Mad Dogs and Englishmen

 Sunday. 6.15 a.m. Another sunny and bright morning. The digital thermometer currently reads 20ºc and the flat is cool and pleasant, thank goodness.

3.30 p.m. I have now watched both Doctor Who episodes 'The Space Babies', and 'The Devil's Chord.' Regardless of what people have been saying on the internet, I really enjoyed both episodes. Ncuti Gatwa really throws himself into the role of The Doctor and gives it a real life and energy. He certainly has a charisma that shines out of the television set. It's difficult to take your eyes off him when he's on-screen. His co-star and companion in the Tardis, Mollie Gibson, playing the part of Ruby Sunday. It's clear that the Disney co-production has paid off, in that the production values are far greater, because it looks slick and has a cinematic look, the special effects, the sets and costumes look fantastic.

12.10 p.m. I have restarted my Ancestry account. It is a family history site, where you can find your ancestor's details. If you read these blog posts regularly, you will know how much work I have been putting into this work. I discovered my connection to The Ascott Martyrs, and that I am going to a study day in Chipping Norton this Saturday, to learn more about them (Chipping Morton featured heavily in the incident.) The day isn't just about those ladies, and what they did in 1873, but about other rebellions and protests which went on over the centuries in Oxfordshire. I have managed to get back at least 500 years and the family tree which I am building on the Ancestry website is growing and blooming daily.

Tuesday. 8.20 p.m. I have spent most of my Nectar points on a Nutribullet. For those who don't know what that is, it's a sort of blender into which you put vegetables and fruit to make into smoothies. I haven't yet tried it out, because I am slowly going through the manual which came with it, and I don't have any fruit or vegetables to put in it. So, as I write this post, it is sitting on top of my fridge/freezer and will remain there until I got to Sainsbury's or any other supermarket, or even the market near the shopping centre, to purchase some. I have bought ready-made smoothies in Sainsbury's, and it occurred to me that I could make my own, which would be a very good way to consume my five-a-day fruit or veg. I will let you know how I get on with the gadget when I have tried it out. 

Yesterday, at around midday, I got a telephone call from Milton Keynes Hospital. It was from the cardiology department, telling me that I had to have a heart monitor fitted, which I had to wear for 48 hours and that I should go to the cardiology department this afternoon to have the afore mentioned device affixed to my person. I got to the hospital and managed to park in the multi-storey car park. A car was reversing out of a space, not far inside the car park, so at least I didn't have to search for a space, which made things easier. I and then walked to the cardiology department. Little did I realise how far it was. I had to walk part of the way along the Redway which runs behind the house where Carol and I lived in Eaglestone. I used to walk along there when I used to go and visit Carol when she was in hospital after she was diagnosed with cancer. We used to park in the small car park near the entrance to the cardiology department and when she was first diagnosed and in hospital, we could see building work going on outside and which has now finished and the building which was being constructed was the new cancer unit.

I went into the cardiology department. We used to walk through here when we went to the oncology department, where Carol went to have chemotherapy. I reported to reception and then had to wait in the waiting area. I was eventually called in to a room by a nurse, and we were joined by a student nurse (I presume she was a student.) who was there to observe the procedure of me being connected to a heart monitor. It is a very small device, about the size of a small mobile phone, and it connects to my chest by way of the type of sticky contacts they use when you have an E.C.G. it has a clip on it, so I can clip it on to my belt or put it in a pocket. I will have to take it back and give it to the receptionist at the cardiology department on Thursday morning.                   

All Things, Bright and Beautiful

 Monday. 7.45 a.m. I was awake early and it was getting light, so I took out Alfie, who was more or less asleep when I went to get him. We did a circuit of Oldbrook Green and found it was relatively mild. I'm not entirely sure whether it had rained in the night. There was a red sky in the east (presume it's the east. Yes, it must be. Where the sun rises.) They always say 'red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning, so perhaps we're in for bad weather. Do shepherds know things about the weather that most people don't know? Why shepherds, in particular? How about fishermen? Farmers? Anyway, those who spend much of their time outside, in all conditions and weathers?

1.10 p.m. As I write this, the fire alarms within Dexter House are going off. It's been like this for around 45 minutes. It's got to the stage where the noise, which is so loud, actually hurts my ears. It's giving me a splitting headache. The whole alarm system is faulty and if there was a genuine fire situation, I don't think anyone would take any notice. I just hope it stops soon. I have been in the bedroom with the door closed, which cuts the noise to some extent, but not completely. Alfie can't stand it and I imagine it is unpleasant for dogs, who hear at a higher frequency than humans. He is currently on the sofa and his ears are pointing backwards, which suggests he is finding it uncomfortable.

Tuesday. 6.25 a.m. I went to the first over-60's afternoon meet-up at The Oaktree Centre yesterday afternoon, called, very appropriately, The Monday Club. There had been something similar before the pandemic, but it had to be postponed, for obvious reasons.  Plenty of tea and cakes for everyone! The lady who made most of them did a great job. A chance to have a chat with people and quite a few new faces. Such a good idea and a chance to get out of my flat, which can become very isolating.

When I returned home after the Monday Club, fortunately, the fire alarm had finished making its unpleasant din. Just as well, as it really hurts my ears and gives me a headache.

I've been out with Alfie, although he was fast asleep on my bed at the point I was ready to take him out.

As we approached the intersection on the path with the Redway which crosses Strudwick Drive earlier, an individual came shooting past on an electric scooter. If I had been a couple of steps further forward, he would have crashed into me. No effort to slow down and check if anyone is approaching. He just shot off over the road and went to the bus stop next to The Cricketers public house.

4.35 p.m. I have just got home from Camphill, working in the performance arts workshop in the Chrysalis Theatre. On my way out of Oldbrook along Strudwick Drive and onto Chaffron Way, I came up behind a couple of cars, waiting to turn. One car was ahead of me, as another car had moved onto Chaffron Way. The driver was attempting to turn right, which was going to be fairly time con suming, because the traffic was fairly heavy. She (the driver) was blocking my view and she began to inch forward. It was a very narrow escape she has, because if she'd moved onto the carriageway, she would have had a rather unpleasant accident. The junctions seem to be responsible for many such accidents. It would be far easier for the driver to turn left, go to the next roundabout and then double back onto Chaffron Way. Easier and a good deal safer.

Walking The Dog (and Sundry Matters)

(Saturday) A really lovely warm day today. As a result of hearing the weather forecast I decided to take off the bedding, duvet cover, sheet and pillow slips, and have them in the washing machine early this morning. Bedding changed and sorted and took Alfie out for his routine walk around Eaglestone Park. We met a large labrador also being walked and as usual Alfie wanted to be friends but I wasn't sure whether the other dog was that interested. Poor Alfie! We did the longer route back through the estate going towards Marlborough Street and came back along the Redway. I had a package to collect from Marks and Spencer, a short sleeved Henley top which was on their website and with 20% discount because I have a Sparks card (the Marks and Spencer loyalty card.) it seemed to good an opportunity to add to my wardrobe, particularly with the warm weather. I went into town after 9 o'clock and parked where I normally do near the Point.

I walked through to Marks and Spencer's. Hardly anybody about. Well, as it's a Saturday, a lot of people who would be shopping in this shopping centre aren't even out of bed yet. I go up on the escalator to the first floor, to the department where you pick up your 'Click and Collect' orders. It's a simple system, go on-line to order and pay and then wait a few days to get an email and then go in and pick your order up, beautifully packaged and even on a hanger. It means you don't have to wade through racks in the store or spend ages trying to find that particular item in your size. I then had a look at sort sleeve shirts. Marks have a good range, in lovely colours and fabrics and found what I wanted, but it wasn't in my size, so I had to ask a member of staff if they had it in stock. She looked on a computer screen and said they could order it for me. I wanted an XL size, and a regular fit, not what they call 'slim fit.' I don't like clothes that are too tight and I usually take a size L, but find if I have XL then there's a bit more room, if you know what I mean. I have lost a fair amount of weight, but putting some of it back on. I lost no end of weight when Carol was diagnosed and going through that awful time before she died. I had to put several more holes in the belt on my trousers. I don't wear jeans, I never have done since I was around 17-18. I much prefer Chinos as they fit better and don't go all baggy in the backside. Generally more comfortable. Anyway, the lady on the till said that the shirt I wanted would be available to pick up, on Monday. So, when I go to the Willen coffee morning in John Lewis, I can go and pick it up then.

So, order collected, I walked back through the shopping centre and returned to the car. By this time it was beginning to get busy. I'm glad I came in when I did. From there I drove to Sainsbury's to do some shopping and mainly to collect a repeat prescription from the Lloyd's in-store pharmacy.

I have a mystery. When I got home I checked to see if the washing was dry. It was. I'm so glad I had it out on the line so early. I want to know is this: why is it whenever you wash a duvet cover and you put it in the machine the right way round, when you come to remove it, how come it's inside out? There's no reason why it should. And why do you nearly always find, when you peg out socks, in particular, you always get one sock that doesn't have a mate, a matching one? It then either gets left inside the machine, so you have to spin the drum with your hand to see what is left, or it might just not even make the wash, and remain in the laundry basket, or you find you left it on the bedroom floor. The laundry elves must have something to do with it . . . .

It was bright and sunny as the day progressed. After lunch I took Alfie out for a second walk. He was more than happy to oblige and must have thought all his birthdays had come at once. We walked down the Redway towards the Grand Union Canal and walked along one side and then came back over the other, crossing over the canal at one of the bridges and then came back round and walked back along the Redway and home. I was quite exhausted when I got back, but never mind, it was worth it, just to have Alfie happy and for me to get some good exercise.

I forgot to mention. On Thursday, about half an hour before I left the house to drive to the theatre to see 'Les Miz,' I got a telephone call on my mobile. It was from Universal Extras, an agency which I have started applying to work for on their website. I have already uploaded two photos, one of which has been approved and the second, one of the full-length shots that John did for me the other week, was awaiting approval. It wasn't that which the call was about. Apparently they need proof of my right to work in the United Kingdom. A bit of a shock, because I have never been asked this by anyone before because I was born and have only ever lived in the UK, and, secondly, I don't have a passport. I was told I could use my birth certificate, a copy of which I don't currently have. Once these documents have been seen, uploaded or whatever, then I can be offered work by them. So, on Friday I went to the Bedford County Council website and applied on-line, as most things seem to be done these days. I at first thought I could have to drive to Bedford and apply 'over-the-counter,' but, no, it's just a question of filling in an on-line form and paying using my debit card and hopefully the certificate copy will be posted to me and should arrive in a couple of days.

Foggy Morning

Quite a foggy and overcast morning here in Milton Keynes when I took Alfie out for his routine walk around Eaglestone Park. We veered off the usual circuit and went off through the estate and ended up on the Redway. Alfie decided to do a whoopsie on the Redway. I always do my duty and picked it up. I always make sure I carry black biodegradable bags for this very purpose. There are no red bins to dispose of dog waste so I had to walk back into the park and put the bag in the nearest bin. So I decided, as we were there, to walk back around the park and came back home the way we come out, along Griffon Close. I'm afraid there are those dog-owners who still refuse to take responsibility for their dogs and do not clear up when they mess. It spoils the park and the surrounding environment that this is the case. It doesn't take much effort to clear up after their dogs, but then there are some people who will still ignore any sort of regulation, regardless, whether  it's conforming to traffic speed limits or clearing up after their dogs. As it is, it makes an unpleasant environment and I have seen notices to this effect, because it means that events planned and run around the park for children have had to be cancelled because of the health risk. It's a shame that those who don't comply don't get caught and fined.

I've been doing some ironing. Don't laugh. Men doing ironing? What's wrong with that? I'm pretty good at it. I think I must have been shown the best way to iron a shirt, for example, when I was working in stage management somewhere or other, probably by one of the wardrobe staff, or I watched whilst they did this and asked how to do it fast. They could wash and iron for goodness knows how many people, because if a show was running for a certain length of time, it was necessary to keep shirts and items washed, ironed and back in the actor's dressing rooms ready for the next performance.

 Anyway, I use a steam iron. I try to use distilled water in the thing because if you put ordinary tap water in a steam iron, around this area at any rate, where the water is hard, it can build up limescale which can block up the inside of the iron and the holes where the water comes out as steam soon clog up and you can get horrible deposits of limescale on the clothes you are ironing. Anyway, I needed to get a fresh supply and went to The Range yesterday afternoon, which is where I got the last supply, but none to be found. I then went to Homebase, across the road from The Range, and, again, none in stock. Today I went to Morrisons, where I'm almost certain I saw some the last time I was in there, but none to be found. Why is this? Is it because people who own steam irons don't bother with distilled water in their irons? Or is it that distilled water isn't considered to be an important enough item to stock, taking up valuable shelf space and not making enough profit to warrant selling it? Seems odd. It was always used in car batteries, but presumably modern car batteries don't require the occasional topping up with distilled water. I don't think modern car batteries have the little plastic caps which you had to undo in order to put in the distilled water. The cells inside had to be covered in order to make the battery work efficiently. I don't know what my dad would make of this. He would always tell me, whenever I was going anywhere in my car, 'make sure you check the oil, have you topped it up? Are the tyres correctly inflated? Have you checked the battery?' and so on. Even to this day I have to go through this routine whenever I go for a long journey in my car. It sounds crazy, but I suppose he was right. I can't think what he would make of modern cars, with things like SatNavs, computerised systems which tell you to do this and that, how to drive the car, when to have it serviced and goodness knows what else. Alarms for all manner of things, if you haven't put on your seatbelt, or closed the doors properly. Mine even tells you when to change gear!

Sorry, I digress.

I've been making scones. I have made them before. I used Delia Smith's recipe. They taste great but don't look particularly brilliant. Not going to win any prizes but I made the batch just as a sort of test and then make another lot and hopefully they will be better. Is it scone or scone? How do you pronounce the word. With a short end or long? To rhyme with gone or cone? I suppose it depends where you come from, north or south. Does it really matter? What ever the pronunciation, they taste great with cream and jam! Best with clotted cream.

Scratching Dog

Alfie has been scratching a lot lately. I know that all dogs do this, and it can usually be caused by fleas. He hasn't got any nasty raw patches on his skin and his coat hasn't gone dull which is usually a sign of the presence of fleas, but just in case he had any little visitors, I went into Morrison's and had a look in the pet section for some sort of treatment. I chose Bob Martin Clear Spot-On. I think we've used this before when we had two dogs, but having spent so much time in hospitals with Carol over more than eighteen months, unfortunately Alfie has been neglected to a certain extent. Which was the same regarding having him groomed and the rather unpleasant matter which had built up under his eyes, which is more or less now under control. He doesn't like me touching either areas when I attempt to clean these areas with cotton wool soaked in water. I think he enjoys the fuss and readily comes to sit on my knee, then growls noisily when I go near with the cotton wool. Strange little dog that he is! Take his collar and harness off Alfie and he wonders what on earth is going on. You have to take them off because the flea treatment won't work properly. I went to put his collar on and he started barking and yapping, no doubt thinking he was going out for a walk or something else. But no.

(Monday)I've been into the Council offices to give them details of the Teachers' Pension payments. I had to because otherwise if they knew I had it without them knowing I could be done for fraud. I had to sign in at the touch-screen computer at the reception and then took the ticket with the number on and had to just sit and wait. It was probably around 45 minutes before I got seen.

I'm supposed to get what is called a 'Death In Service' payment. I didn't know about this until Chloe mentioned it, because she is an art teacher. The HR department kept badgering Carol to get her to be 'medically retired.' I can see why now. Even though she was on 'Sick Pay' and supposedly still on their books as an employee, as soon as she signed anything so that she was no longer officially an employee of Milton Keynes Academy, then they could avoid paying me anything such as the 'Death In Service' payment. I have given various bits of information to Chloe who is passing it on to the finance department at the school where she works and they will deal with this for me. I'm just annoyed that nobody let me know what I was entitled to. You don't get any sort of support to find out what benefits you can apply for (except, of course, the C.A.B. lady who works for Macmillan.)

I've got to clear out a lot of stuff if I'm to ever move from this house. There's loads of stuff in the smaller bedroom. It's piled on top of the bed and if you move some of it there'll be an avalanche. I can't deal with Carol's clothes. I'm going to have to get someone to help me. It's all far to personal. I know it sounds crazy, but that's what usually happens when someone dies and there are clothes and other items left behind. It can go in bin bags and go to a charity shop or somewhere where it can be recycled or sent to places where this stuff can be used. I'm sure that's what Carol would want. Just writing about this on here is sort of therapeutic and I can deal with it. It is taking time. I know we have lots of books. I do tend to hoard to some extent. Paperbacks can be given to a charity shop, particularly those books that I've read once and won't ever likely read again. A lot of hardbacks are useful, a lot of art books, particularly Dorling Kindersley stuff, and history books or those connected to my interests regarding cinema, animation, history or similar.

I would never have known how to get this payment unless I'd contacted Carol's union, the N.A.S.U.W.T. I had no idea how I would go about claiming anything, so I rang the area office and they sent out the relevant paperwork for me to fill out. It wasn't until I got a more recent telephone call from a caseworker that I was told that if I went to the Teachers' Pensions website and downloaded the form to fill in and then printed off that I was able to take things further. I had to get Carol's employee number from Milton Keynes Academy and put this on the form and then post off that things began to move. I only knew I had received a payment when I went to my bank account on line to discover the money had been put into the account. No letter at this point to inform me of how they had worked out the payment, so I rang Teachers' Pensions and they told me that a letter had been posted out, and quite by chance I got the letter in the post a couple of hours later. Just a coincidence really.

(Tuesday) I took out Alfie as usual this morning. He just won't let me forget him. He sits on the sofa when I'm working on the laptop and stares at me. When we eventually went out, we did the longer walk, ending up walking along the redway that runs alongside Marlborough Street and then back home along the redway from the hospital and going behind the house. It was still chilly but the sun did eventually make an appearance.

I've been out this morning, to Homebase. I wanted to get some plastic boxes in which I could pack such things as books, DVDs and other items, so that it can be taken to a charity shop or shops. I wasn't expecting to find such a good selection in the area where you walk in. A larger, deeper, box and a set of several shallower boxes, which are ideal for packing paperbacks. They have lids and should fit in the back of the car quite comfortably.

I have done the first shift, for want of a better word, clearing out some of the stuff in the small spare room. I have two boxes of paperbacks packed up. I can't spend too much time on this. I'm not really supposed to lift heavy items, but there's no other way of getting this job done. If by chance I move from this house, all this will need to be done, so I've decided I have to start on it. I can do all this is small stages which means it's likely to take some time to complete. Some paperbacks taken off the shelves in the living room, which means I now have some vacant space. Just great to have started on this job. I've been thinking about it for some time, but hadn't thought how to go about it. But I still have to sort out Carol's clothes, shoes and other things which I just can't touch. I know it sounds crazy, but it's too personal. I will get around to it eventually, but not at the moment.

Early Mornings

(Monday)  A not quite-so-cold morning when I took Alfie out across Eaglestone Park. Yesterday I got a sudden 'hit' in my chest. Not an angina attack, but it made me feel very tired. Apparently this was likely to happen, due to the stents. Just made me feel sleepy and this went on for the rest of the day. I let Alfie off his lead and he did his usual running-about bit. He had to explore in a very over-grown area along the path. He got himself caught in the brambles and thorny bits of over-growth and I had to rescue him. His coat got caught in the thorns and I had to pull it off his tail. Very undignified for him, but once I put him back of the ground he ran off, none the worse for the whole incident. We did a longer walk, ending up on the Redway near the hospital.

I have had to fill in a form sent from the D.W.P. (Department of Work and Pensions), regarding Carol's P.I.P. (Personal Independence Payment.) I assumed this would be stopped when she passed away, but they sent one for to me which I had help filling in when I went to see Alison Corbett the other week, who is the caseworker from C.A.B. (Citizen's Advice Bureau), who helped me fill it in. They have sent exactly the same form out again. It makes me wonder whether they've lost the original form. I think I might ring them to find out what exactly is going on. I may be entitled to some sort of payment, but it's not clear why or how much.

Later. I've been trying to get though on the hotline to the D.W.P. in connection with the letter I mentioned in the above. You have to go through about three menus and then select the appropriate number, but all you seem to get is a really horrible electronic version of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' on a sort of loop and an irritating woman's voice telling you to 'hold on, or ring later. All our agents are busy. . .' Why is it so annoying? Just want to speak to a human. I don't want to fill in the form, post it back and then . . . a couple of weeks later, get another letter with exactly the same form in it, to fill in and get the same response. Is there a robot at the other end, or  computer at least just sending out letters endlessly? Probably not, but it does seem like it somehow.

I've given Alfie a bath this afternoon. He makes an awful fuss and I don't think he likes getting wet. I ran the hot water before I put him in and then gave him a good shampoo. In actual fact he loves the attention he gets. I had to make sure the bathroom door is well and truly shut otherwise he would run all over the house, attempting to dry himself. I put a towel on the floor of the bathroom and used  plastic jug to scoop up the water in the bath to rinse off the soap. Fortunately it's a low-suds brand and so there aren't too many bubbles to rinse. He does attempt to climb out of the bath but I lift him out and towel him dry as best as possible before he shakes himself. Then, once he is at least partially dry, I let him out of the bathroom and he heads downstairs to the lounge. It doesn't take too long for him to be completely dry and I spend some time brushing him. As a result his coat looks silky and soft and the lovely wave comes back in his coat, giving the impression that he's been permed! All the fuss in the bath and he really loves being brushed.

Later Still. I have tried several times more to get some response from the hotline for P.I.P. Just giving up and will give it another try tomorrow morning.

Tuesday Morning. I'm sitting here on my armchair, with Alfie to the right of me, sitting on the arm of the sofa, watching my every move. He making the vague clucking noises he makes, because he's very intent at going out for his routine walk. It's actually 7.03 a.m., and I can see that it's relatively light outside, so I really have no choice but to get ready to take him out. I will have to leave him in the lounge while I get ready, put my shoes on and my jacket and make sure I have doggy bags in my pocket along with my gloves and iPhone. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes and then go into the kitchen to get his lead. We walked a good deal further than we usually do. I don't think Alfie minds. He just loves being out and about.

Later. I did attempt to get through on the D.W.P. helpline regarding the P.I.P. I went through all the confounded menus and then got the horrible 'Four Seasons' music but there was absolutely no way I was ever going to get through to anyone to speak to, so I decided to give up and complete the form and post it off, which is what I have now done and it's gone. I still can't work out why they've sent me another of the same forms to fill it. I still get a sneaking suspicion the first one got lost somewhere and they don't like to admit it.

I'm keeping a watch on the matter which builds up under Alfie's eyes. (I was going to say 'keep a close eye on it,' but thought the better of it.) He knows when I get the water from the sink (put in an empty  plastic ice-cream container), a towel off the front hall radiator and a ball of cotton wool. I have to hold him on my knee. It seems both eyes are looking clearer than before we went to the vet's to have the large accumulation of this stuff removed. But he is a real wriggler and growls at me. For a little dog, he's hard to hold onto. I don't know whether he'd bight me, but I'm not prepared to find out as he has sharp teeth! I got rid of a large piece of this concretion (for want of a better work.) yesterday, so it is working.

Early Morning

It's early morning on Wednesday. I've tried going out a good deal later with Alfie, but he has sat on the sofa beside me and has been staring intently at me, expecting something to happen. I tried my hardest to avoid eye-contact but it wouldn't work. So, I got dressed, having had my bowl of Shreddies and my mug of tea. Alfie's not satisfied until he gets the dregs at the bottom of my mug. I know, I know, tell me off for sharing my mug or my bowl or plate with a dog? It won't hurt. I know Chloe was horrified when I went to stay with her over Christmas. It was difficult for Alfie to not have his tea in the morning or when I'd finished. But does it matter? I don't think so. Having dressed and taken my medication, I got Alfie hooked up with his lead on his harness (a better arrangement than using his collar because it doesn't put stress on his neck.) The whole neighbourhood knows when Alfie's about because of the noise he makes as we go out of the front door. It turns out to be a good deal milder this morning. No frost on the car.

We do our usual walk around Eaglestone Park but go a good deal further. We get as far as the Redway which runs along the side of Marlborough Street. The traffic is relatively heavy. It's going much too fast. People seem to treat the grid roads like a speedway. Then we come out where the Redway goes under the grid road, and back towards home along the Redway behind the houses.

I've been to put diesel in the car this morning. I go to the BP station along Childs Way. It means I will earn extra Nectar points. I then drive out and onto Marlborough Street and then round into Witan Gate as I want to get to Sainsbury's. I have to collect a repeat prescription from Lloyd's which is inside Sainsbury's. I have a further repeat prescription to collect but that won't be done until later in the week.

I've been asked if I'd like to take part in the quiz night at the Oaktree Centre on Friday night. It seems that someone else can't take part. I say yes, because I haven't ever been involved in a quiz before. I love television gameshows such as 'Eggheads,' where at least the questions are relatively hard. Even being able to answer some of the questions on 'University Challenge' surprises me because some of them are really hard. Then there's ''Only Connect,' where the questions are notoriously difficult, having to find the link between three questions or other things. It's compered by Victoria Coren-Mitchell. Some of her remarks are what you might call 'off the wall.' These were some of Carol's favourite television shows. I'm also doing a course at church on Thursday evenings, called 'Freed To Lead.' Who knows what this may lead to? I'm also going on the 'set-up' team to being involved with setting up for Sunday services, so I'm not sitting around doing nothing at the moment, as well as going to the coffee morning which meets at John Lewis's café for people who've been bereaved and connected to Willan Hospice.

I've been to Willen this afternoon. I was annoyed to discover that Chaffron Way was once again closed off at the Marlborough Street roundabout so I had to get to Willen along Childs Way. It would be nice to be informed of such closures well in advance of the actual road closure. It seemed that the same was going on the other way along Chaffron Way. Whether it was for resurfacing or some other matter I have no idea, but still, it must be annoying for any businesses in the area. 

Mixed Weather

(Tues) I Went out with Alfie across Eaglestone Park. It was surprisingly foggy.  It was the first time I've actually seen someone leaving their house for work.  So, there are people out there! Perhaps it's because we went out a bit later than usual. It always seems very quiet and people-free. No word of 'good morning' or anything. Don't people speak to one another any more? Are they totally obsessed by social media. Older people tend to speak to you, but the younger generation  seem to have lost the power of speech. It's rather sad.

We walked a good deal further the we usually do this morning (Wednesday). Walking along the Redway a bicycle came up behind me and I was somewhat taken by surprise. The rider did at least stop. I could hear something behind me and managed to look round, but most just speed past and I doubt many would stop to let you get out of the way. This one had headphones on so I doubt he could hear. It's surely dangerous to ride a bicyle with those things clamped over your ears. Probably work with Bluetooth to connect to a phone or other device, but having cables connected would possibly get caught round parts of bicycle. But, in all honesty, it's crazy when you can't hear other people or vehicles. Are people mad or what, walking about with their mobiles in front of their faces and these ridiculous headphones clamped over their ears? No sense of danger at all it would seem.

Some low-lying mist hanging over the grassy areas of Eaglestone Park. Giving a somewhat mysterious look to the whole surroundings.

I had a meeting with Alison, yesterday morning(Tuesday) who is the financial caseworker from C.A.B. (Citizens Advice Bureau) who works for Macmillan. She helped me and Carol set up the benefits we received when Carol was originally diagnosed, which included Housing Benefit (which we organised ourselves) as well as the P.I.P. (personal Income Payment) as well as E.S.A. (Employment Support Allowance). The Housing Benefit stopped when Carol died so I had to go into the council office and reapply. It was set up relatively quickly but for some reason it doesn't completely cover rent on this house. Alison said that there was no reason why I shouldn't get what they call a discretionary payment to pay the whole amount, so I went into the council offices this morning. Unfortunately they don't handle housing benefit on a Wednesday, so it means I'll have to return tomorrow morning. I'll make sure that I get there early enough so I don't end up waiting two or more hours as I did last time. Just annoying, but there's not much I can do about it so will just have to be patient.

It's a good deal milder today. As I mentioned, there as a certain amount of mist and fog when I went out with Alfie earlier. I had the central heating on when I got up but by the time I got back fro town the house was really warm. The sun has been out and there was no point in keeping the heating on, so I turned it off. There seemed no sense in wasting gas by having the central heating on. Remarkably mild, considering it it early February. One might even be able to think it was spring-like.

Moving On

Carol's funeral was yesterday (Friday 11th January). It was at the Crownhill Crematorium. I had been concerned about how it would go for the past month. Infact, from the day that Carol passed away. I wasn't sure at one stage how things such as the music would go, who was going to do the eulogy, what hymns to choose, even what catering would have been required at the wake, down to how many people were likely to attend. I had to make all the decisions myself. As it turned out, they were the right ones, thankfully.

As I've mentioned in an earlier post, I went to stay with my daughter Chloe and Steve, her husband, who live in Worcester. I took Alfie with me. But unfortunately, when I was packing up to come home, I forgot one or two items. I have to admit the funeral had been on my mind for the entire time I was there. Alfie's bed, my slippers as well as my shaving kit. I was thinking about the journey home and was eager to get going. Fortunately Chloe bought all these items with her when she and Steve came to the funeral on Friday. Alfie usually sleeps with me on my bed, but sometimes he goes downstairs and sleeps on the sofa. I think it's because Carol spent a lot of time laying on the sofa, usually in great pain. I think that Alfie expects her to come in the house and he spent time with her on the sofa. But now he has his bed back, in the corner near the patio doors in the kitchen, he goes and sleeps there at night. It's really difficult to know what's going on in his little doggy head. He must miss Carol. Why would he not? How do you explain to a dog where their mistress has gone and why they're not coming back? It's difficult enough for me to comprehend, but a dog?

I don't intend just sitting at home dwelling on things. I know that Carol wouldn't expect me to. I went to the men's breakfast at the Oaktree Centre this morning, from 8a.m. We had a beautifully cooked breakfast, sausage, bacon, egg, baked beans, black pudding, the works, or 'Full English' as they call it. Alfie was expecting his usual early morning walk, but, because it was too dark and I had to get to Shenley, he didn't go. I promised him I'd take him when I got home.

Unfortunately there was a problem when I got home. I went to Morrison's on my way home from the men's breakfast. I unloaded the shopping and went to put the key in the front door to open it. But for some reason the key wouldn't open the door. It just would not turn. It's one of those doors which has to be opened by twisting the handle up. I think it's called a 'double lock' or something. It was as if someone had changed the locks when I'd been out, although I knew it wasn't that. I panicked a bit and then had to go next door to get Garry to open the door for me. He came and said it might be something to do with the screws in the lock. I hope that's all it is, because I don't need to not be able to get into the house when I go out.

I managed to sort out the problem with the front door. I used some WD40 on the lock and the various moving parts of the door and it now seems fine. It would appear that that was all it needed. Amazing what a short spray of that product can do, thank goodness! It was worrying me that I would have further problems when I left the house, but I managed to go to church this morning, as I usually do, but I didn't take Alfie out for his usual morning walk through Eaglestone Park, because I wasn't convinced that the front door would behave itself. But, when I came home from church, I put Alfie on his lead and we walked across the park until we came upon two ladies walking there dogs. Alfie was his usual self and went up to the dogs, but they didn't want to be friends. One of the ladies told me that there was a man walking several dogs, not on leads, through the park, and I was somewhat concerned. I didn't ant Alfie to encounter these dogs, just incase he got bitten or at least hurt in some way, so we cut across the park and got to the Redway which runs along the side of Marlborough Street and then came back home along the Redway behind the house and the route I used to use when I walked to the hospital. So, Alfie got his walk, as promised, and I clocked up quite a few steps and got some good exercise.

Alfie, the Pussycat and Mixed Weather

(Wednesday) I took Alfie out for his walk across Eaglestone Park. We did the full circuit because it wasn't raining. Infact, it wasn't particularly damp, fortunately. We got almost to the completion of the circuit when Alfie spied a cat, minding it's own business, almost asleep, it looked to me. He hared off and went to investigate, but I was concerned that he would chase after if if the confounded creature ran away, but I managed to capture him and put him back on his lead. I didn't fancy having to chase him along the Redway and over the road, otherwise he might have got run over by a passing car, but it didn't come to that. I think he was merely investigating the strange creature, as he would another dog. I don't think he connects a cat out in the park with the creatures who drift in and out of our garden and stroll nonchalantly along the fence, meaning he has to bark to warn them off. In that respect it's a matter of territory. He doesn't want them on his territory, so be barks to chase them away.

(Friday) Quite cold and foggy when I took out Alfie this morning. We didn't do a complete circuit of the park.

Carol is having a blood transfusion today. She texted me to say it began at 7 a.m and is likely to take three or four hours. She has her antibiotics through a drip and they had problems with the cannula in her arm into which the tube is fed. She has to keep her arm straight otherwise the drip will stop because he tube is kinked or crushed. Quite difficult for her to sleep with this drip going and she's being woken at regular intervals for the nurses to give her the various medications she is on, particularly pain relief medication.

Later. 2.00p.m. I got back from seeing Carol on Ward 19 a good deal earlier than usual. She spent a good deal of the morning asleep. On arrival at around 10.00 she was on the blood transfusion and fast asleep. A real wonder, considering all the noise there is on the ward. There's a door which leads into the next ward which bangs shut with a load sound. Nobody is able to go through without it making a noise. Then there's a woman domestic who cleans the ward and when she cleans the toilets, which are nearby, she can't resist banging the toilet seats. How on earth you can do that job and make so much noise I cannot think. Then there are a couple of patients, screams and hollerers who make a noise, then there's people moving around all the time. Not a quiet place, by any stretch of the imagination.

When I got home, because it was sunny and bright, a definite contrast with the cold and fog we had earlier, I decided to take Alfie out for a walk. Poor little dog, shut in all day, it's the least I can do for him. He certainly deserves a treat. So off we went, Alfie barking happily and keen as ever to be let off the lead in the usual place.

'Flu Jabs and Wild, Windy Weather

It's that time of year when I have to go for my free 'flu jab. I knew it was coming up and eventually I discovered they would be holding the annual 'flu jab clinic at Ashfield Medical Centre. It would be held this Saturday and next between 8a.m. and 12 noon. I always want to be there as the doors open at 8 so as to get it out of the way as quickly as possible. Alfie was disappointed that I couldn't take him out for his walk around Eaglestone Park, but it wasn't light enough at 7.20 as well as a howling gale lashing the trees outside. I wasn't going to be able to get round the park and back in time to leave for the surgery at 7.45, so he was going to have to wait until I got back.

As I came out of the house and ready to drive off to Ashfield it was bright sunshine over the tops of the houses and a really amazing rainbow across the sky. It was a complete arc and quite unusual because you never seem to see a complete one, probably the end as it touches the ground, but this one seemed to arc over all of Milton Keynes. I rushed back into the house to find my digital camera and attempted to capture it, but it wasn't easy. I couldn't manage to fit the entire rainbow in but i think I got some of it in. Such a rare thing to see and it was gone very quickly so I'm glad I managed to get some of it before it disappeared.

I drove to Beanhill and got to the Ashfield Medical Centre carpark in good time and parked at the rear of the unit. (There is also a dental surgery as well as a Cox and Robinson pharmacy within the block of premises with Ashfield Medical Centre being the largest unit.) I prefer to park at the rear as generally there is more space and it's easier to park and get out than at the front.

As I got to the front of the surgery there were a few people gathering, one lady had an umbrella up because it began to rain. Thankfully the practise manager came to open the door up so we could go inside to wait. I really didn't fancy getting soaked so it was as well we didn't have to wait in the rain, although I don't think it lasted long.

They couldn't begin giving the jabs until 8 o'clock. Would it have mattered if they had? What reason was there to not begin? Some formality or other. I won't ask, being Ashfield Medical Centre. Anyway, they allowed us to register, or at least, report to the reception desk to sign in which would at least record that we were there. Then, to have to sit and wait until 8 before the flu jabs began. I wasn't bothered at all that some people went before me. Who cares? They had tea and coffee to drink before and after you'd been for your injection, but, to be honest, I wasn't bothered. Then the clock ticked over, 8 o'clock and bingo! People were called, or at least there name and which person was doing the injections and which room came up on the digital screen. You'd have thought it would have been in alphabetical order, but no, a sort of random name came up, although, now thinking about it, the names were probably just in the order of people being signed in. About ten minutes later my name came up on the digital display, to go to Room 4. One of the doctors. She asked my name and date of birth (which seems to be the standard way to identify you in the N.H.S.) and I sat on a chair and she administered the injection into my left arm, without me feeling a thing, which should be how it's done and I was out and driving on to Sainsbury's.

It wasn't 8.30 when I got to Sainsbury's store in Witan Gate and it was great to be able to move around the store easily without hoards of other shoppers. Having completed my shopping I returned home and because it had, by now, shown signs of being quite bright outside I decided to take Alfie for his delayed walk, much to his complete and utter happiness. It was quite windy and we came across quite  few bits of twig and benches which had been bought down by the wind. But by the time I came to leave the house to see Carol in hospital the skies opened and it rained, so there was absolutely no way I was going to walk, which was what I had intended. It is, after all, a mere ten-minute walk there along the Redway and it would at least mean I wouldn't have to pay parking (you have to pay, because the Macmillan Unit isn't open over the weekend so you can't get your parking ticket clipped which means you can't get free parking, which is a bit mean.) But by the time I'd got to the park park near Cardiology, which is where I generally park, and then walked in to Ward 9, it had stopped raining and the sun was out!

Sunny But Chilly

Thursday.It has been sunny but somewhat chilly this morning. We took Alfie out for his morning trot around Eaglestone Park and came across children being walked to school by their mums and dads, on their way to the primary school. Alfie was overwhelmed by all the people passing by and kept running up to them, running around in circles and enjoying the attention he was getting. I think he forgot that he was with us as we walked along the part of the Redway which crosses the park. Also, the children and parents seemed amused by his antics. He just wants to be friends with everyone he meets. I wore a long-sleeved shirt for the first time this morning. It was a necessity as it was, as I said earlier, fairly chilly, but as the morning progressed and the sun remained out, it got quite warm.

Carol had an appointment with the stoma nurse at Milton Keynes hospital at 10.00 a.m. in the Out-Patients' department. We got there far too early, as we almost always seem to do and parked easily in the multi-storey carpark. Just fortunate that someone was coming out of a space as we drove in, which made it easier. Any later and we wouldn't have been so lucky.

Friday morning. My Casio G-Shock digital watch has been showing signs of running out of power. The light which comes on when you press one of the buttons, for example, in the middle of the night when it's dark, doesn't work and the display had faded completely, so I thought it must be the battery needed replacing. The only place I know which will do a new battery as well as put it in is a small shop within the Central Shopping Centre, as they've done this before. I don't have the right screwdriver to open the back of the watch to install a new battery. I'm not going to H.Samuel or whatever the jewellers name is,  which I've used before because a few years ago I purchased a digital watch from them, I think another Casio, very nice, with a good, sturdy strap (which is the part that seems to wear out quickest.) and I bought the watch with an extended warranty. The watch malfunctioned, it just stopped working, for whatever reason (I don't think it was the battery.) so I returned it with the idea that it would be covered by this 'extended warranty.' Samuels refused to repair or replace the watch, making some sort of excuse as to why this was the case, so I was not pleased, as you might imagine. Surely that would be the whole point of paying extra for an 'extended warranty.' So, I refuse to buy anything from them. Paying a bit more for your watch, as a sort of guarantee that if it goes wrong it will be either replaced or repaired, free of charge, was sort of putting my mind at rest that the watch would be reliable and therefore repairable. But no.

So we decided to drive into the Milton Keynes centre and park where we always do, near Debenhams, in the multi-storey carpark which is currently being renovated. We walked along the mall to Boots as Carol needed some painrelief tablets and then we went to The Watch and Clock Shop to get them to replace the battery for me. It was going to take at least 30 minutes, they gave me a numbered ticket to identify my watch when I returned to collect it and we then went to Patisserie Valerie for lattes and really nice almond and chocolate croissants. They recently moved from their old unit further down the shopping centre to their new location. I was really surprised that they had a waiter service, which I don't think many other similar restaurants offer in this day and age.

I needed the loo. As one does. So I left Carol in the restaurant and went out into the main shopping centre and into the newly-opened toilet block. Very smart. They recently moved the main toilet block from one side of the shopping centre to the opposite side. I needed to wash my hands and they've craftily hidden the soap and water under the mirrors over the row of sinks. You just put your hand under where they're marked on the bottom of the mirror and water comes out as well as soap. I reckon some people would find this difficult to find or get to operate. Then I wanted to dry my hands. I hunted around for the hand-drying machine, but in vain I couldn't find one. Then I returned to the sinks and they'd hidden them under the mirror-edge, next to the soap and water. It was marked but not clear enough and not somewhere you'd think to find a hand-drier. Also, operated when you put your hand underneath the sensor.

I returned to Carol in Patisserie Valerie, we paid the bill and as we walked out we saw that there were toilets with the store, so I needn't have left to go to the toilets in the shopping centre.

We walked towards John Lewis and ended up in Middleton Hall, where there was a jobs fair on and had a browse around the stalls and then walked back along the centre and went into Marks and Spencer. I was looking for a long-sleeved Rugby shirt, of which I have a couple already, the idea being they are ideal for when it's cold in the winter. Particularly ideal wear for when we're out and about and probably when we go to Whipsnade Zoo, because it can get really cold up on Dunstable Downs. We searched high and low in the men's department, but couldn't find one long-sleeved shirt I liked. You would think that they would have them in stock by now as the days get colder, but it seemed they only had summer stock in. When I got home I went on the MacBook and found on the Marks and Spencer website that they had plenty, which begs the question, why not in their bricks-and-mortar stores? We left Marks and Spencer's and made our way towards Midsummer Place and Debenhams and went up the escalator to the multi-storey carpark to our car and drove home.

It's Far Too Hot!

Thursday. I've taken Alfie for another of his early-morning walks across Eaglestone Park. I am particular about picking up any dog mess. I know it's not something to talk about or write on here, but we are supposed to dispose of it in the red dog-waste bins dotted around the park. It seems a lot of people who also have dogs don't do the same, I can see they don't. It's the same with litter in general. Empty beer and fizzy drinks cans, all around the benches where no doubt youths congregate. I'm also shocked to see piles of Red Bull cans in the verges along the Redway within the hospital campus as I walk in to see Carol on Ward 22. Quite often I come across groups of staff standing on the Redway, smoking, sitting on the grass, drinking Cokes or Red Bull. A litter of fag ends. I know I've discussed this in other blog posts, but it really isn't pleasant to see this rubbish. They have a 'No Smoking' policy within Milton Keynes University Hospital, but they should make allowances for smokers. Even patients. Where the ambulances come in near the Macmillan unit, I see a young man who must be a patient, from oncology, with his drip on the wheeled stand, along with the pump mechanism, a similar contraption which Carol had when she had her chemotherapy. Anyway, he was outside smoking. I don't think if I had to have chemotherapy I would smoke. I have never smoked. I was told, when I had my heart attack, that had I smoked, I would have had a heart attack five years earlier than I did. People do have a choice, to smoke or not, but if it's bad for your health and you are warned of the consequences, why continue with it? Or make an effort to give it up. I think it's also the mess that is left, the cigarette-ends, ash and also the smell that cigarettes make is really unpleasant and must affect your taste.

One of the female doctors visited Carol on the ward this morning. Usually there are at least 6 of them  who do the ward rounds at around 10.15-10.30, so it was odd that she came on her own. She told Carol that the P.I.C.C. line should be done tomorrow afternoon. Does that mean they've found cover for the lady who usually does this, but who is currently on holiday? I presume so. I would imagine that she would be back at work on Monday, because it doesn't make sense having a holiday and coming straight back to work on a Friday, or is that just my thinking on the matter? Perhaps she hasn't gone away for a week, just a few day's leave and she came back on a Friday after all. Anyway, let's hope that all goes well and Carol can come home. She's really chomping at the bit, particularly as severe other patients on the ward have already gone home and they haven't been there as long as Carol.

I was walking back along the Redway within the hospital grounds, when two women were walking towards me. Then, as they got closer, one took out something from her bag and just tossed it onto the grass. I was really annoyed. I looked when I got closer to where she dropped her litter. It was an empty cigarette packet and used box of matches.  On second thoughts I wish I'd had the courage to tell her that she was littering and she shouldn't throw her rubbish away on the roadside, but I didn't. Just a disgusting act. People just don't care. There's enough litter already so I imagine people think, if others do it, I can too, but that doesn't make it right.

I came out of Ward 22 just before 2 o'clock this afternoon, and the heat hit me. It was baking, almost like opening an oven door. I like it when it's sunny and bright, but at the moment the weather is far too hot. We are desperate for some rain to cool things down. I don't think people are used to such heat in England. None of our houses are designed for this sort of temperature, no house has air conditioning. Electric fans alone don't really cool the house, they merely push the hot air around.

Another Hot Day?

Tuesday morning.It's only 7 a.m and the sun is shining brightly. It looks as if it's going to be another hot day. I hope not too hot as it's quite difficult to cool down in the hospital ward.

I took Alfie for a walk at 6.20. I've managed to put his harness on, which he had on more or less permanently a while ago, but Carol took it off when the warm weather started. It was parked on the bedside cabinet in our bedroom. Alfie kept looking at it. He'd stand on my side of the bed, the side the cabinet is, and touch it with his nose. I'd connect his lead on to his collar to take him for a walk, but there is a slight problem which Yorkshire terriers have, as you have to watch their windpipes don't collapse which could be fatal. If he pulls when he's on his lead, he coughs, and this isn't something I want to let him do and have horrible consequences, so I managed to get him into his harness yesterday evening. He almost got himself into the thing on his own. He knows where his head goes. So this morning we went out as I say. We went out through the front door and crossed the road and down the patch towards the park and round the circuit we usually go, Alfie being let off immediately we hit the park. The grass has been cut and it looks brown and almost like a field of newly-mown hay, which I suppose it is. It's almost a pity it's not baled and sold off for pet bedding, for rabbits or hamsters or other small rodents. Part-way round I saw a cat in the distance, so I had to take evasive action to prevent Alfie seeing it. Carol said that he wouldn't bother, because the cats who cause him bother when they enter our garden are merely trespassing on his territory, so if he sees on outside in the park, they aren't on his territory, so he wouldn't bark or chase after it. I don't know whether this is correct, but I'm not going to give him the chance, because if he chases a cat he might end up on the road and get run over which isn't something I'm prepared to risk. We walked up towards the road and over onto the Redway and then back towards home. I'm attempting to increase the number of steps, as I have a step counter, rather like a Fitbit, which measures my steps. I'll possibly take Alfie for a further walk when I get back from the hospital later this afternoon.

Later. I had to go and collect the medical certificate from Ashfield Medical Centre early thus morning. I was going to leave it til gone 9 o'clock. Generally, once the early-morning rush is out of he way, there is less traffic and as I had to negotiate the roundabout which is where Saxon Street meets Standing Way, which can be difficult to cross when it's busy. But then I decided to risk it and left the house at 8.40 and got through without incident. I even managed to get the aforesaid certificate without any bother. The doctor has dated it up until January 2019, which should mean we don't need another unless Carol isn't capable of returning work well into the New Year.

I returned home and posted the medical certificate and then immediately went out again. I went to get my hair cut at Central Barbers in the Food Centre. I parked near Xscape and walked through to the barbers. As they opened at 9.30 I had to wait around 10 minutes until they opened. I used to get my hair cut here for several years but then I discovered the barbers in Monkston Park until they closed down. They were probably more convenient, easier to get to and it was easy to park immediately outside. But it's not to difficult to park near the Food Centre. I always attempt to arrive as they open. As it happened there were no other customers, so I was in the chair and having my hair trimmed within minutes of arriving. Once I'd finished at the barbers I went back to the car because I had to collect a folder as I was going to the Civic Centre as I'm in the process of claiming Housing Benefit which we have to claim since Carol has been ill and her salary has been stopped being paid. I had to take identify for us both, so I had our driving licences for that purpose. I had to go to the Nationwide and NatWest to get print-outs of statements for earnings and some of Carol's wage slips for proof of earnings (or not.) You walk in through the front entrance at the Civic centre and you're immediately confronted by a small table. No reception desk. This seems the norm nowadays. It was the same in the Jobcentre the other week and it would appear that it's how NatWest operates. There's no reception desk as there used to be. In there you greeted by a young lady with an iPad and she books you in for your appointment. Not a problem. But in the Civic Centre I was taken by the lady in the reception area to a computer where they signed me in and I was given a ticket with a number on and and told I'd have to wait until my number came up.

The place has a lot of vacant space in it. It's almost as if they've got rid of a lot of furniture. You could hold a ball in the space. Or rent it out for some sort of function. It really is rather a waste. I know they have to allow for people moving about, but it is rather ridiculous.

My number soon came up. I am somewhat intrigued how these systems work. It not only shows up on a video screen, but a very polite woman's voice tells you where to go, in the nicest possible way, of course. Just a thought, would a male voice have the same effect? Then I had to find 'Desk 9.' The red video numbers were rather confusing, and it didn't seem as if they were in a logical numerical order.

I had to hand over the documentation required to the lady who was dealing with our Housing Benefit claim. It was all in order. All we need now is either our Tenancy Agreement or a letter from our landlord. All this dealt with fairly quickly and painlessly. I was able to leave the Civic Centre and walked across towards the main shopping centre and went into Marks and Spencer, which is immediately inside the centre. I was struck by how much cooler it was. Thankfully not as scorchingly hot as on previous days. I selected a sandwich, a drink and crisps, went to the checkout to pay and then walked back through the shopping centre and across to the car which was parked near Xcape.
As it turned out, it hasn't been as bright and sunny as it has been for however many weeks we've had to endure the heatwave. It's been warm, but still somewhat overcast. Not the scorching heat, thankfully.

I returned home to offload a lot of the stuff I'd taken with me in the folder as I didn't want to take it to the hospital ward. I decided to walk to the hospital because it occurred to me that if I went in the car it might be virtually impossible to find a parking space.  It is, after all, only about a 10-minute walk and when it's sunny it's actually quite pleasant.

At around 6 o'clock on Tuesday evening I rang our landlord to ask for either a letter or a copy of our tenancy agreement and he says he wants to do an inspection of the house. I told him why we needed to apply for Housing Benefit and I trust he is understanding of the situation. He may be coming over the weekend so I have begun to clean the house. If I work steadily over the next few days, cleaning each room from top to bottom there should be no problems. As I write this, at 6.30 on Wednesday morning, I have done a load of washing and it's out on the line. As it's so sunny it should be dried within a few hours.

With all the walking on Tuesday I managed to clock up over 9000 steps. Just goes to show how many steps you can achieve when you walk so far in one day.

Still Sunshine

As I write this, at 6.30 a.m., it's not bright sunshine. Well, probably not so early, as I don't expect the sun has risen long. As a result I thought I'd take Alfie out for a walk. I say 'walk', as he hardly walks, he runs like a little hare, darting off ahead of me and stopping to investigate every tree, blade of grass or twig and then running back to me, yapping noisily. I was determined to more than one circuit of the park as I wanted to see how many extra steps my gadget would register. As I look I can see it reads 1998. I am quite out of breath and I had a slight twinge of angina, but nothing too bad and my G.T.N. spray helped to relieve things. I certainly don't let it stop me going out with Alfie.

The glass has been removed from part of the Redway that passes through the park. As we walked (in Alfie's case, running.) round the other side, along near some houses which overlook the park, I saw a tent in amongst the trees. It makes me wonder who on earth would be camping in the park.

Carol is still on Ward 22. It's over week since we went to Ashfield Medical Centre and we then had to go into the hospital and ending up on the Acute Ward, Ward 1. She has been put on a second type of antibiotics which has to be administered by syringe in the stomach. When I was in hospital myself, some of my medication was administered in this way.

Carol's temperature and blood sugar levels are going up and down, but they seem to be levelling out considerably.

I haven't been writing any more blog posts for the past couple of days. They are becoming very repetitive. Some days there's simply not enough to fill a decent post, so I decided to leave off writing anything.

It's another hot day. I'm annoyed by the Council bin men. (Is that their correct title? Dusbin men is perhaps a bit out of date. Refuse collection operatives? I don't know the correct name.) Anyway, Wednesday is our rubbish collection day, as I've more than likely mentioned in earlier posts. You are supposed to sort your recycling into a pink bag (for some reason they have stopped supplying pink bags and we now get grey ones. What is all that about? Why the change of colour to dull grey?) Then you must put these bags (black ones for other unrecyclable rubbish.) to the edge of your property, in our case, to the road-edge so the dustmen can collect them when they come, sometime after 7 a.m. Unfortunately, plastic bags are susceptible to being attacked by cats and birds, usually magpies and crows, which live in and around this estate. If the bags are opened as they would be by a bird or a cat, the contents are spilled out onto the roadside and the lawn at the front of our house. I came back on Wednesday afternoon to find all manner of refuse left from the rubbish bags. Which was unsightly and positively annoying. I don't think the Council has much common sense in this regard, because if these bags were inside wheely bins, they wouldn't be attacked by animals and birds, plastic bags are far too easily torn open and the rubbish to spill out.

Life on a hospital can become somewhat monotonous, as you would expect. The same sort of routine day after day. Ward 22 is busy.  The patients come and go.  Not as much as they do on Ward 1.

Carol's been told that she should be able to be discharged today (Friday). Her temperature and blood sugar levels need to remain stable before she can go home. On Friday morning, at about 1 a.m., she was given a sleeping tablet so on Thursday she was extremely sleepy. Understandable, really. When I arrived at the entrance to Ward 22 at just after 10 o'clock yesterday morning I was met by Carol, in a wheelchair, being pushed by a porter. She was on her way to having another M.R.I. scan, the unit only a very short ride from the ward. I had to sit and wait in the waiting area as the scan took around 40 minutes. 

A Symphony of Summer

It's hot. Really hot. Probably the hottest day of the year. Who knows? Who cares? Who has a thermometer to check? We've done some washing.  It's been hung out, dried and collected in. It dried in record time. Barely two hours. I've done work in the garden. It's looking a good deal better than it has in ages. It's just too hot to be outside fiddly with cutters, clippers, Strimmers, mowers, and all the plethora of gadgetry needed to keep one's little bit of garden neat and tidy. The kitchen looks tidier. Done washing up. Had suds up to my elbows. Kept my hands soft because Fairy liquid says so. Tidied the work-top. Been shopping in Sainsbury's. Put up with the queues. Been home and put it all away, having lugged several bags-worth of groceries in from the back of the car. Now, having completed all this, a rest was in order. Just laying on the bed, cooling down having had a nice cold drink. Then, to our absolute delight we get, bang, bang, bang! A few doors down. Whirr! Whirr! Clink, bang, thump! Someone's decided to build a shed, a pergola, or some such. Been to Homebase or B & Q. We had the windows open, to keep the house cool. A decent breeze blowing in. But why do people think D.I.Y. is such a good idea on a Saturday afternoon.? Obsessive/compulsive disorder. But, most of all, the question I want answered is- WHY make so much noise? And why make it when all we want to do is have a rest, when it's so hot? What is the idiot doing outside in the first place? Why isn't he watching football? There's hours and hours of it on television? Next week, Wimbledon tennis? Why not wait until then? Madness! Sheer madness. Perhaps the heat has got to the man's brain. Some people just cannot manage to be quiet, if it's revving a car (which someone did the other day. Have they no sense at all? That it's wasting fuel? That's it's environmentally unfriendly? Just think of the exhaust that is being sent out into the air, poisonous, attacking the ozone layer and so on. Not just that, but it's annoying people who are living nearby.) Then there's the idiots who ride motor bikes at speed along the Redway. It's surely not legal. I have an idea that they are youths riding those micro motor bicycles. They look stupid riding something intended for younger children, which should be ridden  only under adult supervision. It's very dangerous to ride on the Redway which are designed for pedestrians and cyclists. There could be a serious accident if someone was to get in the way when they are speeding, or was to walk out from one of the side entrances and get caught out by a speeding motor bike.

More Mowing and Oncology Appointment

Another really warm and sunny day. I've done a bit more of the mowing of the grass, but there's still a bit more to do. The grass is exceptionally long and somewhat wet and the mower really moaned. Who can blame it? It's designed to cut nice, neat grass, not grass you would ordinarily find in a meadow and eaten by cattle. The machine is still sitting on the grass, waiting for me to complete the job. At the moment it's really far too hot. Not a good idea if you have a heart problem as I do. I have used my G.T.N. spray to alleviate any angina attacks, which is always possible if I'm exerting myself, which is definitely the case pushing the Flymo back and forth across the garden. I shall continue the job when it's a little cooler, which makes sense.

Carol had an oncology appointment with one of the consultants at 11 this morning (Friday). As it's been so warm and sunny it seemed a good idea to walk to the hospital. After all we only live around 10 minutes away. So we set of at around 10.30 and got there, having walked along the Redway and then into the hospital campus. Carol insisted we scramble up a slope which lead into the carpark behind the cardiology department. I had to climb it first and I helped her over the hump. On arrival in the Macmillan Unit it was exceptionally busy. Nowhere for us to sit together at first. As people went in for their appointments, this left vacant chairs, so we were able move around and to sit together. All a bit like a game of musical chairs. When the music stops . . .

Overhearing people's conversations. Well, it's just impossible to not hear. One old man, he must have been in his late 80's, if not older. Sounding a bit like Jones the butcher in 'Dad's Army,' who kept going on about his time in the desert during the First World War. This old man had been 'in the desert, in North Africa.' He'd been a chemist, so he knew a lot about the various chemicals they were using for his chemotherapy. He'd also worked in a paper-mill or somewhere and they'd used his skills.  Rather like being in the midst of an Alan Bennet play. He did go on and on. Got the other waiting people smiling. He did go on, though. But then he was called in for his appointment.

One of the volunteer men came round collecting mugs. Then he asked people if they would like tea. I didn't, but Carol did. By the time Carol was called in for her appointment at 11.20, he was coming around with a tray of tea, so Carol took her's into the consultants appointment. The surgeons have yet to see the results of the last M.R.I. scan from Wednesday afternoon, but they have discussed Carol's treatment. It looks likely that she will go to Oxford for radiotherapy on part of the cancer whilst the rest will be operated on in Milton Keynes and it's likely to be within the next four weeks or so. So everything is very positive. The warm weather definitely helping and the fact that we walked and didn't have the stress of driving and having to park the car.

On the way out of the unit we bumped into the cancer nurse we had been assigned when Carol was first diagnosed, and whom we haven't seen in quite a while. She said she didn't recognise Carol, as she is looking so much better. The fact that we've been out and about, that she is walking further and further is probably one reason.

So, a really pleasant walk back home, going through the hospital campus and back along the Redway.

We had a grocery delivery during the afternoon from Sainsbury's. It was easier to order on-line and have it delivered. We'd booked it to come between 3 and 4. It was efficiently done and saves so much bother of going to the store and trudging around picking up everything ourselves. It's great to let someone else do the work for us, and you don't end up buying stuff you don't need. As the site 'saves' your list of items, it's easier next time to do your shop faster.

I did a further bit of mowing, but there's still another section to do, mostly around the edges. I refuse to describe this scrappy bit of grass a 'lawn.' It no more resembles one, it may be grass, but not a neat and tidy piece of turf. Perhaps we should tear it up and have some artificial grass as someone has obviously had a bit further down our road. Oh, gracious! It would save time and effort, but I don't think our landlord would approve.

Sunny and Warm

Goodness gracious! What's this? The sun is out. It's really warm. The past few days have been dull and overcast. On Wednesday it was foggy early and we had rain.

Wednesday we had to be at the Oncology Suite at Milton Keynes Hospital because Carol had the  beginning of the eight chemotherapy cycle. She wasn't due there until midday so we had time to take things slowly which was pleasant, not having to get up too early. We drove over to Rooksley as Carol wanted to visit Hobbycraft as she wanted to buy some crafting materials. As we parked the car near the store and got out to walk down to the entrance, Carol shrieked as she had seen a large rat. I looked down into the flower bed and saw the tail of a large grey rat scuttling away. I've seen several rats in Milton Keynes and had Alfie, or little Yorkshire Terrier, had been with us I'm sure he would have known how to deal with it. They say that you're always no more than six feet from a rat wherever you are. I can well believe that, considering how untidy people are, dropping litter and food which only attracts them. Not a pleasant thought.

The oncology suite was busy when we arrived. Unfortunately the carpark at the rear of the hospital, where we usually park, was full so I had to drive back to the front of the hospital and park in the ground-level carpark and walk back to the oncology suite. There seemed to be a shortage of nursing staff in the unit and again there was no receptionist on the reception desk as there was a few days ago when Carol had her blood test. The nurses are on the go all the time we are there. They never stop. I can never praise them enough as they do an amazing job and always do their jobs efficiently and exceptionally.

We had to go back to the oncology suite on Friday at around 4 p.m. so that Carol could have the pump she has removed. All seems to be going well and she has another M.R.I. scan on Wednesday and then a consultant's appointment on Friday so we should know what the next stage of her treatment is going to be.

I recently bought a Kindle Fire tablet, the HD 10 inch model. Considering the price, it is a really good piece of kit. Carol bought one a couple of years ago and she has been pleased with it, although by now it might be considered somewhat out of date, as all computing equipment has a limited life, when they keep on up-grading the operating systems they run on. I have downloaded the official Scrabble app and played this game on my own, versus the computer, but now Carol has the app on her Kindle and we have managed to play a game or two using both our Kindles. This will be good as a way to pass the time the next time we go to the oncology suite.

As I write this, it's Saturday afternoon and looking out of the lounge window I can see the sun is shining. The trees at the back of the house, all along the Redway, are beginning to come out in leaf. There is plenty of almond blossom coming out all over Eaglestone estate. The bird-feeder is busy with a wide variety of birds visiting, but I'm not so sure I want squirrels eating the food which is really intended for them. We've had two competing squirrels on the thing, doing their usual acrobatics. I think I'm going to have to buy a baffle to go on the upright to deter them.

Snow . . . Gone!

The snow is gone. Well, it had no chance, seeing how it's a good deal warmer this afternoon. The sun is out and it's almost spring-like. Apparently we are now officially into spring. 

Carol gave Alfie a bath. He was getting a bit smelly. We're still not entirely certain what has caused it, no doubt he's been rolling in something disgusting in the garden. He still has those nasty bits under his eyes which he just will not let us pull off. His coat is still in need of a good grooming, but what with one thing and another, we haven't managed to fit an appointment in with his usual groomer's. The mess on his face seems to be irritating as he keeps on rubbing himself on the sofa cushions and other places. If you attempt to deal with this he just growls at you.

We went to Sainsbury's this morning. We got a call from Lloyd's pharmacy yesterday evening to inform us that the patches that Carol needs have arrived, having been held up because of the snow. We've used up our Nectar points and bought a new toaster. It should be better than the old one and is able to cook four slices of bread in one go. A good deal more rugged than the old one. 

We have been informed that there is to be a series of marathons running past our house on Sunday 11th March. I saw the yellow sign up near the entrance to Eaglstone the other day and the organisers have seen fit to put a letter through our letterbox which also gives details. I'm not that bothered by this event, but I still can't see why it can't be rerouted along the Redway, which is only yards from Golden Drive. I remember when I made a comment about this on Facebook last year I got some rather scathing reactions from one particular individual. I think I'm entitled to have an opinion, even if it wasn't in agreement to his. Never mind. Some people are just so easy to wind up. For whatever reason, it just annoys me that we have to be inconvenienced by this event, meaning we won't be able to get in or out with the car whilst this is on. Never mind, I'm sure we'll be able to manage somehow.

I ordered a binder for my collection of BBC History Magazine at the beginning of February. I have been a subscriber for about four or five years and have kept all the copies. Most are in magazine racks, but I want to get the official binders so that each volume, which is 13 copies, kept together so they are easier to store and read. I went on-line to the publisher's website, Immediate Media, and ordered one binder through the website. I imagined that the binder would arrive in the post a few days later. But it's at least two weeks since I ordered, paying with my Debit card. This morning it still hadn't arrived, so I rang the helpline. Not a great deal of help. I was told that the order hadn't gone through, but checking my bank statement the cash has gone of of the account. On enquiring further, they weren't entirely sure whether the binder I wanted was out of stock. I have to say I'm not very impressed. If this particular binder was out of stock, they should have let me know at the time I ordered and paid, show this information on their website or at least email or write to me to let me know. The woman I spoke to said the binder might be sent in a couple of week's time. Why be so vague? Either they have it or they don't. Surely they would know where the particular product was in their system. I'll just have to wait and see what happens in the next couple of weeks.

Alfie's Little Ways

Alfie, our little Yorkshire Terrier,  is flat out asleep on the sofa as I write this. He's become a bit of an attention-seeker at the moment. I think he's concerned about Carol being ill. He doesn't seem to understand why she's at home all the time as she's off work, sick. Its strange how he knows there's something not quite right.  He becomes very attached to us both, particularly me. Apparently, when I went off to church this morning, he sat and waited for me until I got home. He barks at me when I come in, as if he's telling me off for going out of the house and leaving him. If Carol is in pain and in another room in the house, for example, the bedroom, he often comes to find me and barks as if telling me to do something about it. I have no choice to go and find out what I can do, to get pain-relief medication or whatever. He also goes outside into the garden and barks for no apparent reason, possibly if there is a noise beyond the garden, someone going past on the Redway or in the road outside. 

Alfie, modelling the blanket that Carol made for him

There are some things that Alfie doesn't particularly like, particularly when he's on the sofa. He seems to dislike cushions, and if they're in the way, he will push them off with his nose. He has a couple of blankets which he likes to arrange into a bed. Carol has croched him one of his own (see the above photograph.) and if it's folded across the back of the sofa, he will attempt to pull if off by clawing at it until it falls off.

I usually check emails just before I go to bed, or watch something on television. He has his dinner at virtually the same time every evening. If Carol has gone upstairs, he will stay with me in the lounge. If I'm on the laptop, I end what I'm doing and he knows that I'm about to go upstairs and immediately barks. Sharp little dog, has worked out that as soon as I shut down the laptop I'll go upstairs. So he barks to remind me, or so I assume.

He'll ask to be let out into the garden and usually goes outside, but there are other times when he gets you to open the sliding patio door and then just pokes his head outside, as if to see whether it's raining, but doesn't go out. Other times, and this seems to be a terrier trait, he will just sit in the opened space in the door and just stare out at the garden. Our dog, Poppy, who died last February, did the same. Another typical terrier trait is sitting on the back of the sofa. My parent's little Jack Russel terrier used to sit in a similar manner on the armchairs or even the back of the seats in the cars we had when I was growing up. Also, Alfie likes to lay on the floor, flat on his stomach, with his back legs stretched out. Seems that this is also a terrier trait.

Alfie is quite good at asking whenever he wants something. He gives you eye-contact . He loves the Comic Relief ball (which I've mentioned in earlier blog posts.) If he wants to play with it, he will usually sit directly in front of you, usually whenever we're watching television, and stare at the ball where it's placed up on the bookshelf. Then, if I pick it up and throw it on the floor, (it has to be hard enough to set the thing 'laughing.') he goes into his backing routine, throwing back his head and yowling (not sure that's the right word.) and also barking until the thing stops it sound. The thing has been running down for the past year or two, so Carol had to do an operation on an older one and transferred to the newer one. I just wish they'd bring out a new version as these things are difficult to replace.

Generally, Alfie is quiet and makes very little noise, apart from the occasional bark. We don't have a door-bell, but what makes us laugh is when we're watching television and during the action a doorbell rings and he barks. How does he associate that with our front door, someone being there or that it requires him to bark for whatever reason? I have described on many occasions on here how, if he realises that we're going out, for a walk, or he's going to go with us in the car, he becomes a completely different little dog, going into what we call 'Tasmanian Devil-Mode,' growling, barking and even getting hold of his lead  with his teeth and not letting go and also becoming quite aggressive and even attempting to bite if you get your hand in his way or scratching with his claws, which can be quite painful.

Alfie is very playful. He has this little game he has with things like dog biscuit or any treats he is given. Usually if you give him a treat, one of those chunky treats for example, he will eat it immediately, but he also does this thing where he will sit and watch whatever it is, then barks, then gets up and does a sort of spin around, pokes it with his nose and spins around again. When Poppy was alive, he used to shoot off upstairs when he was given a treat because Poppy would often pinch them off him. He is somewhat schizophrenic as I've described in his 'Tasmanian Devil mode. Considering that, when we lived at the house in Crownhill and the house was invaded by rats (read the earlier blog post for full details of all this.) Alfie caught and eventually managed to kill a huge rat, it just goes to show how a little dog of his size could manage to kill something so large. It goes to show how plucky a Yorkie can be when confronted by such a thing as a rat.

Alfie has become very concerned if he's done something wrong, for example, that he's done a wee on the floor. These little accidents do happen, particularly if he can't get outside if it's raining or we don't get to open the door for him on time. He knows perfectly well when he's done something wrong. You can generally tell when he's upset because his ears are laid back against his head. They're a good sign of how he's feeling. If you say 'bad' he knows he's done something wrong, but of late he puts on this act of being pathetic, as if he thinks he's done something wrong, when it's clear to us that he hasn't. He's a very sensitive little dog, one of the charms of Alfie. He picks up any emotions we have, particularly at present with Carol ill and at home.

Alfie can be very picky about what he eats. It's no use changing what he's given to eat as he's not likely to eat it. He's usually fed at around 7-7.30 each evening. He gets mixer and canned dog food, usually meat in jelly or gravy. If we're eating he will often come and sit in front of us and try and get something from us, scraps of food, but we don't encourage this too much. But if he's offered anything he can sometimes sniff at it or lick it and then not eat it. I know dogs should never eat of our plates, but he does finish off whatever we leave on our plates. He is somewhat addicted to tea, and if we're having a cup of tea he gets to finish the dregs at the bottom of our cups or mugs. Poppy used to be very tea-orientated and I think the habit of letting her have the dregs passed on to Alfie when we first got him as a puppy.