Comfort and Joy?

 Friday. 8.20 a.m. It's yet another somewhat overcast and uninspiring sort of day, here in Milton Keynes.

The digital thermometer currently reads 21ºc.

3.55 p.m. I have been searching for a suitable present for my grandchildren. It has to be something they can share. I got them a game called Pirates, which was a great success. Chloe WhatsApped me this morning, saying she had found something called Chicken and Hotdog (I know, crazy!) I searched various toy websites, and eventually found it on Smyth's Toys website and ordered it via click and collect and then went to collect it earlier this afternoon. It is far easier to buy anything via click and collect, because it means you pay on the website and, as soon as it's ready to collect, you merely go to the store and collect the item.

I was staggered by the number of people in Smyth's store. For a Friday, in the middle of the day, it was a bit of a surprise. The carpark outside was packed, and it was difficult to find a space. I realise that Smyth's isn't the only retail outlet in that particular retail park, but the store I went into was heaving. Then, people went crazy, coming out laden with toys, almost as if there was some sort of shortage of toys (there wasn't.) It's only for ONE DAY, and they're likely to have paid on credit cards, which will have to be paid off over the course of 2026. Yes, they want their children to have a great Christmas, but to go to this extent is totally mad. The REAL meaning of Christmas is totally lost.

Saturday. 7.55 a.m. It's another rather dull morning. I haven't been outside yet, but I will very soon, as we have our monthly Men's Breakfast at the Oaktree Centre.

The digital thermometer currently reads 20ºc.

I have been reviewing the footage I recorded using the Osmo Pocket 3 when I was at the Central Shopping Centre the other day. I'm really pleased with it. I still need to do further tests before I use it for something more serious (or not!) The quality is amazing, considering its size. 

11.05 a.m. I went out to my car around 8.40, intending to drive off to The Oaktree Centre, but I found ice on the windows, so I had to spend around 10 minutes scraping it off. I then found that there was mist on the inside of the windscreen, when obscured my view. I can't drive if I can't see clearly, but by the time I had come out of Oldbrook, and onto Chaffron Way, it was clear enough to see clearly.

Sunday. 5.30 a.m. Far too early to be awake and writing this blog post, but does it matter? I think not.

The digital thermometer currently reads 21ºc.

I must have mentioned how I get my medication. I would prefer if I could merely go into a pharmacy and pick the repeat prescription up, but things don't work like that anymore. We used to have its own pharmacy in its Witan Gate store, which was taken over by Lloyds, and even that has now closed. Sainsbury's used to have its own pharmacy in its Witan Gate store, which was taken over by Lloyds, and even that has now closed. I now order online through Pharmacy2U. To make sure I have never run out of medication, I need to get the order made at least a week before my stock runs out. I go online, tick all the relevant areas on the page and hit 'send.' This is sent to the doctor to approve, and then the online pharmacy makes up the repeat order, and then, eventually, the order is sent to me via Royal Mail.

I have had no problem with the delivery, and the meds are well packaged and normally come through my letterbox. Except yesterday. I knew the order was about to arrive, due to being sent an email. Then I got a notification that the order had arrived. It had not, so I went onto the Royal Mail website, and it showed the package had been sent to 6 Dexter Avenue. There was a photograph showing the house, so I went over to the house to ask the resident if the package had been delivered there. There was no answer, so I presumed they were out and I would need to go back when they came home.

I thought no more about it, until the evening, when I got a buzz from the door intercom. You press one button to speak and another to release the door so it will open. I waited in expectation for the delivery person to arrive, but nothing.

A while later, the parcel arrived, when the gentleman from 6 Dexter Avenue came and knocked on the window of one of my neighbours, and she came to my door with the parcel.

The conclusion of all this: the delivery person should read the address label and make sure the parcel/letter comes to my flat and not the wrong address. Crazy. Simples.

Soggy Saturday!

(Saturday)It was a bit of surprise to myself and Alfie, to find it was raining when we ventured forth at 7.30 this morning. Alfie wasn't keen, as I expected, but we soon got back inside after a bit of a soggy walk. I think I've been rather hasty in suggesting, in my last blog post, that spring was on the horizon. It's certainly not particularly spring-like today, with snow falling and being cold and positively wet and soggy underfoot. Never mind. Just have to put up with the weather.

I'm watching my fair share of television. No need to say why. The lockdown has meant I have more than enough television to watch. With Netflix and Amazon Video and something in the region of 20,000 hours of 'on-demand' material on BBC iPlayer and other services, we're spoilt for choice. 

How childish and pathetic! The EU is upset that we got our vaccine registered by the relevant medication agency and rolled out (I've already had my first injection of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine.) and can't get their own vaccine rolled out fast enough because of all the red tape that this crazy bloc has in the way. They have attempted to stop the vaccine being exported to the UK, and in particular, Norther Ireland. Just shows how unnecessary the EU is and I'm so glad we've left and can go our own way. They sound like spoilt little children in the playground who can't get their own way, so they have a temper-tantrum. Sour grapes more likely. 

This morning we had a Zoom Men's Breakfast. It was the first meeting of any sort for this group, which I have been part of for around two years. Not a 'breakfast' in the sense that we could enjoy a cooked fry-up of bacon, egg, sausage, tomato, beans, mushrooms, hashbrowns etc etc, but it was great to have a chat, even though Alfie couldn't understand why he wasn't getting attention (as usual!) We hope to be able to meet up at the Oaktree Centre for a proper breakfast and fellowship in the not-too distant future, depending, of course, on the lockdown restrictions.

i took Alfie out as soon as the Zoom meeting was over. It was raining slightly, mixed in with a flurry of snow. Alfie was extremely reluctant to stay out and really wanted to go home as soon as he could. I felt the same, to be honest.

I have watched a documentary on All4, the Channel 4 'on demand' service, their equivalent to BBC iPlayer. It was a documentary series called 'Time Signs,' which was presented by Mick Aston, who went on to be an archeologist on 'Time Team.' I think this series, which began in 1991 and ran for a couple of series, was the forerunner of 'Time Team,' which ran for more than 20 years and was very much responsible for my interest in archaeology and history. Mick Aston is best remembered for his brightly-coloured striped jumpers and somewhat unkempt appearance. He was extremely knowledgeable and there wasn't much he didn't know about his subject.

The post arrived really late today, around 4.10p.m. No doubt they will say it's 'because of the pandemic,' or something equally lame. No real excuse if you ask me. I've been trying to get Legal and General to contact me regarding a life insurance policy I have with them. I had an email (I think it was an email and not a letter.)informing me that they had written to me, but the letter was returned by the Post Office. I don't think they had my new address (it's quite difficult to make sure everyone has your new address when you move, although I had set up a 'redirection' account with the Post Office, but I think it was only for six months.) Anyway, I replied via email (this must have been at least four months ago.) and heard nothing. I have absolutely no idea what the letter was likely to be about. I attempted to get into my account on the L and G website, but it just would not work. It ended up with the system saying they'd send me a password in the post, which came the other day, but even then it would not work, so I couldn't see any mail that was likely to have been addressed to me and sent. I then emailed and I have responded to it with my telephone number so someone is going to ring me. All I can say is, what a performance!? What on earth . . .etc etc.

On another note, very similar in some ways. I have mentioned that I had my first covid vaccination a couple of weeks ago, at my doctor's surgery. I get a letter in the post this afternoon, inviting me to book an appointment for the second injection. I can ring a number or use their website. Which I decide to do, as it's a good deal easier. Or so I thought. Having got into the site, I put my postcode into the system, with the idea of finding a vaccine centre. All it came up with was centres miles from Milton Keynes, one in Biggleswade (the other side of Bedford) and even some in London. Ridiculous. No sign of my doctor's surgery in Milton Keynes. At the end of the letter it says 'if you've had the first vaccine, ignore this letter. The NHS will contact you when it's time for your second dose.' I have to wait until my surgery contacts me. So, why waste time, money and resources writing to me in the first place? This shows how the NHS wastes time and resources on this sort of thing. No wonder it's struggling financially. Over top-heavy with bureaucracy.