Month: March 2016

Inchcock Today 19 March 2016: A Day In – then changed my mind. Huh!

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0001aa

Up at 0330hrs; To the bathroom and rubbing in Phorpain gel on my neck and right shoulder. The pain is so bad it’s now worrying me? Took the medications with an extra pain-killer. Thi seems to have taken over from all the other ailments, apart from Roger Reflux playing up as well. (I reckon Roger will see me off) But this whatever it is in the neck and shoulder must be mentioned to nurse on Monday’s INR blood test visit. Most annoyingly uncomfortable and persistent it is this morning.

Still having this urge to get on with the NCH Repair posts, though. I finished yesterday’s diary, started this one, then got Part One finished and published.

Did some Facebooking. Then some email checking.

By then it was 0645hrs and the shoulder was getting less painful I’m glad to say. A mystery as to why the neck and shoulder pains came on at all?

MarieEgyptDid a graphicalisation of TFZ Angel Marie, with her friends out for the night.

Naughty girls! Hehe!

Feeling a bit livelier now, I might get the personal ablutions done, and try to get out again?

Yes, I will; Got the bath running and togs ready. Managed to get into and out of the tub without any hiatus, didn’t cut myself shaving, no bleeding teeth when I brushed them; However, the shoulder and neck were somewhat tenellous.

I left the flat, then returned to collect my hearing aids. Left again and met a couple of tenants waiting for the bus, had a little natter with them. Then got on the City bus and read my book (Sniper on the Eastern Front) for the whole journey.

02a

Dropped off on Upper Parliament Street, went into the pound shop to see if they had any bath salts – no luck there.

Then crossed the road and called at Boot’s in theVictoria Shopping Mall – No luck there either.

Walked to the other end and en route took some Bling photos for the TFZ girls. Then into Tesco and got some bits, including some Radox bath salts.

Out of the mall and up through Trinity Square,  found some interesting stuff to photo for the gals again in the second-hand jewelry shop.

Did a bit of hobbling around and window shopping. Sneaked the pigeons some fodder when I hoped no one was looking.

02bI got a decent photo of an Easter rabbit in a shop window too.

Then had a nasty dizzy spell. So I didn’t go to the Arboretum. Instead, I made my way to the bus stop and caught a 40 that drops me off on Winchester Hill (Providing I don’t fall asleep of course, Hehe).

I limped along to the bus stop near the Post Office, and nearly got myself knocked over as a barmy Burke on a bike belted passed me and caught my right elbow a wallop! Humph! Now that started the shoulder and neck off as well. Grrr!

I took a photograph, from the 40 bus terminus of the Council house.02c

This shows how dank and murky the weather had turned.

Got the book out, but the bus driver must have been a fan or participant in stock car racing or Demolition Derby driving, cause he was a bit crude and wasn’t showing much interest in slowing down for the speed humps or corners.

This meant the ride was painful and uncomfortable.

Tsk!

I was lucky when I dropped off on the bend in the hill, no traffic in sight either way, so I didn’t have to rush across the road.

Got in the flat, finding a letter had been delivered – from the bank. Got to stop spending so many pounds methinks.

02dI put away the purchases of the day. Noticing to my utter and flabberghasted mind, that there on the tray was… well, I don’t like to say really.

But a pack of two Fresh Cream French Horns!

How they got into the basket when I was shopping, I just don’t know or understand at all! 01W04 … Whoops!

Then got the fodder prepared. Beef pie (A big one!) and roast vegetables with pan cooked green beans.

Updated this diary while they cooked.

Oh, I forgot to mention this, I called in Wilko and has a look at their slow cookers. There were two that I thought would fit on the counter in the kitchen, but both were too heavy for me to carry. Also, I need someone to come with me who understand all the functions and compare then between the two. One was 5 litre the other 3.5 litres. I’ll have to get some help on this one.

I checked the food cooking at the time estimated for completion, but it still needed a good while yet, as the vegetables were nowhere near cooked. Gave then another ten minutes then checked again.

No, not done, gave them a bit longer then?

P1050280Eventually, it came out not too bad.

I could only give it a rating of 7.2/10!

Some of the vegetables were okay, others were a tad underdone.

I’d overdone the green beans and the beetroots were like mini golf balls!

The pie was done to perfection.

I left some of the pastry, being as the pie was far too large really.

Lethargy, exhaustion and fatigue quickly overcame me, the ringing in the head returned and generally I collapsed into the 1959 damaged imitation leather arm chair and stayed there, moving only between the bathroom, to take the late medications, and when I caught one of the many painful bodily areas as I waited hours for sleep to overtake me. Humph! 

Nottingham City Homes: Part One: Repairs Guide for New Senior Citizens in Indepedendant Living flats

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What to do, and what is likely to happen when the flat needs repairs done.

01W11

You move into the bare flat and are concerned about the state, safety and correct usages of the electrical mishmash on the living room wall.

The boxes were hanging loose, the wires deformed.

What should you do, who should you talk to about this?

First, you consult the handbook given you and find that:

All emergency repairs must be reported on our Repair line 0115 915 2222. Difficult when your deaf? If something in your home needs repairing you can:

  • Call us on 0115 915 2222
  • Report your repair online (not available on mobile phones/tablets)
  • Email us

However you get in touch, we’ll need to know your name and address, your ‘phone number and details about the repair – remember, the more you tell us, the quicker we can help – as well as what time is good for us to come and see you about the repair, and whether you have any hearing difficulties or need some time to get to the door. We’ll then tell you whether the repair is our responsibility or yours.

If it’s ours, we’ll give you a reference number and arrange an appointment. Repair requests are put into groups according to how urgent the repair is.

We charge for some kinds of repairs – we’ll let you know if you’ll be charged when you report your repair.

What’s your repair?

Emergency repairs are those that need doing because there’s a real risk of injury or death if they’re not carried out – for example if a property isn’t secure, if it’s been significantly damaged, or if there’s a total loss of heating in winter.

We’ll always get to an emergency repair callout within 24 hours, if not immediately. Any follow-up work will be completed soon after the initial emergency situation has been resolved.

We know that when something needs fixing, it can seem like an emergency – but please use your common sense, and use the list below as a guide.

Please make sure you’re at home when we come out to your emergency repair. If you’re not in and the repair that you’ve reported isn’t an emergency, the job will be cancelled, and financial charges imposed. You may lose your Tenancy Status:

Introductory tenancy:
If you haven’t been a council tenant before, you’ll get an introductory tenancy. It means that you have fewer rights than a secure tenant, and it’s easier for us to evict you if we need to.

Introductory tenancies last for a year and automatically become secure tenancies after that unless you’ve breached any of your tenancy conditions. If there has been a breach, the introductory tenancy may be extended by another six months.

Breaches of an introductory tenancy include anti-social behaviour and may result in eviction if the breach of tenancy is very severe.

We’ll always explain the action that we take, and you have the right to ask for a review of any of our decisions.

Secure tenancy:
If you’ve successfully completed the one-year (or longer if it’s been extended) introductory tenancy, you’ll then get a secure tenancy.

A secure tenancy gives you more rights, including the exclusive right to live in your home, and the right to buy it. You can’t be evicted unless we can prove there are grounds for us to do so, such as continued anti-social behaviour – and, of course, you still need to keep to all your tenancy conditions.

Demoted tenancy:
Your tenancy will be demoted if you’ve seriously breached the conditions of your secure tenancy. You’ll have fewer rights, similar to those of an introductory tenant.

A demoted tenancy lasts for 12 months unless we decide to evict you during that period.

* * * * * 

This list should help you to decide if your repair is an emergency or not.

Emergency priorities:

We will respond within four hours and complete within three working days of you reporting any of these issues:    

  • Total loss of electric power or partial loss where serious inconvenience is caused 
  • Unsafe electrics 
  • Total loss of water supply     
  • Total or partial loss of gas supply
  • Blocked flue to open fire or boiler 
  • Total loss of water/heating     
  • Partial loss of water/heating (November to March only)   
  • Blocked or leaking foul drain, soil stack or toilet ball valve/overflow  
  • Toilet not flushing    
  • Leak from water or heating pipe, tank or cistern
  • Leaking roof  
  • Insecure external doors or windows    
  • Blocked toilet
  • Unsafe floorboards, stair tread, banister or handrail
  • Exposed survey chamber

Routine priorities:

We will complete routine repairs within 15 working days of you reporting it to us. Routine repairs are repairs that are not deemed to be an emergency or programmed work.

Repairs that we charge for:

Unfortunately, some people damage their home, either deliberately or accidentally. When repairs are needed as a result of this kind of damage, you may have to pay.

Most people treat their homes with care and respect because they want to live somewhere pleasant and comfortable.

Unfortunately, some people damage their home, either deliberately or accidentally.

When repairs are needed as a result of this kind of damage, you may have to pay after your financial viability has been checked.

If we think that someone has damaged their home or their visitors have caused the damage, we’ll ask them to explain what’s happened.

Anyone who causes damage will have to pay to put it right. We ask for payment from people who have caused damage whether they still live in the property, or whether they’ve moved out.

Typical damage of this kind includes accidental damage to fixtures and fittings caused by attempting DIY, damage resulting from anti-social behaviour such as fighting, and damage caused by the police if they’ve had to enter your home forcibly with a warrant.

If there’s work that needs doing to your home when you move out, or furniture and belongings left behind, we will send you a bill to cover the cost of repairs and removal.

If you damage your home and don’t pay the repair costs, you won’t be eligible for your £100 Responsible Tenant Reward.

Repairs that are your responsibility:

Under the terms of your tenancy agreement, you have to carry out some minor repairs and pay for them yourself.

These are repairs to:

Letterboxes, door knockers and doorbells
latches and bolts
door handles
kitchen cupboard and drawer handles, knobs, catches and hinges
sink, basin and bath plugs and chains
blocked pipes to sinks, basins, baths and toilets
coat hooks
toilet seats and pull chains
tiles and splash-backs, including fireplace tiles
window catches and fasteners on wooden windows in houses, but not flats
plaster cracks caused by shrinkage
external grates.
If you lose your keys, it’s your responsibility to get the lock changed and new keys cut. We can do the repair and charge you if you prefer. If the lock has seized up, we will do the repair.

A blocked waste pipe to a bath, shower or basin is not an emergency and we expect you to repair this yourself.

We have some advice and tips to help you look after the repairs that are your responsibility.
Condensation
Condensation is the most common cause of damp. It’s mainly caused by poor ventilation. This is because all air contains some water vapour. The warmer the air, the more water vapour it holds. Condensation is caused by warm air coming into contact with a cool surface – that’s why the bathroom mirror steams up after a shower.
Trip switches
Your home has a fuse box. Fuse boxes are sometimes called consumer units
Blocked Pipes
The most effective thing you can do to stop pipes getting blocked is to watch what you put down them.

Frozen and burst pipes
If a water pipe freezes, turn off the water at the main stop tap and let pipes thaw out naturally. If a water pipe bursts, turn off the water at the main stop tap, put a bowl under the leak, switch off your central heating or immersion, turn on all the taps to drain the system (this can take about 15 minutes), then, when they’ve run dry, turn them off.


You will be held responsible for any faults, damage or disfigurement caused by any outside contractor. If you use and pay for the Nottingham City Homes Repair Division to carry out these or any repair works, it is your obligation to ensure the work is satisfactory and carried out to your satisfaction, by signing the standard contentment with work performed, on your tenanted residence.

* * * * *

CG poorly2At this stage, weary, thoroughly confused, and having missed your doctors appointment studying the mind-boggling gumph, you stop reading the pamphlet and put away the other twenty-four of them and make yourself a much-needed cup of tea.

You go to see the flats coordinator to ask for advice and you meet other tenants on the way. They tell you to ring ‘1’ on the intercom, and you’ll get straight through and can tell them the problem.

So you return to the flat and do that. You can’t hear what the person is saying on the other end of the line, though.

So you return down the lift to go to see one of the Coordinators again.

You bump into the caretaker, who returns with you back to your flat to have a look at the electrical mishmash for you. “You’ll ‘ave to give em a ring mate!”

So you press on and arrive at the Coordinators Wooden Hut, to find they have both gone home. Then discover from another tenant that they do not work weekends but will be back Monday at 0900hrs.

You return to the flat, and sort through all the Nottingham City Homes letters, advertisements, advisory notices etc. and find an email address, so you set about creating an understandable email explaining your worries about the wiring and plugs. This takes an hour or so of your reading it back to yourself to make sure it is understandable to the recipient. You send it off, and make another cuppa, wishing it were alcoholic.

Then, return to the laptop to find the email has been bounced back to you!

You get ready, and go to catch the bus into town, so you can call at the NCH offices and talk to someone about it.

You get on the wrong bus, drop off and wait to catch another one. Eventually, you will arrive at the office very late on in the day but find they are helpful – they can’t provide any advice or answers mind, but they will pass on your request to the appropriate department.

With so many other worries, things to get done and concerns with moving to the flat, three months later you realise nothing has been done.

You mention this to the coordinator, and she kindly rings them and informs you they had sent me a letter telling me someone was calling on a certain day, and I was not in when they called. It transpired that either you or they had got the number of the flat wrong!

They assured her, once she had given the correct flat number to them that I would be receiving another appointment.

You manage to forget this for another month or two, due to the pressing worries of the leaking, cracked and unopenable kitchen window farce: But that’ll be explained in Part Two of “Nottingham City Homes; Repairs Guide for New Senior Citizens in Indepedendant Living flats”… if the flat doesn’t burn down in the meanwhile?

Inchcock Today – 18 Mar 16: Lousy start, but it got betterer!

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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

0001ab

0001aaA horrible, dreadful start to the day today, chronic!

I burst (Mentally like, not physically) into life, the brain totally doing its own thing for several minutes. I realised I’d only had about three hours sleep, but no way could I convince myself to go back to kip?

Little Inchy was stinging and damp, Anne Gyna was a bad girl, even the ulcer joined in first thing.

I made a cuppa took the medications and onto the laptop sharpish, it was like a magnet.

I just had to get on with the Nottingham City Homes funnies. For some reason, it seemed so important to me?

Graphicallised away for hours and hours.

Got the bath runnings and did my ablutions.

Then started the creating for the posts for another hour or so.

Got wrapped up well, and planned to have a walk up through Woodthorpe Grange Park and find the Tropical House to take some photographs.

Sorted the rubbish bags out ad tool the to the chute on the way out.

One of the lifts was kaput again.

Deerhat1Jill was in the lobby as I passed by.

Luckily, I had some nibbles to hand to her.

Then I went the back up to the park. A bit muddy, but not too bad.

I slid up the hill (Hehe), one pace up one pace down for a bit.

But managed to climb it.

Up to the end and in the entry gate to P1050262 where the Tropical Garden was. They had put up some new signs, so this time, I found it!

The legs were aching a bit, and Anne Gyna was ever present.

Two women with their dogs were hobbling along nattering, and one of the dogs, being friendly like, jumped on a woman passed by and left muddy paw marks on her jeans! Oh, if looks could kill there would have been two dead women and their dogs!

I got it through the doors to the giant glasshouse, and it was wonderful. Not a very big place, but I took my hat and gloves off, it was so well heated, if a little unkempt. At the back, a bloke was sat on a bench dozing; I didn’t half make him jump when he heard me.

Took some photographs of the plants.

P1050264 P1050266 P1050265 P1050267

P1050268No idea what they were. Just thought they were beautiful. I came across a Chilean lemon tree in the Tropical House, massive lemons on it.

P1050270Hobbled down across to the Plant Shop.

I felt guilty disturbing the chap in charge!

I was the only person there.

Still, I found two plants I liked. Might show the photographs to Sister Jane and casually ask her she likes them, P1050269then I know which one to buy for her later? Cunning eh?

I limped down through the park and into Sherwood.

Called in Wilko and got another cheap saucepan to replace the one I burnted yesterday and some window cleaning vinegar.

To the bus stop. No dizzies today, although Anne Gyna stayed present all day.

Got back to the flat and I made towards the porcelain. No blood from the haemorrhoids.

P1050271Got the nosh on. Potato Gratin, giant battered fishcakes, baked mini potatoes, beetroot and some Irish Batch bread.

Followed by a banana and strawberry dessert.

Tasty. Rated this as 8.9/10.

When doing the washing up afterwards, I bent and stretched to pick up the bleach bottle and – crack! The right shoulder presented me with a sharp crunch of bones, so loud I hear it without my hearing aids in. Ad Nauseum followed.

I watched s couple of episodes of Dr Who without falling asleep.

Back on the laptop and did more work on the Nottingham City Homes Repair series of posts.

I had a quick wash. The shoulder gave me one more crunch as I dried myself with the towel. Left me with mild pains when I used the arm now.

Soon nodded off for a change, but soon shot awake again. Did this several times for no apparent reason?

TTFN.

Inchcock Today Thu 17 Mar 16: Community Shed Socialisationing hour today

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01Wa

Thursday 17 March 2016

0315 hrs: I lay thinking of the dreams I’d had. (Although now I’ve gotten around to writing the down,  they’ve gone. Most vexatious!)

I stirred, passed wind, felt the horrible warm wet sensation from the lower regions, swore, then struggled up and to the bathroom. ‘Little Inchy’ needs attention – (I must ask Deana the flats coordinator to ring the surgery for me after the Windwood Comunity Shed Social Hour this morning) The other regular ailments were all being kind to me at this time, though.

Remembered to do me checks today: Sys 132 – Dia 66 – Pulse 73 – Temp 36.2 I wish I knew if they are alright? I keep meaning to ask the nurse: but keep forgetting to. Huh!

On the throne, I thought I was going to cough my way into me coffin; it persisted for an hour or so, then dissipated almost entirely? Made a cuppa, took my medications while I thought about it, and got the laptop on.

P1050248I assembled the Easter-nibbles for the tenant meeting.

I hope BJ turns up.

I also hope I have amassed enough for me to offer each of them one; Mini egg, chocolate rabbit or a Ferrero.

I did this while I thought of it, then returned to the laptop and completed yesterday’s diary.

Then, I had to have another go at sorting out ‘Little Inchy’, painful, messy affair. Tsk!

Did some Facebooking. Then emailing, Then started on a new ‘Humorous (I hope) post about Nottingham City Homes Repairs and my struggles with them. I’ve not gotten it anywhere near finished yet.

Time for the srub-up, polish and bath. The only hiatus in the proceedings once again was having to treat ‘Little Inchy’s’ lesion. Heck of a job stopping it again.

Got the bag ready with the things needed and set off for the Community Hut. Met three gals in the lobby, thus; the laughs started on the walk to the shed.

DV veins 2DV veinss DV veins

P1050251

The meeting went well, with much joy and dry humour abounding between us all. The nibbles went down well with them.

I felt elated and exhilarated after the session ended. A bit sad BJ did not show up or let me know how he was; I’ll ring him later. (Did I remember. Huh!)

Spontaneously decided to catch the L8 bus to Mapperley Tops, and get a TV paper and have a toddle around the shops.

Had a natter with a lady who also caught that bus, and she dropped off at the same place.

I walked along the road, terribly disappointed in the lack of choice between the shops.

I went into the Co-op and got a TV paper and some Brown bread thins.

When I came out, I was going to have a walk back to the flats. As I approached to pass a bus stop, I espied that an L9 was due in one minute, so joined the queue. The lady who came up on the bust with me, called to me “Gerry, the L9 is coming, hobble faster!” I took to and liked her sense of humour immediately.

We had a chin-wag en route back to the flats. Shared the lift, she lives on the fifteenth floor, had stolen my heart; But has a hubby was waiting for her. Humph and double humph Hehe! ‘Taint fair.

To the bathroom and made use of its porcelain.

Laptop on to update this twaddle.

Then I put the lamb shank in the saucepan to simmer away, a large potato in the oven to bake and opened a tin of garden peas.

P1050260I kept nipping in to check it’s progress.

The meal went down well, but at a cost so to speak.

 I needed a new saucepan now and got another burn off of oven tray.

Hey-ho!

Spent far too long once more (Nearly four hours!) on the NCH Homes post, and was well drained when suspended this activity. I hope to get it finished tomorrow.

I fought to stay awake to watch some Dr Who episodes, gave up, and then struggled to get to sleep then!

Tsk!

Inchcock Today – Wed 16 Mar 16: Opprobrious Inchcock!

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Wednesday 16 March 2016

01Wa

01WI bounded up out of my hammock.

Took a picture of the morning from the kitchen window.

Dropped to the floor, did 100 press-ups, some shadow boxing and down and up the twelve flights of stairs in the flats, to loosen my joints, singing merrily away as I did so…

01W0401WaI did take the photograph, though.

Back to Reality then: I stirred in my damaged 1959 imitation leather armchair and detected a warm wet sensation from the nether regions. Little Inchy obviously needed attention. As I reached for my stick, I realised it wasn’t there? Perplexed for a moment, I struggled up and had a look around and found the stick underneath the armchair? Even more perplexed then.

Arthur Itis had returned with his intense pangs, twinges and stabs, but Roger Reflux was being kind to me, Anne Gyna her usual self. Had a bit of a ‘Little Inchy’ mess to clean up in the bathroom. I felt atrophied.

Made a cuppa, took the medications, and then got straight onto the laptop to try and sort out the Coreldraw X8 functionalities. Changes some options and preferences, it seems to be working okay, I’d not adjusted anything on the old Coreldraw X7 for ages, and struggled a bit to gain access. Thick fool that I am! Created the graphic at the top of this page okay.

Finished yesterday’s diary off and posted it.

Had a quick bash on Facebook.

Got the bathing and ablutions tended to; Little Inchy seems to have stopped bleeding, at last, more crossing of fingers!

Hearing aids, bus pass, mobile phone and cash card all in my pockets, I made my way down the lift, met up with some other residents who were at the bus stop, gave them some nibbles and a chinwag ensued. They all got on the L8 bus, just me and one other got on the L9 to town.

01WI dropped off on Upper Parliament Street. There were no shortages of buses this morning.

Called into the Pound World, but they didn’t have any of the pots in again.

It was nice sunshine now, but terribly cold with it.

I decided to have a wander around the Pound Shop on Lister Gate, the Pound Worlds and 99p shop in Broad Marsh, and the Pound World in town, in 01W03search of some of the lidded small boxes for my medications.

As I walked down the side of the Council House on my way to the Broad Marsh Centre, an altercation was taking place between some yobboes, just around the corner.

I took a photo of three police officers, who seemed totally uninterested as the patrolled the front of the Council House to make sure the Councillors who arrived for the meeting would be safe and would have somewhere to park. Humph!

01W05Up to Bridlesmith Gate, where I tried to take a moody photograph, but failed.I got through the poor Big Issue sellers corner without to any hiatus. 

I got through the poor Big Issue sellers corner without to any hiatus. This one I liked, a Scottish chap with a booming voice, wished each person a happy day and thanked them for nothing. I slipped him a couple of quid for his style.

01W04Down onto Fletcher Gate. The pigeons were out in number.

The Big Issue Sellers there were at a disadvantage as hey didn’t speak good English.

A few Pavement Cyclist were about, but too quick for me to photographicalise them. 

Onwards I plodded, trying the three pound-type shops as I got to Broad Marsh, none of them had any pots. But I did get some Lavender soap, one for Sister Jane, and one for me to put in the airing cupboard with the clothes.

I also weakened when I called in the DVD shop.

I’ll not say how much I spent because I’m ashamed of myself. Dr Who is to blame!

Then I went to the 99p Shop, who also didn’t have any pots in stock. But still spent around £9 on cleaners. Tsk!

Out of the top end and back onto Bridlesmith Gate, where I to passed the Scottish Big Issue Seller, who was still giving his loud verbals out, bless him.

01W07 01W06Back into the Slab-Square.

01W08Managed to get a photo of one of the Nottingham City Council mini-cleaning electric machines to put on Facebook for the American TFZers, at the Old Folk’s site.

The sky was looking nice again, but the wind was biting.

I had a hobble about until the bus was due. Then a nice chat with a lady at the bus stop. Caught the L9, and was soon asleep on the bus; I did feel a right clot when the lady woke me up just before we arrived at the flats, much to the amusement of the other passengers, and the driver who remembered me doing this last month he said. Hey-Ho!

Got in the flat, passed water, and put the kettle on and made a cuppa. Then started the laptop and updated this diary. For some reason, making many faux-pas along the way?

P1050247Hours later, I made another brew and got the simple nosh for today cooking. Oven chips, beetroot, pickled onions and egg, Irish Batch bread and cooked ham.

Finished off with a custard & jelly dessert.

Rated this one at 9.44/10.

Watched some episodes of Doctor Who First series, but had to give up when I kept nodding off too often. The rewind button on the remote control is looking faded compared to the others on it. Hehe!

Woke around 0100 hrs, oh dear, Little Inchy flowing again. Cleaned the haemoglobin and him up, and head down again.

Inchcock Today – Tues 15 Mar 16: Downloaded the New Coreldraw X8 update – three hours later, I got it installed!

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01W03Tuesday 15 March

P1050232

0705hrs: My nearby posh neighbours

0525hrs: Got up when I woke up, rather late due to my ridiculously late getting my head down last night, and I wrote down a bit of some of the dreams I’d had, to use later.

Not feeling so good this morning, not surprising, after yesterday’s mind and body battering I took. Huh!

Got the return bags and the trolley ready for the Morrison delivery. CG poorly2P1050235Laptop on and titivated the Monday diary, and got it posted off.

I can’t get the picture of the waterless pond and the suffering ducks from my mind.

The delivery came and I stored away the fodder. I can’t help but think I’m overdoing it with the home shopping yer know? Hehe!

Got the washing and accouterments ready, and them and my book down to the laundry room. Someone had left a note on the washer I usually use, explaining it was Kaputt! The first one’s lights were lit either. Luckily, Olive from flat 84 came by and explained to me that it never had lighted before it starts the wash, and demonstrated how to set it to me. I thanked her and we had a nice natter.

Got the washer going, and wandered down to the Community Hut and gave Dean and Julie their Easter eggs. Another good gossip was enjoyed. I returned to the laundry room and got the washing out to go into the dryer – it was extremely wet still? I got the dryer going, but knew that I’d have to give it another go afterward, to get the clothes properly dried.

Back up to the flat, and got the laptop on to update this tosh.

Noticed the notes on the pad about the dreams, but had to rely on these records alone, and the memories of the dreams had gone now.

A gigantic pink yacht, snobs, unpleasant, drowning, guns, submarine, lost head still alive. Prison. – Not very clear are they? Hehe!

Facebooking until time to go down and check the dryer.

Blow me down, the clothes were still damp! Had to spin them for the third time!

Lilly was in the foyer, so I nipped back to get some nibbles for her.

Returned and Lilly had gone. So read my book while the dryer, at last, got the clothes dry enough for me. Blimey, three hours to get my laundry to dry!

Deana Walker and Frank came in the laundry room while I was emptying the dryer and singing ‘The Young One’s” to myself, I did feel a fool!

Back up to the flat and updated this diary, after storing my clobber away.

Got the neck of lamb in the oven cooking very slowly, and opened a tin of Lamb Bhuna with vegetables. This might have been a mistake, I tasted it while stirring it in the pan, it was too hot and spicy for my tasted. I made some plain lamb stock and added it, hoping it would make it less volatile to the pallet. Deerhat1 Fingers crossed.

Not too bad as it turned out… well, not as bad as I thought it might do if you know what I mean?

Maybe, not bad, or maybe not too bad is the best description?

Rated it 7.9/10.

The update from CoreldrawX7 to X8 came through, so I downloaded it – it took me three hours to get it done and working. Huh! The original product code was a devil to find, then it didn’t accept the password, so I had to reset it, then I downloaded the 32bit version in error, so had to download and install the 64bit version… my body objected. With it being so late in the night when I foolishly tackled this job, the brain wasn’t too keen either.

They had changed the appearance of the icons, and this caused me to get confused when setting up the workspace. I did so much then had to get the head down, tired out now, poor thing. Hehe!

TTFN.

Inchcock Today – Mon 14 Mar 16: Incorporating the Nottingham Arboretum Shock and the Failed To-Do list!

/ Inchie / Leave a comment

A Euro Joke I came across here. Not a good one either, but it had a twinge of some heartfelt sincerity in it that I appreciated about it!

A farmer named Sam was overseeing his animals in a remote hilly pasture in Hereford when suddenly, a brand-new BMW advanced toward him out of a cloud of dust.

The driver, a young man in a Brioni® suit, Gucci® shoes, RayBan® sunglasses and YSL® tie leaned out the window and asked the farmer, “If I tell you how many cows and calves you have in your herd, you’ll give me a calf?”
Sam looks at the man, who obviously is a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully
grazing animals and calmly answers, “Sure, why not?”

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell® notebook computer, connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3® cell phone and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo. The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop® and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany … Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot® that the image has been processed and the data stored.

He then accesses an MS-SQL® Database through an ODBC connected Excel® spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry® and, after a few minutes, receives a response. Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet® printer, turns to the Farmer and says, “You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves.”

“That’s right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves,” says Sam.

He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on with amusement as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.

Then Sam says to the young man, “Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?”

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says:

“Okay, why not?”

“You’re a Member of the European Parliament”, says Sam.

“Wow! That’s correct,” says the yuppie, “but how did you guess that?”

“No guessing required” answered Sam:

“You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You used millions of pounds worth of equipment trying to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you don’t know a thing about how working people make a living – or about cows, for that matter.

This is a flock of sheep!
Now give me back my dog!

* * * * *

CG poorly2Monday 14 March 2016

0340hrs: I stirred into semi-life, and visited the throne. I had to clear up some spots of blood I’d missed from last night’s bath when ‘Little Inchy’s lesion cracked open.

It was beautiful and warm in the bathroom; I’d left the heater on for over 15 hours! Humph!

After cleaning up the haemoglobin, I was positively cold and shivered when I came out. I put the kitchen towelling in the Medical Disposal Bag.

No INR test today, but I’ll see if I can get to contact the clinic about ‘Little Inchies’ tantrums to get an appointment.

Made a cuppa, took the medications P1050207and got the laptop on. Then went to add the fodder photo to finish off Sunday’s Dairy, and found I couldn’t find it anywhere? Worra plonker! After searching for it for a while, I gave up. ‘?’

Very annoyed with me, and a little confused as to how I could have lost it, I started to do this one.

However, the lamb shank with minted gravy garden peas and oven chips, followed by the orange and lemon dessert was a decent 9.54/10 rating as I remember.

Back to the bathroom in response to Little Inchy feeling warm and wet, oh dear. No problems, though, it might be that I’m losing it or imagining things? I could sense the rumbling innards starting up.

I’m certainly not in a very good mental state this morning. Losing yesterday’s diary and not knowing why, how, or where, might be getting to me?

Did a bit of Facebooking. Has it turned out, a lot of Facebooking?

It was getting a bit nippy, but could I find my grey bobble-hat I went to sleep wearing? No! Another mystery raises its head! I wondered what the third disappearance would be and when it would arrive? Humph!

P1050210I washed the empty tablet box’s and lids. I did them in the sink.

Of course, this mixed up the lids and pots, and I discovered here is a variation in sizes so some covers would fit and some not. Humph!

So I added getting some new pots to my ‘To-do’ list.

To-D0 1: Call in at Cabin and give bits to Deana and Julie

To-D0 2: Call in see BJ on way to Carrington

To-D0 3: Call into Lidl and get some Frikadellens 

To-D0 4: Call at the doctors on walk into town, make an appointment

To-D0 5: Call at Chemist and get prescriptions

To-D0 6: Feed and photograph the vast selection of ducks in the Arboretum pond.

To-D0 7: Call in Jessops, get earthworms for the ducks.

To-D0 8: Call in HMV to get DVD ‘Went the Day Well.

To-D0 9: Call in Tesco and treat me to some fresh cream French Horns. (Haven’t had any for four weeks now)

To-D0 10: Call in the Pound Shop and get some more mini-pots for the medications.

To-D0 11: Call in the Victoria Market, Alladin’s Cave and get a decent tin opener.

Got a good scrub-up, and got the treats for the support staff to drop off on the way out. Dropped off the rubbish bags down the waste chute on the way to the lift.

GC (01a)Called in at the Community Hut. No one was in. (FAILED To-D0 1: Call in at Cabin and give bits to Deana and Julie)

Plodded on down the hill into Sherwood. Noticed the houses being built were now advertising for bricklayers.

Crossed over the road and went to BJ’s house, knocked on the door, no answer. (FAILED To-D0 2: Call in see BJ on way to Carrington)

Up the hill into Carrington, hassle with Pavement Cyclist, who drove back to the road, waving their arms of P1050213the handlebars and waving high, while whooping?

Drunk? They were indeed using some bad language!

Naughty Boys!

I carried on up the hill.

P1050214Amazed with how well I’m doing here.

No bother from the legs or chest at all. It’s like being a different person some days!

Jeckel and Hyde? But Roger Reflux mixed in there somewhere. Hehe!

Up and over the hill, down towards Carrington, and yet another P1050215Nottingham Pavement Cyclist came belting passed me from behind, and narrowly missed clouting me. The rascally scallywag!

Onwards and managed to pass by the surgery on the opposite side of the road and thus forgot to call in the place to make an appointment. Huh! (FAILED: To-D0 4: Call at the doctors on walk into town, make an appointment)

I called into Lidl, but they didn’t have any Frikadellens in stock. (FAILED: To-D0 3: Call into Lidl and get some Frikadellens)

Called into the Chemist to get the prescriptions, but they will not be ready until Monday. FAILED: To-D0 5: Call at Chemist and get prescriptions

P1050216

As I passed the South Notts College, yet again a Nottingham Cyclist nearly had me over, this time from a frontal attack.

I turned and fumbled to get my camera out of me pocket, took the photo and shouted out a single word to the illegal cyclist. He turned and laughed then ignored me – The wicked P1050217boy!

I pressed on and started to walk through the Forest Recreation site, and up the hill to the top en route to the Nottingham Arboretum.

I spotted some crocus forcing their way through on the grass verge. Nature is amazing; I just wish I’d P1050218appreciated years ago.

On the walk up the long steep hill, it turned into a hobble; the feet began to sting, the knees to hurt, and I was struggling for breath.

The wind grew stronger and the temperature began to fall.

But I was not unhappy in the cold sunshine because the ailments were not as bad as they have been the last two days or so, and I began to whistle when I reached the summit and regained my breath.

P1050219I crossed the road  and down to the top entrance of the Arboretum and felt so happy when I entered.

I loved the flowers fighting for life and looked forward to getting to the bottom of the hill and fussing over the Ducks in the pond and birds in their cages.

Suddenly, despite the few pains, I found myself singing again. Frankie Vaughan, Rick Nelson, Adam Faith, Cliff Richard and Billy Fury songs, and the Shadows tunes hummed from my lips as I happily wandered around the unkempt bushes and wildlife. A happy Nottingham pensioner.

P1050221Unfortunately (I should have expected something to bring me down, but didn’t think it would be so quick in coming!) I found that the pond had been drained!

Why or what for I don’t know, couldn’t find anything about this on the web when I got home?

Disappointed is too mild a word to tell how I felt! Instead of the six variations P1050220of ducks and geese in great numbers, there were just a few mallards fighting each other for the one bit of water left in a hole about 2ft x 10″.

The poor things rushed over to me when I threw some earthworms and seed to onto the waterless brick bottom of the pond. The pigeons joined in the meal, and I was worried about the missing ducks? Had they moved to water elsewhere? I asked a chap working there, but he had no interest, he just replied: ” I dunno!” FAILED: To-D0 6: Feed and photograph the vast selection of ducks in the Arboretum pond.

I spent an hour or so wP1050222ith the ducks and felt very low when I left them and moved on towards town.

As I walked through the Trent College compound and sprawling student residences on my way into town, a young couple overtook me and the girl had a jumper on with “Plug and Play” on the back near her bottom quarters? I’m confused, can anyone explain to me, please?

P1050223

I made my way to Pound World to get some of the pots for my medications. (FAILED: To-D0 10: Call in the Pound Shop and get some more mini-pots for the drugs)

I crossed the front of Clinton Street and was so glad I didn’t have to fight my way down that way today.

P1050224 Call in the Pound Shop there. (FAILED: To-D0 10: Call in the Pound Shop and get some more mini-pots for the medications again)

Then crossed over the walkway into the Victoria Centre. Called in Jessops to get some replacement earthworms. They had none in stock! (FAILED: To-D0 7: Call in Jessops, get earthworms for the ducks)

P1050227I moved along to the other end of the mall, down the escalator towards Tesco, where I hoped the fresh cream French Horns would be waiting for me in their fridges.

For I needed cheering up after seeing the plight of the poor ducks in the arboretum.

Blow me down with a feather duster! They had sold out! (FAILED: To-D0 9: Call in Tesco and treat me to some fresh cream French Horns)

Popped in the HMV shop, guess what?  (FAILED: To-D0 8: Call in HMV to get DVD ‘Went the Day Well’!

I think I’d failed on every To-do, apart from getting the strong tin-opener from Aladdin’s Cave in the Market. I hobbled back and called in the Cave… yes, you might have guessed it. (FAILED: To-D0 11: Call in the Victoria Market, Alladin’s Cave and get a decent tin opener)! They only had the type I’d bought in the past and they have all failed or broken!

P1050226What with the  poor ducks and failing on every To-do on my list, I was feeling down now. Then I walked over the walkway out of the centre and saw this site. A paramedic pulled onto the pavement when responding to an obviously serious call, and knocked a bloke over!

I called at a Nottingham Post cabin to get a P1050225paper, and there was no one in it?I had no change so couldn’t leave the money and take a paper

I had no change so couldn’t leave the money and take a paper.

And to think how well the day started – Humph, Tsk and Huh!

01W

I got to the L9 bus stop and caught the thing back to the flats, not in good spirits now, at all.

Met a fellow tenant (Frank) in the lifts, had a quick natter. To the flat and used the throne, found ‘Little Inchy’ was bleeding, but I wasn’t surprised, the way today had deteriorated.

P1050230Found a bill had been delivered from the Electricity, fancy that.

One thing that perked me up was the view from the kitchen window.

Bootiful!

My feet were burning and painful.

I made a cuppa and found two meat-flies had appeared in the kitchen.

‘Little Inchy’ started leaking again, back to the bathroom and painfully cleaned and applied the Dakacort cream yet again.I found

I found the grey bob-cap I couldn’t find this morning, it was laying in full view on top of the battery radio? Little consolation for the feeling I had for the poor ducks, my failure to do one of the To-Dos on my list, and the pain Anne Gyna was now giving me. 

Already passed my bedtime, I put the laptop on to update this sad tale, and got some nosh in the oven, A meat pie, roasting veg and if I remember, I’ll put some Irish potato cakes in later.

Amazing how one can go from singing away to gloom and despondency so quickly. And I must not oversleep in the morning, the Morrisons delivery is coming twixt 0630>0730 hours.

Oh ‘eck, the backs starting now.

P1050231The nosh came out alright, I remembered to put the potato cakes in.

Rated it at 8.9/10.Far too late in the night

Far too late in the night for me, I got sat in the 1959 imitation leather armchair with the broken arms. After several attempts at watching the TV, I drifted off.

Woke a few times despite being so tired, and the poor ducks plight came back to me.

TTFN

Inchcock at the Protest March

/ Inchie / 6 Comments

001

There we were, all Old Age pensioners, all demanding equality,

Determined we were, awesome and gritty,

Despite no public loos nearby, that was a pity,

The rich getting richer, the poor can’t afford their electricity,

Limping along in pain beyond believability,

The police escorting us started to show their irritability,

Eventually, not without some physical difficulty,

We all arrived at the protest in the City.

* * * * *

This is where I fell off my walking stick, sadly,

I’d cut me knees, and was bruised rather badly,

I grabbed a nearby leg to raise myself up again,

And a policeman’s truncheon hit me head causing more pain,

They mobbed me and arrested me seemingly so gladly!

002a

* * * * *

I didn’t protest, resist them or curse,

At the station, they provided me with a first-aid nurse,

A strip search and interview, then things got worse!

They said at the march, I had refused to disperse,

I said the hearing aid batteries had died,

One officer threatened to tan my hide,

I remained none aggressive, my smile was wide,

Needing my tablets including the Furosemide,

They gave me a Caution, Chapter and verse!

* * * * *

The sergeant, when escorting out of the station,

Shoved me down the steps, causing me irritation,

It developed into a confrontation,

I underestimated my risky situation,

As I clouted him, on his shin accidentally with me stick,

I was lifted off the ground without any hesitation,

And thrown in the cell at the back of the Station!

003

* * * * *

Oh course, this is all rubbish and not true,

But I was depressed and feeling blue,

So thought I see if I could offer you…

A laugh, from this pensioner’s point of view.

No Inchcocks were harmed in the production of this twaddle!

Sat 12 Mar 16: Inchcock Today – Mixed fortunes today!

/ Inchie / Leave a comment

Q: Why are lawyers like nuclear weapons?

A: If one side has one, the other side has to get one. Once launched, they

cannot be recalled. When they land, they screw up everything forever.

* * * * *

Saturday 12 March 2016

What a good nights sleep – I got five and a half hours in, and only woke up two or three times! Mind you, when I did wake up, ‘Little Inchy’ was in a right painful state. Still, some other ailments were kinder, Arthur Itis, Roger Reflux, and the back were easier, Anne Gyna was playing up real bad still, though. Oh, and Hem Aroids, no bleeding at all at the porcelain visit.

P1050174Every morning, is like waking up different person?

Made a cuppa and took the medications.

The weather was just a little misty this morning.

The weather was not looking too bad; I thought I’d have a good walk today. I might walk into Daybrook, then Arnold and do some window shopping and call to get some bread and nibbles along the way.

Laptop on and started this diary off to here, then finished off yesterday’s diary and posted it off.

Did some Facebooking.

Readied me for a marathon hobble through Daybrook and into Arnold, to get some bits and hopefully some photographs if the birds in Arno Hill Park en route.

I got so many, and I’m going to do a separate post on the eventful and enjoyable leg-wearying journey.

Here’s, just couple of photographicalisations I took while hobbling about:

16 02

When I got back, I put away the fodder.

26Then, the most welcome of sights beheld my eyes; The Throne!

Hehehe!

I got the nosh on, and while it was cooking, I transferred the photographs onto the laptop and kept popping into the kitchen to see how the ‘unplanned’ meal was doing.

Lengthy visitation this one was.

I felt 5lb lighter, in less pain and relieved!

Took a photograph of the sky through the kitchen.

27It had a sort of beauty to it, the clouds and light never cease to amaze me how it changes from day to day now that I’m in this flat, I can appreciate it so much more.

I just wished the house sale would end soon.

Soon the ‘unplanned nosh; Unplanned, because when I got back to put the shopping away I had to use some of the frozen fodder for my nosh, so as to make room for the bread to go into the freezer! Tsk!

28There was two part filled food bags with what I thought were battered Cod balls, it turned out one was so, the other was chicken. Both were very nice anyway. Wish two fish cakes, some dried roast onions, and beetroot, followed by a Lemon dessert thingumabob, it went down well.

Rated this one 9/10.

I nipped to the bathroom, and oh boy, was ‘Little Inchy’ pouring blood! Hell of a job on then, stopping it was the most urgent, and as painful and messy. Then cleaning things up without starting it flowing again was a hassle. Then the bloodied togs went into a bucket of water and disinfectant for attention later. The leakage affected the night pants, undies, and socks! Even had to wash my feet!

Never had it that bad before, weary about what I’ll find in the morning, I put a pair of the throw-away nappy like undies on, and creamed him well. Crossed fingers. I wondered why this had happened? Cleaned the bathroom.wa

Too tired by then to do owt much at all, I watched a DVD, ‘Tremors Five’, the best one yet I thought, thinking that would let me drop off into the land of nod – it didn’t.

So I watched another – no luck.

I switched to the TV, there was two back to back Law & Order Special Victims on. I watched through them both with only one or two nod-offs during the advertisements.

Amazing, there I sat desperately tired, but the mind would not let me! Humph!

I tried reading the book but was too tired to concentrate, yet still no sleep!

Had the long hobble affected me and livened me up or what?

I know, I thought to myself, I’ll listen to the radio through my headphones, of course, I keep forgetting these new fandangled TVs can pick up the radio stations.

That did the trick.

Worra day!

Inchcock’s Partially Photographicalised Hobble

/ Inchie / Leave a comment

001aA Marathon (To me anyway) of mixed incidents and occurrences, I thought might be worthy of mentioning.

Perhaps due to the dwindling level of acuity I have been suffering with, I’m not sure. But the pain of this hobble was quite severe physically.

And yet, I really enjoyed it so very much.

The Main Reasons for my lengthy Hobble-Out today, was to try to get a photograph of the wildlife that would be good enough to post on the Nature Facebook page.

Also to get some fodder in.

The walk was only about two miles, although it felt an awful lot more to Arthur Itis, Anne Gyna and me. Hehe!

Observations along the route were of mixed emotions and memories.

01I set off, from the flats.

Up the gravel footpath to Woodthorpe Grange Park.

Then down the sparsely populated for a Saturday path and down onto Mansfield Road.

Turned right to the North, and 02Daybrook.

Tried to wipe the mud off of shoes best I could.

Then ventured along the A60, main intention to get to the B&M store to see if they had any cheap Easter eggs in stock, so I could treat the old folks at next Thursdays Community Hour 03in the Windwood shed.

A lady walking towards me looked me up and down as she passed by.

Offered a sneer and tutted, shaking her head a little as she did so? I thought I’d better have a look at my reflection in the first shop window I came to?

04Slightly puzzled, I pressed on.

Then a really sad observation; The Old Headway respite charity place, had now closed down, and the trees had already been pulled down.

I couldn’t see what was to built, but expect it might be more student flats.

05So many memories of when I was a volunteer helper there. I mused on this and wondered where they had all gone now. Such a brave lot of people who I admired, and got such satisfaction and joy from knowing. Some names returned to, Kathy, Roger, and Damian. I was in Daybrook without knowing, I was so deep in thoughts.

06Called into the B&M store and had a plod around. Got some individual Strawberry jam packs, a pot of porridge and a pack of five Cadbury cream eggs for £1-89.v

I purchased some an individual ten pack of Strawberry jam, a pot of porridge and a pack of five Cadbury cream eggs for £1-89.

07I also collected a glare of doom from the lady on the till, then as I left the shop, had a look at my reflection in the glass door. I could see nothing untoward; My nose wasn’t running, my zip was fastened up?

As I left and moved onto Mansfield Road and up to cross it, I espied some Nottingham Street Art at 08the bus shelter. Not up to the usual high standard I thought. Hehehe!

Over and down passing the Part-Time Fire Station and down a bit further to the Arno Hill Park.

Memories came to the surface again here. In about 1985 I had to respond to an alarm activation at this station, 09no key holding, just an assessment visit.

It turned out they had a fire but their Fire Alarm did not activate, the Intruder one did when the doors buckled.

Memories again!

10Through the pretty, but dirty park gates and into the grounds.

More Nottingham Street Art on the path around the pond.

This time made with some partly singed paperwork?

I plodded on where the birds and ducks were gathering and got out my Camera and had a great time.

11 14
15

18N13ot that I got any photographicalisations that were terribly good.

A lady came up to me, and I was expecting funny looks again. But no! She told me there was an owl on the 20island I might like to take a shot of.

It turned out to be an imitation dummy one. Hehe!

I left and carried on into Arnold proper. The sign said nine minutes by foot. Not with my feet and legs it wasn’t, more like fifteen. Humph!

22As I approached the traffic lights I took a photo to show how little traffic was about.

Seconds after taking this picture, a lady driving the 4×4 vehicle clouted into the back of the one in front of him.

They seemed quite civil to each other 23about it I must say.

I entered into the pedestrianised area of Front Street, and it felt so strange not seeing any mobility scooters or pavement cyclists about.

I checked myself in the Peacocks window reflection again to see if I’d missed something odd or out of place 24on my earlier checks. Why, might you ask?Because a woman passed me by and turned and gave me a rather disapproving stare again?

Because a woman passed me by and turned and gave me a rather disapproving stare again?

I was approaching paranoia (Not 25really, but I was still confused).

Got into Asda, and found they were selling the box’s of five Cadbury Cream Eggs for £1.79. Huh! I bought a good selection of individual mini eggs, so I might have enough now to give each tenant at the social hour one each. If no more than 15 turn up that is.

I also got some more desserts at 2 for a quid and another Irish Barn loaf.

At the checkout, the lady was very patient with me as I struggled to handle the money to give her. Then I dropped some of the eggs, as my finger froze while putting the in the bag. The lady waiting behind me get served shot passed me and picked them up for me. I thanked her profusely.

26Made my way to the bus stop and caught a bus back into Sherwood. Dropped off at the same bus stop where I caught a number 40 bus the three stops up Winchester Hill. I was so glad it arrived within a minute of me dropping off the other bus; For two reasons. I was shattered, and needed the bathroom urgently!

At the time of taking this photograph, I thought it was the best of the lot.

Hehehe!