. The silent movies we have been creating since February were premiered. Actually, not just the three the Tuesday group made, but several others which were produced by the Monday group. There was a red carpet in the foyer of the Chrysalis Theatre, and as people arrived, they were photographed by Craig, so it was a version of the traditional Hollywood 'Red Carpet' treatment as celebrities arrive at a premier.

Thursday. 7.40 a.m. The Zolpidem tablets which I have been waiting for arrived in the post yesterday morning. I took two at around 10.30 last night and slept well, waking around 5 a.m. I have to say, as a result, I feel a good deal better.

Friday. 7.25 a.m. A wild and wet night. It probably was nowhere near as bad in other parts of Britain, especially in Scotland.

I have mentioned the problems I've had receiving the Zolpidem which II have done a repeat prescription for. I got one delivery, then yesterday morning the larger order I made a few days ago arrived, including the sleeping tablets, (ie, Zolpidem.)

Autumnal Weather

Friday. 7.00 a.m. A good deal cooler this morning. There was a mist hanging over Oldbrook Green, when I took Alfie out at around 6.30. 

Saturday. 7.45 a.m. I didn't wake up until 6.30, which has to be the latest I've woken in goodness knows how long.

We are running an Alpha Course at Shenley Christian Fellowship. It's an introduction to the Christian faith and has been running since the 1970s, based at HTB (Holy Trinity, Brompton) in London. The team had been meeting, mostly on Zoom, for the past few months. It runs for around 10 weeks and is delivered by video, each video focusing on different aspects of Christianity. It was decided to begin the course on Friday 15th September, so that by the time it ends, it won't interfere too much with the build-up to Christmas. 

To make it viable, there would need to be around 6 people to sign up. At the beginning of the week, there were only two people signed up. We had a team of around eight people, including myself, so to have no more than two participants would not make it a viable and entirely successful project. 

By Wednesday, I hadn't heard from Julie, the leader of the Alpha Course, but then I got an email telling me that the course would go ahead. Around eight people were signed up. 

The course starts at around 7 p.m. when guests are welcomed, get tea or coffee and then, at around 7.30 they get a meal, so we can sit around a table and eat whilst we chat, get to know them and generally be hospitable. Then, a video is shown, focussing on various aspects of Christianity. This lasts around 20-25 minutes, and then the guests have a discussion, based on what they've heard and seen in the video. This will last around 30–40 minutes and then the evening concludes at around 9-9.15, so the helpers will tidy up and then go home.

Wednesday. 1.50 p.m. The weather has changed, not necessarily for the better. We had a scorching heatwave a few weeks ago, but now it's pouring with rain and there's a high wind blowing. Not something that Alfie appreciates, and neither do I. Oh well. I suppose it is typical autumn weather.

Yesterday I was at Camphill, working in the Performing Arts Workshop within the Chrysalis Theatre. We have lost a couple of the regular group, but it's still going strong. We were developing the World War Two project, with marching and other military training going on and then, after lunch. watching a television film of 'Goodnight Mr Tom', which starred the late,great John Thaw. It is set during the war, with the central little boy being an evacuee and the idea was to not merely watch it as a film, but to study what was going on, with reference to the war and how it might be inspiration for our project. I wrote quote a few notes as we watched and then, after the film was shown, we threw out our notes which can go into the 'melting pot' next week to begin the process of creating a working script.

Thursday. 7.25 a.m. It's a good deal cooler this morning. I noticed a certain chill in the air when I went out with Alfie about an hour ago.

I have a haircut booked at Central Barbers tomorrow at 1.50. My hair hasn't been cut for two months or possibly more, this due to me having had covid and then several days with a really unpleasant flu-like bug. I can park the car where I usually do, near The Point and pay using the RingGo app, but it doesn't always work, so I need to have a handful of £1 coins to use in one of the ticket machines. So, I have been to take out some cash from the A.T.M. machine outside the Tesco Express in Oldbrook Boulevard. I bought two packets of biscuits to take to the Bible study this morning and got a handful of £1 coins in the change, so that is one less thing to think about tomorrow.

Friday. 7.15 a.m. It's a good deal cooler this morning, as you would expect for September. Perhaps it's time to dig out my fleece or jacket.

Hot And Humid

 Friday. 10.25 a.m. The summer is back in full force. It's almost as if it never went away, even though, officially, we are now into autumn. I have both fans running at full force, one in the bedroom and the other in the lounge. The digital thermometer currently reads 27ºC, although, on BBC Breakfast earlier, there was mentioned the possibility that the temperature would reach at least 30ºC. 

Alfie went to have a haircut yesterday. He was booked in at the Groom Room in Bletchley several weeks ago, in fact, I went directly there to enquire about a booking after I had taken my car to Anglo Motors. The appointment was at 4.30. So I left in good time, hoping to arrive at around 4.15. The problem was, when I got to the roundabout which intersects with Saxon Street and Standing Way, I discovered that the road ahead was closed, and without any warning further back I could find an alternative route to Bletchley. I turned right onto Standing Way and discovered a more or less solid traffic jam towards Watling Street. I got to the car park outside Pets At Home, where the Groom Room is based and managed to calm down, because of the stress caused by the detour to get there.

Having dropped off Alfie for his haircut, I then went along the parade of shops to Costa to have a cool drink. I had at least an hour to fill until I had to go back to collect Alfie. When I eventually left Costa and walked out through the door I was hit by the heat, a bit like opening an oven door. I don't get on well in heat, and it's particularly dangerous for me, having a heart condition and having had two heart attacks.

5.15 p.m. As I write this, the digital thermometer currently reads 32ºC, which must be some sort of record. I know that is indoors, but I have an electric fan on and all the windows in the flat are wide open.

Sunday. 7.55 a.m. It wasn't quite as hot and humid as it has been overnight for the past couple of nights, but still, the digital thermometer reads 27ºC. Hopefully, we will get a rainstorm which will relieve the heat, but with storms will come flash floods.

Monday. 4.05 p.m. The temperature had dropped considerably, thank goodness. The temperature outside is a good deal lower than indoors. Even with the windows open and an electric fan running, the digital thermometer reads 28ºC. I imagine this is because the heat we have had over the past week or so has kept buildings hot and will take a few days to cool down to a reasonable temperature.

Tuesday. 7.00 a.m. Thankfully, it's a good deal cooler this morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 25ºC. I slept somewhat better than for the past week or so of this heatwave.

Wednesday. 8.40 a.m. A bright and sunny morning as I write this. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºC, so a far cooler temperature compared to the last week or so. I can sleep better in this sort of temperature.

A really good day at Camphill in the P.A.W department (Performing Arts Workshop.) yesterday (Tuesday.) We are developing material for the World War 2 project, which will be a play, running around 30-45 minutes. Many of the group went to Milton Keynes Museum to see the WW2 event. I went, but I wasn't feeling too well. As it turned out, I eventually had several days of a flu bug (which I mentioned in an earlier blog post) and I didn't stay at the museum long, unfortunately. I did manage to take some photographs with my Canon digital camera, but I have still got to transfer them onto a memory stick.

We had a long check-in. It went on almost to tea break at 10.30. Once back in the theatre after the tea break, Terrie set up a flipchart and the group was asked to give any information they had gleaned from the Museum visit regarding the Second World War. All these ideas and bits of information, however gleaned, would be put together to create some sort of script for the play.

After lunch, we got to the bit I have been waiting for for months, the first preview of the silent movies. Other Camphilll residents and staff came to see the films, projected onto the cinema screen. The first two films were created by a different group who meet on a Monday. The first was 'How To Rob A Bank', very much in the style of an early silent comedy. The second one, I don't remember the name of, and then we got to see the first of the three silent movies which we've been working on since around February, the first was a Western. Very amusing and I was intrigued by how the green screen process was utilized to create backgrounds, mostly sourced from what you would call 'stock footage', such as Western town backgrounds and steam trains. The second film was The Pirate Saga, in which I had a very small cameo appearance, although, at first, I did not recognize myself! Then we saw the third film, the science fiction 'time travel' epic, which I had been involved in from it's development and some of my ideas actually appeared on-screen. It was a somewhat complicated storyline involving, would you believe, Goldilocks, of traditional pantomime and fairy-story fame, time-travelling porridge (yes, you read that correctly!) space pirates (for want of a better word!) and in the past, zombies dancing to a rather weird version of The Macarena! But it all ended with the villains being defeated and everyone living 'happily ever after!'

September Song

 Wednesday. 7.25 a.m. So, this will be the first blog post I write in the new month of September, although this is being written in August. That doesn't make much sense, but I know what I mean. I have two posts that I wrote as the month of August progressed, as quite a lot happened, and it's not easy to just ignore those incidents.

The title is a song from the Brecht/Weill musical show 'The Threepenny Opera.' Originally sung by Lotte Lenya the recording I found on Spotify has her singing in the original German. This show must have inspired such shows as 'Cabaret' and 'Chicago', which were both written by Kander and Ebb.

I went to Camphill yesterday, as usual. Several of the regular members of the theatre workshop were on holiday, and it wasn't exactly clear when they would be coming home to Camphill.

A new, permanent, member of staff, Craig, came for the first time, although he was involved with the 'Play In A Week' which took place a few weeks ago. Terrie, the workshop leader, took Craig off to do his induction, which appeared to be mostly showing him where the various departments within Camphill were how to open various doors and fill out forms for this and that, most likely, how to fill out reports and first aid forms, which is what I remember spending time doing when I was a shift leader within various NHS units I was a support worker in. 

The rest of the team spent the morning playing drama games. Terrie had compiled a list and Paul, another of the permanent staff, led the sessions. Some I didn't get involved in, as it is quite tiring. I will endeavour to describe when I can remember some of them!

The 'silent movies' are as yet incomplete, although the actual filming is complete. A wrap, as the correct term, is at the end of a day's filming or the entire production is finished. The editing is the most complex and time-consuming part of any production and then music has to be put on to the completed film and hopefully, we will be able to see the completed films in the next few weeks. It has been a long and complicated process, from coming up with the idea for the project, creating the stories and characters and then actually filming, so it will be quite exciting to see the results. Terrie wants to premiere the films in a sort of film festival and have all the Camphill residents come to the Chrysalis Theatre to watch, which should be amazing and to see the sort of reaction the films have, especially as most of the residents won't have any idea what the films are about. 

After lunch, we were split into two groups and I led one group on the stage. We were going to create a piece of improvised theatre, meaning, no script and made up as we went along. My suggestion was a hospital and someone suggested that it was haunted (not exactly my idea, but never mind, I could facilitate so much, and they had to fill in the details.

So, it went ahead. I was to be patient and arriving on the ward. The rest of the guys were supposed to be vampires and ghosts. The doctor wasn't a doctor at all. I was taken away by this doctor who attempted to make me into a vampire, but I resisted, in time-honoured Hammer horror film style!

The other group, meanwhile, were working on their improvised 'piece.' It was set in a nightclub. After the tea break we each had to show the other group our 'piece' and at the end of the afternoon, we had to say which part of the day was our favourite. Mine was working on the improvised piece of theatre.

Thursday. 1.05 p.m. The last day of August. Hardly seems credible that tomorrow will be September.

The Thursday Bible Study group went to Mursley Farm Shop, which isn't far out of Milton Keynes, going out of the road towards Buckingham, but I went with Jennie, who leads the Bible study group and she went a different way which I would never have managed if I'd driven on my own. It's great to drive out of Milton Keynes and into the countryside and see green fields and horses, cows and other animals grazing in the fields. Mursley Farm Shop has a nice cafe which serves delicious bacon rolls and lattes, which I had, and as we drove in we could see fields of chickens roaming around in the fields beyond as well as alpacas, sheep, goats and other animals. It did make me wonder, seeing all those chickens, how did they manage to get them to go in their chicken houses at night, before they started nesting in the trees so that they were safe from predators, such as foxes?

We left and drove back to the Oaktree Centre, where my car was parked, and then I drove off to Lidl in Oldbrook Boulevard to do some shopping and then back to Dexter House.

August Excitement! (?)

 Monday 14th August. 3.45 p.m. I'm not going to post this until the beginning of September. I will write as and when I feel I have something to write about. 

I have mentioned having to have a physiotherapy appointment, after the lower back pain I have been experiencing for the past month or so since I had covid. My appointment was booked around two weeks ago and today was the earliest I could be seen. It was booked for 10.20 a.m., but I am always keen to arrive in plenty of time, but, in general, it doesn't take much more than ten minutes to drive there, taking into account the several sets of traffic lights you encounter on the way, which seem set to take far too long to change, regardless of the amount of traffic, which is usually light at that time of day.

I got to Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre and had to check in with a receptionist because the computerised system wasn't working. Around ten minutes later, I was being called into room 7 to see a physiotherapist. She did a sort of triage, attempting to find where the pain was centred, bending down to the ground and side to side, and then I had to lay on the couch. It wasn't actually long enough, as I'm over six feet tall. I was expecting her to get some treatment, but no. I have to have a telephone referral with a private company and do some exercises myself. So, it seems as if the N.H.S. seems determined to spend cash which they don't really have, for this sort of treatment from an outside business. So, it seems I will just have to wait at least a week before this treatment can begin.

I left the surgery in my car and intended to go into the city centre as I had to collect a polo shirt I had bought via the Marks and Spencer website and needed collecting from the store. I had to drive around the centre to get to the car park near The Point and fortunately, the RingGo app worked, so I could pay to park. I had done a survey online and earned a £10 voucher which I converted into a Marks and Spencer voucher and decided to buy a polo in their sale. I ordered with 'click and collect, which I have used before. The polo shirt was valued at £18, so I had to pay the difference. I went into Marks and Spencer and remembered that the click-and-collect desk was on an upper floor, but then I couldn't find it and then discovered it had moved to the ground floor. There are a couple of digital screens, onto which you key in your name, and your parcel is then bought out to you. All wrapped up and ready to take away with you. I was a bit surprised I didn't have to prove my identity, as I could have been anyone. 

Thence to the nearby Costa for a large caramel latte, cheese and ham toastie and slice of rocky road. Very nice! Then I walked back through the shopping centre towards Midsummer Place and then ended up browsing in Waterstone's and then back to the car park and drive home.

Wednesday. 6.10 a.m. Due to the lower back pain, I didn't go to Camphill yesterday. It started off very mild, at the time I got up (as it is, as I write this.) but it gradually got worse as the day progressed. I am learning to live with it, but I am hoping it is going to fade away so I can get back to somewhere near normal by, hopefully, next week.

I've only just got back from taking Alfie out. As we were walking back along the path towards Dexter House, I saw what, at first, I thought was a cat, staring at me, as it was standing under the overhanging branches of the tree which is on the grass, about halfway along. It didn't move for at least fifteen seconds, and then it occurred to me, it wasn't a cat. It was definitely a fox, because of the shape of its head, very similar to Alfie's and very prominent ears. It turned and then disappeared into the wooded area between the Dexter House garden and the SIA offices.

12.05 p.m. I've been to Sainsbury's this morning. I had a Nectar voucher which meant, if I bought a certain brand of dog food, I would get 200 extra points.  If I hadn't used it today, it would expire today, so it seemed a pity to lose it and I did need some dog food as there were only a couple of pouches left. I bought a few other items. 

I had to use one of the self-service tills to pay. The manned tills had queues, so it was either that or a queue for so few items. All went well checking my items through until I had to scan the voucher, so I had to get a staff member to help. George, who is one of the drama group at Camphill, works in Sainsbury's, and it was him who helped with the voucher, so I was able to complete the transaction, although I almost left without paying! I almost forgot to put in my debit card and then put in my PIN, but I could then leave to go home.

Thursday. 2.00 p.m. I've been out this morning with my Thursday morning Bible study group. We went to Milton Keynes Museum. I drove to the Oaktree Centre and Jenny, who is the leader of the Bible study group, drove me and one other person across Milton Keynes, arriving at the museum at around 10.30, which was when it opened. There was quite a queue of people wanting to get in. I had a ticket which allowed me free entry, having bought it almost a year ago and, once bought, allows free entry throughout the year.

Friday. 10.20 a.m. I have just got back from a trip to Sainsbury's, to get a few items. I was reluctant to use one of the self-service tills to check out, so I went to a manned till and as I was queuing, I noticed that around six of these tills had been removed. I am beginning to wonder if this is a crafty manoeuvre on behalf of Sainsbury to get rid of staff and encourage their customers to use self-service tills. As I was waiting in the queue, a lady ahead of me was completing the payment of her shopping and seemed to be having problems with using her card, that is, putting in her PIN in the machine. I would say she was around 75-80, so probably not very confident with using technology. They should take into account this sort of customer when they are considering removing what I would call 'traditional' technology.

I cleaned out the fridge earlier. I know, rather a mundane and somewhat dull job, but it really did need doing. It's the sort of job that gets avoided, but then it gets to the point that it needs doing. Lots of food which is well past its 'best before' date, so it went in the bin. The shelves were removed, given a good wash in the sink, and then replaced. Job done.

Tuesday 22nd August.  6.55 a.m. The digital thermometer reads 26ºC. A really hot and clammy night. I have been up early, as usual. I took Alfie out at around 5.45. Done washing up from last night, put out a bag of rubbish and now made up my pack-up for Camphill. I am feeling a good deal better as regards the lower back pain. I would say it has actually disappeared. 

I got a text from the physio company, which came as a referral from my doctor's surgery. I attempted to complete this online, but it wouldn't work, so I rang and have a telephone consultation on the morning of 4th September. 

Adventures In Happyville

 Thursday August 24th. 12.05 p.m. Well, I had intended to not write any blog posts until September, but I have got into the habit of writing something virtually each day, so here I am, writing this.

On Saturday, I went to Stoke Mandeville Hospital to visit a lady I know who is in there. I had been considering whether to go for quite a while, but first I had to make sure the car was alright, since I had the MoT done, and it needed work done on one of the rear brakes, and then I had covid and the lower back pain (which, incidentally, still returns. But I am not letting it interfere with my life. It took less time to get to Stoke Mandeville than I imagined, as the visiting hours began at 2 p.m., and I was imagining that the centre of Aylesbury was going to be busy with shoppers, which it didn't appear to be. On arriving at the hospital site I had to find a car park and eventually found a space in car park C. I wasn't entirely sure where the ward was I wanted to visit, Ward 17. I thought it was in the main building, but it turned out to be within the National Spinal Injuries Centre block. The signage isn't very clear, and once inside it was quite a walk, and then upstairs.

Terri, the lady I was visiting, said to me, would I go and get something to eat, such as a take-away? She told me there was a fish and chip shop about fifteen minutes walk away from the hospital, basically because all she would have to eat that evening would be salad. So I walked to the chippy but wasn't entirely sure I was walking in the right direction, so I asked someone on the way. I was walking in the right direction and soon found it and bought two portions of fish and one of chips and walked back. She was asleep when I got back to the ward, and she was asleep, and it took a while before she woke up, and we ate the fish and chips. 

When I eventually left to go home, first I had to find my way out of the building! When I eventually did, I then had to look for a toilet and walked towards the main entrance and then decided to take a shortcut, which wasn't such a good idea, because it took me down quite a steep slope, and unfortunately I took a misstep and found myself falling over and landing partially in a rather prickly hedge and grazed my right elbow. I was unpleasant, and I think it was more embarrassing than anything. I managed to pick myself up and go into the main entrance and found a toilet, and then I had to get back to my car in Car Park C. Once there, I had to discover how I was to get out, with no indication of how or where to buy a ticket. I presumed that I would need to buy one from a machine, but there were none in or around the car park. I asked someone, and he told me I would need to go to the A and E department and find a machine in the entrance, which was what I did. The machine would only take card payments. By now, I wasn't in a particularly good mood, and a staff member showed me how to use my debit card to pay. It cost £6.50, which I thought was somewhat steep. Never mind. I returned to my car, quite a considerable distance, and used the ticket which the machine had issued to open the barrier and so drive out and then home.

On Tuesday I went to Camphill. I hadn't been the previous week, due to the lower back pain. The previous week the theatre group had been involved with the play in a week project and quite a few children had come in to take part. It would appear to have been extremely successful. We weren't starting work on the next project, but some filming for the silent movies was taking place, and we watched a video of the play which was created during the play-in-a-week project. It was quite amazing and all the participants did a really exceptional job, but it was a great pity that the sound was poor, which made hearing the dialogue more or less impossible.

I went home, and then I discovered that the door of my fridge/freezer hadn't been closed properly, which meant that much of the food it contained was thawing. I had an idea that some of it could be saved, and then I thought that it could go in the fridge, which is in the communal kitchen within Dexter House. I could take it down in the blue plastic box I had for recycling bottles and other glass, but when I went down to the communal kitchen, I found the door locked, so that idea was out. Then, I thought that I could ask Vashti the following morning if she would allow me to put my food in the fridge so that I could leave the fridge/freezer on for several hours to let it thaw out, but then I discovered that she wouldn't be in until mid-morning, so that idea was also a non-starter. My options were narrowing. Then, to make things worse, the strap on my FitBit came apart! The buckle came away from the rest of the strap, rendering it completely useless. So, as someone or other said, problems go in threes- 1-I fell over and grazed my elbow at Stoke Mandeville; 2- The fridge/freezer began to defrost; and 3- The FitBit strap fell apart.

So, I decided, fairly late into the evening, that the only alternative was to clear out the partly-defrosted food. My thinking was, if I was to eat it, there was every likelihood that I was going to get food poisoning, which I didn't want, as I know it can be quite unpleasant and, possibly, dangerous, especially since I have had two heart attacks. So, I loaded the contents of the freezer into two black bin bags and took it to the bin cupboard outside. I then switched off the fridge/freezer and left it to defrost. After several hours, it was beginning to drip and the ice to melt. I was left with a lot of water on the kitchen floor, but it was easily mopped up.

By around 6 a.m., virtually all the ice had melted, and I was then able to switch on the fridge/freezer. I was planning to go to Sainsbury's to buy food, some of which would go into the fridge/freezer. By around 9 a.m. the machine was working fully, with the temperature at at the correct level for restocking. Job completed!

On Thursday afternoon, we had a tenants' meeting at Dexter House. Exciting stuff about, wait for it, rubbish bins! I won't go into the gory details on here. Then, the question of Christmas came up, something I don't want to even consider, because, in all honesty, I don't really want to be here. We were asked for ideas and I came up with the idea of putting on a Pantomime. No, not seriously, but one of the women sitting around the table gave me such a look that it could have melted plate steel. She asked me what I would dress up as, and I said, the Dame. I don't think the idea will come to much, but it was worth a try!

Another Fun-Packed Week?

Sunday. 3.10 p.m. I have done a Google search, because I wanted to know if there was any connection between Covid and the lower back pain I have been experiencing for the past couple of weeks, especially considering I tested positive for covid. It turns out, but I know that it's inconclusive, that there might be a link, because it came up on several websites. This might explain why this pain started at about the same time as the covid.

Monday. 6.00 a.m. I've had another session with the heat pad on my lower back. It certainly relieved the pain, but I will have to continue with it to hopefully end the pain.

10.15 a.m. I cleared all the rubbish out of the car, removed Alfie's cage from the back and went to get cash out of the A.T.M.at Tesco's at Oldbrook Boulevard and then drove into the centre near The Xcape to have the car valeted. I've been planning to do this for a week or two, but because of the weather and then the covid infection and finally the back pain, I was reluctant to go ahead with it, but because it was bright and sunny I thought I'd do it. I am more than pleased with the result, and it looks and smells so much better.

Tuesday. 7.10 a.m. The pain in my back is still causing me problems, but it's not as severe as it was earlier. I have been using the heat pad, and it certainly relieves the pain, but it still wears off. I am determined to let it keep me trapped within this flat, and I am going to Camphill in around an hour's time. My pack-up is done and ready to take with me.

4.50 p.m. I've only been back in the flat forty minutes, having been at Camphill all day. I very nearly didn't go, because of the pain in my lower back, but I was determined I would go.

I didn't join in with some of the more energetic activities, such as the drama warm-ups. There was filming of some of the few remaining bits of the silent movies and then time was spent developing ideas for next week's 'Play In A Week' sessions (I think the title tells you exactly what it it. It runs from Monday, through until Friday, when a piece of theatre will be performed, without an initial script. In fact, it won't have a script. There will be children between the ages of about 8-18 working with the performing arts workshop regulars. There's not a lot more I call to say on this.

Ideas were written up on a whiteboard and will be used as the basis for next week's sessions. Then some fascinating improvisation, which I did get involved in. Someone comes up with a character, just a 'job title, in this case it was a hotel owner. Terrie was a bank teller. The hotel owner queued up, as if waiting in a bank, at one of the teller windows. Another of the regular drama group then came up behind the hotel owner and played a bank robber, although at this point she wasn't obviously such a character. The hotel owner asked the teller for £150 out of his bank account, so the teller asked him to put his bank card into the reader and key in his key number. The teller looked at her computer and said there was only£5 in the account, but the hotel owner got irate. Meanwhile, the bank robber was behind the teller, attempting to steal cash. The idea was, that anyone could take over the 'plot' by taking over from any of the characters and in the attempt, change the storyline. It seems a good way to develop storyline for improvised plays.

Wednesday. 7.15 a.m. I am still in quite a bit of pain. It seems to be getting worse than ever, but I am determined to not let it interfere with my life.

I have to re-apply for my driving licence now that I am over the age of 70. You have to do it every three years. I got a letter informing me of this in the post the other morning. I knew I'd have to do it if I want to keep on driving, which I absolutely do. The thought of being tied to Dexter House and losing my independence would be devastating. I could do this reapplication online, so I started it off. It is generally so much easier to do these things online. It saves having to post everything off, and it's quicker and easier. I had my National Insurance number handy, because you have to put it into the system. The trouble is, I don't have a passport. I don't need or want one, as I'm unlikely to go anywhere outside the United Kingdom. The problem is, you need one in order to prove your identity, so the online system wouldn't allow me to complete the application. So, I will now need to go out and get a photograph done in one of those photo booths you see around the town. I believe there is one in Sainsbury's, so I will have to go in there this morning and use the one in there.

12.25 a.m. I have been to Sainsbury's and got the photo done for the driving licence reapplication. I have now filled out the application form and attached the photo to the form and put it in the envelope, together with my expiring driving licence. I was hoping to take the completed form, within its envelope, out to post, but then discovered it wasn't 'Freepost' or at least, ready to post, so I had to take it to the Post Office within the One Stop shop in Coffee Hall and was shocked that a First Class stamp now costs £1.10!

Covid Causing Havoc

 Monday. 9.15 a.m. I have done a second covid test, and it's positive, which means that Camphill is definitely out tomorrow as well as Monday Club at the Oaktree Centre. I was convinced that it would be negative, as some of the symptoms have reduced, but I still have a temperature.

12.00 p.m. I have now been told I should have done my test tomorrow and not today! If I need to do further tests, I will have to buy them. I can go out and don't really need to isolate, but I definitely can't go to Camphill and won't be going to Monday Club this afternoon at the Oaktree Centre. Well, this doesn't make a lot of sense to me, because I wouldn't want to infect others and certainly not a vulnerable group, such as the residents at Camphill.

Tuesday. 5.40 a.m. I'm not feeling quite as bad as when this covid thing first struck. My temperature has more or less fallen to normal levels, but, as I don't have a thermometer, I can't say for certain what it is currently. But I still have brain fog and doing things seems to take forever. 

Wednesday. 5.15 a.m. I've been out with Alfie. It seems quite mild and somewhat overcast. Nothing else to report at the moment.

1.25 p.m. I've booked my car to have the work done on one of the rear breaks, which bind, according to the report which was done when it was given its MoT three weeks ago. It's going to be done a week tomorrow (3rd August.) 

I bought a covid test kit from the branch of Boots next to Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre. It is easier to go there as you can park directly outside. I have now done a test, and it was negative, which is good news.

Thursday. 7.40 a.m. I may have tested negative for covid, but I feel downright awful. In some pain in my lower back and as a result, it took me considerably longer than normal to get dressed, so I could take Alfie out. I have now taken paracetamol and will just stay in the flat and see how this develops. I will take paracetamol every four hours as recommended.

Friday. 7.30 a.m. Another day. Been out with Alfie as usual and we walked around Oldbrook Green. A couple of dogs were being walked at the same time, but no communication, although I reckon Alfie might have liked to say hello to them.

Covidivisation Takes It's Toll

Friday. 8.50 a.m. Covid doing its worst. The night was better than the night before. I have finished the packet of Paracetamol, and need to get more. 

10.40 a.m. I needed to know what the situation was regarding isolating because of my positive covid test yesterday. I went online to an N.H.S. site and found 5 days, which I am adhering to, but no real advice, so I thought I ought to speak to my medical centre. I rang, but waited ten minutes to speak and even then the lady didn't seem to know the answer, so I rang N.H.S. 111. I had to answer a load of questions, but because I have had two heart attacks, they recommended I speak to a doctor, so rang surgery again, but they said no doctor could speak to me, not even for a telephone consultation, but a paramedic could ring me later.

5.25 p.m. I needed paracetamol, but I couldn't go out, so I had the idea of putting a message, asking if any of my friends on Facebook could get me a couple of packets. My good friend, Margaret, who goes to Shenley Christian Fellowship, must have seen the message, and she rang me, although at that point I was asleep on my bed, I rang back, and she said she would go and get me some paracetamol, which she came to Dexter House to deliver. I took some, and they do relive some of the more unpleasant parts of the covid. Shivery, flu-like, pain in the back, sort of, kidney area. Just keep taking paracetamol every four hours. I have slept a great deal. 

Saturday. 1.15 a.m. I have been trying to sleep, but, considering I slept a great deal of yesterday, it's really not surprising. I was having a sort of dream, more likely part awake, about a play called Noises Off. Why that, I don't know, but anyway, I decided that, because I couldn't sleep, together with coughing and needing the loo (just one of those things, people!) I got up, but painful getting off the bed, discomfort in my lower back, but, after a bit of effort, I managed it.

6.00 a.m. I've taken Alfie out, had a shave and put out the rubbish. I have taken a further two paracetamol. I am feeling slightly better, no shivering and sweating, which was the main feature of covid yesterday. I will do another test on Monday, but it seems unlikely I will be able to go to Camphill on Tuesday.

11.15 a.m. Not a great deal to report, except I've taken another two paracetamol. Not feeling so hot and sweaty, but still not one hundred per cent.

5.45 p.m. I've spent the afternoon watching Laurel and Hardy films, from my DVD collection of all their films. I bought it a couple of years ago on Amazon. I had known years ago that there was a complete box set of their films, as I love their films. But at that time the set cost around £200. Then they were on offer at around £50 in the HMV shop in Milton Keynes, but the set was sold on Amazon for around £30. I have been drawn back to these films because of the 'silent comedy' video project we have been involved in at Camphill in the performing arts workshop. The films I watched this afternoon were: "Them Thar Hills" and it's 'sort of' sequel 'Tit For Tat" and "County Hospital." They may be near enough 90 years old, but they still make me laugh and compared to a good deal of modern 'comedy' need a great deal of beating.

Sunday. 5.35 a.m. I had an idea that this bout of covid was coming to an end. How wrong could I be? I woke this morning with more pain in my lower back and the cough again wreaking its havoc. I took about three times longer than normal to get dressed, so I could take Alfie out. Any idea that I would go to church this morning is totally out of the question, and my weekly Camphill session on Tuesday is even more unlikely. Although having said all that, I don't feel as bad as I did when this thing started on Thursday. So, it seems I'm just going to have to endure this thing for the long haul. No way is it going to end soon, but I wish it would.

8.50 a.m. As I write this, it's 'sort of' raining. I mean, drizzly rather than pouring rain. Something that Alfie won't like, although he wouldn't get much of a dousing.

Monday. 5.35 a.m. It was something of a surprise to discover it was raining fairly hard as I looked out of the kitchen window this morning. I thought I could go out without a coat, but on arriving at the bottom of the stairs and seeing rain through the double doors which lead into the garden, I had second thoughts and returned to the flat to get my bright yellow Regatta raincoat. Alfie was not much bothered by the rain when we eventually hit Strudwick Drive and we were soon back inside.

As regards my covid infection has continued, although I'm not as hot and sweaty, brain fog has left me sort of in a sort of, well, fog. It takes ages to think and get dressed about three times the usual, length of time.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Tuesday. 5.20 a.m. Another day dawns. Oh dear, what a cliché. But I couldn't resist. As usual, I've been out with Alfie. It's been raining overnight. We walked along the path towards Oldbrook Green and all around the equipment in the fenced-off children's play area there was quite a considerable puddle.  

6.45 a.m. The kitchen was cleaned, washing-up was done, rubbish was taken out, and I'm ready to go to Camphill at around 8.20.

7.00 p.m. I drove to Camphill as usual. The traffic was a good deal quieter than usual. I'm not sure why. I couldn't have been because schools were on holiday, because they don't break up for the summer until the beginning of August. We were down to around half the usual contingent of participants, due to the fact that many were on holiday. We also had a lady come along who was volunteering her time the same way that I do, and she seemed to fit in very well. Whether she comes back is another matter. Also, a resident of Camphill came into the theatre workshop to sample the experience, so she may or may not return.

After the usual check-in and some really crazy games, one about being on a ship and having to run in the right direction, i.e. Port, Starboard, Bow and Stern (which, incidentally, I don't have a problem with, because my father had several boats and you certainly remember those parts, when you get shouted at, as he was prone to doing (Port, particularly, with the saying 'no port left - in the bottle.) A bit of good exercise, running about from one side to the other until I got caught out!

The stage was set up for some more filming. The green screen material was arranged so that, once a piece of film (actually video, technically, but never mind) had been completed, additional background material could be digitally inserted so that it would look as if the actors were on a beach in a ship or somewhere in the wild west. I got a chance, at long last, to see some of the completed footage, and, I must say, it looks amazing. There is still quite a lot of work to do, such as editing, putting in music, intertitles and probably sound effects, but generally, it all looks fantastic.

A television crew arrived at Camphill, as they are making a documentary for Channel Four about caring for people with learning disabilities and how they will be cared for as they age. During the morning, they focussed on one of the resident's houses within the Camphill campus. We continued to work on filming material for the 'Pirates' film, although I wasn't used, basically because not all the actors were available as they were on holiday.

After lunch, the television crew came into the Chrysalis Theatre. The chairs were put into a circle and some of the residents sat on the chairs. It was set up so that the young actor Reuben (not sure exactly what his surname is.) was going to ask the group questions, which had been written on cards and placed behind the camera.) as the camera and sound engineer juggled with moving around without disturbing the flow of the discussion. The group were really great, didn't show any nerves and didn't fluff their words!

It was exciting that the group will now be the focus of this documentary, but as I write this, we don't know exactly when it will be broadcast. No doubt also streamed on the Channel Four website.

Wednesday. 8.30 a.m. Yet another bright and sunny morning. Not a great deal more to say on the matter.

1.00 p.m. It is currently raining. In fact, quite a torrential downpour. Well, after all the heat we've had over the last couple of weeks, it's something of a relief.

Day, By Day, By Day!

 Wednesday. 4.55 a.m. Oh, dear! What an evening! Let me explain. I had a text message from AA motor insurance when I was at Camphill. I usually check my phone during the tea and lunch breaks, and it was during the morning tea break that I saw it. It was thanking me for renewing my insurance with them, but I have already got a better deal with a different company, so it was somewhat annoying. I attempted to phone using my mobile, but there was absolutely no chance of me getting through and cancelling the policy in the time I had before continuing in the theatre. 

When I eventually got back to my flat in Dexter House, fed Alfie and generally got myself organized, I had another go at getting through to AA Insurance. No chance. At one point I got cut off, for whatever reason, I don't know, something technical on their end. You have to go through a long set of menus, and then the recorded voice gives you a spiel about their service and products. Endless recorded music and a voice saying 'you are in a queue' etc. No chance of getting through and then, after more than 2 hours (yes, 2 hours!) I thought I'd try their online 'chat' system. Well, at least you don't have to put up with the music and hold the telephone handset to your ear. Then, at around 6.45, it told me that it was closing down for the day and I had to fill in a survey about their service. Non-existent. I will have another go today, but I don't have much faith it their system and getting through to resolve this issue.

8.15 a.m. I have now managed to deal with the above situation via the AA website's chat feature. I am never entirely sure that I am dealing with a human or an AI, but it seems the insurance policy will close after the next payment and I then move over to the new insurance company which is called Yoga (no, not Yoda, although it would be funny if it was. )

The current temperature, reading on the digital thermometer, is 22ºC.

12.20 p.m. The electrician arrived at around 10.00 this morning to install the extractor fan. It took around 40 minutes and seemed a good deal more complex than I imagined. It has been wired so the cable that connects it to the socket in the wall, which was installed when the kitchen was upgraded around a year ago. It has several speeds and continues to work when it is turned off, which I suppose makes sense, so it makes sure that any steam or smoke is removed for a few minutes after it is turned off. Now it uses my George Foreman grill and really puts it to the test!

Currently, the digital thermometer reads 23ºC.

3.45 p.m. I took the car to Anglo Continental Cars, which is in Mount Farm Industrial Estate. I got there far too early and then, once they started work on it, I was told that it was actually too early for the test. I knew it was, but I wanted to get it done so that I could concentrate on other things, in particular, sorting out dates to go and visit my daughter and grandchildren in Worcester.

The good news is, it passed, but I was told that one of the rear brakes is binding and will need work done on it, but I may leave it until next month for them to deal with it.

Well, at least that is done until next year.

All Is For The Best, (In The best of all possible worlds)

Monday. 4.55 a.m. Here we go! Yet another fun-packed week at Dexter House. I'm being very sarcastic, but life goes on. What else to do? I have a hospital appointment this morning at Milton Keynes University Hospital at 11.50 a.m. It's not so much the actual appointment which is the problem, it's managing to find a parking space which causes stress which is more of a problem. I'll just have to get there in plenty of time to make sure I can park the car and then walk through to the department where I have to have a kidney scan. The letter I got, which rescheduled the appointment for 16th June, tells me I have to drink at least a litre of water. Well, as I'm keeping hydrated because of the hot weather, that's not going to cause much of a problem.

12.25 p.m. I have been to the hospital for my appointment. It was scheduled for 11.50, but, because of finding a space in the multistory car park, I went earlier. Fortunately, I found a space, which relieved the stress. When it came to walking to the ultrasound department, I at first went in the wrong direction and had to be directed by a helpful man who sent me back to the reception area and I soon found the department.

I was met by a lady who asked me my name when I walked through the door. It turned out that she was going to do the scan, so I was checked in and then the usual wait. Not long after I was called into the room and had to lay on a narrow couch/bed thing and the scan began, laying on my left side, then my right. The reason for this scan was that when I first moved to my current surgery, my doctor got me to have a blood test, which showed up something related to my kidneys and possibly caused by a side effect of taking some of my heart medication, which I have been on since my first heart attack in 2006. The technician doing the scan said this 'thing' was like a birthmark or tag, and was about 5 cm across, but when she did the scan it wasn't viable. In fact, she had to have a second look and still, nothing! So hopefully that's the end of that. No more to be said on that matter, but I should get a letter from my GP surgery with details, which will have been sent from the hospital.

I took Alfie to the dog-sitting lady at about 1.50 and left him to find out how he would behave, rather, if he would settle. I then went to Monday Club at the Oaktree Centre, which is on the opposite side of Shenley Brook End, and returned when that ended at 3.30. I was pleased to find that Alfie had done well, although he did bark a small amount. So it looks as if I can leave him there, so I can go to Worcester.

Tuesday. 5.15 a.m. Thankfully, it's a good deal cooler this morning and, as a result, far easier to sleep. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºC.

4.25 p.m. A relatively straightforward drive to Camphill this morning. I know that it will be somewhat easier when the schools are on holiday, but it couldn't be that, as schools haven't broken up yet for the summer holidays.

Most of the theatre workshop gang was in the theatre today. We got to hear some of them talk about their holidays when we did check in. It seems to take longer and longer each time, probably because there are far more members of the group, and certainly more than when I first went to Camphill in 2019. It took a good hour today. 

I was moved to another of the silent movie projects. I was with the time-travel movie, and last week, when there were so few people in the workshop because they were on holiday, we didn't rehearse that project so I had to take over the pirate project. I have to say I'm disappointed because I had been working on developing the story with the gang and would have loved to see it completed. 

Terrie had managed to construct sets for the time travel movie on the Chrysalis Theatre stage so that some of the movies could be filmed using an iPad. I can say that it's so easy with modern technology such as iPads and iPhones, and editing is relatively easy. 

Because the time travel set had a prison set, the Western video group used it to film footage for their project. It seemed to go well, and they got all the materials they needed. While all this was going on, the pirates' team rehearsed in the hall part of the theatre. Terrie had gone off to have supervision with the manager of Camphill and came back a good deal later than expected. Her supervision was supposed to last an hour but overran by about thirty minutes, so by the time she returned we had more or less finished and there wasn't time to start anything else. So, it was a day of bits and pieces, but in some respects, successful, considering some filming was done.

Wednesday. 5.30 a.m. Yet another mild morning. I slept a good deal better than I have for the past couple of weeks. The digital thermometer currently reads 24ºC. Alfie and I did a circuit of Oldbrook Green, although he was somewhat reluctant.

12.55 p.m. I knew I was due to have a glazier come and replace the glass in the window of the kitchen this morning so that an extractor fan could be fitted. The man was due between 9 and 1. He turned up at about 10.30. It was done really quickly, the old glass taken out and the new one, including the cut hole to replace it. He then went off, mumbling something, which I didn't catch. So, I am now with a beautifully cut round hole ready to receive the extractor fan. But when is it to be fitted? Presumably to be done by a different contractor. So I rang Mears, yet again about this situation (I have now lost count), to be put through to a lay, who said she'd raise an order for the fan. But my question is, when can I expect this? It seems to go around in circles, a bit like a dog chasing its tale.  I JUST WANT MY EXTRACTOR FAN. But, whilst they're at it, what about my bathroom? It's no good asking. When this confounded fan (more of a FAN-tasy than an actual fan- get it? A pun!) I can actually use my George Foreman grill, which is waiting to be used, without setting off the fire alarm.

Life's A Drama (and some things not quite so dramatic)

Tuesday. 6.45 p.m. It's been very humid today. As I write this post, the sun is out, but it's very close. 

I have been to Camphill, working in the performance art workshop in the Chrysalis Theatre. Many of the group were on holiday, so we had around half the normal quota.

A young lady came to the workshop to sample what we get up to. I'm not entirely sure if she was comfortable with some of the activities. Unfortunately, during one of the games we play, one of the guys said something entirely inappropriate and Terrie had to take him out of the theatre and deal with the situation it caused. He remained out of the group until after lunch, and later in the afternoon he apologized for his behaviour. Whether he had learnt from his actions, it was unclear. It did rather upset the dynamic of the group.

Paul, who if one of the permanent staff within the workshop, was off ill, so the whole team had to be reorganized. Fewer regular members of the group were on holiday. In fact, the group was about half what it is normally.

As Usual, we began with a check in, although very much depleted, so it went relatively quickly. A few warm-ups and drama games (during which the 'incident', as reported above, took place.)

As you may, or may not, know, we've been developing three silent movies in the theatre workshop. This has been ongoing since the production of 'Twelfth Night.' One is a 'pirate' swashbuckler, the second is a 'Western', and the third, which is the one I've been involved in, is a 'Time-travelling' epic. Because we didn't have the full complement of performers or staff to oversee the rehearsals of them all, the 'Time-Travelling' one wasn't worked on, so I got put with the 'Pirate' one. I was supposed to be the captain of the ship and at one point, later in the afternoon, we rehearsed the central sword fight between the pirates and the captain's crew. Then during all this, George, who is one of the regular gang, who doesn't live at Camphill and who his  hearing impaired but is excellent at B.S.L. (British Sign Language) taught some of the gang sign language for some of the words which are used in the script, the idea being that the film, when it is eventually shown to an audience, would be accessible to those with hearing impairment. 

Wednesday. 10.15 a.m. I was out early with Alfie at around 5.15.

It's not quite so clammy and hot this morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 25ºC.

I've been to Sainsbury's. On Friday evening at the Oaktree Centre we have another quiz session, so I've been to buy a few prizes and snacks, so I'm stocked up.

In The Good Old Summertime

Tuesday. 12.00 p.m. Another sunny and very warm day. The temperature as shown on my digital thermometer currently reads 27ºC. As I mentioned in the last blog post, I haven't been to Camphill.

6.00. p.m. Not a great deal has been going on today. It's still very warm. In fact, the digital thermometer reads 28ºC. 

Wednesday. 6.15 a.m. It's bright and sunny here in Milton Keynes. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºC.

11.10 a.m. There's supposed to be someone coming to deal with my bathroom floor this morning. I was sent a text message from Mears, the contractors, telling me someone will attend between 8-12. I'm still waiting.

Someone has just been to look at the bathroom floor. We have come to the conclusion that there's really no point in ripping up the floor, just to have to rip that up when they put in the new shower to replace the bath. It has to go to people 'upstairs' to give some sort of response to all this and hopefully (and I mean HOPEFULLY.) get what is called a wet room, with a special floor which takes into consideration the water that is used with a shower. Pigs might fly.

The digital thermometer currently reads 24ºC.

12.35 p.m. I've been to Aldi. Around a week's worth of food for £40.73. That would have probably cost about £60-£70 in Sainsbury's. It is good value, but there are some items I don't buy in Aldi, such as bread and toiletries. I like the bread which is baked in Sainsbury's own bakery, multi-grain, sort of malty flavoured. It is sometimes sliced, but I have a good bread knife with a serrated edge, which is ideal for slicing this sort of bread. It is easy enough to park outside Aldi, but I have to remember to have a £1 coin for the trolley, although I now have a trolley coin on my key ring.

The temperature in the flat is currently 25º C. 

1.50 p.m. I had a telephone call from someone connected with Mears, regarding the bathroom floor. They can't give me a date regarding replacing it. I said, it was a bit of a waste of time, energy and money if they give me a new floor and then when they revamp the entire bathroom, made it into what the gentleman who came out this morning called a 'wet room', if it only ends up with them tearing that floor up to install the new bathroom. This whole affair is turning into some sort of comedy. The left-hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. The plot thickens . . . . 

The temperature climbs to 26ºC.

4.05 p.m. I have met the new S.H.O. of Dexter House (S.H.O. is Sheltered Housing Officer.) She is currently shadowing another staff member and will start here in about two weeks' time.

The current temperature is 27ºC.

Thursday. 6.40 a.m. Another warm and sunny morning. I just hope the temperature drops, because it's causing problems. I still have to be careful in the sun with my heart condition.

The current temperature on the digital thermometer is 23ºC.

I have managed to clear all my data from my old iPad. I will take it somewhere to get a good price, hopefully, so it can be sold. I say 'old', but it is only a couple of years old, purchased during the pandemic.  I have a far more advanced iPad Pro,  which works with an Apple Pencil, allowing me do do digital painting and drawing on something called Procreate, as well as video editing with an app called InShot,

Spring Has Sprung

Sunday. 6.15 a.m. I don't think Alfie was in the least bit interested in going out this morning. He was in his bed next to the television in the lounge and behind the trolley on which my Canon printer sits. I had to pick him up to take him out. No sound, no barking or anything. We did an Oldbrook Green circuit and then returned to the flat.

Bank Holiday Monday. 6.15 a.m. It's another warm and mild morning here in Milton Keynes. I think I must put on my electric fan to cool down the flat. Yet another circuit of Oldbrook Green with Alfie. I am shocked by the amount of litter which is all over the grass around the place. The rubbish bins are overflowing. It is really unpleasant.

Tuesday. 5.10 a.m. I had the electric fan on all yesterday. I also had the lounge and bathroom windows open and the flat is now a good deal cooler.

I have had a refund for the gimbal, which I returned to Amazon. I was surprised at how quickly the refund was made and in my Amazon account. I have just ordered a replacement and it should arrive tomorrow. I just could not get that model gimbal to work as it was supposed to. The one I have ordered is a completely different make and model. I had considered ordering it last night, but I have to be at home in order to sign for it, as it is quite expensive. I should be going to Camphill today, which is why I've delayed the order. I think this is to assure that they deliver to the correct person. You get sent a code which you have to give to the delivery driver. It assures security, and I'm fine with that.

6.10 p.m. I have been to Camphill as I normally do, and worked in the theatre workshop. I had missed the previous week, and the gang knew that it was because Alfie hadn't been well last Tuesday. 

The morning was taken up with fire training. How to recognize fire hazards and how to deal with incidents of fire. The theatre workshop group sat in the 'gods' section of the seating, whilst the Camphill care staff sat below in the body of the hall. At the end of the morning, staff had the opportunity to operate a couple of fire extinguishers. I have done this type of course before, which was done at Bromham Hospital when I started working as a support worker for the  Bedford Hospital N.H.S. back in the late 1990s. As a result of all this, although very necessary, we did no work on the silent comedies we are developing. 

After lunch, Terrie (the leader of the workshop.) produced some props from her own collection, which could be used in the silent comedy films we are creating. 

Later on, my group went downstairs to the costume room to select costumes for our films. The guys seem to find suitable costumes for themselves, but I was searching for a suit. There is a whole rack of suits, but nothing in my size, so I will go to a charity shop and see if I can find something there. It's quite likely I can get something for around £10-£15.

Wednesday. 6.00 a.m. I was wide awake at 4.45 and couldn't get back to sleep. This is quite normal for me. I decided to clear up the kitchen from last night and sorted my recycling and rubbish. Tied up both bags and took them out to the bins later on. Then I took out Alfie at around 5.20. Another circuit of Oldbrook Green.

10.30 a.m. I purchased ink cartridges for my Canon printer. As it gets a fair amount of use, and it was likely that the ink would get used up rapidly, I thought it might be a good idea to have some set by in storage for the moment the ink was running low. You used to be able to buy these cartridges from Sainsbury's, but they no longer have them on the shelves. The reason I was told, by a member of staff, was that they get stolen by shoppers. It's the same with Gillette Pro and Mach cartridge blades, which are quite expensive. It would appear that some people will steal anything if they imagine they can get away with it, which is why this sort of item tends to be fitted with an electronic device that will sound an alarm if they don't go through the check-outs in a correct manner. I ordered a couple of these cartridges from Viking, an online retailer which sells stationery items. The ink cartridges have remained in the drawer of the printer unit for a couple of months. I have used the printer several times and the ink cartridges which came with it when I bought it have not been replaced. Until yesterday, when I wanted to print and the printer showed that the ink was running low. It wasn't until I opened up the printer, ready to put in the new cartridges, that I discovered that they were the wrong type and wouldn't work in the printer. I really wanted to be able to use the printer, and it's no point in having the thing if it doesn't work. I imagined that Argos would have ink cartridges, the reasoning being because that was where the printer came from. 

I drove to Argos and went inside the store and had to look for the ink cartridges on one of the computer screens to then discover that they didn't have any of the types I wanted in stock. I then decided to drive to the shopping centre to go to W.H. Smith's to find out if they had ink cartridges. I made a mistake and had to drive around the centre of Milton Keynes to arrive at the car park close to The Point and had intended to use the Ring Go app on my iPhone, but for some reason, I needed to put in the password and when I     attempted this, it wouldn't work. Frustrated by this, I decided to return home and think about where else I could obtain the ink cartridges.

I will have to leave the purchase of the ink cartridges until I can find somewhere that stocks them. There is no 'bricks and mortar' stationer anywhere in this area, unfortunately.

Camphill Drama (and other Quite Interesting Matters, but Some Just Boring)

 Wednesday. 7.05 a.m. Another great day was spent in the theatre workshop at Camphill yesterday. As you will have read in my earlier post (that is, if you are a regular reader of these posts.) you will know that I didn't go to Camphill last week, because the Chrysalis Theatre was being used by an outside group who were there rehearsing their own production, so the Camphill group went for a day out to Stony Stratford. I didn't join them. Anyway, this week was definitely a busy day, picking up from the week before when we'd started to work on developing three stories which will be the basis for our silent movies. One is to be a swashbuckling adventure, the second a western and the third (which I am working on.) a time-travelling story.

The day started with the usual check-in. It usually takes about 20 minutes, but, as there are far more in the group from when I first went to Camphill around three years ago (I can't believe it's that long.), it does tend to take a good deal longer.

There were workmen doing something elsewhere in the building, and they were making drilling and hammering noises which interrupted the activities of the theatre workshop over the course of the day.

Each group has been workshopping ideas for their stories. They each began to rehearse their stories and, as they progressed, added ideas having given each other feedback, and this helped develop each story. Terrie wanted us to come up with written 'boards' which would be incorporated into the finished films, which would be used to explain, in writing, certain aspects of the plot. This, bearing in mind that each film will be silent and have no dialogue. (Technically known as 'title cards' or 'intertitles.' They would be edited into the completed film, helping to guide the audience with various aspects of the story, characters, scenes, details and so on.)

After lunch, during the check-in, the noises from the workmen were distracting everyone. I have to admit, it was quite difficult concentrating with all that banging, drilling and extraneous sounds more or less taking over. As a result, Terrie decided that we would all go out onto the grass outside the theatre and do some voice warm-ups. I have heard actors doing this, before performances, when I worked in stage management. Then we played a game which is similar to the old playground game of tig, which I remember from my school days. Everyone spreads out around the area and one person starts. When someone is being chased, they have to avoid being touched by the chaser, and then they stand behind someone else in the group. This goes on, and each chaser has to catch the person in front of anyone who is in the circle. Quite exhausting, but great fun. We played a game similar to this at school, called 'Off-Ground Tig.' The idea was that, if you stood off the ground, on, for example, a step or other items, a box, dustbin etc., you couldn't be caught. Also, apparently, known as 'British Bulldog.' The Bulldog was the one doing the catching.

We then went back into the theatre to continue running bits of our stories and at the end of the session, in fact, after the tea break, we showed our efforts to the other two groups and then they showed theirs. The whole day was excellent and next week we should be able to complete each story and in a couple of weeks, if things go well, which will depend on where the locations for the filming will be, the movies will be videoed/filmed.

11.45 a.m. I know it's not exactly exciting, but I have been doing some domestic things this morning, such as changing my bedding. Putting a duvet cover on is not my favourite occupation. It just isn't that easy and would be made easier if I had someone to help, which I don't. All the bedding is ready to put in the wash later. I have also steam cleaned the bathroom floor, not made easy because whoever had this flat before I arrived, had no idea how to lay tiles. Just a very poor job, none of them seem to have been arranged properly and many are lifting and some have part of them overlapping others, which makes cleaning the floor harder. But it's done to a certain degree and is much cleaner. I'm glad it is now done.

Reading History

 Monday. 10.00 a.m. I've already been out with Alfie twice this morning. I thought because it was so mild and pleasant, that he deserved another outing.

I think I must have mentioned on here that I have been reading a set of books which cover the history of Britain, from approximately 1870 up until the first years of the 21st century. They aren't actually a set, in that they are all written by the same historian/author, although several are written by the same author. I am now on the final book in this sequence, called 'All In It Together', by Alwyn Turner. This covers 9/11 (the attack on the World Trade Centre.) The so-called 'Millennium Bug', and Tony Blair's first New Labour government, which came to power in the General Election of 1997. 

I have done a search on this blog (it's not difficult, as it has a search engine, no doubt for this very purpose.) to find out when I started reading the set of books. It would appear it was around July 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, when we were cooped up like battery chickens. It seems amazing that it has taken almost three years to get through some 15 books.

Tuesday. 4.50 p.m. I've been to Camphill, working as a volunteer in the theatre workshop. The, by now, customary check-in to start the day. Next week we won't be able to use the theatre, because there is another group coming in to rehearse. Terrie has arranged for the entire group to go to Stony Stratford and she will be doing a story walk, explaining not just the history of the town but also telling stories in general. We can go to local cafés and coffee shops, most notably the local branch of Costa (which seems the most popular place to 'hang out' with some residents). I will drive there myself, as there won't be space in the transport that will be going from Camphill. I will have to do some research regarding parking as I'm not too sure what's available.

We then did some movement exercises, linked to the development of characters for the silent movies we are working on. Terrie got us to mime musical instruments and then conducted the entire group as an orchestra. A very interesting exercise.

We were put into three groups, each one for the silent movies that were being devised. This was a brainstorming, throwing ideas out and coming up with developments for one of the stories, which was to be a spoof science fiction, time-travelling 'epic.'

Later in the afternoon, each group had to present their ideas to the rest of the group and it was interesting to discover what they had come up with. As I said, my group was doing the science fiction, time-travel story whilst the two other groups were doing a western and a swashbuckling/romance.

The roads were relatively peaceful, compared with other weeks. None of the aggressive driving. No doubt it's down to the fact that schools are on Easter holiday for two weeks.

Wednesday. 7.20 a.m. It's a good deal milder than it was yesterday.

There was an amazing red sky when I went out with Alfie just before 6 o'clock this morning. I only wish I had thought to take my camera or at least, my iPhone, as it was worth a couple of photographs. I had thought to return to the flat to collect one or the other, but by the time I'd got back, it would have changed.

I have been to Aldi to do a shop. I  am attempting to not go to Sainsbury's, basically because Aldi is so much cheaper and there is no drop in the quality of the things I buy.  

Drama Workshop At Camphill (And A Few Minor Matters!)

Monday. 7.55 a.m. It's a somewhat blustery morning as I write this blog post. Alfie and I ventured forth, as we usually do early morning, to find plastic bags being blown along the path as we walked towards Oldbrook Green. Only a day ago I remember almost slipping over on the paving slabs on the path in more or less the same place where the plastic bag was being wafted about in the breeze. 

A blustery day makes me think of Winnie The Pooh. Disney made an animated film of the A.A. Milne story, Winnie The Pooh and The Blustery Day. I think it was shown in cinemas with a full-length Disney film, but I have no idea what it was.

10.45 a.m. I have had a letter from Milton Keynes Council regarding my rent, which is going up. I couldn't make head nor tail about how much I was actually going to pay, and then I was told that my account was actually in credit by a considerable amount. I had been paying too much. This is good news, but you would think, someone would let you know, probably giving a statement or similar which broke down how much I had paid.

I've taken Alfe out again, and we walked around Oldbrook Green. We bumped into Woody, one of Alfie's friends, a large rather ugly dog, with a flat face, which resembled the dog which appears in the 'Tom and Jerry cartoons. Big, stupid and with a loud bark. Sort of, his bark was worse than his bite. Anyway, Woody comes up to me and gives me a look and thinks he's going to get a treat from me, but I rarely have dog treats in my pockets, so he was somewhat disappointed when I didn't produce one. We walked on around the Green, but it threatened to rain, so we needed to get back quickly. It is really windy and there's a definite chill in the air, almost enough to freeze your face. I think it's very likely we'll get another load of snow.

Tuesday. 6.35 a.m. I was awake in the night. I'm not entirely sure what time it was, but probably around 1.30. There was a sudden rainstorm. I could hear it rattling on the windows, and then I could see raindrops running down the glass outside. As I write this, it's relatively calm and dry, but I expect there to be puddles along the road and possible flash floods around Milton Keynes.

4.30 p.m. I have just got home from a day at Camphill. It's been a really packed day. Terrie has been away for several weeks as her father is ill and has been in hospital. But she was back in charge today. As usual,, we had the regular check-in, which seems to take longer and longer each time. Last week they had videoed an improvised silent film (I wasn't at Camphill last week.) which was shown projected onto the large cinema screen, which is electronically bought in from above the stage level.

Mitchell, who is a third member of the leadership team in the theatre workshop, and who is a musician who created music for 'Twelfth Night', is currently on holiday in Bulgaria with his girlfriend. The holiday was delayed because of the travel restrictions which came in due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The holiday is at a skiing resort, but Mitchell damaged a leg so can't partake in any skiing, so is spending time relaxing in the hotel where they are staying. He had sent Terrie pictures which obviously showed that he was bored, having to sit around in the hotel, so she decided to send him photographs of the drama group on 'holiday', but constructed out of photographs found on the internet and then projected onto the cinema screen and with members of the drama team standing in front of the screen. It may sound crazy, and everyone had fun deciding where they would like to go on holiday. Then Terrie took photographs of the team standing in front of these photographs and in a variety of poses. 

After tea break, Terrie gets us all doing an exercise based on character archetypes, the sort of characters you would find in a silent film, and in turn, as seen in traditional melodramas in theatre, such as 'The Villain', 'The Hero', and 'The Damsel In Distress.' 

After lunch, we had to mime the archetypes, all without speaking. Actually quite difficult.

The final session of the day, this time, after the afternoon tea break, we were broken into groups of about five or six and had to improvise a short sketch, based on what we learnt. I lead one of the groups and the improvisation was about a couple living in a house and not being able to afford to pay their rent and the landlord, the 'Evil Villain' came in and demanded they pay their rent, which had presumably been increased., The 'The Hero' came in, who was going to pay their rent for them. It ended with 'The Hero' coming back and having a fight with 'The Villain' and winning with the two 'Damsels In Distress' (the tenants, smashing 'The Villain' over the head with a saucepan (mimed!) and throwing 'The Villain' out! All through this, I directed the piece.