A Glimmer of Light

Yesterday (Sunday 7th March) would have been Carol's 57th birthday. Just doesn't seem possible that she's been gone for over two years. I posted some photographs of her on Facebook. Have plenty and it was difficult selection  to choose those that were the best. 

So, what does the new week bring?

Well, to be honest, probably much the same as last week and the week before and back to around the beginning of all these confounded lockdowns. But there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

(Monday) I've written a considerable amount more and by now I ought to transcribe it into word processing. More editing, but that's to be expected.

The workmen are busily doing whatever it is they're doing around Dexter House. As I write this, at 1.35p.m., there is a very loud sound immediately outside my front door, of what I suspect is an electric drill, a hole being made for whatever purpose I have really no idea. I just wish someone would warn me well in advance, as it is extremely loud and might mean I can't get out until it's finished. Alfie really doesn't like it and he's staring at the door. Any sudden sharp noises he starts barking, so you can imagine what he's like at the moment. I just hope it stops soon.

Later. I've been out with Alfie. I waited until the drilling stopped and then stuck my head out of the door and all the noise was to install new emergency lighting. I think they will be a good deal more effective than the old ones. I just hope that is all the noise for today. I should have spoken (or written) so soon, as there is more drilling going on elsewhere. Oh well! Just have to ignore it.

(Tuesday) The new emergency lights are far more effective than the old ones. It's like daylight and because those outside my front door are on all night (and day, it would seem.) the light comes through my front door and it's almost like having daylight streaming in. Almost pure white light contrasted with the rather yellowy light of the old lights and similar to the light from the reading lamp I bought on Amazon. I think they must be LCD (light emitting diode) lights but not entirely sure.

(Wednesday) I've been out with Alfie as usual and it was cold and wet! Quite a strong wind blowing.

I've just realised that the new ceiling lights along the corridor as I go out are operated by motion sensors! I wasn't sure, but I'm certain. I couldn't understand what the strange clicking was as I walked along the corridor, and now realise that was what it was and the whole array of ceiling lights come on as I passed under them. I suppose it's a good way to save electricity so they don't have to be on all the time and especially when there's nobody around.

I had to wait in this morning because there was an electrician coming from Mears, the company which does the maintenance around Dexter House. Apparently someone was supposed to come a few weeks ago, but unfortunately I forgot, so the appointment was rearranged for today. I wasn't sure what time they would arrive, and someone rang me yesterday to ask me if I'd had covid or had interacted with someone infected by the virus, but I said I hadn't. The window I was given when he would arrive was from 8-12pm, so I couldn't go out. Fortunately he arrived at around 10.30 and what he was going was putting in new fire and carbon monoxide alarms. They can be tested from a remote gadget and as it is I can reach them as I'm tall enough to touch them to test them. One in the entrance, another in the kitchen and another in the sitting room. Poor Alfie had to be shut in the bedroom as it was safer for all concerned and it meant he could sleep on the bed and it would explain why I din't hear a single peep out of him the whole time. So, at least that's done and dusted.

Today he weather has changed considerably. From being really mild and spring-like, today it is a good deal colder, wet and windy. I took Alfie out when I'd been to Sainsbury's (a good deal later than I would normally, due to the fact the electrician came to sort out the fire alarms. Incidentally, why wasn't one put in the bedroom? Or the bathroom if it comes to that?) Once I'd come home and put the shopping away (four bags, and considerably more than I usually buy, but I have several week's worth of food, so I shouldn't have to go shopping for quite a while.) I had a short rest and then took Alfie out, but he didn't want to go far because it was raining, although not particularly heavily.

Rainy Day Walk

(Friday)It's been a rather over-cast sort of day today.  The sort of day when it's very low light, almost light early evening, just as the sun is about to set. I can't describe it any other way, but dreadfully dull, to say the least. You just want to go back to bed and pull the duvet over your head. I'm attempting to encourage Alfie to not want to be taken for a walk at 6a.m. For starters, it's dark and you can't see what you're doing, even though there are some street lamps which give some light. And saying that, there were workmen at the junction with Oldbrook Boulevard digging a trench and it looked at if they were replacing a street lamp. I think they're replacing conventional sreetlamps with low-emission LED lamps, if I'm not mistaken. I don't think I am. I went to get fuel for the car from the Shell station on Grafton Street early this morning and then went to Lidl to do a top-up shop. I had my fridge/freezer delivered on Wednesday afternoon, having been told it would come in the morning, but then I had a telephone call to say that they wouldn't be able to come before lunch because they'd had the van's windscreen broken or something. I'm not sure how this happened, I just hope they weren't involved in an accident or worse. I thought perhaps it had been vandalised, but I still don't know what really happened. The fridge/freezer is described as 'under-counter,' which means it's small. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, but so small there is very little space. I can at least keep the milk from going off, which is has been on occasion. Part of the reason being is that the kitchen can get hot and if I don't refrigerate the milk, I can go to make a cup of tea and find the milk has turned to yoghurt, or what appears to be something similar and certainly not suitable to put in tea or breakfast cereal.

(Saturday) It's very windy. As a result I'm experiencing real back pain. I don't normally mention this sort of thing, but I do get this when the weather is severe, cold, wet or when it's windy. I am waking later and later and taking out Alfie a good deal later. The clocks change tonight so things are going to be even more different tomorrow morning. Just try to explain that to a small, very alert Yorkshire terrier.

Having been to Sainsbury's and walked Alfie around Oldbrook Green in the wind and the rain, I got back to the flat and then suddenly realised that I was supposed to go to Ashfield Medical Centre this morning to have my 'flu jab. They are usually open from 8a.m. until 12 noon, so I rushed out and drove there and was surprised by how busy it was. I registered my arrival with the receptionist and sat down to wait and was more than surprised by how quickly my name came up on the digital display and I walked in to the room where I took off my jacket and had the jab in my arm and then had a cup of tea and a couple of biscuits which I don't normally have but this time, due to rushing to the surgery, it seemed a necessity. From Ashfield I drove over to Bletchley and managed to get Alfie booked in for a grooming session at the Groom Room within Pets At Home and the appointment is at 1 p.m. on 11th November. He is in definite need of a trim and hasn't been there for quite a while.

(Sunday) I did remember that clocks went back last night. I did this well before I went to bed. But I have had a reaction to the flu jab and don't feel that good this morning. But I did manage to take out Alfie before 7 o'clock and it was fairly light so we could see what we were doing. I haven't gone to church, but let people know why on Facebook. I think if I hadn't done this they might wonder where I was and why.

(Monday) My turn to use the washing machine and tumble drier. I need to reorder some of my meds and went on line to the Ashfield Medical Centre website and have now found that I can't because I need a review of virtually all my meds. I did attempt to ring the surgery but I spent around an hour to find they weren't going to open up the phone lines and gave up around the time I was scheduled to start my washing. Just annoys me that when you need something such as medication they decide to not open up the lines. I'll have to have another go tomorrow morning. Frustrating!