Wednesday 4th April 2018

Yiddish: 2018 מיטוואך 4 אפריל

0400hrs:  Up much later than usual, thanks to the Nottingham City Homes paying Willmott-Brown to do the upgrading work, and their sub-contractor plasterer bloke; Who left my flat in a terrible mess with dry and semi-made plaster over every carpet, cabinets, the windows and even on my furniture and walls. His kindly putting and leaving the curtains on top of the heater was not appreciated either. Nor was his wet plaster that had run down the inside and dried, stuck to it! – I’m still feeling uptight and discombobulated.

Jumping Jehoshaphat! Grenfell, to be repeated! Talk about showing contempt and disrespect! And this work, is taking place at a significant cost to make the flats a safer place to live in? It’s indeed given me much pain from Anne Gyna and Duodenal Donald. Not to mention the hassle, worry and dirtying the flat!

Sorry about that. But I’m still stewing inside at being treated so awfully like an old senile nobody who does not matter… Which is probably true anyway. (No, stop it, Inchcock! Things will not be put right with your whining and griping on…) Desist, you fool!

Only Duodenal Donald, with a bit of hassle from Hippy Hilda, was bothering me at this moment.

Once I had detached my klutzy body from the £300 second-hand recliner, I seemed to settle down a bit and felt a tad more in-line, nearly standard, and a smidge of optimism lingered. Not for much, mind. Hehe!

I got the Health Checks done. There is a bit of a change in the readings this time. Sys has dipped again, and the pulse had shot up to 94. I’m not sure if that is good or bad. But I felt okay physically. (Mentally is my problem – Thank you Nottingham City Homes, Willmot-Dixon and their plasterers of questionable quality… [Stop it”]).

I’m on the last bottle of the ineffective Antacid Medicine. But, the prescriptions will be ready to collect on Friday, I should last out.

I made a brew and took the medications.

Then on the computer to begin finishing off the horrendous Tuesday diary. Thanks to Nottingham City Homes, Willmott-Dixon… (Stop it!)

Made sure of the appointment for the blood test. Made up the nibbles for the staff, got them in the bag. I remembered about getting the AA batteries, Carpet cleaner and Magnesium tablets made a note about this and put it in my pocket. By Jimminee, I’m almost getting organised here… better be careful. Haha!

Back to the WordPressing. Had to stop, or I would not be able to get the ablutions done in time to get to the doctors in time for the blood test. So, I went off for a scrub-up. Guess what I found? Plaster in the WC bowl and on the floor! (Thanks to Nottingham City Homes, Willmott-Brown and the plasterer… Whoops, Sorry!)

Collated everything needed and got to the door to go out.

I could have started crying when I spotted the state of the carpeting, even after all my best efforts and injuries obtained while applying them to try an clean it up. And failing.

I forced myself to ignore this, as best I could. Went out into the flats entrance hall, and turned back to lock the door.

Feh! I even spotted some bits of plaster that had been splashed on the outer door! Hamana hamana! What next?

I went down in the lift. I could hear workmen drilling on the 8th and 4th floor I think.

When I exited the elevator, the electronic information sign indicated it was 0756hrs, the 4th April 2018, 5°c and drizzling outside.

Oh, and we should all pay our rent first.

I pondered for a few seconds on this point, regarding the unwanted changes being done over the past seven months, with many more months of work yet to come. The Nottingham City Homes and contractors Willmott-Brown, have cost me a lot of hassle, money and pain.

• The wrongly positions Kitchen heater, having to be moved so I could open the drawer and cupboard will cost me getting someone in to redo or repair the holes left in floor and plaster the holes in the wall underneath the windows.
  
• Getting someone to clean or even buying new carpets that have been extirpated by the plasterer yesterday!
• The hassle of Willmott-Brown changing every single appointment for work they have done cost me medical dates and periods of ill-health, and Whoopsiedangleplops.
• New curtains to replace the ones left on top of the radiator yesterday.
• The electricity bill, nearly doubling since the installation of the new radiators!
• The dust and grit got into the computer, stove and… I’ll stop here, I regret having gotten carried away again – Apologies for waffling still!

Out into the drizzle, and wound my way through the maze of barriers and scaffolding to the Glass Recycling Bin.

Which was overfilled and boxes of bottles and jars laid beside it. Deposited my bottles of empty Antacid medicine and Balsamic vinegar amongst them Dry Gin, London Gin, various Wines, Guinness, Port, Champagne, Brandy, Vodka, Whisky, Tequila, Rum, Cognac, Lager, Cider and even an Absinthe one! Pretty good for a five-day period? Alcofrolics of the world, eat your hearts out! Hehehe!

I was already limping a bit with the plates-of-meat, and Hippy Hilda began to play up a bit. Got to the Obergruppenfhuress Warden HQ, all locked up of course at this time.

I took this photograph, looking back at the flats and showing the hut on the left.

The drizzle was very light.

A little further on Chestnut Walk, I heard the cooing and spotted this chap on top of the trees. He was giving out his Wood Pigeon warble, that said loud and clearly: Come on girls, I’m free! Hehe!

Onwards I hobbled to the end of the road and turned right down Winchester Street Hill. As I said earlier, carefully.

Not far down, I took this picture. A rare and precious one, too. It is not often if ever, I have walked down this hill and seen only one car on the roadway!

I gently carefully and slowly made my way down  Winchester Steet, left into Mansfield Street, right into Marshall Street and left onto Mansfield Road going up the hill towards Carrington.

Near the butcher’s shop and Chinese Takeaway, two pieces of Nottingham Street Art presented themselves on my path, that needed circumventing, for obvious reasons. Haha!

I continued up the incline, but I stopped a few times to let Anne Gyna and Hippy Hilda have a breather. Over the crest and down to the Sherrington Park Medical Centre easily enough, downhill is far more comfortable for us old ones, you know. Hehe!

It started to rain as I was going through the outer entrance door.

Another new receptionist was on the desk, both this lady and the other one at the back were on the phones. I waited patiently, after all, I was very early arriving.

Gave the lady my name and told her I was in for a blood test. She said she couldn’t find me on the computer system. That’s nice. She asked my date of birth, which I gave her. After a minute or so, she found me and asked what I had come in for. I repeated what I told her on entering the place; A Blood Test. She looked little severe and said, You are early (As if it was a crime!), take a seat, please. So, I did.

Had some difficulty getting into the low chair, what with Hippy Hilda doing her best to escape from her retaining acetabulum every time I try to bend down. Bless her!

I got the crossword book out, but it was a miserable session, with few clues getting answers from me. Five minutes later, I got a gentle yet authoritative poke on my shoulder, from Nurse Ann! Apparently, she had been calling me from the other end of the room, and I did not hear her. So she came over to let me know. The expression on her face forced through a false semi-smile, and she rushed me, still with the rare little-practised smile on her face (Very unnerving!) into her treatment room. This, along with the mayhem and debasement I am suffering. At the hands of those doing the upgrading works reminded me of part of Joseph Goebbels speech given on Hitler’s 56th Birthday. “All forces of hate and destruction have been gathered once again, perhaps for the final time, in the west, the east, the southeast, and the south, seeking to break through our front.” Hahaha!

She reminded me that she only had 8 minutes per patient to get the blood taken, so had no time for gossiping. (Had I been of a braver disposition, I’d have mentioned to her, that it was still ten minutes before the appointment for this blood session begins! But, my being a chicken-hearted, gutless, namby-pamby, invertebrate, I said nothing. She took the blood and found time to smile at me again and to say a few words. I gave her the Easter Egg and departed. Handing in the nibbles for the other staff at the reception. Said my farewells and set off on the walk back into Sherwood.

The bush in the posh house on Mansfield Road in Carrington was now beginning to bloom. And the beautiful pinkish flowers were radiant.

I pressed on ASAP up the hill and down then up again along Mansfield Road into Sherwood.

I called in the Wilko store to have a look for some Magnesium tablets. A lad kindly asked me what I was searching the shelves to find. I informed him, and he went to ask his Supervisor She returned to tell me they do not do them anymore, no one was buying them. I pointed out that I had been purchasing three tubs a month. This statement was not answered. She informed me that I could get Magnesium with vitamin B6 added to them. (I think this was the same as what I was told yesterday in their Broad Marsh, store) The old confusion kicked in here when Dizzy Dennis visited me. I ended up buying some. But don’t think I should use them after all until I get the all-clear from the nurse or Doctor. Tsk! I then went off a mammoth spending spree, thanks to Willmott-Brown and… Sorry. I spent a fortune on stuff to get the carpets cleaned. Vanish Gold, Dettol spray disinfectant, a scrubbing brush, the tablets, some AA batteries, cistern blocks… £41.75. But with the Special Offers, it came down to £32. Savings being made, on the Dettol spray, Vanish Foam and the AA batteries.

I struggled with the weight of the bags, out onto Mansfield Road. The rain had stopped altogether.

I took a photograph of the now busier traffic. Much to the disapproval of the Herbert in the red hat?

I wandered up the road, with about fifteen minutes before the L9 bus was due. At the bus stop, was a lady from Woodthorpe Court. She was reading a ladies magazine and did not want to have a chinwag. Roy joined the queue and got on a direct City bound bus.

On the L9  managed a bit of gossip with the gal and some other passengers, for the few stops we travelled before arriving at Chestnut Walk.

We got to the apartments and up the lift. The lady getting off on the fourth floor.

When I saw all the stains on the carpets, all the misery returned.

I did the Health Checks, then put the gear away and had a wee-wee.

I looked at the Magnesium with Vitamin B+ tablets.

Blimus! They were big! Much more massive than the Trental ones, and sometimes take on getting down. I could not decide whether to take them or not. Next time I go out, I’ll have a look to see if Boots or Holland & Barrets sell the plain ones. I might have to risk these if none of the straight magnesium ones is available.

They do help keep the night cramps down a bit, I think. Sandie Lentz recommended me using these, and they do work. Thanks, Sandie ♥.

1300hrs: I got the computer on to update this blog.

1545hrs: Got it done up to here, and got the meal in the oven. I hope I can eat more than yesterday.

At least, BBJ’s noise from above stopped me falling to sleep and letting the fodder burn.

The ready meal was an Asda-Walmart Lasagne Al Forno. Never heard of these, but the picture on the outer wrapping looked good. IT said on the back of the sleeve, it was finished with Pecorino cheese. Never heard of that either. I looked it up on the web; “Pecorino is a family of hard Italian cheeses made from ewe’s milk. The word derives from Italian Pecora meaning sheep”.

I made some stuffing to go with it, but it didn’t turn out well and only ate a small bit of that. Last of the beef chunks were alright. The Chinese seaweed was okay, too, as were the sliced tomatoes and extra cheddar cheese I put on top of the meal. Overall, an 8/10 for content. Hehe!

A little late again in getting the head down, and surprisingly I struggled to get to sleep. I put on the Munich film to watch, and was soon off in the land of Nod, the dream-filled world of respite from reality.