Monday 5th November 2018

Maori: Rāhina 5 o Whiringa-ā-Rangi 2018

00:05hrs: Woke with the seemingly aeviternal omnium-gatherum of uncontrollable thoughts, wildly pinging about in my head. The ailments seemed to have taken a back-seat behind these cogitations, anxieties, and fears. It was a few minutes before I could free my brain of the mishmash thoughts. No call to the Porcelain Throne to release the torment, as is often the case in the mornings here at Inchcock Towers. Hehehe!

I manipulated the vastness of my stomach and torso from the £300 second-hand recliner without any Accifauxpas. A rare for me, resoluteness appeared in my armoury, and as the ailments were all being so kind, I went with some pace, to the kitchen to get the Health Checks seen to. A bit of a shock, the Sys again.

Made up the records for the week on Excel.

I smidge nippy when I opened the new unwanted light and view-blocking kitchen window to take this photo on the left. Hello, is that a free car parking space I see down there?

I mused over how much sleep I might get tonight, with it being November 5th, Bonfire Night and all that. Still, as long as the Nottinghamian populace are playing with their fireworks, they won’t be out mugging, shoplifting, vandalising or riding their bikes on the pavement. Hehehe!

Took a patrol around to see if any Evil ironclad Boll-Weevil black biting beetles could be found. Much to my delight, I found only three carcasses in the wet-room, none in the spare room and none in the kitchen.

I made a brew and blow me down, I found a live Evil ironclad Boll-Weevil black biting beetle on the cooker!

I decided at this point, to start off this blog and update yesterdays later.

0125hrs: Got up to here, and a change of plans again, I went down to start the laundry duties. Got the washer going, and took some photographs out of the window in the laundry room of the new scaffolding. Scaff-Tag all in order.

Up to the flat and updated this section.

Looking a little foggy now.

Made a start on updating the Sunday post.

Down again to move the togs into the dryer. The better machine was not working, it had a blue light on permanently?

Back up again to the flat and got the Sunday Post finished and posted off to WordPress.

 0240hrs: Down once more to collect the washing and clean the machines and filters.

What a picklement! The end machine was still not working, I assume the Management Oberstgruppenführeresses know about this, but I’ll mention it if I see them later, just in case. I opened the dryer I had my clothes in, and they were still so damp!

So, I started the machine again and went for a read of the notice boards for fifteen minutes. Returned, to find the device had stopped. Started it once more and stood there watching it. It ended telling me the clothes needed rearranging, or they were already dried. Took a look inside and they were indeed not dry. Started the dryer again. Gave it a while and it stopped again. So I removed the washing, which was still damp but not as bad as earlier. Took them out and folded them…

Then I realised there was dirty water/liquid underneath the machines. Back up to the flat and got some kitchen towels and back down and dried up what I could of liquid. When I got around to cleaning the filter, there was only a little fluff in the mesh, but some gunk as well? Cleaned the casing and drum.

Nearly 0400hrs by the time I got the things back upstairs. I got the shirts and socks in the airing cupboard, rotating them so that the not-fully dried new stuff was at the bottom of the piles. Hopefully, then they will be safe to wear and not give me pneumonia. Hehe!

Made a brew, which I let go cold, due to the call from the innards for me to utilise the Porcelain Throne. The evacuations went well, no bleeding. Good!

Made another brew of tea and got on with updating this blog.

The fog was getting thicker now.

Went on the WordPress Reader.

Then on Facebook to update the photo albums and visit the TFZer site.

Got the ablutions tended to, all refreshed I set out, dropping off two bags for the waste chute en route.

The fog had turned to a light mist, that as I hobbled along Chestnut Walk to the Nottingham City Homes, Winwood Heights, Hauptbereitschaftsleiteress-Wardens white Temporary HQ. Willmott-Dixon workers tea-break room. Sarcasm & Insult distribution area. Tenants Socialisationistical Meeting Shed. Telling Inchcock off Zone. Where things like crockery and pottery get stolen from, and somewhere to rest while waiting for the bus Portakabin. Where Sturmbannführeress Wardens Deana and Julie were in their room… Ah, I remembered, I am barred by the Nottingham City Homes Management, from mentioning anything taking place between Nottingham City Homes agents, representatives or employees and myself. We spoke, I think it might be safe to tell you that they were aware of the problems with the drying machines in the laundry room, and had arranged for assistance to arrive. I wish they had told me earlier, I could have saved myself all those hours of farcical messing about in the early hours.

But it was difficult, as I had forgotten to put in my hearing aids. So, back up to the flat to collect them. Which was fortunate, cause I met Tenant and cat-walk model Penny, and then knew I could catch her later, to give her the birthday and Christmas present, so I collected that at the same time, and returned to the Nottingham City Homes, Winwood Heights, Hauptbereitschaftsleiteress-Wardens white Temporary HQ. Willmott-Dixon workers tea-break room. Sarcasm & Insult distribution area. Tenants Socialisationistical Meeting Shed. Telling Inchcock off Zone. Where things like crockery and pottery get stolen from, and somewhere to rest while waiting for the bus Portakabin.

The population of the hut had grown, four tenants and Complex Gymnast Lynne had arrived. Handed out the nibbles and had a chinwag. Out to the bus stop, where many more residents lurked about in little groups, looking highly suspicious to me… Only joking, Hehehe! Had a few natters and laughs with some of them.

On the bus to town. When we arrived to alight on the City, it was a little comical, with four of us trying to help others get off… I wasn’t sure who needed more help, those helping or the others. Haha!

I began a little hobbling session around of the City Centre area.

Along George Street, on to Carlton Street, where I noticed this new to me, bakery, with the customary uncaring dnagerous, Nottingham Pavement Cyclist doing his own thing, weaving through the poor pedestrians.

I crossed over the tram line decorated Fletcher Gate, not far from where the shooting incident took place at the weekend.

Down Bottle Lane, where I took this picture of the buildings on my right. Where the double mugging took place in August.

I thought they gave an impression of a workhouse, or prison of old?

At the bottom, I went left on to Bridlesmith Gate. A sombre picture compared to how it once used to look.

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In the side streets, there were so-called art shops, tattooists and charity shops etc.

Passing a street-sleeper with his dog, and the Big Issue Seller with his Pit-bull like looking animal.

Down I trotted on to Middle Pavement. Almost as sad as Bridlesmith Gate this road. 

The entrance to the failed Broad Marsh Centre; that is currently going through a modernisation process costing an estimated £140m, now used by folks taking a shortcut more often than any shoppers.

Down Low Pavement to Lister Gate and Albert Street. Where the stabbings took place in October.

It looked like H Samuels was likely to disappear soon as well.

As I stood at the junction, my mind took me back to my youth. The Woolworths, C&A, British Home Stores, Dunnes the tailors, Wigfalls TV & Radio, ah… good days!

Top photo below of how it used to look in my hey-day. Today, with its new shops, most of them closed down. Depressing!

Marks & Sparks are still going, but reports indicate they are struggling, too.

I hobbled up Albert Street, on to Wheeler Gate. Where the taxi driver was stabbed in August.

Where the ever-increasing amount of depressing ‘To Let’ and ‘For Sale’ boards seemed like omens of what is to come, to me.

A limp up Friar Lane, passing the closed down Chinese Food shop, the shut-down Boots Opticians, the bankrupt Hearing Centre, the relocated Co-op Bank, the Indian Restaurant that I have never seen any customer in, and the abandoned Newspaper shop.

However, the Kitty Cafe and Take-Away were enjoying a roaring trade this morning.

Best to book a table to ensure you can get in, it’s that busy. There is a £6 Cat Welfare Charge before you sit down. But cat lovers would not complain at this, I’m sure. All the cats are rescued ones.

All ailurophiles should love this place.

I nipped into the Poundland shop. I got a Pork Farms Pie, some Ritz sea salt & Vinegar thins, and some little bits to use as Christmas pressies for the medical staff and residents.

Down to the slab-square. Where some entertainment for Christmas I assume, was being erected.

The Nottinghamian citizenry all looked suspiciously at me as I took the photographs. I suppose the illegal immigrants, muggers, warranted persons, the CSP none-payers, shoplifters, gang members and escaped prisoners do this without thinking? Hehe!

I spotted an imitation Policeman as I walked through South Parade. He was stood out of the way under the alcove at the front of Bet Fred shop. Sensible lad!

I walked up to Clumber Street and took this picture. Not as busy as it usually is.

I turned down left into Long Row, and was greeted with the Helter Skelter being prepared for the seasonal festivities.

A Nottinghamian Pavement Cyclist, coming silently from behind, all but hit me. Then uncaring swine, was even closer to hitting a lady in front of me as he sped around her. Git!

This alley at the side of a shop on Long Row, always amazes me that there are two businesses up there!

An antique bookshop and hairdressers I think. How they can make it pay, I don’t know.

Ah, I took a zoomed in shot of the alley, and now see that they have not made it pay! One of the units was up for let! Poor devils!

I stood quietly for a while, just looking at the people as they went by, some of them did not have mobile phones in use either, honestly! All plodding on in their own little worlds.

As I got the camera out to take a picture of the Little John clock and housing, things changed… I instantly started getting, curled lips, scowls, intimidating glares, dirty-looks and glunches! I made a check to make sure I hadn’t left my flies open. Then I sheepishly put the camera back in my pocket. Getting dangerous photographicalisationing in town!

Up to the bus stop on Queen Street, a lady waiting there was kind enough to have a natter with me.

I was soon back at the flats. Penny got off of the other bus, and we walked back to the apartments, and another natter was enjoyed. Did well with little talks today. I like ’em you know.

Shattered entirely when I got in. No updating of this diary, too tired.

Did the Health Checks and swallowed the medications.

Made a salad of sort. No bread this time, I forgot to buy some when I was out, and I did not want to wait for any out of the freezer to defrost. A Taste-Rating of 8.8/10 given.

I knew I was going to fall asleep, so did the last Health Checks and dosages early, well, while I was awake. Hehehe!

There was a 1959 film on the Horror Channel, ‘Earth vs The Flying Saucers’. My EQ told me I might enjoy watching this. So I tried to… What I stayed awake to watch, was so badly scripted and corny, but the special effects for 1959 were brilliant. But of course, I nodded off! Tsk!