Still Going Strong

 Saturday. 10.25 a.m. Another hot and sweaty morning. I found it difficult to sleep last night. I took a Piriton tablet to hopefully relieve the itching, but it didn't seem to make much difference. Around 5.30 a,m. I had a shower, which seemed to have a good effect, but as I write this, I am back to the itching again. No sort of relief. 

I've been cleaning the flat. The floors look a good deal cleaner. Emptied all the bins, not a job I enjoy, but it had to be done.

9.45 p.m. It is as hot as ever. The digital thermometer currently reads 31ºc. I have had another shower, in an attempt to alleviate the itching. I think it did have some effect, but as I write this, the itching has come back with a vengeance.

Sunday. 3.35 p.m. I wasn't scheduled to do refreshments this morning at church. In fact, I am no longer on the rota. I was rung yesterday to see if I could cover, as, whoever was on the rota wasn't available. I said yes and turned up at the OTC at around 9.45. I had to fuel the car, so drove to the Esso station in Child's Way, before driving on to Shenley.

Monday. 10.15 a.m. It's warm again, and it's apparently going to get warmer. Wimbledon begins, although I'm not interested. Carol was and used to complain that she missed so much of it because of being at work. There is the merry hum of a lawnmower outside. Someone cutting the grass in the garden at Dexter House. When Carol and I lived in the house in Eaglestone, the landlord and his wife would visit once a year for an inspection. All he would ask was, 'Have you cut the grass?' Well, surely, if he looked out of the window, he could see whether it was cut or not, but never bothered to ask if any maintenance jobs needed doing, such as the plumbing, electrical things, leaks, drains. It never seemed to occur. When his son took over the management of the house, he could be quite rude, particularly after Carol died. Quite aggressive and only interested in the rent being paid. Again, nothing about maintaining the house or concern for my welfare. Considering we looked after the house and kept it in good order, absolutely no thanks. He was just plain rude.

The garden at that house was really uneven. I think it had been left that way after it was built. That made cutting the grass far more difficult. I used to do it, but it was extremely hard work, and, considering I had two heart attacks, it really took it out of me.

12.25 p.m. My digital thermometer currently reads 28ºc. No sign of it cooling down.

Tuesday. 6.35 a.m. It doesn't seem to be quite as hot today, but this is early, so let's wait and see. The digital thermometer currently reads 29ºc.

3.45 p.m. I have done a considerable amount of rewriting. I haven't got to the end of this sequence, but when it's complete it might need trimming somewhat, then it has to be word-processed.

Wednesday. 9.35 a.m. It's a good deal cooler today. It's a bit overcast. My digital thermometer currently reads 27ºc.

I've just been to Lidl. It's great to get in and out so quickly.

Don't Rain On My Parade!

Sunday. 5.20 a.m. Yet another song from a musical used as a blog post title. It comes from 'Funny Girl', and the central part of Fanny Brice played by Barbra Streisand. I don't think Fanny Brice was as well known on this side of the Atlantic as she would have been in America. 

2.00 p.m. For the past couple of weeks I have had to endure the most unpleasant itching (I know, it's not something to have to mention, but there it is.) It's on my back and nothing much will relieve it. I was searching in my medication's drawer, when I realized that I had some Piriton, which is for the relief of hay fever. On reading the packet, it mentioned skin irritations and allergies. I wasn't sure if what I had was an allergy. I don't usually suffer from hay fever, but I thought I would take a tablet to see if it would work and, hopefully, bring some relief. So, I took one and then, after a couple of hours, I had the side effect, which they mention on the packet; it made me feel drowsy. It also states, if that happened, to not drive or operate machinery. Which is why I didn't go to church this morning. It does seem to have relieved the symptoms, so I will keep on with it today, with one more tablet, and then leave it for the next couple of days.

5.30 p.m. I've mentioned the George Foreman grill I have, and the fact that, when I have used it, the smoke and steam it produces sets off the fire alarms within Dexter House. I have waited for the best part of a year to have an extractor fan installed in the kitchen window, which is now up and running. So, this evening I was going to use the grill to cook pork chops. All is well and good. Everything went according to plan, but then. . .  The fire alarms went off! I had the fan on full, so I assumed that the steam and smoke would be taken out, but it didn't seem to make any difference. Which meant I had to experience the total embarrassment of having a fire engine arrive outside and having firemen knocking on my door and having to explain what had happened. I  hadn't set anything on fire, no burnt toast, just attempting to live my life. I don't know what to do next. It's such a good gadget and cooks chops quickly and effortlessly.

Monday. 8.50 a.m. I didn't get up quite so early this morning, which means I wasn't out with Alfie as early as I have for the past few weeks.

It's bright and sunny as I write this and the digital thermometer reads 23ºC, so a good deal more comfortable and better for sleeping. In fact, I seem to be sleeping a good deal better than of late.

The skin irritation seems to have gone. Well, not entirely, but I'm not going to take the Piriton if it means I feel drowsy and can't drive. I'll just have to see how it improves or not.

3.45 p.m. I went to Sainsbury's and looked in the healthcare section for non-drowsy hay fever medication, but I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. But as I was driving into Sainsbury's car park, it occurred to me that the small Boots the Chemist branch near my doctor's surgery in Bradwell Boulevard might be a better place to find this sort of medication, so, having finished in Sainsbury's, I drove there and got exactly what I needed. I took one of the tablets (it's a one-a-day medication) and as far as I can tell, I don't feel drowsy.

I've just got back from the Monday Club session at the Oaktree Centre. Good conversation, cake and tea for all.

Currently, the digital thermometer reads 25ºC. 

Fog and Finds!

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

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

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

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

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

Action-Packed Week?! . . . Not!

 Monday. 6.25. a.m. I woke up, and I could hear what I thought was rain.  I'm fairly sure it is, but I won't know exactly until I take his nibs out. I am now dressed and shaved and sitting in the lounge waiting to take Alfie out and not going to go until it's a bit lighter. This time of the year isn't my favourite, basically because it's dark and cold.

9.45 a.m. I've been to Sainsbury's. I went a good deal earlier than I generally go, which meant there were far fewer other shoppers, but no staff on the manned tills, so I had no choice but to use the self-service tills. The one I used behaved itself, thank goodness. As a result of going earlier, I got in and out of the store reasonably quickly. No difficulty parking too as there were plenty of spaces. 

I do wish Sainsbury's would sort out their trolleys. So many have wonky wheels, or the wheels don't turn as they should, or the trolley bumps along as you push it or it squeaks. Surely a bit of maintenance wouldn't hurt sometimes.

It's sunny but chilly this morning.

2.50 p.m. I had an email the other day. It was Friday afternoon, informing me from Bedford Borough Council that I had made a mistake with my date of birth. Could I please inform them of my correct name, including my middle name, as well as my date of birth? I did as they asked. Apparently, I had accidentally ordered two birth certificates and this may be why they were asking me. They will refund the £11 which was taken from my bank account for the second certificate. What I want to know is, since this was ordered almost two weeks ago, why has it taken so long to realize there was a problem? The application, which was made online, must have been sitting in a file somewhere for that length of time, without anyone bothering to deal with it. Somewhat annoying, and I am still awaiting the birth certificate so my DBS check can be completed, so I can return to working in the theatre workshop at Camphill. Yet another case of bureaucrats controlling things and most likely not doing their jobs efficiently. 

Tuesday. 9.35 a.m. It's bright and sunny as I write this, but in actual fact, it was surprisingly cold when I went out with Alfie.

I am continuing with the Piriton, but they make me drowsy, and I fell asleep for an hour or so.

Regardless of how I'm feeling, I have managed to write a couple more pages. I think I've got over the hump in the writing process and will now have to transfer it all onto word processing and then do some editing.

5.00 p.m. I have completed the transfer of the handwritten writing to word processing. Not a great amount, but it's quality not quantity which counts.  Rather pleased it's done.

Wednesday. 9.30 a.m. My least favourite job is done! Changing my duvet cover and all the associated bedding. It has to be one of the worst jobs, replacing the cover on my duvet. There really isn't any easier way to do this job. It has to be done and everything will go in the wash this afternoon.

Windy City!

Saturday. 11.20 a.m. I have a Nationwide Building Society account. Well, in actual fact I have two, one a current account and the other a savings account. I manage them via the Nationwide website and their app. This morning I wanted to check the balance of the current account, so I went onto the website. But I couldn't get into my account because the customer number wasn't saved. I can usually manage to get further and actually see my balance and check payments in and out, and the basic information is usually saved, meaning I didn't need to input the customer number associated with the account. I don't have it written anywhere, so I had no alternative but to go into the branch in the Milton Keynes central shopping centre. I managed to get the all-important customer number from a nice gentleman in the Nationwide branch and then went to wander around the shopping centre. Well, I had walked all that way in, so there was no point going home until I had achieved something.

Part-way around one side of the shopping centre, it occurred to me I ought to get some one-pound coins. You need one if you go shopping in some supermarkets, to allow you to use a trolley or to park your car, and so I went back to Nationwide and intended to take a £10 note out of the A.T.M. outside the branch. But it had an 'out of order' sign taped to it, so I went back inside to use another machine. With my £10 note clutched in my hand, I went to queue up at the tills, not something I am used to because I usually either use an A.T.M. or the website or app. On getting to a free window, I asked the nice lady behind the counter whether I could have my nice, crisp, clean £10 note changed into one-pound coins. I was, told, not unless I paid it into my account. This seemed somewhat nonsensical, but apparently, you now can merely expect to have your ready cash transformed into coinage without having an account (which I have.) So, this is what I did. She told me it was because they have to have a 'paper trail', which is certainly a new approach to this whole business. I didn't argue, and she went through the process of paying it back into my account, for which I had to sign (!) and then she took £10 of one-pound coins out of her till, put it into a plastic bag, and handed it to me. Job done, but what a load of unnecessary bother, even faff!

Sunday. 12.05 p.m. Due to taking the Piriton, which leave you feeling drowsy, I didn't go to church this morning and watched via Facebook and viewed on the Portal TV gadget which is connected to my Hitachi television set. No problem with the sound, and I could hear everything loud and clear, but the video was very blurry. I don't understand the technology, so I can't say why the picture was so low tech. It is generally fairly good quality. Probably has something to do with the speed of the wi-fi somewhere between Shenley and Oldbrook.