On The Street Where You Live

Saturday. 10.30 a.m. I have just returned from Morrisons, at Westcroft, where we had our monthly Men's Breakfast in what is called the 'Community Room.' It's scheduled to begin at 8.30, but there seems to be a hold-up regarding the food which we have to order and then have brought through by the café staff. That is fine normally, but as the session is only 90 minutes, it does rather eat into the time and so we don't get our full time together.

Earlier, when I took Alfie out for his first outing of the day, we were walking along the path that leads to the crossing onto Oldbrook Green. Alfie was doing his usual meander, sniffing every leaf, blade of grass and occasional weed which sticks out of the wall outside the S.I.A. building (Spinal Injuries Association), when a male rider on one of those electric scooters came shooting past. I didn't hear it, but, had I been standing a few feet further out on the path, I'm almost sure he would have collided with me. No sign of slowing down, making a sound to warn me of his approach, or anything. I think he drove onto the grass and then was off, crossing Strudwick Drive at 35-40 miles per hour. It was all over in a few seconds, but it was somewhat frightening. An older, probably more unstable on their legs, person, might have been knocked down and seriously injured, or even killed, by such an incident. Yesterday I saw a couple riding on one of these scooters, along the road. I don't know whether this is legal or not, but it does seem somewhat foolhardy or people to ride these things on the road, as there is no sort of safety feature on these things. If you were hit by a vehicle, the likelihood of you being killed would be quite possible.

Sunday. 6.05 a.m. Yet another mild and bright morning. One of those electric scooters almost collided with me in exactly the same place as it did yesterday on the path alongside Strudwick Drive when I took out Alfie. There was no warning from the rider and the thing was almost silent, so I couldn't hear it coming. I managed to get out of the way in time, before it was likely to run into me.

Monday. 7.40 a.m. A bright and sunny morning. My digital thermometer reads 72ºF, so a temperature it's easier to live with. All the trees along Strudwick Drive are losing their leaves. It's because of the dry weather and the fact they have had virtually no rain for weeks and are stressed. The whole of Milton Keynes, along the verges of the grid roads, looked so parched and brown as I drove to church yesterday morning.

Another Fun Filled Week?

Monday. 5.55 p.m. I am continuing to transcribe my handwritten writing onto word processing. It's a long and quite laborious process, but as I continue with it I am making significant alterations and, hopefully, improvements. I have a good idea where things are heading once this section is complete. I have several pages of plot lines and I will follow most of those notes as I continue with writing. Then I need to integrate some other plot lines into this 'spine' plot line which runs through the middle of the whole project. 

Tuesday.10.45 a.m. I have baked a batch of scones this morning. I had to organize my kitchen carefully as there is little enough room as it is. I had left the butter out overnight as it needs to be soft enough to work and it was fine, so I proceeded with the recipe. The only problem was that the mixture didn't make more than a handful of scones. I was more than pleased with the result. They came out of the oven near perfect. Golden brown and good texture. Then I decided to drive to Kingston and visit Homesense, which is part of T.K. Maax. I was looking for a suitable tin in which to make a cheesecake for Sunday as we have a bring and share lunch to celebrate the return Ross and Joy Dilnot returning after their operations. I drove down Chaffron Way towards Kingston and was confronted by a sign telling me that the road ahead was closed, so I had to go into Waitrose's car park to do a short detour and then come out on Brickhill Street  and continue on down Chaffron Way. 

Wednesday. 6.20 a.m. It's mild this morning, but what I would term, muggy. Sort of warm and wet, if you get my meaning.

I've just been watching an item on BBC Breakfast, about a man by the name of Martin Hibbert, who was seriously injured and then paralysed when he was caught up in the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017. He is currently raising money by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. I noticed, when he was interviewed, that he had a logo for S.I.A., the Spinal Injuries Association, which is directly next door to Dexter House, and which I walk past with Alfie several times a day.

5.50 p.m. The weather has been behaving strangely all afternoon. It was teeming with rain earlier, and immediately it came to an end the ground didn't seem to be wet when I peered out of the kitchen window later. It sounded as if someone was having a shower as I sat and heard it. Then as I prepared my evening meal it began to rain and the sun was out. Just weird.

Thursday. 6.15 a.m. Yet another fine and sunny morning. We did a circuit of Oldbrook Green, but I'm sure Alfie would have preferred to stay tucked up in his lovely, cozy bed.

13.00 p.m. I've been out at the Oaktree Centre, helping to set up the playgroup which meets there on a Thursday. I was involved in a Bible study during the playgroup meeting and then returned a couple of hours later to dismantle everything.

Friday. 6.20 a.m. Well, here's a thing. Another fine and sunny morning. What more can I say?