Inchcock – Tuesday 2nd May 2017: Marathon hobble, and tram rides today! Late attack of the Runs!

Tuesday 2nd May 2017

Czech: Úterý 02.05.2017

Woke and up 0330hrs, the dreams I’d think I was having lingered for a moment before drifting off into the ether Tsk! No notes found on the pad either.

Noticed the scribbled note I’d left on the computer scene to remind me of the INR Blood Test with the Surgery nurse later today.

Alighting the £300 second-hand recliner Dizzy Dennis paid me a visit, getting to my feet I found a collection of items on the floor… torch, remote control, pencil, notepad, a squashed tube of Betamethasone cream and a spoon scattered about?

I wondered what I must have been dreaming about that might have caused this mess… Hehehe!

Had a pot of the high protein Porridge for the first time. Very filling, but no better taste than the usual cheapo ones.

Had a search for the INR record card and bus pass without any luck. Humph! Then did the Health Checks.   The body temperature had gone up again.

Found the bus-pass.

It was cold this morning, a bit of mist lingering in the air.

Another thing, the twisting outwards of the right ankle was far less pronounced?

What’s going on today?

Arthur Itis in a good mood, Duodenal Donald far easier, Anne Gyna being kind to me, Water retention had gone, Roger Reflux was calm, and when I visited the throne, there was no bleeding again from Haemorrhoid Harold. I’m worried! May they be planning for an Accifauxpa or Whoopsiedangleplop attack? Haha!

I put on the alarm for 0850hrs to remind me to get ready, ablutions, etc. to go to the INR blood test in Carrington in time.

Took the medications and weighed me – it was down again!

Found a scrawled note on a used envelope near the recliner.

Wondered what the heck I was trying to write? Got the dairies updated.

Then did some WordPress reading for an hour or two, then went onto Facebook for a while before having to close down and get ready for the surgery visit, and weather permitting, a nice steady long hobble into town to catch the tram into Hucknall.

Felt I needed the exercise.

Into the wetroom to do the ablutions, and observed that not only were the legs seemingly even whiter than yesterday, the right one was far thinner than the left one?

The brain seemed to be racing away on its own for a while, palpitations for a second or two and then whatever it was I was thinking of, fearing or considering, vanished from the brain altogether.

Dressed took the bin bags to the refuse chute and set off on the walk to the surgery.

Going down Winchester Street hill, those with flower things that seem so intricate and beautiful were still radiant.

Down and left into Hood Street, right down Marshall Street, then left onto Mansfield Road and up the gradient in the direction of Carrington and the GP surgery.

Not much traffic around, but there was the usual Nottingham Pavement Cyclists of course.

This Herbert on the left, I turned around to take his photograph – he very nearly had over.

But, I don’t think he was aware of it as I saw he had earphone thingies on his head as he passed by so closely at a high rate of knots. Bless him.

Up over the hill and down to the surgery. Logged in, sat down and got the crossword book out.

The nurse fetched me in and got the INR blood test done. When I told her of my going to Hucknall, she pointed out a cheapo shop for me to try, near Tesco. I was soon out and hobbling through Carrington on my way into town.

Near the Lidl store on the opposite side of the road, I turned and took a photographicalisation of the lack of traffic and people this morning.

Hehe! I might have guessed it was the EQ that told me to seize this photograph, as seconds later another Nottingham Pavement Cyclist overtook me from behind, not leaving much of a gap twixt I and him.

Onward, the weather just right for walking, not hot, not cold and a gentle breeze. Feeling good (For a while?).

Near the college bus-stop, I just missed making it three Pavement Cyclist in a row, and the one I wanted to photograph turned left into some flats before I could take the shot. However, I realised I’d caught a nice one of Nottingham Street Art?

The man-hole covers protected by the plastic erections were Gas Repairs. I thought as I passed, in the old days when I was alive, any works like this from the then, British Gas Works would have stunk something awful!

Haha!

Passed the traffic island junction and up the hill by the Rock Cemetery, over the lights and down on the last leg of the hobble into town.

Still so few people and traffic.

As I passed a pub, it brought back memories of when as a teenager I was in digs that were ar the back of this pub at the time.

It was so long ago, but the landlady and one of her daughters, Audry I think, came back to mind and I nearly walked into this dustbin!

I wondered if something catastrophic had happened?

Pressed on down the hill, still a bit confused as to where everyone was? I knew I had the time right. Otherwise, the surgery would not have been open?

In the City, Milton Street, still not much happening people-wise. Did I wonder if the Bank Holiday Monday had tempted folks to take some sickies? Or where they hungover?

You never know?

To the end and crossed over Upper Parliament Street, nearing what is traditionally Nottingham’s busiest pedestrian street, Clinton Street, I found a good few Nottinghomians there.

Limped through them and made my way to the tram stop.

Wish I had knowledge of how to use the video on the camera now. For I could have possibly done one for YouTube and this young lady in a what was obviously by her speed, must have been an 8 mph version, possibly one of the imported 12 mph disabled scooter was scattering the crowd with a determined sort of Jame Hunt ‘out-of-my-way’ sneer on her face!

Must remember to keep an eye out for a red and yellow scooter in town in future. Hehe!

Caught the tram on South Parade near the Council House and it was easy to find a seat too.

At the Hucknall terminus we all dismounted and I walked to the shopping parade the nurse had told me about and had a wander around.

The store she suggested was called ‘Home Bargains’, a big one. I just paid a visit to the food part of it and got some sunflower hearts and black sunflower seeds for when I get to visit the Mallards again.

Walked over to the Tesco store and went upstairs to see if they had any brown shoes that use a velcro fastener, or soft brown shoes. They had neither in stock, so I came down again and into the food section.

Spent a bit here: Fish Sticks, fresh pod peas, belly pork, Lemon cheesecake, lemon curd yoghourts and sourdough bread.

I enquired of the young lady on the checkout if I could use contactless payment with my card, because I can’t remember my new number, as soon as she had stopped talking to another member of staff. “Swipe there at the top” she listlessly instructed me. So I did, and nothing happened. The machine would not accept the swipe for the contactless payment. “That happens sometimes.” she said adding “Just put your number in then!” I pointed out that I’d already told her about my not remembering the code, this is why I’m trying to use the contactless payment… “Pay in cash then” was her response.

A good job they were not busy (I wonder why?) as I knew I’d had not enough money left after spending at the other shop, so searched all through my bag and pockets in the hope of remembering the number or if I had written it in the code somewhere. As the gal sat there lifting her eyes to the ceiling occasionally and non-verbally issuing non-covert “Silly old fart” signs to the other staff, and my not finding it, I had one go at putting it in, fearing I might lose the use if I got it wrong… Blimey! It took it!

I shall not be visiting here again in a hurry.

Back to the tram terminus and I was soon on my way back into Nottingham. Got the crossword book out and had a bash.

By the time we got to Bulwell, the tram had filled up. The seats on the tram were so small. I put away the book and started nibbling at the fresh pod peas. By the time I neared the Nottingham stop, over half of them had been eaten!

At Hyson Green the tram actually filled up, a chap had to squash in, and I did my best to make room for him. When it came to getting up for the stop, the knees and ankles had stiffened so much, this chap helped me to get out of the seat – I did feel a fool!

Hobbled limpingly to the L9 bus stop and met fellow tenant and Social Hour friend Bill (William on Sundays) and he seemed confused. He said he’d been to the Post Office and didn’t know about the take a ticket routine and was now late for the doctor’s appointment. Poor old Bill. He went down the road and caught a number 40 bus that was going out, but there is a fair walk from the bus stop it drops off at, and crossing the road is very dangerous there on the bends. The L9 was due in five minutes as well… then I realised if he were going to his doctors from town, the 40 route would be better for him.

I was fighting falling asleep on the bus. But as luck would have it, some lady tenants got on en route, and they made sure I did wake up in time. Hehehe!

Back in the flat, to the wetroom for a wee-wee, got the kettle on, took the medications, did the health checks and got the meal prepared. 

Decided to have potatoes curried beans, Wieska three small slices of sourdough bread and two mini pork pies.

A Greek-style plain yoghourt with Maple Syrup mixed into it, followed.

I think I left 75% of it. Eyes too big for the thingy again, and I got the seasoning wrong for the beans too? And of course eating the porridge earlier might have had an effect?

After my failed attempt to at the fodder, I washed the pots then settled to watch a Frost DVD.

Fell asleep almost immediately, woke up and rewound, then repeated the nodding off again.

Woke, gave up and put the TV on to watch Top Gear and went to fetch a drink of orange juice from the fridge…

Whoopsiedangleplop!

I’d left the hot water tap running again! Stone cold now.

I didn’t fair any better with my TV viewing either, so gave up, turned everything off and drifted off quickly.

Then I awoke with the stomach rumbling and many trips to the Porcelain Throne followed throughout the night… Oh dear!

TTFN.