Friday 13th July 2018

Corsican: Venerdì 13 Ghjugnu 2018

0325hrs: I woke, at least I thought I had, with my world seemingly in half-reality and fantasy, in a pool of sweat that was most uncomfortable and disconcerting. Eventually, the brain gleaned that I was not drowning in my own diaphoresis. It took me a while to get the grey-cells to accept this and realise that I was not in a cavern of fire with dragons squirting hot water at me, with arrows being shot at me. Allowing me to concentrate on the sudden demand for the Porcelain Throne usage that had arrived.

Getting out of the £300 second-hand recliner was more difficult and painful than usual. Detaching the sweaty body from the wet cover and chair, Arthur Itis and Crampy Craig both in a bad mood, but I did get fumblingly to the wet room. Where again, like yesterday morning, I was glad that I kept a book in there. This reading allowed a partial distraction from the agony of the arduous, testing, and reluctant evacuation process. At least Belinda Blotches was not so itchy, the inflammation had died down, and stinging far less than yesterday.

This long forced expulsion left me feeling a tad fearful, as afterwards much blood flowed from Harold’s haemorrhoids again, like yesterday morning. Although unfortunate, it was no worse really than Thursday mornings session, I suppose. It did leave me feeling uncomfortable, but mitigated by the welcome improvement in Belinda’s Blotches.

Cleaned up and off to the kitchen to do the Health Checks.

The sphygmomanometer readings looked fair enough. And the weight had gone down a bit too. Sweated out, I expect. Tsk!

When I was getting out the medication pod trays, I realised that I had missed last nights dosages. Lummox!

 I  just took the night doses of Warfarin, magnesium and codeine, along with the morning pills. I put the rest in the Return to Chemist box. Well, I did, but after a grubble around and search to find it, that cost me about fifteen minutes. Schlump!

The view out of the beautiful new kitchen window was taken. The part open window, I placed my hand through when I took the picture, to give an idea of the fantastic view and size of the filth marks.

I got the computer on and updated yesterdays diary, and got it posted off. Checked the emails in case I had got any notification of the results of the Warfarin INR blood test. None in there, though.

Made a start on this blog next. Then went on the WordPress Reader. Some great posts were on there today.

Ablutions tended to. Medicationalisationing followed. Belinda’s Blotches treated with Savlon antiseptic cream, the Fred’s Fungal Lesion with Daktarin… No, Daktacort, then Harold’s Haemorrhoids with Germoloid Cream.

Readied and took the black bags to the chute, then back to the apartment and faffled around getting ready to go on my mission to the optician and get the Hoisen pork ribs and fresh Garden Peas.

Down in the lift and saw these signs on the resident’s notice board as I got out.

The illuminated Community Information board suggested there were light rain showers. But we didn’t get any rain.

I noticed it was Friday 13th. I thought I inform those not in the know that the fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia. Don’t think I came across this word accidentally, I’ve always none of its existence. Lie Mode Adopted, Hehe!

A quick related Fun Quiz:

Q) In Paris, a man with a job known as a quatorzieme sits in his place of work for the evening. Sometimes he is called on to do something, but most evenings he is not. What does he do?

A) He is a professional guest. His job is to be the 14th person at a function or dinner whereas he would join if the total number of guests totalled 13, which is considered by some people to be unlucky.

Through the lobby and out over the road and up the gravel hill path and along the Woodthorpe Grange Park footpath, to Mansfield Road. Many dogs were taking their owners for a walk this morning, I love watching them. One big friendly dog sought me out. I think he wanted a sniff inside my bag to see anything edible was available. Hehe! Bless his cotton socks; he let me fuss him.

As I passed my favourite part of the pathway, I attempted to do a panoramic shot from underneath the trees.

For some reason, it came put far brighter than it actually was. I also noticed that when I took this shot, no dogs were in sight?

I pressed on and got to the optician shop in Sherwood.

I made inquiries of how much a pair of normal and one of reading glasses would cost. The explanation baffled me, such was the politician-like verbal qualities and attributes of the lady. 

Getting an appointment was fun. I could go in later today at 1600hrs and have a test done. I explained about my being an early morning person who fades rather fast late in the day. They could do me on Tuesday at 1530hrs. Too late! Wednesday at 1545hrs. Too late. Thursday next at 0945hrs… her face showed hope here; until I explained to her about the only socialising, I get being an hour a week, at 1000hrs each Thursday. I got the impression they wish I had not called at all. Hehe!

They booked me in for Friday 20th July at 1000hrs. She said they would send me a reminder. I offered my thanks.

Next into Wilko’s and bought liquid soapflakes (Its great to wash with, and comes in handy to soak the facecloths in between use), A digital timer To replace the one that has gone missing and cannot be found after two days trying, What a Shnook I am! Toilet block and a bottle of disinfectant.

Thanked them and made my way to the bus stop. Caught one to town and dropped off on Mansfield Road near the Victoria Centre.

As I walked down the road, I could see several people looking upwards near the Irish Pub. I could see nothing of interest, and wondered if Candid Camera had made a come-back. Eventually, a chap came up to me and asked what was going on, I told him I didn’t know either! Haha!

Eventually, I heard someone telling someone else what the altercation was about. A mallard was on the flat roof of the building. To me, it looked like the bird was looking down at us and thinking; Why are all these Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis stood around looking up at me?

As I left to walk through the Victoria Mall to the Aldi store, the crowd that had gathered was about twenty-strong. In the store, they had just the one packet of the Hoisin pork Ribs left, and that was in a bin of Clearance Specials… Yes, they were not getting any more in stock again. Somehow, I stopped the tears from flowing. Haha! I came out of the store with two heavy bags of purchases all the same. The last and damaged pack Hoisin ribs, Two bottles of American Style Root Beer, apples, Oven Bottom Muffins, Ice cream Cones strawberry, Mature cheese, Glowhite cleaner, Dettol lemon spray, boneless beef ribs, and a pack of BBQ spare ribs on Special Offer.

As I left, I saw the Victoria Centre Flats high in the skyline. I remembered reading that they cost from £440 a month to rent, good value.

The plates-of-meat were stinging something rotten now with the weight of the bags.

I made my way to Clumber Street and went into the Sports Direct Store to have a look see if they had any of the long sleeved thick tea shirts in stock.

After an awfully long time searching, I came across some, and they were on special offer too.

Unfortunately, the shirts were located about ten foot up on the wall, with other clothing on display. Another hunt to find a member of staff so they could get them down for me took a good while as well. But the gal was pleasant enough to get two for me, using her long pole. And she offered a not unpleasant grunt in my general direction when I thanked her.

Paid my dues and out onto Clumber Street again.

I noticed a lot Chines or Japanese in the crowds today.

I assumed they were on holiday. Not surprising to me, as we have a student level of 34% Chinese students in our colleges in Nottinghamshire.

The most impressive thing about this, was their wondrous smiles as they plodded merrily around the City Centre. Sadly, I noticed that they were getting some bitter stares from some of the Nottinghamians.

Not very sunny at times today, but it feels cooler, that’s nice.

In the Slab Square where they are erecting amusement rides, I spotted them checking out this new ride, without any people on it yet.

The whatever it is that if holding the cage, tightened as frightening speed, and then drops at the same rate if not faster, then it jerks back up again. While doing this the occupants in the two chairs in a metal ball, can enjoy it spinning around at the same time! I must let Sister Jane and Pete know about this, bet they’d love a go on it!

Some of the food stalls were already open on the periphery of the site.

They were not cheap, and not being shown any interest in by any Nottinghamian shoplifters yet, either.

I made my way to the bus stop, but found I had just missed the L9 bus, either had another hour to wait or to catch the 40 bus, that drops us off further away from the flats, on Mapperley Rise, and there is the job of getting across the road on the sharp and steep bends. I caught the number 40 bus.

Pete, from the flats, got on further along and we had a farcical chinwag as we are both hearing-challenged. We alighted and, I was shocked to see Pete cross the road on the bend, but he got over alright. I walked up a bit and used the central refuge. I actually caught up with Pete on Chestnut Way, but he got a second wind and somehow shot off again.

As I gave up the chase and watched him – it all came together when he belted into the white Nottingham City Homes, Winwood Heights, Stabsgefreiteress Wardens Temporary HQ, WC, Willmott-Dixon workers breakfast and tea-break room, Sarcasm & Insult distribution area, Tenants Socialisation Area, Telling Inchcock off Zone, Crockery and pottery to be stolen from, and ‘Residents WC”! Hahaha!

I observed that the builders had moved the covered copper piping to behind some temporary fencing where they have closed the footpath while laying cables underground.

How more of the old folk have not been killed or injured is a testimony to the Willmott Dixon safety campaign.

The heat was showing on the thermometer when I got inside, 93°f.

I stripped down to my PPs. And sorted out the purchases.

I decided on having the beef ribs with seasoned baked bean and vegetarian mini sausages. Got the beans and sausage in the pan and beef in the oven.

Opened a bottle of the Root Beer to guzzle while I was on the computer updating this page. First time I’ve tried this drink. Not too bad.

Made up a Morrison order for next week and remembered to put the optician’s appointment on the Google Calendar.

The nosh was prepared, and what a lousy job I made of cooking and seasoning it!

The taste came out as a sort of hybrid where the flavour of each ingredient challenged the others for the title of the most horrible tasting!

Cosmotellurian, in as far as the beans tasted terrific, everything else was either lousy flavoured or uneatable, like the sour tasting so-called beef! Klutz!

Herbert was having a busy day up above. Clang, Tap, knocking and banging away, off and on. But of course, I am not complaining, just mentioning it. No point in my risking getting another telling-off and sneered at from the Nottingham City Homes Mangement for my quoting the truth about the noises from above. As the Obergruppenfurheress Management, told me; “He is doing nothing wrong, just following his hobby of model making, and I’ll have to put up with it!” I don’t want to lose my home, because some else is noisy. Oh heck, I forgot there that I was told not to put any conversations I have with any Nottingham City Homes Management, employees, representative or agent on my blog. Sorry about that, I’ll cross it out.

Sleep, once again, did not want to come. Tsk!