Wednesday 28th August 2019

Hindi: 2019 יום רביעי 28 באוגוסט

01:45hrs: Oy-yoy-yoy! I woke with the mind in the middle of a storm of a flood of mayhem-like worries, fears, and confusion! The predominant thought, was, Jane and Pete are coming today, and I have to sort out the mess I made last night in the kitchen, get two cheesy-potato meals prepared. (Should I do jacket or mash then baked ones? [Boiled and baked me thinks, cause I burn myself less often when cooking these, and it gives versatility for added flavourings]) I must get the Tuesday blog done as early as possible, to grant me more time to get things done. I think I was panicking a bit?

As I stirred physically, I noticed that I had left the balcony doors open, had been committing nocturnal-nibbling crimes, and the GPWWB (Grey-Plastic-Wee-Wee-Bucket) was going to need emptying before I can use it again!

I escaped the clutched of the uncomfortable, £300, second-hand, near-dilapidated, gungy-beige coloured, c1968, sometimes working, uncomfortable, rickety, rinky-dinked, rattling, rusty, resurrected, reconditioned, recalcitrant, recidivating, rotting-away, rickety, recliner. I was going to empty the grey bucket, but the sudden need to use it arrived, and luckily for me, it was only an SGSS (Short-Gently-Sprinkling-Spraying) wee-wee type, so got I it in, Hehe! 

I took the grey bucket with me to the wet room for cleaning, and to use the Porcelain Throne. The usual ‘Sit-S-all-done’ routine, but more painful this time. Cleaned and sanitised the bucket, washed the hands and off to the kitchen.

The pins looked far less lumpy and warped in Arthur Itis’s knees area especially.

The pins were still a touch on the pale side. The bad bit was the fingers and their tips. They were going numb, then back to okay, and numb again repeatedly, all the time this morning. The typing is going to be awkward and challenging to do when I get on the computer! Huh!

As I got to the kitchen and put the light on, things looked very depressing! It looked far messier than when I started to clean it yesterday and had to give up when the Dizzy Dennis wobble had me over.

The thought of Sister Jane seeing it in this state would do, was nerve-racking! Not her fault, she doesn’t know the problems I’m having.

I find the best thing I can do is to lower my standards of expectancy. With everything taking so much longer to get done, the ailments; one of them is always ready to strike and handicapping things. I have not been out of the flat, for four-days now. However, I’ll do what I can to ease Jane’s ‘Stares and quips’ and clean what I can before she arrives. 

I took the medications, made a brew, and got on with podding enough peas for Jane and Pete’s cheesy-potato meals. Got them in the saucepan to marinate with a little demerara sugar and Balsamic vinegar. Then I checked on the tomato supplies, and I tried to open a pack of sweet ones. But the strength in the fingers was not sufficient, so, I got the sharp boning knife, and cut the packet open…

Oh, dearie me! Pointed-end down the nail! Soon stopped the bleeding.

I noticed later, the packet of Assam tea in the background, had a suitable graphic on it. Haha!

I got the computer going. With Mr Fries Liberty-Global Virgin Internet Media, working alright! Honestly! 

I pressed on and got the Tuesday blog updated. It took a few hours, but there you are. The numb finger ends being the worst delaying problem.

Made another brew of Glengettie tea.

I took a photo from the kitchens new, unwanted, light & view-blocking windows. I used the ‘P’ setting. The Auto mode does not catch the lights from the motorway, or the clouds shades, like this one, does.

Then I sent off the post to WordPress. Then I  went on the WordPress Reader section.

Dizzy Dennis gave me a visit or two, bless him.

As I was getting the stuff into the wet room for, the door chime rang out with Dusty Springfield’s tune, “I only want to be with you!”

I wrapped a coat around me and looked through the spy-hole, it was the Morrison delivery, that I had forgotten all about! Oy Yey! Ah, well, the chap was very patient with me, as I went to got a coat on, and fetched the return carrier bags.

I got the nosh put away. I’d found a letter when I was at the door, and opened it up, full of trepidation, curiousness and inquisitiveness!

I tended to the ablutions. No dropsies, not a single one! No toe-stubbing either! Even the sock-glide battle was a draw! I mopped the floor afterwards. Got dresses, and then checked the potatoes on the boil.

I took the black bags to the waste chute. I got back and bashed up the tatties with some cheese, took me nearly an hour. But I wanted to make them a little lumpy to give texture, added some vinegar, butter and salt, and was arranging the dollop in the oven pan.

Then the phone rang-out. But, I got to it too late. I rang Jane, I assumed it was her or Pete who rang. She rang back on the landline. Their car would not start! So, Pete’s had to walk to the doctors, the AA was called, and if things get sorted, they will come afterwards. Made a mess of the fodder plans that did! So, I got back to the spuds cooking after the call and had a deep think on what could be done to salvage the meals.

I decided on a cunning plan! While doing this, I noticed a ‘Meals at Home’ van having made a delivery to Woodthorpe Court.

A shame that Warden and sexy-Cat-Walk Model,  Unterscharfhreress Deana told me that I do not qualify for this service, as I was not on the dole, or claiming any benefit. Then again, food is of growing importance to me, or rather, the preparation and consuming fodder is. Despite all the handicaps that prevent me from getting things done, and all the time it takes nowadays, I love trying out new, meals and nibbles. Come think of it, there would not be room in the freezer to store any ready-made meals. Gawd, I do waffle on at times. Sorry!

The phone rang while I was doing my contemplating. Jane said a neighbour had given the car a battery boost, and they would be on their way soon.

I went on the balcony as I waited for Jane and Pete, and took some shots of the tenant’s terraces, as I looked out for Jane’s arrival. The last photo, I got the shakes while taking it, but, am amazed at how well it came out?

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I decided to put the cheesy potatoes, when cooked, into some tin dishes with lids I have and keep them in the oven to keep them warm.

I put the tomatoes and Marmite cheese mini-discs in a separate one and put it in the fridge. (I remembered to take them out later – Smug – Mode adopted!).

Then, I got the red Leicester cheesies, with butter, salt and balsamic vinegar in the oven. Checking them regularly, just in case.

I thought I heard a noise from the hallway and went to check things out. I found a letter from the Stroke Team, with the results of last weeks assessment meeting. Well, it seems I have a new list of up to date ailments, listed in the letter, which is a copy of the one sent to my GP.

I had to look up some of the ailments on Google to see what they meant and added it.

• Right superior cerebellar infarct with CT confirming the infarct and also showing distal SCA thrombus (Thrombosis).
• Mechanical Aortic Valve replacement.
• Previous schaemic heart disease.
• Hypertension.
• Ca prostate: Cancer Prostate: Currently in remission (Lazs 01 1989).
• Gastroesophageal Reflux disease. Reflux Valve blockage-enduring. Causing GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease).
• Rheumatoid Arthritis.
• Dysarthic: Dysarthria: (Often characterised by slurred or slow speech that can be difficult to understand. Common causes of dysarthria include nervous system [neurological] disorders such as stroke, brain injury, brain tumours
• Burping and Clopidogrel, causing rashes all over.
• Intolerant to Aspirin.
• Ischemic stroke.
• CIDP Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating.
• Unstable Angina.
• Hernia (third-not-op’ble).
• Duodenal (cb-Red) Ulcer.

Well, that was an exciting read. Humph! It beats the bus timetable. Hahaha!

The reprobates Jane and Pete arrived. Much laughter, reminiscing and enjoyment were shared. During a chinwag, Pete revealed that he had the recliner stop working on him, (when he was nosing around, taking a break from removing my valuables and fitting the CCTC cameras?) while I was in the hospital for the Stroke. So, it was Pete, who broke the poor old recliner! You just can’t stop his interest in anything mechanical, electrical or financial (he can get for free)! Hehe!

I was given a card and pressie.

The chamomile tea bag, was proof of their humour, especially as they know I don’t like chamomile. Haha!

The present was the most original one! Further proof of Jane’s hinting knowledgeability! I think it was a hint that I buy too much food, perhaps? Hahaha! 

But seriously, I loved it to bits!

I got the cheesy potatoes and fresh garden peas put in the tin trays and lidded. Remembered the salad one in the fridge, and handed them the treats bag. With plenty of different foods for them to try, I hope they like them.

After much more gossiping and reminiscing, I think they saw I was getting a little drained, and they decided to leave. I took a series of photos of them, as they went to the car.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It’s hard to realise that they are 73 and 72 years of age. They both amaze me so! It just goes to show how an easy-life, winning the lottery twice, being left a fortune by a relative, and being intelligent can help in old age. Harf, Harf! Sorry, Jane & Pete, couldn’t resist it! Hehe!

Anyway, back to reality. Obviously, the car was not going to start. So, I went down to see if they wanted to come back up. But realised waiting for the AA, Pete has to stay with the vehicle. Jane decided (always the logical one, is our Jane), they would eat the tray of food while waiting. She returned with me to the flat to get some cutlery to use. Which was highly fortuitous. For, I had forgot to put some nibbles in the bag of gifts. I walked back down with her. She was very calm about things, bless her. A little natter at the car, farewells and back to the flat I went.

Via the Winwood Court entrance. Sat there in the foyer, were Angela and Roy. We had a chinwagging session and laugh, and I handed out the nibbles. Oberstgruppenfhreress Warden and Pole Dancer Deana passed, had a bite and woke-up poor old Roy, who had nodded off! Hehe! I walked back through the tunnel with Angie and Roy, parted as I got off of the lift, and bade my farewells with a smile each way.

As I got into the flat, the rain had started to fall.

Not that I was bothered, for plans to get out for a hobble tomorrow were already forming in my brain! No matter what the weather! I’ve been imprisoned in this flat since last Friday, unable for one reason and another to get out.

I had a look outside again, and the car was gone. You see, what happens is that my brand of good-luck rubs off on visitors. Regrettably, a proven fact. Hahaha!

I opened the card (Shown earlier, above) and had a chuckle at it, the Chamomile tea bag, and the pressie, the trolley with its imitation food, and the innuendo. Hehehe! Brilliant!

I got my nosh made, just the burnt cheesy potato (I’d left the oven on!) and some peas. I did have a bag of cheese flavoured mini-rice cakes with it. No dessert, no photograph (although I still think I took a picture of it, but, nothing was found on the SD card?) and it was still enjoyed! Flavour rating; 8/10.

The rain had stopped, but the sky still looked threatening. I was really feeling shattered now, so early as well. I stripped and got down in the Brother-in-law Pete damaged, £300, second-hand, c1968, rusty, recliner. I put the TV on, to catch a reality police programme, feeling sure I would soon nod-off into the land-of-nod! But it was not meant to be!

I found it hard, to understand that feeling so tired and weary as I did, sleep would not come to me!

On second thoughts, it is apparent to me now, why no head-down comes; The excitement of Jane and Pete visiting me! Of course, I noticed how I kept looking up at the shopping trolley on the cabinet shelf, and card on the Ottoman, and smiling rather smugly!

I didn’t even have any two-minute nod-offs. And the mind was racing, and what I glanced at occasionally on the TV, was of no interest to me.

I think this might be what is known as contentment?

TTFN, each, have a great day! I’ve just had one, rare, but they are so good!