Sunday 29th July 2018

Amharic: እሑድ 29 ሐምሌ 2018

0522hrs: I sprung into life… well stirred a little, and was feeling a lot better in myself than yesterday. Although residue from Dizzy Dennis and Shaking Shaun’s attacks yesterday lingered.

The innards were rumbling. But no activity yet.

A morale-knocking view this morning.

It had been raining in the night. Not that there had sufficient quantity enough to clear any of the debris, bird-poo, and crap on the new balcony windows or the broken and cracked base, that is awaiting the balcony pod to be attached.

Plenty of wee-wees needed over the first hour.

I got the Health Checks tended to, and the medications were taken. I was pleased to see that I had not missed taking any tablets during my previous 12-hours of memory blanks.

The weight had gone up, not surprisingly, with my lack of physical activity.

The monitoring thingamabob showed that the Humidity had dropped a lot. I must look up what this means – I’ll do it now!

Ah, I’ve found out the machine is called a hygrometer. It informed me:

What Should My Relative Humidity Be?: Every homeowner should own a hygrometer that measures temperature and relative humidity (RH). The ideal relative humidity for health and comfort is about 40–50%. In the winter months, it may have to be lower than 40% RH to avoid condensation on the windows. Many readers also report high internal humidity levels following the installation of cavity wall insulation, which appears to trap moisture in the cavity – despite the fact that industry claims that this can’t happen.

Also, the temperature in the kitchen was at its lowest level for months now, at 79°f – 25°c.

As I hobbled around making a mug of tasty-strong tea, the Dizzies eased off a lot. But the plates-of-meat, expressly the right foot, was giving me some gip.

The club toe looked to be a little less misshaped this morning, though.

Despite the innards rumbling, there were no signs of the Porcelain Throne being needed yet.

I decided I would have a walk up to the Aldi store later this morning and get some tomatoes, oven-bottom-muffins and spring water. If they have any in stock.

I got the Saturday post finished and posted off. Not that it was a very long one, the memory blanks made sure of that. Huh!

Then made a start on this one. Got some Incock Today page headers made up.

Ablutions tended to. Jolly-good shave and shower, teggies were done, then the medicationalisationings completed.

Made up three black bags for the rubbish chute. Got dressed and took the sacks out with me and dropped the black ones down the chute, and got in the lift with the recycling bag. Well, I say I got into the elevator, I did eventually.

The number one elevator was out of service. And it’s been working ever since it last broke down on Wednesday, too. Sarcasm Mode Adopted here, Hehe!

The other working lift was on floor 4 when I pressed the call button: It went up to the 14th floor, then down to the ground lobby. Then up to the 14th floor, then down to my 12th level at last!

Out through metal-maze to the caretaker’s door and left the recycling bag with the others there.

The wind had got up a lot, and the much-needed rain was a falling.

I got the brolly out of my bag ready for use.

I was glad there were none of the Willmott-Dixon or their subcontractors working today.

For there was no space to get onto the footpath without the usual using the roadway. And that was covered in puddles of muddy rainwater from the trenches and holes the lads were in the middle of preparing for the water and power cables to go in to supply the new tenant’s flats in the Extra-Care-Block they were working on. Still, it creates a bit of interest.

I felt a bit sorry for the lads coming back on Monday to work in those trenches, many of them had already started to fill up with the rain.

I was feeling a lot better in myself now. Dizzy Dennis, Duodenal Donald, and Shaking Steven were all giving me a breather now, as I set off of the Hobble-up-the-Hill to Mapperley Tops and the Lidl Store.

The beautiful smell emanating from the petrichor that comes with the fresh rain falling on dry bark and grass is one of the best aroma’s I’ve ever had the pleasure to smell. Bootiful! Except, perhaps cheesy baked potatoes? Hehe!

I walked deliberately slower than I usually do until I got beyond the trees at the end of Chestnut Walk so that I could enjoy the weathers scent.

By the time I got started on the hill, I had begun limping even slower, as Anne Gyna began to give me grief. But this is only to be expected on the 8/1 steep top Mapperley Rise stretch, up to the Plains Road.

As soon as I got on the level bit of pavement, Anne Gyna eased off for me. So kind of her!

Now, I was in good form and got along to the store with much more speed and singing away to myself. The Young Ones, In thoughts of you and humming the Shadows Stars Fell on Stockton and Wonderful Land are some I recall warbling. Haha!

I even resisted the impatient and nasty Nottinghamian Sunday shoppers antics from getting to me. One bloke literally shoved me out of the way while I was looking at the tomatoes on offer. At the checkout, the bloke behind me in the queue, trod on my right foot, because I was too slow in getting the bags packed and out of his way. Mind you, he did mutter a “Sorry youth!” to me.

I came out £12.70 less well off and with, Smoked streaky bacon, Spring Water, orange juice, fresh pod peas, spreadable butter and some more Glowwhite ultra. To use n the laundry when washing the white towels. Two Fruit fools and a lemon yoghourt, muffins, tomatoes, apples and small potatoes.

I was still in good spirits as I left the store.

Even when I was being greeted by some more torrential rain to walk home in, this didn’t destroy my improved state of mind, and I poddled along the top and right down onto Mapperley Rise.

The scene was sufficiently impressive for me to stop under some bushes and take this photo.

I’m glad I did now because the umbrella blew way as I was taking the picture. If I had been walking, it might have blown away in the strong winds and never be seen again. Hehehe! As it was, it hit the fence nearby and bounced back hitting me on the shoulder and made it easy for me to retrieve it.

AS I turned down Chestnut Walk, I stopped again to take a photograph of all of the three blocks. But the trees hid the new build extra-care building in between the two taller Courts.

The walk back to Woodthorpe Court was relatively less risky today, with there being no building plant or lorries working today.

I limped along with the feet, especially the trodden on the right one, hurting something horrible!

I walked by the Footpath Closed sign on the footpath and considered making another one, to add to it. Something like: “Please do not damage vehicles, tractors, escaping tenants in their cars or Willmott-Dixon lorries when then they knock you over while you are forced to walk in the roadway or fall down the open trenches. Haha!

Got in without seeing any residents or tenants whatsoever, just like when I left earlier.

Straight for a wee-wee and did the Health Checks.

Then got the fodder purchased put away and started the meal preparation.

Got some bargains again today.

I got the belly pork slices and cut them into smaller pieces.

Then put some peri-peri BBQ sauce on them individually.

I had some Hickory Smoked Maple cooking sauce to use after. It takes ten-minutes it says for the sauce to cook. So, I’ll have to guess when the pork has ten-minute left to roast, and add it then.

I got on with updating this blog. Then went on TFZer Facebooking to add today’s piccies.

Nosh prepared and served up – by gum it took me some time, sorting and cleaning up afterwards.

Apart from the much under-cooked beetroot, the rest of the meal was just so tasty! A Flavour Rating of 9.2/10 was given.

So, I can recommend using the Peri-peri BBQ and Hickory sauce together on belly pork done in the oven.

The usual fatigue and Sod-it Mode arrived.

To the accompaniment of Herbert John above’s clatter, tap banging, I had a wee-wee, got the pots washed and got the headphones on to start to watch some, what I thought would be interesting programmes on the telly. 

I watched two episodes of an Australian series called Bondi Beach Vet. I got all emotional.  13th December 2015: An eleven-month-old family puppy had been stabbed in his eyes by burglars. The unfortunate thing was not in a good state at all but remained calm and whimpering throughout the treatment.

Juice, an 11-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier, suffered awful injuries in the savage attack at a house in Bella Vista, Sydney, Australia. The vet discovered that the scum burglars who did this atrosity had pushed the screwdriver right through the eyeball of ‘Juice’. This friendly dog had to have his eyeball removed and eyelid stiched closed. Tears flowed (From me). His human family were obviously shattered.

After the operation which they filmed, they put Juice in a cage overnight. I didn’t think I could feel so much anger, pity and shame all at the same time.

They showed Juice in the morning being visited by his family, now they had to wait to find out if any brain damage had been caused by the B”*^$£*’s who did this, when they shoved the weapon in so hard, it went through into the animals brain outer casing.

The tears turned to ones of joy later, when they showed Juice playing with his owners’ at home, after recovering and getting back to his old self and coping so well, with his one eye. Soft bugger, me!

Later they showed a three-month-old kitten coming into the surgery. The none-responsive little kitty had got herself entangled in a dining room chair for hours, damaging herself in a panic trying to free herself. The vet thought brain damage might have caused the little mite who failed to respond to anything. I had to turn to another channel.

I did pop back to the channel later though and found the kitten was back at home recovering, and the said beginning to act more like the mischievous pet she was before.

TTFN each.