Into A New Year!

Monday. 1st January. 9.55 a.m. I didn't SEE the New Year exactly, but I definitely HEARD it. Fireworks were going off outside and being set off until the very early morning hours. They should last at most 10-15 minutes after midnight. I have only just got back from taking Alfie out around Oldbrook Green and there were the remains of many fireworks scattered all over the grass. There are several quite prominent notices which have been put up by Campbell Park Parish Council, who administer Oldbrook Green and the surrounding area, stating quite clearly that it is an offence to let off fireworks and that you can be fined quite heavily and even imprisoned for so doing. But some people will never obey such rules. But, saying that, there is really no point in having such rules and regulations if you don't enforce them.

4.15 p.m. If you read these blog posts regularly, and there's every chance that you might have read at least some of the 1,800-odd posts, (and believe me, some of them are very odd,!) you will have discovered that I am a creative sort of individual, writing, theatre, film, animation. I bought myself an iPad with a fair-sized capacity and downloaded an app called 'Procreate' which, with the addition of an Apple Pencil, allows me to do all sorts of art, not just drawing, but painting. But now, the company who developed 'Procreate' has introduced the world to 'Procreate Dreams' which will allow you to do 2D animation on your iPad (incidentally, these two apps will only work on an iPad. I don't think they intend rewriting the software to work on Android tablet computers.) The only problem is, that they never bring out a print manual to help you learn these software packages, so the only thing you have to guide you and discover all that these amazing apps will do is to look at videos on YouTube.

Tuesday. 1.20 p.m. It's a really overcast and dull day. Wet and not pleasant underfoot.

Wednesday. 10.40 a.m. I have been attempting to get through to my doctor's surgery. You aren't supposed to telephone to book an appointment and you are supposed to go online, having set up a username and password and make your booking from the appointments which should be shown there, but, even after all the rigmarole of password and username there were no appointments to book. The medication I'm on has to be reviewed, after three months. I at last got through to a receptionist, and she managed to book me a pharmacist's phone call tomorrow, so I will have to see what that person suggests.

The reason for all this was that the medication I was put on, Mirtzapine, was supposed to be for three months and after that time, I was to have a review, basically, to find out how I was getting on with it. The truth is, they are antidepressants and when I first took them, I felt a bit woozy, to put it mildly. When I was at Chloe's in Worcester, on Saturday afternoon, when we went out for a walk, I felt really awful. Over the next few days, things settled down, but last night I woke at around 4 a.m. and I could not get to sleep. Then, as the morning progressed, I felt more and more drowsy and it was quite pronounced and unpleasant. 

Thursday. 10.05 a.m. I have discovered an organisation called Simply Forward, which has outings and events for my particular age group. I have been sent their application form via email, but now the confounded printer refuses to function! As Victor Meldew would put it so succinctly, 'I don't believe it!'

Friday. 10.15 a.m. My Canon printer has been playing up. So, what's new? It doesn't get used much and sits on it's unit, all ready for when I need it. It's plugged in to the mains, connected via Wi-Fi to my laptop and when I require printing, it's easy enough to set it up. So, yesterday I needed an email printing, so I can join Simply Forward, the group that I discovered via AgeUK. I had the email sent which had the application form and a list of activities they do for a few months ahead. The idea was that I could print this off with my printer as well as the application form. Then, for some stupid reason, I thought it a bright idea to delete some of my emails. Well, they do mount up and it seems a good idea to do a bit of housekeeping sometimes. But I also deleted the email from Simply Forward so I had to text the lady who had sent it in the first place.

The printer would not work properly when I went to attempt to print the email. I kept getting a message on the digital display, telling me that the ink was running out. I thought at this point to buy a new cartridge. Which you will imagine to be a relatively easy process. I looked on the Argos website, which is where the printer had come from originally, but I got a message on there which said 'out of stock.' Then it occurred to me that John Lewis would be a good point of call so I looked on their website and it showed they stocked them. So, on Friday morning I went into the shopping centre and in to John Lewis, but they had none in stock! So the only alternative was Amazon, which had the right cartridges (black and colour, in the same package.) So I ordered it and I couldn't believe it arrived that evening, barely hours since I had ordered it!

In The Good Old Summertime

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

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

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

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

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

The digital thermometer currently reads 24ºC.

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

The temperature in the flat is currently 25º C. 

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

The temperature climbs to 26ºC.

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

The current temperature is 27ºC.

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

The current temperature on the digital thermometer is 23ºC.

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

New Skills , Editing and Rewriting

 Thursday. 7.15 p.m. This must be the latest in the day I've ever started a blog post, but it's good to change these things occasionally.

I've recently upgraded my iPad to a far more powerful model which can be used with an Apple Pencil. This means it's possible to do graphic work, although the pencil can be used to great effect when using a wide range of apps, not necessarily for graphic work. I have downloaded Procreate, which allows some quite sophisticated work, and the results don't look like they've been done on a computer. There is no pixelation, which you might expect. I have now discovered an animation package which is called Squid Toon (don't ask me why they gave it that name. It has nothing whatever to do with squid or any other sort of sea creature.) Both these packages are £10 each, which is an incredible bargain and under different circumstances, would probably cost in the region of £200-£300. I am slowly learning how to use them, and I'm viewing YouTube videos to find out how to make the most of them. Both these packages are exclusive to iPad and don't work on Android tablets.

Saturday. 7.40 a.m. Goodness, gracious! Where did Friday go? As you would have realized, I didn't write anything for yesterday, Friday. I suppose it was because nothing really happened. Well, let's be honest, not a lot happens at Dexter House. 

I want to put in a new character in my writing project. It isn't just a question of 'adding' this character. I have to go back and edit a point where this character can enter the plot line. I think it's a bit like unpicking a knitted jumper and then reknitting the jumper. My mother was a great knitter and made us all beautiful jumpers. She made me a really fantastic jumper, very thick and warm. It had a cable stitch pattern on the front. It had to be remodelled, to give it a different neckline. She had to unpick a certain amount of the neckline and then reuse the wool to reknit the neckline. I think previously it had a roll neck and this was changed to a lower neckline. This is exactly the same as what I am doing with my creative writing.

I have printed off several pages of what I have already written, so I can edit it and insert this new character.

I was thinking, about how many words we use which have a connection with print and writing and sewing and weaving. Just think of weaving a story, text, texture, loose ends, dénouement, losing the thread etc.

10.55 a.m. I've been to the monthly men's breakfast at the Fountain at Loughton. We seem to have more men coming than ever before. The only problem is, it's quite difficult to hear what anyone says at the furthest from where I was sitting. It's not easy for anyone to speak and be heard clearly. We propose meeting on the 18th March at the Oaktree Centre next month and ordering McDonald's, which should make the food part easier.

It might be bright and sunny this morning, but there is a definite chill in the air, which meant I wore my jumper under my Regatta jacket. It's that time of year, almost spring, with the sun shining and a hint of wintery weather. It's difficult to know whether to wear a jacket or jumper or not, and not always choose correctly.

Sunday. 8.05 a.m. Another cold but sunny morning. 

1.20 pm. Extremely busy at church this morning. I'm not sure how many were actually in the hall, but I don't think there were any vacant seats.

Monday. 8.35 a.m. It's a great deal more overcast this morning. Actually quite cold out, when I took out Alfie around 6.45. On BBC Breakfast, Carol Kirkwood, the weather lady, said there was snow in parts of the country. 

1.30 p.m. I had transcribed around four pages of handwritten text into word processing. I'm editing and making changes as I go. Furthermore, I have to say, I'm rather pleased with how it's going. This is something I wrote some while ago and had forgotten all about, but it seems perfect as the backstory for the new character I want to introduce. 

Blow Winds, and Crack Your Cheeks!

Thursday. 8.10 a.m. Another Shakespearean weather quote is used as a blog post title. This time it's from 'King Lear.'

It's been extremely windy all night. I could hear it as I lay awake at around 2 o'clock. But as I write this, it has calmed down.

1.05 p.m. This morning we had the first poetry session, which is part of the U3A. There were only five people there, including myself. The idea is to read poetry you might have written (I haven't, but one Dexter House tenant had.) We took turns reading our favourite poems, taken from a handful of poetry books the two leaders provided. I will have to browse online and possibly print off some pieces for the next session.

Saturday. 8.20 a.m. It's really windy again. The path along which I walk with Alfie when I take him out, which runs alongside Strudwick Drive, has a really wet patch under the trees which overhang. It's not currently raining, but it must have rained overnight, which must have been the cause of the puddles.

1.30 p.m. I had a doctor's appointment at the Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre booked for 10.00 a.m. It was raining quite hard as I drove across Milton Keynes and got to the car park in good time. I was good and put on my face mask, as requested by the surgery and then found that the computerized system was not working so I told the receptionist that I had arrived, which sounds crazy as I was standing directly in front of her (that's me being totally literal if you see what I mean.) I sat and waited and then the doctor came out and called me into his office. He took my blood pressure (131/67 mmHg. Sorry, I don't understand these measurements.) Then my pulse (56 bpm) and I discovered my cholesterol level is 3 mmol! I have to say I'm really pleased, as they tell you it should be less than 5 mmol. It's all my hard work paying off it would seem, drinking cholesterol-busting drinks as well as 2 or 3 easy peelers (small oranges with thin skin) as well as an apple or other fruit. At least 5-a-day, as recommended by the NHS. My weight is currently 104 Kg, which sounds about right for my height and age.

There is a new show on at around 4.30 p.m., immediately before Pointless on BBC 1. It's called 'Make It To Market', and it's about creative people, for example, artists, sculpture, carvers and so on, and how they are mentored and supported to develop their careers and become successful. One artist was on this programme and she used 'Procreate' the painting and drawing software which I have on my iPad. It just goes to show how this can be used to create and design material that can be sold.

I discussed the horrible phlegm which is produced at the back of my throat, and he examined my throat (I had to 'say aah!' when I opened my mouth for him to see. I think that was the first time I've had to do that since I was about 12 years old, so a good many years ago.) He told me there was no inflammation to be seen and that I should drink plenty of water. Generally, it would appear my health is in good order. I also discussed the fact that I can experience fatigue from mid-afternoon onwards, and he told me that would be a result of my taking my medications. 

Sunday. 8.30 a.m. It's decidedly colder this morning. I have a feeling we'll be having more snow.

Happy New Year!

Thursday. 9.00 a.m. I haven't written any posts for the past few days, as you will have realized if you read them regularly. There has been little to report, so there is no point in writing.  

I went into the central shopping centre yesterday, more to escape Dexter House than anything else. I bought a Rugby shirt in the Marks and Spencer sale. I do like their shirts, not just Rugbys, but also polos, of which I have quite a few. They are quite expensive, but they last through many washes, so in the end, they are worth every penny.

I have ordered a new iPad. I have been considering upgrading my current iPad, which is somewhat basic. I want to be able to do painting and drawing, using an app called Procreate. It is somewhat confusing when you start on the journey of buying these devices, as there are so many in the Apple range I went into the Apple Store in Midsummer Place and asked a staff member what was the minimum requirement for drawing and painting with Procreate, and using an Apple Pencil. I have now ordered an iPad Pro from Very, and it should be delivered within the next week, and I don't expect it to turn up this side of the New Year bank holiday. I can't wait to have it and to start experimenting with its various features. I can get the old iPad recycled and should get a price for it in much the same way I did for my old MacBook.

I washed Alfie's bed yesterday. It went into one of the machines in the laundry room. Fortunately, I took out the padding, which zips out. If I hadn't, all that padding would have come apart in the machine and might have caused problems. I was wondering if the bed would come out any cleaner, and, it did. It's so much cleaner. I'm really pleased with the result.

2.00 p.m. It's actually quite bright and sunny, but it's really deceptive, because, once I went out with Alfie, I found it was windy and chilly.

Friday. 7.40 a.m. It's cold, dark and somewhat dreary windy out, but I took out Alfie a bit earlier than usual, the main reason being that I need to load up the washing machine and I like to have it done around 7.50. 

Saturday. 3.10 a.m. Here I am again, wide awake and writing this blog post. I have been looking through emails and found one from Royal Mail, telling me the iPad I ordered is on its way. Lovely. The only trouble is, there have been strikes by the Communications Union and my parcel is probably stuck in a sorting office somewhere or other. Okay, these people have a right to strike, but I'm concerned that my parcel is in danger of being damaged. I'm hoping it's likely to be delivered to me today and not held up too long.

12.40 p.m. I had a further email from Royal Mail, informing me that the parcel from Very, containing the iPad, would be delivered sometime today. There was no indication of what sort of time to expect it, not even a window of, say, an hour or two, so I can't go out, as the parcel has to be signed for.

New Year's Day. Sunday. 12.15 p.m.  So, another year begins. 

There have been fireworks being let off yesterday evening, starting around two hours before midnight. It was more like bombs going off, quite loud and disruptive. I imagined it was in and around the open space of Oldbrook Green. I couldn't understand the sense because it wasn't like an organized firework display, just a couple of quite spectacular displays of rockets going up over Milton Keynes, which I could see from my kitchen windows. Then it went on for a further hour and a half after midnight. 

I went out with Alfie as usual around 7.30 a.m. and we walked around Oldbrook Green I was shocked by the debris left by those setting on fireworks, as mentioned above. No attempt to clear up after themselves and boxes of rubbish were left by a couple of the bins around the green. I would have been only decent of those responsible to clear up after the fireworks were let off. It does say, on the signboard on Oldbrook Green, that you aren't supposed to let off fireworks in and around the area, although who will prevent you, such as the police. Those responsible for the fireworks would have been better off giving the money they had spent to charity.

I have now set up the new iPad. I had a few issues getting the Apple Pencil to connect to the iPad, but with just a bit of effort, it connected and I have tried it out, quite successfully and will have to spend time experimenting with Procreate. I bought a manual for its use on Amazon, and I can use that to take me through the various functions. I will post how I get on with it on here, so look out for more on how I get on.

Quite a traumatic time at church this morning. There had been problems in the servery area of the cafe, as there had been flooding from the water boiler, which had been the case on Christmas Day, so it wasn't clear whether there would be tea or coffee to serve after the service, although it got resolved. Then, the lady who was due to lead and do preach wasn't able to get to church as her car broke down and had to wait for Green flag, the rescue service, to arrive. She had to sit in her car in a lay-by near Crownhill, and wait for Green Flag, so someone stepped in at short notice, but you wouldn't have known it.

Yet Another Day

Well, it's getting somewhat boring. Just being in the flat because of lockdown. Trumpy has said that the rules can be relaxed in America. Has he been let out of his playpen? Does he listen to advice? Well, I don't think he listens to anyone. Let's forget the crazy man. . . and people are protesting about lockdown in various parts of the good ol' U.S of A. They seem to think (most likely Trumpety's supporters) that they don't need to 'self-isolate' because it, no doubt, contravenes something in the American constitution. They probably don't think they'll contract the covid 19 virus which is causing all the havoc across the world. Just stay at home and prevent the spread of the virus.

I don't think some people are adhering to the social distancing regulations. I've just got back from taking Alfie out for what should be the last walk around Oldbrook Green and there are several groups of people sitting on the grass and the benches in the area near the children's playground. I have a feeling they might not have English as their first language or might even speak English. If that is the case, how would they know about the government rules?

(Monday) It's surprisingly bright and sunny this morning. The fact that it is so sunny makes it far easier to put up with this confounded lockdown, although, for some people it might be more of a problem because when its sunny they have to be outside, when they shouldn't (if that makes sense, which it probably doesn't.)

I have another Futurelearn course to keep me busy, starting today, called 'Lives In The Factories and Mills' which is being run by Strathclyde University. As many of my paternal ancestors came from Scotland, this is more than just a little bit interesting to me, having an interest in history. I may have mentioned Futurelearn before, but these courses are free and I've done several before and are always worth doing. I have done a couple on Shakespeare and one (which I loved so much I have done it again.) about Hadrian's Wall. I can recommend these course and it doesn't take much effort to sign up to and will at least keep you occupied during this current lockdown situation.

(Tuesday) Each day seems much the same as any other. I think it's because there's no focus on the things I normally do, such as going to church on Sunday and then on a Tuesday going to work with the drama workshop guys at Camphill. I really miss these focus points of my week. I just hope this 'thing' isn't going to go on for much longer. Turning on the television news, all we get is pandemic, pandemic. It's getting somewhat monotonous. There must be other news to cover. Not just repetition, but negative.There's a lot of blame being thrown about, why the N.H.S. isn't getting the P.P.E. (personal protection equipment) it should.

I went to Sainsbury's because I discovered, when I was sorting out my medication, that I had run out of soluble aspirin, so I went to Lloyd's pharmacy in Sainsbury's to buy some more and to get a few other items. The queue wasn't as long as last time and it seemed to move a lot quicker so I was in the store with my shopping list. I always make sure I have a list, written in advance of going, which makes it easier and quicker when I'm in the store. I'm using their self-service checkouts because it means there is less risk of any sort of contact as social distancing is easier. I notice that they have turned off alternate machines which means there is a wider space between them which allows for social distancing and after each customer has finished they clean them with spray, presumably alcohol-based, which they do with the trolleys when customers have finished with them.

(Wednesday) I mentioned I have bought an iPad. I had been looking at them on line and have also been into the Apple store in Midsummer Place in Milton Keynes (this well before the current situation with lockdown because of the corvid 19 outbreak (I don't understand this virus. It's called covid 19 as well as coronavirus. I need to find out what they mean by both.) to had a look at the various models and found out about iPencil and then that you can do graphics on your iPad if you have the right app/software, and, also being something of a fan of David Hockney, I learnt fairly recently that he does a lot of his artwork using an iPad. I then did some research and found that an app called Procreate works on an iPad (the one that Hockney uses is called something like Painter but when I looked on the Apple App Store it wasn't available. With further research on line I learnt about Procreate and was then surprised by how much it cost, £9.99, which seemed good value, so I have now downloaded it and have it installed and I'm learning how to use it by watching videos on YouTube.