Wednesday 21st March 2018

German: Mittwoch, 21. März 2018

0310hrs: Woke having enjoyed three-hours of dream-filled nonsense toying with my mind, leaving me even more confused, disturbed and discouraged than ever with life’s current situation.

I felt (Rare for me) I just wanted to go back to sleep. But all the current hassles, tasks and disasters, forced me to evacuate the £300 second-hand recliner and get up and sorting things. Hopefully, the workers to do the balcony door will be arriving at 0800hrs, then out sharpishly to hobble to Carrington for the Blood Test with Nurse Ann 0905hrs. Bus to City Hospital and the GUM clinic for 1100hrs. Having been stuck indoors and unable to get out since last Thursday. Thanks to the snow and ice, and every appointment being rearranged by Nottingham City Homes or the Willmott-Brown team. I must get some fresh food in as well. Oh, and not get carried away on this computer either. Essential I start my ablutions at the latest at 0645hrs, giving me time scrub-up, medicate the lesion and piles in time for the arrival of the blokes to do the upgrading, then I can go off for the blood test, then to the clinic.

I hope things will be all right when I get back later.

Off to the kitchen and got the sphygmomanometer in use to do the Health Checks.

Sys and pulse well up again. But I shouldn’t be surprised should I? All the hassle of late, and with more to come today with the inside balcony doors being installed.

Tomorrow the dentist appointment at 0930hrs, so I just hope I can get back for some of the Social Hour in time.

I’m feeling pretty low at the moment. Ah, well!

When it came to taking the medications, I realised I’d missed two doses so far this week, they were still in their pots. Tsk!

Off to the Porcelain Throne, more blood than ever from the Haemorrhoids this morning, splattered the bowl before I even passed anything. I put this down to all the enforced sitting around (on the computer mostly, thanks to Virgin, rearranged appointments and the weather) while I’ve been incarcerated inside this flat for days on end.

Got the computer on and finished off the Tuesday post.

Started this one off up to here, then posted the last one to Facebook and email friends. Did WordPress reading, some brilliant stuff on again today. Then sorted comments and replied.

I must get the ablutions and medicationalisationing of some regions of my obese-wobbly-body done now. Can’t use the noisy shower this early, so a stand-up scrub-up will have to suffice this morning. At least it is not like in the 1950’s. When I stood at the kitchen sink (No bath or shower or hot water, central heating, electricity or unemployment, in those days. Hehehe!) with ice forming on the windows, saucepans and kettles on the gas stove, carbolic soap, cut-throat razor… Enough! I can’t stand to think about it now. How the heck did I manage back then?

I’ll get back ASAP folks.

I’m back, all smelling nice with a less painful Haemorrhoids now they have been tended to, showered and shaved without any Whoopsiedangleplops too. But still not my old self.

Went to make a mug of tea to have before the workman arrives.

I found the new windows were obstructing the view and light in the room. With the bottom of the frames so high, and the new ledge below the window sticking out so far: This means I will not be able to take any photographicalisation straight down of Chestnut Walk, the car park, the bottom field, or in Panorama, etc. Because the window is set far further out, and with the new thicker heater as well, it is impossible for me to reach out enough.

Still, in a few weeks when I can get out onto the new balcony, it might be easier to take them from there? Fingers crossed.

Got the nibbles for the nurses in the bag, updated this tosh to here, and awaited the arrival of the Nottingham City Homes man with his clipboard.

Who did not arrive? So, I got the things needed and set off out into the cold sunshine of the day, to start my mini-marathon hobble. I thought I needed a good blow-out after being stuck indoors for so long, and oh boy, did I give myself one! About 2.8 miles I reckon after checking on the Google map.

Had to take care, because there were patches of ice on the higher ground.

Took this photograph as I went along Chestnut Way to Winchester Street.

There were no signs of life in the Obergruppenfruheresses Wardens and Social Hut as I hobbled by it. Well, there wouldn’t be at 0815hrs.

Took this photograph half way down Winchester Street.

The weather fooling everyone into thinking it was a warm sunny morning. I can assure you it wasn’t in the slightest. Although it did warm-up later on.

But I was well wrapped up in my new coat, titfer and the PPs helped keep out Jack Frost.

The shadow in the picture made it look as if I was on a plinth.

Putting back on my fingerless gloves, I was surprised to see the nail thumbnail, which I cut last night seemed to be leaking puss? It had the texture of toothpaste.

Odd that? Mind you, it is the thumb that as a young whipper-snapper I had crushed and decapitated the top half of it. No problems afterwards as such, but when it was stitched back on, the nail grew triple thickness for some reason. Just thought I’d mention it. Hehe!

I proceeded in an Easterly direction (Haha!) and turned left on Mansfield Road.

Not much traffic about this morning.

No ice down here either, it was only lurking in the higher laying areas, you know, up the hills.

Up the hill and down into Carrington.

Arriving at the surgery with a few minutes to spare for the appointment with Nurse Ann to take my blood.

Registered with the two not seen receptionists previously eventually. Both of them were on the phones, and I waited patiently, before logging in.

Called in by Nurse Ann, who was in a good mood. It felt quaint not being told-off. She got me done, and I gave her the nibbles, thanked her and was out. Left a bag of bites on the reception desk, and set off on the trek into town.

Plodded along the A60 through the strangely quiet hamlet of Carrington. Boy, I’m so glad I got out of there! Mind you, with all the hassle at the flats going on, I may be a little less-glad now. Hehe!

Hobbled along at a steady pace, no rush today. The sooner I get back to the apartment, the sooner I will have to face what will obviously be a right mess from the balcony window installation. That is if it has been done.

With Mr Clipboard not arriving, at o8oohrs as he had promised to earlier, I was in a pickle decision-wise as to what to do? If I locked the door, would they be able to gain admission? So I’d left it unlocked so they could. Not the best of situations, but I thought I had no choice.

The plates-of-meat were beginning to hurt, but, I expected this to be the case, what with me not getting any walks in for ages.

As I struggled up the incline near the Rock Cemetary and the Forest, this Nottingham Pavement cyclist came close to clouting me as he passed me from behind. Unprecedentedly, this did not bother me much?

I assumed this was due to my having enough to worry about with the hassle of the flat?

Up to the lights and over down the hill towards the City Centre.

A really strange never been seen before view when I took this photographicalisation of Mansfield Road.

Usually, lines of traffic would queue up at this spot from the traffic lights. But, all I could see in view was one bus coming up the hill!

Always a sad sight or two to be spotted on this stretch of road.

Mostly reports of crime, and closed retail businesses.

I recall my beloved Auntie Kath was bothered by this many, many years ago, and wrote to the Council and local paper about it. Nothing has changed here then, apart from so many more shops and pubs have closed down.

In the blocks behind these shops, are thousands of student flats of all types. I’d have thought they would have made use of some of the food retailers that have endlessly gone out of business, other poor souls and bought or rented and reopened so many, but to no avail, they have gone under too! I’m waffling again, sorry.

I meandered down the road and into the Victoria Shopping Centre (Mall) via the bus station and entered into the top floor. Walked the length and into the Boots Store, near the Optical Department, and searched for someone to speak with about my broken spectacles. A lady approached me. The unfortunate thing was obviously woebegone underneath her bravely displayed signs of mock interest. I explained about the fractured nose thingy on the glasses, handed them to her, and she told me to wait while she got them sorted for me. Returning a few minutes later, she returned the spectacles to me, and I inquired about the cost of getting a new pair with reading lenses. The lady told me to view the frames while she went to get someone to deal with me.

I meandered over to the wall of frames. Walked up and down them, but could not see an that appealed to me, at a decent price, and there were none with the large lens area which I wanted. Well, there was one, but that would cost me £299. I did another walk up and down in case I’d missed any… then realised that no one had come to deal with me yet. I walked out.

I exited the centre onto Upper Parliament Street.

It was still nippy, and the sun tried to fool us. But as you can see, the Nottinghamians were like me, all wrapped up well.

Shadowy photo this one.

I legged it to the end of the road and over Maid Marion Way and up the dreaded Standard Hill to the Audio clinic. I took what I thought was a super picture of the skyline when I was half-way up. But mysteriously yet again, this one dissipated into the ether, never to be found on the SD card?

Into the clinic and to the reception desk. I made my needs known to the lady, who seemed to spend an inordinately long time giving me her inquiring up and down looks. After what seemed like minutes, but would have been a few seconds, she put her hand out and sternly spoke: “Record Log!” I really wanted to reply, “No, Gerald Chambers!” But was too scared of her practised expression and eyes raised momentarily, saying unspeakingly; “Come on you old fart, snap to it, move!” It really cheered her up when the zip on the inside pocket where I’d put Audio Log got stuck. I kerfuffled a bit in getting it open. I pictured a cartoon in my head, of this receptionist having an explosion coming out of the top of her head and me laying on the floor bleeding where the pencils had been stabbed into my chest. I left ten minutes later along with the batteries and tubes, but having forgotten to book the next test.

I departed and hobbled down into the slab square. Sometime before the L9 bus was due, so I had a wander around and took some photographs while I was waiting.

The first one shown here. The other three had joined the Standard Hill photo in the ether and have never been found since? Not in the camera memory, not on the SD card either. I wonder just what I’m doing wrong here? I thought the slab square shot reminded me of some of the Alberquery shots that Tim Price does so well. Weather-wise I mean.

Caught the bus and had a chinwag with a lady tenant.

Back at the flats, I went into the Obergruppenfureress Temporary Social Hut. I needed to find out it the apartment had been done or not. I inquired of the Warden, but she had no idea, and suggested I got up and found out. I explained about Mr Clipboard not arriving on time as promised, but got no response at all.

So I did go up to the flat to find out what was going on if anything.

I could hear the noise and knew some of the lads were working in there. I part-opened the door, and the dust encouraged me to close it.

So, then back to the Obergruppenfureress Wardens Temporary Social Hut. Confident that a cup of tea and biscuits would welcome me, and I could rest there while the working continued.

I bumped into one of the lads and asked him how long it would be before I could get back in. About an hour I was told. Thanked the lad and made my way back to the Obergruppenfureress Wardens Temporary Social Hut, with hopes of enjoying a brew of tea and nibbles.

Hehehe!

I met Mr Clipboard on the way to the shed.

Fair enough, he apologised for not being on time.

Got into the hut.

A solitary figure was I.

Haha!

Ah, well, at least I got a plastic cup of water!

Part Two of Wednesday’s Inchcock Today, to follow.

Back to the flat – maelstrom encountered!

Pictorial