Getting Colder

I had an email from the removal company when I got home from Camphill, telling me that they had reserved Wednesday 9th of October as removal day. The men will be here at 7.30a.m., and they will be able to disassemble my bed and the large pigeon-hole unit in the lounge and reassemble at the flat in Dexter House. Also, they will be able to disconnect the electric oven and reconnect it in the flat, one less thing for me to have to think about. My only concern is not having a fridge/freezer, but that is being sorted out. I may get  grant from the Council to purchase one, and in any case, the old one which is being left behind is really too big for a single person.

I have now heard from Daniel, and he's coming here from Thursday to the weekend and will collect his belongings from what was his bedroom when he lived here. It seems that everything is falling into place and I must say I'll be glad when I am settled in the flat and the long journey to find alternative accommodation is over. I took several boxes of books in the car, a couple of which went to Dexter House, and another couple to the charity shop near Tesco's in Oldbrook Boulevard. Also, some clothes from the wardrobe which I hung in the fitted wardrobe at the flat.

It is getting a lot colder. Autumn is definitely here. There are leaves on the ground when I go to take Alfie for his early morning walk around Eaglestone Park this morning. My FitBit wouldn't charge properly, so I didn't get a step count as I should. I say it wouldn't charge, but it's difficult to know exactly whether it is charging when it's on the charging gadget. You would expect that once it's fitted in the thing there would be some sign that it is charging, such as a sound or a small light, which lit up, indicating power is going into the thing. So I left it off when we went out.

I said it was getting colder. Yesterday evening (Wednesday) I put the central heating on for the first time, but I put it off as soon as I went to bed. Oh well, I suppose it's bound to turn colder now we're into October.

I noticed that there are no curtain tracks in either the bedroom or lounge at the flat. Annoying, because I have to now go and buy some before I can hang the curtains I purchased in The Range this morning. First thing this morning I went to Homebase to buy a measuring tape and then went to the flat to measure both windows.

I have now rung Sky to have my phone and broadband transferred to the flat in Dexter House. Because there is no telephone line there an engineer will come on 17th October to install a line. I don't want to loose my internet connection, otherwise I won't be able to keep this blog going and I rely on it for such things as email and the occasional glance at Facebook, basically to keep in touch with the outside world. 

Things To Do

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wild and Wet

(Tuesday)Alfie insisted on going out earlier than usual. It was dark and we could hardly see, but still, it really didn't matter to him. He got to bark as loud as ever and I let him off his lead at the bottom of the path and he had a god run. But there were a few drips of wet and it was close to raining so I didn't intend walking the entire circuit of Eaglestone Park. It was just as well that we didn't, because it soon began to rain in ernest and we got back to the house in time and as I write this at 7.45 it's continuing.

Usually when I drive down Chaffron Way to Camphill on a Tuesday, the traffic is reasonably busy. It can be a bit hairy crossing the roundabout on Marlborough Street and then on down Chaffron it's plain sailing. Generally there is traffic queuing up in the other direction, but the heavy rain caused quite difficult driving, with the water remaining on the road surface and making the possibility of aqua-plaining a possibility, so some cars were driving extra slow (in complete contrast to a dry day, when a lot of drivers speed and you get lot of 'tailgating,' as I've mentioned in previous blog posts. It took  good 15 minutes to reach the exit into the Waitrose carpark and a good 20 further minutes to drive along Brickhill Street and actually arrive in the Camphill carpark. I then had to walk to the Chrysalis, not particularly far, but in the process I got thoroughly wet, my trousers mostly, because I wore my Peter Storm jacket with the hood on, something I haven't worn in probably the past 12 months. The rain didn't ease off until mid-morning, and eventually the sun came out and it because quite sunny by lunchtime.

Teo, the leader of the theatre workshop at Camphill, is still on holiday, so his deputy, Paul was in charge for the day. We did a run-through of 'Stranger Danger' up until teatime and then, when we went back we did something completely different, improvisation. We all sat in a circle (which seems the default.) and the idea was to tell the rest of the gang three things about yourself, two which were fake and one that was true, and then the other way round, two which are true and one fake. We all went off and had to come up with these fake/true things, myself going with one of the guys, Matthew, to the library (more of an office than a library.) and it was quite difficult to get him to say something which wasn't going to be too much of a give-away, because the others would know which was true and which fake.

After lunch we were on a totally different improvisation game. Some were supposed to be in a car. That was it. No more information. My group were supposed to be in a lift. The idea being that the lift started at the bottom of the building and when the doors first open one person gets in and gradually it stops at each floor as it goes up and more people get on at each floor. We managed to develop our own characters but somehow we couldn't get a story to develop, which was a pity. It's no good having a character, but they need to have a reason why they were getting in the lift, where were they going? What was the reason for getting in the lift and so on.

The we did another game (if that's the right word) where we had a partner, and we stood either side of the hall (auditorium of the Chrysalis Theatre) and had to speak without shouting, across at your partner, and make sure they could hear during a conversation. Another worthwhile bit of improvisation.

Then we did a second improvisation which was supposed to be set on a bus, so we had chairs set out in the form of a bus with the seats in rows with an aisle in the middle. We came up with characters on the bus, mine being someone going for a hospital appointment and being stressed that the bus was going to get to Oxford on time. Someone became the driver and someone else the conductor (do they have conductors on busses these days? My experience of going on a bus is that they don't, because you pay the driver when you board the bus, but that's a minor quibble.) As the conductor walked along the bus he asked to see passengers tickets and everyone made an excuse as to why they didn't have one. One of the group improvised being a spy, and when the conductor came to ask for his ticket, he got out all his secret weapons, hidden in a briefcase or bag, and just showed him as not being very good at being a SECRET spy! A good afternoon's work and everyone agreed it was worth doing the improvisations.

(Wednesday) I've tried to put off going out with Alfie as late as possible, because it's far too dark to see clearly, but you try explaining to a very lively Yorkshire Terrier! When I did eventually get dressed and prepared to go out with him, I discovered it was raining, not that hard, but enough to get somewhat damp. So I took young fellow-me-lad down to the bottom of the path where I usually let him off and came back home almost immediately.

Definitely Moving!

I rang the warden at Dexter House and went to have a visit on Monday morning. I was somewhat dubious, worrying unnecessary as it turned out, as it is perfect for what I need. The flat is up some steps, not actually on a floor along a corridor as I was expecting, is clean and tidy and compared to this house, in excellent condition. It has a spacious lounge, kitchen and single bedroom, with ample space for my king-sized bed (thank goodness! There is absolutely no way I'm going back to sleeping in a single bed. For a start, all my bedding is for a king sized bed. Actually, the duvet is super king sized.) There is a really pleasant community garden in the centre of the complex and it's easily accessible from the flat, so Alfie has somewhere to go for a run (but he won't be able to run in and out as he is here, but that's a minor thing.) There is a laundry room, so I don't have to bother with a washing machine and ample drying space and even an off-road car parking space, which means I don't have to leave the car parked on the road, something I was concerned about.

From viewing the flat in Dexter House, I drove to Lidl, which is a fairly short distance away along Oldbrook Boulevard, and as I was standing at the checkout, who should I see in the queue in front of me but Garry, my next-door neighbour. He said, come in and have a coffee when you get back, so, one I'd finished at the checkout and driven home, I went indoors and put the few bits of groceries away and then went next door to Garry and Shelley's. It turns out that this week Shelly is away with a group of her clients who she cares for, I think he said somewhere on the coast, the south, but I can't remember, Butlins somewhere, probably Bognor Regis. We were taking and it turns out that his son-in-law and his daughter, Jasmin, are looking for a larger home and they would very much like to move into this house when I leave, as they want a three-bedroom house and this would be perfect. Garry gave me their mobile numbers and Joe came round later, the intention being that I ring our Landlord and I tell him that I want to hand in my notice, which I did, and I was going to pass him the phone and Joe could discuss the matter of him taking over the tenancy and doing a renovation job on the house before they moved in. But Mr Singh, the landlord, said he'd rather meet him face-to-face and discuss the process of them transferring the tenancy and so on and so forth. He said he'd come back at 7.15 which he did, along with his wife. As usual, no interest at all in them doing anything to improve the house, just concerned that the rent is paid and saying that we had been good tenants. I said that it was impossible for me to continue paying the rent, and that I had a flat to move too. Mr Singh's wife looking about, as usual, and making sly comments when she saw the condition of the place, things that they were really responsible for, for example, the fact that there's a damp patch on the wall below the bathroom in the hallway, where water has seeped through when we had had a shower. Just bad grouting along the edge probably. Anyway, whenever they've come, usually once a year and for barely 10 minutes, all we usually got was 'have you cut the grass?' which I have had done and actually the 'lawn' (for want of a better name for the tatty patch of grass at the back of the house) is reasonably short at the moment and will get a final cut on Friday when Phil and his son comes back. Thankfully, at the new flat, I won't have that to bother with anymore.

Mr Singh wanted to come back yesterday evening (Tuesday) with his son, as he has an interest in the house, to discuss with Joe about him taking over the house. I went to Camphill yesterday as usual (can't believe I've been going there for near enough 6 months. I will discuss this in another blog post.) but no sign of them arriving here at 7 o'clock as arranged. I didn't really mind, because I was thoroughly worn out by the time I had finished at Camphill and went to bed around 8 o'clock when they never turned up, although it would have been nice to have been told they weren't. I rang Joe this morning when I was out with Alfie in Eaglestone Park and he said that they never came because Mr Singh's son couldn't make it and they should come on either Thursday or Friday evening. 

Visit to Civic Offices

On Friday morning  I was up out of bed early, around 4.30, because I had a form to fill in for the Discretionary payment.  It had been another overwhelmingly hot night and it was difficult enough to sleep, so I prefer to get everything sorted well in advance of having to deliver it to the office. I had to provide two bank statements, which I had already got from the NatWest and Nationwide when I'd visited the shopping centre the day before. I knew that I wouldn't be able to return until Phil and Robert had come back to finish off cutting the grass and generally tidying the garden. They got here around 9.30 and were gone by 10.45 and I have to say the garden is now looking absolutely amazing. The grass at the rear of the house (I refuse to term it 'lawn') looks stunning. They've managed to take away the cut grass, which was the big problem I had, because the rotary mower I have doesn't pick up the cut grass, so any mowing after a while just clogs up the machine. They were coming earlier in the week but because of over-night rain it was postponed so it's as well that it's done now because we had rain overnight and it would never have allowed the mower to work properly. Robert had problems with the Strimmer, not being able to get it started, for whatever reason, but he used the mower and it looks almost as good as it's possible to get because the ground is so uneven.

As soon as Robert and Phil had packed up their equipment in their car and driven off, and I'd had another look at their handwork (I don't think the garden has looked so tidy as it is currently. It will need rimming on a monthly basis to keep it in tip-top condition. I can expect to get a call from my landlord in the next couple of weeks, and, even when I've virtually sweated blood to clean the house for his visit, he won't notice the cleanliness of the place, but just say 'have you cut the grass?' It's usually an annual visit for no more than 10 minutes.)  I prepared to drive into the centre of town, park in my usual place and the walk through to the Civic Offices (conveniently next door to my bank, the NatWest.) On arrival you have to sign in using a touch screen. I'm no good at operating these machines, but a staff member helped and the machine disgorged a ticket with a number on it, 257. Then I sat down on one of the sofa benches (for want of a better description.) But, no sooner had my bottom made contact with the sofa than I had to over-hear a conversation right behind me, someone venting forth on some issue or other to a younger man. It was more than I could take, more like an episode from EastEnders. I decided to move away and sit on another of the benches. I was struck by how few people there were in the place, because generally, if I have to go in there, you can sit and wait for a couple of hours. I was wandering, when the computer generated voice was speaking, directing customers to various numbered desks, which are arranged in a couple of rows, each with a bright red, digital display above each, and separated from one another by coloured screens in a range of pastel shades, it made me wonder, do Alexa or Siri, the Artificial Intelligence 'assistants' on my iPhone and Kindle, ever get to know this invisible and formless  person? Just the sort of rubbish that goes through my head whilst sitting and waiting. It wasn't long before my number was called by the computerised system and I was walking across the floor to the desk with my number flashing above it. Quite a surprise to be called so rapidly. I had taken a carrier bag containing my iPhone, a notebook and pencil to possibly make notes and other reading material.

I handed over the form and the two bank statements which were required and the lady at the desk photocopied them and handed back the originals and that was all. She said it would be around two weeks before I heard anything and I could ring their welfare department who would be dealing with my discretionary payment. So I bade my farewells and walked out of the office and went into Costa on the way back into the shopping centre and had a ham and cheese toastie and a mango and  passion fruit cooler, just perfect for such a warm day and, from the number of people in the store, I think everyone else had the same idea as me.

Saturday. It has become a good deal cooler, thank goodness. Tuesday was scorching, as I think I mentioned in the earlier post, when I was at Camphill. Plenty to drink is the order of the day when the temperature rises. It rained overnight, but only a light shower. Nothing to get you drenched. This morning I was hoping to get a bit more of a lie in, much to Alfie's displeasure. I lay in bed, just chilling out and then I heard little doggy feet on the stairs. Alfie is quite capable of jumping on the bed if he sets his mind to it, but I have to pick him up and put him on the bed. He settles down and I hope he will sleep, but not Alfie. I soon feel him prodding me with his paw and then licking my arm. It's clear he's attempting to gain my attention so that I get dressed and take him out. I resist as long as possible but then I just cave in and go to the bathroom to have a shave and then dressed to go downstairs, take my medication and get ready to take Alfie out. As soon as I sit in the lounge and put on my shoes, he starts his barking and excited noises. I have to check the back patio door is closed and locked, pick up several doggy bags from the kitchen unit and then attach the lead to Alfie's harness, by which time he's transmogrified into the Tasmanian Devil, barking and yanking at the lead with his teeth. It is then, as I step out of the front door, that I discover that is's raining, even if only a light drizzle. This doesn't faze Alfie as we cross the road and into the alleyway which leads down into Eaglestone Park. I decided not to attempt the entire circuit of the park and cross over between the play area and the climbing wall. A few weeks ago it was discovered that it hd been covered in graffiti, which I noticed a few days ago. Some of it including obscene words. I would have used my iPhone to take a photo of it and put it on Facebook, but, because the language was so foul I decided against it, but looking at this wall this morning it looks as if Council workmen have managed to obliterate the graffiti with paint, or what appears to be paint.

There was another musical evening at the Oaktree Centre, home of Shenley Christian Fellowship. Plenty to eat as well and it's great to enjoy people singing and otherwise showing their talents in this way.

A Little Bit Of This And That! (And in some cases, 'Little' being the operative word.)

(Wednesday)I've been for my appointment with the counselling lady at Macmillan at Milton Keynes Hospital. The appointment was at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon. It's no more than a 10-15 minute walk away, which is fortunate as if you go in the car you only have the annoyance of finding a parking space. I notice that they are well on the way to completing the new cancer care unit which is being built on what was the staff carpark. It is supposed to be opening at the end of 2019. I remember when Carol was in one of the wards at the hospital we could see workmen staring work on I think what turned out to be the multi-storey carpark for the staff, so, thinking about it now, it was obvious that they would need to build that before starting work on the cancer centre, otherwise there would be nowhere for the staff to park. The structure is covered in pink, I don't know what it is, but one hopes it won't remain pink, probably a layer for insulation before the other surface is put in position over it.

Thursday. Phil and Robert came back this morning. They've done a really amazing job. The grass now looks a little more like a lawn (but not quite.) Phil managed to get the mower on it and take off the cut grass, which I think is the main problem. The little electric mower we have, a rotary job, really struggled to even touch the long grass and we never used a collection box, so the loose grass which was cut and left only added to the problems. The front looks even better, with the flower bed dug over and the grass and weeds remove and also the grass which was springing up on he parking space is gone and looks very neat and tidy.

I went to the Oaktree Centre for another session of The Church Course. This one on the history of the church. I now know who was there to help me when I collapsed when I had my heart attack in September. Just grateful for him and others who dealt with things the way they did, had First Aid experience and managed to make sure I didn't get injured when I collapsed on the floor. The lady who dealt so amazingly that morning works in the intensive care unit at Milton Keynes Hospital, so I know I was in good hands. Another good reason to support staff who work for the N.H.S. and the brilliant work they do.

Had a letter from Pension Credit. It was just reiterating what went into the application and no word about how much I'm likely to get. I have an appointment with AgeUK on Thursday regarding what other benefits I can claim and if they can help in any way to help me find alternative accommodation. As the landlord seems incapable of maintaining this house, then I'd much rather move to somewhere smaller and with lower rent, if that is at all possible. Just causing me further stress. The medication I was given by the doctor on Tuesday is going to run out on Sunday. So this means I will have to get a further appointment on Monday morning, along with all the stress that causes.

Friday. My friend Nick, who lived in the same house as me in Rutland Road in Bedford around 16 years ago, had texted me to say he could meet up with me in Milton Keynes today. He now lives in Northampton and came by bus as he has a free bus pass. We were going to meet at Starbucks, but which branch, as there are two in Milton Keynes, one in the main shopping centre and the other in Midsummer Place, the newer section. I got to the shopping centre and parked where I usually park and then  walked in and sat and waited outside Starbucks. We were scheduled to meet at 11a.m.

Saturday. Bright and sunny again this morning. Alfie and I were out walking around Eaglestone Park by around 6.10 and back before 6.30. No point lazing around in bed when it's such a lovely day. I say a group of squirrels playing around a tree as we walked along the path near the shop. Alfie didn't see them. I don't think he can see that well because he's so low to the ground. Funny this, because if he sees them in the garden he goes mad and barks, but out in the park, then he doesn't take any notice. Generally his eyesight is fine, particularly when it's seeing off pussycats!

I don't hang about. Why waste time in bed on a warm and sunny day, although as I write this at 8.45a.m, it's become a bit overcast and a bit dull, I've been to put credit on both the gas and electric meters, going to the local shop to do this. Then I drove to Aldi at Bradwall Common and was in and out of there in barely 20 minutes and then home to put everything away and now sitting here drawing breath. Alfie fussing to be given a treat out of the bag that sits on the bookshelf.

I went to the Oaktree Centre a little after 10 o'clock because there was a car-boot sale on. Fortunately it wasn't too hot. I had a bit of a wander round but nothing took my fancy. I was impressed by he vintage car that one of the church regulars had bought along, a Ford. It's in amazing condition. It must have taken ages to restore it to near-perfect condition. It reminds me of the cars that were used when I worked on the BBC television series 'Campion,' which starred Brian Glover and Peter Davidson. I was one of the villain's henchmen. Yes, I know, me as a baddie? Not brilliant casting, but good fun. I think I've described in fair detail how it went. A really hot day, if I remember rightly.

I got home and there was a pile of mail waiting on the doormat. One, a fairly thick manilla envelope, the sort that screams 'government department,' either H.M.S.O., or Dept of Work and Pensions (which is what it was from.) informing me that they had calculated how much Pension Credit I should get. Go on, shall I tell you? The princely sum of £7 per week. Hardly going to help pay my rent. They tell me that I'm being paid too much, including my pension and what I get from Carol's Teachers' pension. So, what shall I spend that on? A couple of packets of biscuits, teabags, washing-up liquid. I know I shouldn't complain, but the length of time it's taken to sort out and all he stress, it's hardly worth the effort to apply and just think of the cost in administration. Seems to me that it's one step forward and several back.

The meds the doctor gave me last Tuesday will run out tonight when I take the final one. So it means I will have to ring the surgery tomorrow to get a repeat or at least another similar medication. Just more annoyance and stress . . .

No Milk!

(Saturday) I've done it again! The milk was off so I couldn't have my breakfast bowl of cereal or my mug of tea. I'll just have to wait until the local shop is open and then, once I've munched my cereal and drunk my tea, I can take Alfie out around Eaglestone Park. He's watching me on from his position on the sofa. Never mind. I just didn't realise the milk was off. It came out with horrible floaty bits in it so that's the end of it.

Later. I've been to get milk from the One Stop shop in Garroways, Coffee Hall. I came back and  took Alfie out for his walk. There was absolutely no way he was going to let me have my bowl of cereal and cup of tea before we went out. But I had this when we got back. Funny little dog, a bit of a control freak, but I love him to bits. He's been a fantastic support for me during Carol's diagnosis and since she's died. made myself a cup of tea

I went to Aldi at Bradwell Common. I'm trying to wean myself off Sainsbury's. Nothing wrong with them as a supermarket, but compared with Aldi, they are not cheap. I was in and out in barely 10-15 minutes. No lingering, which is how the big supermarkets want you to behave, selling stuff that you don't really need, such as clothing, so you put it in your trolley and before you know it, your final bill has doubled or trebled. I like the fact that Aldi, as well as Lidl, is relatively small footprint and that you have little choice for some products so its easy to make a decision. Why have so many versions of the same thing, washing-up liquid, breakfast cereal, coffee or tea? Just put it in our trolley. Then, at the checkout, they speedily scan it through. Someone has had the sense to make the barcodes easy to find and they're larger than on other supermarket's packaging. You just have your shopping scanned straight into your trolley and you pack it into your own bags on a nearby shelf once you've paid, which means less waiting in the queue.

Yesterday was hot. Infact, far too hot. After the glitch on Thursday, when my heart rate increased when I went out on my way to the Oaktree Centre, I made sure I stayed indoors and out of the heat. This morning it's not as hot, although the sun is shining at 6.55a.m. I have taken Alfie out around Eaglestone Park, a bit of a surprise for him and before I had my breakfast. Now watching BBC Breakfast and Donald Trump visiting the D.M.Z. (Demilitarised Zone) between North and South Korea. I'm not sure how the pictures are being transmitted, probably via a satellite link, but the pictures keep freezing. Trump preening and making the most of the photo opportunity. He really is a narcissist and relishes being the centre of attention. But, it depends how you read this 'historic event,' and I suppose it it, but don't forget that Trump intends to stand again for next year's Presidential Election, it's just a photo opportunity. But will President Moon, North Korean President, turn up to meet him? Of course, Trumpy has to broadcast this all over Twitter. Just surprises me that the President of the USA should be allowed to use Twitter or any social media, more from a security perspective than anything else.

I've decided that the world, at long last, will have to endure the sight of my knees and my legs! I've put on my shorts and the short-sleeved shirt I bought in Marks and Spencers some while ago. Just need to keep cool today, that's all. The sun continues to shine at 8.15a.m. Just sitting here in my armchair in the lounge writing this.

I've been to Shenley Christian Centre. The speaker was someone from Newlife Church called Dave Eyeington. One of the guys I work with in the drama workshop told me he went there. No end of people in the café area during the break between services when they serve tea and coffee. But NO BISCUITS! I know, I shouldn't eat them, but I do like a biccy with my cuppa and disappointed when there wasn't a Hobnob, Ginger Nut, Digestive, Jammie Dodger (I like them best, especially the red, jammy bit in the centre.) or Custard Cream. Now I've talked myself into going out and getting a packet from the local shop. I think it's called, I can't think now, but I know what I'm attempting to say. Something to do with psychology. It's how supermarkets get us to buy, buy, buy.

I left the Oaktree Centre and immediately drove down Chaffron Way and went to Waitrose and into the café to have a latte, egg sandwich and rather nice Danish pastry. I have bought myself a water bottle because I think I need to drink more, particularly in this warm weather. I think it was when my heart rate increased because of the heat the other evening that encouraged me to buy this item. I just now have to remember to actually fill it with water and take it with me and not leave it at home.

There was quite a queue of cars coming out of the carpark and going up the slope leaving Waitrose. Why on earth is it such a tight turn coming up that slope? Why do drivers insist of trying to turn right coming onto Chaffron Way? It's a particularly dangerous turn in the first place and surely it's safer and easier to turn left, go round the roundabout and go straight ahead, or is that too simple and easy and far easier? I just wonder how many accidents there have been at this junction. The local authority needs to put some sort of barrier in the centre of the road so that people can't turn right. I imagine if they did this, then there would be an outcry. Always someone who will complain, even if it's a safety measure. Driving at full speed around Milton Keynes, at whatever the speed limit is is also dangerous, but it needs to be no more that 50 miles per hour.

As I drove back along Chaffron Way back home I got a phone call through the media system in my car. I have managed to connect my iPhone to the sound system via Bluetooth. This was only the second such call I have had since setting this up. It was from a friend, Margaret, who goes to Shenley Christian Fellowship. It was inviting me for lunch at 2 o'clock. I immediately said yes. It's nice to be invited and a chance to get out of the house. Also nice not to have to prepare a meal and also it means I won't now need to have a meal this evening. They live in Downhead Park, which is next to Willen, no just Willen Hospice (barely a five-minute drive when Carol was in there) but also Camphill.

Disappointed Dog

(Tuesday) Poor Alfie! He's missing his morning outing round Eaglestone Park. It's because of the weather. As I sit here, just having eaten my breakfast at 6.25a.m., it's pouring with rain outside (well, it would be worse if it were inside! I'd be really worrying if it was.) So, we'll have to wait until it's stopped, probably later this afternoon once I've returned from Camphill.

I did take Alfie out, just after 7 this morning. I had another look outside and it had stopped raining so I hastily attached his lead to his harness and out we went. I couldn't really have a miserable dog left in the house when I go off to Camphill all day. Just not on. Nevertheless, it was damp and the bushes growing along the side of the path down to the park kept hitting me and making me wet with drips of water!

But . . . by 8.30 it was pouring heavily once more. I had gone out to the car briefly and it's as well we went out when we did, otherwise Alfie wouldn't be a happy chappy!

Later. It rained most of the day. I went to Camphill as usual. The traffic was going nuts as I drove on my way there. I had a phone call from Garry on the way. I've never had a mobile phone call come through the media system in the car. I had to wait until I reached the carpark at Camphill to ring back. I don't fancy getting caught using my mobile as I'm driving, but as I was stationary in the traffic it wasn't too bad, but not something I intend doing on a regular basis, or, if it comes to that, ever doing again. It was about getting the clothes hanging rail to fit in his car. Not really something I could do about it as I was about to start a day with the drama group.

The drama students were split into two groups, one working on the 'piggy' and 'wolfie' movements. I was assigned to the second group, going into the meeting room to do a brainstorming session on the 'Treasure Island' project. It was interesting to see what the residents came up with as regards ideas. I'm still not sure exactly how this is going to pan out, and neither does anyone else, but it's a really interesting exercise in what I would call a 'democratic' approach to creating a piece of theatre. Certainly different from merely being given a script and working with that. We went back into the theatre and I don't know how it happened, but one of the residents suggested dancing, and they got up on the stage and did a sort of tap dance and others followed. From this Tao, the drama leader, suggested using the musical instruments that Camphill had in one of the rooms under the stage, These instruments included all manner of musical insurgents, drums, cymbals and a set of hand bells. I was assigned to the handbell team and we remained in the theatre whilst the rest of the students went downstairs to a room called the crypt.

It was something of an experience with the hand bells. Never tried them before. I never realised you had to wear gloves because the acid which is in your sweat can make the material they are made of (brass? I'm not sure.) to tarnish and this effects the sound they make. You have to hold them upright and then when you want to get them to make a sound, you flick them forward. Not sure I'm any good at this. But, as I say, it's quite an experience, definitely a learning experience. After around 45 minutes each team had to present to the other what they had created. It was interesting to hear what the team who had used the rest of the musical instruments had produced. It had a sort of South American tango or rhumba feel to it, probably the sort of sound you'd get in Brazil or on one of the tropical islands of the Bahamas or even Cuba. My team then had a go. We'd got a good idea how to use the hand bells, with a sort of choral piece at the end. Very interesting. We will be continuing with this next week. As the impetus for the next theatre piece has begun it would be a shame for it to suddenly be stopped. After lunch there was a line run for 'Stranger Danger' and then tidying up for another group who were going to be using the theatre later.

(Wednesday) I didn't get up until around 6.40, with Alfie following me like a shadow. He's not used to having his routine changed and we eventually got out for the Eaglestone Park walk at gone 7 o'clock. No sooner had I got outside that I realised that, being Wednesday, I should have got the recycling sorted into bags. If you don't get it done in time there is a chance of the dustmen coming and this not ready in time, so it was likely to be left another week, which I don't fancy. With a heatwave forecast, it was going to become a bit smelly. So we cut short our walk and I managed to get the bags sorted and put out at the front of the house.

The day has co continued rather mixed, overcast and not a sign of the sun. According to the weather forecast on BBC Breakfast this morning, there is a heatwave across most of Europe, with high temperatures in Spain and France. We are expected to get a warmer spell over weather later this week. 

Rain, rain, go away!

(Wednesday) It's been a mixed weather day. No rain when I took out Alfie his morning. I didn't intend going out as early as I usually do, hoping to have a bit of a lie-in, much to Alfie's concern. We eventually got out at around 6.45.

Odd goings-on in the garden later in the day. The bird feeding station has become quite popular since I replenished it. It's taken some time to get a regular lot of birds visiting because it has been neglected since Carol was diagnosed. But there are other visitors who seem to enjoy the food which is in the various feeders. A rather fat and incompetent pigeon attempts to get food out of the round peanut feeder. This is probably easy enough for the smaller birds to negotiate, but a large pigeon cannot balance on the thing in order to feed off the peanuts it contains. Then it was visited by a squirrel, which manages to climb up the central pole that supports the bird feeding station. It has a rival, which came into the garden and sat on the grass nearby, looking cute, flicking it's tail and obviously intending raiding the feeding station.

Thursday. A bit of a disaster this morning. In my bedroom there is a built in wardrobe. Probably it's better to describe it as a hanging space for clothes. There is a shelf. I don't know who put that in, but it has always been in there all the time we've lived in the house. Also, a hanging rail. Also probably not part of the original cupboard fitting. Actually not intended as a hanging rail. I think it's just a cheap length of dowel rod and a former tenant put in. I have been hanging my clothes on it for I don't know how long. Carol used to hang her clothes on it. Whenever I iron a shirt it goes on it because the actual wardrobe, one of those flat-pack IKEA jobs, doesn't have sufficient space. But this morning I was about to take out a shirt to wear before taking Alfie out for his morning walk, the entire rail collapsed. I imagine the weight of the clothes was too much, but I had to pick up everything and attempt to put it in the IKEA wardrobe. As a result I was not feeling exactly on top form when I was walking around Eaglestone Park. I will now have to get something sturdier and more suited as a hanging rail to replace the one which has collapsed.

The collapsing hanging rail isn't the only broken thing in this house. One of the doors on the kitchen cupboards fell off the other morning. The side of the bath needs refining. The cistern in the upstairs bathroom toilet needs the mechanism which makes the water fill and then stop needs replacing because it doesn't stop filling. This was replaced around two years ago. The cold tap on the bathroom sink is loose. It needs tightening underneath. The seat of the downstairs toilet is loose but needs tightening. The entire seat needs replacing. The floor outside the bathroom has been in a parlous state in all the time we've lived in the house. I had someone look at this and to put new floor in would cost in the region of £300. We had to replace a large section of the garden fence several years ago and our beloved landlord has never repaid the cost, somewhere in the region of £250. I could describe more, but I think that is enough at the moment.

Phil and his son Robert have come back to sort out the garden. They've done a good job on the front of the house, getting rid of the weeds and grass which have sprung up between the paving slabs. I have the cordless grass trimmer for them to use. Not actually a'strummer,' but actually better. The only problem is that the thing only runs for around 20-30 minutes and then needs recharging, but it's easier than a corded machine because you don't have to manage it getting tangled and getting in the way and the danger of actually cutting the cable.

Lost Phone and More Rain

I had a phone call yesterday, Wednesday, But when I went to answer I could't find it. The landline phone is wireless and it has a base unit near the point where the line comes in and the handset sits in this unit. I usually return it to the base when a call ends, but for some reason it go separated, so when I went to answer I couldn't find the thing so the ringing came to an end. I hunted around  the lounge and the table where the unit sits and then realised that there was a button on the base unit which would find the handset if you pressed it, which I did and there was a 'peep' and the handset was discovered between the sofa and the armchair where I usually sit. So, panic over. No idea who it was who rang, but later I got a call from one of those computerised systems, saying it was BT and they were about to turn off my broadband. But, considering what happened a few weeks ago with my laptop being hacked, I doubt it was genuine. When they rang then and said they were from BT, no doubt this latest call was a scam of some sort, so I put the phone down very quickly.

The weather is as wet as ever. I just hope it improves soon. I want to go to the history festival in Campbell Park this weekend and if it continues to rain that's going to be washed out, unfortunately. Alfie didn't get his routine early-morning walk around Eaglestone Park. I'm not taking him out in pouring rain otherwise we're both going to come back soaked to the skin.

I've been to Sainsbury's this morning. They've moved everything around in there and it's annoying, to say the least. You get used to the layout and then on your next visit it's all been moved around. They know that the average shopper buys basics, such as milk, bread, potatoes, sugar, each shop and these are like points on a compass which you move between. They haven't been moved, I notice. In the personal care and pharmacy area everything is different. I just cannot find bath gel, how ever hard I look.

Friday morning. So, another week almost over. No sign that the rain is going to stop. I left off taking Alfie until I was sure it wasn't raining, or if it was, that it wasn't too heavy that we would get a soaking. After 7 o'clock I peered out of the bathroom window and couldn't see the stream that we usually get, running down the road in front of the house, so I made the decision to venture forth. Alfie is like a coiled spring, he doesn't relish being cooped up indoors.

The bird feeding station is suddenly alive with birds! As I write this and look out of the lounge window I can see at least 6 little birdies on it. I think they're some sort of tit, but not sure. Only problem is, a great fat pigeon insists on landing on the feeder and almost destroying the entire thing. It frightens off the birdies and then a loot of the food in one of the feeders gets knocked and the seeds fall out on the ground. I don't know how to prevent it coming and ruining things. I know what I'd like to do, but I don't think the neighbours would be happy. I might get a pea shooter and shoot it up the backside. Anyway, I took some photos of the birds on the feeder yesterday and uploaded them onto my Facebook profile if you want to have a look.

  

Birds on the bird feeding station

After some thought, I decided to upload a photograph onto this blog post, so here they are, tucking in to the grub in one of the feeders.

I've been out. I have to get flea and worming treatments for Alfie, so I drove over to the retail park at Rooksley. Pets At Home is one end of the parade of units and Smyth's Toys is the other. I walked the length of the parade, past Hobbycraft, one of Carol's favourite haunts as well as Next. A lady was arriving at the Costa's branch and she unlocked and then went inside, locking the door behind her. When I walked back past later I noticed a sign on the door, saying, 'closed due to technical problems, sorry for the inconvenience.' Don't ask me what the problem was, because I didn't know, but probably an electrical fault with some of the machinery they use, a fridge or one of the coffee machines. Not good for business, I'm certain. 

Pets At Home have a subscription service for the flea treatment, which means I will have the phial with the treatment in it delivered via post every month, which means I won't forget to treat Alfie every couple of months. Then I walked along the parade and went into Smyth's toy warehouse. Not actually a good idea, because I was surrounded by so many toys it was impossible to choose what I was after for grandson Eddie. I was after a bath toy, something for him to play with when he's having a bath. I couldn't resit many of the interactive toys, those that make a noise, dance around or otherwise have a button on them to get you to press and get the toy to dance, burp, sing, or make some sort of noise. Something that Alfie would love. So I fell for a  Grumble, which makes rude noises and does all sorts of strange things. If nothing else, it made me laugh, a d probably some other customers in the store!

A Little Bit Wet!

(Monday)A bit wet when I took Alfie out this morning around Eaglestone Park.

I needed to make a doctor's appointment. I have had a sort of rash on my neck. Scaly skin that irritates slightly, but not too much. I was going to leave it to clear up itself, but I thought that it might be better to get a doctor's opinion. I can't think where it came from. I was going to leave it until Wednesday and then make an appointment, but then I thought that, once I've been I can forget about it. I began ringing the surgery at 8.15, but the surgery phones must have been switched off as I only got a sort of 'engaged' tone. I rang about every 5 minutes after that and it wasn't until about 835 that I eventually got through to the system and then another 10 minutes of just hanging onto the line until a receptionist answered. I eventually got through and told the receptionist what my problem was and she said I should go to a pharmacy. I wasn't convinced that a pharmacist would be any use. If I did go I could only have 'over the counter' medication so I said I'd prefer a doctor's appointment. When I got the 'ring-back' from one of the doctors about an hour later, I was given an appointment with one of the practise nurses at 11 o'clock. So I had to sit and wait which is a bit annoying, but if you need a doctor's appointment you have no alternative, unfortunately.

I got to Ashfield Medical Centre in good time. I don't like the carpark at the rear of the surgery, basically because there's very little room for manoeuvring your vehicle and when you come out you have to be careful because you can't see cars coming in. And, walking round to the front, why is there a really unpleasant pile of cigarette ends as you walk round? I do think if people insist on smoking and have to go outside for a smoke, they shouldn't just throw their cigarette ends on the ground.

I didn't have to wait too long util I was called in to the practise nurse's room. Infact, a good 10 minutes before 11, so it was worth arriving early. I got a prescription for a cream to put on the dry skin on my neck. I took the prescription to the pharmacy next door to the surgery to have it made up. I didn't have to wait long and then drove into the city centre and parked where I usually do, near 'The Point.'

I've signed up to a walk-on agency called Universal Extras. I had one of my photographs approved by them and another of the shots my friend John did for me a few weeks ago has also been approved. But I needed to prove that I could work in the UK (as I think I've mentioned in an earlier blog post.) I have had a copy of my birth certificate returned from Bedford County Council Records department and I had to photograph it and then upload it onto the Universal Extras website, but for some reason it wouldn't upload. I took several photos with my iPhone, but I imagine it was too large and after several attempts it still wouldn't work. I needed to use my Canon digital camera to take further photos and then upload those. I don't really understand the technology. I had been looking around the house for the cable to allow me to upload photos from the camera onto my MacBook, but I couldn't find it, so I had to go into Jessops's shop in he central shopping centre to get a replacement lead, but they don't stock them and had to buy a card reader to do the same thing. I just took the card out of the Canon camera and put it into the card reader (a bit like a memory stick) and plug it into one of the USB sockets and upload the photos via that. It worked, thankfully. Then I had to find out how to reduce the size of the photo I wanted to upload to the Universal Extras site. I managed to get the photo taken but then it would not upload to the site. I think the photo is too large, and by going on Google I managed to find out out to reduce the photo file, but still it won't upload. I have not attached it to an email and sent it to Universal Extras, but I don't know whether they received it as I have had to response from them and it doesn't show on their website. Come back to find out whether this situation is resolved.
Tuesday morning. It's been raining all night. Not just rain, but a strong wind. It was so cold I was tempted to put the central heating on, but I didn't. It was raining so hard when I eventually got up that I decided not to take Alfie out for his customary walk. He was not pleased, as you can imagine. There was no way I was going out to get soaked and to have Alfie come home like a drowned rat. I am hoping (as I write this at 8.20a.m.) that I can take him out when I return from Camphill around 4.30 this afternoon. I'll just have to wait and see if things get better.

No Milk Today!

I got up as I usually do. Got dressed, went downstairs and was about to make breakfast. Just cereal in a bowl with a mug of tea. Got the milk out of the fridge. Began to pour it on my cereal and out came what looked like yoghurt! It had obviously gone off, so the cereal went in the bin. I couldn't have anything to eat until the local shop opened, which is around 7 o'clock. I took Alfie for his usual walk around Eaglestone Park. He didn't see a squirrel leaping across the grass. It looked very humorous. Alfie barking as usual, but the fact that he's so low to the ground might explain why he didn't see the squirrel. Probably just as well, because otherwise he'd have been off, chasing it and I wouldn't know where he was likely to end up.

Another bright and sunny day. I have been into the centre again and to the coffee morning at John Lewis. A really lovely friendly bunch of people who make me feel very welcome. The counselling lady from Willen came to talk to us. There is a second group starting up in the Express Bar, which I didn't know existed, which is made up of newly-bereaved people. It would appear that the main group is mostly people whose partners passed away a fairly long time ago. So, in effect, I should be with the other group, but since I've been part of that group I think I shall remain with them. I think the idea is to spread the group out a bit because there will be some 30 or so in both groups and there isn't really enough room where we meet and it gets quite noisy in there, not that it's a problem. It's great to have the support of a group of people who've been through the same thing as me at Willen Hospice.

From John Lewis I walked to Marks and Spencer as I have a short-sleeved shirt to collect which has been on order since Friday. It's a really nice 'Limited Edition' shirt made of cotton and Modal (not entirely sure what that is, but presumably a sort of fibre.) and with the 20% discount with my Sparks card, ideal for wearing with the new short I bought a few months ago.

I've got to find two details for my profile for one of the casting agencies. My hat and glove sizes. I used to know these, but have forgotten. It's quite important if you are doing walk-on/Supporting Artiste work to have all relevant measurements, such as waist, inside leg, hat, glove etc etc. I went to the men's department in Marks and Spencer and a lady measured my head and I got the measurement in inches but as they don't stock gloves in the summer they couldn't do my hand. Never mind. I had a brainwave. I would go back to the men's department in John Lewis.

On Thursday last, as mentioned in a previous blog post, I went to the Milton Keynes Theatre to see 'Les Miserables.' I did actually buy a programme and had it with me for the duration of the performance, but I must have dropped it at the end of the performance when there was a standing ovation. I was somewhat annoyed with myself that I didn't have it when I got home and this morning I was determined to walk to the theatre and ask if I could buy another. When I got there I had intended to ask at the box office, but there was quite a queue of people, no doubt attempting to buy returns for the few performances left this week. But then a lady came out of the box office to talk to a lady and when she had finished I told her I had seen the show but lost my programme. She went back to the office and returned with a programme. I asked how I could pay and she said I didn't need to, which was a real surprise but at least I can now read it and keep it as a souvenir of the show I love so much.

Walking The Dog (and Sundry Matters)

(Saturday) A really lovely warm day today. As a result of hearing the weather forecast I decided to take off the bedding, duvet cover, sheet and pillow slips, and have them in the washing machine early this morning. Bedding changed and sorted and took Alfie out for his routine walk around Eaglestone Park. We met a large labrador also being walked and as usual Alfie wanted to be friends but I wasn't sure whether the other dog was that interested. Poor Alfie! We did the longer route back through the estate going towards Marlborough Street and came back along the Redway. I had a package to collect from Marks and Spencer, a short sleeved Henley top which was on their website and with 20% discount because I have a Sparks card (the Marks and Spencer loyalty card.) it seemed to good an opportunity to add to my wardrobe, particularly with the warm weather. I went into town after 9 o'clock and parked where I normally do near the Point.

I walked through to Marks and Spencer's. Hardly anybody about. Well, as it's a Saturday, a lot of people who would be shopping in this shopping centre aren't even out of bed yet. I go up on the escalator to the first floor, to the department where you pick up your 'Click and Collect' orders. It's a simple system, go on-line to order and pay and then wait a few days to get an email and then go in and pick your order up, beautifully packaged and even on a hanger. It means you don't have to wade through racks in the store or spend ages trying to find that particular item in your size. I then had a look at sort sleeve shirts. Marks have a good range, in lovely colours and fabrics and found what I wanted, but it wasn't in my size, so I had to ask a member of staff if they had it in stock. She looked on a computer screen and said they could order it for me. I wanted an XL size, and a regular fit, not what they call 'slim fit.' I don't like clothes that are too tight and I usually take a size L, but find if I have XL then there's a bit more room, if you know what I mean. I have lost a fair amount of weight, but putting some of it back on. I lost no end of weight when Carol was diagnosed and going through that awful time before she died. I had to put several more holes in the belt on my trousers. I don't wear jeans, I never have done since I was around 17-18. I much prefer Chinos as they fit better and don't go all baggy in the backside. Generally more comfortable. Anyway, the lady on the till said that the shirt I wanted would be available to pick up, on Monday. So, when I go to the Willen coffee morning in John Lewis, I can go and pick it up then.

So, order collected, I walked back through the shopping centre and returned to the car. By this time it was beginning to get busy. I'm glad I came in when I did. From there I drove to Sainsbury's to do some shopping and mainly to collect a repeat prescription from the Lloyd's in-store pharmacy.

I have a mystery. When I got home I checked to see if the washing was dry. It was. I'm so glad I had it out on the line so early. I want to know is this: why is it whenever you wash a duvet cover and you put it in the machine the right way round, when you come to remove it, how come it's inside out? There's no reason why it should. And why do you nearly always find, when you peg out socks, in particular, you always get one sock that doesn't have a mate, a matching one? It then either gets left inside the machine, so you have to spin the drum with your hand to see what is left, or it might just not even make the wash, and remain in the laundry basket, or you find you left it on the bedroom floor. The laundry elves must have something to do with it . . . .

It was bright and sunny as the day progressed. After lunch I took Alfie out for a second walk. He was more than happy to oblige and must have thought all his birthdays had come at once. We walked down the Redway towards the Grand Union Canal and walked along one side and then came back over the other, crossing over the canal at one of the bridges and then came back round and walked back along the Redway and home. I was quite exhausted when I got back, but never mind, it was worth it, just to have Alfie happy and for me to get some good exercise.

I forgot to mention. On Thursday, about half an hour before I left the house to drive to the theatre to see 'Les Miz,' I got a telephone call on my mobile. It was from Universal Extras, an agency which I have started applying to work for on their website. I have already uploaded two photos, one of which has been approved and the second, one of the full-length shots that John did for me the other week, was awaiting approval. It wasn't that which the call was about. Apparently they need proof of my right to work in the United Kingdom. A bit of a shock, because I have never been asked this by anyone before because I was born and have only ever lived in the UK, and, secondly, I don't have a passport. I was told I could use my birth certificate, a copy of which I don't currently have. Once these documents have been seen, uploaded or whatever, then I can be offered work by them. So, on Friday I went to the Bedford County Council website and applied on-line, as most things seem to be done these days. I at first thought I could have to drive to Bedford and apply 'over-the-counter,' but, no, it's just a question of filling in an on-line form and paying using my debit card and hopefully the certificate copy will be posted to me and should arrive in a couple of days.

Fridge-Thawing and Chasing Cats

I spent most of Saturday morning de-frosting the fridge/freezer. I had turned the thing off on Friday night, because the third of the drawers I had ordered from Candy was delivered by Parcel Force on Friday morning. I cleared out the old drawers and had to bin a lot of stuff that wasn't worth keeping and the rest I put in a plastic box and took next door because Shelley and Garry allowed me to put it in their freezer until mine was ready for me to replace it in the cleaned-out and defrosted fridge/freezer. I should have left the fridge/freezer door open because it didn't defrost as quickly as I'd imagined, so early on Saturday I left it open and it seemed to thaw relatively quickly. I had put an old towel on the floor to try and absorb as much of the melt water as possible and it soon became like a tidal wave had hit and it ran all over the floor and under the table. I knew it would be a mess but I had to cope with it until the whole fridge/freezer was clear of ice. It was the fact that there was so much ice that caused the problem with the drawers breaking in the first place, so much that it was difficult to slide them out. The old broken drawers can be taken to the tidy-tip in Bleak Hall late next week, along with lots of other refuse, the packaging from the Panasonic microwave and quite  few other bits ad pieces which are hanging around the house. It isn't worth going until at least Thursday, because it's likely to be very busy, because people seem to use a Bank Holiday as an excuse to do clearing-out of their attic, garage or wherever they have unwanted stuff stored. The BBC1 programme, 'Money For Nothing' is based on the fact that people throw out old bits of furniture, either because they want to up-grade it, they inherit it from relatives or parents, it's not fashionable or else it's past it's best, broken and probably past repair. Sarah Moore, one of the designers who fronts this show, along with Jay Blades, takes these items away before they hit the skips (having got special permission to do this because you're not allowed to remove items from a tidy-tip otherwise.) and these pieces of furniture is restored and 're-purposed.' It's quite amazing to see what becomes of these pieces of furniture, sometimes transformed into bright, funky and quite striking pieces.

By mid-morning the ice had cleared from the fridge/freezer. I cleaned the shelves in the fridge section, taking them all out and wiping them as well as the shelves in the door. I was then able to turn the thing on again at the electric wall socket and it gradually started to freeze up, but not as much as it did before and producing too much ice. I think it will be more efficient, not having to work as hard and it doesn't seem to make quite as much as it did before and not producing a lot of melt water which gathered in a pool on the floor of the fridge section and trickling out onto the kitchen floor. So, around 10.30 the job was completed, and I wiped the outside of the whole unit along with the rubber seals in the door which had got very dirty. Job well and truly completed and the floor mopped and cleaned. I just have to make sure that it doesn't get as iced-up so that the drawers get broken again.

(Sunday) I had intended going out later than usual to take Alfie for his routine walk around Eaglestone Park. We got down to the area of grass where I usually let Alfie off his lead, but there was a black sat sitting in front of one of the houses within the park. Alfie wasn't slow in discovering it and the cat must have wondered what on earth had stuck it, because it shot off into the wooded area with Alfie in hot pursuit. I shouted at Alfie, but he wasn't going to come back immediately. I was concerned that the cat would run out and onto a road and that, if Alfie followed, he was likely to get run over by a car. But, having run after him and shouting loudly, he did eventually come back and I decided it would be best to put his lead on because I didn't want him running away, but usually he does come back to me, but knowing how he reacts to cats, I wasn't going to find out the difficult way.

Not Well and A Scam!

For the past couple of weeks I haven't been feeling what you would call 100%. I've had a really bad lower back pain. I can't really explain it, but at times I've been bent double the pain has been so bad. I've tried to endure it. I thought it would go away of it's own accord, but no, it comes back. If I sit for any lenght of time, such as watching television, when I go to stand up, then the pain comes back. It goes whenever I lie down in bed at night. It's not so bad in the morning and is fine when I go out with Alfie around Eaglestone Park. It got so bad this morning that I just had to get a doctor's appointment and try and get something to stop it, or at least, get the pain under control. I didn't really want to phone for an appointment, because it's such an effort, first getting through, which can take 45 minutes or so, then you have to explain to the receptionist what the problem is and then wait for a doctor to ring back to give you the time of your appointment. I was surprised that, when I got through, there was only one other person in the queue in front of me. So I was speaking to a receptionist and explaining things within minutes. Then it was around an hour before doctor rang. I got an appointment at 10.20. I got there in plenty of time. Surprisingly, there were very few other waiting patients. It wasn't long before I was called into the doctor's room and I was given a prescription for co-codamol and took it next door to the pharmacy, which I noticed was now called Peak Pharmacy, having been Cox and Robinson for all the time I've lived in Milton Keynes.

Later in the afternoon I had a telephone call from someone who said they worked for BT (British Telecom) to say they'd discovered that my computer had been hacked. It sounded so genuine. They always do. I told him that I didn't have my broadband through BT, but he disregarded this. They needed to check my computer wasn't violated and had to install a piece of software on my MacBook to clean off malware and check for viruses. Little did I realise that this whole thing in itself was a scam! I'm sorry folks, I fell for it. Later in the afternoon  I rang Apple and the helpful lady showed me how to download a piece of software that checks for malware and viruses and it definitely showed that my laptop was indeed infected and the offending software was removed. Not very pleasant to realise that I had been scammed. I have to admit it. It's so easy to fall for this sort of thing and I had to check my NatWest account to check they hadn't hacked into it but then, when I attempted to get into my Nationwide account I couldn't get into it on-line and had to ring the telephone number that came up on their website. They eventually managed to see that a quite considerable amount of money had been taken from my account, but they knew it had been taken in a scam and it has now been returned, thankfully. I will now have to have the MacBook cleaned and any remaining malicious software removed so I will go into Currys and get them to do this for me. I think I've learned from this whole horrible incident and will make sure in the future to ignore any similar telephone calls. If you read this, please be waring of such telephone calls and don't fall for their sales patter. Check that whoever it is, regardless if they say they're from such-and-such company, that they are genuine before you divulge anything, but never passwords, bank details or whatever sensitive data.

Saturday morning. I have been to Curry's and they didn't have a computer engineer available today to deal with the MacBook and clean out the computer, checking for any viruses and malware. They couldn't fit me in until Tuesday, so it's booked in and I have to take it to leave on Monday evening. It's paid for, so all I have to do is check it in on Monday and then wait over Tuesday to see whether they ring to give me any information. I really hope not because I want it back in good working order. I have Carol's MacBook I can use so I am still connected to the internet and the outside world. I'm not using the larger MacBook until it is back up and running. I did notice that Safari was working properly once the malware was removed, so it now makes me realise that it had been tampered with sometime ago by the hackers in an attempt to get me to use another browser. If nothing else, at least that problem has been resolved, but I wish it had been solved some other way.

Pouring Rain!

As I wake up this morning (Wednesday) I can hear the sound of rain on the bedroom window. I am attempting to get up a good deal later, regardless of what Alfie thinks. So, for the first time ever, we haven't been out for the routine early-morning jaunt around Eaglestone Park. Alfie is laying on the sofa as I'm sitting here in my armchair with the MacBook on my lap, writing this, and no doubt wondering if we will ever go outside and go for a walk! Some hope, because it's still raining and I don't want to get wet and, even worse, Alfie when wet is a sad little dog. He doesn't like water and doesn't like rain, so why does he expect to go out in pouring rain? I hope it stops before the day is much older. But it doesn't look as if it is going to stop any time soon.

I had an email from A.T.G., that's the Ambassadors Theatre Group, the company who manages Milton Keynes Theatre a few days ago. I have already booked my ticket for Les Miserables, which visits Milton Keynes later this month. I didn't have to think twice about booking a ticket, even though it cost considerably more than I would normally be prepared to pay. I'm going to a Thursday matinee on 30th May. I know the show well, having seen the West End production at the Palace Theatre, and enjoyed it thoroughly, have seen the film and have the 25th Anniversary DVD. I know most of the songs so the thought of missing it when it was on tour didn't come into it. I usually receive the Milton Keynes There brochure when it comes out twice a year, and it seems I haven't received the most current one which features Les Miserables on the cover. I was therefore somewhat surprised when I received an email from ATG two days ago and, glancing at it, I noticed that Bernadette Peters was going to be touring her one-woman concert to Great Britain and only five concerts where to be performed, one of them in Milton Keynes. I am something of a fan, as she's a definite legend, a Broadway superstar you might say, and I was determined to see if I could get a ticket, but I wasn't prepared to pay top prices for such a ticket. I want to bed thinking about it, but had to come downstairs to the lounge and have a look at the theatre website and see what availability there was. I did attempt to buy a ticket at the lower end of the price range but couldn't get the site to work, so this morning I decided to go into the centre of Milton Keynes and visit the theatre.

I knew the theatre wouldn't be open until quite late in the morning, so I went to Sainsbury's to pick up one or two items and to order a repeat prescription at Lloyd's pharmacy, which is within the store. Poor Alfie was expecting his usual walk and was looking at me as I put on my jacket and shoes in preparation to leave the house for Sainsbury's and must have been thinking 'I thought we were going for a walk. Why isn't he taking me?' Well, as it was still pouring with rain, it didn't seem such a good idea. I came back after the shopping trip and put the few items away and then got in the car to go into the shopping centre. I took some cash out of my Nationwide account to put into my recently-opened Metro savings account, which is there to eventually buy a new puppy when the time is right. Hopefully another Yorkshire Terrier similar to Alfie. Then I walked the length of the shopping centre and went across towards the theatre, only to discover that they weren't open until 12 midday. I was a bit annoyed, having walked all that way. The last time I went to book the Les Miserables ticket, they opened at 10a.m., so a good hour and a half later or thereabouts (probably near enough 2 hours. I had fortunately put 2 hours on the parking ticket when I had parked the car, so sufficient to not have to go back and put more on the car in the carpark. Not that difficult as I have a Ring-Go app on my iPhone so I don't need to use cash or put a paper ticket on the car.) So I returned to the shopping centre and walked through, stopping at several stores on the way, one being HMV, as I wanted to find the DVD of the first series of Game of Thrones as I haven't seen any of this television series. No luck, so I walked on. I went into W.H.Smith and then on towards Pret A Manger where I had something to eat and drink, which meant I could waste the time before heading back along the shopping centre to arrive at the theatre again where I had to wait outside until they were open. I was surprised to see a notice on the door telling customers for the need to not abuse staff and other paying customers. What is it with people these days? Why is there so much abuse of other people? Can't you even go to the theatre these days without someone being abusive or aggressive to other people? I hope if that happens, the theatre staff have those awful people thrown out. It really isn't acceptable behaviour. I managed to get a seat for the Bernadette Peters concert, but it was way up in the top tier of the circle, although I'm not really bothered where it is because I just want to see her concert.

I finished in the shopping centre and returned to the car. I seemed to have walked miles today. I checked my step counter and found it was near enough 4,000 steps. About double, or even treble, the number I walk on a normal day.

It was threatening further rain and I thought, as I drew into the drive at home, that a small Yorkshire Terrier would love to have a stroll across the park. So that is what I did and he seemed to enjoy the walk. Though, I say 'walk,' it was more of a 'trot,' and as we walked along a large rottweiler was being exercised and Alfie just HAD to rush up and say 'hello!' I was eager to retrieve Alfie, even though he is always keen to make friends with the dogs he meets, it's perhaps best to be a bit cautious, because, who knows? The other dog might not appreciate a smaller dog like Alfie, sniffling and wanting to make friends. After all, this dog was considerably larger than Alfie, so one snap and Alfie could be dinner. So, I swept up Alfie, not an easy matter, as he wasn't in the mood for being caught and held. And he was somewhat damp, having run about in long, wet grass. The wriggled, and once the other dog was out of the way, I was able to put him back on the ground.

Horrible Sainsbury's Fire Alarm Test

(Saturday)I had hoped that I could have a bit of a lie-in this morning. Instead of getting up before 6 o'clock and having breakfast as I usually do, I hoped I could get up around 7 o'clock, but Alfie being Alfie, this wasn't going to happen. He had slept on the sofa in the lounge and came upstairs to find out where I was and what I was doing. No peace for the wicked, as the saying goes, but I don't think I'm wicked. I don't know what Alfie thought, but no doubt he was thinking I was a lazy old so-and-so, that he wanted his early-morning jaunt across the park and I wasn't going to be allowed a minute more in bed!  So, I got dressed slowly, with the close eye of one small, active Yorkshire Terrier observing my every move. I had to go downstairs and make sure Alfie is in the lounge so I can complete my routine of putting on my outdoor shoes, jacket and so on, and have the doggy bags in one trouser pocket, another with my iPhone in the other and then, when all is present and correct, I collect the lead from it's hook in the kitchen and then prepare to connect the lead to Alfie's harness and get out of the front door. But, no sooner have I opened the door from them hallway into the lounge than Alfie begins his barking and it's quite an effort to get him calmed down so I can connect the lead to the harness and then open the front door and go out into the road.

Having taken Alfie out and done a circuit of Eaglestone Park, we came home and I had a mug of tea and bowl of Weetabix for breakfast whilst watching BBC Breakfast on television. They're still bleating on about Brexit and the results of the local elections, so the television didn't remain on for long. I really don't want to listen to a load of politicians, of whatever colour, tying to justify themselves.

I needed to go to Lloyd's phrmacy in Sainsbury's because they had a repeat prescription which needed collecting. I thought that I might have a coffee in the café in Sainsbury's before I started the shop. I don't think it was entirely successful. Nothing particularly brilliant about it, but as I stood waiting at the till for my latte to be prepared, there was a rather loud voice coming over the Tannoy system, saying, 'this is a fire alarm test.' It kept going off at intervals, and nothing happened for a while. But it was getting really annoying. Also, quite loud. Then there were two blasts of the fire alarm, so loud that it began to hurt my ears. At one point I wasn't entirely sure whether it was an actual fire alarm and whether we were supposed to leave the building, but nobody seemed to take a bit of notice and remained doing what they were doing. I ate my cheese and ham toastie and drank my latte. The horrible voice came back. I have a feeling that someone had not the slightest idea how to turn off the fire alarm. But what would have happened if there're been a real fire and an emergency? I know from experience that you have to test your fire alarms on a regular basis, but why have it on what must be one of the busiest days, a Saturday?

I finished eating and drinking and left the café and made my way into the supermarket and the computerised voice continued to bleat on, but eventually it came to an end and everyone gave a sigh of relief, not least myself. If nothing else came of all this, at least I got to write about what happened in this blog post.

On the drive back home I went along Saxon Street and at the road leading into Milton Keynes Academy there was what appeared to be a van in the road, looking slightly smashed in on the front headlamp, with bits of glass and metal in the road. I couldn't make out exactly what had happened, whether the van was pulling out into Saxon Street and had been hit by another vehicle, hence the smashed van's front, but whatever had happened there were police on site and other people in attendance. I couldn't see an ambulance, and all this was holding up the traffic from the opposite direction from that I was driving. People do take risks, and pulling out of that particular road and attempting to make a right-hand turn would be difficult and dangerous. If it had been me, I would hav made a left-hand turn and gone round the roundabout and doubled back on myself, so as to avoid the situation those vehicles found themselve in. Coming out of Eaglestone, it's easier to drive around Golden Drive towards the exit near the shop rather than taking the more obvious exit onto Saxon Street, because if you were intending making a right turn into that road, it would be difficult and dangerous because of the volume of traffic, particularly at around 8-9 in the morning when people are going to work.

Wild and Windy

After the warm and sunny weather of a week ago, the last couple of days there's been strong winds and rain. They've named it Storm Hannah. It's been so cold I even had to put the central heating on. This morning (Saturday) I went back to bed and at around 6.15 Alfie came upstairs to find out where I was, because he was expecting to go out for his early-morning walk. When we did eventually get outside and walk around Eagletone Park, there were definite signs of the storm, with bits of twig all over the path at one point, some of it quite large. Just as well we didn't go out during the strong winds because it would have been quite dangerous. Yesterday afternoon I was in the lounge during the storm, the bird-feeding station which is directly outside the window, was being blown all over the place. The wrap-around bamboo screening which we had put around the garden shed had been dislodged from one side and was in danger of being torn off completely. I will have to go out and tack it back on. I don't want Alfie anywhere near it as it's too tempting for him to get behind and then get stuck inside the shed. The shed is a wreck. It has previous tenant's furniture in it, for example, a rotting mattress and the door has been nailed up so that there's no chance of Alfie getting inside and requiring rescue from myself, which has happened in the past.

I've been attempting to get back to my writing. I haven't made an issue of it in these blog posts. I was working on a project, maybe it would turn into a novel, I'm not sure. It was intended as a sort of reaction to television soap, which I always think are so dreary, have miserable characters and repetative plots. My idea was to create something similar, set in a familiar location, so I decided to set my project in a relatable place, in this case, somewhere I know well, that is, Bedford. I began working on this several years ago, created some of the characters and wrote some of the story-lines as well as began the actual writing, creating a central plotline and characters. The idea being that there are several households which have their own characters and stories and they overlap with each other. I built up back stories for some of the characters. I still have all this material in several files. But when Carol was diagnosed with cancer, unfortunately my time was taken up with such things as going with her to appointments and then 12 cycles of chemotherapy and visiting her in Milton Keynes hospital and then Willen Hospice.

The first section of writing was done sitting in my armchair in the lounge, with a notepad on my lap, but I now find I need a desk to sit at and to be more comfortable and with space to spread out my notes so it's easier to work. I had hoped to find some sort of desk which I could set up in front of my armchair but it suddenly occurred to me that there was a perfectly adequate desk in the bedroom which hasn't really been used properly. I had had a television set on it which we used to watch in bed when there was a Sky minibus connected to it, but which has now been disconnected and returned to Sky.

So this afternoon I've spent some time clearing this desk. It's not actually a desk. It was bought in IKEA. It is just a length of Formica-topped timber (I don't think it's actually Formica, but a similar plastic substance that's usually used to make kitchen work surfaces because it's so easily cleaned with a cloth.) and four legs which were screwed onto the under-side of the timber. Cheap and easy to put together and worked more than adequately. Only problem was that the whole thing wobbled, so I had to put bits of card under two of the legs. I can't possibly work at a wobbly desk. Plenty of space to work at and have extra room to lay out files and notes. I also have a swivel office chair which I had at my flat in Beauchamp Court when I lived in Bedford. Now to get down to some serious writing. I don't have an excuse not to.

Somewhere To Live?

I've come to the conclusion that the only answer to my housing situation (such as it is) would be for me to have a lodger.  There is a perfectly adequate spare room for this purpose. And it has a bed and other furniture in it. This is because Milton Keynes Council will not pay for the entirety of my rent. I have been attempting to find alternative accommodation, a smaller, one-bedroom flat or house within Milton Keynes, which would hopefully mean lower rent and mean that Housing Benefit would pay the full cost. I'm still not sure why they won't pay my full rent costs. I will need to consult our landlord to get his agreement as regarding having a male lodger. If he is, he would need to interview prospective candidates and it would need to be someone I could trust implicitly, probably someone nearer my age, who likes dogs and wouldn't let Alfie out as he would likely get out and run off if the front door was left open. I think a lot of the problems regarding my situation is that there aren't enough affordable properties within Milton Keynes and it's extremely difficult to find what you are looking for. It doesn't help that, even going through what I imagined was the right route and approaching Milton Keynes Council to get help and support, I was told I couldn't be helped, basically because as I already have a home I'm not classed as 'homeless.' I have attempted to use something on-line which is called 'Homehunt,' which is a tool which you use to apply for accommodation, a house or flat. But I have tried to use it but it will not function properly. So many on-line tools such as this are not functional and, to be honest, totally useless.

I had intended getting up a good deal later because it was a Saturday. But Alfie wouldn't have it. He kept shuffling about in the bed and came to stare at me. So, I got up, somewhat reluctantly, and got dressed, took my medication and we went out for our usual walk around Eaglestone Park, and before I had breakfast. I think he was well and truly pleased. When we got back home, I managed to have breakfast. It's not quite as cold and icy as it has been for the past few days.

Later. I wrote out a shopping list and then went to Sainsbury's. It was a little after 9 when I got there and I'm glad I did, because it was virtually empty of other shoppers. Carol and I generally went shopping early, because we could then go out somewhere afterwards, usually Whipsnade or a National Trust property. How I miss her! We did so much together as a couple. I just have to keep going on my own. I never for a moment imagined I'd be back as a single man again.

I got some spray limescale remover for the bathroom, to clean the toilet, sink and bath. It comes in one of those plastic bottles with a trigger. But they've put a child-proof lock on it, which I cannot remove. If I can't remove it to use it, then it will definitely not allow a child to get into it and do damage, to itself or others. I just want to use it for the purpose for which it was made to CLEAN the bathroom! Crazy situation. Perhaps if it's child proof I should find a child to open it! It would be a challenge for said child. The question being, how long would it take a child to open a child-proof item? 

Spring Sprung and Smart Meter No Go

(Monday)We were out earlier than usual this morning. Alfie can't wait to get out the door, he barely give me time to eat a bowl of breakfast cereal and drink a cup of tea. It was bright and sunny, but stlll chilly.

(Tuesday) I was surprised that there was ice on the car's windscreen this morning. I soon got rid of it with a spray of antifreeze. I had a good time with the drama students at Camphill. They are really good at remembering their lines. I had to stand in and speak for some of those who weren't available to rehearse.

(Thursday) Taking out Alfie for his early-morning walk (more like trot.) around Eaglestone Park, and we have been out well before 6.30. I don't know what the local residents think when they hear Alfie's barking as we leave the house. The trees are well and truly coming into leaf, intact the whole place is greening up well, so I think it's very clear to me that spring has sprung.

I'm clearing out more of Carol's stuff and have another two bags to take to Barnardo's in Oldbrook. The job is going slowly, but I'm getting there. Still not entirely sure what my situation is regarding accommodation, because I can't afford to stay in this house. I think I need to find a smaller home with one bedroom and with an enclosed garden for Alfie's safety. Infact, it needs to be dog friendly.

I've seen more birds on the feeding station. Although the lounge window is difficult to see through because the double glazing has got damp inside it and it's not possible to clean off. Whoever put in the double glazing in this house had absolutely no concept of the idea of how it works and the seal which is supposed to create a vacuum has been broken and this is what is causing the damp inside the air space between the two layers of glass. It looks really horrible, but there is very little I can do about it, and as a result it's difficult to get a clear view through the glass. It's a great shame, because it means I don't get a decent view of the bird station. It's the same with the window in my bedroom. That is really dirty and damp, meaning you don't get a clear view out.

I was expecting to have a smart meter installed tomorrow. This was after I got a telephone call from the company called Boost, who are part of OVO, around six weeks ago. We have been with Utility Warehouse in all the time we've lived at this house, but Carol was reluctant to change to a different supplier for our electricity and gas. We had a supplier come out around 2 years ago to install a smart meter, but when they inspected the cupboard (which is on the front outside wall of the house, facing the road.) they decided that it wouldn't be possible, basically because the gas meter is in the bin cupboard (outside) whilst the electricity meter is on the inside. If the new smart meter was to be installed they would need to drill a hole in the wall because they would need the cable to be installed in the smart meter. When Boost originally rang me, I told them there would be a problem, but they wouldn't have it. But the installers came TODAY! I had only just got in from doing some shopping. It was well I came back when I did otherwise they wouldn't have been able to inspect the cupboard. I never got any sort of communication from Boost to remind me which day they were supposed to visit, either a letter, an email or even a text message. I had to find their telephone number on line and then ring to confirm the day and time. It seems crazy that they couldn't communicate and then come a day too early! So, I will have to continue topping up the gas and electricity with the keys and card although it won't be in  smart meter which would make it easier as you can pay in a variety of way, via an app, or on line as well as with key and card, which you top up at a local shop.

Later. 3.25 p.m. It's really warm and sunny a few more birds flitting on and off the bird feeding station. I will have to fill the peanut feeder up. It's very low on food. I think the blue tits like this particular food. The other newer feeders don't seem to be so busy, or busy at all as I don't think any birds have visited them.

Later still. I was watching 'Money For Nothing' on BBC1. I had made a lovely cup of tea (actually a mug, but never mind) and had one of my own chocolate chip cookies to munch on. I was around five minutes into the programme (one of my favourite daytime shows.) when there was a knock on the front door. I was not best pleased that I had to get up to answer the door, but when I got there I discovered a man trying to encourage me to have a smart meter installed. What is going on here? He knew that I am on a pay-as-you-go tariff. I explained that I'd had engineers here this morning inspecting things with the idea of installing a smart meter and that they said it couldn't be done (see the above.)  He told me that I should get a lower tarriff because I couldn't have a smart meter installed. Whether this is going to happen I don't know, but this is beginning to get about as annoying as the constant phone calls telling me I can claim PPI. Which is crazy, because I have never had a loan on which PPI would have been paid.

(Friday) I've been attempting to get up in the morning a good deal later. I think it was habit to be up and about before 6 a.m. because that's what time I got up when Carol was going to work as a science teacher at Milton Keynes Academy. We would always start our day at around 5.45 with a cup of tea and watch BBC Breakfast. We'd then have a bowl of breakfast cereal and then Carol would go off to the Academy by around 7.15 a.m. She was always there about an hour before everyone else. Typical of Carol, working hard and usually sorting out other people's problems for them and not really getting any sort of reward or acknowledgement. So, this morning, I was more than keen to not get up quite so early, even though Alfie wasn't too pleased. So we went out at around 7.45. A lovely bright and sunny spring morning. It's certainly a good deal warmer than it has of late. The clocks move forward an hour on Sunday, so it will be light even earlier by this time next week.