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STRANGE FACTS YOU MAY NOT WANT TO KNOW,
Things that happened as I began to grow,
Dad decided that to the park we would go…
To watch the cricket, I thought, oh, no,
I get more fun looking at a Picasso,
Can I go on the swings, Dad?
This seemed to make him mad,
He said, keep quiet and be a good lad!
I sneaked off for a walk about a tad,
Carrying football boots, I saw a lad,
I went to watch their game, naughty dingwad.
Trying to open the gate, I was tugging…
Hearing Dad’s voice, I hid absquatulating,
He didn’t see me; I found that amusing…
But not the following crushing…
It was my thumb, and it was bleeding,
Dad came over, saying… What a state!
“Thee thumb ends chopped off, me mate”,
The lad who’d run his car into the gate,
I recall his language was articulate…
Apologising, so there is no need to altercate,
The ambulate arrived, its bell ringing,

They took me to the children’s hospital A&E,
Put me on a waiting hall trolley,
A nurse checked the thumb & bandaged me…
Said that she’ll be back shortly,
I waited and felt a little sleepy,
Took me to the treatment room swiftly,
Said, “We’ll have to sew it back on” curtly,
Which they did, and very neatly,
Back out into the hallway…
You’ll stay here as a cautionery,
“You have been fearless, not cowardly!”
So, I had coped with the calamity,
I turned to look for a lavatory…
And had another Whoosiedangloppery,
I fell off of the trolley,
It doesn’t feel like it, but apparently…
But that was back in August 1950,
When they got me up, I’d broken my knee!
The start of my run of being unlucky,
What have I done successfully?
I’ve about run out of currency,
Born with the world’s tinniest ever Willie,
Cancer, shot, Peripheral Neuropathy,
Glaucoma, Cataract, at 23 I became a baldie,
Being nearly drowned later made me a deafie,
Got made redundant when I was 63,
Then, they fitted a mechanical aorta in me,
Cartilages giving way, then Reflux Roger,
Then the devil infected me with Anne Gyna,
Haemorrhoids, colour-blind, then another catastrophe,
Ingrowing toenails, having to pay for chiropody,
Hearing aids, spectacles, & lost my mobility,
Taxed on my pension… Oh, did I mention…?
Starmer stole my winter fuel allowance from me!
I cannot claim to have been over-lucky,
I may need help psychosomatically,
Psychologically, I live abnormally,
I’m getting help, the falls team agreeably…
Will visit to aid my recovery,
They will help me significantly,
The Carers do, definitely…
But it’s all too costly!
I am a proper moaner,
Most of my ire is self-anger,
Leaving hot taps to run colder,
Doors open, fridge flowing over,
I’ve turned into a grammaticaster,
Many traits & skills that I cannot master!
No point in becoming a reprehender,
Starmer’s done well, and he’s a cheat & liar!
His father was a toolmaker,
That’s true; he made a useless one named Keir!
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Less time left than ever before after making this Ode!
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04:15hrs: I woke, removed the catheter pouch, and went to the wet room to get the cleaning up done &
sorted out. I was feeling, well, not perkier, but better than I have done for a few mornings.
I checked the computer email in case any of the medics had sent me an update.
I realised the snaps below, taken last night by Carer Ejaz, are rare. ‘Rain’ was missed in yesterday’s blog. I plead Guilty!


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There were no cuts, and the bruised eye looked bad. Not really, but it made me sound brave! Hehe!
The ulcers and
were far less vivid this morning.
Some new growths had appeared near DVD veins.
At teatime, I showed Carer Joe. There were new ones, and those in the photo had been leaking from a tiny spot on top of each one that had dried hard.
Another of the Mysteries of Woodthorpe Court, with the hobgoblins, spectres, gnomai, phantasms, ghosts, the grotesque succubae, extraterrestrials, ectoplasms, spirits, or the Fata Morgana that have been sent to taunt, irritate and terminate my already limited saneness of mind, which is losing its marbles?
Mini-seizures and doing the gloriously silly Ode above ensured I spent hours and hours slogging away, constantly getting slower. Several hours were lost.
A social team member (I can’t recall the name)rang me, reminding me to call the doctors to get an appointment with her – one might as well have called Putin and asked him to kindly stop killing people; the result is the same.
Apparently, the Doctor asked Matron Jackie to tell me to make one. Then, the Doctor requested that Social remind me. I can only get there with a Carer on a Wednesday. When Carer ‘Joe’ rang for me, he was told that the Doctor does her home calls on a Wednesday. After talking with the organiser, the best he could offer was for fifteen-thirty, on the fourth of June. But this is only protem. Carer ‘Joe’ said he’ll see if he can get cover or make changes for that day. He’ll have to ring them back to make it for another day if he can’t get things arranged for that day.
The costly nail cutter from the hair salon came up to do them at ‘ten minutes’ notice. This threw out my plots for the Ode and delayed me even further. Tsk!
I’d just had a mini seizure and was not totally compos-mentis. Nice gal. Hurt a bit on the ingrowing nail toes. In fact… ARRGH! Hehe!
I’ve got a potato in the oven to try making cheesy spuds. But, on a low light. It’s the last call of the day, Ejaz, I think it will be. He’s due over the next hour; I’ll not start eating until he’s gone. Then, the feasting will start. Hahaha! I’ll turn the heat down on the oven so they don’t burn.
Back with an update in T’morning’!
Good Morning!
Carer Ejaz arrived.
I took these snaps of the sun going down with my (donated) Kodak 2a.
Then, about a minute later.
The sun was moving down quickly.
The ready-made meal was shepherd’s pie, a baked potato, and two cheese-topped bread rolls.
Another tasty meal! Great!
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All the best of luck!
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A pretty good Friday, Gerry. The snaps of the rain by Ejaz are nice. The meal looks really good. I hope you have a blessed weekend. 🙏
Thanks Tim.
He’s a good lad.
Ta!
That’s amazing they managed sew the end of your thumb back on way back in 1950. Definitely seems to be the start of your life riddled with whoopsiedangleplops. Beautiful sunset photos.
I can still see the scars on the thumb, Tim. The nail regrown at double thickness. I showed it to Carer Ejaz, he was amazed too! Highlight of many of my tales. Especially the falling off of the trolley and praise given to me by the nurses, was Wonderful! Just took a shot of the sky, a bit special. Now to hope the computer let’s me put in on the blog in the morning.
Cheers, Tim. Cuddle for the furries please.
Cheers, mate.
I have a lot of scars still visible from my wild childhood.
Amazing how long they last innit, Tim.
Apart from the rollicking boys own yarn of a life you’ve managed to survive, the one thing that stands out is that starmer took your winter fuel, how does a labour pm even do that?!
I survived, maybe not prevailed, but sill. You don’t like to complain (much). Har-har!
Starmer should be sacked and prosecuted. I don’t suppose they can hang him? I feel I’d like to do it. I’m bound to get it wrong. Hehehe!
Hope you’re settling back into the daily routine.
I’m in agony with the two ingrowing toenails, with Toothache Tiffany a close second. However, you may not believe this, but I’ve only had one attack from Anne Gyna, in nearly three days! Hurrah! Can’t win them all. Cheers, cobber! 🖖🏻
I love the ode, though not so much that you’re dealing with the same political BS that’s hitting us.
Fantastic photos… I really like the rain ones!
Are the meals delivered to you? I notice the layout always looks similar. I’ve been looking into meal delivery but getting nowhere.
Your childhood story reminded me of elementary school. We were playing baseball. I was on 2nd base when my BFF, having just hit the ball, let the bat fly. I froze as it, spinning horizontally, came right at me and hit the side of my head. Fortunately, no identified damage.
Bad memory there petal. Glad you didn’t get injured too badly. It’s surprising how resilient we were when youngsters.
You are doing now, with all your ailments. 🕊🌹
Bless you, petal. It’s a bit scary, gal, politics today.
I use a company called Parsley box. The boxed meals can be stored in a cupboard, with good month long dates on them. I do my potatoes in the oven first, then add them to the ready meal. I love the Kung Po sauce. Add water chestnuts from a can, and pickle them first. Problems sometimes though, I often forget I’m cooking them, had a few burns and cuts, leave the taps running, oven on, or leave the fridge or freezer door open. Hehe! Mostly, the cost pf them has shot up with everything else. The lady who cuts my toenails, is now charging £35 each time, and had hinted that this which started a year ago at £20, is now £35, is likely to go up again.
We can’t win. Tsk!
I so hope you can something similar, they are all microwaveable. Save on washing up, and the microwave turns itself off. Hahaha!
I noticed that Amazon are selling them now, over here.
Keep well, please. XXX
We have tons of food delivery services that are ridiculously overpriced. I haven’t seen any that are shelf stable, but I also haven’t searched much. Thank you for the info on Parsley – they don’t appear to be over here, at least not under that name.
Thanks, flower.
I looked them up on Google to see if they operate in the US: While they don’t specifically list “America” or the US as a delivery area on their website, they do ship to Northern Ireland, UK Highlands and Islands, and mainland UK. It’s possible they may have limited distribution to some parts of the US, but they are not a major player in the American ready-meal market.
A shame that. X❤
Meh… given our current politics, they’re better off not doing business here right now. I should look into the other services – there’s probably a reasonably priced option that I haven’t heard about. I appreciate your info!!
So frustrating, my love.
It would be lovely if you could find one.
Keep safe. X
I’ve answered this, already I think.
WP don’t think I did?
Thanks gal. I so hope to hear that you have found a supplier. Bless.
Yes, I got 2 (welcome) replies. WP goes nuts every once in awhile – usually during behind-the-scenes software updates.