Time Goes By

 Sunday. 7.35 a.m. I was awake at around 4 this morning. You know how it is, you need the loo, then go back to bed, lie awake, not a chance of sleep. Someone in Dexter House, in a flat which is close to mine, has a radio or something on, not loud, but has a voice chattering. It's enough to keep me awake. I do all my washing up, which I normally do a good deal later. Tidying up my space in the lounge, my coffee table, which gets cluttered up, so I sort rubbish, which goes in the recycling bin.  I have a wash and a shave, then sort my medication out in the kitchen. I'm fussy, having it all in the same plastic box I bought just after I had my first heart attack in 2006. I have two glass shot glasses, which have measurements on the side, which I got from Amazon. The meds get put in one of those, and the other has Feroglobin liquid.I  do, eventually, go back to bed and sleep.

Monday. 8.35 a.m. A somewhat lacklustre sort of day. What more can I say?

The digital thermometer currently reads 22ºc.

I have managed to finish the sequence I have been working on for months. Now, to develop the next stretch of writing. My creative muscles will be put to use.

4.40 p.m. I attended the U3A Shakespeare Group at Dovecote in Newport Pagnall. As I drove there, I was shocked by the amount of building work which is going on at the junction of the road I would have driven into from Bedford when we first went out before we were married. There is a roundabout on the A509, which, if you follow it on into Milton Keynes, becomes Monks Way. There are also traffic lights, which make it easier and safer to cross over into the road which leads into the centre of Newport Pagnall. So much building is going on, with vast warehouses on one side of the road and houses on the opposite side. Every time I drive around Milton Keynes, there is more building going on. When Carol and I married in 2007, we lived in Crownhill, and it must have been the last estate grid going out of Milton Keynes towards Stony Stratford.  That estate is called Whitehouse. Now, the farmland on Watling Street has been built on, and further along Watling Street there are more houses. 

Heatwave Forecast

 Sunday. 7.40 a.m. As I write this, the sun is shining. According to the weather forecast on BBC Breakfast, we are about to have a heatwave. Whether this is correct or not, we will soon find out. I just hope so.

I have been watching the first episode of the documentary series 'A House Through Time.' This series is different to the previous series, which took one house and then traced all the inhabitants for several years. This series takes two blocks of flats, one in London and the other in Berlin, and traces the inhabitants through the period shortly before World War 2. I was really shocked to discover that the block in London, Montagu Mansions, was where a great aunt of mine lived during the 1930s-40s. Quite a surprise to discover this. That bit of information was discovered when I was doing family research.

Monday. 12.15 p.m. It's a bright and sunny day. As a result, I went to Stony Stratford to have another go at doing some video as I walked along the main street. I have viewed some of the footage, and it looks good.

Wednesday. 1.30 p.m. It's bright and sunny as I write this. I have my electric fan on.

Monday. May Bank Holiday. 6.00 a.m. It's now a good deal cooler. It would appear that the heatwave is over. I hope not.

9.15 a.m.I had intended to go to Lidl to get one or two items. I drove there and then discovered that they didn't open until 11 a.m. I suppose I should have realized, this might happen because it was a Bank Holiday, but never mind, I can go back later.

On top of everything else, its the first day of the VE Day 80th Anniversary celebrations. I think there's to be an RAF fly-past at around 11. Also, many of the roads around Milton Keynes are closed off, or will be, because of the Milton Keynes marathon. I don't need to go anywhere, apart from Lidl, and the marathon doesn't come through Oldbrook.

Tuesday. 7.50 a.m. It's hardly a heatwave today. It's not sunny, but pleasantly mild.

I have an appointment at 2 o'clock to get my eyes tested. I had a letter from Boots Opticians telling me my eyes were overdue for testing. I was told the last time I had my eyes tested that they needed testing every year, so I booked an appointment online. The appointment went well. I had all the work and extra tests, one of which was photographs of the back of your eyes. The optician told me she could see something which isn't sinister, but I should keep an eye on it (sorry!) I don't need new glasses, as my sight hasn't changed much since last year, but I ordered a new pair of reading glasses, which I will collect once they are ready, on 14th May.

The Rain It Raineth Every Day . . .

 Sunday. 7.40 a.m. The weather has changed. I woke in the night to use the toilet and there was an almighty crash of thunder and then there was a heavy rainstorm which went on for around ten minutes.

Friday. 8.40 a.m. We've had more rain, but as I write this, the sun is out, and it's really pleasant, but it's getting chillier. Well, we are now into September, so it's to be expected.

Yesterday I got a letter from the cardiology department of Milton Keynes Hospital. It was regarding the transmission of data from the implant I have. It says, 'We are pleased to confirm all checks and automatic measurements are within expected parameters.' Since this was several weeks ago and the fact that I had this information when I spoke to the receptionist on the telephone, it seems somewhat irrelevant. But at least it leaves my mind that things are fine and don't need to worry about it.

Another sign that Christmas is on its way. Not more mince pies, but in Sainsbury's the other day, I noticed a pallet with a pile of Quality Street. I think I have worked out why. It's so they can mark them up at a lower price closer to Christmas, and, to comply with legislation regarding sales, items have to be shown at a higher price for many weeks or months to then be offered at a lower price.

Saturday. 12.45 p.m. The weather is still pleasant, but there's a definite chill in the air.

I have been to Sainsbury's this morning. I needed to get some batteries and when I was in there I bought something extra, one of Sainsbury's delicious hot fudge puddings. I know, I should keep off this sort of thing, and keep out of the biscuit and sweet aisles. But I was shocked to see, as I came up the travelator from the car park, a notice informing customers that it was time to order their Christmas food!

On Thursday, I ordered some items from Amazon, using points I had from one of the survey companies I work for. Scanning my shopping on something called Nielsen IQ. I have been thinking of buying a dash cam for my car, but it's difficult to decide which one to go for. There was one on Amazon half price, so I decided on that one, as well as a book I wanted, related to a recent exhibition about the Roman army at the British Museum, which I would have liked to have gone to. Also, I wanted a King James Version Bible, and there was one called a Cultural Background Study Bible. So I went for that. The Roman army book, called 'Legion', was supposed to have arrived on Thursday evening, but I thought it was stretching it a bit, considering I had only ordered it at around 7-8 that morning. But, having looked via the Amazon website, I saw that it said 'Delivered and put through the letterbox', which I knew wasn't correct as I certainly hadn't received it and, anyway, the book in its packaging, would never have fitted through my letterbox. I attempted to contact Amazon and, after some effort, found that, if I sent my phone number, someone would phone me, which they did. It transpired that they would send me a replacement of the book about the Roman army. It didn't explain what had happened to the original book. I'm intrigued to know where it went.

The next day I was expecting the NKJV Bible and the dashcam to arrive, but at around 7 p.m. I just happened to check again on the Amazon website to see when or if these items were going to be delivered, and saw, much to my surprise, that they had been delivered, but not to my door. So I went down to the entrance of Dexter House and there I discovered a pile of parcels, and two of them were addressed to me. So much for me instructing delivery drivers to come to my flat to hand over my purchases. The Roman army book was delivered to my door. I wasn't too pleased to have my items just left where anyone could have stolen them.

I have managed to set up the dashcam on the windscreen of my car, although I'm yet to set up the rear camera, which I might do tomorrow afternoon after I get back from church.

Chloe WhatsApp'd me during the week and said she was coming to Stony Stratford, and we could meet up for coffee. She would be there at around 2 o'clock with George, my grandson.

I was getting ready at around 1.30 to leave to drive to Stony Stratford when there was a clap of thunder. I was thinking, just typical! No rain all day until I want to go out! But it didn't deter me, and I took my bright yellow Regatta raincoat with me. I had the new dash cam working as I drove up Watling Street. 

Sunday. 4.10 a.m. I awoke, as usual, to go to the loo. As I got back in bed, I heard the sound of rain. I wasn't sure if it was raining, so I went into the kitchen to look out of the window, and, sure enough, it was pouring. By the time I came through to the lounge to sit and write this, only a minute or two later, the storm had passed.

8.30 a.m. It's still raining. I expect there will be large puddles on the road when I drive to church later. They usually appear at the point where the roads meet the many and various roundabouts across Milton Keynes.

Camphill Drama (and other Quite Interesting Matters, but Some Just Boring)

 Wednesday. 7.05 a.m. Another great day was spent in the theatre workshop at Camphill yesterday. As you will have read in my earlier post (that is, if you are a regular reader of these posts.) you will know that I didn't go to Camphill last week, because the Chrysalis Theatre was being used by an outside group who were there rehearsing their own production, so the Camphill group went for a day out to Stony Stratford. I didn't join them. Anyway, this week was definitely a busy day, picking up from the week before when we'd started to work on developing three stories which will be the basis for our silent movies. One is to be a swashbuckling adventure, the second a western and the third (which I am working on.) a time-travelling story.

The day started with the usual check-in. It usually takes about 20 minutes, but, as there are far more in the group from when I first went to Camphill around three years ago (I can't believe it's that long.), it does tend to take a good deal longer.

There were workmen doing something elsewhere in the building, and they were making drilling and hammering noises which interrupted the activities of the theatre workshop over the course of the day.

Each group has been workshopping ideas for their stories. They each began to rehearse their stories and, as they progressed, added ideas having given each other feedback, and this helped develop each story. Terrie wanted us to come up with written 'boards' which would be incorporated into the finished films, which would be used to explain, in writing, certain aspects of the plot. This, bearing in mind that each film will be silent and have no dialogue. (Technically known as 'title cards' or 'intertitles.' They would be edited into the completed film, helping to guide the audience with various aspects of the story, characters, scenes, details and so on.)

After lunch, during the check-in, the noises from the workmen were distracting everyone. I have to admit, it was quite difficult concentrating with all that banging, drilling and extraneous sounds more or less taking over. As a result, Terrie decided that we would all go out onto the grass outside the theatre and do some voice warm-ups. I have heard actors doing this, before performances, when I worked in stage management. Then we played a game which is similar to the old playground game of tig, which I remember from my school days. Everyone spreads out around the area and one person starts. When someone is being chased, they have to avoid being touched by the chaser, and then they stand behind someone else in the group. This goes on, and each chaser has to catch the person in front of anyone who is in the circle. Quite exhausting, but great fun. We played a game similar to this at school, called 'Off-Ground Tig.' The idea was that, if you stood off the ground, on, for example, a step or other items, a box, dustbin etc., you couldn't be caught. Also, apparently, known as 'British Bulldog.' The Bulldog was the one doing the catching.

We then went back into the theatre to continue running bits of our stories and at the end of the session, in fact, after the tea break, we showed our efforts to the other two groups and then they showed theirs. The whole day was excellent and next week we should be able to complete each story and in a couple of weeks, if things go well, which will depend on where the locations for the filming will be, the movies will be videoed/filmed.

11.45 a.m. I know it's not exactly exciting, but I have been doing some domestic things this morning, such as changing my bedding. Putting a duvet cover on is not my favourite occupation. It just isn't that easy and would be made easier if I had someone to help, which I don't. All the bedding is ready to put in the wash later. I have also steam cleaned the bathroom floor, not made easy because whoever had this flat before I arrived, had no idea how to lay tiles. Just a very poor job, none of them seem to have been arranged properly and many are lifting and some have part of them overlapping others, which makes cleaning the floor harder. But it's done to a certain degree and is much cleaner. I'm glad it is now done.

Reading History

 Monday. 10.00 a.m. I've already been out with Alfie twice this morning. I thought because it was so mild and pleasant, that he deserved another outing.

I think I must have mentioned on here that I have been reading a set of books which cover the history of Britain, from approximately 1870 up until the first years of the 21st century. They aren't actually a set, in that they are all written by the same historian/author, although several are written by the same author. I am now on the final book in this sequence, called 'All In It Together', by Alwyn Turner. This covers 9/11 (the attack on the World Trade Centre.) The so-called 'Millennium Bug', and Tony Blair's first New Labour government, which came to power in the General Election of 1997. 

I have done a search on this blog (it's not difficult, as it has a search engine, no doubt for this very purpose.) to find out when I started reading the set of books. It would appear it was around July 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, when we were cooped up like battery chickens. It seems amazing that it has taken almost three years to get through some 15 books.

Tuesday. 4.50 p.m. I've been to Camphill, working as a volunteer in the theatre workshop. The, by now, customary check-in to start the day. Next week we won't be able to use the theatre, because there is another group coming in to rehearse. Terrie has arranged for the entire group to go to Stony Stratford and she will be doing a story walk, explaining not just the history of the town but also telling stories in general. We can go to local cafés and coffee shops, most notably the local branch of Costa (which seems the most popular place to 'hang out' with some residents). I will drive there myself, as there won't be space in the transport that will be going from Camphill. I will have to do some research regarding parking as I'm not too sure what's available.

We then did some movement exercises, linked to the development of characters for the silent movies we are working on. Terrie got us to mime musical instruments and then conducted the entire group as an orchestra. A very interesting exercise.

We were put into three groups, each one for the silent movies that were being devised. This was a brainstorming, throwing ideas out and coming up with developments for one of the stories, which was to be a spoof science fiction, time-travelling 'epic.'

Later in the afternoon, each group had to present their ideas to the rest of the group and it was interesting to discover what they had come up with. As I said, my group was doing the science fiction, time-travel story whilst the two other groups were doing a western and a swashbuckling/romance.

The roads were relatively peaceful, compared with other weeks. None of the aggressive driving. No doubt it's down to the fact that schools are on Easter holiday for two weeks.

Wednesday. 7.20 a.m. It's a good deal milder than it was yesterday.

There was an amazing red sky when I went out with Alfie just before 6 o'clock this morning. I only wish I had thought to take my camera or at least, my iPhone, as it was worth a couple of photographs. I had thought to return to the flat to collect one or the other, but by the time I'd got back, it would have changed.

I have been to Aldi to do a shop. I  am attempting to not go to Sainsbury's, basically because Aldi is so much cheaper and there is no drop in the quality of the things I buy.  

A Walk In The Forest

It's been quite a pleasant morning. It was about time we took Alfie out for a walk. It was a toss-up between Salcey Forest or Rushmere Country Park. We decided on Salcey. Both about the same sort of distance from Milton Keynes. It's up the A5 towards Stony Stratford and out into the  Northamptonshire countryside. It was actually quite nice to get away from Milton Keynes for a couple of hours. Apart from anything, Alfie needed an outing, since Poppy died two weeks ago. He's an energetic little dog and really enjoys going out with us. I had to put the cage in the back of the car because he's a bit of a handful if he sits on your lap. He won't and as we've attempted this, it's better for us and better for him. He'll only get his lead tied up with the gear stick and it's frankly a safety issue. I had to sneak the cage out to the car without him noticing, as he soon picks up somehow or other that we're intending to go out and take him with us. I don't remember when we last visited this favourite dog-walking site, but it's probably a couple of years ago. Last time we went they were in the process of building new facilities such as toilets and the area around the café. Also, it seems they've managed to resurface a lot of the roads in and out and some of the paths have better surfaces, tarmac, which is probably better for wheeled things such as bicycles, baby buggies, prams and wheelchairs. The new toilet block is a vast improvement. We took Alfie for quite a long walk through the forest, meeting a lot of people with dogs. To be let off his lead and to run free was what Alfie enjoys most of all. We walk along at our own pace but he insists on running ahead and discovering all manner of nice smells and weeing up against virtually every tree and tuft of grass he encounters. Then he runs back to us and trots along at our heels and then shoots off again. It was quite muddy, which is to be expected, considering the time of year. If we'd had Poppy with us she'd have found the most smelly, gooey and thick mud to wade through. Alfie isn't so keen on water, thankfully. Poppy had a propensity for diving in to the nearest piece of water, be it lake, pond, river, canal or whatever. if it was smelly mud it meant we had to contend with not only cleaning her after an outing but it would lead to a muddy house, carpets, furniture, beds and so on. We walked into the forest, having parked the car, avoiding the most muddy places. Carol found a place in the carpark, but I saw that there was a large muddy puddle her side of the car, as it would mean, when she got out of the car, she'd have to walk in this mud. We'd come here a couple of years ago and parked the other side of the carpark and when we'd returned to the car to go home we found we couldn't move the car because we'd got stuck in the mud. It was quite some time before we could drive away. Funny looking back, but not so funny at the time.

Further into the forest we came to the tree-top walk. I'm not good with heights. Never have been, unfortunately. We have walked right to the top of this structure, but I wasn't too keen today. It's quite a height at it's furthest extent. I'm not sure how high, but around the same height as some of the trees. We heard a rather off-putting creaking sound, coming I think from one of the trees nearby. They were swaying in the breeze. There wasn't the wind we had during the week, thankfully. I think the treetop walk would have been closed for health and safety concerns. We walked back to the car and I used the newly built toilets, a vast improvement on the somewhat primitive facilities that used to be here. We had hot chocolate, cream and marshmallows which was an ideal end to our walk and then returned home in the car. We had been covered very generously in mud, thanks to Alfie insisting on sitting on both our laps when we sat on a bench by the path in the forest. But it really didn't matter because everything can go in the washing machine.

Waterperry Gardens and Medical Appointment

On Sunday morning, it was bright sunshine. Rather than sit indoors we wanted to make an effort to get out. Saturday it rained constantly. The grass remained partially mown, unfortunately. Carol is eager to get plants and other items to get the garden turned round. We went to Wickes the other day and bought some tools. Saves us having to borrow off other people. A spade and lopper which means we can cut down any stray branches and dig any holes as required for planting. We also bought a chimenea from the on-line company, Very, which arrived last week, which is why we went to Wickes to buy tools, including screwdrivers in order to put the chimenea together. The thing came in a large parcel and it didn't include such items as a cross-head screwdriver. We now have one which has interchangeable heads for different size screws. It wasn't such a big deal putting it together if you followed the instructions  which came with it, as with most things you buy nowadays. Although, if you buy something from IKEA, for example, such as a piece of flat-pack furniture, it usually comes with at least an Allan key which allows you to put it together. 

We wanted to go to a garden centre and had intended visiting one near Waddesdon Manor. We went there several years ago, and I think it may be part of the estate. We looked on Google Maps, and had found where it was, but when we drove all the way there we couldn't find this garden centre which was somewhat annoying. It's around 40-minute drive from Milton Keynes to Waddesdon. We then decided to drive toWaterperry Garden, which we visited several years ago. But, unfortunately,  we had no map with us in the car and spent some time driving around somewhat aimlessly until I decided to try and find the address on my recently acquired Samsung smartphone. But I found it was very difficult managing to input text as we drove along, so we stopped in a layby and managed to find where Waterperry Gardens were. Near Wheatley, Oxfordshire, and just off the M40 a few miles east of Oxford. Once we had the address it was relatively easy to find, but in the process of driving around rather aimlessly, we discovered some really attractive villages and the scenery is really beautiful. We spent some time wandering around the garden centre at  Waterperry and had coffee and sandwiches in the restaurant. We met a lot of cyclists as we drove around the Oxfordshire country roads. In brightly coloured Lycra and cycling in convoy. Unfortunately there we numerous cyclists as we got to Waterperry and some of them in the restaurant, one in particular with a rather loud laugh which was enough to put anyone off. Why is it some men, in particular, seem to get over-enthusiastic at such times, and can't control their behaviour and have to be so LOUD? We bought a couple of plants, a tray of wildflowers and a buddleia and, as it was beginning to cloud over, decided to drive home.

Today (Monday) Carol had an appointment at the medical centre in Stony Stratford. I think I mentioned in an earlier post on here that she had the appointment come in a letter and I had to drive all the way over to Stoney to make the appointment for her as she was at work. This seemed a complete waste of time and effort because we live around a ten-minute walk away from Milton Keynes Hospital, but we had to drive all the way across Milton Keynes for the appointment in Stoney, leaving at 8.20 for the appointment at 9.15. We got there far too early so we had to waste around 30 minutes so we walked along Stony Stratford High Street. A really interesting place which is full of history. We went into the medical centre, a rather run-down looking building which looks totally out of place in such a beautiful place and not the sort of design that would be allowed today. It looks stuck in the 1960's or '70's and most likely hasn't been given a lick of paint since then. Once inside it was heaving with people either queuing up or making appointments. We went into the waiting area and, well, yes, you've guessed it - we waited. As with most modern health centres and N.H.S. facilities, there was one of those computerised check-in screens and Carol was therefore registered, although, to be honest, I never trust them because the one at Ashfield Medical centre, where we're registered, never always works. You sit and have to stare at this computer screen on the wall in front of you and you're bombarded with a welter of instructions and information on everything from their policy on aggressive behaviour to a range of services for those with dementia to bi-polar disorder. It's really over-done as it flits past at such speed, so how are you expected to take it all in? People come and go, and everyone else sits and coughs, splutters and mutter to themselves. It's an a real barrel of laughs.  I needed the toilet. When Carol arrived she went to the ladies in the reception area. But where were the gents? Why no toilet next to it for men to use? Which is usual in such places. I had to ask at the reception desk and found it was away from the reception area in another corridor. Why no sign to show you where it was? Crazy. What a depressing place. As I said, run down and desperately in need of redecorating. I know the N.H.S. is short of cash, but surely they could make this dismal place a little less depressing. 

Carol's appointment came up, a good ten minutes later than it was supposed to be. I was surprised the nurse came out to call her and her name didn't come up on the digital screen (similar to Ashfield Medical Centre.) 20 minutes later she came out to tell me she has yet another appointment on 4th May. We left and then went to Costa to have a latte and cake before getting back in the car and going across Milton Keynes and the Academy and me back home.

Car Problem Resolved

We have managed to resolve the problem with the car, the fact that the steering-wheel was locked as the ignition key wouldn't turn. It was relieved by a small squirt of WD40. I discovered this when I rang the Hyundai dealer in Stony Stratford. I was told by the mechanic in their workshop that this was a common complain with Hyundai Atos. It usually happens when it is cold and damp, exactly the conditions we've been experiencing over the last couple of weeks. I emailed Carol at work and she bought home a can of WD40 from the Academy.

We decided to go into the Milton Keynes Central Shopping Centre to see the Christmas display in the Middleton Hall.  We parked in the multi-storey carpark near Debenhams and then walked  through the shopping centre. This is an annual event in Milton Keynes, and is usually a major draw for families with children. Very colourful and glittery (see last year's display mention in an earlier post.) I can't say it's the best they've done, because it's not, compared with other years. There's the same little train going round and round (we managed to get a free ride on this last year! See the earlier post.) but it seems a bit 'over the top' not a lot of restrain with the twinkly lights. Some of the fairy and elvish models, the animated ones, might actually scare little children. But it was still worth seeing it.

Visit to Leighton Buzzard

Yesterday was yet another one of those days when the weather can't really make it's mind up. Warm one minute, with blazing sunshine, and then it clouds over and the rain starts. Or it just clouds over and it just goes really dull. We'd been shopping really early, and by late afternoon we had nothing else to do. It's really not like us to sit around indoors in the Summer. We're usually visiting somewhere or other, usually a National Trust property, which we did a few weeks ago when we went to Ickworth. We have recently renewed our membership, so we're ready for a further year of visits, and have planned to perhaps visit one more before Carol goes back to work in a little over a week's time and may visit Biddulph Grange in Staffordshire. It's not far if we go up the M1, and just past Stoke-On-Trent and wouldn't take much over 90 minutes or so.

We needed to get out of the house (our neighbour not making any sort of noise, but certainly likely to start up at any moment) so we decided to go to Leighton Buzzard, a short drive down the A5 towards Aylesbury and along the relatively-new by-pass. Not somewhere I'd immediately think of visiting, but we have a number of really interesting small market towns around Milton Keynes, such as Wolverton, Stony Stratford, Newport Pagnell and Olney, all with a lot of history and some quirky independent shops to browse in. It's one of those places you go past but there's no need to visiti as there really isn't a lot to go there for. We got to Leighton Buzzard and eventually parked near the library. I think I recall in the past doing a job working for Bedford Libraries, driving a library van, and I think we might have gone to this library. We walked into the centre of the town, and were surprised how run-down and uncared-for it looked. Particularly the branch of W.H. Smith which had tatty carpeting on the floor which was in desperate need of replacing and a really jumbled-up set of display shelves. Then into a bookshop. It was nearly 4.30 and the sun was shining, and the shopkeeper/owner was fixing posters on the windows. We have a habit of chatting to everyone we meet, if we can strike up a conversation, but she was just plain miserable and seemed far more interested in getting us out of the shop so she could shut the place up. We had intended having a coffee and went into the local branch of Costa's, but there were no free seats, so we bought cold drinks and went back to the carpark to leave for home. The place is really nice, but they could have made more effort to be more welcoming and it was really run down. A real shame and rather a disappointment, to say the least.

It took some time to get out of the town centre. Another town with a complex one-way system and poor signage didn't help us much.
We got onto the A5 heading back to Milton Keynes. It was by now really clouding over, and then the rain began, slowly at first, with a few drops, but by the time we reached the outskirts of Milton Keynes, the heavens opened and there was a deluge. Carol was driving, and she decided to pull into a layby. There was a really fast-flowing stream of water running along the side of the layby, and visability had been really poor as we drove along the road, which meant it was really hard seeing the road clearly and the windscreen wipers couldn't go fast enough to shift the falling water. After barely two minutes it stopped and we continued on our way, coming off the A5 near the football stadium. We noticed that the road was dry, which was a real surprise, considering that no more than a mile earlier it was flowing with water, so that rainstorm must have been incredibly local.

Morrison's Mayhem . . . amongst OTHER Things!

Carol had a tutoring session this morning. She went out at around 10 a.m. and was back by gone 11. We had arranged with Chloe and Steve to meet them in Stony Stratford, at a cafe called Mange Tout. We weren't sure exactly where it was, but, having been there before we knew that, if it was in the High Street, it wouldn't be too difficult to find. We managed to park the car on the street leading into the town centre and parked. We had their Christmas present, purchased from Boot's a few weeks ago and wrapped and ready to give to them. We walked along the High Street, found the cafe and waited as they weren't yet there. After a few minutes Carol saw them walking towards us, together with Jade, Chloe's niece, we went into the cafe. It was very crowded, but managed to find a table. There was little room at the table, but then some customers left and we were able to move to another table with more space. They have managed to arrange a date for their wedding, which will be in August 2012, down in part of the country where Steve's parents live, in Devon. So we have that to look forward to. Makes me proud as her Dad, and the fact that I might not have seen any of this due to my heart attack over 5 years ago. We didn't stay too long, as Louisa, Chloe's half-sister (and Jade's mum) turned up. I presume that she had driven them to Stony, as she and her husband Richard live fairly nearby in Potterspury. We said goodbye and then returned to the car. We had some final bits and pieces to shop for, so Carol suggested Morrison's at Westcroft, so we drove back into Milton Keynes and went to Westcroft. On arrival at the carpark, the place was heaving with cars driving in and out, and the crowds within the supermarket were very extensive, to put it mildly. If things were busy in Asda yesterday, they were even more so in Morrisons. Having purchased a fairly meagre amount of stuff we had to queue for well over 45 MINUTES in order to reach the check-out! I thought the other people in the queue were very patient and I have to say I admire Morrison's staff for their dedication and patience. I think they hnestly deserve a bonus for the work they were doing. By the time we eventually got outside to the car it was raining, and Carol went to get the car while I waited outside the car and then I put the shopping on the back seat of the car and we drove home.  I just hope there isn't anything further we need on the shopping front, as if we have forgotten anything then we won't really want to go out shopping tomorrow.