INCHIE TODAY: Sunday 26th February 2023

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A lot better colour this time.

Murky kitchenette.

Junk room.
Oh, I mean the main room.

The massive hallway.

This is the offending, oh, so painful right foot bottom.
Where the yellow circle is, denotes where the pain is coming from. Despite Carers, two nurses, and three paramedics taking a look at it, they had no idea why I was in agony with it.

Chair, vacated by the morning Carer after giving me the medications nada checking the catheter. Checked the taps and stove; bless her!

To hate left from the kitchen window.
And to the right…

The urine is a bit darker now…
Flowing suddenly, and the bag is filling quicker than usual.
A good sign… I think.

Sun out occasionally, no warmth with it mind.

Sun is out for an hour or so. took another shot.
Bootiful sky!.
Nice!

A decent-looking meal?.
It was crap! Either my insides,
Taste Buds, or whatever?

A sadly short sunset breakthrough…
Went down so quickly tonight.
Farewell…

I was still chesty and coughing.
The foot & Catheter hurting.
Fell blissfully asleep…

Carer Richard woketh me and sorted the Catheter Night bag.
So tired and can’t remember much more…
Zzzz

INCHIE TODAY: Sunday 19th February 2023

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WELL, SNIPPETS, ANY WAY…

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Today was possibly, maybe, perhaps, conceivably, feasibly perhaps, I imagine, I dare say without too much doubt (although this may be debatable), it is plausibly my worst day since being born, then years later, finding out from the midwife that mater’s first words and action as the accoucheuse lady handed me to mother in a bloodied pillow slip.

This is Genuine; Mother also admitted it years later.
Telling me that she took to me later.

“I don’t want it; throw it in the Trent!” Then dropped her fag ash from her Park Drive all over me.” Not one of the best starts to life, but now I’m nearing the end of it; it dawns on me that nothing seems to have changed?

Ah, life’s been good to me”

Not much of Diary again, sorry. I even had a roughly three-hour spell of total memory loss, a Mind-Blank, if you like. Mind you, when I came back into ersatz reality, the sunset was just starting, and I spent about two hours photographing the sun and skies… I’m just addicted to the beauty of it. Not a lot I can remember, my scrawled notes are not of much use, I’m afraid.

Anyway, here I go…

Up around 06:15hrs, and realised that the need for the porcelain Throne was due. I got the night pouch off of the .
Hastened to the Throne and a messy job it was again.

To the kitchen to take these three terrible photographs of the view.

Sorry about this…
Not good at all…

Made up the waste bags, a brew and Carer Jozef arrived. He was obviously running behind and wanted and or needed to press on with his rounds. So I did not engage him in any gossiping. Nice lad.

Made a start on updating yesterday’s blog. The pouch was filling up and needed emptying a few times more than usual… but every single time I bent down to open the valve for emptying, I went light-headed, and Dizzy Dennis paid a visit. This went on all day and is the same now at 23:00hrs

Then, the mind blank arrived. Not the foggiest memory, but a Carer had been and signed the log… who or what happened? I know not.
Also, my little finger was hurting and the left side of the jaw too???
A tumble? Had I walked into a doorframe again? Mmm?

I remember Carer Caroline arriving, and I found out that I’d not given her a torch, so did so. Lovely gal!

Things came back as normal as they can be for me around sunset time. And boy, did I get fascinated by the changing sky… Yes, I did! Hehe!
Here are all the Sunset photographs I took; I think I spent ages, with a few interruptions:

First shot

Clouds move all the time…

Sun lowering…

Coming through…

Nearly through…

Took a close-up

Getting brighter…

Ah, the colour comes…

Darn it! Had to go empty the pouch.
Got back in time to catch these beauties…

Wonderful!

Wider shot…

Picturesque…

Globble-rots, off to use the Throne again.
All changed again…

Awesome, the sun is not gone yet…

She has now, but she was still lighting the clouds…

Grrreat effects!

Daunting…

Hello, the sun’s showing again?.
How does that work, then?.

Outstanding!

Another change? I love this!

Mother Nature…

All gone dark… but not for long….
Horison lights up?

The strip narrows.

Then goes…

The high sky goes grey.

Horizon strip white…

Well, a bluey-pink. Hehe!

Nightie-night…

Hello, hello. Can you see this?

I do believe I’m just seen and taken a shot of Jupiter?

 Putting the camera away, Carer Richard came in.
I’ve missed the lad. He seemed in a decent mood and looked better than he did last week, I’m pleased to report.
He said he’d change the day catheter in the morning and then add the night pouch to .
I feel like I spoke a lot, but can’t recall what about some sort of moaning, most likely. Grumpy Old Men do that!

I had a handful of fries done in the air-fryer, then a pot noodle with tons of seasoning in it. Dunked some bread in it.

Sleep came easily…
As did the shooting awakes with a jerk!
HUMPH!

INCHIE TODAY: Saturday 18th February 2023

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Today, I received two letters. Neither of which exactly perked me up, cheered me up or made me sing or yodel with pure joy.
But first, I’m afraid this is another rushed blog. Due to the hours spent sorting out the mail in hate form of four A4 pages of the very small print of details required by the hospital for the upcoming operation on the Prostate that needed to be filled in. But, I made a right mess of it.
THe Carer who came pointed out that I could do it on the Internet.
So, I did, and that took me over an hour and a half to get right! Had to ring Sister Jane to confirm her address and telephone number. But got it done and tried to send it, but it wouldn’t have it.
So I double-checked that I’d filled everything in properly.
Which, of course, I hadn’t! There was a disclaimer box that had to be clicked on. So, I clicked on it. Another messy day!
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I got out of the recliner, caught my balance, and went off to the porcelain Throne. Messy! Very Messy!
Checked the batteries and made sure the Fuji was working.

Took a snap from the window.

Stripped t get ready to go to get the ablutions done.
The toes had lost their brown colouring but were more twisted and swollen.

07:40hrs: I started the Ablutionings.
My teeth were cleaned, my nose cleared, and I shaved while I was standing in a bowl of soapy water and Dettol. 
Eye drops in, medicated certain delicate areas. I actually felt worn out; the whole session took ages. I took a photo of the wrist alert bands

Right wrist...
Left wrist… Which meant after looking at the clock, that I’d spent
erm… 08:55 now, started at 07:40hrs – that was good for me!
Smug-Mode Engaged!

The two errant toes were stinging a bit.

Blimey sunshine out!

Carer Adele arrived a little late, not that it mattered in the slightest to me.
She’s collected the two letters from the door box on coming in.
One was a bill from Easy-Link.


The other (above). was the dreaded questionnaire from the Woodthorpe Hospital. I have to fill it in and register before they can see me.
It cost me over four hours to get it all done!

Carers came and went, but I worked like a good un trying to get this blog done… I had to keep stopping for the carers visits, phone calls, answer emails that came in, emptying the daub pouch of the catheter, and forever adjusting the tubing that was giving me some right bother; the bleeding had not stopped since the first accidental pull on the tube. Not bleeding badly, more like a little leak. But it keeps drying, and when I move, the dried blood cracks and starts flowing again; Humph!

Nothing to eat yet. Not that I want anything. I did nibble and dunk a few biscuits each time I made a brew… although five of the mugs of tea went cold cause I was concentrating on doing the graphics.

Tea time, and I went to make another brew, intent on making sure I drank this one. I didn’t. Cause I espied a slimmer of light on the horison – Aha… Sunset was coming, methinks!.

I took a closer shot.

Over the next half-hour, I took several photos of the wonderful sky until the short sunsetting had gone.

Finally….
Ta-Ta Sunshine!

Get something to eat now… I hope!

A much-doctored bowl of veg soup.
I was halfway through it when the new Carer Zika arrived.
He was late arriving, and muggings here forgot he’d not been.
I am a plonker! He’s a nice lad.
With chatting with him as he got the medications sorted, I also forgot all about the night pouch that needed fitting to the on the .

He took the waste bags and checked the taps for me as he departed.

Then I got the dish, and cutlery washed and settled down in the second-hand, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, microorganism-microbe producing, gungy, moth-eaten, beige-coloured, non-working, bacillus encouraging, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, c1968 recliner.

Another much-interrupted sleep. For I had to keep checking and emptying the smaller day bag, if needed, overnight. Lost count of the times I had to get up and free the urine into the bucket. Tsk! I think seeing a new face and nattering a little helped me forget about the night pouch.

I also got a visit from Dizzy Dennis every time I bent down to undo the release valve. A little disconcerting they were.

TTFN

INCHIE TODAY: Friday 17th February 2023

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Foreboding: What does that really mean?
I’ll look it up; just a moment, please…
Ah, yes, hats the word.
Today has been a get nothing done, but, been a busy all-day scenario.
A new medical appointment at the Woodthorpe Hospital arrived via a long complicated difficult-to-hear telephone call from the Doctors surgery.

For an Initial Prostate investigation. I think it was called a TURP procedure, so I looked it up to know what’s what to expect.
“Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)”
Further investigationings came up with:
In transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), a combined visual and surgical instrument (resectoscope) is inserted through the urethra, where it’s surrounded by prostate tissue. An electrical loop cuts away excess prostate tissue to improve urine flow. Oh, good!
I made nine phone calls today: Easy-Link to try and book a lift to and from the Woodthorpe Hospital for the procedure – No chance, told to ring back on Monday morning. I’m hoping that I remember to!

The last five procedures I’ve had all came on a Friday afternoon or evening. Easy (Easy? Haha!) link finish early Fridays, do not have anyone on Saturdays and Sundays. But I’m not complaining about them, they are a charity with wonderful kind volunteers.

I had eight phone calls come in today, and every single one came when I was either in the wet room or kitchen. Thus did not hear them or heard late and missed them… well, five of them. I also made nine calls out. Five being to get through to Easy-Link, which didn’t work out, did it?

A most frustrating day. Thinking about it; nothing went right at all that I can remember. I just got more and more frustrated as the day wore on, grinding me into a Dracula depression.

It all started when I woke up!
I could at least stand up a little easier this morning. But hobbling, more than walking nowadays, was dodgy as the swelling of the ankles and toes was throwing what bit of balance I’d got out of sync.

I took the above abysmally bad photo of the right foot… Dropped the Fuji camera, and the batteries fell out. Could I find them all? No! I found them all, bar one. Where it went is still a mystery as I type this. So, no photos for the blog. Although, many hours (18:00hrs) later, I trod on the escaped battery that had rolled under an overlapping chair cover and found it as I ended up on the floor – luckily right next to the Inchy-Elephant-Lifting-Aid, the recliner, os I got back up actually thinking… Aha, I can use the camera now.
No idea why, but it let me take one shot of the sky clouds and refused to be turned on after that at all. I shall have a look for the spare batteries again later. Maybe if I can find them, they will save the day? Prevent me from topping myself with frustration? Only joking!

Carer Kara came, I do like her. But she looked a little tense today, hope she’s alright. Managed to get a laugh from her before she departed.

The one and only Porcelain Throne Session went okay. Yes!

Liberty-Global -Virgin Internet went done for a short while. Well, would you believe that? Amazing, it hadn’t gone down since yesterday!

Carer Sam arrived. Had a mini-natter, and she looked well.

Went to make a brew of Glengettie, and the mobile rang, which of course, I can’t hear when in the kitchen. I caught the last few rings as I got to the phone too late. The receptionist rang me back minutes later, but it was impossible to hear what she was saying as things kept breaking up.
She tried again on the landline. Not perfect, but easier to hear more of what she was saying about the appointment at the hospital.
Then ~I tried ringing Easy-Link. After several failed attempts over the next hour or so, I got through. But there was no one in; they had just closed down for the week. The lady said to ring back on Monday.

Bit of a Panic: Doreen’s fault!

I’d got it mixed up a little, and I thought for a moment that the appointment was for next Monday, so can they supply a lift with such short notice, I thought. Minutes later, it clicked into place, and I realised the Prostate was being inspected on the 27th, not the 20th. Panic-Over!

Care Jozeph, or is it Josef, arrived, and I asked him to see if he could let someone know to remind me on Monday to call Easy-Link. I’m not sure he’ll be in, though, on Monday. I’ll ask the others too.

Hello, Hello, Hello!
I went to wash my tea mug and spilt some water with citric acid in it, and some went into the drawer – I hastily grabbed some kitchen towel and pulled open the drawer…
It was at this precise moment that I remembered where I’d put the Amazon double-A batteries. The moment I saw them lying there in the drawer!
Yeehaa!

I got them into the Fuji and, with a certain disappointment, realised that there was no sunset to see tonight! But took this shot. I had some wonderful shots these last three nights as well.

Then to make sure things were working Fuji-wise, I
took this shot of the main room.
Getting on now.

I pressed on with the blogging duties.
Sad that there were not many photographs.
And I thought I’ll make it up to my
many followers and fans and put some of my
favourite sunset pictures of the week on.
I hope they both like them.
Here they are:

And the week before:

That’s yer lot.

I’ll get something to eat now…
Oh, no, I won’t.

Carer Sarah arrived to put the night pouch on to
No time for a chat; the gal was busy.

Now I’ll get some sarnies made. Vegan ham,
on oven-baked rolls with BBQ sauce.
Sounds okay to me; better just make sure
I’ve got some plasters before I start to slice
the pretend meat or burn my fingers
in the oven. Hehehe!

Vegan ham, fresh Kenyan peas, two rolls with Marmite
and cheese, dunked with the ham into some BBQ sauce (Of course). A pot of cheap strawberry jam cheesecake, and eaten along with a bag (Or two) of the delicious, irresistible Marmite crisps!

It was well gone midnight again before I got settled into the aged, grotty-looking c1966 made, charity-shop-bought, horribly beige-coloured, £300, Harold’s Haemorrhoid-testing, non-operational, acne-giving, virus-breeding, rickety, easy-to-fall-out-of recliner.

But Sweet Morpheus soon had me… Zzzing!

INCHIE TODAY: Thursday 16th February 2023

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Another day ruled by Conrad Confusion.
It’s a secret even to me; half of what occurred, happened, went wrong, took place, or I did. Confusionalitis at its finestest!
Thank heavens for the photos. The following is not in chronological order; this is because my brain isn’t. Hehe!

One light, one dark leg and foot.

First photo of the day.

I now not what is was taken for.

Afternoon shot. As you can see above…
The lowest BP ever taken!

Only one visit all day…
Rock Hard and resistant to come out!

Late afternoon Shot.

Ah, I remember that Nurse Christina came to take the Warfarin INR blood to test. Lovely to see her again after so many weeks. She kindly rang the district Nurse’s place to inform them of the shortage of ‘s. The lay said they would order some from the chemist who should deliver them to Meridian. Also, is the pains from Little Inchie continue, I must ring them. They didn’t get any worse, so didn’t need to.

acci-whoop

After cleaning the things from last night, I went into the wet room to start washing and shaving. Midway through the shaving, the water ran cold… Argh! I’d left the hot tap running in the kitchen! So, no hot water to finish shaving.
I got water in the crockpot, two saucepans, and the kettle.

Meridian cleaner Denise called and did some housework for me, bless her.

Amazing sky, around 04:00hrs.

Amazing sky, around 04:10hrs..

Then I stopped everything (Not that I was doing much other than this blog) and just took photos as the sky changed and became coloured as the sunset started. The best bit of the day for me… well, after Nurse Nichol, Cleaner Denise, and Carer Adele. I do love these nights…

After I took this shot of the car park below, the sky captured my imagination. I started my pareidolia fixation going for the next fifteen minutes taking these shots of the changing sky – and searching for any figures I could find in the multi-coloured patterns!

Well, I’m just a lad at heart still... Hehehe!

I think these are in order as I took them.

Star shop Enterprise quality these…

The lowering sun…

Beautiful layered night sky…

The sun reached weaker clouds,
and breaks through.

Bootiful!

Gorgeous!

Still gorgeous two minutes later…

Distance shot for her last minutes

In close for a final effort.

By gum, I enjoyed doing them!

Evening Carer Jozeph arrived as I’d made a brew.
He got the medications sorted for me and checked the stove as it was on; he asked if I was using it; or did I want it turned off. I told him I would make some chips after doing a bit more of this blog.

I got the above photos online, turned off the computer, and I set about getting the meal made.

There you are, then, proof that I am a man of letters! Hehe!

Arrived, waking me up and . He departed, and I finished the meal, then went and locked the front door.
I got down to have a sleep, at last!

Half an hour later, rangeth the door chime? I was unsure why she had come, but it seemed she was due? Had to go carrying the night pouch in one hand and the Four-Pronged metal Mickey stick in the other. She asked if I wanted any medications; I thanked her and declined. Explaining that the night catheter had already been done. She checked the taps and stove for me and, after a mini-waffle, followed her to the door and bade her farewell.
Locked the door again, stick and pouch in hands, I returned to the £300, second-hand shop bought nine years ago, c1966, discomfiting, alarmingly beige-coloured, crumb-containing, TV remote hiding, not working recliner, and swiftly fell into a state of sleep. I know I’d been dreaming but could not remember the slightest detail about it. Humph!

Evening, All!

INCHIE TODAY: Saturday 11th February 2023

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It is now Sunday morning at 01:35hrs. I’ve had a bad day with the concentration, mind-blanks, a tumble, and the mind has not been my own.
Worrying, which comes oh, so easily nowadays, has played a big part in my Saturday sadly-sinking morale. The arrival of the 2nd food order in two days brought on feelings of guilt and shame. Shame that I cannot seem to be logical about anything at all.
This afternoon, when I made a snack and was washing up the few pots used, Weariness-Willy walloped me. I could do nothing but get sat down and drifted into a deep sleep that even the daymares did not spoil – for while dreaming… the usual, distorted things from the early years, somehow I knew I was dreaming and was pleased that I was sleeping. Had Doreen’s Dementia played any part in this catastrophically depressing, mind-wandering Samstag?

First photo of the day. Followed later…
By three more.

Wash and nearly dressed. No trews was put on. I’m not going out anywhere, so a relief for the and me!

The accidentally ordered food arrived…

Porridge and noodles stocked up!

Special Prices on Surf.

Fridge overloaded.

Battered Sticks on offer.

Hello, I’m wee-weeing well!

Then came the mind blank, the big one.
The Carers came, but I can’t recall much or who.

I had a snack of sorts

A pot noodles, and a pot of potatoes.

Weariness-Willy Attacked.
Turned off the computer and
did as the body told me to… I

Woke many hours later and arrived
to destroy my daydreaming. This is when I think I.
waffled on a bit. But maybe not? Yes… I did!

Got back on the computer.
Went to make a brew..

Took some night shots; I’d missed the sunset

Humph!

I went back to the computer and saw signs of my
having been nibbling rather a lot in the bin…

How could I do that and not realise it?

I worked on this blog for several hours.
It was suddenly… to me, 03:20hrs!
Where did the day go?

Made some nosh.
It was horrible!

Got down in the c1966. charity shop bought, second-hand, wincingly grotty, beige coloured, not working, crumb-covered from the nocturnal nibblings, itch-making, uncomfortable, virus breeding, easy-to-fall-out-of, recliner.

The legs and ankles were looking much improved.

Put the TV on, anything with subtitles…
But it was not needed. Around 04:00hrs, I drifted off into the land of blissfulness and peace.
But, as tired out as I felt, Sweet Morpheus mocked me and woke me up with a jump and jerk several times. The Git!

TTFNski Each!

INCHIE TODAY: Thursday 9th February 2023

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I woke up (I do that sometimes, you know) a little later than I intended to, but Sweet Morpheus allowed me to fall back asleep again earlier.
I got the Night Pouch off and collected the things I’d amassed last night in readiness (blimey, I sound so organised this morning… don’t I?)  and the wee-wee bucket to empty and sanitise and hobbled painfully (The sole of the right foot) to the wet room to do the  . Which were slow and painful, especially the stop to utilise the .

acci-whoopHowever, I had an FND moment when I got around to dressing…
I actually believed that a person was standing next to me!
I didn’t recognise her; she didn’t talk but just melted away into the ether as I got over the shock and turned to look at her.
It was so real, I looked around for her. The door was closed, and at that instant, I had an out-of-body experience that lasted only a few seconds… this is impossible, of course, but in some way, I felt I was watching myself and was not myself, but someone else.
Weird!

Carer Richard arrived, but I didn’t tell him what had just happened. I felt such a fool and too embarrassed, too! And here I am now, telling the billions of tellurians and my vast amount of followers on WordPress about it! Still, my legions of followers are both decent lads. Hehehe!

Poor lad looked all in, shattered at the end of his long shift.
It’s a fact that when the chap takes off his glasses, releases long, noisy yawns, and falls asleep while I’m talking to him, he needs his bed! (Only joking!) A grand bloke & Carer.
Not that it stopped him from sorting out the medications for me.
Then he departed; after checking the taps (faucets) & stove.
I hope he’s not coming down with anything! And his
insulin level is okay. He’s such a nice lad.

I rushed to get the Thursday blog finished and posted it.
Then it was time to get ready for the visit to the Coppice Hospital.

All dressed in the outside gear. Today is the first time I’ve worn trousers for about a week or more. With problems, it’s rather painful being trousered. So, fingers crossed that today’s little trip out will not agitate the situation in the lower regions.

I got down in the lobby, with ten minutes to spare before the lift from the was due. We took the long way around this time.
Still got there in plenty of time, though. I was dropped of in the car park and made my way to the reception door. A lady came to let me in, and by the time I’d adjusted to a comfortable sitting position with , the nurse arrived and said follow me. Through the corridors, but I nearly lost her; she was fast! The sole of the foot and dangling tubes from the catheter slowed me down. The lady mentioned that I had not brought my carer with me, and why not? I explained that last time because it was my first session, hate carer helped me out by coming with me, and that’s why he was so sleepy. I couldn’t ask him again. Fair enough, she said.

No messing, sit down, and the Q&A session began. It took a similar format at first as the last session. I think I was doing as well as last time. Then the drawing, writing, telling time and mathematical tasks were done. I feel I did well on the words, naming animals, people etc. The maths buggered me, though, as is usual.

The next hour or so is just a haze.
I remember having to check the , as I thought it was getting fuller, pulling on the tube and poor Little Inchy.
The lady said; Finally, what can you remember about the first test you did when we started? I thought for a while. (Hoping something would trigger the brain), but no, I had no idea. This had obviously happened before. The lady tried to help, and an example: Was it Brian Douglas, Johnson or Smith? I had a guess. Then another tip; Was it Milton Close, Avenue or Road? I guessed. Was it number 72, 44 or 39? Aha! I got that one. It was the number of my flat! Was it Dorset, Falmouth or Dorchester? I guessed!
Obviously, the names here are made up cause I can’t remember them.

All done; no idea how I did, but felt okay, and as I walked back to the reception,  the pain from the sole of my foot was much easier.
There was a wait of about 50 minutes for the Easy-Link to collect me.
But I had not taken the crossword book and pen with me. So I sat quietly in a too-low chair… Oh, I’ve remembered I missed something that happened in the session: I told the lady I had made a list of unusual happenings and handed her the notepaper… She handed it back to me; I had taken the list I’d made for the visit to the doctor. I rifled through my pockets and found the one I wanted to give her, and gave it to her. She asked a couple of clarificationalistical questions, and it was not mentioned again.

So, there I was sat, sitting in the chair, and… Zzzz!

As I woke up with a jump, the lady from the reception was coming to me; she had seen the Easy-Link Minibus arriving. Walked out with me to have a word with the driver about something. We were soon back at the flats, quick route taken, gave the driver a choice of drinkies from the cans from within the three-wheeled walked bag, thanked him and got indoors and up to the flat.
Phoned Meridian Care; to let them know I was back home.

Started to cook some food, and the sunset caught my eye. I wasn’t throwing the eye, Haha!) Over the half an hour I was cooking, I took four photos with the Fuji camera (It’ll need six new batteries shortly; it is an old camera, but highly appreciated). It was given to me by Carer Richard when the Canon camera crapped out. Now the new Lumix has bit the dust, and Fuji continues to work but is too big to take out with me.

I thought did a fairish job.

Then one of the houses below.


Eerie one this?

Arrived, and we decided not to add the yet, as it was only 20:00hrs, and @I need to make my meal. Which is dodgy with a walking stick and carrying the tubed catheter pouch at the same time as prepping food.
I was working on this blog at the time and knew it would be hours before I got the meal. Although, I got it prepared and in one saucepan to make it easier to get served up. I’ll try to fit the bag myself later.

Hours later, it came to now. I’ll get the nosh sorted and then the flipping added on… I hope.

I’ll be back in the morning to finish this off. I hope!

I made a bigger meal than planned. Ate most of it.
Flavour Rating: 702/10.

Then, I to .
It was a painful experience. This simple task left me with , , , , and even the kicked-off, with a vengeance. And, apart from that, I had been doing so well with the lack of ailments today. Humph! I even pulled at the inserted into Little-Inchie’s tubing and started stinging and the .

I’ll try to remember not to add the night bag myself again. It’s not worth the pain and lack of sleep this caused.

GETTING TO SLEEP – Hah!
I suppose, looking back, it was rather comical, really, all the same.
After fiddling with the tubing in Little Inchie, adjusting the Protection Pads down to avoid contact, and finally finding a position that was less hurtful…
Then of all things came into action!
Which moved the tubing, bringing back the twinging pains and started the Fungal Lesion leaking again! I went all the adjusting things rigmarole again.
Having nearly found a more comfortable arrangement...
I then needed to utilise the .

I gingerly rose, Catheter Night bag in one hand, walking stick in the other, and hobbled to the wet room. Git there in time, at least. The evacuation was another of the gushing, watery, messing, pongy jobs. You know? One of them uses up half a toilet roll to clean things up afterwards?

After stemming the bleeding, cleaning and medicating, I returned to the £300, second-hand bought, c1968, nauseously beige-coloured, not-working, rusty, rickety, crumb-holder of a tatty recliner; and went through yet again, the process of finding a less painful position to settle into.

had calmed down, but unfortunately decided to have a go at me.
Early hours of the morning, I was almost at the point of drifting off at last…
There was a loud dull thud from the flat above.
I pondered and worried over this; Is the new tenant who moved in taken a fall? It was no good, I just had to go up and ring their bell, just to see if he or she was alright…
I struggled painfully out of the £300 second-hand, c1968, cringingly-beige-coloured, not-working, rickety recliner and caught my balance. Put the hearing aids in so I might hear if I got any reply when I rang their bell.  got the stick and was about to go to the hallway… fearing the worst, I just had to know if they were okay and get help if not.
Then I heard music on TV, the radio playing. So it seems whoever is up there is okay. Which was a good thing.
 Back into the second-hand, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, microorganism-microbe producing, gungy, moth-eaten, beige-coloured, non-working, bacillus encouraging, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, c1968 recliner, and once more went through the getting into a comfy position routine for Little Inchie and the .

Then moments later, I realised it was time to get up for the Iceland delivery anyway… And to think I looked forward to retiring and having a life of peace, rest, pleasure and comfort!

!!!

TTFNski!

INCHIE TODAY: Wednesday 8th February 2023

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Be interesting seeing how they change the catheter. Take my Warfarin Blood Sample, Drain the nest sticky DVT vein, and inject me with Enoxaparin. I’m looking forward to having the next stroke. Hehe!

As I bounded back into imitation life, I remembered I have no  Lumix Camera to use. I tried to last night on the meal and sunset. So, today it gets ignored.  Boy, I’m glad Carer Richard gave me his old Fuji camera. I’ll get some batteries in it. I’ll give it a go later.
I removed and . During which, I observed, felt and swore about that agony the sole (Just under the toes) of my right foot was in! Another new ailment had arrived! No name was given to it, cause I pray it is only going to be a temporary one.
The toes were pale and white, and the boot and ankle looked almost light brown.
When I wriggled the toes, only three of them moved? When I stood up, my balance was all over the place, and the pain, just from the one foot, I classed as a 3-rating. Later in the day, it did ease off – until the evening, around 19:00hrs, then it returned? I was hobbling somewhat.

Carer Richard Came to sort the medications. He told me today was the replacement day for the . I hadn’t any idea… the damned is not easing off. I’ve got the second assessment tomorrow afternoon at the .
Oh, that reminds me, I looked up the FND thought.

Functional neurological disorder – Findings

Functional neurological disorder (FND) describes a problem with how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body. It’s often helpful to think of your brain as a computer. In someone who has FND, there’s no damage to the hardware or structure of the brain. It’s the software or programme running on the computer that isn’t working properly.
The problems in FND are going on in a level of the brain that you cannot control. It includes symptoms like arm and leg weakness (Yes) and seizures (No). Other symptoms like fatigue or pain (Yes) – are not directly caused by FND but are often found alongside it. It can cause a range of symptoms, including Problems walking (Yes) – heaviness down one side (Yes) – dropping things (Yes) – feeling like a limb isn’t part of you (Yes). I’ve got all of them. If you have FND, any scans you have will show no damage to the brain to explain the weakness.

Well, I can’t read these above on here, but the spy-glass helped me to. Caused a spell of depression as well afterwards.
I’ll not learn anything about it tomorrow, it’s just another assessment, but in a week or fortnight, I have the first Brain Scan.

Doing the , I had an . I managed to fit in an . No real harm was done.

and I think it was called. The notes on the pad when I got around to doing this bit were of no help at all. A Scrawl!

I must have had for ages; cause hours of the day had been lost. I put this on the list to tell the nurse tomorrow.

I got the batteries in the Fuji camera, and it worked a treat.

I did an order for Ocado for next Wednesday. Then the Asda order that I’d forgotten all about arrived.


The kind driver took them into the kitchen and got them where he could manage to; there was not a lot of room in there.
Damned decent of him.

Anywhere was alright with me.

The guilt… the Guilt! Haha!

Aha, got some washing-up liquid this week.

And to aid my following the nurse’s repeated commands and instructions. I’d got many bottles of spring water in.

Did the evening medicationings.
I waffled on a bit, sorry mate.

Rang to confirm their lift for the afternoon tomorrow. Nice!

Got some sausages and made sarnies with sauce.
Too tired out and stressed to bother making a meal.
Wanted to get it done and eaten before the last
Carer calls to put the on and medicate me. Hehe!
The meal was okayish. Say, a 6/10.

Carer Richard arrived. Did the tasks needed. Had a mini-natter… well, moan from me. Haha! Richard checked the taps and stove, then took the waste bag with him as he departed.

Zzzz!

INCHIE TODAY: Tuesday 7th February 2023

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Today’s Ode from Inchie

Sorry about this…

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The days started painfully – I needn’t have said that, had I? Hehehe!
The darned Lumix Camera was still not letting me take any photos!
Although, in the afternoon on what must have been close to the 12th.
try-to-get-the-bloody-thing-going; When I received some
official-looking brown envelopes mail, it did.
But it wasn’t bad news!

& were with me on awakening… I’d be lost without their little morning greetings.
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The day of memory loss, disappointments, getting little done, 80 40 0 lurgy, (Particularly her!), a few confusions of attacks via and a few bursts of feeling for no particular reason whatsoever. As per usual,  made what should have been a better day worse.
The Lumix playing up ruined any idea of a decent day’s photography.
Yet apart from the odd depressions, which didn’t last long, but there were a good few of them, I seemed to press on regardless.

Carer Richard Arrived during one of my ‘up’ periods. Not that I can recall much. And why not? I’ve literally lost the notepad I’d been using for over half of the day. Likely thrown out later when I got the shock of the letters arriving. I reckon we had a natter and a laugh. I think he reminded me to ring Easy-Link to confirm the lift was arranged for Thursday’s visit to the Coppice Hospital… but that could have been yesterday.

Carers (I think) Sam called. Then Carer Charly. She took some photos of the Sunset. I tried the Lumix again, and it let me take one shot!!!
I may have worn it out last night in taking so many shots of it?
Hahaha!

The thicker envelope delivered was opened first.

Aha! An appointment for the first Brain CT scan had arrived. It’s for Friday, 24th February… I’ll just recheck; hang on… Yep, it’s for 2023.
Luckily, Carer Sam, I think it was who collected the mail on her way in, read it for me.
The print was a little small, and Cataract Katie is getting worse every day.

The picture of the CT machine,, was just like the one the QMC A&E took a scan of my bladders last month; it was just the circle bit…. or was it the month before?

I remember falling over in there, trying to get my leg up and over, so they could get to the bladder.

The map of where to go was even smaller in scale.

A long list of things that need ‘Special Attention’, included Diabetes and Neurological Conditions. Of which, I have.

I must remember to ask Richard if he can make a list of anything changed in my ways to take with me to the nurse at the Coppice Mental Hospital on Thursday.
I keep forgetting to ask him. Or have I asked him yet?
Worra-life!

I managed to get through the Easy-Link people and got the lady with the voice that suited my ear-holes. Checked and confirmed that I had booked a lift for Thursday at the Coppice and then made one for the 24th for the Brain Scan.

The other letter was telling me I had failed to attend the Doctor’s to have an INR Blood Test and had to do so urgently. I must contact the Doctor to book an appointment immediately. Well, being as they have been coming to my flat to take it for two years now, I assumed they were going to continue to! Also, as well as, besides that, No one told me anything? Does the nurse’s striking have any effect on this scenario?

Now, if I snuff it via a blood clot or stroke, heart attack, or bleeding to death… according to the unknown because it’s not been taken level of INR is too high or low – if anyone reading this can investigate for me, please.
Naturally, you may not find out cause I’ll be dead, won’t I? I’ll be busy at St Peter’s Gate logging into whichever department they send me to. I’m hoping St. Peter doesn’t want to send me back to try again? That would be horrendous… one lifetime of misery is enough for anyone. I shall refuse to go back, and if he doesn’t like it… well… I’ll sulk! Hehehe!

Better get some nosh sorted out, then.
Which I did – no photo, of course; the Fuji needs new batteries. Tsk!

Too tired, to continue.

Evening all!

INCHIE TODAY: Sunday 5th February 2023

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THAT SHOULD READ WINLESS – BUT…

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AN UP AND DOWN DAY TODAY
Depressed one minute, singing away five minutes later, looking for figures and faces in the clouds… Then for some unknown reason, I got such a sharp pain from Little Inchie, and I was not moving, just sat making my usual mistakes and errors on the computer? Unfortunately, off and on, they have been pestering me all day. They still are. Humph!

When I burnt the meal, the third time in three days, a reason or cause to feel down you’d have thought? But no, I just drained and wrapped the burnt stew in multiple thick waste bags, and I took them to the dustbin. Returned to start making another meal.

I couldn’t find my favourite smooth writing Paper-Mate Ink-Joy pen. There’s no logic about the panic I got myself into. Jesus, I’ve got no end of pens I could have used – But No! I just had to find it at all costs! Nothing else got done for well over an hour; nothing else seemed to matter! Until I found it underneath Hopewell’s c1962 falling apart splintered cabinet, right at the back against the wall.

acci-whoop

This was not going to beat me, oh, no!
I got the best of the picker-upperers. Picker-Percy.

It’s been used almost daily for a couple of years or more, but still working well. It can (and does) pick up individual tablets, even the smallest ones, the Beta-Blocker, Bisoprolol Fumarate, and I-litre bottles of water. A great friend indeed, especially when in need. But, this time, and not Percy’s fault…

I foolishly leant a little too far forward in my effort to fish the pen from the darkness beneath… By the time I’d got it, a few things had taken place…


❶ As I leant down, I squashed against the catheter tube and yanked it out a little… ❷ The swearing and cringing did not help the pain in any way, but I felt a smidge better. ❸ I got Metal-Micky (the four-pronged stick) and went to the wet room to stop the bleeding from Little Inchy. Got some new Depends on, and back to the problem at hand. ❹ Stooped and lost my balance, ‘Clunk’ as my head hit the loose door on the cabinet… ❺ Then back to the wet room and put some Savlon on the forehead, and once again, to stop the bleeding from Little Inchy. Got some new Depends on. I tried to assess any damage to and back to the problem at hand. I got the pen retrieved and should have been more than content… Hah! ❻ It was a different pen, not the Paper-Mate! That’s still hiding somewhere. Hehe!

Carer Jozeph, Carer Sam, and Carer Sarah called up to now. (20:00hrs)
A late one to fit the later.

Only been two visits up to now.

Here are the few photos taken today?

♫ FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD ♫ DELIVERED
I was soi lucky that Carer Joseph was here when they arrived. The driver left them down in the main lobby! Joseph fetched them up for me, for which he got some cold coffee and all my thanks for helping.

and the last of the fodder

I took this early after getting up to try and catch the shadows from the other flats as they stretched across the tree copse/.

Going to get my evening meal now.
Before the night bag gets attached.

Adding the tasty ersatz bacon to the tomatoes, Mediterranean 7-vegetable sauce, and sea-salted, chopped tomatoes with basil in the saucepan.
Stirred continually ( as the hot water tap was left run cold, Huh!), and got it served up on the tray.

I got settled in the £300, bought nine years ago from the second-hand shop, Harold Haemorrhoid testing, repugnantly beige-coloured, crumb containing, virus-breeding, acne-giving, rickety, itch-producing, back-pains-guaranteed, none-working, recliner. Two of the over-floured bread rolls to dunk in the juices. And the last of the cheap Strawberry jam imitation desserts. I wallowed in the feast, slowly enjoying the flavour.
The Taste-Rating for this one was 8.9/10.

after mayhap the best-flavoured nosh all week came the job of washing the things up from its creation. It took me ages to get the pots clean. Thank heavens I used a throw-away tin foil tray in the oven; that made things easier not having to scrub the oven dish.

After getting things sorted, I dipped into the Sprinkle buttons for a self-treat. Seemed a good and earned idea to me.

Sorry I did now!
I popped three of the rainbow-covered bits of chocolate into my mouth. The pain and blood from the broken tooth that one got lodged in, indicated that doing this was not a good idea. It wasn’t! Tsk!

I took these photos of the late sun setting. Bootiful!

A distance shot…
Then a close-up of the departing sun over the horizon.

Carer Richard Came in, and to the for me. He emptied the urine bucket and checked that the flow from Day Pouch to Night Pouch was working. All good.
Richard checked the taps and stove were not left on.
He pointed out that I’d taken the antibiotics at the wrong time.
At the time, I was convinced I was doing right and could not get my head around the problem, but accepted his findings without question. Somehow deep in the depths of the controlled brain, I was more confused than ever, however: In the morning, when I thought about it, it was so obvious to me that the lad was so right. How these changes in awareness come and go annoy me.
Then I get angry with myself. Not as angry as when I do stupid things, like leaning forward and bending, kneeling full well there is a risk of a visit from or at worst, an . Then get pee’d off when it happens! Grrr!

Another example of Inchies newly acquired ineptitude, incompetence, inadequacy and incapacitation are shown above.
Not one of the best selfies I’ve tried for. Hehehe!
Still, I might use it on the blog, mayhap as an ode-topper?

Safe Sleep, with Bo-Beep,
After counting the sheep,
I hope your sleep is deep…
Dream of nothing grossièreté,
Find happiness in a heartbeat!

TTFNski!