Good Morning Sunshine!

 Friday. 7.50 a.m. Already been out with Alfie, He was barking at me when he saw me getting ready. It's sunny and warm, but I am hoping we get rain soon, as it's too much. The digital thermometer reads 23ºC. On the weather forecast on BBC Breakfast, they were saying we might expect rain over the weekend. As much as I love it bright and sunny, I really can't cope with it being too hot. Alfie can't cope either.

I've done washing up, put rubbish out and washing in the washing machine. It should be done at around 8.40.

I saw a cat climbing a tree as Alfie and I walked towards Oldbrook Green. I don't think I have ever seen such a thing. It was clinging onto the trunk of the tree and then, when it saw me, it decided to come down and ran off into the tree-filled space between the rear of Dexter House and the next property, which is SIA (Spinal Injuries Association.)

6.35 p.m. I've mentioned in an earlier post my intention of selling my old iPad. It was bought during the pandemic lockdowns, but it didn't work with an Apple Pencil, which was originally why I wanted an iPad. I have to admit I didn't do my research and I now have a more powerful iPad Pro which works with my Apple Pencil. Having got all my data removed from the old iPad, I wanted to find a way to sell it. I went to the Apple Store in Midsummer Place this morning, to check that it was completely free of my data, and they did a diagnostic test to check for its technical specifications. It passed, and I was offered £120 for it, except this would only be paid as an Apple voucher.

 I wanted cash, so went to C.E.X. in the main shopping centre for a quote. The quote I got was £145, which I was more than pleased with. I had to wait 30 minutes, so they could do a security check on the iPad. I imagine they get quite a few stolen items, so they need to do a security check to make sure. My iPad is clean, so I got my payment in cash. I went to Nationwide and paid in most of the cash into my account and had some in change. We have another of the famous Shenley Christian Fellowship quiz night and I required £1 coins for that. It's this Friday evening. I went to Boots to buy Feroglobin and, as there are fewer manned tills, I had to use a self-service till. Just a pain, and as usual this one was particularly irksome. Do I need to say more? It was the same in Sainsbury's about 15 minutes later when I went in to buy one or two items. 

7.55 a.m. There's a possibility of rain sometime today or tomorrow. As it is, looking out of the window this morning, it's quite overcast.

Current temperature on my digital thermometer reads 22ºC. 

10.15 a.m. I've been to Waitrose. I use glycerin soap because other soap dries up my facial skin, and it appears that they are the only supermarket which sells it. Sainsbury used  to, but don't any longer. I think, in general, most people use liquid hand soap or shower gel. 

Having unpacked my shopping, I took Alfie out, and I saw two police horses come from the direction of The Cricketers pub and cross over Strudwick Drive and go towards Fishermead. I know these horses are kept in a field along Chaffron Way. Great to see them, and they are so well turned out.

When I came out of the door onto Strudwick Drive, there was a slight fall of rain. It was so slight that by the time we had walked halfway to Oldbrook Green, it had stopped. Not even enough to settle the dust.

4.15 p.m. It's a good deal cooler. As I write this, the digital thermometer reads 25ºC. The weather forecast suggests there will be thunderstorms soon. 

To Loose One Parent . . .

Bank Holiday Monday. 10.50 a.m. I was stuck for an appropriate title for this blog post. This one is taken, although only slightly, from 'The Importance of Being Earnest' by Oscar Wilde. It has to be one of the greatest comedies ever written and one of my favourite plays.  The famous line spoken by Lady Bracknell, on hearing that Jack Worthing was discovered in ' a handbag' is forever etched on the memory of actors who now play the part, Dame Edith Evans. 

12.35 p.m. I have at last managed to finish the piece of writing that links to already written sections of writing. The idea is to bring in a new character. It has taken some time, but it is now done.

Tuesday. 5.20 a.m. I've been out with Alfie and come back to my flat. Not much to report yet, but because I'm off to Camphill, no doubt I will be reporting on the goings-on there when I get back at around 5.20.

A very different sort of day at Camphill. There was another group called Phoenix Rising using the Chrysalis Theatre, so the Camphill drama workshop had to use what is called the crypt beneath the stage. There is a main room (the actual crypt) as well as dressing rooms as well as a larger room which is used for meetings, and we used it a few years ago when the main theatre was being used by an outside group, probably Phoenix Rising.  We did the usual check-in, and then we were working on props and painting for our silent film. It's a tight fit with all the guys in such a small room, and as a result, it gets quite noisy. 

4.45 p.m. If you read last week's blog post regarding my Camphill experience of being the Maypole for the Maypole dancing rehearsal, then this week the actual Maypole dancing took place on the green outside the Chrysalis Theatre. The theatre workshop group were led out from the crypt by the guy who is responsible for the music in the workshop, banging on a drum to give a rhythm. The rest of us were given shakers, which were actually empty plastic milk bottles filled with buttons and counters, which we were going to shake to make as much noise as possible. Some of the other members of the group had percussion instruments to shake. Then we were led out and around to the green and stood outside the theatre. Terrie, the leader of the group, was dressed in the essential outfit for the master of ceremonies, made up of rags and started off the dance with the selection of the May King and Queen, which were selected by everyone drawing wooden sticks out of a mug. That duty done, both of them had their crowns placed on their heads, which Terrie had made by crocheting them. Then everyone cheered, and the dancers went and touched the Maypole and the dancing began, with them clutching a ribbon each and following the instructions which Terrie gave. That was the first dance, and then a second group went forward and repeated the dance. Very noisy, and the residents in their houses which overlook the green came out and joined in. A real sense of purpose and a definite community atmosphere throughout all this.

Wednesday. 5.15 a.m. I have already taken Alfie out. I have to do a bowel cancer test every year because I am over 60 (it may be 70, but, I'm not sure.) It's not something I want to make a big 'thing' about, and it has been simplified (I won't go into too much detail here, for obvious reasons.) But the test kit had arrived in the post when I got back from Camphill yesterday evening. So, this morning I decided to get the test done and posted it off. No point in putting these things off, so I took the completed test and posted it in the postbox which is in Fishermead (the next 'grid' to Oldbrook.) So, it's gone, and I can forget about it until the result comes back. A far more efficient and simple test than the one they used to use.

Thursday. 5.40 a.m. An excellent night's sleep. I didn't wake up during the night and then never get back to sleep, which is my usual experience. I've been out with Alfie (as you would expect if you read my posts regularly.) Very short and sharp. A rather overcast morning. Will it brighten up as the day progresses?

Little Grey Cells

Tuesday. 5.05 a.m. I'm wide awake again. The kitchen tidied and washed up and I've even prepared the chilli con carne for my evening meal. Am I crazy? No, I just can't stand wasting time. Bright daylight outside and I took my lovely Alfie out.  As we walked along the path towards Oldbrook Green, my attention was drawn to the sight of a police car parked in Olbdrook Boulevard, going towards Tesco's further down and opposite The Cricketers pub. As We got closer, I then noticed it was parked on the grass verge. Being an observant sort of person and also having a vivid imagination, I was constructing a narrative for why they were there. Hercule Poirot, Endeavour Morse and countless other criminal investigators which have done the same. Then, on the grass near their car, a black object was seen. What was it? Then, as we were about to cross over the road onto Oldbrook Green, a second police car went past from the direction of Fishermead. It stopped briefly near the first police car and then drove off. Then, no sooner had we crossed over the road and were heading in the direction of the skateboard park, I heard a noise above me. Looking up I could see what at first I took to be possibly a microlite or similar object. Then it became obvious that it was a drone. It had that distinctive sound these things make, and I saw one of the police officers operating the thing with a remote device. She brought the thing down to ground level and appeared to pack it away in the black object, which was obviously the carrying case for the drone. I was attempting to get a closer look but then walked on. By the time we got to the corner of Oldbrook Green and turned back to go home, the police car was driving away. So, what were they doing with the drone? Were they using it to attempt to find a person, wanted for something? An escapee from prison or wanted for questioning? Or, some other thing which could be best seen from the height only managed from a higher altitude? Or, were they merely playing with a new gadget they had been given to use for detection purposes? And Oldbrook Green at 5 a.m. was the best place to play with it? I don't know, and it made me have all these questions going on in my mind as we walked past.

As we walked back towards Dexter House, I could see the vapour trail of what appeared to be an aircraft, possibly coming to land at Luton Airport, which isn't that far from Milton Keynes. Mind you, it appeared to be coming in at a rather steep angle if it was an aircraft. Usually, they come in at a far less steep angle. In my imagination, I was thinking it could be a rocket or item returning from a space mission and was going to hit the Earth. But it did make me wonder what it was, although its speed appeared quite slow so it probably was an aircraft. I then thought, at that angle, the passengers would find it somewhat uncomfortable at that sharp angle.

8.05 a.m. I have now had a text from Mears. Someone is coming to see the bathroom floor on Thursday morning at 10, so it looks as if my efforts the other morning have paid off.

4.50 p.m. Another great day at Camphill in the Chrysalis Theatre. Little did I know that there was going to be a rehearsal for Maypole dancing. I had seen the maypole on the green outside the theatre, but never did I expect to actually act as the maypole, standing in the centre of the circle of the theatre workshop team and having to hold lengths of ribbon in the air with one arm. It was great to be at the centre of the whole thing, although it was quite an effort to keep my arm up in the air as well as hold on to the ribbons. It didn't quite work. I don't know why Terrie didn't do the rehearsal on the green outside. During the tea break, she tied the ribbons on the railing of the upper level of the seating and when they did another rehearsal, things went a good deal better. 

I should explain about the seating in the Chrysalis Theatre. It's quite ingenious. The main body of the hall has to serve as not just an auditorium, We use it for the performing arts workshop, and for doing the various activities which are part of the workshop. Then it has to be used for other Camphill activities, as a community hub for meetings, and discos for the Camphill residents, and then it's hired out for such things as craft markets. When there are theatre performances, whether by the Performing Arts Workshop or outside companies, then the auditorium is transformed by the raked seating which is able to be set up and can accommodate 220 people. But when not used, it folds into itself to allow the space to be used for other activities, as described above. 

After lunch, we spent time discussing the 'time travel' silent movie we are creating. Then we did a rehearsal and one of the other groups (there are three groups making movies. Mine, which is the 'time travel' story, another, which is a Western and the third, which is a pirate 'swashbuckler.' ) went off to 'scout' for locations for their movie. 

Day By Day

 Monday. 7.10 a.m. I have been out with Alfie. I've only just come back indoors. There's been a further incident with another thoughtless person. We were walking down the path towards Oldbrook Green and I had just picked up after Alfie. Almost before I could stand up, a red bicycle (I think it was one of the Santander electric bicycles.) came roaring past, giving me barely a second to stand aside. The rider was wearing a hood, so absolutely no sight of his/her face. Then they shot over Oldbrook Boulevard and then into Fishermead. No slowing down to let me get out of the way, or any word of apology. It really took me by surprise and I was left reeling. Why not just slow down when someone is in your way? At least apologize. People are always in such a hurry. Look at what happened to me yesterday, with the driver who tailgated me on the way home from church. (see yesterday's blog post.) 

Tuesday. 7.00 a.m. It's quite chilly this morning.

4.30 p.m. Another great day at Camphill, in the theatre workshop.

As usual, the morning began with a check-in. The chairs are arranged in a circle and Terrie goes around to see how everyone is feeling and what they have been up to. It gets everyone talking and if there are any problems they can be sorted out. In August, there is to be a 'play in a week' event, which is, as the title suggests, going to create and perform a play in a week.

The group is now developing stories and characters for silent movies. We did a really great exercise to create stories. We were broken up into pairs and one of the pair started telling a story, a fairytale or well-known story and as we told the story, the other person kept butting in and saying, 'what happened next?' or 'that's not correct', the idea being to change the plot and get things moving in a different direction.

Not only that, but we did an exercise to show how a particular type of character would move, based on commedia  del'arte, which would be the basis for any character that will appear in the silent movies we are going to create. Then Terrie bought out a large white sheet of paper to write down suggestions members of the group had on the type of stories they wanted to create for their movies. In other words, a brainstorming session. This went down a storm and produced some great ideas. Over the lunch period, Terrie worked on and used the information she had got to create three separate storylines which would be the basis for three separate movies. It will be interesting to see what comes of all our work today and next week we will start developing the characters further into some sort of workable script for each movie.

Quite an exhausting day, particularly as we did so much movement, but certainly a great success.

Wednesday. 7.30 a.m. Yet another really bright and sunny morning. There was a real sound of a bird singing which I could hear even before I got outside with Alfie at about 5.50. 

1.45 p.m. I went to Sainsbury's for a few items this morning. I was there just after nine o'clock. I used one of the self-service tills to check out and pay. There were plenty free to use. I'm not over-enthusiastic about their use, as you will have realized if you read my blog regularly. I found one, but the one next to the machine I intended to use was making odd noises to itself. Sort of sounding like it was going to burst into life. The one I was on decided that one item wasn't going to go in the bagging area without a problem, so a member of staff had to come and sort it out. I reckon these machines are sentient. They certainly have a way of breaking down at the least provocation.

I am completing a piece of writing that links two bits which are already written and means I can introduce the new character I have already got devised. Things are really ramping up, and I have ideas for a further story arc.

Step On It!

Tuesday. 2.10 p.m. I've managed to exceed my step count this afternoon! Well over 10,000 steps, which equates to a little over five miles. I am somewhat pleased, as you might imagine. I just need to keep this up. The Fitbit doesn't just count your steps, it gives your heart rate, BMI, and far more. You can log your liquid intake as well as your food and weight. It has taken long enough to get the thing set up and running, but now it's set properly I can keep on keeping an eye on my steps and so on. It's a good motivational tool in that respect. That's no less than six circuits of Oldbrook Green!

Wednesday. 6.25 a.m. Slight rain when took Alfie out just before 6 this morning. Very dark clouds looming over Milton Keynes, which suggests heavy rain later today.

Television seems keen on copying successful formats, the basic premise/idea for programmes. It was cookery shows at one time (and probably still is.) They get one successful show and it has to spawn a slew of similar shows. Antiques have been the staple of daytime television, with shows such as Bargain Hunt, Flog it, Antiques Roadshow, which is probably the great-granddaddy of them all. Cookery shows include Masterchef and Can't Cook, Won't Cook; Ready, Steady Cook. Now they're going mad on recycling and make-over shows. It began with Money For Nothing, The Repair Shop and continued with the likes of Saved and Remade on BBC1 and Find It, Fix It, Flog It! on Channel 4. Each of them seems to play on the emotional element, particularly The Repair Shop, when people take items which have a connection with someone in their lives, usually deceased, a friend or family member, and want the item repaired and restored as usually, that item is in a poor condition. At the end of the show, when the owner of the item returns to collect it, the producers seem to delight in seeing the emotions revealed by the owner when they see the restored and repaired item. In some ways, it is rather overdone, somewhat contrived. I think it is  More than a bit nauseating. It seems that television companies are more than happy to churn out the same thing relentlessly. Too many crime series, with grumpy detectives at the centre of things, staring endlessly at the sea, having relationship problems, and loving to drive around in Jaguars or other up-market vehicles, with classical music or opera blaring out of the radio or in-car CD player. Just another cliche. Anyway, all it's about is easy television. A great deal of it is just lazy because it's not going to demand much attention on behalf of the producers or the audience.

Thursday. 6.30 a.m. Alfie seems very reluctant to do a walk around Oldbrook Green this morning. I can't think why. Usually, he's more than happy to go for his regular walk, but for the past couple of days, he just insists on taking me back to the flat. As I write this, he's curled up on the sofa. Not his usual mode, insisting on being taken out and walking endlessly. I am attempting to maintain my step count, but with a small Yorkshire terrier who is very strong, just pulling in the direction of home, not chance is doing anywhere near ten-thousand steps!

Friday. 6.45 a.m. I woke up a good deal later than normal. The mornings are getting darker and darker as we move towards autumn. Alfie was more enthusiastic about doing the circuit of Oldbrook Green, which suits me as I am intent on doing the 10,000 steps.

Saturday. 10.35 a.m. I woke a lot later than normal. I think it's because the days are beginning to draw in. It was darker for longer, so I didn't take out Munchkin until around 6.45. I just didn't see the point of going out if we couldn't see properly. As we walked along the path towards Oldbrook Green, I saw a large cat cross the road. I think it came out of the entrance to The Cricketers carpark. Perhaps it had been in for a swift 'alf. Who knows? I saw it gradually approaching our side of the road and then cross the path towards Fishermead. Alfie, fortunately, didn't see it. Just as well, otherwise, he would have been very noisy!

We went out again at around 9.15. I am afraid I have to report seeing two girls walking several dogs across the Green and one dog did its business, but they never picked it up. This brazen behaviour is really not acceptable. I always have several doggy bags in my pocket, so I could have given them one if I had been nearer. I blame the Council for not having doggy bags in the space provided by the doggy bins. It seems a false economy to not have them, expecting people who have dogs to have them (most do, but it would appear that a lot don't.) There is supposed to be a £100 spot fine if you don't clear up after your dog, but what is the point of the fine if nobody polices the policy? People are getting away with this sort of thing without being fined.

Sunday. 8.00 a.m. There was torrential rain yesterday evening as I ate my meal. I had to go and look out of the kitchen window to see as it was quite noisy. It didn't last long, but Alfie and I went out for a final walk around Oldbrook Green because I was short of the number of steps and was determined to reach my target of ten thousand. It has rained in the night, but as I write this, it's reasonably bright and sunny.

Peculiarly Problematic Prescription Pandemonium

The weather is continuing very unseasonal. Quite amazing considering how cold it was a little over a week ago when we were snowed in for the weekend. I know I make quite a lot out of the weather in my blog posts. To some people, particularly those who read this overseas, must think we British have an obsession with the subject. Perhaps we do, but the weather definitely makes us what we are. If anything, it's what makes our landscape, keeping the countryside green and pleasant. It may me mild, but it's over-cast. Not a particularly bright and sunny day.

Carol needed to have some of her meds repeated. She had written a letter to take to the surgery to get one or the other of the doctors to sign off a prescription for several of her meds. I took this on Wednesday morning and handed it in at reception. I was told that it was going to be ready for collection late on Thursday morning. Some hope. I never believe anything they tell me as we've been let down so many times. On Thursday morning I telephoned, having been to do some remaining Christmas shopping in Sainsbury's. I was under the impression that the surgery would send the prescription electronically to Lloyd's pharmacy within Sainsbury's and so asked at the counter to be told that if the prescription had been sent it would be ready for collection after 4 o'clock that afternoon. (Is this getting confusing? If you aren't, I most definitely am.) One of the drugs was oramorph, to help Carol control her pain. I rang again this morning (Friday) and was told (by Ashfield Medical Centre) that the prescription had been sent to Lloyd's electronically. I again rang Lloyd's to be told it hadn't got there. Once again I rang Ashfield (getting through miraculously without a long wait.) to then be told they had a PRINT copy. I decided to DRIVE to Ashfield and as I got there I saw one one the ladies from Lloyd's in front of me, at the reception desk. She was collection Carol's prescription and said she had to collect several more prescriptions from several other surgeries and would be back in Sainsbury's within and hour and a half. So- I returned home and , after 12 noon, went to Sainsbury's to collect the made-up prescription. Mercifully, ready to collect.

Sainsbury's was extremely busy. I don't think I've seen it so chock-full of shoppers. None of the manned checkouts (in this politically correct world we live in, are we allowed to say 'manned'?) But you know what I mean. I had to use a self-service checkout. I put my 'bag for life' on the bagging area and got the 'unknown item in the bagging area' voice from the machine. I think it's the fact that it's unknown which bothers me. It was just a bag and certainly not unknown. As a result, a member of staff moved into view and sorted the thing out and I managed to pay with my debit card and got out of the store a good deal quicker than I had anticipated. I had purchased a bottle of Bailey's which was one item we couldn't do without over Christmas.  By which time I wasn't sure exactly where I was, I had made so many calls and driven so far, back and forth across Milton Keynes, but by the time I arrived home I was ready for a well-earned rest.

Carol had an appointment at the pain clinic within the Macmillan unit at the hospital at 4.30 this afternoon. We were there well before the appointed time and luckily we were in and out before the allotted time. The doctor is hopefully going to contact Ashfield and manage to get Carol's meds set up so she gets a larger quantity each time as, at the moment, some only last no more than 10 days, which means we have to go through the rigmarole of ringing Ashfield to get a repeat and then dealing with the reception and getting so many conflicting responses, such as, them saying it's been sent electronically when it hasn't so I have to go and collect a print version and so on and so forth. It's no wonder the N.H.S. is in such a mess if this is how the administration is organised. Muddled and very confused and very stress-inducing for both of us, which isn't helping matters.

On the way back home we drove round the Grid Roads and met a traffic jam along Chaffron Way, just before the entrance into Eaglestone. Police cars and ambulances all over the place and the centre of the road taken up by a car which looked as if it had been run into. We assumed that someone hadn't been careful coming out of the road leading into Fishermead. No doubt Christmas revellers after an office party. Too many people with no patience, to eager to get home and not paying attention, and no doubt unfit to drive, with too much alcohol in their blood streams and likely to get breathalizrd by the police.