Sunny But Mild

 Monday. 10.15 a.m. Yet another bright and sunny morning. There is apparently going to be rain later in the day, with the possibility of thunderstorms. My digital thermometer currently reads 27ºc.

Tuesday. 5.35 a.m. The rain, which was forecast, didn't appear. I don't know if the more westerly parts of the country had it, but not in Milton Keynes.

Wednesday. 3.40 p.m. It's really warm and sunny.

I have been to the centre to collect my new reading glasses from Boots Opticians. 

Secklow Gate was closed off with 'Road closed' signs up, so I had to get to the car park by a rather circuitous route, but I got to the car park without any trouble.

I wanted to park in my usual place, next to The Point (or what used to be The Point. It has become a real wreck, a blight on Milton Keynes. It needs demolishing and replacing. Disgraceful.) You have to pay for your parking at a new machine, which is at the exit into the main shopping centre. I paid with my debit card, but it's not clear how you do this, although you have to first type in your vehicle's registration number. I did succeed, and the machine printed a ticket, which meant I had to walk all the way back to my car to put the ticket inside.

The area around the shopping centre is beginning to look really scruffy and uncared for. The whole place needs a good clean-up.

I walked into Boots Opticians and I had to try my glasses on and they were good. I have them on as I write this. I left and went back to my car and drove back to Dexter House

It seems very dusty and humid. We haven't had rain in quite a while. I think other areas of the country have had showers, but not in this area.

Friday. 7.20 a.m. Where I park my car, just below the window of my flat, there is often a large lorry parked. On the back (it is a flatbed vehicle.) carrying equipment for what would appear to be road repairs. My car isn't parked on the road but on a parking bay within the boundary of Dexter House. I trust that nobody parks across the entrance, so I can't reverse out. But on one occasion this lorry was parked so close it was impossible to get out without scraping it. I think I did, on one occasion. It might have caused a minor scrape, but no more. It shouldn't be parked in a residential street such as this. I realise the lorry is needed by the young man who lives along Dexter Avenue, but I really believe it should be parked elsewhere.

August Excitement! (?)

 Monday 14th August. 3.45 p.m. I'm not going to post this until the beginning of September. I will write as and when I feel I have something to write about. 

I have mentioned having to have a physiotherapy appointment, after the lower back pain I have been experiencing for the past month or so since I had covid. My appointment was booked around two weeks ago and today was the earliest I could be seen. It was booked for 10.20 a.m., but I am always keen to arrive in plenty of time, but, in general, it doesn't take much more than ten minutes to drive there, taking into account the several sets of traffic lights you encounter on the way, which seem set to take far too long to change, regardless of the amount of traffic, which is usually light at that time of day.

I got to Central Milton Keynes Medical Centre and had to check in with a receptionist because the computerised system wasn't working. Around ten minutes later, I was being called into room 7 to see a physiotherapist. She did a sort of triage, attempting to find where the pain was centred, bending down to the ground and side to side, and then I had to lay on the couch. It wasn't actually long enough, as I'm over six feet tall. I was expecting her to get some treatment, but no. I have to have a telephone referral with a private company and do some exercises myself. So, it seems as if the N.H.S. seems determined to spend cash which they don't really have, for this sort of treatment from an outside business. So, it seems I will just have to wait at least a week before this treatment can begin.

I left the surgery in my car and intended to go into the city centre as I had to collect a polo shirt I had bought via the Marks and Spencer website and needed collecting from the store. I had to drive around the centre to get to the car park near The Point and fortunately, the RingGo app worked, so I could pay to park. I had done a survey online and earned a £10 voucher which I converted into a Marks and Spencer voucher and decided to buy a polo in their sale. I ordered with 'click and collect, which I have used before. The polo shirt was valued at £18, so I had to pay the difference. I went into Marks and Spencer and remembered that the click-and-collect desk was on an upper floor, but then I couldn't find it and then discovered it had moved to the ground floor. There are a couple of digital screens, onto which you key in your name, and your parcel is then bought out to you. All wrapped up and ready to take away with you. I was a bit surprised I didn't have to prove my identity, as I could have been anyone. 

Thence to the nearby Costa for a large caramel latte, cheese and ham toastie and slice of rocky road. Very nice! Then I walked back through the shopping centre towards Midsummer Place and then ended up browsing in Waterstone's and then back to the car park and drive home.

Wednesday. 6.10 a.m. Due to the lower back pain, I didn't go to Camphill yesterday. It started off very mild, at the time I got up (as it is, as I write this.) but it gradually got worse as the day progressed. I am learning to live with it, but I am hoping it is going to fade away so I can get back to somewhere near normal by, hopefully, next week.

I've only just got back from taking Alfie out. As we were walking back along the path towards Dexter House, I saw what, at first, I thought was a cat, staring at me, as it was standing under the overhanging branches of the tree which is on the grass, about halfway along. It didn't move for at least fifteen seconds, and then it occurred to me, it wasn't a cat. It was definitely a fox, because of the shape of its head, very similar to Alfie's and very prominent ears. It turned and then disappeared into the wooded area between the Dexter House garden and the SIA offices.

12.05 p.m. I've been to Sainsbury's this morning. I had a Nectar voucher which meant, if I bought a certain brand of dog food, I would get 200 extra points.  If I hadn't used it today, it would expire today, so it seemed a pity to lose it and I did need some dog food as there were only a couple of pouches left. I bought a few other items. 

I had to use one of the self-service tills to pay. The manned tills had queues, so it was either that or a queue for so few items. All went well checking my items through until I had to scan the voucher, so I had to get a staff member to help. George, who is one of the drama group at Camphill, works in Sainsbury's, and it was him who helped with the voucher, so I was able to complete the transaction, although I almost left without paying! I almost forgot to put in my debit card and then put in my PIN, but I could then leave to go home.

Thursday. 2.00 p.m. I've been out this morning with my Thursday morning Bible study group. We went to Milton Keynes Museum. I drove to the Oaktree Centre and Jenny, who is the leader of the Bible study group, drove me and one other person across Milton Keynes, arriving at the museum at around 10.30, which was when it opened. There was quite a queue of people wanting to get in. I had a ticket which allowed me free entry, having bought it almost a year ago and, once bought, allows free entry throughout the year.

Friday. 10.20 a.m. I have just got back from a trip to Sainsbury's, to get a few items. I was reluctant to use one of the self-service tills to check out, so I went to a manned till and as I was queuing, I noticed that around six of these tills had been removed. I am beginning to wonder if this is a crafty manoeuvre on behalf of Sainsbury to get rid of staff and encourage their customers to use self-service tills. As I was waiting in the queue, a lady ahead of me was completing the payment of her shopping and seemed to be having problems with using her card, that is, putting in her PIN in the machine. I would say she was around 75-80, so probably not very confident with using technology. They should take into account this sort of customer when they are considering removing what I would call 'traditional' technology.

I cleaned out the fridge earlier. I know, rather a mundane and somewhat dull job, but it really did need doing. It's the sort of job that gets avoided, but then it gets to the point that it needs doing. Lots of food which is well past its 'best before' date, so it went in the bin. The shelves were removed, given a good wash in the sink, and then replaced. Job done.

Tuesday 22nd August.  6.55 a.m. The digital thermometer reads 26ºC. A really hot and clammy night. I have been up early, as usual. I took Alfie out at around 5.45. Done washing up from last night, put out a bag of rubbish and now made up my pack-up for Camphill. I am feeling a good deal better as regards the lower back pain. I would say it has actually disappeared. 

I got a text from the physio company, which came as a referral from my doctor's surgery. I attempted to complete this online, but it wouldn't work, so I rang and have a telephone consultation on the morning of 4th September. 

Time and Tide

 Friday. 6.15 a.m. I can't believe Alfie and I were out well before 6 o'clock this morning. The weather seems very settled as I write this.

Saturday. 6.40 a.m. What's going on? Is that all I wrote for yesterday? I usually write far more.

Alfie and I were out at 6 o'clock, and it's been raining overnight. Quite chilly.

3.20 p.m. I have been to meet up with my friend Nick, who I knew from my time living in Bedford (hi Nick, if you're reading this.) He lives in Northampton and comes to Milton Keynes on the bus. I was due to meet him at midday. I drove in and parked in Secklow Gate car park, where I normally park, which is next door to the somewhat dilapidated Point. It's not always easy to find space later on a Saturday. I then walked in and through the shopping centre. It was surprisingly busy. We met outside Starbucks. I ordered an ice-cold cold drink made with oats. Surprisingly good. Also, a cheese and ham toastie. From Starbucks, we walked to John Lewis and went up to the electrical department. We spent time browsing the television sets, some with huge screen sizes, some over 60 inches and costing in the region of £4,000. That size would be far too big for my flat, in fact, such a size screen would probably not fit in. The quality of the picture on these sets is amazing. We looked at Samsung mobiles and then Apple products.

From John Lewis we went to browse in T.K. Maax and then we walked through the shopping centre and eventually went into Costa opposite M and S. I had a rather tasty chocolate drink which was made with bits of Kit Kat and cream on top. Then, into Marks and Spencer's to look at clothes in the menswear department. Nick doesn't like escalators, which take you to the various levels of the store, so went up via the lift. A few quite decent items I may come back and purchase, as I have a voucher coming from doing some online surveys. This should come in the post in the next few days. Then Nick came to the car park as I was leaving and we said our goodbyes and I drove off.

12.45 p.m. If you know me and if you read these blog posts, you will know I am a lover of theatre, I have worked in professional stage management, amongst other things. I have a subscription to National Theatre At Home, which is a streaming service which streams 'live' recordings of plays. I have seen several shows at the South Bank home of the National Theatre and it's probably the leading subsidised theatre company in this country. Amongst the plays I've seen was the 1980's production of Guys and Dolls as well as On The Razzle, which was a play written by Tom Stoppard and based on the play which eventually became the Thornton Wilder play 'The Matchmaker' which then formed the basis for the musical 'Hello Dolly.' (I did 'The Book' for  a production of 'The Matchmaker' when I was D.S.M. at Ipswich Theatre in the mid-1970's. ) But I digress. . .

There are quite a few fantastic shows to stream on NT At Home. 'Treasure Island', a reimagining of the Restoration comedy, 'The Rivals', retitled 'Jack Absolute Flies Again' and set the play in the Second World War. Last night I watched 'All About Eve', which is based on the 1950's film which starred Bette Davis and Anne Baxter. This stage version isn't actually a National Theatre production. It was produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and Fox Stage Productions. I haven't seen the film, but I know about it. I believe it was made into a musical called 'Applause.' This stage version uses 'live' video, so you can see two scenes simultaneously and could see the camera operators. I don't know whether this added anything to the action or whether it was just a gimmick. Just because you can do something, doesn't necessarily mean you have to use it. Like, in films, where they use C.G.I. It doesn't always add anything. In fact, if used too often, it just becomes a distraction. You shouldn't actually be able to notice any special effects.

5.50 p.m. I have now managed to complete the piece of writing which will connect two sections of my writing project, which means I can introduce a new character.

Wild and Windy

 (Thursday) It's blowing a gale outside as I write this at 7a.m. I think even King Lear and his Fool would have had problems on that blasted heath, having to battle this wind. On BBC Breakfast's weather forecast they're saying in some parts of the country the wind speed is in excess of 85m.p.h.

(Friday) It's not as windy this morning, but still chilly.

Because I turned 70 in October I had to reapply for a new Driving Licence. It seemed that the easiest way to deal with this issue was to go to the D.V.L.A. (Driving Vehicle and Licence Agency) and apply there, which I did in September. I was expecting that it would arrive within days, but took into account the fact that they would be working with fewer staff in their office, due to the social distancing regulations for the pandemic. I still hadn't received it up until today, so I decided to try and sort out here it was, so I needed the reference number I was sent via an email and wrote it down, together with my Licence number and then had to find a number which I could ring to, hopefully, discover what was going on. This was extremely difficult to find on their website and when I rang it, I heard a recorded voice and then it ended which was of absolutely no help. I then discovered there was a 'chat bot' which seemed the only alternative to a phone call. It didn't take long to get an agent to respond and I explained what the problem was and it ended with being given another number to ring, which I did. Around a ten minute wait (and the music I had to listen really getting on my nerves.)and when I got through I again explained what my problem was and eventually got told that the licence had been posted out only days after I had applied. So, because I hadn't received the licence, I was informed that a fresh one would be mailed out within the next couple of days and if I didn't receive it to telephone again. I'm just worried that it could have been intercepted by criminals (no doubt someone would be looking out for what they believed would contain a driving licence) and use my data for fraudulent business, no doubt using my ID for illegal use, which is why I needed to get this issue sorted out.

(Saturday) Here I am at 3.20a.m., sitting with my MacBook on my lap, in my armchair in my lounge with the wind howling outside and not able to sleep. It just isn't going to happen so that explains why I'm writing this at the moment, even though there's not much to write about.

7.05a.m. It now not as windy, thankfully.

9.25a.m. I think I might have got the weather wrong. Been out with Alfie for the second time and it's actually as windy as ever. Perhaps it's because the side of the building my flat is, it's far more sheltered from the wind. It was bitterly cold and Alfie was keen to get back inside. The sun keeps on going in and out, as it disappears and reappears behind clouds.

Been into the Centre:MK, the main Milton Keynes shopping centre to meet up with my friend Nick who came over from Northampton by bus, where he lives. We were scheduled to meet at 11a.m. I had to take Alfie out before I left and then drove into the centre of Milton Keynes, parking in my usual car park near The Point. Very few cars so it was easy enough to park, probably because not all the shops in the centre are open. I put my face covering on because you have to wear one in the shopping centre and the shops within it. Big black crows everywhere as I walk through from the carpark. Puts me very much in mind of the Hitchcock film 'The Birds.' They're everywhere, on the ground, in the trees and perched on the roof of the bus shelters and other items of street furniture.

I walk towards Costa which is near Marks and Spencer to wait for Nick to arrive. There's nowhere to sit. All the seating has been removed within the shopping centre. The benches which are dotted around the place, which obviously couldn't be removed, gave been 'blocked' with boards informing you that the bench has been closed off because of social distancing. All right, but when you eventually need a rest from all the walking you have to do to get from one shop and the next, you do occasionally need to sit and rest. When Nick arrived we decided to walk to Starbucks to get coffee and something to eat. On arrival we had to queue as the store was busy, no doubt because it was a Saturday. I ordered a chocolate chip cookie latte and a ham and cheese toastie and we walked around to sit on benches outside near Marks and Spencers. A bit cold and windy but there was nowhere else to sit. A bit difficult to drink and eat walking along but that doesn't matter. We then went into Marks and Spencer, but we had to walk round to the entrance that came out opposite one of the malls. The escalators were not working but we soon realised that it was because non of the floors above were open and the men's department, which we wanted to visit, was on the ground floor and tucked away in a corner and out of the way (why are the men's departments in stores always hidden away and considerably smaller than those for women? It was like a jumble sale, no thought put into presentation and lots of items of clothing shoved on clothing racks. Not the usual Marks and Spencer way of doing things. Nick bought a shirt. I browsed but didn't see anything I liked in the sale.

Nick said he wanted to buy postage stamps, so we walked the length of the shopping centre and crossed over the road going towards the theatre and when we got to the post office we found there was a queue to get in. We had to wait around ten minutes before we could get inside. From there we walked back into the shopping centre to use the toilets and then I walked back to my car because by now all the walking had made me tired and we departed, me to drive home and Nick to remain and then catch his bus back to Northampton

(Monday) Rather cold and windy this morning, which I was not expecting when I took Alfie out earlier. this morning. I've managed to transcribe quite a few pages into word processing, using the speech-to-text function on the iPad. It certainly speeds up the process, although I have to check spelling and some words get mis-heard.

Claiming Benefits

As I explained yesterday (Wednesday) I went in to the Milton Keynes Civic Offices to attempt to deal with what I was told was a sort of discretionary top-up to my housing benefits. Milton Keynes Council will not pay all my rent, for some reason best known to themselves. I need to have the rest paid from this, whatever it's called. I drove back in to Milton Keynes centre for the third time this week, parking as usual near The Point (oh dear, what a sad sight it has become! A once major Milton Keynes landmark, a sort of iconic Milton Keynes building with it's metallic pyramid-shape now little more than a rusting hulk, the rest of the multi-screen cinema complex deserted, boarded-up and looking a real mess. Totally sad and a disgrace to let it rot like this. The first multiplex cinema complex in the United Kingdom. I could go on. No doubt the owners waiting until the price of this prime location goes up before selling it off to the highest bidder.) Anyway, rant over. But you have to admit that it rather lowers the time of the area and doesn't exactly give Milton Keynes a very good image if you were to arrive via bus and then see this disgrace. I walked in through the shopping centre. There are no end of black crows perched in the trees and you walk across the road, some strutting around on the pavement, giving an air of impending doom and disaster, rather like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's film 'The Birds,' based on Daphne DuMaurier's  creepy story.

Having reached the Civic Offices, a good walk through the shopping centre, I had to sign in using one of the computer terminals. The thing issues you with a printed ticket with a number on it and then you have to wait in the seating area and wait for your number to come up on one of the screens and a computer voice to call you to whichever desk. There weren't that many other people waiting, fortunately. A lot of odd people wandering about, a large party which was going to the offices upstairs presumably for some sort of meeting and signing in at the furthest desk. They don't have such a thing as a reception desk anymore, a similar system they have at my bank, the NatWest, which is right next door to the Civic centre. Someone sort of 'floating,' with a clipboard or an iPad, to greet you as you enter, and make sure you're signed in and on the correct 'path', either to sign up for benefits or something else. It amuses me the way the computerised voice gives you instructions as to where to go when you number is called. I'd be interested as to how it works. Does someone sit and record all the numbers and then they are stored in a computer system? I don't know how it manages to decide which 'chunks' of dialogue to broadcast and in which order. The voice doesn't manage to sound too realistic when it gets to the end of a sentence. It should go 'down' rather than 'up.' Which gives a somewhat weird style of delivery. Why is it a female voice? Do people react to a female voice rather than a male? All these sorts of things go through my mind as I sit and wait.

I had to wait about half an hour and then my number came up. Number 208. I could see the numbers going down on the screen. One of the reasons I made sure I was at the office early enough because the last time I went in there it was mid-morning and I had to wait a good hour-and-forty minutes, with screaming babies and people talking with loud voices on their mobiles.

So, I walked to the correct desk and sat down and told the clerk or whatever his title would be, why I was there, to be told that any discretionary payment applications could only be done on-line. Which annoyed me considerably, considering I had to drive into the city centre and park and then walk through to the Civic offices and wait in the queue. So, I left somewhat disconsolately. But at least I could do the application on this MacBook Air.

I was taken to Marks and Spencer at the shopping mall near the football stadium. for lunch by Ross Dilnot, Pastor at Shenley Christian Fellowship. He and other church members have been extremely supportive during the last few months and particularly at the time that Carol passed away.  This is one place that Carol and I came on a regular basis for coffee and something to eat.

When I got home I had to search on-line for the Milton Keynes council website and the discover how to do the application for the discretionary payment I mentioned earlier in this blog post. I got part-way through the application and then the site would not move on to the next page, with the 'spinning ball of death' refusing to allow me to continue with the application. After several more attempts (I refused to give up as I wanted the application done in it's entirety.) I eventually managed to complete it. I have also done an application for the Teachers' Pension in the hope that I might receive some sort of payment from Carol's pension from working as a teacher at Milton Keynes Academy. I had to include a copy of the death certificate as well as our Marriage Certificate. 

A Bat In The Bedroom

No, please, don't mis-read the title of this blog post. But it is true. It was a scorching-hot day yesterday(Thursday) We didn't do a great deal, and when it came to bedtime we had the bedroom windows open and the electric fan on. We'd been listening to the radio, tuned to BBC Radio4 Extra. A lot of good stuff on there, 'The Goons,' 'Round The Horne,' 'I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again,' 'Just A Minute,' and a good deal more. One of our real favourites with the more modern stuff would be 'Clare In The Community.' I could discuss each in great detail, but I digress.  We eventually settled down to go to sleep, but it's not easy, being so hot. Then Carol said 'there's something flying around the room!' I wasn't sure what she was referring to. I could seen, in the partial light, something flying round and round the room. At first I thought it must be a moth, and it could have been that, but I don't think moths fly round and round. They flit sort of aimlessly and bump into the walls and the glass of windows. This didn't and it was completely silent. I got out of bed and turned on the lights and closed the door, as I didn't want whatever it was flying through into the rest of the house. I pushed the window open wider and stood still, eventually the bat flew out and I closed the window. Was this bat looking for somewhere to get out of the heat? In the shade, even though it was night-time? I'm not certain what sort of bat it was, mainly because I couldn't see it properly.

A 'sort of' letter came through the door early this morning from our landlord, giving a statement of the amount of rent we pay each month. Whether it will be accepted by the people at Milton Keynes Council for our application for Housing Benefit is open to doubt. It doesn't look official enough. It isn't signed properly and it looks more like something I could have written. It doesn't have his address on it, it's not typed and I am still sceptical that it is what they want. I can only take it to the Council offices and see what happens, but I have a feeling they will need something more substantial.

It's yet another boiling hot morning. It's bright and sunny, meaning it's going to continue like this for the rest of the day. I have never spent so long wearing shorts, and I'm only too glad I bought them when I did two years ago. Usually I only wear them for a day or two, when we are going out, but not for this length of time. I usually wear short sleeved shirts, as I don't really like long sleeved shirts, so the purchase of yet another polo shirt from Marks and Spencer can only be a good thing. The grass at the back of the house is looking decidedly patchy. It has longer sections which are looking like seeding but I may use the grass cutter instead of the mower to deal with it.

Later.I've managed to take the 'sort of' letter in to the Housing Benefit department at Milton Keynes Council this morning. I parked where I usually park, near 'The Point,' or at least, what's left of the rusting remains of this once-proud Milton Keynes landmark. I walked into the shopping centre and then through towards the Council offices in Saxon Gate. Fortunately I wasn't kept waiting too long. It appeared that I was only the second person in the queue (the number you are given on a ticket when you sign in comes up on a digital screen and a female voice gives out the numbers when it's your time to be called.) Fortunately the 'almost-letter' was acceptable as evidence of our tenancy. I had an idea that perhaps they would want something more official, but never mind. It would appear that we will now get Housing Benefit paid. Something less to stress over.

Now we need to sort out getting the car M0Td and insurance paid. I have managed to set up on-line banking so we can see our statements. I didn't think it was going to be possible, but we now have a new P.I.N. and password. Making things easier to track incomings and outgoings.

The nurse continues visiting to give Carol the antibiotics. We're about half way through the 12-days of this. Sometimes we get two nurses. I think the younger one is a student. Generally it takes around 45 minutes. They are scheduled to come between 11.30 and 1.00, but can come later, probably still here at around 1.15. One of the ladies doesn't like dogs, so poor Alfie has to go into the kitchen. We know he wouldn't bite anyone, probably sniff at them and then lick them like crazy. Although, to be fair, it's better he's not in the sitting room when they're busy with Carol as he'd just get in the way and there's a hygiene situation with a dog around.

Carol told me later, after I had come back from my visit to the Council offices and then Sainsbury's, that our landlord's wife had called, barely five minutes after I had left the house. She seemed concerned for Carol, having learnt that she had cancer. Which was quite a surprise. At least she's concerned for her welfare, intact, for both of us. Apparently they are coming to do an inspection of the house on Sunday afternoon , so at least all my efforts to clean the place will have at least had some purpose. The house might need a small amount of cleaning before they come, but at least it won't need a vast amount of work doing. The grass at the rear of the house needs attention, but as it's mostly shrivelled up due to the hot weather it shouldn't be too much trouble.

Bright, Sunny but Chilly

We have snow on the ground, but the sun is out and it's quite a pleasant morning. Let's hope the snow thaws and things begin to warm up a bit.

I've been out to the Milton Keynes main shopping centre. I parked near The Point (although, in all honesty, it's in an appealing state. Can nobody do something to it, restore it, or just demolish it? It seems a waste of a building, which could surely be used for something. Considering it's a sort of iconic structure, which almost represents Milton Keynes, you'd think something could be done with it.) It may be bright and sunny, but there was a chill wind blowing as I walked from the car into Midsummer Place. I had a browse in Waterstone's. They always have tables with books on, almost directly inside the door as you enter. Almost always have offers, such as 'buy one, get one half price.' Very tempting, but in the end I didn't pick up anything and buy it. I think that's the idea; once you've touched a product, you sort of 'own it,' so you then buy it. I went upstairs to the history centre and there are quite a few books that I will buy in the future, whether from Waterstone's or Amazon, I don't know. As we have Amazon Prime, we get free postage and packing, so it's generally cheaper to buy from them. I know it seems unfair on some 'bricks-and-mortar' bookshops, but if they're going to survive they'll have to make it more attractive to shop there as well as lowering their prices. I must say the Waterstone's in Midsummer Place has been upgraded quite successfully. They have a new coffee shop on the ground floor, whereas they used to have a branch of Costa coffee on the upper floor. Now there seems more shelf space and they also did away with Paperchase (much to Carol's dismay as she's a fan of that companies stationary items.) The new owners of Waterstone's have obviously realised that the stores needed a well-needed facelift to meet 21st shopper's requirements.

I was in real need of refreshment. I had considered the coffee shop in Waterstone's but having looked at the food on offer I gave it a miss. I walked through the main shopping centre. I walked the full length of the mall and then down the opposite walk-way. I had a glimpse in The Works (always good for a bargain book or two.) but nothing appealed. I went into Nationwide Building Society, because I had attempted to order a binder for my set of BBC History Magazines, but for some odd reason the order has not gone through, although the £7 has registered on my statement. When I rang to query this they did not have it shown on their system. I will have to ring and order the binder again and in Nationwide I was given a number to ring to get a refund of the £7. I don't understand what has happened and why things haven't gone as they should have.

Having walked back towards Midsummer Place, I decided to go into Marks and Spencer to have a break in their café. Not too much of a queue, which was preventing me going to several other outlets, such as Cafe Nero, opposite John Lewis. I had a decent latte, ham and cheese sandwich and a piece of Bakewell tart, and then went to have a browse in the men's clothing department and then back down to the main shopping mall. Just as I was walking past the second Waterstone's store I was aware of a male security guard chasing someone along the mall. I couldn't see who he was following, but as I got to about Starbuck's I saw a group of other security personnel. They approached this woman who was carrying a back-pack. She seemed more than a little reluctant to comply with their demands. I wasn't sure where she had been apprehended (no doubt shop-lifting). I wasn't going to hang about to find out, and didn't know whether she was searched to find out what she had lifted. Surely it wouldn't be too difficult to ascertain whether she had paid for whatever it was, proof of purchase being required, such as a receipt, or C.C.T.V. footage of her lifting whatever it was. But she appeared to be in something of a bad temper with the security personnel, shouting and making a scene. I still don't know what the outcome of this incident was and wasn't over-keen to find out. I always think in such circumstances it's probably best to not get too involved as it can only lead to problems. But it was quite eventful when it lasted.

I returned to the car and drove first to Sainsbury's for some shopping and then home.

I have a fitness tracker. Not a Fitbit. It measures the number of footsteps taken as well as heart rate, as well as other measurements. Carol got one off Amazon and I decided to get one myself. Having walked the full length of the shopping centre, down one side and back along the other, I did over 3000 steps. My heart rate comes out at around 60-70 beats a minute. It links up to my iPhone with an app so you can see your progress or otherwise.

It looks as if the snow has gone completely, although, saying that, there were a few stray patches I saw along the side of the road driving back to Eaglestone.

Eerie Birds, Building Sheds and Banks

I had to go into the main Milton Keynes shopping centre this morning. I was going to NatWest to close down some direct debits we had for things we no longer needed. It's always a good idea to review such things in an attempt to save some cash. I had parked the car near The Point and as I walked towards the shopping centre I could not help but notice a large amount of big black crows sitting in the trees. I'm not one to take notice of omens, but it was similar to the famous Hitchcock film 'The Birds.' I suppose they are used in film to present something ominous about to happen and are a bit of a cliché in that respect, but for all that they are rather scary.

I was far to early to get into Nationwide building society and I had to sit outside as the shutters were down. A good excuse to check my emails on my new iPhone. I wasn't in there too long and sorted out some direct debits on that account and then had to cross the road to visit the NatWest bank which is under the Milton Keynes Council offices. Unfortunately they weren't due to open until 10.00, so I had to go away and waste a good 20 minutes in the shopping centre. A lot of new work going on in the centre, it's being up-graded with new entrances and given a real smart look. I suppose it must be a good 40 years old and was certainly beginning to look it's age. 

The toilets ar being up-graded. Not such a bad thing I suppose. Then I walked back to the NatWest and found them open, but I then had to queue up for a good 10 minutes. The door squeaked horribly and it was annoying as I stood and waited. You'd think they could get an oil can out and give it a squirt, just to stop the irritating noise, but never mind. The place is gradually being taken over by automation. You can take money out via 'hole-in-the-wall- machines, or A.T.M.'s, but you can also pay money in, cheques as well as notes. So the job of tellers must be on the line. I suppose it gives you an alternative to standing in line to pay in by the traditional method, and they aren't that difficult to use. They can even give a receipt, a copy of a cheque if you pay in that way. Both my banks have them now. How on earth they manage to read the cheque without you having to key in the amount is beyond me. Just goes to show how clever technology is becoming.

Our dearly-beloved neighbour is making hammering noises once again. Over the last weekend we had to contend with him working on his new shed. Well, I call it 'new' in the sense that it's new to the garden next door, but from viewing it from our bedroom window and slight glimpses when I've looked over the fence, it looks ancient. I can't for the life of me think where he got it. Someone else no doubt wanted to be rid of it and he took it off them. Then I'm wondering, how on earth did he get it here? Was it taken apart and then re-assembled in next door's garden? That can be the only answer, but we never saw any of this work. But now he's nailing wood all over the thing as the edge of the roof was somewhat rotten, or at least that's how it looked to me. The whole of their garden looks for all the world like a building site, with bricks, wood and other material stacked up all over the place. No doubt Shelley (Gary's wife) got sick to death of all his tools and bits and pieces and told him he needed a shed to store it all. Which is my only suggestion. Unfortunately it is us who have to contend with the hammering and other extraneous noises as he builds the confounded thing.

Fixing the Car Door and Enabling Mobile Top-Up

I've been back to O.K. Garage this morning. The speed that traffic has been moving is making me feel quite unsafe. The people at the garage were talking about this matter, saying that there should be a lower speed limit on the grid roads around Milton Keynes. So, it's not just me thinking that drivers around here have become excessively aggressive. The mechanics have had a really difficult job trying to find where the thing is in the car that controls the car. I waited in their reception area for around an hour and a half and was eventually told that this 'thing' that controls the sliding doors and which is, presumably, playing up and preventing the driver's side door from working properly, is actually INSIDE THE DOOR!!! I can't believe it. It took most of yesterday and near enough two hours this morning to discover this. I would have thought there would be some sort of diagram somewhere or other, probably on a website, which would show the electrical circuitry for the car. There is, but apparently it doesn't show this electrical thingemy. The garage will let me know when they've managed to track down a replacement so that it can be fitted, but it means we have to drive around for a little bit longer with the door still not working properly. It's beginning to become somewhat annoying and wearing having to use brute force to open and close the door and sometimes having to contend with the alarm going on to tell us that the door isn't closed properly.

The other problem has been not being able to top up my mobile, using the 02 code which I bought in One Stop in Garraways. I decided the only solution was to go into the actual 02 shop in the Central Shopping Centre in Milton Keynes. I wasn't exactly over-enamoured of the idea as it was pouring with rain, and, having just spend so long at the garage I wasn't actually in the right frame of mind to be walking around inside the centre. But I was eager to sort out this problem. So I drove into the centre and parked where I usually do near The Point. It's becoming more and more dilapidated and really needs demolishing. As I've mentioned before, it seems awful that such an iconic building should be allowed to get into such a state of decay. How come nobody has been able to take the site over and refurbish it? It has 'For Sale' signs all over it and no doubt it will eventually be sold and the site cleared for more shops and offices. 

I walked into the centre and reached the 02 shop and explained my problem. I was told they could do nothing, the assistant attempted to top the mobile up with the code on the voucher I'd bought in One Stop. It still would not work. I'm beginning to get heartily sick of the woman's voice you have to listen to who tells you how to top the thing up. I bought a sandwich and drink in Boots and then left to return to the car and drove to Galloways in Coffee Hall. I had to queue at the till and eventually got the assistant to try the top-up once more, but no joy. I don't think she had much idea how to resolve the problem but decided to give me the benefit of the doubt and gave me a fresh voucher. I went home and tried it. Thankfully it worked. So the old voucher must have been wrong, but I can't see how, as these voucher codes must be randomly generated. I'm just glad that it now works and I have my £10 credit on the mobile.

Trip Into Milton Keynes Centre

As we were unable to use the car  at the moment(as described in the earlier blog post.) we decided to go into Milton Keynes Central Shopping Centre on the bus. As I have a free bus pass (now being of a 'certain age'.) it seems sensible to use it (Carol has to pay full price for a bus ticket.) and we left the house at around 9.30. It was unsettled, weather-wise, and we had to put on jackets. It wasn't raining as we left, but the sky was becoming very over-cast, with dark clouds. We got to the bus stop in Saxon Street and soon caught a bus. It took us to near the Milton Keynes Theatre where we got off and went into the Central Shopping Centre. Carol wanted to go into Pret a Manger, the coffee and food outlet in Middleton Hall, as one of her former pupils worked there and had said, if she visited, she could have free coffee. Which is what happened. She was so pleased to see the young man, who was very well-mannered and she was so happy that he is doing well. I presume he is working, like my stepson Daniel, who is at Newcastle University and has a part-time job to supplement his student loan. We had really come into the shopping centre more as a way to fill in time, and to 'window shop' as we can't currently buy much until payday this Friday. We did browse in The Works, which always seems to have an amazing selection of books at discount prices and the stock changes so rapidly you have to keep returning because of snapping up any bargains. We went into Hotter Shoes as Carol needs a pair of comfortable shoes for work. She tried a pair on and finds it difficult to get shoes in her shoe size, which is very small. Expensive shoes, but very well made. Good that they are all manufactured in this country. I think you get what you pay for. Later we went into Tiger, the new store further along from Pret A Manger. I mentioned that we visited the last time we were in the shopping centre. It would appear that their stock changes regularly because a lot of what we saw last time, and it was only a week or two ago (when we had walked into the centre along the canal.) and the stock was different then. We looked in at W.H. Smith, but compared to the stock in Tiger, such things as pens, ring binders and notebooks are a good deal cheaper in the other store compared to Smith's, which looks really boring and bland in comparison. Carol's favourite store in Paperchase and we had to visit, even if to just browse, and I was pleased to find that they had a particularly good selection of notebooks as well a range of pens which I have only just discovered called Lamy. I have purchased a mechanical pencil and ballpoint pend via Amazon as well as buying Carol a ballpoint which had free engraving. Actually quite expensive, but worth it, as they are well made and feel good in your hands when you're writing.  Next we visited Gregg's and had baguettes and sausage rolls. We then saw a display in a shop called Mr Simms' Olde Sweet shop, of sugar-free sweet in their window, so we went inside and bought a small amount of sugar-free sweets as Carol was recently diagnosed diabetic. It was quite encouraging to find such a great range of such products. We  gradually walked as far as Marks and Spencer which is at the opposite end of the shopping centre to John Lewis and purchased some bits and pieces for our dinner later in the evening.  I was most impressed by the cashier, because when we'd arrived at the checkout, Carol decided we needed some soy sauce to go with the stir-fry we were having that evening. The lady got up from her seat at the till and went to find Carol, who we could see struggling to find the soy sauce, and the lady managed to point out the location. That's what I call going beyond the call of duty and was really impressed. Not many staff in a shop would go to such lengths to help a customer. It had by now begun to rain quite heavily and we had to get to the bus stop next to The Point (which is in a really poor state of dis-repair. Sad to think such an iconic building left to deteriorate so badly. Shame on whoever owns it. Surely it could be restored to it's former glory and be put to some use or other.) and managed to return home, through the rain-soaked streets of Milton Keynes and were glad to get back and I made us tea.