03:30hrs: I came back to imitation life, with my body sat on, as opposed to laying on the £300, second-hand, sickeningly beige-coloured rickety recliner, that my xyrophobia-suffering Brother-in-Law Pete broke when he was flat raiding and stealing my valuables while I was in the hospital. (I must remember to ask him for them back, but I might as well talk to the wall) My feet rested on the serving tray on the floor. Crumbs and bits of bread were stuck to my feet, trapped in the folds of my pharaonically-sized stomach folds, and I even fund some in my right ear-hole! What the deuce had I been doing overnight? What a moyshe kapoyer I am!
As some focus, brain usage and limited concentration came back on-line, memories were triggered. I recollected eating the meal and falling asleep with the tray on my knee last night with the prospect of the much-absent sleep dawning, I drifted off… But by gum, I needed it! I got five hours in. Mind you, how long I spent nocturnally wandering and rearranging things in the room, I don’t know.
I took a rather surprisingly ferocious wee-wee. Then off to the wet room with the GPEWWB (Grey-Plastic-Emergency-Wee-Wee-Bucket) to be emptied and cleaned and disinfected. I was caught-out again when I needed to use the Porcelain Throne, having been twice yesterday, and needing another. A painful session, and so bloody! So, more cleaning and sanitising were required.
I decided to leave the cleaning up of the bread crumbs until later, when I could use the hoover, without disturbing any neighbours sleep. To the kitchen.
Notwithstanding Nicodemus’s Neurotransmitters failing a few times, I took the medications, pain gelled poor old Arthur Itis’s knees and Shaking Shoulder Shirley’s scapular. Olive-oiled, the ear holes, sprayed Saccades eyes. The over-the-counter Haemorrhoid cream was used. The nasal spray used, and the Vaseline was applied to my cracked lips. Then, with gritted teeth; I grabbed and squeezed a clump of my sizeable, flabby dominated stomach area, and stuck the Enoxaparin filled hypo. Pushing in the warm, tingling mixture of Enoxaparin – Formula (C26H40N2O36S5)n: Which is metabolised in the liver into low molecular weight species by either or both desulfation and depolymerisation. I wanted to sound clever here and copied this off of the leaflet that was in the box. Of course, I knew all of this before… Hahaha!
Then made a brew of my beloved Thompson Punjana tea. A warm glow came over me, as I remembered getting the new stock, along with some Glengettie in from Amazon yesterday and now have enough to last me for a good while. A gratifying, and almost exhilarating feeling!
I did try to use the Pill-Splitter again on the large 80 mg Atorvastatin boulder… I mean tablet. But just as when I have tried before, the ‘Splitter’ could not cut it, the blade got bent and distorted when I tried to use it. Most disappointing, I had to imbibe the crushed bits of tablet and powder left, by licking my licking and dabbing my finger to get it. Hahaha! So, I now have a tablet-crusher instead of splitter! Hey-ho!
I got on the computer and soon had the Thursday Inchcock Today updated and finished. Thanks, mainly to Nicodemus, Shirley and Shaun all being so remarkably calm?
I made up a template for this post. And went to make a brew and get some caramelised biscuits to nibble and dunk in the Glengettie tea filled mug. I took the pictures below from the unwanted, thick-framed, light & view-blocking, anti-photographer designed new windows that let the rain in.
This mist lingered on for a few more hours. Then as I got back with the brew, I thought I’d do a search for the Coronavirus updates on the web.
I got an odd feeling as I did so, Sister Janet was coughing? I don’t know where this came from, but it concerned me, and it is too early to call her yet. She is not an early bird. I’m getting the shpilkes about this!
I had a look up at the latest figures for the pandemic on Google. They are here on the right-hand side. They make bleak reading.
The fact that the USA has a population of 328.2 million, and the UK a total of 66.27 million, shows that we are being hit a lot worse?
I am well known for my mathematical incompetence, suffering from Athrithobia and numerophobia (although I am not affected by hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia), and am having difficulty in working this out. I’ll have a go at the calculator.
No, it’s just not there. The mind blanks arrive when I try to figure things out numerically. Humph! Back in my school days, I’d have got the cane, several clouts around the head, or both for not being able to get this worked out. I worked my way through the fear, and at one time, in Tesco in Duckworth Square in Derby, where I was cashing up 24 tills, and dealing with the Green Shield Stamps issue, without a problem. Then the stroke arrived, and since then, I have been struggling back with the phobia! Humph!
I waffled on there again, sorry!
I went on the WordPress reader. Then on CorelDraw, but got a lot of bother with the workings of the programme, and gave up. Did some TFZer Facebooking.
♫ I only want to be with you ♫ rang out from the pressed door buzzers. Aha! It was an Amazon delivery. I now have stocks of the wonderful Gengettie and Thompsons Punjana tea, Marmite individual pots, pots of porridge, and the bitter-tasty San Benedetto Clementine juice, to last me hopefully all through the rest of the lockdown (I hope).
I’m getting short of places to store things again in the kitchen. The unused bedroom (Junkroom), is getting over-filled again. But I have teabags, some bleach, toilet rolls, bamboo socks, kitchen towels and preciously, a load of PPs (thanks to my mate Michael) in there now! Only the medications need serious attention now. Jenny helped me again with some antiseptic and corticosteroid cream.
I got on the computer again, CorelDraw is really causing me problems, never mind Nicodemus’s neurotransmitters dying-off, bother me as well! Grumph! Had to give up again.
The current situation with Amazon outstanding orders are, I think:
Friday: Nasal and eye spray.
Saturday: Another box of 24 Benedetto Clementine drinks might come as well. I looked up Benedetto, expecting it to be an area of Italy. It came out as Blessed, or Saint Benedict of Nursia (480–547), often called the founder of Western Christian monasticism. I don’t know why I bothered telling you that?
Thursday 16th -20th: Trousers. Both of the last two pairs bought from the market have holes in the pockets, the linings have split open or both! I don’t want to go out after such a long time and get accused of flashing. Hehehe!
I received a call from a pleasant-sounding lady from Direct something or other. NCC, as was the man who called yesterday. I was finding it difficult to hear all of the words spoken. And remembering everything is not easy. I thought I’m written something down about it, but cannot find any note? Reflux Roger, and Stuttering Stephanie, along with Deno deafness, all made things difficult for me.
But the lady was very kind and patient. And I’m sure I did much more of the talking than she did. It was so lovely to talk to someone who listened. I told her my life story almost, in between stuttering, gasping for breath and hiccuping. Hahaha! This was the highlight of the day for me. I gave her my blog name, and she said she’d have a look. No actionable help was needed at the moment with the shopping, I thanked her for calling.
Much more verbiage was bantered and shared, but with the state of my memory, it’s not easy to recall. The most annoying thing is there may have been something important to record. Making me more agravannoyed with myself for losing the note I wrote!
I got the meal sorted out. Nothing like I thought it was going to be earlier on. Algerian tomatoes (Crap!), McCains oven chips (Horrible!), Baxter’s beetroots (Bland!), a cheese lump (lousy, insipid), Buttered bread and smoked ham Dry, tasted aged, the butter was greasy?), A shame, I thought I just might be coming down with a cold, and that has affected my taste-buds? Even the apple was crumbly and floury! Saving grace? The apple pies and the can of the tangy, bitter-tasting clementine juice, I liked them! Flavour rating; 4/0. I didn’t eat anywhere near all of it.
I got washing-up done and fleetingly thought of the possibility of my doing the handwashing. (I didn’t!)
Got settled down in the £300, c1968, sickenly beige-coloured, second-hand, not-working, Broken by my xyrophobia-suffering, chaetophorous, anti-epilation Brother-in-Law Pete. At the same time, he was flat-sitting when I was in the Stroke Ward, and stealing all my valuables). With a bottle of spring water, some yoghourt covered cashew nuts, and the GPEWWB (Grey-Plastic-Emergency-Wee-Wee-Bucket) disinfected and nearby in readiness for later use.
It really was heaven, as the eyelids drooped, with the promise of the rare and resistant sleep, was on its way. But no! I’d forgotten to take the evening medications! Reluctantly, I clambered out of the chair, grabbed the four-pronged stick and hobbled to the medical drawers and got out the medicines. Took the tablets, then, medicines. (No Enoxaparin injections due again now until further notice). Got earholes olive-oiled. Sprayed Saccades-Sandra’s eyes. Nasal sprayed the nose and throat. Phorpain gelled Arthur Itis’s knees. Had a gargle of TCP for the sore throat.
Got the Clobetasone Butyrate cream, and went to the wet room to clean up Little Inchies fungal lesion and applied the cream (I usually do this in the WC room, cause my screams of agony cannot be heard and disturb my neighbours with the door shut). This is the second most painful of my medicalisationing sessions.
Occasionally, the Sock-Glide battles can be just as bad. I don’t know who designed these, but obviously, they did not give a thought to anyone with the shakes or dizzy ailments and might be averse to losing finger ends, blood blisters, stubbed toes, and to having lumps of flesh torn from their legs! It may have been Jack the Ripper, or Dr Harold Shipman?
I freshened up and returned to the uncomfortable old recliner, and settled again.
As per regular nightly, the Thought-Storms began, and during this session. I wondered if I left the tap on in the bathroom or even the sink? It was ghost-like, weary, frustrated Inchcock, who somehow or other, forced his elephantine stomached body up on its feet again and limped to check on the taps, lights, stove etc. top make sure all was safe. I don’t think this is an Obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD. It seems to be from my lack-of-confidence base? There must be a word for it. Anyway, all was okay. I got another bottle of spring water and returned to the, that by now, seems to be laughing at me, recliner. Hahaha!
The lighter nights, crap on the TV, and my unsettled state of mind were all preventing my nodding off! I lay for hours, I even considered counting sheep!
All the tossing about and moving trying to get in a comfortable position to encourage sweet Morpheus to take over my body and mind; must have cracked open Little Inchies fungal lesion! For I felt the warm wet trickle from the lower regions. Again, crying was an option, but anger was a stronger emotion! Why me?
Yet again, I got up, trying to keep calm and not have a tumble or bang into any furniture or door frames, off I poddled, chin-low, bottom lip wobbling and feeling sorry for myself! I got in the wet room and went through the usual dreaded medicationalisationing procedure. The pain didn’t seem so bad this time, that was because the leaf had not had time to harden, I assume. This actually took my Fed-Up-Defcon from2, down top Defcon3! Hehe!
Now, as I was going into the hall, I think I had a bit of good luck! (Yes, it can happen, it did in 1952 as I recall). I caught the right middle toe, stubbed against the bar of the clothes airer – and felt nothing! Obviously, this may be part of the reason that the cleaning and medication of the lesion, was far less painful, Nicodemus’s Neurotransmitters were obviously not working! And this warned me to take extra care when touching anything solid or hard, and not rely on getting any sensation or feedback! Thus, I was going to make a brew of tea, but I stopped my plans. Who knows for sure, nobody, but it may have stopped me getting scolded!
Of course, it did nothing to help me get to sleep! I carefully made my way back to the imagined grinning at me now, recliner. I put the TV on, and to my greatest pleasure, Red Dwarf was just starting! Then I found out another episode was following. No problem with staying awake tonight. Old seen-before ones, of course, but I so enjoyed watching them.
It must have been around 02:00hrs when I had to get up to use the wee-bucket. Accident-free, I got back in the chair and fell asleep! And had a dream-ridden kip for three-hours or so. Every little help’s! It was well-gone 0500hrs by then.
04:00hrs (The latest getting up time for months): I stirred and waited for the brain to catch me up. Which it failed to do in time apparently. Cause as I began to manipulate my grossly overweight-stomached body from the recliner, ‘Thud-thud’, I ended up on my knees! Fell off of the c1968, rickety recliner, knocking the swivel chair over to the cabinet as I did so. Which sent the nibble pots off of the arm and rolling all over the floor. The knees were stinging, caught my head against the other chair arm as I twisted in a vain effort to stop myself going down, and a few selected naughty words were silently muttered! (I hope they were silent, anyway) I crawled on all fours to gather the nibble-pots, the yoghourt coated cashew nuts thankfully, didn’t burst open! Phew!
I tackled the job of struggling to get back up, in an almost nonchalantly, blasé, laid-back manner, and I was seated back in the recliner again within a minute or two! Yes, I know, it surprised and shook me too!) I stayed there to receive a brain-storm for a few moments. Not the usual self-recrimination, hatred, and confusion this time. I merely accepted the incident, felt thankful that it was not worse, and got the taste for a mug of tea! (Honestly!)
When I got in the kitchen, I spotted the moon was out again. But, being so much later than yesterday, it was more distant and further to my left.
I tried my best to get the lights below in the shot I took. I took me about five efforts, this was the only decent one out of them all!
I found a certain degree of, well, almost confidence creeping in this morning as I made the brew. I was singing to myself and whistling in between? I’d coped with the earlier Whoopsiedangleplop and Accifauxpas with no bother. I was feeling upbeat, and this worried me a tad!
My EQ told me that things were going to get hectic. No reasons or outcomes. Just things were going to get frantic, and soon! A shudder went through my body, and I foolishly ignored this warning and carried on singing to myself, as I took the medications, and took the tea with me to the computer. I did feel what must have been close to contentment and relaxed with it! This is not natural for me!
My first job was to make up the template for today’s blog, which took a long time. Thanks to Shaking-Shoulder-Shirley and Nicodemus’s Neurotransmitters going off and on-line at will. Got it done, and checked online for the virus figures. Not very good.
Then looked at the Emails, and sure enough, an Iceland order was arriving today, twixt 15>1700hrs!
I decided to get the ablutions done next, as with my getting to a semi-live state, so late, it was now gone eight! (No charge for the poetry. Hehe!). I put a long-sleeved t-shirt and pair of socks to soak while I got the shave and stand-up wash. Off to the wet room.
As I got in the doorway, the need for the Porcelain Throne arrived, it couldn’t have come at a better time! But it was again a start-stop operation.
Which let me have another go at the crossword puzzle solving. I got a few as well!
When things started moving again, just like yesterday, it was ‘Klunk’ and all over and done with. Apart from the cleaning up, of course. No medicating, not with me about to have the stand-up wash and shave. The doing of the teeth, ave just one dropsy, the toothpaste. No cut gums this morning. The shaving was a little more accident-prone, though. Dropsies included: Shaving foam can (2), razors (6), and the after-shave bottle that I was using to stop the (3) cuts bleeding. However, no toe stubbings, and the sock-glide, I laughed at! (I didn’t put any socks on, Hehehe!) Most of the dropsies were caused me Nicodemus’s failing nerve ends.
Medicated the areas in need, olive-oiled the ear holes, Saccades sprayed the eyes, got the Brute and deodorant applied. One blessing here was that Little Inchies fungal lesion had only bled a tiny bit. Ah, nice!
But I still felt in a perky mood! I dried off and got dressed, all bar the socks, and went to get the handwashing done, wrung and hung. For some reason, the ones I did yesterday still needed more drying time?
You can see in this photograph, the diamond strengthed leakage from the air-vent, that the Nottingham City Homes maintenance man left me with on the wall years ago now. And it ran down and hardened all over the electrical socket! It still pees me off when I see it every day.
I got the black bags sorted, replaced the bags in the waste-baskets (4), and took the full ones to the waste chute.
I spotted the new to me, but it would be, my not having been out for so long, a sign asking for only one person in the lift cage at any time.
When I returned to the apartment, I thought I make another brew, and try to drink it this time. I took another Co-codamol that a mystery resident had so kindly given me, to counter the toothache I felt coming on again.
There are plenty of aircraft/jets out today. How do they keep to social-spacing in them, then?
Back to the computer, I’ll get the thing started eventually, Humph!
♫ I only want to be with you ♫ rang out again. Looks like my EQ was right, doesn’t it?
It was Riechsfhúreress and Catwalk Model Warden Deana. She was handing out Easter Eggs from the Nottingham City Homes, for everyone. Bless em!
I got back to the computer, and sat a moment, wondering if using it would bring another interruption. Just as the now even more familiar, ♫ I only want to be with you ♫ rang out again. It was caretaker Robert, with a big bottle of milk and a loaf of bread for me! I thanked him muchly for the loaf and explained that I have plenty of milk in at the moment. Slipped him a G & T in thanks.
Back to the computer, I typed maybe five words, and the landline flashed and rang-out! It was a chap, this time from the Ingeus Diabetic course runners. He went through all what the lady did yesterday. Nothing really sank in, the line was that bad and with my hearing, Tsk!
At last, I made a start on this blog. For about five minutes, and the landline flashed again!!! It was the man from Direct Help. I explained that is was a fortnight ago when I spoke with the lady, and things have improved since. As I have got through for an Iceland order delivered since! With the help of Jenny, I have some stuff arriving Sunday, I think, that will hopefully fill the fridge and freezer up. So there is no requirement for help now, there was three weeks ago, but no one called as expected. So, I should be fine for a while. I told him of my five-week wait for the Morrison order, that’s due a week on Sunday! He told me to ring him back in a fortnight if I needed any help with shopping then. I asked him for the telephone number. He seemed surprised that I didn’t have it on my phone. He gave it to me, anyway.
On the computer, once more. And the intercom flashed! It was the Iceland delivery that I can’t remember ordering!
Now, my friendly, warm, upbeat mood was changing.
I got yesterday’s blog sent off, and made yet another attempt as doing this update. Guess what? The landline lit up and sounded again!
It was the cat-walk model and Warden Oberstgruppenfhúreress Deana. She had some questions that needed answering for Nottingham City Homes. I don’t know how the ILC’s (Independent Living Coordinators) are managing with all the extra duties and hassle they have to put up with, Bless em all! I got myself very confused, and being so tired again, things weren’t sinking in, well they were, but not staying in the memory bank!
I got back to the computing, and the dreaded, feared, damp, and warm sensation spreading about in the lower regions was sensed! Botherations and blasticulisations! Little Inchies fungal lesion was bleeding! So, off to the wet room again, for cleaning and medicationalising.
The task was more manageable and less painful than I expected, for it had not dried on, much less hassle! I had a wash afterwards and noticed that the old ankle scar looked like it wanted to return again. (Dangwangling, Dangwangles!)
I gave the hands another really weep clean. So much so, the yare getting all wrinkly again. Tsk!
And, how can I get some more carbolic soap? It was hard enough to get before the lock-down and self-imprisonment! (Gribbledockends!)
I went to make a brew, and I noticed a man and his dog down on the bottom field. It was different, and funny this time!
The man threw something, a ball I imagine, but this dog was not having it at all! The hound plopped itself down on the grass, with no intention of moving! Hahaha! The chap could not get the animal to move at all. He got his mobile out and made a call. I wondered if he was walking the dog for someone, and calling for advice? A few possible funny scenarios went through my head.
Then, ♫ I only want to be with you ♫ rang out from the door, again. Unbelievable! It was a delivery man, I didn’t see him of course. But there was mail been delivered, and a box on the floor.
The Warfarin blood test results
The reading of a letter, pretend signed, by Boris, while the poor bloke is suffering in the intensive-care ward, was a strange thing. To me, anyway. Good and bad news from the blood results. Good, in that with it being Bank Holiday, they always leave the next test for longer. This time, it is not until the 21st of April. Which means, my Blood Vampire Angels will not be seen until then! Sob, Ululations, & Woe is me!
Finally, I got this post done as far as here. It only took me fourteen hours, as well. Humph!
At last, I got the Iceland order looked at properly. Their offer of two boxes of Gold corn flakes at £1 off for two, I had apparently taken advantage off. I vaguely recall thinking that if Jenny didn’t want them, she would know of someone who would, Nora perhaps? I gathered the things and bagged them, then called Jenny, to tell her I would drop the bag off at her apartment, in a few minutes. Which I did. It felt odd, after such a long time, to use the lift again, almost scary! Haha! If Jenny does not want anything in the bag at all, it won’t matter, cause I know she’ll soon have some worthy person to give the milk, Cereals etc. to, who deserves a bit of help.
Back up to my flat, didn’t anyone out in the building at all going either way. It felt so eerie, and reminded me of my recurrent dream of being chased and shot at in a crumbling building, by gangs of unpleasant persons.
I took a picture of a panorama shot of the scene outside.
A man and his dog, sensibly kept their distance from the two young girls in the bottom field, as it looked like they were asking for directions.
I’m feeling weary now, but the toothache is no worse, the coughing has eased, and my mood was getting back to a good one.
Fodder decision time now. I chose to have bacon sarnies. Mainly to use some of the crap, watery, tasteless bacon I’d got! Tsk! I might have a tin of tomatoes with it instead, then use the bread to dunk with. Or something else? Hahaha!
I’ll be back in the morning to finish this blog off, I hope.
I’m back!
I ended up making Halloumi cheese sticks and bacon in the same oven tray. I made up bacon sandwiches, caramelised chutney, an apple and some lemon Vienna cakes. And a can of the delightfully tangy Clementine juice.
The halloumi was okay, and the bacon was much better than yesterday’s offering. This is because I took Tim Price’s advice and poured the hickory over the bacon as it cooked, and as a result, it tasted a lot better. Flavour rating: 7/10.
I didn’t even get to do the washing up, I fell asleep with the tray on my knee. I woke hours later, with the tray on the floor and my humungous body half out of the recliner.
I thought about picking up the dish, plate and crumbs… Zzzz!
03:20hrs: I woke, having had all of three hours actual sleep. The body and mind were not interested in waking, moving, thinking or getting out the uncomfortable, £300 second-hand, c1968, sickenly beige-coloured, rickety recliner. Together for once, the brain and body agreed, and I turned slightly to a more comfortable position, to nod-off in.
As I did so, a deadly wet and warm bottom-blurp ‘Plumf!’ escaped from the rear end! That ended any chance of nodding off again! For it was followed by a movement developing from the innards! How the heck I managed to get to the wet room on time, I don’t know.
It stuttered and stopped half-way again, like yesterday. All I could do was grab the crossword book, grit my teeth at the pain, and wait! Which is what I did! After a while (and a few puzzle clues answered [Oh, yes!]), The evacuation started sharply again. A sort of Shploosh, plop, plop, plop later, it was all over! The blood flowed freely on wiping things. A good wash and medicationing session, finding Inchies Fungal Lesion had bled during my sleeping hours (All three of them!), the most painful of areas to medicate.
I did have a moment when I asked the Lord, why me? But he didn’t answer!
Washed and antisepticated the touch-points, and went to the recliner room, to check if I’d knocked anything over in bumbling rushed attempt to get to the Porcelain Throne in time.
Oh, dearie me! signs of nocturnal nibbling lay all around the chair! Guilt dawned on me. Then went away again! When I realised it was not my fault, I was not in control of my mind while I was sleeping… Then the guilt returned when I recognised that nowadays, I not in control during most of my waking hours either! Hahaha!
I cleaned things up, not properly or with any enthusiasm mind.
I sat down on the computer chair, to reach some missed bits of what was a masticated cheese biscuit, and… I’d sat on an old RAOB medal, the pin bent as it went in my bum, and my spirits sank at so many things going wrong so often! I also noticed a bruise on the arm. Closer inspection, revealed it was not from yesterday’s blood taking, but most likely from the Clopidogrel. It’ll be gone within 24 hours, but a new one will come-up somewhere else. Tsk! I’d like to know how the pin got on the swivel chair in the first place?
I could get depressed, you know! Grubbulisations!
I got on the computer, by the time I should have been finishing off the updating of yesterday’s blog – then made a start on doing it. Humph! But got sidetracked, by the mind coming up with a bit of a funny ode idea, about Coronavirus.
So, got it written and posted off. Then, I got on with the Tuesday blog updating at last. Got it done, and went on the TFZer Facebooking, and forgot all about sending the blog off!
I got the ablutions seen to, just in case anyone from the Diabetes Ingeus, The NCC food parcel sending avoiders, deliveries from Amazon or the Clinic called or phoned me. What a mess! I cut the gums cleaning the teeth. Had four cuts shaving. Dropped the razors (several times), the carbolic soap (three times), shower head (twice), and the towel (twice)! I cleaned up and medicated areas in need.
Then on the way out, I knocked the standu[ clothes airer over with the togs on it! Stood it back up, bent down to retrieve the clothes, and clouted my head on the corner of the wet room door!
The Lord was still not listening to me! The heuristics and problems of life, have become too much for me to cope with nowadays!
I got the handwashing done, wrung and hung.
I got back to the computer, and Sister Jane rang me, mentioning the funny ode, adding that the diary had not been received yet! The line was difficult to hear again, kept fading in and out. I foolishly, well, unthinkingly, replied that I had posted it to her and Pete. The urgent need for a wee-wee developed while we were nattering, and I shot off to the wet room.
The wee-wee started encouragingly with a gentle trickle, and despite my best efforts and a lot of time, it got no further. Which puzzled my already tormented brain! This is when I realised that I had not sent off the Inchcock Today! Washed and disinfected, and back to the computer to send off the link. Pete had sent an email informing me he had not received it! Klutz! I replied with an embarrassing, but funny answer.
An Amazon order arrived, it was the single servings of long-life milk. They should have a long expiry date on them. I was going to check them but forgot all about it. Twit! I struggled with the box and the walking stick, it took me a long time, but I did get them to the kitchen in the end. I stored them under the draining board.
I made a start on this blog. But it was interrupted, many times.
The first one was the mobile-phone ringing. It was a lady from Ingeus. The line was almost useless, her voice kept fading in and out all through the long, convoluted unwanted conversation and question and answer time. I had to repeatedly ask her to say again if you please. It’s hit and miss if I got the messages properly. Checking the usual names, dates, contact number, Doctors, NHS number etc.. It was doi,ng my concentration no good at all. However, I think since they cancelled all of the Diabetes courses due to the virus, some money-manager has decided to run an online course, so they can get money out of the NHS for doing it. It is to start on Thursday 23rd April, at 10@00am, and I am to log on fifteen minutes early. The lady will send links and details to me via email. There was possibly more I should have digested, well, I know there was, but I think she took me asking her to say again, as an answer to some of the question, because she said ‘Okay’ or ‘Good’, and moved on to the next query. She was on that long, the battery ran out on the phone!
I put it on charge as the door chimes rang out! It was laptop dancer and Warden Hauptsturmfhreress Deana. She was handing out Easter Eggs from Nottingham City Homes. We had a distanced natter, and Josie appeared at her door. She did not look very well, and she shot back in while I was talking to her. Oh, dear! Poor gal.
Back to the computer. Minutes later, the intercom flashed and sounded. It was another delivery from Amazon. Of 24 cans of clementine juice! I thought I’d ordered tomato juice? But still, they will do me fine, I like citrus juices.
Getting this box in, was more of a test of my limited resources, with it being so heavy. But we got there.
Then I realised how late it was. Well beyond my usual head-down time. My breathing began to come a little laboured. But I wanted to stay awake, in case any of the NCC Assistance volunteers arrived. Four times now I’ve been told someone will contact me the next day. Still, waiting. If I knew their number, I ring them to tell ’em not to bother, after thanking them of course. Then, I may get some sleep? Oh, I’m getting bitter!
Updated this post some, and then thought I’d better get some nosh sorted out. Chips, bread & butter, last of the mushroom pattie, tomatoes, beetroot… yes that sounds good to me. And a lemon Vienna cake or two (they are only tiny, honest!) for afters, being as I am struggling to find any yoghourts or mousse available.
Only three hours sleep last night, and here I am, finding myself trying to stay awake in case the promised four-times visitor calls or arrives. My health is at risk here.
As as I was prepping the meal, well supper by now, Dusty Springfields tune to ♫ I only want to be with you ♫ came from the door. I opened it, to see nobody out there. No parcels left on the hallway floor? I nipped out to the lift lobby for a gander, no lifts were moving, and I spotted the new sign; ‘Only one person at a time to be in the lift’. Fair enough with me!
I opened a packet of the Iceland Pork & Leef sausages to give them a try, but I remembered I had some of the Surami fish stick still in the fridge, with a short use-by date on them, so returned the sausages back to the freezer.
The cough was getting niggly and the breathing no easier. So I took the evening medications with an extra pain killer (the toothache was coming open the more tired I got) and had a gargle of TCP. Which, on reflection, was not a good idea to do just before eating anything! But I was so tired out and drained mentally, the old grey-cells were wandering a bit.
I opted for, tomato sarnies, sweet potato fries, beetroot, Surimi sticks and seaweed snacks, with caramelised onion chutney, for the main course. And two teeny-weeny lemon meringue cakes, and a can of the clementine juice for afters.
I noticed that the use-by date was only 20th April 2020! I wondered why they were so cheap! Haha!
I’m afraid that the mess of a meal had many disappointing facets to it: The sweet potato fries, McCains brand as well, were horribly mushy and tasted only of sugar! I ate only a few of them. The Iceland wholemeal bread had already gone hard-crusted and dry! I broke off the crusts and ate two of the three – the crumbs were scattered all over me, the chair and the carpet! Tsk! The beetroots were tasteless! I left half of them.
On the plus side, the Surimi, seaweed crispies, and pickle were all great! The lemon Vienesse cakes were mouth-wateringly acceptable! Perhaps the best came after I took the tray to the kitchen and cleaned up the bread-crumbs, was the Italiano Clementine drink. It was not sweet at all, but tangy and bitter-tasting, and that suited me.
A shame that I bought the last box from Amazon. Overall, the drink, Surimi and cakes, kept this nosh to a reasonable rating of 6/10.
I washed and changed into the night attire, feet up on the swivel chair – this was because the £300, second-hand, near-dilapidated, grotty-gungy-beige coloured, c1968, uncomfortable, rickety, ready-for-recycling, rinky-dinked, rattling, rusty, resurrected, reconditioned, recalcitrant, recidivating and rotting-away recliner, was not working.
It was damaged by my xyrophobia-suffering Brother-in-Law Pete, he damaged it, 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. The Peripheral neuralgia right leg, looked like the old ankle ulcer might be trying to come back again? I don’t think you can see it in this photo, but I knew it was there, the itching gave it away. Hahaha!
Oh, I meant peripheral neuropathy, not neuralgia, sorry. I don’t think there is anything called that. Or how or why I keep calling it wrongly? I should imagine all the other ailments, mental and physical, have ganged up, to have another laugh at me. Hehehe!
However, after getting settled, I ate some yoghourt covered cashew nuts, and tried to let my fatigue win, and get some sleep. Amazingly I drifted of within what seemed like a couple of minutes.
I woke a further few minutes later, with a jump! I cannot work out how, but in those few minutes, I’d had a marathon of a dream. Being chased through burning bombed flats, down the stairs from whatever floor I was on, being shot at and things thrown at me by my pursuers dying… No stick needed in this nightmare, I was running like the clappers, I had hair, that was on fire, and clocking in a timekeeping card in a reader, on each floor! But I don’t think I ever got down to the ground floor, at least, I can’t remember. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a nightmare like that. It proved the brain wasn’t completely dead. Hahaha!
01:10hrs: I awoke, unmoving I lay there, distorted, half-hanging out of the £300, c1968, rickety-recliner, and recognised that I seemed to be in an accepting, open-minded, philosophical frame of mine. There was no defeatist, wallowing in self-pity, or even a sign of depression? Mind you, I wasn’t exactly cheerful, either. I moved my humungous-bellied body into a safe position to clamber out of the recliner, I caught my balance, grabbed the wooden stick, and made my way to the wet room for a wee-wee. Which was one of the reluctant USBUYWS (Ultra-Slow-But-Uncontrollable-Yet-Weak-Sprinkly) ones?
It took me so long, I needed the Porcelain Throne half-way through. And it was no mean-feat to reposition things to do that, without having an Accifauxpas! But I managed it, with the minimum soupçon of wayward sprinkling. The mystery bruise in the leg is lingering.
The evacuation was not an easy one. Thankfully a swift effort, that was hurtful, aromatically challenged and bloody! Little Inchies fungal lesion had been leaking a bit too. A good clean up and a spot of medicalisationing here and there, and I was off to the kitchen! Olive-oiled the ear-holes
Got the kettle on, took the medications and took an extra pain-killer because the toothache was kicking off again. Made a brew. I noticed the moon was out and took these shots with the Sony camera, I did take others, but they didn’t come out too well.
Long range shot
Zoomed in a tad...
The last shot was taking in Nightime Panorama mode. Thus, the plane’s trail and clouds can be seen. I liked that one. Smug Mode Adopted!
I got onto the computer. An Email from Iceland confirmed the arrival of some food this morning.
No substitutes at all. But the Shortbread Fingers, Cheese & Onion Smash, 1-litre full milk, leeks, Cheese, and Bread Thins were cancelled. But I expected things to be worse. So, well done Iceland!
I was about to make a start on the blog updating for yesterday, and I had a coughing bout like never before. But it was a short-lived event, so I don’t think it was connected to the damned Coronavirus. A bit of a sore throat is developing too.
I had a look to see if Amazon had any of the Leicester or STiltom mini-cheddars on offer fro me to buy. Ha! Packets of 5-Stilton and Leicester flavours were nearly £7 for three! A bit too steep that price, even if I do like them, but not that much! However, with the Warfarin alert wristlet breaking yesterday, I ordered another one.
I got the post updated at last and went to get the ablutions tended to, not realising how late it was. It was a rushed half-hearted affair, no shaving, as I had to get it done before the Iceland delivery arrived. I’m glad that I did now cause the delivery man comes within minutes. He left them outside the door, sensibly!
I was getting then inside, when the two, I say Two, Phlebotomy nurses arrived. Hristina and a trainee nurse who had been transferred from another section.
I found myself struggling to breathe correctly. Now that can be put down to Coronavirus! Worried me a bit. The ladies soon got me done and were shooting off to their next patient, in a hurray!
I forgot all about the delivery I’d had delivered, and I got the handwashing done, wrung and hung. Humph!
Before sorting things out, I took a moment to think through how things were going. The coughing. Breathing in a laboured fashion. The toothache getting no easier. Stuttering Stephany whenever I spoke to anyone? Headache coming on. I felt, well, I knew that Shaking Shaun was beginning to develop. A feeling forboding frequented the brain? It looks like being another busy day.
I got the Iceland delivery sorted out and the things I’d got in thanks for Jenny, were put in a bag, other than those that I needed to remember from the fridge.
I made a brew of Glengettie Gold tea, then back on the computer. For about ten minutes, then the intercom buzzed again. It was the Amazon man with some of the outstanding delivery items for me. Two cartons worth!
The Hickory bottles were well wrapped...
I carried the bag of nuts into the kitchen, to get them in pots with lids… and left a trail of nuts on the carpet behind me! Yes, the bag had a hole in it! Mostest agravannoying. Well, that, changed me back into the feeling sorry myself, the wingeing old fart I was yesterday, in an instant! Neuroticisms!
I got things sorted out, but not very willingly or pleasantly! It took all of my spare lidded storage pots to get all the nuts packed away. Still, I must ask Jenny if she’s like any. They were bought to share, after all!
I emailed Jenny. She came down to collect the treats, but I forgot to mention the cashew nuts.
Jenny Emailed back mentioning the nuts. I asked her if she fancied a pot. But she didn’t. Humph! She told me to Email her if I wanted anything adding to her Sunday delivery from Sainsbury’s. That was kind. She also gave me her telephone number that I had lost. Along with all the others, when I swapped the sim into the old phone mobile) that I now use.
I rang her and asked if she would put some items that Iceland had not got on her order. Despite my not paying her yet for the last one, she agreed. She also said I should get a taxi into Sherwood, and tell the driver to wait for me, while I get some money from the ATM, and perhaps I can do some shopping at the Co-op. Then come straight back to the flats. I think she noted a certain reluctance in my stuttering voice. She offered to arrange a taxi for me when I get over this week and all the deliveries I have to wait in for. Bless her cotton socks.
There are few I’m waiting for this week. But of course, the dates keep changing. And I am getting more and more confused. Haha!
But and however, I pressed on with this post. In the knowledge that I now have some smoked bacon to eat, with bread and baked beans! Mmm!
I realised that the Golden Volunteer and the Nottingham City Council helpers, who said they would get in touch had not done so. Just like yesterday. Best if I give up on their kind help, it’s not coming methinks. They must be up to their eyeholes-busy anyway. And with my getting an order in, and with Jenny’s help, I can manage for a while. So much for the emergency food package. They need details anyway that I can’t give. Because getting an order in for delivery, doesn’t always mature. The Morrison order I got in three weeks ago, is not due for a fortnight yet! And then, there are missing items and substitutes. A good job I’m on the ‘At-Risk register’, or I’d get no help at all. Mind you, I’m not getting any anyway, come think of it! Hahaha!
I got the bacon pack split, into the oven, and warmed the baked beans up. Thinking I’d try some of the Hickory in the haricots… Oh, dearie me! The inner sealer in the bottle cap came out and stuck on the bottle-top, so unthinkingly I tapped the bottle, and a third of the hickory shot into the beans before I could stop it! Ah, well! I’ll soon find out if this hickory is stronger than the last one. Hahaha!
Another daft idea. I thought I’d but what few mini-cheese biscuits I had left, in a pot. I opened the individual packets, and while I was pouring them in, Nicodemus’s Neurotransmitters failed! I had crumbs all over the kitchen floor to painfully clean up! Inchyangulations! Time was lost, and the bacon was ready!
I turned down the oven heat and got the pot filled. I put some of the medications on top of it, intending to add the others later, and got the meal served up.
I tried some of the beans while getting them in the dish. I can assure you, this ‘Stubbs’ brand of hickory, is no stronger than the other one. Despite my accidentally pouring about a pound’s worth; a third of a bottle of the cat-wazz sauce, I could barely taste it! Grumpworthinesses! I washed the Hickory-sticky covered saucepan straight after emptying it.
That really put the mockers on the meal! The Iceland brand so-called smoked back bacon was so chewy, bland, watery and tasteless. What I thought was going to be a right-good-treat of a meal, was insipid and disappointing! So very Agravannoying! It looked super as well! Humph!
I took the tray and things to the kitchen, thinking I might get the handwashing done. But No! Which pillock had left the hot water tap running to get cold? I good job I washed the saucepan earlier! Schlub!
Another bad end-of-day for me. I should have known, with my waking up in such… well, an almost contented mood! No promised calls or contact from the Golden Volunteers or the Nottingham City Council about any help. Nicodemus’s timings do deactivate the nerve ends were all timed to cause me grief and bother. A continual string of information advice and details ensured I spent the day confused. I’m not coping very well. Thank heavens for Jenny’s input.
A highly-strung, frustrated and dithering Inchcock settled in his recliner, but an old DVD on, ‘Taken’ to watch. The thought storms tool over the brain. The unwatched film came to an end, and the storming was still there. Sleep was out of the question for hours. Well after the mind had settled, and went into a sort of vaguing session.
Nemo Mortalium Omnibus Horis Sapit! I certainly ain’t! Grobblecurses!
02:50hrs: Grumpily, I stirred into semi-consciousness. And waited for the brain to do its best to catch up. It took a while. Then it was not exactly fully-functioning. Rather in odd bursts of recognition, intermingled with annoying episodes of extreme vagueness; with dips in willpower hidden-away in there somewhere.
As I endeavoured to free my even-more-grossly weighty stomach and torso from the £300, second-hand recliner, it became apparent that the innards were not suffering from any such incapacitating disabilities as the brain was. The turmoil and sudden pains from the borborygmus-churning stomach, sent me to the wet room, in some haste.
I entered, put the stick where I could not trip over it later, dropped the jammie-bottoms, and got seated on the Porcelain Throne. Argh! The agony and effort needed to start things off was a painful surprise. Humph! However, once the movement moved, it was soon all over. But, what a messy evacuation it was! I had to flush twice. As I was cleaning things up ready for the medicalisationing, I spotted that the removed substance had still not been cleared from the WC!
I got myself in a mini-pickle then. And made a harrowing mistake. I ended up treating Little Inchies fungal lesion with Daktacort, and I broke off from this, to pour some water from the sink down the bowl to free the obstruction. When I returned to the medicating and used Harold Haemorrhoid’s Hydrocortisone Topical cream on the lesion! Yes, it stung! Equally as painful was cleaning it off and re-applying the Daktacort again! Blasticulisations!
Surely not another frustrating day on the way for me? What a daft question!
No weird mind-talking or messages from my EQ came? I Olive-oiled the ear-holes, rubbed some Phorpain gel in Arthur Itis’s knees, cleaned the spectacles. As and as a final act of insanity, I stubbed my right middle toes on the edge of the door as Neuropathy Nigel gave the leg a little shake. Silent caterwauling and ululations! Haha!
Although with the shaking taking place, this meant the message of the injury did not get to the brain, thanks to Nicodemuses Neurotrammitters failure, which at the time was great. Of course, the word will get through later, when I’m not expecting it. Thus it will feel worse then, and it confuses me more!
I wonder if someone would like to write a book about Peripheral Neuropathy? I could help them with some unknown to the Doctor’s effects, hassles, pains, accidents, facts, fears, and emotions involved? No better not ask, not until the Coronavirus is under control anyway. I’m supposing I’ll live through it, and long enough to co-write the book? Perhaps Lynton Cox might be interested? No, maybe not!
Where was I? Oh, yes, I put some TCP ointment on the toe, and enigmatically, I thought too! I put a tissue with the cream on, around the end of the walking stick, and used that to apply it. Cunning eh?
People don’t understand the struggle for everyday existence some old farts (like wot I am) have to go through. Hehehe!
Got the medications taken, tea made and off to the computer to do the updating. Things had calmed down in the nerve-ends failing department, and getting this updating done was soon finished off. Smug-Mode-Adopted!
I went on Pinterest. Then the TFZer Facebooking. Next, the WordPress Reader. Then off to get the ablutions tended to. I had a stand-up wash again, cause I feared not hearing the intercom or door chime with the shower running. I left the door open, so I could listen to if anyone arrived. As if anyone would when I wanted them and was ready for them! Tsk! Amazon should be arriving. I’m waiting for the volunteer from Golden Help to ring. Gawd its frustrating! Made even worse when I checked the intercom, I had four missed calls on it! I am pissed-off again! We’ve told everyone about the buzzer on the intercom from the first day, that is is not loud enough, but do they do owt? Sod all! And we have to suffer the consequences. Phooey and Harrumph! I hope I die of starvation and frustration… No, you fool, that won’t bother them! Tsk! Klutz! If I get another stroke, I shan’t bother recovering. The hassle is just too much!
Anyroad, I went to get the ablutions done. A decent session overall.
A handful of dropsies, nothing serious.
Just the one cut shaving, no pain, easily stopped.
No more toe stubbings.
No walking into anything.
Not knocking anything over.
I got the medicationalisationing done. The piles (again), phorpained the knees (again), and olive oiled the ear-holes (again). Little Inchies fungal lesion was not bleeding, so I left things well alone.
With a certain amount of trepidation, I began the task of battling the sock-glide, then I chickened out, and put on a pair of short, wide bamboo socks on instead, manually.
A shame really, cause I’d been doing so well. I leant against the sink with my back, heaved up the tree-trunk, fluid-filled left leg, reached down, Neuropathic Nigel decided to give me a wobble of the right leg, and over I went. But not straight onto the floor, oh, no, that would be too simple for me! I fell on the bowl of water I’d washed the feet in earlier! It’s not often I want to cry, but this was such an occasion!
I don’t know how long it took me to clean everything up. I launched into a sort of pathetic, sorry-for-myself, and a super-brooding session matured! However, it didn’t last long, I don’t know why, though?
I got the room sorted a bit, made a pot of porridge for a late brekkers, and brew of tea, and back onto the computer. But the oatmeal only brought back my concerns about all the things and people who were supposed to be coming last weekend and or today. Naturally, none of them had arrived – unless they did and could not gain access, cause the intercom is not loud enough for me to here! Mind you, I and others can’t the fire alarm either. This sent me down a peg or two in the confidence stakes, and up, several points in the depression department. And, did you notice how much porridge was in the pot? Humph!
I tried to cheer myself up by doing some graphic creations on CorelDraw. It was going reasonably well, too.
Then an Email notification flashed up on the screen. I compared the new Coronavirus figures (Red) with yesterdays.
Over 6000 more total UK cases. 30 more in Nottingham. UK cases from 41,903 Sunday, today 47,806. Oh, dear!
I went and got the veg prepared and in the saucepan on low heat. Only parsnips, onion and mushrooms left now. I put the last two tomatoes in and made some gravy and added it. This way, the last boil-in-the bag onion gravy braised beef can be had later and mixed in together.
It’s getting afternoon now. No contact from the phlebotomy nurse (plenty of time yet, though), Amazon, or by McChrystal’s. The Golden Volunteers have not got in touch yet either. I was hoping they would get me the food parcel and have sorted out how I can pay at the Haydn Road shop, but the poor devils are overrun with orders.
So, after today, I’ll be digging into the freezer and cupboards for food. I’m nowhere near out of food. I will not go further into debt, and abuse the help Jenny has given me. Everything is confusing and frustrating at the moment, but it must be for so many others as well! I’ll try to get an order in again somewhere. Hang on a bit…
Never mind, then.
Ah, going through the Amazon tracking orders, and the landline burst and flashed forward. I hoped it would be the Golden Volunteer about the food parcel, but no, it wasn’t.
Even betterer, it was the Vampiress, blood nurse Hristina! (It’s spelt that way in Polish, but sounds as Christina) She will be calling in the morning to take my blood and get my BP up! Hahaha! Now I was boosted in spirits! I cheered enough, to go for a wee-wee, then make a mug of Thompsons Punjana tea, stir the vegetables, and got the saucepan on for the braised beef.
I had a look outside, to see if the energetic little black dog was out on a walk. He or she wasn’t, but I spotted a chap walking his little black dog.
And then a man and woman walking their three little dogs. I’m afraid they were not keeping to the recommended socialising distance, though.
Naughty Nottinghamians!
Ah, ♫ I only want to be with you ♫ chimed out from the doorbells. I really thought that it was either McChrystal’s or Amazon with some food. But No! It was Josie, returning the dinner accoutrements. She appreciated and enjoyed the meal anyway, and that cheered me up.
Put the trays and things away, and back to try again to do some graphics. The phone came to life again.
Aha! It was a lady from Nottingham City Council, about a food parcel. She told me that DG did a food parcel delivery. I embarrassingly said to her that I had looked at their service on the web, but all the box’s had food that I was not allowed in them. I did not trust myself to buy one, because the temptation to eat what I shouldn’t, like brassica, would possibly be too strong. Then I would be in trouble with the Warfarin levels going all over the place again. I can’t remember everything that was agreed on. But again, someone is going to call me about help with the shopping. I’m flummoxed, cause someone was going to do this today; unless it was the lady who called? She asked a lot of questions, and I had Stuttering Stephanie having a go at me. Humph!
I checked on the Amazon trackers one more time. At least I’ve got tea, Marmite, porridge nuts, and eventually, milk on the way.
I got the nosh prepped and served. Braised beef with the vegetables and gravy. The wholemeal bread thins I’d taken out of the freezer, had hard edges all around them. Not nice at all, I binned them. Hey-ho!
Bit of slip-up when pouring the gravy from the pouch into the bowl of vegetables, mind! A lot of it ended up on the tray, counter-top, cupboard doors and my jammie-bottoms! By the time I’d got it cleaned up, the meal was barely warm. So I left the other washing up and got down to devour it. It was passable, a rating of 5/10.
I then got the washing up sorted out, and with a tormenting mind, I settled to watch some TV. Anything with subtitles. Can’t even remember what I was staring blankly at, at the Thought-Storms persevered.
03:10hrs: A late awakening (for me), again. My mood was made up of, self-contempt, depression and acute dysphoria. The mind-storms began, just what I didn’t want. They only made me sink further into the dark abyss.
I reluctantly dismounted the rickety recliner, and as the emergency grey wee-wee bucket had not been utilised overnight, I limped off carefully, stick-assisted on my way to the wet room for a wee-wee.
I knew then, not that I didn’t already, that the day was not going to be a good one. As my EQ had also informed me. So this actually helped me in a way, cause if it is to be a hassling day, then there is nothing I can do about it, so the pressure lowered as I got in the room. This didn’t last long!
I had left the wall heater on overnight!
Not only that, but the hot water tap was dripping in the sink. I’d not turned it off completely, and the hot water was not hot any more! Although full of self-loathing, and more than a little pissed-off with myself, it could have been worse, I thought I handled this with a degree of, what’s the word? Erm… calmness, no that’s not it. Perhaps self-control would be a better adjectival. (I’m not sure that’s right either. Tsk!)
The mind toyed and played away with itself and me while I took the wee-wee. I had plenty of time to peruse ideas, plans, dejections etc., cause the leak turned out to be an MMES (Marathon-Messy-Endless-Sprinkling) one. I cleaned up, Little Inchies fungal lesion needed attention.
Washed and exited to the kitchen. Taking a picture as I went through the door, that I thought might come out alright and of interest. (It didn’t! But that was no surprise, to me)
An expectancy of failures and fearfulness began to develop in my mind. But not worryingly. Just a certain knowledge that these things are on the way to visit me. No doubt in my mind at all. (Secretly, I hoped I was wrong!)
I set about updating the Saturday post, but it was slow going, thanks to Nicodemus’s Neurotransmitters gong down so often. Again this and any other calamity could happen today. I’ll look and sound a right fool if nothing goes wrong, Hahaha!
I took a break and went to take the medications and make a brew. Olive-oiled the ear-holes. I also took an extra pain killer as the toothache seemed to be threatening to kick-off again. The damn ‘Hum’ started getting so load, it pee’d me off!
While I was in there, I took another shot of the moon. In fact, I took several, but they all came out terrible and blurred, this is the only half-decent one on the right, I managed to get.
Back to the computer, but I’m afraid that the concentration went. I found myself looking up the latest news on the Nottinghams Coronavirus progress. It was not good. An otherwise healthy eighteen-year-old had died with it.
I wondered if I should now stop making humorous graphics about the virus?
I farted about and struggled to get the Saturday blog finished and sent off.
Then went to make another brew, and get the mushrooms and leeks in the saucepan. It’s amazing how quickly the canned food is disappearing. The balsamic vinegar, hickory and plain salt stocks are dwindling. Still, I have plenty of tea. Haha! I got the sourdough part-baked baguette out…
Tsk! It was well beyond its use-by date! I think I used the one last week, out of sync. Grumble-Soddit & Blast! Idiot!
I went on Pinterest, WordPress Reader and Facebooking. Then returned to the grind of setting up and beginning this post. The fingers lack of-touch sense, was not easing off. Although I had been told this would happen, I still felt a bit miffed about it. The vagueness was coming as well.
About to go and get Josie’s nosh started, and Sister Jane and Pete rang up. A lot went over my head that we spoke about. They seemed concerned about my money situation. We spoke for a good while, but what else about had gone by the time I got to writing this. And no Doctor I can to now. Oh, dear!
I got the things out ready for doing the meal.
A few wee-wees were taken during the computing; all of the same variety.
I went on the Amazon site and ordered some Glengettie tea bags and other stuff, got carried away a bit, but I need all I’ve ordered, cause I can’t get out to the shops who sell them, well, not any shop at all!
Then, to the kitchen again, and got the handwashing done. Only a t-shirt and a pair of socks, so it didn’t take lone, I actually enjoyed doing it. I think the struggling with the keyboard with fingers that don’t recognise what they are doing at the time they are doing it, is getting to me now.
I went down a further notch, emotionally.
Off to get the ablutions done. And, I really had to laugh for the first time today! When I was disrobing and taking off the alert wristbands;
The Warfarin band snapped and it shot up in the air…
I didn’t see where it came down and got a smidge befuddled as to where it went…
Then felt it drop from my head, down into the glasses I had on!
Hahahaha! I did feel a clot! This is not a photo of the happening, I put the broken band back as near as I could remember it falling down to, to take this photo.
Well, that definitely perk me up a bit! (Confused me at the same time, Haha!)
When I started ablutionisationing session, the dropsies must have been close to a record number today. As I recall, they were; The toothbrush (2) toothpaste (1), Two blade razor (3), four-blade razer (1), Antiseptic bottle (1), Carbolic soap (5), Saccades spray (1), Savlon cream (1), Daktacort cream (3) and Spectacles (2).
On the bright side, there were no toe stubbings, walking into or knocking anything over, and I made sure the taps, shower, and heater were all off! (But this did not stop me going back to check later, Humph!)
Got Josie’s nosh done. I put the rest of the potatoes in the oven for me to keep warm and have later, then off the deliver the nosh on the wheeled server.
This time, the gal seemed more with it and said she didn’t expect a meal today. (I wish she’d told me earlier, Hahaha!) However, her face lit up and off she went to masticate to her heart’s content.
I returned to the kitchen and a did a bit of washing up, then got on the computer. I was feeling a little easier in myself now. Nicodemus was less bother, so I pressed on with updating this post while things were working properly (Not referring to the brain or memory of course) Humph!
I checked emails to see if Amazon had any time guides for me. I could barely recall ordering all this stuff! I must have meant to, cause I needed everything on the order. It looks like they are all coming on the 14-15th, April, so that’s good, I’ll need teabags and milk by then.
I was feeling all so pleased with myself, smug almost…
I had a search for the Golden Volunteers suggested Thompson Bros. shop to use for online delivered fodder.
It was in Sherwood, on Haydn Road. But as you can see, orders had been temporarily suspended.
As I mentioned earlier, will owt ever go right for me?
Then, I began to smell the aroma of the well-burnt cheesy potatoes, that I’d forgotten about in the oven!
I salvaged what I could of it. Not a total loss, though. I think about a third of it was edible. Tasty, too!
Did the washing up, and down in the recliner, but yet again, Mrpheous was resistant to my needs.
01:30hrs: The Saccades-Sandra affected eyes opened, the body teased and tested for signs of which other ailments might be bothersome this morning, and I awaited the brain to join me. It slowly engaged gear, and the Thought Storm that came with it, had me fretting, worrying and trying to make sense of the emotions, mainly taciturnity, self-hate and criticisms. Then, I had a few moments of uhtceare fretting, over just about everything that it was possible to vex about. They were soon lost to the ether, as the sudden urgent need for a wee-wee joined in the mind-confusion.
I struggled and grappled my way free of the £300, second-hand, c1968, broken-down, rickety recliner, and up onto my plates-of-meat. So quickly, I caught my balance, then limped to the GPWWB (Grey-Plastic-Wee-Wee-Bucket). There I stood, without the stick, thinking things were about to burst forth… but no! Things were resistant to flow! Had I been nearer the bookshelves, I think I could have read War and Peace all the way through, before anything activity in the wee-wee stakes had started!
If Shaking Shaun, Dizzy Dennis or Shoulder-Shaking-Sandra had attacked at this time, I could have been in a right mess! One hand against the wall, the other holding the bucket, imagine the pickle I would have been in if an involuntary right-leg Schuhplattler Dance routine had come on!
As for the actual wee-weeing, after waiting so long for some sort of activity, it was of the discomforting WUP (Weak-Unwilling-Painful) mode. By the time it had decided to stop dripping, I was almost ready to get back down in the recliner for a rest, to recover! Hehehe! This did nothing to encourage me to get going.
Still, things had to be done. I hope I explain this bit clearly, cause my silly actions even made me smile.
I got the four-prong walking stick and decided to get the emergency bucket cleaned and refreshed, straight away. I went to the wet room to carry out this task – and realised I had not taken the bucket with me. Back to the front room, and picked up the bucket, but had a Nicodemus Neurotransmitters failure, so waited a few moments for it to die down before trying to carry the bucket, for apparent reasons. I carefully turned on the computer while waiting, which convinced me that the nerve-ends were working again, so back to the wet room… Huh! I’d left the bucket behind still! I’d actually taken the waste bin back with me! Oofta! What a meshugener, I am!
I got it right on the third attempt. Tsk! Then, in between several more slow hurtful WUP wee-wees, I took my medications, made a brew, and took some pictures of the moon smiling at me, from the dark sky.
Next, back to the computer. Where I had to create a template for this blog first and then started updating yesterday’s post.
By gad, that cost me a lot of time, several hours. Five wee-wees, that have now transubstantiated into an SSD (Short-Sensationless-Dribbling) style. At least the pain had dissipated.
Then off to the Porcelain Throne. The easiest and least painful for weeks it was! Bleeding yes, but the main concern was having to tip jug after jug of water down after flushing, as the system was not coping with it.
I returned to the computer, with a new mug of Morrison’s Extra Strong Assam tea, made en route. I put some bits on Pinterest. Then a long time on the TFZer Facebooking page. The WordPress Reader was caught up with.
I put the washing to soak in the bowl. Then it was time for the ablution battle. (Well, the sock-glide battle) For today, with having (prospectively anyway), some visitors from the Golden Volunteers calling, and if they do call, I wanted to look half-decent for them. Who knows, there might be a lady who falls for me, and desires my… Steady Inchcock! You’re losing it again!
I put the computer in sleep-mode, gathered the items and clothing needed, and off to the wetroom.
I’m back, and you might not believe it, but the ablutions dropsies count, was two! Amazing! Nothing walked into or banged, no shelves cleared. Extraordinary! No Dizzy Dennis, Shaking Shaun, or Shoulder-Shuddering -Shirley. Phenomenal!
Sadly, the same cannot be said of the parlous, fraught with danger, high-risk, terrorising, suicidal, blood-covered, finger-bruising. black-spot, blood-blister giving, losing confrontation with Sock-Glide! Eventually, I got the first sock on. But, I was so battered, I had to give up, and tried putting on the right sock in the traditional way… Huh!
Over I went, and now I have a twisted right patella and a new bruise on the left elbow. To make things really teeth-grinding and extra-vexing, I had to do battle with the Sock-Glide again! This time, I got the second sock on! Cleaned up and medicated the injuries. Applied the pile cream, oiled the ear-holes, cream Little Inchies lesion, and got the PPs on, and used the sprays to freshen up. I left the wet room with a tick in my eye, and a nervous twitch on my lips!
And I was so proud of getting the ablutions done with so few Accifauxpas and dropsies, too! If by chance, the Golden Volunteers do not call today, and I’ve gone through all this for no reason, I might cry!
Black bags (8) taken to the waste chute. I got in a fumble getting into the chute room with all the bags and stick, but did it injury-free!
Back to the flat, and got the handwashing done, wrung and hung. Only the jammie-bottoms, I did the shirt last night.
I went to get this post updated. But the picture gallery would not open for me? Woe is me! Alas, alack, and Sigh! If it was Liberty-Global Virgin Media Internet going slow or down again, or the impossible unfunctional WordPress playing up, I don’t know, but I was pee’d off with it! I had to give up and I tried to get some urgently needed graphics done on CorelDraw. But the computer was very slow, and I had to give up.
I got the mushrooms in the saucepan. Put a can (in date) of cheapo Asda chilli-con-carne and the last of the Piccalo tomatoes in there, too. The hickory is almost gone, so I just added a drop, and a can of tomato puree, that Jenny had kindly given me. I washed the crock-pot and did some imitation cleaning of the kitchen for a while, then as I was going to check on the saucepan of chilli, the landline rang.
My hearing ion this connection was not good, but I think I caught the drift alright. It was a volunteer Golden lady, about the help. I told her the prescriptions were sorted by Deana. Also, I would manage over the weekend with the nosh Jenny has got for me and explained that I still need money so I can pay the lady for her help. She suggested that I call 0155 960 209 Thompson Bro. store, not cheap, and limited choice, but they can deliver. I explained about my hearing problem, she knew that, by the number of times I had to ask her to repeat things, I reckon, bless her. She asked if anyone can phone for me, but a negative answer had to be given. She said she’ll ring them, to ask if they can take my card because I’m broke for cash. I told her of my owing money for the first time as I can remember, and asked if she had any ideas. She’ll ring back. I thanked her, and then…
Then a touch of panic hit me… Argh!the saucepan! I hastened to the kitchen, honestly expecting the worst, but all was okay! I’d not turned the stove on at the plug! That got me going for a few moments, I can tell yer!
Take your choice, am I a dimwit, fool, idiot, blunder-brain or plain pillock? No, don’t answer that! Tsk!
The kind lady rang back, she could not get through to the shop. She confirmed that I would be alright until Monday, when someone else will ring me, regarding a possible food parcel being arranged, and shopping advice. I think that was it anyway. Stuttering Stephanie paid a visit for both calls on the phone! So, I had made the shopping list as commanded to, but it was redundant. I did make her laugh though when I told her I was getting withdrawal symptoms for my smoked bacon! Hehehe!
I’m more confused than ever now, and poor Jenny is out of pocket for helping me out!
I put the computer back on to record these facts while I thought about it with a modicum of certainty. Well, a minimal degree of certainty.
Tired and well on the way to going brain-dead now. I’ll get the nosh done.I checked the saucepan and thought the contents needed a little longer, as the mushrooms were not fully cooked.
I spotted another tellurian and his dog down on the bottom field outside. I took two snaps of them, well five or six really, but only these below were any good to use.
Cheered me a little, just watching them. Especially the dog’s resistance to letting go of the ball. Haha!
I got the meal sorted out. It looked a little threadbare compared to how one would usually look for me. No fresh orange juice, no lemon yoghourt or mousse, Tsk! Still, I mustn’t complain, bet there are lots of folks worse off than I am. The mushrooms I would not have had was it not for Jenny’s help. The can of chilli-con-carne, and last of the tasty Piccolo tomatoes, all seasoned with, balsamic vinegar (¼ of a bottle left), Light Soy sauce (half a bottle left), and some beef gravy powder (Two tins and a bit, left), tasted more than fine top me. I had the last three slices of bread thins with it. I’ve got a sourdough part-baked baguette for tomorrow, so no problems there.
I think we have been spoilt, with all the choices we have available, normally or as we used to have, I should say.
I ate it all up, taste-rating of 6/10 granted. Haha! Got the things washed-up. The crock-pot and saucepan were difficult to get cleaned for some reason?
Then I went again, to check to see if the ear-wax remover parts had been left on the lobby outside the door. Nope! However, a two-sided A4 letter had been put through the door.
Sad, how I’ve ended up. Even making sense of these guidelines had me a tad confused. To think. I used to manage Tesco and Co-op stores all those years ago. Piteous, it is. Hoggledruids!
I reflected on an error while typing earlier, I typed crack-pot by mistake for crock-pot. Mmm? It seemed to fit the bill, betterer!
The damned Thought-Storms started after I got down in the £300, second-hand, uncomfortable, best-its-best, c1968 rickety recliner. My emotions were in turmoil. Self-critical and hating, loathsome fears and concerns and a total lack of confidence stirred in and out of the brain-box for ages. My owing money weighed heavily on my mind.
03:00hrs: I woke, and immediately started trying to solve the issues of the lost end of yesterday. I got nowhere, and am still none the wiser as to any actions for about a four hour period of Thursday evening. I spent a good while attempting to glean some memory, but no! The toothache began to come on, then.
Abruptly, the need for a wee-wee arrived. I fumbled my way out of the £300, second-hand, c1968, not-working (Broken by xyrophobia-suffering Brother-in-Law Pete), recliner. Caught my balance, got the stick, and over to the empty, unused overnight GPEWWB (Grey-Plastic-Emergency-Wee-Wee-Bucket). Thus, I was caught out by the violent nature of the TTSLTATO (Torrential-Throughout-Stopped-Like-Turning -A-Tap-Off) mode wee-wee!
As I made my way to the kitchen, the demand for the Porcelain Throne came, so I diverted to the wet room. A contrary session compared to the last few; Not much input needed from me, very swiftly evacuated, no overly putrid pongs, far less painful, but messy in the extreme. A lot of the preciously-short supply of toilet paper had to be used. Much cleaning and medicating and the PPs changed. Oh, and the bleeding from Little Inchies fungal lesion and Harolds Haemorrhoids was minuscule.
Back to the kitchen. My waking up so late, the view was lighter than normal, so I took a shot of the lights straight ahead. Then, I stupidly thought I’d get the step ladders and take a shot of Chestnut Walk down below. Not easy of course, with the new, unwanted, unliked, thick-framed, light and view-blocking windows that let the rain in! It looked like a tenant, who had vacated the free parking space next to the white car, might have an oil leak?
But, foolishly I thought if I take care, it should be safe enough. (Klutz!) I got the steps from the balcony without any bother, set them in position. And climbed up just two of the runs, and took the second picture on the way down. (Talk about bad timing!) Nicodemus’s Neurotransmitters failed, and an unintended no-control-over right-leg Neuropathic Schuhplattler Dance routine from the right leg for a few seconds only was enough to have me over on my back on the floor! Frumpworthy Grobblecurses! Still, it could have been worse. The tumble and landing were not too bad, but the getting back up again was painful and farcical. Good job I had the four-Pronger-stick with me at the time. Hey-ho!
I took the step ladders back and returned to imbibe the medications, oil the ear-holes, pain-gel the leg, spray the saccades stuff on the eyes, and make a brew of Morrison’s Extra Strong Black Assam tea. To the computer.
I started on CorelDraw, with making up some mini-graphics for the greeting pictures for the blog. Then I had to make up a template for today’s post. Then I got the updating done for the Thursday post, which proved easier and quicker than usual. This was helped by my not remembering much and probably missing off much of what happened in the evening. This is not unusual; it’s happening more often nowadays. I did mention it some months ago to the doctor, who wasn’t concerned, and I think DR Vindla had anticipated me starting to go a tad senile. Tsk!
I got the post completed anyway. Emailed some links to it. Then put a couple of graphics on Pinterest. All this in-between so frequent wee-wees, all of a variable mode, from dribble-drip to hose-pipe like ones? Then went on the WordPress Reader. Finally, a blast at the TFZer Facebooking.
I had a go at trying to find a food delivery shop with slots free. It would have been easier for me to appear as Prima Ballerina in Swan Lake! No chance! It’s getting harder, not more comfortable to get food!
I am a little concerned about the future.
It was getting light already. I went to make another brew, of Thompsons Punjana. And I decided to get some mushrooms sliced and into the slow cooker for later in the day. I used the last of the light soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar to flavour the fungi. I might use the tin of minced beef with it, or I have one of the cook-in-the-bag braised beef I could use. Then again, I have a can of chilli baked beans and potato wedges in the cupboard… Mmm? My shilly-shallying, indecisiveness, and mental-stammering, really wee’s me off! Oh, I don’t know!
I made the tea, and returned to this blog, and made a start on it. I was doing well, until Saccades-Sandra kicked off, making eye-focussing a problem. And this slowed everything down again. The ever-having-to-correct-things mode had to be engaged! Frogglemoths!
I took a break and went to make yet another brew, this time Glengettie. But I’m glad I did at that time. For outside, down on the bottom field, I saw a human being! Yes! Hehehe!
One man and his dog. I can’t say I’ve ever seen them before. Then again, under normal circumstance (Yes, I can remember them, just!), I would have been in the wet room at this time, doing my ablutions.
Amazing how watching this chap, probably the poor chap has been laid off from work, and his dog, playing fetch. The dog was a bundle of energy, just watching him tired me out. Hehe!
I got a feeling elation just watching the only two tellurians in my sight, so contended and happy!
The full of fun pooch will not be bothered by the Coronavirus! Bless him or her!
I tried to get an Iceland delivery slot again. Fool!
Pressed on with CorelDrawing to do some graphics, but it’s a slow, frustrating job.
Then, things got complicated. Well, somewhat confusing for this old-timer. Things started to become busy suddenly. A business that required decisions and my memory to be used! Asking a lot this was. Hehehe! Tsk!
Jenny called, asking if I wanted some whole milk from her freezer. I could put it in the fridge to thaw out for later. I thanked her. And told her I’d leave the caramel wafers in a bag for her. I hastened to find them, but could not! Dummkopf! I knew I’d put them in a bag ready, but where, I have yet to discover! I found the other things I’d saved, but not the caramel wafers? I put them on the door-knob.
I put the milk in the fridge door and the four letters I’d found on the floor, to the main room.
One letter was about the apartment’s rent.
Another about how the Nottingham City Homes are responding to the Coronavirus outbreak.
The third was an NCH one about the City Rates, with a Nottingham Arrow newsletter. I must find time to give it a perusal.
The last one was heartwarming, indeed! It was from someone signing it, “From ‘A Resident'”, and no name indicated. How amazing and kind some people are. A big thank you to whoever it was that donated these for me!
They will be super to counter the toothache! I took one straight-away! Cheers, and appreciation to my unknown benefactor!
I got back to CorelDrawing, but again, I did not get far, the landline chirped and flashed into life.
It was Oberstgrüppenfhureress Desk-top dancer Warden Deana. She asked how things were and, had I any problems. I could have mentioned my Amnestic Syndrome Sinbad, Harolds Haemorrhoids, Anne Gyna, Nicodemus’s Neurotransmitters dying, Duodenal Donald, Toothache Thomas. (Stopped for a breather) Reflux Roger, Clopidogrel, Lethologica, Peripheral Neuropathy Pete, Thrombophlebitis Barry, Dysaesthnervesia Dai, Axonotmesis Axle, Konrad Confusion. (Stopped for a breather again) Dizzy Dennis, Shaking Shaun, Saccades Sandra, CDP, Deafness Derek, Flatulent Frank, Trotsky Terence, or the Neuropathic Schuhplattler dancing right leg, but I didn’t. Hehehe!
I expressed my concerns over the prescriptions and would they be delivered. Deana said she would ring them and call back. She inquired about shopping help, and put me on ‘The Golden List’ Bless her for the assistance!
I got back on CorelDraw. The shaking had stopped, but the weariness was dawning. A few minutes late, Deana rang again. The Golden Helpers will get in touch with me. I’d remembered the problems with not being able to get any cash, and mentioned it to Deana. Saying without the help I’d had from Jenny, I would be in a right pickle! She told me to tell the Golden people when they call. She would mention this to the volunteers, who might have a swipe machine, next time she speaks with them, what if anyone has no cash? I thanked her.
Back to the Coreldrawing, yet again. The ♫ I only want to be with you ♫ tune rang out. I got to the door, and it was someone delivering part of the wax-removal kit I’d ordered some time in the distant past! No use, of course, the inserts without a rod to attached to use them. Humph! Still, at least I’m halfway there now, Haha! The problem with this Coronavirus ain’t going away!
I made a brew, during which it dawned on me (Things have been known to in the past, you know!) I’ve got to keep alert in case any helpers ring. So I can’t go in the shower in case I cannot hear the telephone, mobile or intercom ring. They may be phoning anytime from in two hours, up to tomorrow night, I think Deana said. This has kyboshed my plans for getting the ablutions done! I’m smelly, need a shave and medications doing? But if I do, I risk missing the shopping helpers, the Haemostasis, and DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) Warfarin Anticoagulation Clinic at the Nottingham City Hospital, (Gawd I love that title!), or any possible answer from the Dentist.
Life has become such a struggle. Harrumph!
I’ll try to get a wash and shave in the kitchen, now. Means moving everything into there first, and must taketh care over dizzies, shakes and dropsies. Oh, dear, here goes!
I decided to use the wet room after all, and I kept the door wide open. Which I thought was a great idea so I could see any flashing and have a chance of hearing any ringing. Put the shirt and socks to soak in the washing up bowl, and off to the wet room.
Unfortunately, leaving the wet room door wide open was also perfect for walking into! Grumph! Ah, well, at least I didn’t have the spectacles on to break this time. Looking in the bright side here!
No socks put on, so I avoided the sock-glide battle! Noi bleeding from Little I~nchies fungal lesion! And, Harold’s Haemorrhoids, only bled a smidge. The dropsies we about average, the five drops of the razors was a little higher than usual, though.
I didn’t really feel refreshed or properly clean, with not using the shower. But betterer in myself anyway. And the pins (legs) were looking a lot better, as well.
I got the washing in the sink done, wrung and hung. Got the veg and potatoes into a normal saucepan, tasted it, and added a little more light soy sauce, it was a bit bland.
I added some things to the shopping list for the kind volunteers when they arrive, well, call me.
I really was tired now. But dare not let myself fall asleep, just in case the people ring up about the shopping and means of payment.
I got the meal served up and turned on the TV, anything with subtitles, so I don’t need the headphones on and fail to hear the door-chimes, intercom or telephone.
I added a can of potatoes to the saucepan, heated in with the other stuff, and got the feast eaten. A 7/10 for flavour and taste. I had three wholemeal bread thins with it, leaving me three for tomorrows nosh. The cupboard with the canned goods stock, had never looked so bare in all the years I’ve been here. But, the has been overstocked for months. I wonder if my EQ was telling me to stock up? Haha!
I got the pots washed, and checked plugs, stove etc. and settled in the hopes of getting some rest and sleep in. Then remembered, I needed to stay awake, in case the Golden volunteer people or dentist calls me. Flanglemanglingly-Frenetically-Frustrating! As I got down on the recliner and turned the TV on, a late sun came out! I’d not closed the curtains either, so that helped prevent me from nodding off to start with. I decided to get up and close the blinds.
The curtain hooks, several of them, dropped from the top rail. I left them for attention in the morning. I was not up to tackling the step ladder at that moment.
I found that Law & Order was showing back to back episodes with sub-titles, so had a look at them. I say them, I nodded off for a few minutes so often, I just couldn’t follow the storyline. Grumpworthiness! I found an Interscepter programme and turned to it, that was subtitled as well.
But the nod-offs were winning the ‘Stay-Awake’ battle.
I woke often but was soon back in the land of nod for another few minutes bliss. I’ve no idea if I missed any callers on the landline, mobile, on the intercom, or at the door.
