The Sun Has Got His Hat On!

 Monday 9th March. 3.55 p.m. It has been a rather murky sort of day. No rain or sunshine, but earlier there was a slight fog, if you can really call it that. As I write, it has cleared.

Currently, the digital thermometer reads 22ºc.

I have been to the Monday Club as the Oaktree Centre. More tea, cakes and quizzes.

Tuesday March 10th. 7.25 a.m. Hurrah! The sun is shining. Put out the flags!

The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

Sunday 15th March.  8.20 a.m. The sun is shining and I'm planning to go out with the Pocket 3 camera to do some filming. I haven't decided where yet, but it's too good to waste. I've been waiting for some decent weather for ages.

The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

Thursday 19th March. 8.15 a.m. It's been bright and sunny for the past few days. Spring has more than definitely arrived!

The digital thermometer currently reads 21ºc.

Sunday 22nd March 9.05 a.m. I'm slipping a bit. I haven't posted anything for the last couple of days. I'll attempt to make up for this lapse.

It's foggy out this morning. It has been like this for the past few days, but as the day progresses, the sun has shone, and the temperature rises.

As I write, the digital thermometer reads 22ºc, although it hit 25ºc at one point yesterday.

Wednesday 25th March. 9.50 a.m. The temperature has dropped considerably. The sun is going in and out, but there are dark clouds looming and there is a definite chill in the air.

The digital thermometer currently reads 21ºc.

I am currently attempting to find a decent swimming pool to use, somewhere within Milton Keynes. I think I have found somewhere suitable. It's in Wolverton and I was going to look for it this morning. Unfortunately, the road which leads to it was blocked off, which seems to be a recurring situation around Milton Keynes. They are resurfacing the roads around here and I know it's often necessary to close of roads, but there was no advance warning that there was a closure, so I ended up driving all that way and not finding the swimming pool. Oh, the best laid plans of mice and men, as someone said.. It was Robert Burns, and it was originally in a Gaelic accent (is that right, or more likely, Scottish.) Never mind. I know what I meant, and as I'm half Scottish, I suppose I should mention him. Just don't ask which half!

Rainy Days and Mondays

 Thursday 5th February. 6.55 a.m. I went to sit with my friend Mike yesterday afternoon, so his wife could go out. I have mentioned doing this before.

It was a wonderful and sunny afternoon as I drove across Milton Keynes. Almost spring-like. I do hope that it remains sunny today.

The digital thermometer currently reads 20ºc.

1.30 p.m. After yesterday's spring-like weather, today it's raining and miserable.

Friday February 6th, 8:,20 a.m. A wet and rather gloomy morning.

Washing in the machine, and it should be done around 8.55.

The digital thermometer seems stuck on 20ºc.

Apparently, there has been rain in some part of the United Kingdom every day so far since January. I don't think the ground can take much more.

Monday 9th February. 8.00 a.m. Not a great deal to write about at the moment.

Tuesday 10th February, 9.30 a.m. It seems to be another overcast and unremarkable day.

The digital thermometer currently reads 21ºc.

Yesterday afternoon I went out wearing the ear pods. I was suitably impressed by the quality of the sound, connected via Bluetooth to my iPhone, which was in my trousers pocket. I listened to Katherine Jenkins. Her voice is totally amazing. I walked around Oldbrook Green, which I haven't be around in quite a while. A great deal of work has been done on clearing up a lot of growth around the place, There are snowdrops on the opposite side to the Cricketers pub. 

There were a lot of teenagers around, playing in the netball area and generally hanging around. Why weren't they in school? Then I wondered if it was what they call an 'inset day.' I think it's probably a training day for teachers.

Later, I went to the Monday Club at the Oaktree Centre. Lots of cake and tea. I sat on the sofa in the lounge area, and was warned that Wendy, one of the regulars, sat there. We remarked how people of a certain age insist on sitting in the same place every time they visit, and you will get into a certain amount of trouble if you do so.

We played a game, guessing the idioms, such as 'Make hay while the sun shines', 'Putting all your eggs in one basket', and 'Out of the frying pan and into the fire' and what they meant and where they probably originated.

Blow Wind and Crack Your Teeth!

 Sunday. 7.15 a.m. A dark and supposedly calm morning here in Milton Keynes.

The digital thermometer currently reads 21ºc.

I am continuing with my transfer of writing material to word processing. As I do so, I am making changes to the original handwritten material and developing things as I go.

Tuesday. 8.15 a.m. I am waking up a good deal later than I have in the past. With no Alfie to think about and take out, that may be one reason.

It's wild and windy outside. The storm that is raging is called Bram. I'm not sure where the name originates, but possibly a contraction of Abraham. Answers on a postcard, please.

The digital thermometer currently reads 21ºc.

6.30 p.m. The wind is still raging. There are weather warnings across the country.

I can imagine Lear, out in the middle of all this, with the Fool, shouting at the wind and the rain. It wouldn't make much difference, but I used a quote from King Lear for this blog post.

Wednesday. 10.20a.m. It was bright and sunny earlier. I had been considering going into the shopping centre with my new Osmo Pocket 3, to get some footage, especially the Christmas display, which is always in the Middleton Hall section, near John Lewis. I was somewhat put off because of the roadworks along Secklow Gate, because, to get into the carpark near The Point, you have to make a detour. However, it wasn't as busy as I had expected, due to Christmas, and I managed to park, then pay at the new ticket machine, which allows you to use your contactless bank card. As I walked back to my car to collect the camera, a lady approached me, saying she needed air put in a tyre of her car, so I agreed to help, expecting we would need to go somewhere, such as a petrol station, to use their air machine. But she said she had a foot pump which I used, and soon, after quite a bit of effort, I managed to put sufficient air in the tyre, and I told her she should get the tyre checked and possibly buy a new one. So, having done my Samritan act, I managed to open up my car and set up the camera, which has several parts which need to be connected, before it can be used. I had only recently charged it, and there was enough charge to do some filming. I walked into the shopping centre, but I couldn't get the camera to work in landscape mode, so I had to sit down on a bench and work out how to change the orientation. Eventually, I got it set up properly and walked through the centre. 

I arrived at Middleton Hall, where the Christmas display is located, but found it somewhat disappointing. It's all bright, over-coloured lights, with a railway which runs around the perimeter, along with the usual Santa's grotto. All rather tacky, frankly. Usually, this display has a theme, such as Peter Pan, which is what it was some years ago, with a ship, and models of Captain Hook and Peter Pan. However, it has become boring and unimaginative at present.

I started walking back to the car, and as soon as I got outside, toward where the car was parked, it began to rain, although not particularly heavily.

Nil November

 Wednesday. 10.25 a.m. Yesterday I didn't feel all that well. I had what seemed to be a migraine, which I rarely get. It seemed like the flu or possibly covid. This morning it seems to be gone, but it wasn't pleasant. A short time lying on my bed did help, but not entirely.

There was quite a heavy rainstorm early this morning, around the time I woke up, but at the moment, there is no sign of rain. The Environment Agency has declared a flood warning for Milton Keynes and the area, no doubt because the River Ouse flows through Newport Pagnall.

I've just come back from a shopping tip to Sainsbury's, and it looks as if Christmas, or at least, the run-up to the festive season, is in full swing. There are Christmas trees everywhere, of varying sizes and presents, or at least, the options for presents, very much in evidence.

Thursday. 4.10 p.m. I now have the bookcase I was given screwed securely to the wall. I am slowly moving the piles of books I have around the flat into the bookcase. I am so glad I was given this, and I have the chest of drawers parked in the entrance hall of the flat, and that will be moved into my bedroom once I have cleared a space on the furthest side of my bed.

Friday. 10.40 a.m. It's a bit miserable and wet. It's pouring with rain and not good out. Just as well it's rain and not tea or orange juice! I know, I'm silly, but after all, why not?

I'm gradually moving the piles of books into the new bookcase. The place looks so much better, but actually not particularly tidy!

Saturday. 12.25 p.m. It's a very grey and gloomy day. It makes me think of this poem, called 'November' and very appropriate for the sort of day it is. When I was at school, we learnt poetry and sometimes had to read it aloud.

No sun — no moon!
No morn — no noon —
No dawn — no dusk — no proper time of day.
 
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member —
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds! —
November!

It was written by Thomas Hood.

There is a fog, not exactly thick, but as I look out of the kitchen window, I can see that this fog is obscuring a good deal of the view. Some of it has been Tippexed out, as you would if you made a mistake on a typed letter, long before computers and word processing.

The Leaves Are Falling

 Wednesday. 8.15 a.m. It's my birthday today! I'm not giving away my age. If I asked my mother how old she was, she'd say, 'I'm as old as my tongue, but a little older than my teeth.' I never really understood this as a child, but I do now.

The weather is a bit wet. I think it might be raining as I write this. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

Thursday. 8.00 p.m. It's a somewhat wet and windy morning. There is a severe weather warning in place. I think it's a matter of 'batten down the hatches'! Probably more like 'prepare to launch the lifeboats!"

The digital thermometer currently reads 21ºc.

Friday. 9.10 a.m. I am waking up a good deal later than usual.

As I write this, the sun is shining, but as it's late October, it is likely to be chilly out.

Saturday. 8.00 a.m. The clocks go back tonight. I hope everyone at church remembers, or else some people will arrive one hour out.

The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

Sunday. 9.20 a.m. It's bright and sunny as I write this. The digital thermometer stuck at 22º

Tuesday. 8.15 a.m. It's sunny, but not particularly warm. The digital thermometer is currently reading 24ºc.

3.45 p.m. Vashti, the S.H.O. here at Dexter House, told me yesterday that there was a bookcase left in one of the flats, because the tenant has moved to a care home. I went to have a look yesterday, and there was also a chest of drawers. The family of the tenant was happy for me to have both items, so this afternoon we have moved these bits of furniture into my flat. The bookcase is now residing in a convenient space behind the television, but it will need a screw put into the wall to prevent it from tipping over. I will have to ask someone at church if they could drill a hole to fix the bookcase. Meanwhile, the chest of drawers is parked in the entrance hall and can eventually be repositioned on the other side of my bed, but there is a considerable amount of stuff in the way, which will need to be removed before the chest of drawers can be moved.

Wednesday. 8.40 a.m. A rather dull and overcast morning here in Milton Keynes. A thin fog lays over the garden as I stood and did some washing up just a moment ago and gazed out. Not exactly inspiring nevertheless.  The digital thermometer currently reads 23ºc.

12.15 p.m. I had an appointment at around 10.30 to have a covid vaccine (I don't want to call it a 'jab' as it is never a jab as such.) I had to drive to Jardine's pharmacy in Benbow Court, in Shenley, just off the main road. I've been there before to have another shot of vaccine, so I knew where to go and park. I went into the chemist shop and had to fill in a form and then sit and wait. I was soon called into the consulting room and the shot didn't take long and it was put into the upper part of my right arm. Done, left and soon back at Dexter House, but for some odd reason I missed the Chaffron Way exit and came back further along Watling Street, although there was a bit of a traffic hold-up, caused by roadworks. There were lots of orange cones in the road, but we've come to expect this around the grid roads in Milton Keynes.

Down and Out!

 Tuesday. 7.10 a.m. My internet went down last night. At first, I thought it was a poor connection to the router, so I checked the thing, even did the turn-off and turn-on thing, but no result. I even thought that I might not have had enough in my bank account and a payment had been missed, but it wasn't that. I managed to open Google on my phone and discovered that the entire Vodafone network was down. Not just broadband, but also their mobile network. This at least was a relief, but it didn't help the fact that the broadband was out of operation. Fortunately, this morning I found that the broadband was back up and running.

Thursday. 1.45 p.m. For some weird reason, some days this blog is impossible to write on. I don't know why, but it means I can't write or do anything, which is the reason it has been patchy. I will write as much as I can, but it can be frustrating when I can't continue.

I won't be replacing Alfie with another dog. As much as I would like another one, it's not really a good idea. I loved him too bits, and he was absolutely no problem, but if I wanted to go away, for example, to Worcester, to visit my daughter, Chloe and the grandchildren, it was difficult to get someone to look after him. I did a search online and found that Yorkshire Terrier puppies cost anything from £1,500 to well over £2,500. I think, if I were going to get another dog, I'd get a dachshund. I'd get a short-haired one, which would be much easier to keep tidy.

Monday. 10.05 p.m. It's more than ever autumnal. The trees are turning brown. Throughout Milton Keynes, the trees are a mass of different colours, orange, red and in between.

The digital thermometer reads 23ºc as I write this post.

I have completed a long sequence of writing, transferred it to word processing.

Tuesday. 6.20 a.m. Yesterday evening, we had to endure about an hour of fireworks being let off, over on Oldbrook Green. Several notices are saying that fireworks should not be set off, but it obviously doesn't make a lot of difference to the individuals doing this. So, tell me, what is the point of having these notices if nobody in authority from Milton Keynes Council (or perhaps Campbell Park Parish Council) does something to stop it? There must be some bit of local legislation that demands fireworks to be stopped. Apart from anything, it upsets dogs and other animals in and around this area.

2.10 p.m. I've been out with my camera and walked around Oldbrook Green (or is it Park?) This was the first time I've been around there since Alfie died, and it was odd without him. There are the remains of fireworks on the green and signs put up around telling people that it is an offence to let of fireworks, under law, and you can be fined. Not that that would make any difference to those persons involved with last night's little session.

Sunny But Mild

 Monday. 10.15 a.m. Yet another bright and sunny morning. There is apparently going to be rain later in the day, with the possibility of thunderstorms. My digital thermometer currently reads 27ºc.

Tuesday. 5.35 a.m. The rain, which was forecast, didn't appear. I don't know if the more westerly parts of the country had it, but not in Milton Keynes.

Wednesday. 3.40 p.m. It's really warm and sunny.

I have been to the centre to collect my new reading glasses from Boots Opticians. 

Secklow Gate was closed off with 'Road closed' signs up, so I had to get to the car park by a rather circuitous route, but I got to the car park without any trouble.

I wanted to park in my usual place, next to The Point (or what used to be The Point. It has become a real wreck, a blight on Milton Keynes. It needs demolishing and replacing. Disgraceful.) You have to pay for your parking at a new machine, which is at the exit into the main shopping centre. I paid with my debit card, but it's not clear how you do this, although you have to first type in your vehicle's registration number. I did succeed, and the machine printed a ticket, which meant I had to walk all the way back to my car to put the ticket inside.

The area around the shopping centre is beginning to look really scruffy and uncared for. The whole place needs a good clean-up.

I walked into Boots Opticians and I had to try my glasses on and they were good. I have them on as I write this. I left and went back to my car and drove back to Dexter House

It seems very dusty and humid. We haven't had rain in quite a while. I think other areas of the country have had showers, but not in this area.

Friday. 7.20 a.m. Where I park my car, just below the window of my flat, there is often a large lorry parked. On the back (it is a flatbed vehicle.) carrying equipment for what would appear to be road repairs. My car isn't parked on the road but on a parking bay within the boundary of Dexter House. I trust that nobody parks across the entrance, so I can't reverse out. But on one occasion this lorry was parked so close it was impossible to get out without scraping it. I think I did, on one occasion. It might have caused a minor scrape, but no more. It shouldn't be parked in a residential street such as this. I realise the lorry is needed by the young man who lives along Dexter Avenue, but I really believe it should be parked elsewhere.

Everything's Coming Up Roses! (Or Is It? Probably not . . . )

 Friday. 2.00 p.m. It's been sunny and pleasant so far today. When I took Alfie out at around 6.15 there was a rosy-red sky.

I wanted to go to Lidl after 9 o'clock this morning. I usually drive around the block and onto Oldbrook Boulevard along Truman Place, which runs alongside Dexter House, but, on arrival at the roundabout on Oldbrook Boulevard, I discovered that the road was closed and an army of workmen in bright orange overalls. This meant I had to return to Dexter Avenue and then onto Strudwick Drive, turn right onto Chaffron Way, go right around the grid, and enter Oldbrook from Grafton Street. No real problem in all this, but a bit annoying as I wasn't aware of the road closure until I got to it. This seems to happen regularly all around Milton Keynes, mainly when they have been resurfacing parts of the grid road network.

I took Alfie out again a few minutes ago and I could see the workmen with a large lorry with 'Tarmac' written on it and another machine which I believe lays the new surface. I have to say I quite like the smell of tar. Is that odd? I seem to remember a play I did in Liverpool in the 1970's, which I think was called 'June Evening' (I covered the book for this production.) and one of the characters talked about tar being used to clear the chest of a baby, who was held over a barrel of hot tar. Strange how such things come back as a memory.

When I had completed my shopping in Lidl, I had to use a self-service till (they had only one manned till open, even though the store was busy.) I had problems getting items to scan, but a young lady who is there for such an incident managed to scan my shopping. I don't know why this happens. It's odd, though, that you are supposed to scan from right to left, which isn't the standard way of doing things. Or is it just me? Most things are operated from left to right, which seems more logical.

Saturday. 7.50 a.m. Another bright and sunny but cold, which I discovered earlier when Alfie and I went outside.

Sunday. 7.25 a.m. I had no idea that the clocks went forward today. I think it happened at 1 a.m., so I suppose that means it's today. There was nothing about it on the news yesterday, and no sort of reminder. Also, it's Mothering Sunday. Please, not Mother's Day, which is an American institution. Whatever it is, it's yet another way for businesses to make money, similar to Valentine's Day or, dare I say it, Hallow'een. 

I have a subscription to The Daily Telegraph. It's for digital, meaning I don't have the print paper and can read via the app and also the website. My current subscription ends in April and I had an email to inform me the next year's subscription would be around £200. I was keen that this amount didn't come out of my bank account and was prepared at that point to cancel the subscription. So, yesterday morning I rang the callcentre to discuss cancellation. The friendly man the other end was understanding but then wanted to offer me a cheaper deal. He first said '£150', but I refused that. The £99.' Again, I refused. Gradually it went down until it was £39, which I accepted. It just goes to show, you don't need to go with the first offer on something like this and it makes you wonder how many people take the first offer, not knowing that you can beat them down. I presume he didn't want me to disappear and not have a subscription, but it was worth it in the end.

Boxing Day and Beyond. . .

 Thursday. 8 a.m. I went to the Christmas Day service at SCF yesterday morning. It was an hour and there wasn't any tea or coffee as we usually have after our services, so I came straight home afterwards. 

I had my Christmas Dinner at around 5.15. I had purchased all the bits that made it up from Sainsbury's which included a chicken breast (which turned out to have stuffing inside when I began to carve it.) Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, stuffing and bacon. I had bought a ready-made Christmas Pudding, but I decided to have it another day (probably this evening.

Later, I watched the new Wallace and Gromit film, 'Vengeance Most Fowl.' I'm a fan of the work of Aardman Animation, so this was something of a treat. I know it takes years to make an animation film, and probably more work goes into this type of stop-frame animation. It was so inventive and imaginative and hilarious. According to the over-night ratings, it got over 9 million viewers.

Friday. 1.40 p.m. It's been foggy and overcast for the past couple of days. Just typical December weather, I suppose.

Another trip to Sainsbury's this morning. The travelator was not working on the trip up to the store. They seem to have endless problems with this technology, but I can walk up the travelator, which is odd when it doesn't move, but the down one was working.

There seems to be a lot of Christmas stuff left over. Perhaps they should sell off mince pies and Christmas puds at half price, or even less.

All the tenants at Dexter House, including myself, have had letters from the maintenance contractors, Mears, today. Reading down the list of things they are going to do, caught my attention. It reads 'Slip and trip hazard free pathways from external doors to the scooter stores, from the fire exits of the scheme to external gates, and from the scooter stores to the external gates.' Which means, if I am right, but don't hold your breath, they are actually going to do the work, which has been held up for at least 3–4 years! SOMEONE in the hierarchy within Milton Keynes Council, has decided to act on this work, or at least, signed the piece of paper which means that, at last, the work can be done and the electric scooters, which are stored at the moment, in common spaces, for example, the corridors, and were deemed a fire hazard by a fire officer years ago. I have been watching the brilliant sitcom 'Yes, Minister' on BBC iPlayer. This business of the scooter stores seems very much like a storyline straight out of this series. 

Well the work begins on 6th January, so I will report on here how things progress, but don't hold your breath.

Saturday. 9.45 a.m. It's yet another gloomy and overcast day here in Milton Keynes. I see from BBC Breakfast, that vast swaithes of Britain is covered in thick fog, but this area seems to have escaped. There are problems with visability as airports and flights have either been delayed or cancelled. Drivers have been told to be careful on the roads, and, in particular, because visability if poor.

I went to the prayer meeting at SCF this afternoon. A lot of the people who are in the Thursday morning group were there.

Sunday. 7.35 a.m. I've been out with Alfie. There's a bit of fog hanging around although it's thin and is likely to disperse as the day progresses.

Monday. 9.35 a.m. A bit of a misty, rather than a foggy day. Overcast and murky is the best way to describe it.

I found that I was running low with some of my medication, so I decided it would be advisable to put in a repeat prescription. I went on the on-line pharmacy I use, Pharmacy2U or whatever it's called. When you can order, then those medications which you have signed up to a 'clear', but those they say you can't have yet are screened out, being 'greyed out.' As most of my repeat medications were 'clear', I clicked to order. I thought to myself, 'ok, that's done!' and they will arrived in a few days time through the post. But a few days ago, over the Christmas period, I got a text message from my surgery to tell me I had ordered too early. Which bothered me, because, by this time I had finished the Bisoprolol tablets I take, which I think are to control my heart rate and, hopefully, prevent me having a further heart attack. This morning, rather than ringing the surgery, because I knew it would likely take me about 45 minutes for them to respond, hence causing stress, it was far simpler to drive to Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre and get the medication ordered, which I did. I was concerned that they might not be open, due to the Christmas and New Year holidays. But I needn't have worried, as they were open, and I spoke to a receptionist, who did the order on her computer and I will hopefully receive the medication in a couple of days, maybe a bit longer than usual due to New Year getting in the way.

October Begins

 Tuesday. 8.10 a.m. So, here we are in October. I can't believe that the summer is more or less over. It is definitely getting colder. On Sunday, I went to church without a jacket or coat of any kind, but I think it will probably be the last time and next week I will have to wear my jacket or at least a fleece or jumper.

Thinking about the drive to church, I was minding my own business, driving at a reasonable speed along Chaffron Way, after coming out of Strudwick Drive. This driver comes up behind me, attempting to get me to drive faster. I don't like it when I get tailgated like that, as I've probably mentioned in these posts somewhere or other. Well, I was driving along, when suddenly this idiot driver overtook me, driving on the 'restricted' part of the road in the centre. By restricted, I mean marked in red. It really shook me, and, fortunately for that driver, there wasn't anything coming in the other direction.

We've had a great deal of rain over the last week or so. There's a great deal of flooding all around Milton Keynes and neighbouring villages and towns. The A421 dual carriageway, which runs between the M1, Milton Keynes to Bedford, is completely flooded on this side of Marston Moreteyne. In some places it is around 8 feet deep, so, as a result, it has been shut. There have been attempts to pump off the water, but, as there's no river to pump the water into, it will be a long time until it gets clear and can be used by traffic again. Goodness knows how traffic will get through that area by avoiding that stretch of the road, but I expect it will take some complicated route to get to Bedford and beyond, no doubt going through local villages which were bypassed when this new stretch of dual carriageway was opened.

Wednesday. 7.45 a.m. As a result of the various incidents I have endured, driving around Milton Keynes, and elsewhere, and involving other drivers, cutting me up, tailgating me and generally bad behaviour on the road, I long ago thought it might be an idea to invest in a dash cam. So I bought one through Amazon. But it's difficult choosing the right one, and I wanted one which would be able to view the road in front as well as behind. Then, with so many to choose from, which was going to be best for what I wanted, It's a bit like potluck in a way, because it isn't until you get the thing and set it up do you discover whether it's suitable for the job. I have the front camera set up but have, as yet, to deal with the rearview camera.

Thursday. 7.25 a.m. We're going out a good deal later. I suppose it's because it's dark until around 6.30, although I do have a small torch to see what I'm doing with Alfie.

I am going to get back to some writing, but I need to have something to write on, so I have ordered some writing pads from Viking, an online stationery supplier. We don't have Staples any more in Milton Keynes, where it was possible to just walk in, have a look around and buy there and then. A great shame. I think they have an online presence, but it's not the same as just being able to go in and buy a product there and then. It looks like a lot of businesses are going that way. It will take a day or two for the order to arrive, obviously.

Friday. 7.55 a.m. There was a thin fog when I took out Alfie at around 7 o'clock. But as I am writing this, the sun is out, although it is somewhat weak and the fog has cleared.

I have bought a mini video camera from Amazon. It is a DJI pocket 2 and I ordered it at the beginning of the week and it arrived yesterday. I think it came from somewhere overseas, but I'm not sure where exactly. This would explain why it took several days to get here. I am currently figuring out how it functions, but it connects to my iPhone and you install an app on that to install software and learn how to use it. For something so tiny, which sits in your hand, it seems quite sophisticated and even has a wireless microphone. It will take a few days before I can make use of it. 

9.50 a.m. I think I have managed to set up the DJI Pocket. I have it on charge at the moment, but when it is fully charged, I intend to go out around Oldbrook Boulevard and 'give it a go.' For something so small, it certainly packs a punch. I have watched some of the footage I took yesterday when I first set it up, through my iPhone. I would like to watch some of it through my Firestick on my television. I'm going to have a lot of fun with this! Watch this space!

11.00 a.m. I have just been around Oldbrook Green with the DJI Pocket. I trust the thing has worked and I can watch the video that resulted.

Man The Lifeboats!

 Monday. 10.45 a.m. It has been raining more or less continually all night. It is pouring down as I write this. I didn't go to church yesterday morning because of the rain. Pathetic, I know, but huge puddles are appearing everywhere on the grid roads around Milton Keynes.

On Friday morning, I had a workman come to look at my bathroom floor, and he ripped it up and replaced it with a new one. So much better and easier to clean. I can't believe, that after all this time and effort, it is done. I am supposed to have someone come out to look at possible changes to my bath, either taking the bath out and giving me a shower unit, or at least moving the current shower, which is over the bath, to a higher position on the wall, so I can at least have a shower without having to stoop to get under it. I'll hold my breath and wait until after this person visits.

12.15 p.m. A young man came to survey my bathroom. He was here about 30 minutes ago. He measured the bathroom with a gadget, I presume it has a laser in it and a red light comes on when it hits a wall or solid surface. He told me I should get a shower unit, with a shower tray a screen and a curtain, a new toilet and a wash basin. I will still hold my breath over this. It has taken around 2 years to get this far and, although the floor has been done, the rest is sort of 'in the air.'

It is still raining and there is a sort of waterfall from off the roof near the communal lounge. I don't hold out much hope regarding leaks, particularly along the corridor where my flat is.

Tuesday. 10.15 a.m. The rain has stopped, at least for the time being. I don't think it rained overnight. I have just returned from my weekly shop in Sainsbury's. I was talking to the lady on the tills, and she said the store had to be closed yesterday afternoon because of flooding. I'm not sure how they managed to clear up the water, but customers were told to leave (I trust it was done apologetically and appropriately.)

Wednesday. 10.25 a.m. When I got home from Sainsbury's yesterday morning, I found a parcel on my doorstep. I had obviously been out in the rain because it was partially damp. On opening it, I found it to be a copy of 'Legion' which I had ordered from Amazon, but which has since been replaced. It makes me wonder where on earth it was left. Well, certainly not at Dexter House, and quite obviously outside. I needed to return it, and, fortunately, I had retained the packaging the replaced book came in.  I had a roll of parcel tap somewhere in the flat, which I had used some while ago, but I could not find it anywhere.  I had to have this tape to close up the parcel and had to go back to Sainsbury's this morning to buy some more. Fortunately, it came on a roll which incorporated a cutter, thus making the job far easier. I went on the Amazon website and printed off a QR code, which I took to a shop in Bradwell Common and it was scanned, a label attached to the parcel, and it will return to Amazon. So that job was completed!

I had a text a few days ago about having a second shingles vaccination. I made the appointment online, which definitely makes things so easy, but I couldn't remember the day or time. It occurred to me, as I was so near to the surgery in Bradwell Common, I could drive a bit further and ask one of the receptionists. The shingles vaccination is on Saturday morning. The receptionist asked me if I wanted to book by annual 'flu vaccination, which I agreed to, and it's on 9th November, so that's organised. So, with that done as well as dealing with the Amazon parcel, I can say I've managed to kill two birds with one stone!

In Sainsbury's, it would appear that the effects of the deluge they had the day before are very much in evidence. The area where some of the self-service tills were cordoned off and there were buckets dotted about the store, no doubt to catch drips from the ceiling. It makes me wonder what happened to the flats which are above the Sainsbury store as well as the underground car park.

The Race Is On!

 Wednesday. 6.00 a.m. It's not so bright and sunny this morning. In fact, it's not bright and sunny at all. I took Alfie out, and it was raining, although rather thin and miserable. During the night, I woke up and could hear heavy rain. So, I suspect there will now be flooding, mostly on the grid roads around Milton Keynes.

10.15 a.m. Another trip to you've guessed it!- Sainsbury's. It was pouring rain (well, what else? Ink? Tea? Ribena? No.) There was a problem in the store (there always seems to be. Not the lift and neither of the translators this time,  but water leaking in from above. It would have been coming in from one of the flats, which are above the Sainsbury's store. This meant that I couldn't get into the self-service area, intended for trolleys, so I had to use one of the self-service checkout machines in the area which is intended for shoppers who had baskets.

Thursday. 6.20 a.m. I awoke later than normal. Which is fine. 

Alfie must have had a bit of an accident. If you can call it that. There are bits of the dry mixer he has with his food all over the floor near where his feeding bowl is. It's easy enough to clear up with the dustpan and brush. A job for later. Then, I heard this weird sound from the bedroom. I thought Alfie was being sick, but it was him sneezing! He then came into the lounge where I was sitting, and he sneezed again. He didn't seem to know what it was, as he seemed a bit surprised. I don't know what set it off, but it was certainly amusing.

Yesterday afternoon, at around tea-time, I had my television set on and there was a lot of anticipation regarding a speech which would be given in Downing Street, by Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister. The media was there in force, with television cameras, microphones and cameras at the ready. It was a wet and miserable afternoon, raining heavily, and many umbrellas were being used in an attempt to keep dry. Then, from the famous door of Number 10, a couple of men came out, carrying the podium and placing it in the street. A few minutes later, Rishi Sunak came out and began his speech, and we were told that the General Election had been called, with him going to see King Charles at Buckingham Palace, to ask him permission to dissolve Parliament and have a General Election of 4th July. The Prime Minister was getting very wet as he stood and spoke, and it seemed strange that he wasn't given an umbrella to shelter under as he walked back inside Number 10, he was soaked.

Sunny and Bright

Friday. 7.50 a.m. Yet another sunny and bright morning here in Milton Keynes. Temperatures have been hovering around the 28ºc mark yesterday, according to my digital thermometer. It currently shows the temperature in my flat at 22ºc. I have the window open, with the hope that it might keep the temperature low. Yesterday I had my electric fan on. 

Saturday. 7.15 a.m. Up early, as usual. It's bright and sunny again. The digital thermometer is currently reading 20ºc, a far more acceptable temperature.

Doctor Who is back today on BBC1, although it's available on BBC iPlayer and Disney+ from around midnight last night. As Disney are part financing it, to something in the region of £100,000,000, I suppose they would want it on their own streaming platform. I'm not sure if I like the idea of them financing it. I can see why, because the BBC, being funded by the Television licence, hasn't got the funds which would allow a show like Doctor Who to get the funding it needs to produce something that has the look and feel of a far bigger show, give it a cinematic look and attract actors to it who would give it an appeal internationally, as well as using the latest technology, such as C.G.I,  and animatronics, to create special effects, monsters etc.

I have been a fan of Doctor Who since its early days in the 1960s. I think I must have seen the very first episode,  'An Unearthly Child', which was broadcast on BBC television at 5.15, on 23rd November 1963.  It was somewhat overshadowed by the assassination of American President, John F. Kennedy the day before, in Dallas, Texas. I would have just had my 13th birthday, in October, so I presume I would have fitted into the age group at which it would have been aimed. There was nothing else at the time to compare it with. Most, if not all, adventure series aimed at boys particularly, were importations from America, such as 'Champion The Wonder Horse', and 'The Lone Ranger.' All in black and white as colour television didn't come in until around 1971, although the BBC introduced colour in 1967, when Wimbledon tennis was broadcast in colour on BBC2, as a sort of experiment. I remember being taken by my school to Granada Rentals, based in Bedford (probably to promote employment opportunities, but I can't remember.) and seeing a demonstration of colour television and a broadcast of Wimbledon.

The idea of a character who travels around in a machine, a time machine, called the Tardis, and allows it to move around in time and space and allow its passengers to stop off at historic periods and then move forward to the future, was intriguing. It had (and still has), different serials, and stories that ran for four or more weeks, and then, the Doctor and his companions would never know exactly where they had landed, in what period, who they would meet, whether friendly or not, monsters or whatever, which was one of the things I remember, never knowing exactly where they would land and so on. You had to keep on watching to find out. Most series on television would be set in the same location, with the same set of characters, from one week to the next. Doctor Who, on the other hand, changed, as I say, from one place and time, every couple of weeks. I would say that that element of the show is what has kept it going for more than 60 years. It can be refreshed very regularly, and the device of having The Doctor regenerated when the lead actor who plays him (or her, since Jodie Whittaker took on the role a few series ago.) and the show is given a makeover in some form or other.

All In A Day's Work

 Friday. 12.20 p.m. I know this sounds ridiculous, but it's true. I kept hearing a strange noise. A sort of whirring noise. I think I may have mentioned this in a previous post but never mind. I thought it was outside, probably a lawn mower or hedge trimmer.  Then I decided to check in the bathroom. It turned out to be my electric toothbrush! I know it sounds crazy, but somehow or other it had turned itself on. It's an Oral B model, and I suppose I've had it for around six years, probably bought around the time I moved into Dexter House. I have attempted to use it, but it now doesn't work, and it has been on charge overnight, this morning I tried to use it, but it just wouldn't work. I presume the battery has stopped charging, but that doesn't explain why it comes on by itself. It really is very odd. So, I came to the conclusion that it needed replacing. I have a lot of Nectar points, collected when I shop in Sainsbury's, so I could spend some of them in Argos, so I checked their website to find out if they sold electric toothbrushes. They do, and then it occurred to me that I could add Argos vouchers from something I am signed up to called Consumer Pulse, whereby you register items you buy, like clothing, books, CDs etc. and you gain points which can be redeemed for vouchers, which include Argos. 

It took me a while to discover how to redeem the points from Consumer Pulse and then input the voucher codes into the Argos website and then add around £5-worth of Nectar points to make up the difference in the price. Quite a long and laborious process, but I managed to do it. But now I have to wait until Tuesday to be able to go to the Argos store to collect my purchase of the Oral-B electric toothbrush!

Saturday. 6.30 a.m. It's a bright and sunny morning here in Milton Keynes. Alfie is curled up in his bed and fast asleep. As the saying goes, 'Let sleeping dogs lie.' 

1.25 p.m. Yet another trip to Sainsbury's. I needed to buy at least a week's worth of food, along with dog food and loo rolls.  These items now come in much larger rolls, supposedly with the idea that they use less packaging as well as the central cardboard core. I arrived in the appropriate aisle, but I couldn't find a pack of just four rolls. You can buy 9, 12 and more, but what is the point of so many, and I don't have the space in the flat to store large quantities. 

I'm having salad for my evening meal, so I bought all the ingredients, tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions, radishes, lettuce, red peppers etc., along with chicken and potato salad. It should make a change from cooking, so I have already made up the salad, and it's in the fridge and when I'm ready, I only have to put it on a plate and eat.

6.20 p.m. I got a text from Argos at around 4.45 to tell me that the electric toothbrush was ready to collect from their store. I had originally been told it wouldn't be ready to collect until Tuesday morning, so it was somewhat surprising. So I went to collect the thing, as I found out that Argos was open until 8 o'clock. So, I went to collect it and, when I got home, I put the thing to charge, although I discovered that it was already charged.

Spring Has Sprung!

 Saturday. 8.10 a.m. It's bright and sunny. Mind you, it can be deceptive and might well be chilly out. I won't know until much later.

1.00 p.m. It has turned out to be quite warm. Not sunny, but mild nevertheless

I've been to Boots Opticians to collect my new glasses. I had two pairs made up, one for long vision, for driving and every day, and the second pair for reading. I was shocked to find when I put on the long vision pair, how sharp and crisp everything was. 

I then walked through the shopping centre and went into Midsummer Place. Just inside the doors, a man had set himself up, with an amplifier and microphone, and was singing. I say 'singing', but, let's be perfectly honest, it wasn't very good. One of the pieces he mangled (for want of a better word.) was a song which Carol and I had as our 'sort-of' song, 'Chasing Cars,' originally done by 'Snow Patrol.' Brought back some memories, and happy, but it upset me to some extent, not more so than having some idiot mangling it. 

I walked back to the car and, just as I was about to get in my car, t a really large car turned up, I think it was one of those huge 4-by-4 monsters. The driver was attempting to reverse into a space, just opposite where I had left my car. As the car began to manoeuvre, I saw that one side was heavily dented. It looked as though something or someone had run into the car, or else, the driver had smashed into another vehicle or run into a wall or something. The way the driver was making a complete hash of reversing into the parking space, it was no wonder the car got dented. 

Sunday. 8.00 a.m. I was woken in the night by a very heavy rainstorm. I'm not sure what time it was, but I think it must have been around 2 a.m. I went into the kitchen to look out of the window, and it was difficult to see across the garden (obviously not helped by the fact that it was dark, although there were very bright lights along the various paths. Bright enough to guide any passing aircraft into land, or even some alien space creatures.) The rain was so violent, there was a sort of fog. It was extremely noisy. Fortunately, it didn't go on for more than five minutes. I expect there will be a great deal of standing water on the roads around Milton Keynes, no doubt there will be vast puddles in and around the roundabouts, pooling where the water can't run away. The roads in Milton Keynes were built without cambers, and gutters which allow water to drain away. It seemed more like a cost-cutting exercise when the city was built, but it was a mistake. If the Romans could build their roads with cambers, why aren't modern roads built with them? I actually think most roads are. 

As I write this, the sun is shining.

1 p.m. I was on refreshment duty at The Oaktree Centre this morning. I've been involved with this for several months now. I used to be on The Genesis Team, which is responsible for setting up the Sunday services and setting out the chairs, but I was beginning to find it quite tiring, as it involved lifting and pushing, the chairs on trolleys and then lifting the chairs off the trolleys. 

Today we had what's termed 'Café Church', which means there was no service, but a chance to fellowship with church folk and, hopefully, allow those who don't generally go to church, to come along and enjoy coffee and tea, pastries and cookies, in a relaxed and totally informal setting, with some live music. I got to the Oaktree Centre at around 9.40 and had to start filling the coffee urn. This takes at least an hour to warm up sufficiently before a decent cup of coffee can be produced from it, but for some reason, it didn't seem to warm up properly. It would take at least the whole length of a normal Sunday service, to be ready for people when they came out at the end. I wasn't on my own doing the refreshments. A lovely lady who is in my Thursday morning Bible study, Hyacinth, was with me. But there was real, what I call 'frothy coffee' being made, a la Costa or Starbucks, produced by a proper coffee machine. Several people have been trained as baristas to make this coffee. The machine they use is in the cafe area and is a Gaggia machine. But most people would seem to prefer this coffee, rather than what we had to offer. Because the urn wasn't functioning properly and not heating up sufficiently, we could only offer Nescafé. Nothing wrong with that, but when you've got coffee which is as good, if not better, than what you could get in a high street coffee shop, such as Costa or Starbucks, who could blame them?

To Be, Or Not To Be?

 Friday. 7.55 a.m. If it's Friday . . . it must be, washing day (not Crackerjack, if you remember the BBC children's show which ran from 1956s until 1984 and amongst compères were Eamonn Andrews, Leslie Crowther and Stu Francis.  They used to start off the show with 'It's Friday, and five to five, and it's Crackerjack!' It was the mainstay of children's television and was 'live' and in front of an audience of mainly children. Not much of modern television is done live, so it must have been quite nerve-wracking for the performers, and no doubt the technical crew.)

Saturday. 7.25 a.m. It's a bright and sunny morning. It's not a typical spring day. (Not entirely sure whether we are officially spring or not, but never mind.) It's certainly milder than it's usually at this time of year. We would usually have had snow and ice and very low temperatures by now in other years. There are daffodils out along the roads around Milton Keynes, which always cheer things up.

10.40 a.m. I've been to Asda. I haven't shopped in there for quite some time. It is some distance from Dexter House and I usually shop in Sainsbury's, which is very close. I think you get used to one store and when the layout is changed, which it has in Sainsbury's, it can be somewhat frustrating. The Bletchley Asda is huge, and you can walk miles if you're not careful. Bought an apple pie, peanut butter and chocolate spread. 

Sunday. 7.10 a.m. It appears to be raining, as I look out of my window. I don't think it is particularly thick, but foggy nevertheless.

My FitBit has been displaying the time incorrectly. I think it was about 30 minutes slow, and I have managed to reset it by going into the app on my phone. The app had to be downloaded again, and the time is now correct. I don't like having any watch or gadget with the wrong time set. There's nothing worse than not having the correct time and then being late for appointments.

Monday. 6.15 a.m. I was washing up at the kitchen sink and as I looked out of the window, I could see that it was quite foggy over Oldbrook. Not particularly thick, but still foggy.

10.15 a.m. I've just been to Lidl in Oldbrook Boulevard. This is where the Tesco Express used to be, but the entire block, which also had Barnardo's charity shop and Domino's Pizza within it, has totally gone, demolished and the space where the block used to be has been boarded up. I believe that a brand-new Lidl store is going to be built somewhere in that area, but I'm not sure if it will be in the boarded-up area or elsewhere. I presume, when it's built, the old store will either be demolished or become another business.

Why did I use Hamlet's famous speech as the title of this blog post? I had no real reason.

Approaching Christmas

Monday. 10.25 a.m. It's a rather overcast and gloomy day. Certainly not as bad as it was a couple of days ago, but not what you would call inviting, by any stretch of the imagination. I have been to Sainsbury's, basically to top things up which were running low.

Tuesday. 2.55 p.m. I went to the Bridge Builder offices to complete my D.B.S. application. It appeared to go without a hitch, and I will have to wait until the certificate comes through before I can go further with my volunteering with Bridge Builder.

It is a wet and cold day. It has been raining more or less continuously since this morning.

Wednesday. 12.40 p.m. It was quite icy and slippery along the path towards Oldbrook Green when I went out with Alfie at around 7.25 this morning. It was quite deceptive and the leaves need to be more helpful. It really is about time that the Council workmen sweep them up. If they don't, they will begin to decompose and then become a hazard, becoming slippery, and then they will have to answer to those who fall over as a result.

I am learning the monologue I have been given as part of the Bridge Builder 'Christmas Cracked' presentation which we are taking into local Primary Schools. I have to wait until my D.B.S. certificate comes through before I can go to school. It's one of the formalities you now have to go through because of the possibility of someone abusing children. It's a sad world we live in, but without this piece of paper, you aren't allowed in and schools would want to see this.

Sunday. 8.45 a.m. I haven't written anything on here for a while. I did say in an earlier post that I wouldn't be writing much from now on.

Tuesday. 8.40 a.m. Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of Carol's passing. I was invited to a Christmas meal at The Barn by Ross. He had texted me about this, which was for the Monday Club people. It was a really pleasant meal. I'm not used to eating a full meal at midday because I always have my meal in the evening so in that respect it was great to not have to make a meal in the evening.

Apparently today it was four years ago since the General Election. I had forgotten this fact (not that I'm that bothered one way or the other.) But Sir Kier Starmer, the Labour Party leader, was on BBC Breakfast, when I put the television on at around 7.15. He was speaking from Milton Keynes, but I wasn't sure where he was. From what I could see in the background, it looked like a warehouse.

Wednesday. 2.15 p.m. At 9 o'clock, my car was booked to have an oil change. The traffic driving there was a good deal quieter than I was expecting, especially at the roundabout crossing Standing Way. I sat in the waiting area as the work was done, and it was ready to drive away at around 9.50. Paid and went home.

As I write this, it's really windy and wet outside. 

4.30 p.m. We have had a group from M.K.C.C. ( Milton Keynes Christian Centre) come to give the tenants here at Dexter House, me included, a really great Christmas teaparty. My friends Margaret and John, who go to Shenley Christian Centre (and it would appear, M.K.C.C. I knew John from when I was a helper on Alpha, which was run at M.K.C.C.) Part of the proceedings was a quiz and I won quite a haul of prizes!

Saturday. 12.30 p.m. I went with group from Shenley Christian Fellowship to the Nut and Squirrel in Westcroft for a Christmas meal. The group was made of of mostly those who are in some way or other involved with the Acorns playgroup. We were scheduled to meet at 7.30, but some people were ill, I think probably with covid.

Two ladies were already sitting at the table when I arrived, and the rest of the party arrived over the next half-hour or so. But, due to some of the staff at the Nut and Squirrel ringing in sick, only one waiter was available to do the waiting duties. Not just for our party, but, it would appear, for the rest of the restaurant, and, for what I would tell, serving behind the bar. He was literally rushed off his feet for the entire evening.

Anything Goes!

 Thursday. 4.00 p.m. The Acorns playgroup, which meets at The Oaktree Centre, and the which I help set up and clear away on a Thursday morning, met for the last time until September. Around eight of the children were leaving, probably going on to reception classes in local primary schools.

6.25 p.m. As I write this, it's pouring rain. It's reasonably heavy, and I have a feeling that we will now have to endure flooding. As the grid roads in Milton Keynes don't have cambers, that is, the traditional method which is used elsewhere, and even used by the Romans when they built roads, there is more likely to be flooding, especially on roundabouts.

Friday. 5.00 a.m. I've only just come back indoors, having taken Alfie out. It's dry and reasonably pleasant, weather-wise.

We had a Church Family Meeting yesterday evening at the Oaktree Centre. It was mostly about finance. Not particularly well attended.

As I came in from driving back from the meeting, I noticed a large pantechnicon parked further along Strudwick Drive. I couldn't see exactly what it was doing where it was, because I had turned into Dexter Avenue before I got a chance, but this morning I could see it was a removal vehicle, with the words 'Bussy's Removals, painted on its side. I imagine it was full of furniture for a family moving into the area. 

Saturday.  5.05 a.m. It rained yesterday, but not heavy. Just thin and a bit pathetic, so it put paid to any more videoing by me. Today is the Grand Car Boot Sale at the Oaktree Centre, so any rain will not only put off customers but would make things extremely difficult. Then, on Sunday, we have the annual church picnic, so that would also be affected by the inclement weather. I just hope the weather holds off for the entire weekend, but having been out a few moments ago with Alfie, it was dry, although looking decidedly unsettled, looking at a somewhat dark and cloudy sky.

2.15 p.m. I got a message via Facebook to say that the Car boot sale had been cancelled due to the weather. But no sooner had I seen this message, than the rain stopped, and the sun came out. Typical British weather! Supposedly it will be run at a later date.

3.55. p.m. I've been out with Alfie. I have now hit the 10,000 steps target, wearing my FitBit. We walked around Oldbrook Green and met several dogs. Today is Alfie's 16th birthday!

It's windy out, so, what with cancelling today's car boot sale at the Oaktree Centre, I doubt that the church picnic will go ahead because the wind is strong and might be dangerous. We will have to wait and see what the weather does tomorrow.

The Sun Has Got His Hat On!

Sunday. 8.05 a.m. Another bright and sunny morning here in Milton Keynes. The digital thermometer currently reads 24ºC. 

I know, the titles I give these blog posts don't often have anything to do with the actual content of what I write in the posts. I just come up with a title, off the top of my head, sort of plucked from the air. I'm not entirely sure that I haven't used this one before, but what does it matter?

I'm reading the novel of 'Les Misérables.' It's the second time I've read it. I have had something of an obsession with the story and the musical, which I have seen twice, the original London production which was at the Palace Theatre, and then again, the touring production, which came to the Milton Keynes Theatre in 2019. It was a completely fresh production, which then replaced the original production in the West End, then playing at the Queen's Theatre. I think I preferred this new production, which utilized digital projection to great advantage, speeding up the scene changes and helping with the flow of the show.

With the original production, the amazing John Napier-designed set stands out, possibly even being a character in itself. Those huge mechanical sections made of wood and a vast array of bits and pieces of furniture which turned and swung down during the various scene changes were a wonder to behold. He also did this set for the Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical, based on 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats' by T.S. Eliot at the (then) New London Theatre (now the Gillian Lynne Theatre, given that new name after the choreographer of 'Cats', which I saw only a few weeks into its original production in 1981. John Napier did the set design for Cats. It was a rubbish dump, but done to represent one from the perspective of a cat, made up of oddments, such as car parts, dustbins and so on. The audience had to be in place well before the show started, because the seating moved round when the overture played. Goodness knows how that structure worked, considering the weight of the audience. I had no idea where the orchestra was, certainly not in an orchestra pit in front of the stage as in a conventional, proscenium theatre. It must have been elsewhere in the building, probably under the stage.

Napier also did the sets for the Royal Shakespeare Company's 9-hour version of Nicholas Nickleby. This amazing production was more than mould-breaking, and I'm more than certain it's why Cameron Macintosh, producer of 'Les Misérables' went to R.S.C. initially because of their experience and challenges of staging such a mammoth production.

I saw a matinée of 'Cats.' Wayne Sleep was in the original cast, which also included Elaine Paige as Grisabella. During the curtain calls, who should walk on stage but the one and only Eamonn Andrews, famous Red Book in hand, to say to Wayne Sleep, 'This Is Your Life'! Which was something of a surprise and made the show even more than memorable.

3.20 p.m. I have taken Alfie to meet the lady who hopefully will be able to look after him when I get to visit my daughter and her husband and the grandchildren in Worcester. I forgot that there was going to be a concert at The Bowl, which is on the route along Chaffron Way, so that was closed off from the roundabout which intersects with Grafton Street, so I had to make a somewhat circuitous detour around Milton Keynes and up onto Tattenhoe Street and round onto Childs Way to get to Shenley Church End. The lady lives on the opposite side of this grid to The Oaktree Centre. Alfie tapped a certain amount, probably because he wasn't getting all my attention, but he did seem to be settled. We have decided that it would be a good idea to leave him with Irene, (the lady dog-sitter) tomorrow, when I go to the Monday Club at the Oaktree Centre, to see how he copes with being left.

The digital thermometer currently reads 29ºC. 

In The Good Old Summertime

Tuesday. 12.00 p.m. Another sunny and very warm day. The temperature as shown on my digital thermometer currently reads 27ºC. As I mentioned in the last blog post, I haven't been to Camphill.

6.00. p.m. Not a great deal has been going on today. It's still very warm. In fact, the digital thermometer reads 28ºC. 

Wednesday. 6.15 a.m. It's bright and sunny here in Milton Keynes. The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºC.

11.10 a.m. There's supposed to be someone coming to deal with my bathroom floor this morning. I was sent a text message from Mears, the contractors, telling me someone will attend between 8-12. I'm still waiting.

Someone has just been to look at the bathroom floor. We have come to the conclusion that there's really no point in ripping up the floor, just to have to rip that up when they put in the new shower to replace the bath. It has to go to people 'upstairs' to give some sort of response to all this and hopefully (and I mean HOPEFULLY.) get what is called a wet room, with a special floor which takes into consideration the water that is used with a shower. Pigs might fly.

The digital thermometer currently reads 24ºC.

12.35 p.m. I've been to Aldi. Around a week's worth of food for £40.73. That would have probably cost about £60-£70 in Sainsbury's. It is good value, but there are some items I don't buy in Aldi, such as bread and toiletries. I like the bread which is baked in Sainsbury's own bakery, multi-grain, sort of malty flavoured. It is sometimes sliced, but I have a good bread knife with a serrated edge, which is ideal for slicing this sort of bread. It is easy enough to park outside Aldi, but I have to remember to have a £1 coin for the trolley, although I now have a trolley coin on my key ring.

The temperature in the flat is currently 25º C. 

1.50 p.m. I had a telephone call from someone connected with Mears, regarding the bathroom floor. They can't give me a date regarding replacing it. I said, it was a bit of a waste of time, energy and money if they give me a new floor and then when they revamp the entire bathroom, made it into what the gentleman who came out this morning called a 'wet room', if it only ends up with them tearing that floor up to install the new bathroom. This whole affair is turning into some sort of comedy. The left-hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. The plot thickens . . . . 

The temperature climbs to 26ºC.

4.05 p.m. I have met the new S.H.O. of Dexter House (S.H.O. is Sheltered Housing Officer.) She is currently shadowing another staff member and will start here in about two weeks' time.

The current temperature is 27ºC.

Thursday. 6.40 a.m. Another warm and sunny morning. I just hope the temperature drops, because it's causing problems. I still have to be careful in the sun with my heart condition.

The current temperature on the digital thermometer is 23ºC.

I have managed to clear all my data from my old iPad. I will take it somewhere to get a good price, hopefully, so it can be sold. I say 'old', but it is only a couple of years old, purchased during the pandemic.  I have a far more advanced iPad Pro,  which works with an Apple Pencil, allowing me do do digital painting and drawing on something called Procreate, as well as video editing with an app called InShot,