Another Day Older!

Saturday. 7.30 a.m. Well, it's my birthday today! I'm not going to be in the flat all day. I'm going to Aylesbury, to an archaeology conference on the finds which have been made during the building of the HS2 rail line (High-Speed 2.) It should be fascinating. I just have to find the place where it's being held, as I don't know Aylesbury all that well. I shall put the postcode in my satnav and trust it will get me there.

Sunday. 1.50 p.m. An almighty rainstorm this morning, about the time I was due to leave in my car to get to church to set up chairs for the service at 10.30. I got somewhat soaked as I walked to the car, on a few yards, but the downpour left me wet, so I had to dry my glasses on a tissue before driving off.

I should have mentioned it yesterday. That is my trip to Aylesbury, to attend the archaeology conference which was held at The Gatehouse, which is part of Aylesbury Vale District Council. The actual conference was in what is called The Oculus. This is a stunning circular space which has wooden baffles on the walls to help deaden the sound. At first, when I walked in, I thought they were either some form of seating, folded up or even shelving of some sort. But it was obvious that they weren't for that use. The seats are obviously moveable and can be arranged in any sort of configuration, but yesterday they were facing the stage, such as it is (not in what I'd call a theatrical stage at any rate.) Although, saying that, I think it could well be used for theatre, and in particular, theatre-in-the-round, if the seating was reconfigured. 

It was actually easy enough finding The Oculus. I had a look at Google Maps, so I had a good idea of where it was. Also, my SatNav came in handy. I have to admit, once I had found the place where the conference was, I had to go round the block once and then went into the car park which was right next to The Gatehouse. Mind you, I made sure you didn't have to pay and asked whether the gate would be locked. It wasn't, but, knowing my luck, there was the possibility of being locked in or fined for not having the appropriate ticket attached to my car.

The archaeologists who have been employed to do the work on the various sites along the path of the HS2 rail line have now completed their work, they have all dispersed and, by now, are probably working on other projects, so this was the final chance to learn what had been found. We heard about farms and some really fine houses which have now been demolished as well as a church at Stoke Mandeville (St Mary's) which, after examination, showed that there had been activity there going back to the Iron Age, through the Roman period and up until the time the church was constructed and then demolished. There were a few other sites mentioned, one at Southam, which I drove through only the other month when I came home from Kenilworth Castle as well as another site fairly close to where we were at the conference, Fleet Marston, which is on the A41, the road we used to drive along on our way to Waddesdon Manor.

Monday. 9.50 p.m. I have been having problems with opening the door which leads out of Dexter House onto the path on Strudwick Drive. There has been a problem with it on another occasion. You have to push on the catch and it won't release the door. So, because our S.H.O., Barbara, isn't here today, I have rung Mears to inform them of the problem. As this would be an exit if there was a fire, it must work.

Yesterday evening we had an almighty thunderstorm and torrential rain. I heard the crash of thunder but wasn't sure whether it was actually thunder. There were noises of fireworks being let off also, so I did wonder if it was that, but no doubt the rain put those idiots off. Why do people think it's acceptable to let off fireworks like that? In a public space. It's not even November yet. Apart from anything else, it's a waste of money. There is a sign on Oldbrook Green that says, the use of fireworks on the green is not permitted, but, like dog fouling, what's the point of all these notices and by-laws, if they aren't policed?

I'm glad that Boris Johnson has withdrawn from the election (or whatever the process to elect a new Conservative leader and Prime Minister is called). I can't imagine how he thought he could just walk back into Number 10 as if nothing had happened, but now the field is clear for Rishi Sunak to take the pole position and get the keys to Number 10. No doubt there will be some sort of announcement regarding all this around 2 p.m.

2.15 p.m. It has just been announced that Rishi Sunak has been announced as Conservative leader and, hence, Prime Minister. Boris thingy withdrew and the only other remaining candidate, Penny Mordaunt' withdrew from the election just before 2 o'clock.

Fog and Finds!

Thursday. 10.40 a.m. It was quite a foggy outlook when I went with Alfie along Strudwick Drive (or, more precisely, the path which runs alongside Strudwick Drive. I'm not that crazy that I'd walk along the road. Although some people ride on those electric scooter devices I've seen them riding along the road. Only yesterday I saw two, and on the wrong side of the road, which made it even more dangerous.)

I'm sitting here, waiting for a workman from Mears to arrive sometime today to unblock the bath and sink which aren't flowing very well. They tell me they will arrive between 8a.m and 6 p.m., which is annoying because if I  was considering going out (which, by the way, I'm not.) then I would miss them. Rather a waste of a day in my opinion.

1.55 p.m. The workman came at around 1.15. The bath and the sink are now emptying properly. So, that's another job ticked off the list. I am still waiting for the extractor fan to be installed. It's another week and a half or so since I rang and was assured that 'an order had been raised.' Which might be fine on paper, but it doesn't get the extractor fan installed in my kitchen. The workman who came to sort out the bath and sink commented on the upgrade of my bathroom and took a photo on his mobile. How long are you expected to wait for such work? How long is a piece of string?

Friday. 3.05 p.m. The horrible cough I have had to endure for some time hasn't eased since I went to the doctor's surgery last Friday. If you recall, I was advised by the practice nurse to take an antihistamine and was given Piriton by the pharmacist in Boots. I have been taking them as prescribed ever since, but with no great improvement. I'm still coughing up thick phlegm, and it seems to get worse at night. With this in mind, I decided to make a further doctor's appointment and rang the surgery at 8.30 a.m. I pressed the '1' key on my phone, which meant I didn't have to wait in a queue with the receiver stuck on my ear until I got to the front of the queue. I got a call back within barely five minutes and the receptionist booked me in for an appointment at 10.30 with the practice nurse. I drove to the surgery and was seen fairly promptly and he prescribed antibiotics, Amoxicillin, which I have to take three times a day. The prescription was sent electronically to Lloyd's in Sainsbury's, where I drove too following my appointment. I had to buy several items in there anyway, which was convenient and I started the course of tablets as soon as I got home.

I am a member of the Bucks Archaeology Society and I learnt via an email that there was to be a conference on the finds which have been made during the HS2 construction. It was to have been around a month ago, but it was postponed at the time of The Queen's funeral and period of mourning. It will be on Saturday 22nd October (my birthday, incidentally!) so I have managed to book my ticket. It will be all day, in Aylesbury. Very much looking forward to this, and it will definitely make a good birthday present for myself.