Electronic Appliances Failures

 Tuesday. 6.30 a.m. Oh, dear! The new year hasn't started well for me. Yesterday I wanted to make some toast, so I took the toaster out of the cupboard and then discovered that it wouldn't work. I thought at first that there was a problem with the power supply, that maybe the workmen who were around Dexter House had turned off the electricity for some reason. But I tried other electronic devices that used the mains supply, such as my fridge-freezer, but it was working as normal. 

I was thinking, I want to make toast! I would need to replace the old toaster. I bought this one from Argos, and I had sufficient points on something called Consumer Pulse. I have been part of this for years, recording things I have purchased and earning points which can be converted into vouchers. So, I went onto the Consumer Pulse website and ordered Argos vouchers. Unfortunately, I will have to wait around 5 days before I receive them. They used to send you these vouchers via email and you put a code into the Argos website in order to pay for whatever you wanted and then go to the nearest Argos store to colled the item. So, I will just have to be patient and then order the new toaster.

That was the first failure. I have my main meal in the evening. I was going to have meat pie, chips and green beans. Everything was ready to cook, but then I couldn't get my electric oven to work. Again, I thought it must be the power supply, and I tried the oven several times, but it wasn't going to play ball. So, no meal. I thought I could order a take away using an app on my iPad. Deliveroo or something similar. I have used it before, with no probloems, but I could not get it to work. Password or something annoying like that. I attempted to resolve the issue, but it would not work, even trying to use the 'forgotten password' function, which is supposed to send you and email and then set up a new password, but it wasn't going to work.

So, it seems as if my devices were being decidedly awkward today.

In the end I just made myself a cheese sandwich. 

As regards the electric oven, I thought the only solution would be to replace it. I have an on-line account with Very, so I went on their website and found what looked like the perfect replacement oven, in their sale, as around £150 off the price, the right width to fit in the space in my kitchen, ceramic hob like my old one and fan-assisted. So, after some thought I went ahead and ordered it, which means I can pay in installments, which is how I bought my fridge-freezer when I moved into Dexter House. I paid extra to have the old oven removed, but I will have to find someone, probably at church, to come to my flat to install it, as I'm not able to do electrical stuff like connecting an electric cooker. The new oven isn't likely to be delivered for around two weeks, so I will have to figure out a way to cook my meals, although I can use my microwave oven.

6.20 p.m. The situation regarding the toaster and oven. I spoke to Vashti, the S.H.O at Dexter House. She spoke to someone at Mears (I imagine it was them.) about the situation and I was told it might have something to do with the fuse box, although it isn't a traditional fuse box, which was renewed a few months ago. The box contains several rows of switches, and if an appliance is faulty or fails in some way, the circuit it is connected to will fire the switch. It turned out that the oven and toaster (or, in that case, the socket in the kitchen.) had shown up with a light which was orange, so we pushed the switch and the light turned to red. As a result, the oven and toaster worked. As a result, I have cancelled the order from Very, because a new oven is no longer required. Situation resolved, thankfully.

Small Dog, No Go

Wednesday. 6.30 a.m. Nothing much to report. I have been out and walked with Alfie around Oldbrook Green.

I turned on BBC Breakfast this morning and discovered that there had been yet another massacre at a school in America to my complete and utter horror. It just doesn't seem possible that the American people can allow this sort of thing to be repeated so many times and STILL not have any sort of legislation in place to prevent it from happening. In Britain, we have had similar incidents, but then our government has dealt with it by bringing in legislation to prevent it, or at least make it more difficult for a madman to run amuck in society and kill people. In America, it seems too easy to get hold of weapons without any sort of control, such as requiring a gun licence. They just don't seem to learn from this sort of incident. Why was the gunman allowed to even get into the school? Why no security? C.C.T.V. or gates and barriers to at least slow down a rampaging gunman to enter? I remember when Carol was working at Milton Keynes Academy, to get in you had to stop at the gate (that is, if you were driving in, as I did many times.) you had to press a key on the keypad and wait for the receptionist to answer and then you were let in and then, once, inside the building, you were seen on C.C.T.V. and if you needed to go beyond the reception area, you would be met by a staff member. 

3.00 p.m. I took Alfie out mid-morning and as soon as I put my foot out through the door, I was almost sent flying by an idiot on one of those confounded electric scooters. I never heard it approaching. No noise, no warning or anything. I dread to think what sort of injury I would have received if I had been in the middle of the path. They never slow down and expect you to move out of the way for them. These things should be regulated and the operator/drivers should have insurance and wear a helmet. Then I saw one being ridden on the road, which is crazy because they don't have any sort of protection if they were run into by a motorized vehicle. Just an accident waiting to happen. Goodness knows what it must be like for people with poor eyesight or no eyesight or someone in a wheelchair or with poor mobility.

Thursday. 5.30 a.m. Today would have been Carol and my 15th wedding anniversary. I won't say any more about it on here.

Alfie and I went out at around 5.25 this morning. It was light, and I could hear the birdies singing, so it seemed a good idea. I don't lounge around in bed, as you probably realize.

1.55 p.m. I've been to the Oaktree Centre this morning to help set up and pack away for the playgroup that meets every week. Then I was invited to a Bible study and was the only man amongst about eight women. It didn't matter and then afterwards I helped pack the gear away after the playgroup.

The excitement doesn't get much better. Well, it might or it might not. They're going to plant a . . . wait for it, wait for it. . . . Make sure you're sitting down. . . . A Jubilee rose bush! Just think of it. It doesn't get much better. Sorry for being sarcastic, but do you honestly think we could live without this? Why on earth a ROSE bush? Why not a grand piano, or even a day out at the seaside? I had to stifle a guffaw when I heard. Who is going to plant it? Will it be bug-free? Will the slugs and snails nibble on it?

Friday. 5.25 a.m. I was out with Alfie at 5.10 this morning! How much earlier can I get out and walk around Oldbrook Green? I think I totally took Alfie by surprise when I picked him up off my bed where he had been snoozing.

So, this is the day I get to leave Fogeyville and drive to Worcester, not forgetting taking Alfie across Milton Keynes to be cared for by Whitney who has kindly volunteered to take care of him this long weekend. I'd partially packed up and organised and will start putting things in the car, which is already fuelled and ready for the off!

Later. I have to report that my trip to Worcester was cancelled. I drove to Wolverton Mill, where Whitney lives. She was going to look after Alfie for the weekend. I parked as close to her flat as possible and then unloaded Alfie and took him into her flat. But once I left him with Whitney, Alfie wouldn't stop barking and was distressed when I left him. There was no way I could leave him in distress and also I think Whitney was somewhat distressed. I wasn't expecting this situation. I really imagined I would be able to leave him and then drive away. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to happen. I think it's because he has latched onto me and we've been locked down together for two years due to the pandemic as well as just having me around since Carol passed away. I'm not sure how to overcome this situation so I can go to Worcester without him. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

As a result of going to Worcester, I hadn't stocked up with enough food for the weekend. I didn't have anything for the usual evening meal, so I ordered a rather tasty Thai green curry through Deliveroo, which I have never used before. The app has been on my iPad for a while, but I hadn't used it before. But we were back to the situation of the delivery driver not knowing where to deliver to. I had put on the order, to make sure the driver delivered to my flat in Dexter House, but I got a call from the driver as he couldn't find the flat. Even with a huge new sign outside! I'll say no more about this, but it is annoying.

Saturday. 6.20 a.m. Once again, Alfie and I were out bright and early. This time about 5.10. A chilly but bright and sunny morning. What more can I say? These reports are getting a bit repetitive.