Rain!

 Tuesday. 8.15 a.m. As I write this, I can hear rain, and see it through my window.

Thursday. 8.10 a.m. It is getting a good deal colder. Well, I suppose it's to be expected, now that we are into October. 

I am taking Alfie to The Groom Room in Pets At Home in Bletchley to have a haircut. I have already put the cage in the back of the car. First, I need to go to the petrol station in Childs Way to diesel in the car, as it is running low. The appointment at The Groom Room isn't until 11 o'clock, but I like to be organised and have things ready beforehand.

4.05 p.m. I went to get fuel at the Mobil station in Childs Way, as mentioned above. It was just after 9 a.m. But done and then came back to Dexter House.

At around 10.35 I left to drive to Pets At Home, and coming out of Strudwick Drive and onto Chaffron Way, I was expecting to get to the Eaglestone roundabout and turn right into Saxon Street as I normally do when driving to Pets At Home. But, coming out of Oldbrook, I immediately discovered that the road was closed off, and I had to make a detour through the estate near Milton Keynes Academy and come out on Grafton Street and make a circuitous journey to get onto Saxon Street and get straight to Bletchley, driving past the football stadium. So, you can imagine the frustration of all this, particularly as I'd left earlier than I needed to, but, considering the extra journey time due to the diversion, it was probably just as well.

When I eventually got to the car park outside Pets At Home, it had begun to rain. I got Alfie out of the back of the car. As usual, he wanted to jump down, and he was barking loudly. I carried him into Pets At Home and walked through to The Groom Room, which is at the back of the store. I went in and the ladies who do the grooming were still working on another dog, but I went through how I wanted Alfie clipped and explained that Alfie had a lump on his side, which they checked out. It doesn't appear to be sinister, but it was a good idea to let them know before they began clipping him. Because he is getting old, his eyesight is poor, and he has problems with his joints, it was decided to reduce any stress to him and just give him a short trim, clear off the mess around his face and, if there was a problem, they would ring me on my mobile, because, when I left, I went into Gregg's, a few doors along from Pets At Home, to have a coffee and salad baguette. Sure enough, barely 15 minutes after I had left The Groom Room, I got a call to say that Alfie was getting stressed and that they would cut short what would normally be around an hour for a grooming session. I returned to discuss things, and they said that they could clear the mess around his face and give him a bit of a bath, which I agreed to, and waited in the vets' area until he was finished. So, I paid for the groom and got another session booked for the first week in January.

Sunday. 2.20 p.m. Yesterday afternoon I went out with the DJI Pocket to experiemnt with taking video footage. I went to Campbell Wharf Marina. It seemed the ideal place to go with the camera. I'd been there on Tuesday, with Pastor Ross. We had coffee in a new coffee shop I've never been to before. Infact, I'd never been to this area of Milton Keynes before. I had been to the canal further on with Alfie, and I think I'd been there with Carol and our dogs. As it turned out, it wasn't an entirely successful mission because it was quite cloudy and overcast and I couldn't find a way to get down to the wharf where the narrow boats were moored. I did get some footage, which I have since viewed, but, as it was just an experimental operation, not entirely a waste of time, becuse I merely wanted to find out how the various features of the camera worked.

Unseasonable Weather

 Monday. 6.10 a.m. It's a somewhat wild and windy day. It's not cold, but the wind is quite strong. Yesterday there was a light frost and on Friday morning, when I drove to Sainsbury. there was a thin layer of ice on the windows which had to be scraped off before I drove off.

Alfie is beginning to look a bit untidy. Because I wasn't sure of the weather, I hadn't arranged a grooming session for him, because he suffers from the cold, and we haven't had snow or exceptionally low temperatures recently. So, because of this, I thought it was probably a good idea to go over to Pets At Home and visit the Groom Room, which is inside the store. 

I drove over to Bletchley just after 9, the idea being that there was likely to be less traffic than going later. I was right, and it was easy to cross over Standing Way and that horrible roundabout near Pets At Home. I got Alfie an appointment in The Groom Room. It's at 5 o'clock on 14th March. 

I wanted to get Alfie a new bed. I had a browse at dog beds in Pets At Home, but I wasn't that impressed with what they had on offer, so I walked along the parade of shops to T.K.Maax. It took me a while to choose the right bed, because I had to consider Alfie's size. It was no good being too small or too big. I eventually chose a bed and took it home. When I got back to the flat, I took out the old bedding, which is in a space between the unit on which the television sits and my desk, and then put the new bed in it's place. It was amusing to see how Alfie reacted to it. He didn't immediately get into it. I think it's because he likes his routine. Changing his bed would be quite an upheaval. When he did eventually explore the bed, he climbed in and then got stuck! It was so funny, but he managed to get in, and it was clear that he liked it.

The following morning, when I went to take him out, I found Alfie sleeping in the bed, but on one end of the tipped-up bed! It looked so funny. I think he likes it, because it's his own little world, and it's draught-free and comfortable. I think it's a real success and I'm so glad I got it for him.

Wednesday. 10.20 a.m. I've just got back from Sainsbury's. The revelator is not working on the downside, so you have to use the lift. These bits of technology are constantly being repaired. I think it must be about the third time the thing has been out of action in the last six months or so. I have bought a couple of pillows. Yesterday I went over to Kingston and visited Homesense and bought another King sized duvet cover. I wanted a flat sheet (I don't like fitted sheets, because they never seem to stay fitted and they're difficult to fold.) I didn't find one, so I went on Amazon, and you're spoilt for choice and it should arrive sometime tomorrow.

The weather is still unseasonable and it was foggy when I took out Alfie earlier.

Wet And Miserable August!

 Thursday. 12.35 p.m. It might be bright and sunny as I write this, but the weather generally, according to the weather forecast on BBC Breakfast this morning, is that we can expect rain for the next month, which might not be what those who have holidays booked want to hear.

2.35 p.m. I had the car booked in at Anglo Motors to have some work done on one of the rear brakes. It was scheduled to be done at 9 o'clock. I was there in plenty of time. Thankfully, the traffic was relatively light at that time. There was a problem locating the wheel nuts. Up until only a few years ago, I had no idea what 'wheel nuts' were, but then I found a small plastic box in the car containing these items. They are required if you have to take off the wheels of your car. I had to go into the workshop to look, and they eventually were located under the front passenger seat, when meant the work could continue. The work went ahead, and it was completed within an hour and cost a good deal less than I was imagining. I then drove over to the retail park at Bletchley to visit Pets At Home and the Groom Room which is within the store in order to get a groom appointment for Alfie. They are booked sold for weeks ahead, and I couldn't get one until early September. 

Saturday. 5.45 a.m. Where did Friday go? There wasn't anything worth writing about, which is unusual for me, as you would know if you read this blog on a regular basis.

I still have a certain amount of  discomfort in my lower back. It is worse when I bed, especially when I am getting dressed. I have ordered a heat pad from Amazon, because I was told, when using Voltarol, that it would help the healing process if I used a hot water bottle. But I don't have one, so I looked on various websites, including Boots and Superdrug, but they don't appear to have anything even close to a hot water bottle, except heated pads. I then went on Amazon and have found an electric heated pad, which I have ordered. I think it should be better than a hot water bottle because it won't lose its heat and has Velcro fastening to keep it in place.

10.00 a.m. Well, the weather is certainly doing it's 'thing'! The title of this post is totally correct. I went out to my car at around 7.45, removing the cage which Alfie rides in when he goes out with me in the car, with the idea of getting the car valeted, but I didn't realize until I got outside that it was raining quite hard, so that idea has to be shelved for now! I just thought that the car could do with a clean, inside and out, and as it hasn't been done in ages, I would get it done. Never mind, for now at any rate.

I've been to do a fairly small shop in Sainsbury. A good time to go, as the place is more or less deserted. The moving walk-way, which links the car park on the lower floors to the upper store is currently being repaired, so you have to use the lifts, which are busy. You would think there would be alternative stairs, but there aren't.

5.10 p.m. The intercom for the front door of Dexter House sounded at about 4.30. I answered it and nobody appeared with my Amazon parcel, so I went down to see if the delivery driver had come into the unit. I saw two parcels left on the kitchen window, one for myself. I took it back to my flat and set it up and after about fifteen minutes I had to leave it as I had to put my meal in the oven. I think it may be working as the pain in my lower back appears to be reduced. I will have to have some more time with it before I decide that it is doing it's job, which as I really hope it will.

Spring Is Sprung? (But Not Quite)

Wednesday. 6.25 a.m. I was awake at 5 o'clock, so I decided to change my duvet cover and all my bedding. Not my favourite occupation and so, rather than merely thinking about it, I got on with it. So, all the bedding taken off can go in the wash at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

Alfie and I were out around 5.45 this morning. Am I crazy? (Please don't answer that.) But it is light at that time, so it seemed a good idea to take his nibs out. Another trot around Oldbrook Green.l It's been raining overnight, as there is clear evidence by the fact the ground is wet and a very thin drizzle falling.

Thursday. 6.15 a.m. Much the same as yesterday. Out at around 5.45.

12.30 p.m. I've been to the Oaktree Centre to help set up and pack up the Acorn's playgroup, as I usually do  on a Thursday morning. Driving along Chaffron Way I encountered another tailgating driver in a BMW. I was driving at a reasonable speed, which, as far as I am concerned is safe, probably 45-50 mph. Suddenly, the drive of the car decided that I wasn't moving fast enough for him and overtook me, which meant he had to drive on the section of the road which had chevrons on it. I think it's the same part of the road where I had a similar experience of a driver deciding I wasn't getting out of the way for him, but driving in the other direction when I was a driving home from home a few weeks ago. It is somewhat unsettling, and I don't think these tailgaters really care about the effect it has on you. Speeding fast and not caring about anyone else is unacceptable. Many drivers around Milton Keynes are under the mistaken impression that you don't need to slow down and stop when you get to a roundabout. At a later roundabout, a car narrowly missed me as I drove through. I don't like the idea that you signal with your indicators when you are driving ahead on a roundabout. When I was learning to drive, which was in the late 1960s, you used your indicators to turn either right or left, certainly not to go ahead. Mind you, in those days, you used hand signals to show where you intended to move. You stuck your hand out of the driving side window and if you were slowing down, your moved your hand in a circular motion and if right, you stuck your hand out. Not sure how you indicated left, probably stuck your foot out of the passenger side window (only joking!) It seems crazy, thinking about it now. I think if you were to do that today, you would get your arm knocked off! It just shows how driving has changed over the last 50 or so years.

It's quite windy today, even though the sun is shining.

4.35 p.m. The Postman came mid-morning (they seem to be coming a good deal earlier than they usually deliver.) and within the usual junk mail, I got my repeat prescription from Lloyd's Direct, which has come from my app order. I have mentioned that Lloyd's in Sainsbury's is closing down and I would need to find a different pharmacy to make up my medications. I set the app up to take my order and this was a trial to see whether it was going to work. I assumed that the delivery would be made by a van, but isn't. It comes via Royal Mail.

Alfie was booked into Pets At Home in Bletchley to have a grooming session. I left Dexter House at around 1.40 to drive there, and it was easy enough to park outside as usual. I had to wait a few minutes before I could let the groomers get to work as the place was extremely busy. We wandered around the store and they returned. I had found lumps on Alfie's head and on his body, which look as if they might be bites or perhaps warts. I had to tell the groomer because I was concerned that they might cut into them when it was clipped. I left him and then went across to Tesco's to use the toilet and then to Timpson, who has a unit outside, to buy some heel grips for a pair of shoes I bought on Amazon. I almost always find that, when I buy new shoes, the heels can rub until they are broken in, and these adhesive grips help with this problem. 

I collected Alfie at 3.30. I went back into Pets At Home and I could see that they were still working on grooming Alfie, so I didn't want to go into the grooming parlour because I knew if he saw me, he would probably bark, and it would make the groomers work difficult. So I went and wandered about the store for a bit longer before going in to collect Alfie. 

I have to say, he looked so much better for being clipped. He always does. You can see his face properly because they managed to tidy up around his eyes. He was looking really unkempt, and I don't like to see him untidy. We drove back home and I discovered a parcel from Amazon on the doorstep. I had ordered an electric pencil sharpener and a podiatry set. This is because my toenails need cutting and the set of clippers isn't very good. The set is excellent and comes with a set of various instruments for not just your toenails but also your fingernails. As usual, something which I wouldn't have found elsewhere.

8.10 p.m. As I write this, it's raining quite hard.

Spring Is In The Air!

Thursday. 7.45 a.m. Alfie and I were out at around 7.10 this morning. It's getting lighter each morning. 

Spring is definitely in the air! Not only is it now a good deal milder, but bulbs are coming up, which I noticed when I was at Camphill on Tuesday. Also, blossoms come out, and many trees have the first signs of leaves.

2.40 p.m. I have been to The Oaktree Centre to assist with setting up and clearing up the playgroup this morning and then to take part in a Bible study. I have wanted to get Alfie an appointment at The Groom Room in Bletchley in order to get him trimmed, as he is beginning to look scruffy. I think a groom every six months or so is usually enough, not just a trim, but to have his nails trimmed and the build-up of mess under his eyes to be removed. I thought I could drive over to Bletchley from Shenley and then come home for some lunch, but then I decided the lunch should come first and then drive to Bletchley. Unfortunately, when I got there, I went into Pets At Home, which houses The Groom Room and discovered they were closed until 2 o'clock, so I had to fill in the time browsing in T.K.Maax, Sports Direct and Home Bargains, all of which are in the same parade as Pets At Home. I also went into Boots to buy vitamin D tablets and cod liver oil capsules, which I take every day and  I found if I bought an extra packet I could have one free, so it was a good offer.  I then needed the loo and walked over to Tesco to avail myself of their facilities. 

Once all this had been done, it was approaching 2 o'clock and I managed to get Alfie booked for his appointment on 23rd March at 2p.m., which was the earliest slot I could get.

5.05 p.m. I notice that the workmen working on the roof have packed up the scaffolding and it is gone. I thought I could hear a lot of banging and clanking but didn't realize it was them dismantling the scaffolding. There is still quite a bit of their equipment left on the grass below my kitchen window. No doubt it will be removed in the next day or so.

Friday. 8.30 a.m. It's a rather mixed sort of day on the weather front. Alfie insisted on going out at around 6.45. I got dressed hurriedly, and we went out on the grass alongside Strudwick Drive I found it was frosty, although it wasn't particularly hard. I have to take my small electric torch with me as it's difficult to see otherwise to pick up after Alfie.

I have my washing in the machine and on at around 7.45. I'm now waiting for it to finish, so it can go in the tumble drier.

1.40 p.m. Washing done, some hanging in the wardrobe, dried, and some on the airer.

We had the second poetry session this morning. Five of us in attendance. I was expecting more Dexter House residents to appear, but no one else came. Pity. This is, as I think I mentioned in an earlier post, a part of the U3A of which I am a member. We have to spring at least two poems to read and discuss. The theme this month was 'love' and no doubt is connected to it being Valentine's Day on 14th February. The theme for the next one is 'birds'. I am currently looking on Google for any poems on that subject, hopefully at least one will be amusing.

Saturday. 6.25 a.m. I have had the windows in my flat open, to attempt to remove the cigarette smoke. It does seem to work, but I need to have the window in the lounge open to create a through draught. I have mentioned the matter regarding this smoke, which comes from the flat below me, but I have been told that the flat door should be closed to prevent the smoke seeing out. It certainly shouldn't come into my flat, or anyone else's if it comes to that.

Gridlocked!

Tuesday. 9.30 a.m. Yet another typical autumn day, sunny but chilly.

Alfie and I have been out and walked around Oldbrook Green. I'm shocked to see so much litter related to fireworks, which I could hear last night being let off. It seemed to go on for several hours and, looking at the rubbish, someone had spent a small fortune on them. No thought though, to take their rubbish away with them. The sign for Oldbrook Green (which is under the umbrella of Campbell Park Parish Council.) clearly states 'no fireworks'. I think it was more to do with Diwali rather than Guy Fawkes Night, but it's still a lot of noise and upsets animals. Alfie doesn't seem to take any notice, and then we have Halloween to contend with next Monday. I'd love to know who the people that left the rubbish expect to clear it up. There are plenty of bins around the Green, so why not place some of it there, or, at least, take it home with you.

2.35 p.m. For the last year or so (I think it may be longer, but I'm not sure exactly.) I have been having a weekly telephone call from someone who is a volunteer at Age UK. His name is David, and we have an hour's chat for around an hour. I have never met him, until today. I had thought some while ago that he should have my mobile number and possibly my email address because he rings me on my landline number. The last time he phoned last week he said that someone had suggested to him that we meet up for a coffee so I came up with some possible places to meet, one being Costa at the retail park in Bletchley (along with Pets At Home, which is where Alfie goes to have his regular haircut (sorry, but the term 'groom' has another, negative connotation these days, although not the same as dog-grooming.) It was strange meeting someone who you'd spoken to but never actually met. He said he knew what I looked like because when I emailed him, my photo came up, which I wasn't aware of. David was waiting outside Costa as I drew up in the car and then we went inside Costa. It was something of a shock to discover it virtually empty. I say this, because if you go to one of the two Costa branches in the central Milton Keynes shopping centre, at the end of the shopping centre opposite Marks and Spencer and the other, which is on Middleton Hall and near John Lewis, you will no doubt find each one busy and will have to queue. I have often glanced into each one before deciding whether to queue up and then often leave to find another place to eat and have coffee, such as Cafe Nero or Pret A Manger which are also in Middleton Hall. As I say, it was virtually empty of other customers and it didn't take long to order my latte and ham and cheese toastie.

We spent around two hours chatting and by one o'clock I thought it was time to return home. I know that the car park is likely to have around a two-hour limit on how long you can remain parked and if you're not careful you can be fined. They have cameras which record your car's registration number and from that, they can find your address, and then you get a lovely letter asking you to pay a hefty fine, which I really don't want.

It was well I came out of Costa when I did because the whole car park was clogged up with cars attempting to leave, and it took me some time to get out of my space. Not many drivers were willing to let me into the queue and the queue moved at a snail's pace towards the exit. It then took a good deal of time to get into the traffic on Bletcham Way and eventually onto the large roundabout, which was more than ever clogged up. I could not discover what had caused this chaos. Possibly either there had been an accident nearby, possibly on the A5 or M1, or it was the result of roadworks, which are currently ongoing throughout the Milton Keynes grid road system, much of it for resurfacing works.

New Prime Minister

Monday. 6.45 a.m. I awoke in the night to the distant sound of thunder. At first I wasn't entirely sure whether it was thunder, but then it broke and there was a torrential rainfall storm. It seemed to go on for a while, but then it came to an end. When I went out with Alfie around 6 a.m. there was virtually no sign of any rain. The ground looked dry, although the air was heavy with moisture.

Tuesday. 6.35 a.m. It's a good deal cooler this morning. I am waking later and later each day.

So, Liz Truss had been selected as Britain's new Prime Minister, replacing Boris Johnson. She will be going to Balmoral to see The Queen and officially transfer power between the two leaders. As I write this, I have BBC Breakfast on television, and they are reporting from Downing Street as Boris Johnson will come out and give his final speech as Prime Minister. 

9.30 a.m. Boris Johnson's speech was short and sweet, and as usual, there was a certain amount of levity in it. I know he made many mistakes and told a few lies (well, to be honest, more than a few, but don't all politicians bend the truth?) All his MPs stood on the pavement to listen to him, and then he and his wife, Carrie, drove off in a Range Rover. I can't think where, but if he and Liz Truss have to go to Balmoral, which is somewhere to the north. in the depths of Scotland and close to Aberdeen, they would need to leave soon as I imagine it would take seven or eight hours by car and probably less if they went by train. Possibly a private plane? Well, the Queen is head of state and she can choose where they meet, for Boris to resign and Liz Trust to get the keys to Number 10. Usually, this takes place at Buckingham Palace, but her majesty didn't intend to return to London, to break her holiday. Well, she isn't in the best of health and, considering her great age, late 90s, who can blame her?

Cincinnatus was mentioned in Boris's speech. I had to do a Google search, to discover he was a Roman statesman. It passed me by so quickly, but unless you have a grounding in the classics (which Boris obviously does, but I don't.) it would take the likes of Mary Beard to explain more about this Roman figure.

1.30 p.m. I took Alfie to The Groom Room within Pets At Home in Bletchley for his 11.30 appointment. He is now home and looks a good deal neater than he was when he went in. His nails are trimmed, his teeth brushed, his face is tidy, and you can see his eyes properly.

I had to fill in 90 minutes whilst Alfie was being groomed. I had a salad roll, Danish pastry and tea in Greggs, which is a few doors along from Pets At Home. Then, a browse in T.K. Maax. There's always lots to see there, but I didn't buy anything, but I was tempted. I looked in Sports Direct and have seen a couple of pairs of trainers which I am determined to buy, which have leather uppers and look quite smart compared with other styles of trainers and at a reasonable price.

Liz Truss came back from Balmoral where she had met the Queen to be officially installed as Prime Minister. It made me think, surely she would have had to travel all the way to the north of Scotland. How would she get there? It couldn't possibly be by car or train, because she was expected back in Downing Street to give a speech to the nation. It transpired that she had gone by private jet. The plane came back and landed at RAF Northolt and then she had a drive into central London as part of a convoy of what would have been security people. Then the weather changed, it began to rain, and I was somewhat amused to see the podium which was put out in front of Number 10 by staff and, as the rain fell, the microphones on it were covered with a black bin bag. The rain became heavier and the podium was moved indoors and it wasn't clear where Liz Truss's speech would be given. Indoors? In the room where all those press conferences were given by Boris Johnson during the pandemic? Then the rain came to an end and the podium came back out! 

We saw the convoy of vehicles driving through the streets as it approached Downing Street and it eventually arrived outside Number 10 Liz Trust got out of the Range Rover she had travelled in and immediately went to the podium to give her address. To me, it seemed amazing that she arrived in Downing Street and was delivering that address within minutes of arriving.

The Sun Has Got His Hat On!

Thursday. 6.30 a.m. Yesterday evening I fell asleep on my bed. I think it's a combination of getting up early and the heat in this place. How many times have I mentioned it? Currently, it's 77ºF. , according to my digital thermometer. You would say, I'm sure, far too warm, considering we're in the middle of summer, with outside temperatures fairly high. But I digress.) I woke suddenly and looked at my watch, though it was morning, and got ready to go out, including taking Alfie out. We were walking along the path beside Strudwick Drive, towards Oldbrook Green, and I saw children playing football. I thought, 'shouldn't they be at school?' Well, at around 6.45 p.m., no, they shouldn't. By the time I got back indoors and poured out some cereal into a bowl and sat and watched television (with the BBC News channel on.) I realized my mistake! Only a few hours too early. Crazy! Goodness knows what Alfie thought.

I'm considering buying a spray which is supposed to calm dogs who have anxiety. I'm going to go to Pets At Home this morning and give it a go. You can also get a gadget which you plug into an electric Power point, rather like the gadget which we used to have when we lived at the house in Eaglestone which gave off a rather pleasant aroma. You put a gel capsule into it which, when the thing heated, produced a vapour. I think the thing I'm mentioning must be similar. Anything to solve the situation with Alfie is fine by me.

5.30 p.m. I've been to the Oaktree Centre to set up the playgroup. It's not difficult, but pushing the trolleys around with the chairs stacked on them can be quite tiring. I'm also back on the Genesis team, setting up Sunday services, but I won't be involved for a few weeks yet. Just one Sunday a month. Mid-morning, I'm part of a Bible study. I have used the Version Bible app on my iPhone as it's easy enough to use, but the other week I took my Living Application Bible, but I found it far too big to sit on my lap, so I looked for an N.I.V. (New International Version) on the internet. I eventually found one. Quite difficult to find a straightforward one which wasn't a) bright pink b) fluffy c) covered in flowers or non-appealing in some other way. It's ordered from a website called Eden. 

Later, having finished at the Oaktree Centre, I drove across Milton Keynes to the retail park where Pets At Home is situated. I looked down the shelves where the doggy medications were. I could have bought a diffuser which plugs in and you put the calming essential oils in it and, as it heats up, a gentle mist is released, similar to the scented oils that we used to use when we lived in Eaglestone. The only problem is, on the package, it suggests plugging it in at floor level. Which is out of the question here, because all the power points in this flat are halfway up the wall and not at floor level. So, I choose a spray bottle and will give that a try.

Friday.8.20 a.m. I started using the spray yesterday evening. You have to spray a small amount on surfaces, particularly soft furnishings. So, every couple of hours I have sprayed onto the sofa and Alfie's bed. I think it might be working, as he seems to be quite calm. Let's just hope that it keeps on working. Which is one of the reasons I started using it well before Sunday afternoon, to give it a chance to work.

Wild and Windy

 Monday. 8.05 a.m. Thank goodness the high wind has gone. It's relatively mild as I write this.

Tuesday. 3.45 a.m. Here I am again, early hours of the morning, wide awake. I might just as well be on the MacBook writing this than not being able to sleep.

I have been doing family research for the past few years. I don't think I've ever mentioned it on here. I have had a subscription to a website called Myheritage and had done a considerable amount of work on there and got back to around the time of William Shakespeare. There are quite a few holes in the research, and I've built a family tree to which other people who are doing their own family research can contribute.  I have now set up a subscription to Ancestry.co.uk and managing to continue with the research. I am now building up an index file of people in my family tree, which seems a better way of collecting information rather than merely putting it in a notebook. I can add information (i.e. birth, death, where they lived and anything else relevant.) on these cards when I discover it and in this way make sure that individuals are easily identified. With so many of my ancestors having the same Christian names, it's quite difficult at times to identify individuals, so to have as much information as possible makes things a good deal easier. As a result of my research, I can get back 12 generations on my mother's side. Quite an achievement, but I hope to get back even further, with continued research.

I got the inspiration for doing my family history from the BBC television series 'Who Do You Think You Are?' where celebrities follow their family history back in time and make interesting discoveries. I think I had intentions of doing this before this show, but it was the spark that set things going. Probably quite a few other people have followed this path. It has obviously been made easier because of the internet, with such sites as Ancestry and others. Once you've signed up it's merely a question of putting basic information in about your ancestors, dates, places they lived and so on, and off you go.

Weds. 2.20 p.m. There are two washing machines for the use of the tenants in Dexter House. They have been on what you might say their last legs for months, and one has been showing more than usual signs that it isn't working properly for the last couple of weeks. It has now been removed from the laundry room and has now been condemned, which means that it can be replaced. Or so it would appear. But there are so many layers of management that things have to go through before a new washing machine can be installed. The old machine is standing in the entrance hall, so we only have one fully operational machine. But now this working machine is showing signs of not working properly. They (meaning the company who installs and presumably, supplies the machines) have said that it would be the faulty bearings, that's the mechanism that controls the spinning and revolving of the drum within the machine. The mechanic has said that it could get hot and start a fire. This isn't surprising when you consider the speed these machines revolve at when in operation. Presumably, if the brake within the machine doesn't work properly, it could cause it to get hot and then cause a fire. It's crazy that there are so many levels of management it has to go through to get anything done here. Nobody wants to take responsibility. Which means we, the tenants, are the ones who have to suffer when the machines don't function properly.

6.00 p.m. So, we could see the end of pandemic restrictions. That is, if the statistics look good, and seem to be doing just that at the moment.

Alfie needs a haircut. This is why I wanted to book him an appointment with The Groom Room at Pets At Home in Bletchley. I had the phone number from their website. You ring up, and then you have to go through a menu and once you press the relevant number button you get another menu and when you ring that number just rings off . . . Then I found a card I was given by the staff in The Groom Room some while ago, and it had another telephone number on it and when I rang it took some while for the young lady to find me an appointment and the only one was on 7th April. Hopefully, it will be a good deal warmer by then. It does seem rather cruel to have him trimmed when it's quite cold because he does suffer if it's chilly. Likewise, he doesn't like it too hot either. It's just that his face is hidden under a mass of rather scruffy hair.

Virus Variant and Proof of The Pudding

There's supposed to be another variant of the coronavirus. Well, there would be, wouldn't there? There has to be. Just to make sure, we have yet another lockdown Christmas. Can't we just get used to it and be done with it? As Mr Jones the butcher says repeatedly in 'Dad's Army,' '"Don't panic!" It's all negatives. The media seems to love negatives. In fact, they seem to thrive on it.

Saturday. 9.15 p.m. Boris has been on doing his impersonation of being Prime Minister, telling us like good sheep that the omivirus (is that it's new name?) has arrived at the UK's shores, and we must keep on being told what to do etc. I mean, omicron. Why is this variant named after the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet?

I have managed to ice the Christmas cake I made. A layer of marzipan and then soft white icing. No sooner had I completed it than I had a parcel arrive with the decorations, and they are now on the cake! I have really got no idea how it tastes, and I can't wait to try it around Christmas day.

Monday. 10.25 a.m. A layer of snow covering the grass and other surfaces when I took out Alfie at around 7.20 this morning. It's not very thick, but still, it's still snow. Whether we get further remains to be seen. Very cold and I must remember to find my gloves as my hands were beginning to go blue, which is never a good sign.

Tuesday. 10.30 p.m. It's been a good deal milder today. I think Alfie appreciates it when it's warmer.

I went to Sainsbury's. Basically, to collect a repeat prescription from Lloyd's pharmacy. I have been attempting to get a doctor's appointment for the past two days. The cough is getting annoying and I really need something to relieve it. You ring and ring and only get a stupid recorded voice. I did attempt to leave a message for the receptionist, but then they emailed me to say I should ring to make an appointment. So much for our 'wonderful' NHS! What are they doing? Having extended tea breaks? More likely they are using the pandemic as an excuse to not do their jobs properly. I bought a bottle of Robitussin which I have started dosing myself with. It seems to be working. I just have to keep on taking it and hope it does its job.

I bought a sweet little Christmas tree in Sainsbury's. A real one, potted and ready to decorate. 

Wednesday. 6.40 a.m. Goodness! The 1st December. Where has the year gone? Gobbled up by covid, unfortunately. We have to wear face masks if we enter shops (which I had to in Sainsbury's yesterday morning. I thought I would get away without one, but the thought police were on duty so fortunately I had one in my coat pocket.

I have started to decorate the Christmas tree. Not only that, but I bought two sets of LED tree lights but ended up having to untangle them. Not an easy job. I went to Hobbycraft this morning and got some crêpe paper. Goodness, even that is made in China. I can't believe we can't make it in Britain, instead of having to import it from the other side of the world. Just think of the carbon emissions produced to transport it. Crazy! I then went into Pets At Home, which is further along the parade of units, and bought a small water bowl for Alfie which we can take with us when we go to Worcester for Christmas. Oh, and some treats, which will keep his nibs happy. I then walked along the parade to have a look in Smyth's toys. I have to say, I'm not impressed. Just a load of junk basically and plastic which will eventually end up in landfill. Nothing I would deem in any way suitable for either of the grandchildren. I'll just have to have a word with Chloe as to what she suggests. Something they can share, although I don't think that Rosie is exactly of the age to be able to share.

7.00 p.m. As I write this I can hear the wind howling around outside. Sounds somewhat mysterious and I almost expect Cathy to start knocking on the window to be let in, her out of 'Wuthering Heights.'

Thursday. 8.10 a.m. We were out at around around 7.30 a.m. this morning. There must have been a slight flurry of snow overnight, because the grass was covered in a light dusting of the white stuff. Alfie was soon beetling back indoors, having done his usual sniffing around act. I can hardly blame him as I'm not over-delighted with snow.

I made some mince pies to take to the final session of The Prayer Course this evening. It was mid-afternoon when this decision was made. I had all the ingredients, so I thought it would be a good dry run for making a far larger batch to take to Worcester. I was more than pleased with the result. The pastry was rich and crumbly, and I have to admit they tasted far better than bought mince pies. As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and all seven were consumed at the Prayer course. So, I'm more than happy to make a larger batch, but may keep them baking a few minutes longer than I did this test batch.

As regards this new virus variant, I think the that term 'proof of the pudding is in the eating' can just as well be used in relation to the virus as well as mince pies. We are told that we have to wait around three weeks to discover how infections it is, and it will be well into January before we can return to anything close to 'normal.'

Bouncing Mail and other inconsequential Matters

Wednesday. 12.15 p.m. I keep getting the wrong post delivered to my flat. I have a feeling that the Post Office, or at least the so-called organization who are responsible for the delivery of our post, is not up to much. At one time we used to get a post at least twice a day, the first delivery at around 7 a.m and a second delivery at around 11 a.m.  They were so precise with their deliveries you could almost set your watch by them. Now it seems to arrive whenever the postman feels like delivering, sometimes before midday, sometimes around 2-3 o'clock. What is going on? And then I get misdirected mail. I have a letter here for the gentleman who possibly lives along Dexter Avenue or who MIGHT possibly have been a former tenant of this flat (I won't give the address for security reasons.) I gave it to the postman who happened to be passing along the corridor, but it has come back rather like some sort of boomerang. I should have written 'not known at this address.' If I had it in at the S.H.O's office within Dexter House, do you suppose it will then bounce back like something on a piece of elastic?

The workmen are back, building the scooter sheds. I suppose they are going to be called scooter sheds, but I can't think of a better way to describe them. We've had a couple of days without any work going on in the community garden, but it seems all is activity. There are several vehicles parked either on the road or the grassed area along the side of Strudwick Drive, one being a very large concrete mixer. I presume this is for the foundations of the aforementioned sheds. As I walked past they seemed to be releasing water from this enormous vehicle and using one to the two tipper trucks to ferry the concrete into the garden and then transferred to what will, I assume, be the floor for both sheds. 

Thursday. 6.30 a.m. I woke up, then went back to sleep. But did it really matter? Alfie got his usual outing and it was slightly chilly, but the sun is out as I write this. Alfie booked in at The Groom Room at 1 p.m. for a haircut. 

Later. I took Alfie to The Groom Room, getting there well before the appointment time of 1 p.m. Alfie was yapping when I released him from the cage in the back of the car and excited to be out and going in to be pampered by the young lady who took him from me to begin his haircut. I had just over an hour to fill before going back to collect him, so I went into T.K. Maax, which is along the parade of units from Pets At Home. A good place to pick up a bargain. I got a really nice Moleskine notebook, which I had wanted for some time. Ideal hardback notebook and just the right size to slip in a pocket when I'm out and about and I want to make a note of things. 

Alfie was really pleased to see me when I went back to collect him from The Groom Room! He's now looking trimmed and tidy. He even had his teeth cleaned! His breath was getting somewhat smelly and I would never be able to do this as he would bite me. I know he's little, but he has exceptionally sharp teeth and I wouldn't want to upset him or hurt him. He went back into the cage in the back of the car and I heard not a single peep from him on the way home. How does he know when we get home because as soon as I turn off the car's engine he starts up barking.

Friday. 6.15 a.m. A bit of a shock for both of us when we went out at around 5.45. A thin and weak rain, but nevertheless, still got a slight wetting. Alfie was not impressed, and soon made straight for the door after having a wee on the grass.

I've been told that the woman who comes in to clean the communal areas in Dexter House has been told by her supervision that she hasn't been doing her job properly. She had an audit and didn't come off very well. She is leaving some areas uncleaned. I can clearly see the dust on the banisters and rails of the stairs leading up to my flat and underneath has never been dusted, nor any of the top of the bricked areas around the place. Will it now improve? Will she need to do a better job? Who knows. I could use my new Vax steam mop to clean around the area of my flat but may wait until I know whether there will be an improvement. Let's wait and see.

As I write this, at 4.05 p.m., it is quite sunny, although a little windy.

Post number 1550- Another Week of Groundhog Day!

Monday. 7.20a.m. It's bright and sunny but somewhat muted. The sun hasn't had enough time to warm things fully but we'll wait and see how the weather changes as it surely will.

Later. 2.45 p.m. I've been out with Alfie. It's still sunny but there's still a chill in the air.

Tuesday. 6.40 a.m. Another mild and sunny morning, but not chilly.

I'm busily writing. I have now found a way to link some of the elements together but I'm not going to reveal anything about it on here. It's just going so well that I wouldn't want to ruin it. It's a bit like when you do a jigsaw and you have one piece missing at the end and then- suddenly- you find it, on the floor, behind the sofa, under your mug of coffee,  or the cat's sitting on it, the dog is chewing it or whatever. You snap it into place and the whole picture is complete.

I've just completed reading a biography of Roald Dahl, called 'Storyteller,' by Donald Sturrock. A thick volume and it had to be, as he had a full and interesting life. I get the impression that he could be quite difficult and unpredictable, which comes over in his writing, particularly his short stories, which were the basis for the Anglia Television series 'Tales of the Unexpected.' He must have been difficult to live with.

Wednesday.7.10 a.m. It's still chilly. Apparently, according to BBC Breakfast, April 2021 is supposed to be the frostiest since 1960. Difficult to believe.

1.40 p.m. I took Alfie out as I'm taking him to get his hair trimmed later. It was closing over so I thought it was a good idea to get out quickly and I was right. Alfie spends so much time deciding where to have a wee and taking in in circles in the process. Almost gets me tied in knots as he goes round in circles. There were a few tell-tale drops of rain but Alfie insisted on going into the wooded area that borders Oldbrook Green. I said to him 'shall we go home?' and he turned tail and we headed back to the flat.

I took Alfie to The Groom Room at Pets At Home in Bletchley. As soon as he sees me picking up his lead he starts barking and doesn't really stop until he's put into the cage in the back of the car. He does stop barking once we start moving but then starts up again as soon as I draw into the parking space outside Pets At Home. 

I have an hour to kill before I have to collect Alfie, so I wander around some of the shops along the parade from Pets At Home. There seemed no point in driving home and then back to collect Alfie.  Costa is open, but not to sit in. I think you can order via their app, and I think it's similar to Greggs which is next door. I go into T.K.Maax to have a browse. It amuses me about 'keeping safe,' referring to social distancing due to covid-19. What about if a bus runs you over or an anvil hits you as you walk along the path outside? Me just being crazy, but this sort of thing does make me think of this sort of 'safety.'

I've managed to transcribe several pages of writing onto word processing, using the speech-to-text function on my iPad. Quite a useful bit of technology and definitely saves time.

Thursday. 8.40 a.m. It's another bright and sunny morning. But, again, quite chilly first thing. 

Friday. 6.55 a.m. I've just taken Alfie out, as normal. He did his wee on the grass immediately outside where we come out of the door, but he insisted on taking me back inside to the front door. We normally walk along the path towards Oldbrook Green, but it wasn't interesting. When he doesn't want to do something, he won't change his mind and it's quite difficult to get him to do the opposite. For a small dog, he's surprisingly strong and more or less locks his legs.

Regarding the weather: it's mild and sunny, but there's still a chill in the air.

Incidentally, this post is number 1550. Another landmark for this blog!

Alfie- Trimmed, And Other Less Important Matters

(Wednesday) Alfie was booked to have a haircut at The Groom Room within Pets At Home at the Beacon Retail Park in Bletchley at 2p.m. I had a telephone call from the Groom Room to ask me if I would like to move the appointment to 12 o'clock which I immediately agreed to. I had to contain Alfie within his cage in the back of the car as it just won't sit inside the car. Safer for the both of us. within his cage. What amuses me is that he makes a tremendous noise when he's put into the cage and the door is closed. But once I'm driving along he is extremely quiet. It's when I stop the car that he then starts up barking and getting excited. A bit like when I move to go out and pick up his lead he starts barking loudly.

I got a phone call from the Groom Room at around 1.15 to say that Alfie was ready for collection so I drove back to get him and it's always a shock to see him when he's well and truly shorn. Quite short, and it's great to be able to see his face properly.

(Friday) I am continuing to write. I had a storyline which was on Pages writing processing software and saved on my MacBook.

(Tuesday) Boy oh boy, this is getting so boring. Which is why I haven't written anything on here for a while. Not like me to be unable to write SOMETHING, even if it is just a load of repetitious rubbish. It's a week since Alfie went to the Groom Room to have his trim. The weather has become decidedly unsettled. We had a Facebook Rooms meeting of the creative writing group on Saturday at lunchtime. Not sure it was entirely successful but it was just great to have some sort of conversation with other humans.

The door leading out of Dexter House into Strudwick Drive, which I use to take out for his walks has decided not to function successfully. You have to more or less break your hand to get the catch to release the door, so this means I have to carry His Nibs out through the front door which is a bit of a hike and even though he is small, he is a weight and is a bit of an effort. Carrying Alfie stops him barking. It may sound crazy, but it would appear he can't, or won't, bark.

Oh dear, am I that desperate for something to write, having to describe the above problem with a door? It would appear so. Then, a couple of days ago, I decided to have a bath and, having run the water and put my bath gel in, I found that the water was barely warm, and certainly not hot enough to have a decent wallow. What is going on? And to cap it all, Barbara, the SHO (sheltered housing officer) told me that there was a leak into her office as the flat about had a leaking toilet (or sink or bath, one or the other) and it came through the ceiling and ruined some paperwork which needed to be reprinted. The company who is supposed to do the repairs (I shan't mention it here) was called to repair someone's light fitting and it two FOUR WEEKS before they came and sorted it out. The door which I mentioned above is not to be used and has been reported, and no doubt it will take weeks before it is fixed and it must be done because it's a fire exit.

Haircuts For Alfie and Me

(Monday) I have managed to book a grooming session for Alfie at the Groom Room at Pets At Home in Bletchley for 21st of July. He has been there before and he knows the staff and they make a fuss of him and he loves being pampered. Who can blame him? I set up and on-line account this morning and then did an on-line booking but then I had to pay a deposit. The Groom Room staff then phoned me and I payed over the phone with my card. It is rather crazy because we already had an account at the Groom Room but it doesn't link to what I had set up on line, but by using the reward card I was able to update my details. So, at last the poor little chap can have a wash and shampoo and a good trim because he is becoming really scruffy, his claws need a trim and the hair round his face needs tidying up so he can see where he is going. I'm usually very hot on looking after him as he usually has a good trim several times a year and it's because of the pandemic that he has got into this state.

(Tuesday) Another indecisive day on the weather front. It is overcast and I'm not sure whether it's going to rain or not. Probably rain, thinking about it since I've peered out of the window. Alfie is expecting to be taken out and at 8.35a.m. I may just do that to keep him happy.

We went out but got a wetting. Alfie just doesn't appreciate getting wet, under any circumstances. I don't blame him. I don't either. We didn't stay out long.

(Wednesday) I've been to Sainsbury's this morning and for the first time in months I didn't need to queue up to get in, which was a complete surprise. I managed to buy everything which I had on my list and therefore I was in and out of the store in barely an hour. There were very few people in the store, which made it so easy and I used a self-service checkout which by now I am fairly proficient at using. I think it's a question of finding the bar codes on each item so that it's faster to scan as you go and make sure that each item goes onto the packing area or else the machine will tell you off, but there was none of the 'unknot item in bagging area,' which, frankly puts me off.

(Thursday) I knew that barbers and hairdressers were soon to reopen after some of the loocdown restrictions were being lifted. I have said on here how I am in a real need of a haircut, so I have been on the Central Barbers website and have booked and paid for such a haircut on 8th July at 10a.m. It means that I just go into the central shopping centre and walk to Central Barbers premises and I won't even have to wait if it's prebooked, thank goodness.

(Friday) Last evening I was going to feed Alfie as I usually do. He has a small amount of mixer at the bottom of his bowl and then I put the meat on top, usually Sainsbury's own brand of dog food in a pouch, which is just squeezed out of the pouch on top of the mixer. But last evening I found that I had run out and he had to have what was left of my meal, mostly meat pie and veg, which he scoffed without any arguing. He has a good appetite for a small dog and I have now been to Lidl to buy him enough of at least a week, the Pedigree branded dog food which he has if he doesn't have the Sainsbury's own brand. Sorry Alfie that I forgot. I don't think he was that bothered one way or the other!

On the weather front, it's mild but windy. Not sure if we don't get further rain. We could do with it as everything looks very parched and dry.

Alfie Has A Trim (Amongst Other Things)

(Monday)I went to the Willen Hospice coffee morning at John Lewis this morning. I haven't been for
quite a while, basically because I've been so busy moving to the flat. I was the second person there and some of the tables we usually sit at were missing. When more of the regulars arrived, they decided to move the tables back so that everyone could sit at them. Logical, really.

I sat next to a man who told me he worked as a supporting artiste/extra, so we had things in common to talk about. I am envious of him because he worked on the film version of 'Les Miserables,' and got to sing in he finale of the film, which was shot in Greenwich.

Alfie has been booked in for an appointment at The Groom Room at the Bletchley branch of Pets Are Home for the past few weeks. His coat was beginning to look really untidy. He could barely see where he was going because of the hair over his eyes and he has a build-up of the horrible mess under his eyes. I do try to remove it, but he doesn't like it. I had to discreetly take the cage, which folds up and is stored under my bed (definitely no room elsewhere in the flat.) and took it out to the car on Sunday afternoon. So, at around 12.40 on Monday I got him ready to go, with the usual barking and yapping which goes with putting on his lead. I got him out to the car, hatch open and the caged door open and he goes in without any problems, with the end of his lead outside the cage (I have learnt all these 'tricks' over the years.) The cage door has to be arranged inside the car facing right, the small end of the cage, which makes it easier for Alfie to enter. Then, cage door shut and firmly closed so he can't push it open from inside, I drive off to Bletchley. With the luggage shelf in place, it makes the cage darker and this seems to suit Alfie and he likes to have calming music playing on the car radio.

On the way home I went to Lidl in Oldbrook Boulevard and then returned home to unpack what I'd bought. I had to be at The Groom Room to collect Alfie so I had plenty of time. You can see the results of the grooming session if you look at the photograph I've attached to this blog at the top of this post. It's great that his eyes are now clear of that nasty gunge which builds up under his eyes and the hair on his face is cut so he can see where he's going. They didn't give him a very short all-over body trim and left it a good deal longer than last time. I bought him a rather smart jacket because I didn't think it was fair to have him clipped when we're about to go into colder weather. Rather nice, with a zip along the back which makes it a good deal easier to put on him.

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!

Lost Phone and More Rain

I had a phone call yesterday, Wednesday, But when I went to answer I could't find it. The landline phone is wireless and it has a base unit near the point where the line comes in and the handset sits in this unit. I usually return it to the base when a call ends, but for some reason it go separated, so when I went to answer I couldn't find the thing so the ringing came to an end. I hunted around  the lounge and the table where the unit sits and then realised that there was a button on the base unit which would find the handset if you pressed it, which I did and there was a 'peep' and the handset was discovered between the sofa and the armchair where I usually sit. So, panic over. No idea who it was who rang, but later I got a call from one of those computerised systems, saying it was BT and they were about to turn off my broadband. But, considering what happened a few weeks ago with my laptop being hacked, I doubt it was genuine. When they rang then and said they were from BT, no doubt this latest call was a scam of some sort, so I put the phone down very quickly.

The weather is as wet as ever. I just hope it improves soon. I want to go to the history festival in Campbell Park this weekend and if it continues to rain that's going to be washed out, unfortunately. Alfie didn't get his routine early-morning walk around Eaglestone Park. I'm not taking him out in pouring rain otherwise we're both going to come back soaked to the skin.

I've been to Sainsbury's this morning. They've moved everything around in there and it's annoying, to say the least. You get used to the layout and then on your next visit it's all been moved around. They know that the average shopper buys basics, such as milk, bread, potatoes, sugar, each shop and these are like points on a compass which you move between. They haven't been moved, I notice. In the personal care and pharmacy area everything is different. I just cannot find bath gel, how ever hard I look.

Friday morning. So, another week almost over. No sign that the rain is going to stop. I left off taking Alfie until I was sure it wasn't raining, or if it was, that it wasn't too heavy that we would get a soaking. After 7 o'clock I peered out of the bathroom window and couldn't see the stream that we usually get, running down the road in front of the house, so I made the decision to venture forth. Alfie is like a coiled spring, he doesn't relish being cooped up indoors.

The bird feeding station is suddenly alive with birds! As I write this and look out of the lounge window I can see at least 6 little birdies on it. I think they're some sort of tit, but not sure. Only problem is, a great fat pigeon insists on landing on the feeder and almost destroying the entire thing. It frightens off the birdies and then a loot of the food in one of the feeders gets knocked and the seeds fall out on the ground. I don't know how to prevent it coming and ruining things. I know what I'd like to do, but I don't think the neighbours would be happy. I might get a pea shooter and shoot it up the backside. Anyway, I took some photos of the birds on the feeder yesterday and uploaded them onto my Facebook profile if you want to have a look.

  

Birds on the bird feeding station

After some thought, I decided to upload a photograph onto this blog post, so here they are, tucking in to the grub in one of the feeders.

I've been out. I have to get flea and worming treatments for Alfie, so I drove over to the retail park at Rooksley. Pets At Home is one end of the parade of units and Smyth's Toys is the other. I walked the length of the parade, past Hobbycraft, one of Carol's favourite haunts as well as Next. A lady was arriving at the Costa's branch and she unlocked and then went inside, locking the door behind her. When I walked back past later I noticed a sign on the door, saying, 'closed due to technical problems, sorry for the inconvenience.' Don't ask me what the problem was, because I didn't know, but probably an electrical fault with some of the machinery they use, a fridge or one of the coffee machines. Not good for business, I'm certain. 

Pets At Home have a subscription service for the flea treatment, which means I will have the phial with the treatment in it delivered via post every month, which means I won't forget to treat Alfie every couple of months. Then I walked along the parade and went into Smyth's toy warehouse. Not actually a good idea, because I was surrounded by so many toys it was impossible to choose what I was after for grandson Eddie. I was after a bath toy, something for him to play with when he's having a bath. I couldn't resit many of the interactive toys, those that make a noise, dance around or otherwise have a button on them to get you to press and get the toy to dance, burp, sing, or make some sort of noise. Something that Alfie would love. So I fell for a  Grumble, which makes rude noises and does all sorts of strange things. If nothing else, it made me laugh, a d probably some other customers in the store!

Alfie Has A Haircut

I've had Alfie booked in to have a grooming session at Pets At Home in Bletchley today for about two weeks. I don't know how he knew we were going out, because I had put the cage in the back of the car earlier in the day. I had to do this without him seeing me lifting this thing out of the house, otherwise he would have started making a lot of noise, as he does before we go out in the morning.

We arrived in good time at the retail park where Pets At Home has a branch. As soon as I parked the car, Alfie was off, barking madly. When the car is moving, he's quiet, except for a couple of yaps. With the parcel shelf in place, it must be safe and cozy. Not pitch black, but safe. He was like that when I took him to Worcester at Christmas. Wed didn't stop on the way, although we should have done. I managed to park right outside Pets At Home, and in such a position that the car faced forward so driving out wouldn't be a problem. Then I got out of the car and opened the hatch at the back. Alfie rattled the cage to be let out. Now I know where the expression 'who rattled your cage?' comes from. I think, if he could, he would have opened the gate on the cage and would have been out. I had to make sure I was holding tightly to the lead, which I always manage to have outside so I can grab hold of it before I open the gate and he bounds out.

Alfie barked all the way through the store and into the Groom Room, which is at the rear of the store. He got quite a reception from other customers and store staff. Well, a small, barking and very lively little Yorkshire terrier, who was very eager was likely to get such a reaction.

I left Alfie in the capable hands of the staff in the Groom Room and drove home. I was told that he would be ready for collection by 3.45. There was no point in me waiting around the retail park where Pets At Home is situated. It's no more than a 10-minute drive home, although it was really busy on the traffic front. Probably because it's the Easter holiday. The roundabout on Standing Way can be really difficult to cross because of the volume of traffic. Certainly not my favourite place to cross.

About 15 minutes after I arrived home I got a telephone call from The Groom Room. I was told that, unfortunately, Alfie had an infestation of the little persons, in other words, fleas. I was horrified. I was totally unaware of them. He has been scratching a lot recently, but it never occurred to me that it might be cause by fleas! I was told that they would have to use a anti-flea shampoo and that Alfie would need a flea treatment. I had already used a treatment but it obviously not effective enough. I would need to buy an over-the-counter treatment which I could buy at Pets At Home and also use a strong, spray, treatment in the house, because there was a likelihood that the house was infected with fleas, although I have seen none. It would take some while to spray around each room, from top to bottom, and have to use a facemark, as the treatment is quite toxic. Alfie wouldn't be able to stay in the house. So, on going back later I was given the two treatments and I went home to wash Alfie's two blankets which he often sleeps on which are on the sofa. I began the first course of the anti-flea treatment which I put on Alfie's back. There are two more to give him which I should use every month.

 This morning I put Alfie in the cage in the back of the car and ,putting on the face mask I was given at The Groom Room, I began spraying round all the rooms in the house. Then, we went out of the house in the car. We went to Campbell Park and walked along the tow path along the side of the Grand Union Canal. So, in the midst of all this, Alfie had a treat, a second long walk which he wasn't expecting. We had to stay out of the house for at least an hour, which, hopefully, went to work killing off any fleas that might be lurking in the house.

Unsettled Weather

(Tuesday)It's really warm and sunny today. I was out a good deal earlier with Alfie this morning, probably arrow 6.45. It seemed a waste to not get out because it's getting light earlier and earlier each day and he has this habit, which I've mentioned on here before, of sitting and staring at me. He simply can't wait to get out. He loves to be let off his lead and to have a run. Fo a little dog he's got lots of energy. Runs like a little rabbit.

Alfie wears a harness. It's to protect his neck, because if you connect his lead to his collar, which he wears permanently, when he pulls, it can damage his throat. So a collar is far better because you connect the lead to a D ring which is on his back, at the centre of the harness. I went to Pets At Home at the Bletchley retail park yesterday morning because I wanted to get peanut kernels to put in the empty feeder on the bird feeding station. When I was in there I decided to look for a replacement for Alfie's rather tatty harness, which I wanted to replace. I picked up one which seemed to be the right size for him, but when I got home and tried it on Alfie it was far too big. So this morning I went back to Pets At Home and it was an easy matter of taking the harness to the pay desk and the lady let me pick up a smaller, and actually, a much nicer harness than the one I was replacing. 

I had to go and look in T.K. Maax while I was in the retail park. It's one of those stores which you have to keep going to look in because their stock changes on almost a daily basis and the prices are so good, you almost always manage to pick up a bargain. Not just clothes, but homeware items. They have another store called Homesense, and there's a branch at Kingston. I wandered around the kitchen department and picked up a really nice mixing bowl and a silicone spatula, which I wanted because I have also bought some non-stick saucepans and I don't want to scratch the surface in them using metal utensils. 

I walked to Tesco, which is a short walk across the main Fenny Stratford road. I wanted to get some daffodils, because I'm keeping them going in two vases, because Carol always loved them and I would buy them for her when she came home from work. I got some long-stemmed daffs as well as two bunches of the short-stemmed variety.

I drove back home along Saxon Street. There has been some roadworks the last couple of days along Standing Way, and when I drove through the roundabout that crosses Standing Way yesterday you were prevented from turning left which would cause chaos is you wanted to go to the hospital, which is several hundred yards further along Standing Way. Fortunately not a problem this morning. This roundabout can be difficult when it's busy, and I'm of the opinion that there ought to be traffic lights here when it's busy. Some drivers are not content to just wait patiently and seem to think they can cross without bothering to stop, which is dangerous and could cause a nasty accident.

I got home and managed to get Alfie into the new harness. It fits him perfectly. The old one has now been consigned to the rubbish bin. It has done it's job, but it was well past it's best.

I am somewhat disappointed that there have been no birds come to visit the bird feeding station. I can't think why they haven't been to visit it. I would have thought that they would have flocked to it since it had been restocked and new feeders put up. It's been filled up since the weekend. I know it can take a day or two for birds to get used to having food put out for them and there can be issues regarding cats or other predators, but it's been out long enough for them to get used to it. A bit disappointing, to say the least.

(Wednesday) As I write this, at 4.50 a.m. on Wednesday, I can hear rain rattling on the lounge window. I expect Alfie will want to go for his routine walk across the park, but I don't fancy going out to get wet, so he is going to have to be patient (not the easiest thing for him.) and wait for it to stop.

Alfie Visits The Vet

(Thursday)Well, the day got off to a difficult start. I looked out of the bathroom window as I was shaving this morning and I saw it was raining. So I thought that there was absolutely no way I could take Alfie out for his customary walk across Eaglestone Park. It was far too dark at that moment to go out, and when I had another look through the kitchen window I saw snowflakes falling.  Just a smattering or a scattering. It didn't settle, nor did it last long, fortunately, so we soon got outside, having gone through the routine of getting dressed without Alfie being aware. I kept him in the lounge so he couldn't see me putting on my shoes and jacket. Once outside it was relatively mild.

I have been concerned with the nasty mess which has built up under each of Alfie's eyes. It had become quite unsightly. I think it's caused by his eyes weeping, or at least, it's a bit like tears and builds up beneath each eye and over time it builds up and can be quite unsightly. It should be removed by merely wiping with a damp piece of cotton wool. Because of concentrating on other things over the past few months, I had neglected this. Under different circumstances I would have dealt with it. I took him to the vets within Pets At Home at the retail park at Bletchley, having been there earlier in the week to book an appointment. I took him in the cage in the back of the car, because he won't travel within the main body of the car without making problems. He just won't sit still. On arriving at the retail park, I parked the car and went to open the rear hatch where the cage with Alfie in it was. As soon as I raised the hatch he was out of the cage. Fortunately I managed to catch him. I had obviously not secured the gate properly, but he would have been off across the carpark if I hadn't been quick. I carried him inside the Pets At Home store and towards the vets section. Alfie, in his usual fashion, made an almighty sound as I carried him into the store. His barking echoed around the vastness of the warehouse-sized building. I got to the reception desk of the Vets For Pets section of the store. I had to wait with Alfie in the 'Dogs' waiting area (as opposed to the 'Cats' section. I don't think Alfie would have approved of sitting there, or if we had, he would have wanted to chase any pussycats away, as he does when any enter our garden!) It was some time before we were shown into the consulting room by one of the vets, called Bruno. I put Alfie on the metal-topped table so the vet could examine Alfie. He had to weight Alfie, and put a digital scales on the table and Alfie was placed on this device.

Alfie doesn't like me touching the mess under either of his eyes. I had hoped I could soften the mass of debris under his eyes, by using cotton wool soaked in water. I had imagined that, with time and effort, I could soften each area and it would eventually come away easily. But he only wriggled about and he growled at me. I don't think he would bite me, but he was getting really stressed each time I attempted to do this. Which was the reason why I had to take him to a vet to have the problem resolved. I was hoping that there would be a simple method of removing the built-up mess under Alfie's eyes. I was expecting the vet to have some sort of method to do this. Perhaps something which could be applied and would gradually dissolve the built-up matter. But he didn't suggest anything, but said that perhaps he would need to sedate Alfie to prevent him getting stressed so that he could remove the built-up matter. He then told me I would need to leave Alfie at the surgery and he would need to have a nurse to assist him to remove the built-up matter from Alfie's face. I was somewhat concerned, because if a sedative was used I was concerned for Alfie's safety, not that I'm suggesting that the vet didn't know his job and that Alfie would be in any danger if he had a sedative. But considering the last few months, any thought of loosing my best companion would deal me an enormous blow. He's been such good company during the time I had to go through with Carol being in hospital and her eventual death. So, I left Alfie with the vet and I was told that the surgery would telephone me when Alfie was ready to be collected.

I left the store and went to the car and drove home. I must say, entering the house, it was really strange not having Alfie there, to be greeted by him with his loud barking and yapping and coming up to meet me. Probably no stranger than not having Carol's presence in the house. It is taking a long time to come to terms with the fact that she won't be coming home. Particularly in the evening, when she would be coming home from work at Milton Keynes Academy and I would have our evening meal ready for her when she came in and we'd sit down together to watch television, usually the gameshow 'Pointless' on BBC1.

I got home and spent time resting. After about an hour I got a call from the vets to say Alfie was ready to collect. I drove back to the retail park and was glad to see Alfie with the horrible built-up mess gone, but each place where it had been pink and somewhat raw-looking. I paid the bill and was given a pack of antibiotics tablets. I have to give Alfie a quarter of each tablets twice a day and I should also keep cleaning each wound at least once a day with cotton wool and water which should prevent a further build-up of the weeping matter. Alfie, as usual, gave us a rendition of his barking and yapping and I put him in the cage in the back of the car and drove home.

I gave Alfie the first dose of the antibiotics. I have to give him a quarter of a tablet. They are large and you have to cut them with a knife which is quite difficult and then the section of tablet has to be crushed before it's mixed in with his food. You have to be careful when you cut a tablet, that pieces don't shoot out when they are cut and then crushed.