Wednesday 25th September 2019

Filipino: Miyerkules Ika-25 ng Setyembre 2019

03:15hrs: I woke, reluctantly, and in a self-imposed, premeditative frame of mind. After just a few moments vacillating, I decided to get at least a start made, on trying to sort-out the Amazon deliveries. It was manifest that the trolley-guide delivered was going to need some construction, assembly, and DIY skills to assemble it. Such skills and capabilities that I do not possess! No-Confidence-Mode-Adopted! But, at least I was in a slightly better mood this morning, and was determined to have a go!

Oddly, I felt I was more clear-headed than for a long time, as I rose from the Brother-in-Law Pete damaged while he was flat-sitting, when I was in the Stroke Ward, and he fitted new CCTC cameras, and searched for my valuables, which he found and took, (I still haven’t got them back yet four-months later), £300, second-hand, near-dilapidated, gungy-beige coloured, c1968, recliner. No wee-weeing was required?

I noticed the ordered things in a neat pile, completely blocking up my mini-hallway. They’ll have to be sorted soon!

I wandered into the kitchen, and got the kettle on, then imbibed the medications. A call to the Porcelain Throne arrived via the suddenly rumbling and almost squelching movements and sounds from the innards! Off to the wetroom. Well, well, the evacuation was practically a pleasure! Much more comfortable, and no bleeding! Wunderbar!

I decided as I was in there anyway, to get the ablutions done early. An ablutionalisationing session with a series of dropsies throughout. Toilet roll dropped (straight into the WC!), Toothpaste then the toothbrush. Facecloth (x3), Razor (x2), and the aftershave bottle. No toe-stubbings and I avoided using the injurious, dangerous sock-glide, I left the socks off! Hehe!

I did have a sudden Hitler Salute from the right arm, and a little Neuropathic Schuhplattler dance from the right leg – both at the same time! I’m not sure how or what I had cut my head on. As a guess, I’d say the razor in the right hand, as it offered it loyalty to Herr Hitler pose. Then it shot off into the shower area as the dandy lost its grip, and rebounded back down on the bonce!

Yet not one outburst of frustration from me, I took it all in my stride. (Smug-Mode-Adopted) Not a single naughty word passed my mouth! (Although, a couple may have sneaked silently into my mind) Haha! 

The pins (legs), were looking a lot better this morning, and no bleeding from any papsules or clopidogrel’s welts. Plus, the fluid retentions was still low. I was pleased about that! Lucubrations permeated the brain for a few seconds or so. But not the worrying, all ‘Doom and Gloom’ regular ones that visit me! This little brain-blast was merely to inform me that the sorting-out of the new arrivals must be tended to, and the expected strawberries and limoncello treats on there way from Morrisons, taken to the wardens holding cells, and the Spices down to Jenny’s, later.

I unpacked the deliveries. As should have been axiomatic to me, the new Made in China, (come think of it, everything I ordered was Chinese made) three-wheeled tri-walker, I found it to be in need of a lot of assembling. The empty box, I am going to use for the recycling storage, before taking it down to the caretaker’s room on the front of the flats, when it get filled-up.

I extracted it from the box and moved the guide to the front room. To await my attentions and no doubt feeble efforts to assemble it. I have a fitment coming today, so I can take the walking stick with me when I use the trolley. I’ll most likely make a cock-up of fitting that as well and then brakes, bars, basket etc. Humph!

The Chinese made… (Oh, I’ve already mentioned that, sorry) Oven ‘Copper-Crisper’, must be resisted for the moment. Since I am making a determined effort to cut back on the chips intake, I’ve been gobbling! Whether I will be tempted today, is questionable, to say the least. But being as I had planned a salad of sorts, maybe my fortitude and strong-mindedness will prevail?

The Hearing Aid Impaired Wristlets were utter and complete, absolute rubbish!

The one of the two I bought and adorned first lost its lettering doing so!

Never mind, the Warfarin one should be arriving today sometime.

The ‘Tablet crusher and slicer’ has a blade in the lid for slicing pills. I assume because there is no instructions come with it. It looks very delicate, so I’ll take care when I use it for the first time tonight.

I then ignored all the mess around me and the apartment and got on the computer to update and send off the Tuesday post to WordPress.

Made another brew, then I went on the WP Reader.

Then took two photographs from the gallery of the morning view.

The Morrison delivery arrived at 06:55hrs.

By gum, it was raining out there! The poor chap dropped the wet bags inside the doorway, and seemed to in a rush, as he was only just within the hour allotted for the delivery. Nice chap. He sounded Polish or Lithuanian. Thanked him and wished him well as he shot off.

I moved the ordered goods into the kitchen, working my way through the rubbish and mess the place was now in. Tsk! 

I’d not over-ordered this morning. I got some treats for Jenny and the Wardens to hand out later. If the Amazon stuff comes early, I might get out to the shops, properly. We’ll see.

I got the bags unloaded and but the stuff for the fridge and freezer on the server trolley. I’m so glad they have the limoncello desserts on offer, so I can hand some around.

The apples were English Worcestershire. But I can’t wait for Cox’s Pippins to arrive. I had got too much milk in, but this was soon corrected when I made another brew. The smell of the Cavendish bottle in the fridge encouraged me to throw away the contents. Eurgh!

I started doing some graphics on CorelDraw for the dairy, or even Diary Tops.

0850hrs, I took the treats to hand-out for Jenny and the wardens. I went without the camera, Tut! Dropped the straws and limoncello off at the Wardens Holding-Cell/Office. On my way back, I diverted from going to Jenny’s, as I thought it might be too early to catch them awake and about yet. I’ll go later.

As I got back in the flat, that droning noise seemed to be getting louder again. Drives you bonkers! On the computer and…

Hard work! The landline rang and lit up. The line was so bad, the lady who I think from bits of the conversation that I did get was from the Falls Team, was impossible. She rang back, and the line was much better. They’d had a cancellation and wanted to call to see me this afternoon around 14:30hrs. I thanked her and assured her I would be in.

I carried on updating this blog for hours. Now with Amazon expected at any time, and the Tamsin Peach (It sounded like anyway) calling from the Geriatric Falls Team, I will not be to visit Jenny with the nibbles. Ah, well, plenty of life in the limoncello yet.

I set about building the new three-wheeled-guide. I cannot express in words, the struggle, farce, frustration and failure in my enterprise of putting together the ill-made poor quality various parts! The handles I cannot get to fit without rattling around in the slots. A DIYer, I’m certainly not. I can’t even blame the fingers, hands, shoulder or leg for my downfall. Because they were not playing up. Tsk!

As I was finishing, or rather giving up on mechanical stuff, the intercom rang out. It was the Occupational Therapist, Tasmin Peach, from the Falls Team come to see me.

We spent a couple of hours going through things. Blood Pressure reading and making sure the current medical history is up to date. History, hopes, and taking extra care were disgust. A charming, social and delightful lady, indeed.

She departed, which made me sad, it always makes me feel a little blue when any carers leave, me. (Yes, I’m a sad old scoundrel! Haha!)

I got the chestnut mushroom in the saucepan with some Balsamic vinegar, and Light Soy sauce added.

I got returned to the updating of this diary. Got carried away a bit, and the smell of the liquid coming out over the saucepan onto the stove, made me panic somewhat! Grumble-Sodit-Blast! Argh! One heck-of-a-job cleaning that all up! I had to transfer the mushrooms to a larger one, and wash the semi-burnt receptacle! Humph!

I took a photo of the view outside, bootiful it was!

I spent a few minutes pondering over if there is something I’m doing wrong, that might be causing the falls.

Then had a rarity for today, a wee-wee.

Back to the computerisationing. I checked on the Tracker again for the Walking Stick fittings. Judging from what I learnt from yesterdays timing, I reckoned there would b about two hours to go before it would arrive at the apartment. It already being so late in the day for me, 17:00hrs, and well beyond my head-down time, I must ensure that I keep doing something. I do not want to fall asleep and miss the intercom or doorbell sounding. 

I updated this blog to here and started to do some graphics on CorelDraw to use as page tops headers and ‘Thoughts’ for later on.

The curtains suddenly fell off of the hooks on the balcony top! I kid you not! Without rhyme nor reason, I had to rehook six of the flaming things! I got the stepladder from the balcony, and gingerly mounted it. Only two steps, but it was painful and trying for the RAI (Rheumatoid Arthur Itis) knees. More worrying than the hassle and pain, was the mystery of why they would all unexpectedly, and instantaneously drop off at the same time? Tim Hancock will know. He worked out that: The Mysteries of my beloved Woodthorpe Court. That lies somewhere between the twilight zone and a wormhole slipping through a tear in the fabric of space & the universal continuum, illusion, delusion, & hallucination! Aliens, perhaps? The Return of the Boll Weevils? Ghosts? Or the building’s getting ready to collapse? Ah, I had a look outside and found some crumbling of the new cement and concrete above the balcony! Also, found some bits of grey coloured stone had fallen onto and in between the planks! Dang dang, dang! Well, it has been done for about two months now. One cannot expect it to last much longer. Sarcasm thrown in there, my pleasure!

In the event of Woodthorpe Court flats collapsing shortly, would you please:

• Kindly let the Nottingham City Homes Management, know that I warned them! Hehehe!
• Oh, and remind Sister Jane about my funeral all being paid for in advance, she’s got the details.
  
• Yes, and Recliner-breaking crook, Brother-in-Law Pete, tell him not to bother returning the valuables he stole while I was in the hospital. But only, of course, in the event of my being crushed to death, or however I croak out. For God’s sake, don’t tell him to keep it if I’m still alive! Thanks, Tim, Lynton, Ian and Clive. 

The tracker for the parcel was in the same position when I rechecked it again. It’s not easy for us older folk, having to not fall asleep! Staying awake is just as hard!

Back to the graphicationalisationing… Huh!

Sufferin’ succotash! Cozens! Scumbering-Swine! Ay, caramba! Unreliable Fries! Gits!

Computer off. Black bags. Wee-wee.

Amazon check. Getting closer!

Amazon arrived!

I must get some sleep.

Phlebotomy nurse arriving in the morning to take the Warfarin INR blood. Wonderful woman, I hope she will take some Manner Lemon Wafers, as a thank you, for her patience and extra help phoning the surgery etcetera, and her tolerance and understanding with me when I get dates mixed up and so on.

The computer still very slow, I gave up again.

I did the handwashing and hung it to try, only one shirt tonight.

As the thought of the daily battle with the sock-glide, which more often than not, the sock-glide would win, combined with my not needing them with staying in again all day, I just left the socks off. (Coward Class 1 – Grade A, speaking!)

I checked on the brand new, not-working now correctly, again intercom screen, to view the Foyer entrance. Boing! The Mysteries of my beloved Woodthorpe Court. That lies somewhere between the twilight zone and a wormhole slipping through a tear in the fabric of space & the universal continuum, illusion, delusion, & hallucination, strikes again!

19:50hrs, Amazon arrived. I didn’t hear the pathetically weak, considering they have put them in an old folks dwellings, and it is still not working correctly. The delivery driver had got in anyway and delivered this parcel for me.

I just photographed it, put it down, and made a start on making the nosh, I was as weary and tired as I have been for years.

Straight on with nosh making. I weakened in my resolve about not eating any chips (fries), but at least I only did a few. I used the new Chip-Crisper set-up. I agree with the claim that it would make the food crisp, it did. But, some of them had hard bits in the middle? I was not impressed at first but thought afterwards, I may not have left them in long enough, with my impatient craving for food? The Morrison chestnut mushrooms might as well have been slices of cardboard! Morrison’s organic tomatoes (that I cannot remember ordering?), were bitter. The Morrison Worcester apple, soft fleshed and crumbly! The Morrison chopped beetroot reminded me of grape nuts! The Milk Roll bread from Morrisons on Special Price was alright, as was their butter on them, but the German Smoked Ham was bland, tasteless and plastic-like. Morrison’s salad was okay. Even the Limoncello dessert tasted just like sugar – what happened to the lemon? I may sound critical, and possibly my overtiredness affect the flavour? But for a Taste-Rating, I give only 5/10!

I went to do the washing up, as I was handing paraphernalia onto the drying board, the dang right arm gave just one, not too violent, imitation Hitler salute. But it was enough for me to end up with a right mess and mangle of plates, dishes, pots, cutlery and trays, knocked off of the draining board, landing on the floor and my corn! Oh, and bruising my knuckles against the cupboard side, on the wall! I thought about fetching the camera but decided I’d had enough Whoopsies, and got on with retrieving and rewashing them, and cleaning it all up. The place looked a right mess, even after I’d tidied it up!

I eventually made my way, bypassing the giant box the trolley came it, being used for recyclable storage. The shrewd about bits left-over from new Walker construction. Tools. General rubbish that reminded me of Steptoe & Son’s front room, in miniature, and into the £300, second-hand, c1968, horrendously beige-coloured, rickety, not-working (Thanks to Bother in law Pete!), recliner.

Shattered!