Old, sick, weary, but harmless. I need to make others smile!
Author: Inchie
78 years of age, pretty ugly, short, bald, pot-bellied, in ill health. Decaying physically and morally. Mechanical ticker valve, Duodenal Donald, Saccades-Sandra, Arthur Itis, Hernia Henry, Hard of Hearing Hank, Bad eyesight Boris, Reflux Roger, Peripheral Neuropathy, Nerve Neurotransmitters Not-working Wendy, Bladder Cancer Chris, Stuttering Stephany, Haemorrhoid Harold, Shaking Shaun, Dizzy Dennis, FND, ... there are others, but I've tired myself out, now! Hehehe! Oh, then I had a stroke! Now awaiting Cataract & Glaucoma operations. Diabetes 2, Leg-Ulcer-Ulrich, Cartilage Chloe & Carole and am flat-bound. Tsk!
Failures, Accifauxpas and Whoopsiedangleplops are my Forte... Hehehe!
I love making folk smile when I can. TTFNski!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Despite the broken night with the Porcelain Throne visit, photographing the green sky, and then the dream, when I woke up at 03:50hrs, feeling so tired, I was up on my feet, unsteadily, mind you, but on them with Willy the Wooden Walking stick in hand, and off for yet another visit to the Porcelain Throne! Once again, I only made it with a few seconds to go before the most lengthy, almost liquid evacuation started… on and on it went. I’ve often spent less time on the seat when Constipation Konrad was in charge! As for cleaning up after… I’ll not say. But it took me ages. By the time I’d got into the kitchen, it was well gone 05:00hrs. Made a brew of 99 tea.
I got the computer on, and was updating yesterday’s blog, and I fell asleep in the chair!
The intercom sounded, and I struggled to reach it in time, half-dozing. (Nothing new in that). I unlocked the door and went into the kitchen with the cold mug of tea… I’d left the hot water faucet/tap running. Another day without a wash and shave! Unberottenlievable!
Carer Ejaz issued the medications, and we commiserated over yesteryears and the previous two Wednesdays’ total failure to get through for satisfaction or even recognition from the Audio Centre, Virgin ‘Scabby’ Media, and British ‘bloody’ Gas. At the 0300 telephone rates, plus a connection fee, Ejaz reckoned it had cost me around £23 to call Virgin ignorant Media & British Gas Oligarchs, only to be pissed about, overcharged, and the problems continue. I think they must have shares in the telephone companies? Liberty Global certainly do. They paid… wait for it… “24 billion dollars to buy Virgin Media from Branson. Since then, they either have shares in, or have bought out Vodafone, EE, BT, Virgin Media, O2 (UK), VodafoneZiggo, Virgin Media Ireland, (Netherlands), Three (UK), Vodafone, Telenet (Belgium), Three Ireland, Sunrise Switzerland, AtlasEdg, ITV, EE (UK), Tesco Mobile, SMARTY, Lebara, and Talkmobile Tele-Communications Inc., and Gigg-Gaff.
And they charge you a leaving fee, and suggest you try one of the other companies they own or have shares in. How the Hell can they lose? Oligarchs! It’s the poor bloody customers who suffer, healthwise, emotionally and financially. No wonder their CEO was earning around £62 million in total compensation (boosted by options) after earning only $45 million in 2024, down from a high of over $123 million.
Should I send him a food parcel?
I got carried away there… 🎵Jealousy, all over my Jealousy…🎵
Hehehe!
Misty was out there when it got lighter. It turned to fog for a while in the afternoon, then back into a hazy light mist. With odd sprinklings of rain. now and then. Oh, some colour showing up in this one. Ah, yes, it’s a brick gable end on one of the houses that hasn’t been painted white like the others around it.
Then came a welcome but nerve-racking telephone call from the Social Services lady. I started stuttering while talking to her, and I mentioned things she might not be interested in. What a plonker. The bits I may have remembered rightly, I might have said, were about the bank account, no cleaning done, and the state of the flat… adding swiftly that the Carers are in no way to blame for this. Because we have so many things I need help with, Virgin, British Gas, audio clinic, and I may have mentioned the seizures. I do not know if the lady needed to know these things for sure.
But I waffled on. I know for sure (as sure as I can be) that I mentioned, erm… forgot what I was going to write now. I didn’t catch her name, cause we still haven’t been able to get an appointment at the Audio Clinic to get the hearing aids mended despite Ejaz and my efforts to get through. I didn’t catch her name. She wanted to arrange a meeting; I asked her if it was possible on Wednesday and explained that a Carer who knows my problems would be advantageous in case I get anything wrong or mixed up. She will ring back later. I waffled a bit, I think.
Care Mizra arrived, and issued painkillers, and Phorpain gelled the right shoulder. Then I had what I can only call a funny turn; I’ll explain… ensured that I dropped the medication tub. Has Mizra not been turning the other way he would have stopped mt bnending, it after so many years, it came automatically to me to bend down to pick them up – A mistake, as I found out. My back sort of stiffened; I lost my balance and went a smidge dizzy, off-balance, but couldn’t get upright, and Mizra hauled me back up. It’s that, when on my own, I’d have had to press the alert alarm for help. Saved the day for me again, there. Once back on my feet properly with
In my hand, I was fine within two minutes.
This strengthened my commitment to stop bending down, if only I could get it to stay my head.
The landline chirped. It was from the Social Care Lady calling back. She is coming on Monday at 10:30hrs. She had contacted the ICC Carers, and they will send someone to be present. I’d hoped for Carer Ejaz or Mizra, they have been present when I had a seizure, and are aware of my problems to a degree. And it would be a good option. But they (the ICC) have been kind enough to find someone to attend.
I reminded Ejaz tonight that we must make up a list of all my difficulties and problems. I could put them on the computer, but I think it’s best if she can take the written list to assess in her own time. I will store them in the computer for my own record, though.
I think I may have sorted part of one of my worries. Ordering and forgetting, I have, and making another food order. Late afternoon, and I drifted of into a semi-seizure. These are the rare ones where I keep doing things while out-of-it. Although this does sound impossible. I came back from the mist, and the acidity upflux told me I’d had a seizure, no question about that. Or, is there? I found I was in the middle of making an Iceland Foods order when I already had one ordered for Saturday. I cancelled it. I hope. I checked later, and Iceland said You have items ordered, do you want to keep them, or something like that, I opted not to. Again, I hope I did. Please don’t let it happen yet again!Please!.
The new yellow-keyed keyboard is still taking getting used to, with the Enter key being a different shape, and mishaps are frequent. But the keys are so much easier for me to read. Even late in the day… but of course, as the old man gets tired, the hash key and brackets ones are much overused in error.
Getting dark now, so I tried to concentrate on my blogging. Belatedly again.
I pressed on, probably making unknown key errors. Tsk!
Carer Ejaz arrived. I explained that the list needs to be made for the Social lady before Monday. Hoping he will remember, even if I go into blank mode courtesy of . Medications were issued, and I explained that ICC were sending someone to the Social Lady’s visit on Monday.
One more ten-minute visit to come. When the Ezetibide tablet is taken with any painkillers needed, or Phorpain gel is called for.
Ejaz came on the last call. Quick in and out, new tablet given, Phorpain gelled the painful right shoulder.
Problem with the camera, well, fancy me getting a problem. Hahaha! I took three photographs of the night sky with my Kodak-Tim-2 camera. But only this one ended up on the SD card. Just another of the mysteries of Woodthorpe Court’s hobgoblins, spectres, gnomai, phantasms, grotesque succubae, ectoplasms, Whoopsiedangleploppery, extraterrestrials, spirits, Accifauxpas, rent increases, Cataracts, breaking down hearing aids, leaking catheter bag taps, food price hikes, Fata Morganas, Doreen Dementia, Peripheral Neuropathy Pete, Lymphorea Leslie, Arthur Itis, Colin Cramps, Memory-Mangling-Malcolm, agony from Shaking-Shoulder-Shirley, dying photo-taking skills and camera, and an increasingly worsening state of Mental-Health! Oh, and the fractured knee… and of course, today’s agony from Carole’s-Catheter-Contraption, and Haemorrhoid Harold.
Just thought I’d mention it, like.
A double-up meal tonight! My much-loved tasty faggots in onion gravy, with some extra gravy thrown in to dip the bread in. It was actually two ready-made meals to start with. So, as well as the extra mash and gravy, I had four faggots! But there is a sad side to this. Sob! Parsley Box, where I buy them, has stopped making them. How did they decide on that? To make room for more expensive products? Come think of it, these are not cheap for what they are. But still cheaper than the other home food suppliers that the opposition offers. But no Faggots & Mash now! Anywhere! That’s my business, they’ve lost! Humph!
The Ode tells the tale of why there is so little written on the blog today. British Gas cost me pounds and pounds in telephone charges.
I believe the oligarchs do this, putting you through to the line going dead, no direct answers, and more things to do than before you called them. Now they want a photograph of the electricity meter, and a list of the problems emailed to them.
Then they told us it is not their responsibility, and we had to ring another company. They said they are sick of British Gas passing these problems on; it has nothing to do with them! Farcical!
Then we had to ring British Gas again, not only a vast 87p a minute call again, but each time we call, they add a connection charge!
No cleaning done again; spent all the time telephoning BG and Audio Clinic to get an appointment, and the AI told us we had to call on Monday.
The Doctors to confirm the appointment, and to make it interesting, my right hearing aid stopped working! Fed-up? Me? YES!
Sorry, not much humour about today.
Ejaz called the nurse for help with the leg wound, which was bandaged, and will call next Wednesday to check it out. Knocked of the scab on my hand would… a bit of humour actually hear; how did it flow in two directions at the same time? Not that it mattered, it soon stopped.
Cheerio from a
well pee’d off,
frustrated, old,
going bankrupt,
one-eyed, deaf,
mega-depressed,
seizure-ridden,
arthritic, bleeding,
catheter-wearing,
duodenal-ulcered,
Peripheral Neuropathy,
Pre-Morbid Cognitive
Impairment, piles,
fractured left knee,
near-suicidal, cataract,
haemorrhoids-piles,
hydrocephalus, and toothache, painful cartilages, suffering octogenarian, Inchie! Who wishes you all a great day, Contentment, peace, & good luck!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I’m so sorry. I got right off the plot today.
I started the morning’s recount of my exciting, captivating escapades… well, that may be a slight overstatement. Cocked things up again. So, to stand a chance of catching up, this will be relatively short of details. I blame my overworking thoughts on the chance of a move into a home, or getting sufficient Carer help to let me stay and die here. Either way, it may be a while until anything is sorted. It must be a challenging, time-consuming job for the social workers to arrange. If they decide I can have extra Care hours and stay here in my home, great! If they can find somewhere in a residential home, Great!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = A blue view.
I lost hours when I dropped a bottle of soda water.
Being me, as I am, I got a cleaner spray to use to prevent the floor from getting sticky… dropped the spray. Got annopyed, as you would, and I do & did. I unthinkingly bent down with some paper towels, and annoyed that much, I had to ask the Carer to apply the Phorpaion Gel on my back on every visit, and took an extra Codeine, well, two!
A change in the view.
On the computer at long last. The new keyboard, although cheap, really helps when tiredness and Cataract-Katie set in as it gets late in the day, with its yellow keys. But the rearranged, resized, and differently shaped centre Enter button gets me so annoyed when I keep hitting the wrong one. Humph! Still, I’ve been getting things wrong in everyday life lately. Double-Humph!
Kitchen view.
Sunset.
A terrible photo, mayhap
one of my worst ever
meal pictures.
============================================
Two of these today.
Both just in time!
=========================== All the best of luck,
As the World begins to suck,
Each politician turns into a crook,
Aggressive, naturally, such….
Putting the World into self-destruct,
Thus, less to worry over midduck! ===========================
🌺 TTFNski, Folks 🌺
Up at 0700hrs. A blue coloured foggy morning. Straight ahead. To the left. To the right.
Computer tea, calendar clock set. The blood on the tissue was from the cracked lips. Nowt to fret about. I put lip balm on, stopped it.
Balcony shots through the window later. Front car park.
, , and being the main contributors, pain & botherwise. I lost count of the things I dropped, knocked over, or lost this morning. and onto the list. Oh, and started leaking a little later on. Walking sticks at least a dozen times. Eye drops, Ear drops, razor (twice), toothbrush, tea mug, teatowel, scrubbing brush, milk bottle, teabag caddie; there were many more, but these came to mind easily enough. Also, I had two can’t-let-go-of-it episodes. The first one was the kettle, which took a lot of time to be convinced to release it, then, after I’d freed the mug , it had a go at me in the same hand. For the first time ever, Pete refused to release my , and cameback as I was trying to force the fingers to open. Fortunately, Carer Ejz came in at that moment. He could not believe how hard it was to prise his fingers apart. Then later on, while checking the potatoes in the oven, I burnt my right knuckle as joined in.
Also, an old ailment that I thought had cured itself and had not visited for about 3 months returned ! She surprised me and made me jump, as the current shot up my right leg into the groin area. Still, I had missed her. Haha! She did it again last night, twice, and as I write this on Tuesday at noon, she just gave me another. Still, looking on the bright side, it is much improved.
I got an email from Jenny, and I answered it, thanking her. But at this moment I question if I did or not… Tsk! I’ll have a check now. Yep, I did it. Jenny sent me an email. She’s got a cold coming on. I hope it doesn’t turn out badly for her. Jenny & Frank are in the photo. 🌺
A blue-topped message popped up from Bang & Olufsen, asking if I wanted to make changes to my hard drive. Should I?
I went to get the spuds out of the oven and noticed the mist had turned to fog. I opened the kitchenette window to take these shots. Knocked a bottle of vinegar, a pot of black pepper, tarragon, and gravy powder off of the windowsill. I swore a bit, I may have growled, too. Then, as I bent down, supported by my , and tugged at the . I suppose it was more of a Howl than an Arrrgh that came out. Followed by some pretty crude curses… which became positively crude as the release tap opened as I grabbed at it, weeing on my sock, dressing gown, slipper, and the floor. I’m not certain, I don’t think I can take this much more! Cause cleaning the floor, washing the feet, getting the socks in the laundry bag, was a mammoth, not to mention painful, job for me in the state I was in. Now I’m sure I can’t take much more.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Woke up at seven, by the Carer. I was not up to having a body check this morning… Again! I felt ‘Out-of-it’, and well so for the first hour. The new medication, Ezetimibe, could possibly be the cause of these terrible, debilitating morning reluctant awakenings. And the tremendous resistance to getting out of bed? These disinclinations indeed began after the first day of taking Ezetimibe. Carer Dilan, so hard for him to understand what I am saying, and vice versa, issued the medications and asked if I needed any foaming, gelling, or creaming done. I said no, not until I get the abnlutions done, thanks. All I felt I needed was to get back to sleep, despite having a five-hour sleep that night.
As I slowly began to feel more with it, I grabbed the Kodak-Tim-2 and hobbled into the kitchen to take a couple of shots of the blue sky visible from the open window. I put the kettle on. Doing so, I realised I’d not put in the olive oil in the earholes yet. Back to the wet room and did so. Returning to the kitchen to check I hadn’t left the window open and to make a brew of Co-op 99 tea. To find I’d .
A bitter, sour feeling came from the innards. My self-lambasting began. Name-calling, swearing, and all out loud. I hope the neighbours couldn’t hear me.
NHS
This happened later, but the memory is still sore. But Monday proved another problem-ridden day.
I’ll tell you now, to save me writing it later and getting more depressed. For at this very moment, is with me. temporarily and suddenly departed. I wish he’d sod-off!#
Last week, I got an email asking me to make an appointment with the Doctor, no idea why, no reason given. Carer Ejaz rang the surgery, and after a long time, was told the available slots, and Ejaz wrote them down on the calendar for me. They will ring us back with the time of the appointment. They rang today to see why I want an appointment. I told them I didn’t, and I was told to book one. Which has still not been confirmed. Date & times given to the Carer: January 28th, at 15:15. 15:50, 16:00, 16:10, or 16:25hrs. They will now ring the Carer to arrange a time that suits Ejaz and ICC, so he can take me and be available to answer any questions. I don’t need any help to get confused; I can do that perfectly well, on my own.
I made an Asda order for food for Wednesday morning, 08:30>09:30 hrs. I checked on the site before making the order to ensure I had not already ordered one.
Although I was so far behind with these blogs, by nearly 21:00hrs, my vision had faded so much that I could not see sufficiently to continue. Glaucoma or Cataract? Or both? Always the same when evening arrives. I lasted a little longer tonight. I made a meal of sorts, wearily. As I ate it, all my current concerns weaved their way around my watered cebrium. Finances, Neurology failing to contact me, EENT still not contacted me about the Glaucoma/Cataract, Will I be moved into a home? Or will I manage to get extra Care cover? The mix-up with the Doctor’s appointment. The dentist is changing the appointment. Silly to worry about, I know, but I have not had a known Seizure for two days.
The computer problems. The catheter was not changed on time. No one reminded me to do a Lifeline check call. The urine has gone so dark and stinky-poo after starting the new medication. Although the late leg bag change on the catheter may have played a part. I’m going to ask the morning Carer to change it and put the new one on the other leg. Now, this past week, I reckon I have left the hot tap (faucet) running cold five times. Left the oven on overnight twice. Walked into walls and doorframes. On the bright side, I’ve only had one tumble, and was lucky that it happened in the hallway, with both walls within reach and nothing in my hands, so it was avoided. No one has contacted me about sorting out the wheelchairs yet. The help with the computer remains absent. No news on the 2 adrenaline auto-injectors, or a prescription for them (Although I was in hospital, when they told me, after recovering from heart failure, so… did I dream this?). No news about the check to assess whether a Trephination is needed.
I may make a complete list of of my unattended needs, and maybe my failures… then when they burn my decrepit body, they can burn along with me. Just in case they can’t remember me. Hahaha!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Inchy: Aye-up thicko. You’ve had it tough lately! Inchie: What? No, everything’s going smoothly! Inchy: That reply holds some artificiality… Inchie: Well, I’ve had enough with failures, losses, forgetting things, worries, depression, Cock-ups with CorelDraw, the Cloud, and Grammarly. Then there’s the possibility of moving to a new locality… Inchy: Ah, but that’s not yet a reality… Inchie: What is? Inchy: Your move to a different locality! Inchie: I’d not finished telling you yet, you Wally! Inchy: No need to, do you not remember? It’s me
that monitors, nae, controls the brain of Inchie? Inchie: The cataract, toothache & neurology… Inchy: I know nothing of otorhinolaryngology… Inchie: Erm… You talk with obliquity… Inchy: Your replies are full of obliquity… Inchie: What are you trying to tell me? Inchy: Just getting on yer goat, to make yer angry Inchie: Why? Inchy: I’m fed up too, with your acting otiosely, Inchie: Meaning? Tell me! Inchy: I suppose to you. I’m something ghostly? Inchie: Spot on, matey! Inchy: And where do I live, Inchie? Inchie: You dwell in my brain, Dummy! Inchy: Of which you have no ontosophy! Inchie: The neurosurgeon gave me a tomography! Inchy: And the result, what did he say? Inchie: I’ve likely got Hydrocephaly… nchy: He also said you may need a craniotomy! Inchie: Well, yes, that it’s a possibility… Inchy: Why have you not had it done, ducky? Inche: They are too busy, ostensibly, no answer when I call them, frustratingly, Inchy: This is really depressing me, actually! Inchie: What? Inchy: The fact that you just can’t see? Inchie: What? Inchy: Soon, when I talk, you’ll hear gurglingly! Inchie: Are you referring to my ophthalmometry? Inchy: No, you pratt! sadly… Inchie: What then? Inchy: Water on the Brain? Who lives there? Who’s the one who has the same fate as you to scare? Inchie: Water on the brain… But you live in there? You’ll get drowned? Now I see it with clarity… Inchy: Tell the neurosurgeon to gerrit done quickly! Inchie: Alright, leave it with me… – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I woke a few times during the night. Notwithstanding, I got a total of… wait for it… 8 hours kip!
Waking up around 0800hrs, with the assistance of Carer Ejaz. He said it took him a while to get me to stir. This is all taken from Ejaz’s words; I have no recollections of the first few minutes of wakefulness. Ejaz was concerned about my unbalanced, faraway status, and I was talking gibberish for the first two minutes. It was just pure exhaustion and tiredness, I think. When I tried to stand up, I failed, and Ejaz insisted I stay in the chair. (I’d fallen asleep in the c1966, £300 Oxfam charity shop-bought, wincingly grotty, beige-coloured, crumb-covered from my nocturnal nibblings, itch-making, uncomfortable, positively unhealthy, and dangerous, no longer operational, virus-breeding, easy-to-fall-out-of, Catheter-tube-trapping recliner.)
I think, well, he would have given me the medications. But no body checks, creaming, or salving was done. He apparently arrived late and had to leave. After making sure I was okay. A great lad.
I soon fell asleep again, waking around 10:30 hours. And caught my balance before moving. Did the balance exercises as well… I think.
I was a little unsteady, but much better than I was when Ejaz called. Seems I’d put the TV on, no recollection of doing so.
Oh, a much-belated, meant Good Morning Each.
It was amazing how quickly I felt better. I washed the pots from last night. And readied things for the , and off to the wet room.
I did forget to do my teeth. But shaved with only two teeny-weeny cuts. Then, I had to delay the washing to utilise the . And what
a surprise that was. Three days’ worth of , now had returned with a vengeance. What a messy evacuation! The hot water was no longer coming out hot. I knew what I’d done, and left the wet room, went into the kitchen and turned off the tap (faucet) I’d left running. The usual grinding of my teeth, swearing and anger at myself developed. Yet, nowhere as violent as usual?
Back to finish shaving. A body scrub and the medicationings were done where I could get to them. No hassle involved. I even had three lucky breaks when I was getting fresh protection pants on, yes! First: As I reached for the pack to get the pants from, I knocked over a two-litre bottle of bleach. Fret not, for not only did it not burst open, but it also missed my ingrowing toenail and feet. Two: I was carrying out the usual procedure for getting the PPs on, and got a
bout, and lost grip of the seat-raisers’ grab-bar. I kept my balance because was within reach for once. Third: As I was leaving the room to get dressed, I tripped on the mat and took a forward tumble through the open door… Now, it did have a downside. I’d moved the clothes airer closer to the wet room make it easier to reach the clothes. Downside?
It no longer works. Humph!
Better get a move on, it’s Sunday already and nearing the afternoon.
The sun is getting through in the front car park. But a smidge misty above.
Made astart on updating the last blog.
Later, the sun moved across, making the picture taken through the balcony window look bright.
Forgot to put the lip balm on.
It soon stopped the bleeding.
As the Carer arrived, I spotted the early evening sky, which looked photo-worthy. Gorgeous!
The keyboard suddenly stopped working!
No panic yet, I assumed the batteries had packed up and replaced them with new ones. I dropped the two batteries as I was taking them out, and now, Sunday at 12:10 hours, I still haven’t found one of them.
Anyway, this did not solve the problem.
I consulted Google. tried their advice, without any luck. (This goes without saying, really. Hehe!)
Saved the work, closed all down, gave it a few minutes, and then rebooted. No luck again. Fingers crossed, I got the spare keyboard, a cheapo Technet wired one, and got that linked up. AHA! Now things are typable again!
Working again? It’s all a mystery to me!
But so glad it did restart.
Got one of, if not my favourite meal, Bombay Potatoes come a close second, but this meal I love, when I manage to cook it right. A long preparation time and baking, but it’s worth it. Even the mass of washing up the mixing bowls and sticky cutlery… are you wondering what it is? Cheesy baked potatoes!
Pre-heat the oven, I put mine at 180°. Place your large spuds in the oven, but keep checking until they are cooked enough to mash.
Take your Shredded Leicester Cheese (essential: to use Leicester cheese; it’s tasteless raw but magnificent cooked). Get your mixing bowl, and let it warm a little for the mixing. Liquid sea salt, black pepper, light soya sauce (It’s stronger than the dark), malt or distilled vinegar (wine vinegar if you like it, most alcoholics do), and a half-spoon of Marmite. Ready to use.
Then, I usually burn my fingers getting them out of the oven and cutting them in half, no different this time.
Cut each potato in half lengthwise. Scoop out the flesh into a mixing bowl. After each half is put in, a little cheese and each seasoning is added. Then mix the ingredients with a fork until well combined, and use a spoon to finish the job. Then spoon-fill the mixture back into the emptied potato husks. Run a fork over the top of the potato mix to help it crisp up easier.
Back into the oven, but keep an eye on them.
This is mine after serving them up. Did you notice that there are only seven of the half potatoes in this picture? That’s because I ate one while prepping the plate. Darned Tasty! A bad time of year for tomatoes; avoid Spanish and definitely Moroccan this time of year, bitter! I was lucky to get the one in the photo; they are Dutch, possibly irradiated, but at least they tasted like tomatoes, unlike the Moroccan & Spanish tastelessness.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Things were going fairly well this morning.
Then I woke up. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
04:20hrs: Night catheter pouch taken off. Thought I’d put the news on to see if World War Three had started yet. The internet came on, so I assumed not. Bags sorted, and the innards informed me that I needed to attend the Porcelain Throne. I did. It was one heck of a long visit, too! Lots of arghs, owowows, ugeeeers, and much forcing and pain; things began to move. A few ‘flipping hecks’ further, and the torpedo evacuated. Relief!
Cleaned up, and off to the kitchenette to get the kettle on to make a brew of 99 tea. Not only did I leave the tap running, but I dropped the milk bottle. What a mess to clean up. Made the tea, left it to brew, took two snaps of the morning view to the right, then left. Not that much shows up.
Started the computer, and nipped to the kitchen to take some photographs now that it was getting later and lighter. Both were taken through the balcony’s closed windows. But they turned out a smidge better than I thought they might. The end-of-car-park photo on the right here seemed to show some activity. A few vehicles had their lights on. Only one car had parked on the chevrons this morning.
This one came out much clearer and more detailed.
The Asda order came after seven o’clock. Apparently, I ordered all the right things this time. No hidden unknown extras for once.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
News of the crane crashing down on a moving train in Thailand. I checked for updates on Friday morning: 32 dead, 68 injured. Then found that two people were killed, with many injured, after a construction crane collapsed onto a highway in Thailand, a day after a crane accident in Thailand. Leaving 32 people dead.
I feel terrible for them and their relatives. RIP.
Misty Turning into fog, methinks.
Getting thicker, later. ======================== IN THE LATE AFTERNOON
I was working in CorelDraw and seemed to be doing all right, as it happens. I should never think things like this with my famously bad luck?
I wanted to add a page to the file, simple enough, drop menu – press Add New Page, what could go wrong? Well, something did, obviously. Possibly, with only one eye working, courtesy of Cataract Katie, I may have clicked the incorrect option. I may never know, cause all the page tabs disappeared! Leaving a grey-blue continuous strip where the tabs were seconds earlier. Naturally, Panic Set In. Not having the slightest idea what I’d done or not done right didn’t help my investigation on how to get them back. My language, through frustration, was abysmally bad & abusive. Boy, did I get angry with myself? YES!
Thought I’d take a look at the option list to see if I could identify the problem. See if there was an option on it to remove tabs or something similar.
I felt a bit of an idiot (fair enough). When I actually got the mouse to where the tabs should have been, the grey-blue continuous strip, I realised the drop-down arrow was on the tabs that were no longer there!
Depression, frustration and self-lambasting all increased in unison. Hope was fading here!
Something I do regularly with CorelDraw cock-ups, is try to save everything, close it down & other programs. Run a Virus Check. Then turn off the computer. CorelDraw let me close it down in the usual way. So I did this again. I happened to note the time as I did this, 17:30hrs. It took 15minutes to save the file! This did not bode very well for a successful outcome. I pressed on with little faith, Sved Excel, Notebook, Internet and MS Word. Ran the Virus Check & Cleaner, then turned it off. After a couple of minutes, I unplugged the computer and went to make a brew. To give the computer & peripherals enough time to cool. A Carer arrived, and he could not help but notice my crochety frame of mind.
This, of course, meant my concentration dissolved.
After issuing the medications, we spoke of the Doctor’s visit next Wednesday… not sure I was paying enough attention, because I can’t recall if we’d arranged to do anything? The limited brainpower was still pondering over the thought of how to get the CorelDraw page tabs back and avoid being unable to do the blog.
My biggest fear.
Thanked Ejaz and off he went. I just had to go back to my efforts getting the page tags back.
And I did. But , I could remember what I’d done and not… although it did come back to me after I’d given up and started the chips & pie meal. I remembered how long it took to save the CorelDraw file. Used CCleaner, just in case I’d missed it. Not a lot of junk was picked up, so I assumed I’d done it earlier. More time lost.
\\\\\\I brought me meal to the computer and nibbled at it as I waited for the computer to boot up. Restarted the computer as the meal got colder.
Fingers crossed, I opened CorelDraw. The Page Tabs were still missing!
I saw the funny side, then laughed gave a smile, No longer annoyed, and after a afterwhile,
Is getting annoyed & angry, worthwhile?
Silly of me to get worked-up & volatile,
What am I saying, wait a while…
This is just not my usual style,
That’s cause really I’m full of bile!
I’m feeling rather adversarial…
My talk of me laughing, was artificial,
Then Friday morning came a miracle!
I got the tabs back on, then just as terrible,
I lost Grammarly… abominable, They now use AI, no one is talk-to-able,
After two hours of advice, questionable,
I’d got 14 tabs open on Google…
Told IT I’d dementia, thtat was ignorable
I want to leave Grammarly, quickly,
A.I.’s instructions were simply,
Confused, I need to check my spelling.
Grammarly, I want to be leaving,
Just follow these instructions…
Six more tabs, I gave up!
Then the Age Concern Lady phoned. Can’t recall what shew said apart from she’ll call me back. (Friday), cause I won’t be able to do a blog now, until things get sorted. Which I an’t see happening. Mind you, I have some graphics ready done.
Christine, the Age UK lady rang back. She is sending a letter to the doctor about my situation. And as contacted the Social Services. They will get in touch with me later about a possible move to a home. I’ll miss the morning photographing and the tree copse. Then again, I may not be able to do any blogging unless I can get help with the current problems. Memory boost, Grammarly & CorelDraw.
And maybe I can get help with the Grammarly farce. Wot am I saying – Huh!
Keep well, and A;; the Bestest.
Ah saw it… All the Bestest!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I THINK… – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Woke late at 06:30hrs. Night pouch removed. Balance, Toothache, Backache, my right Shoulder pains, and Dizzy Dennis… the ailments were gathering. I took a shot of the view from the kitchenette. All the same, I was in better knick than yesterday morning. I did have a rare early morning seizure, but the after-effects were minimal.
Porcelain Throne used, made up waste bins. The right shoulder is still painful. Toothache, Tiffany is playing up. Carer arrived. Med’s issued, shoulder, legs and ankles were foamed. Extra painkiller taken.
The mental pain that was to follow (Oligarchs British Gas) took over as my main worry for the day, when I tell you, I’d like to point out that I am not exaggerating.
I tried to get the blog done as much as possible before Elaz returned for the two-hour call.
But progress was stunted with my bad eye almost blind in the afternoon and evening. I made a ton of mistakes, and I got very little done. Went to make a brew of tea in the kitchen, I’d left the tap on and the hot water ran cold!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
CorelDraw, which had been okay up to now, shot into full-screen mode, with a message coming up on top.
As I mused over what the heck I’d done this time, a text and an email arrived simultaneously. British Gas, telling me they urgently need a meter reading. I knew about this, but no one knows how to get the figures up. The Wardens, or neighbours. I’ll ask Ejaz to ring them for me when he comes again.
Back to the problem with CorelDraw. I turned it off in the end, but had to close and save everything first. It would not let me click the cross. All off, then rebooted, and opened CorelDraw to see if it worked.
At first glance, it seemed to be okay… then I realised page eight, the one with all the tabs and clipart I’d done on it… Had disappeared. I took this pretty well, I thought. Just the usual swearing, spitting and hexing. All gone now, so I have to make new ones whenever I want one. And word lists that I’ve redone, not many of them, keep disappearing from the file? Now I was spitting blood!
Got a message or two telling me to do this and that if I want to keep my Cloud access. All beyond me.
Ejaz returned and had a few things on my list for him to help me with. He took the laundry down first. Came back and called the Dentist to ask if they could get me a Wednesday appointment, so the Carer can go with me. All good with this. Then he called the Doctors to book a Wednesday appointment. This was not so good, but not bad. He’s got one for me after a verbal tussle.
Then… He called the oligarch-owned British Gas to ask them how to get a reading on the meter. After ten minutes, I put my hearing aids in to talk to the lady on the line… I couldn’t hear or understand a word she was shouting. Ejaz put the speaker on the landline. I still could not make out what she was saying. She had an Asian sounding tone, but even Ejaz was struggling… Then, the phone kept cutting out on us.
On about the fifth time, contact was lost altogether. Ejaz rang back. You could hear the frustration: this time, they needed account numbers and passwords! Luckily, I had these nearby. He got connected after more queries of why are you calling? Who are you? etc. Poor Ejaz got reconnected to the same ever-increasing, losing-it, and irritated lady.
Ejaz was sent four times to get the meter reading. I went with him. What we were being told to do, I recall pressing the orange button, or any of the other things they told us to try, worked! The line kept cutting out for a few seconds at a time.
We looked at the three electricity boxes in the flats’ foyer; they were all different types of meters.
I came back to the phone and told the lady, who complained about not understanding ‘Your carers’ accent, (Not that either of us could make out what she was saying either); I told her my age, disabilities, and that I just want to give you a meter reading that British Gas have asked for for over 6 months now. I need someone to come and show me how to get them… Then her voice became crystal-clear, “Oh, I can arrange that for you!” I replied, “Yes, please, please do that. Thank you.” Cor, Luvva Duck! Poor Ejaz shot down to get the laundry back, because he was on a deadline that was almost up for the call.
He left the bag on the bed. Unfortunately, I forgot about getting them out until late in the evening. When I did, I had to sort out damp, tangled, clumped together clothes and slippers. The hat, which I put in the bag. should not have gone into a machine; it should be hand-washed only. I couldn’t even force it onto my head. Haha! I’ve only worn it once, so why did I wash it? That’ll be Peripheral Neuropathy Pete, or Doreen Dementia to blame. Maybe the British Gas farce broke my concentration? (That’s easy to do with me)
I’ll sue them for £4.99, Har-Har! I got back onto blogging and made some progress, not a lot, mind you. Then the eyesight really got worse. Not that I was surprised, it does this every day when I get tired. I’m hoping to hear from the NHS EENT soon about the cataract lasering. Hopefully, before my 90th birthday. But I’m not too hopeful.
Bombay potatoes, with a good dollop of
Sharwood’s Gung Po sauce added. With extra water chestnuts, red onion, tomatoes, extra baked & chunked thick-skinned red potatoes, and mushrooms. Nice & tasty! = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Broken sleep, wake-ups delivered (that I recall) from Twitching-Neck-Ted, Shaking-Shoulder-Shirley, and with Acid-Reflux-Fred on last awakening, I assume that must have had nocturnal Seizures. By the time I rose, detached the night catheter bag, and visited the Porcelain Throne, Carer Ejaz was coming in.
Very oddly, Ejaz told me I was all over the place and not talking usually. How did I not know this? Once the idea lodged in my nut, it became apparent I was meandering mentally and physically. Odd, this was! He got me to sit down, and it was obvious he was right. My balance was terrible, and Ejaz wanted to call for help. He issued the medications, but didn’t do any creaming or foaming, as I wished to get the ablutions done. With the lad’s caring nature and activities, within five minutes, I felt much more transparent, aware, and better balanced. I do occasionally have mornings like this, but I’ve always been aware of how I felt, but not this morning. I think the new medication could be affecting me, because out-of-mornings are getting more regular since starting the Ezetimibe tablets. Also, the urine has darkened appreciably. Both are on the long list of side effects. And maybe the ‘make you feel more tired & drained’, too?
I stripped and went off to the wet room for a scrub-up. The shave produced just one teeny-weeny cut, and the after-shave soon stopped it. But afterwards, I realised that I’d not done an outstanding job of shaving. Trouble is, the hair I had was blonde, but now it is almost a transparent white. I felt it, but could not see it in the mirror. Could cataract Katie have been the cause? Or Peripheral Pete? I lost the plot again! Got the teeth done, but was annoyed. Putting it mildly. Body scrub, and got on with, the . Well, here I could get at. Olive oil, the earholes, eye drops, spray, and cream . Got the hearing aids in. Then put some foam on , with the aid of the Short-Picker-Upper-Unwin.
Got a khagoul and dressing gown on, and went on the computer. I was well and truly behind with the blogging again, Humph! As per usual nowadays.
I took a break after an hour or so to take several photos of the morning view. Which were to appear here. Had I not left the Kodak-Tim-2 SD card in the computer slot last time I used it? But they were not very good.
GOOD & BAD LUCK: Then I set out to find the long-missing MS Word lists… wait for it… And I found one, well, two! Miraculous!There’s always a but – But, it got so convoluted during the searching in files that I knew nothing about, I’ll be ganged if I can find it again to retrieve the other one that was hidden in the maze of confusing sections of the computer. They were both old ones, one from 2004, the other from 2014. So I opened the 2014 one, to find that it had not been alphabetised. That was it for the next four hours. I was so overjoyed to find and upload it. Although it hasn’t been sorted, it has dampened the spirits a smidge. But I was determined to make a start on it. Four hours later, I had to stop; time and mental fatigue had caught up with me. It was an enormous file, and I think I’d only done about 10% of it, if that much. Yet still had an admittedly diminished joy at finding it in the first place. I was sort of Semi-Smug, now.
Then lost heart a little further. When I couldn’t get back to where I’d found the files, more time was lost. I couldn’t remember where I’d found them earlier. them. History searched, then realised it would not be on the internet anyway. During this failed farting about, many things happened.
Carer called, got another Warfarin dosage through the post. Ejaz did the creaming and foaming of areas I could not reach earlier. In between, I did take some pictures.
But mainly of the views
Another of the repeated reluctant to get out of bed awakenings. Not sure how many times I nodded off again, but it was 07:30hrs when the Carer woke me with the sound of the admission intercom.
I got tangled up in the long tube from the nocturnal catheter pouch as I hobbled half-awake to the control panel in the mini-hallway. Clouted my right shoulder against the wall, trying not to fall. And Shaking-Shoulder-Shirley Dawned. She was on and off all day long. Can’t work out why she now hurts when shuddering too; up to two days ago, she didn’t at all. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – The body rots, Mental problems? Lots, Bills, debts, no honeypots,
Failures disasters & hotchpots,
An HMG of oligarchs & idiots,
I won no lottery jackpots,
Senility, at a good rate of knots,
No more sex, but I get the hots,
Instead, I just wash the pots…
People replaced with AI & robots,
I’m getting more late-life crisis,
I need help, and/or diorthosis,
To cope with this late-life circus…
Want to see the early-blooming crocus,
Before I leave this hocus pocus… To St Peter’s Gate; I am temerarious! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – An uptight Sunday But High-Mood-Horis, in his way,
kept Depression Darius at bay.
Naturally not for all day,
I do so love doing wordsmithery,
Although I’m ageing & getting doddery,
I’ve never ever won on the lottery…
But that doesn’t mean a lot to me,
Try to help others along my way,
Spread a little joy, every day,
I’ll merrily greet fading-away,
Forget the cardiopulmonary,
Being shot twice, once on my birthday, To whom should I pray? For a less painful, but peaceful day?
Putin? Trump, someone heavenly? Forgive my foolery & foppery,
It’s the new medications you see…
I blame it mainly on my ancestry,
Many relatives have been locked away, Called Mad-Houses, back in the day,
Lunatic asylum, nut farm for the barmy, Now, a mental health facility, The men in whitecoats missed Gerry, Now, they want me sent to a facility… A Residential Home is that for Inchie? Lost the plot again, admittedly, The telephone rang, interruptingly, My bank wants to see me at the Trustee, A bill to pay and not enough money… I’ve heard nowt from the NHS Neurology, Or from the Orthopaedic, at the QMC,
To check on my fractured knee, Ah, well, I’ll make a mug of tea, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Light coating of snow Not many lights on again.07:50hrs, No Carer yet. Hope he’s alright. Lights on, getting lighter. Got carried away, lost the plot and did
more work on the Word Lists.
I rang the Carers to see if anyone had been
or not. At first, she said that he had been; I was about to thank her and apologise, and she realised that, indeed, he had not been yet. He is on his way now. Fair enough, as long as I hadn’t forgotten.Took another view.
Jenny rang me to say that someone from Age UK would be calling me at 11:30 hours, bless her again. She’d rang them and told them of my struggles. Bless her. 💟I couldn’t concentrate now, so I put the TV on.
Carers desk, table.
The INR blood taker arrived. Enoxaparin injections
are due to start again if the level gets lower.
The Age UK lady rang. Mega-long Q&A session. So she knew my problems. Naturally, she could do nothing about the Neurology absence of contact, the seizures, Fractured-knee Frank, Arthur Itis, the Cataract, the Cramps, Cartilage Cloe and Carol, Glaucoma Gladys, or Shaking Shoulder Shirley.
She will contact Social Services to discuss whether anything can be done, what action, if any, is needed, and whether any decisions can be mandated. Other options to be addressed.
This is where the kind patient lady asked if I had considered going into a home. I said previously that I had fought against this happening. However, now things had got so much worse healthwise and helpwise, yes, although still semi-reluctantly, I would be willing, after discovering the ways & wherewithals of the home. I related the incident after the stroke when I was put into a home for 6 weeks to help me recover. I also mentioned my problems with the bank, arithmaphobia and an unaccountable fear of opening letters. I’ve a stack of them in the flat, but I’m too scared to open them. Why? I don’t know. And this is the first time I’ve revealed this problem to anyone other than Jenny.
So many difficulties, no solutions. I brought up the Virgin and EE problems as well. But so many, I’m not sure I made a lot of sense. At times, I forgot what I was saying in mid-sentence. I must have done myself no good with this interview. It probably scares them at the thought of putting me in their home?
Surgery phoned with new Warfarin dosages. Have I already said this? Errors galore.
Blue Hue this morning.
Late start on the computer.
Sidetracked onto the word list.
Sundays, I missed off. Tsk!
Evening shot.
Late views.
TTFN Sorry, this isn’t up to standard. New worries came in, and fighting. Darius was hard work, in a way.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Humans from different nations should be mingleable Nations resist being intergratable, annexable, I blame them for being self-financially acquiral, Oligarchs, Politicians, unrightly boondoggle, They rob, steal. Kill fellow humans, brangle… Haves & have-nots rarely commingle, Words rarely exchanged, mostly conjectural, With unknown illnesses, cerebral, neuronal… Evil thoughts & desires, greedy, demurral, Were we the same when we were primordial? Did cavemen have dinosaur cordial? Compared to us, did they have less trouble?
We have heart attacks and seizures… COPD, wars, arthritis in the knees,
So many kinds of rapaciousness,
Hate crimes, cancers and murders…
Neanderthals, of course, had no doctors, Mine is Sherrington Park Medical Practice, Appoints? First, there’s the artificial intelligence, If you are lucky and give the correct answers, You get through to the ‘Care Navigators’, Whose soul task is to issue bullhittings… To stop you seeing the Doctors…
Emergency ring 999, 111 or Chemists, Do not phone if you want prescriptions! Email us, and not text us! His clever claptrap discourages, Little Faith Left in the NHS! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Time is a big enemy of Inchie. So Much he’d like to write, but so much happened, and it’s gone midnight already. I’ll skip the hogwash; leave the bits out. Finish it tomorrow afternoon. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Early morning view.
Waste bags collated.
Spuds readied for tonight.
Leaving them out helps me remember the meal plan.
Made a brew. I intend to crack on with blogging. Due to Doreen’s Dementia, this did not happen!
A J Sainsbury food order arrived. UNSODDING BELIEVABLE!
There was no stopping Depression Darius, and Frustration Frank was dawning after this!
Obviously, I ordered it, I know this from the food delivered, my regular gastronomic choices. But, when and why did I? I must have ordered it. I had an Asda order on Saturday, but I knew I’d placed it. I just ordered it for the wrong week. I got so confused and angry with myself. I’m short of cash as it is. The self-lambasting started the moment the driver left. I stored the fodder away. Spitting, shouting, and cursing as I did. I hope the neighbours didn’t hear me. How I need the promised help with this problem. From the neurologist who has not contacted me since November. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I had not really calmed myself down by the time I got the food away. I emailed Jenny to make sure where the freebies were to be left. The C|theter needed emptying, and what a dark colour it was. I hope it was not an effect of the new tablets. To help stop myself thinking about the cock-ups, I got ready to hoover the hallway.
But it didn’t get done. I had to visit the Porcelain Throne, and it took me ages to clean and wash up afterwards. Trotsky Terence was back in charge.
A messy session in the extreme! I walked by the Hoover, but then I was back to talking to myself, changing subjects as I nattered along. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The Carer arrived. Gave me a body check, foamed and creamed areas in need. Medications were given. We spoke of the Doctor’s appointment still in abeyance. And which way to handle it? No conclusions. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – DONET YET AGAIN!
A second delivery of food! 4 carrier bags full. Many items are repeated with JS. Talk about self-anger! Spring water. Freezer choker! The fridge is the same. Hallway. Top corner. Cupboards. Drinks. Shelves. I’m so depressed I can’t talk about it. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sunset. Sunset. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – This was not bad, but the chicken was dry. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Late picture. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TTFN Not Up To Much. On a super shameful downer!
