06:25hrs: As I woke, I had the feeling that I had been in deep thought, or dreaming perhaps, of my sad, pitiable life. Of my funest, catastrophic, deplorable and lamentable existence. I get like this nowadays, when thing go ape-shit or wrongly, due not to my own failings, and I have many. Like with my having no hot water for three days now, no, four! No one can help, for the Nottingham City Homes maintenance team are pushed to the limit. Nobody truly understands the problems with having no hot water has and is causing me. With my medical issues, having to use the kettle and saucepans for hot water, is causing so much hassle and danger, with the peripheral neuralgia and shakes, I am making things worse with the spillages and scolding, and have no hot water on tap to clean things up. No communications about when and if I will be paid a visit from the plumbers. This, in turn, means my already short sleeping times have been ridiculous! Trying to stay awake all day and part of the night, just in case anyone arrives, is causing, even more, sleep-deprivation and doing my health no-good at all… I waffle-well, don’t I? Haha!
As it dawned on me that the humming, droning, grating humming noise from outside was as loud as ever this morning, put me on an even lower band of contentment. It made it worse as I realised what time it was. The Ocado order is due to be delivered twixt 06:00>07:00hrs! Had it been already and I had not heard the door-chime or pathetically low-volumed intercom tune – not that it works all the time of course. It doesn’t. A genuine depression was taking hold of me here! I can’t do the handwashing, using the laundry room is not an option – imagine if the Nottingham City Homes plumbers arrived while I was out. I dare not go out of the flat! Humph! Demoralising!
Thankfully, the usual demand for a wee-wee stopped my inner-moaning. I freed my bulbous wobbly-body from the Xyrophobia-suffering Brother-in-Law Pete damaged while he was flat-sitting, when I was in the Stroke Ward, and he fitted new CCTC cameras, and searched for my valuables, which he found and took, (I still haven’t got them back yet four-months later), £300, second-hand, c1968 recliner, and utilised the GPEB (Grey-Plastic-Emergency Bucket) for a BOBSL (Blasting-Out-But-Short-Lived) mode slash.
Got the hearing aids fitted, and kettle on, and off to the Porcelain Throne. At least that went well for once, no mess and no bleeding.
I had a look outside, from the crumbling-ceilinged new roof balcony. No signs of any Ocado van out there. The hands were shaking again, yet the finger-ends were sensing contact with hard objects.
I also took this terrible effort of a picture on the left. Sad innit?
I got the computer booted up, but before I could use it, the intercom buzzer went off.
I got to the panel, but obviously, someone had let in the Ocado driver before I got to the board. I got the return carriers from junk-room 2.
The driver informed me of substitutes. The Glengettie Gold tea bags were off! The normal Glengettie ones sent. Tsk! But not to worry, although the Gold ones are the best tea available, the others are the second best. No problem, I have enough things to worry about with the will-they, won’t they, maybe, perhaps Nottingham City Homes maintenance plumbers non-arrival. The man put the bags through the door for me, and off he shot.
But, as he went, fortunately, he noticed that I had tied up my braces up on the door handle and was struggling to free myself! The aches and pains from yesterday’s After-Stroke session made it a problem getting my arms behind me to release the suspenders! ‘Arf, ‘arf! It made him smile, anyway, as he threw a look that said ‘I’m glad to get out of here!’ Hahaha! He won’t forget this visit for a long time. I imagine my kerfuffle will be related to other drivers later. The Three Stooges and Will Hay came to mind afterwards.
I got on with the updating at last. But the extra photos again, and the nerveless fingertips made it a long, frustrating and ever-correcting session. It was gone midday by the time I’d got it finished and posted off! Noise from above, which can’t be helped, I know, but the tapping and knocking unsettled me while I was struggling to get the blog done.
I went on the WordPress reader next. Then sent some piccies to Pinterest and the Facebook site.
As I started to do this blog, which needed starting from scratch…
Mostest aggravationalistical!
So, I decided to get the handwashing done – carefully! I got some saucepans filled and the kettle for hot water. It was a bit silly, I know, but I washed a long-sleeved shirt, socks, and the jammie-bottoms. How I hope to get them dried is going to be a tough assignment for me to sort out!
I did manage to spill some hot water when I got the shakes. I now have another pretty pink wound on the stomach. Grumph!
I got the heavier clothes rung-out as best I could and hung to dry and drip above the sink. The socks and cleaning cloth, I put on the stand-up airer.
I checked, and Mr Fries internet had come back on, a little slower, but at least it was working again. So I got on with this blog at last.
I did make another mug of tea, though. And took a photograph of the Nottingham City Hospital, from the unwanted, thick-framed, impossible to get to clean, light & view-blocking, new windows.
I did some more work on this blog preparation.
I then got the fragile wobbly frame-airer out, and put the jammy bottoms on it, in hopes that they might dry enough for me to wear them tonight. They will need constant moving on the machine to be successful. But, I expect not. Still, you’ve got to try ain’t yer?
I decided to ring Night Club pole-dancer and Warden, Generalfeldmarschalless Deana. To try and find out some details of the failed-to-turn up Nottingham City Homes plumber. There was no answer first try, I’ll have a go a bit later. Five minutes later, Deana returned my call. She thought it had all been done. She’d ring them and then call me back.
I got on with the diary work. Half-an-hour or so later, I got a ring back from Deana. It seems there has been a cock-up of some sort. They prioritise the calls. They will come sometime today, up to 22:00hrs. I mentioned the lady who had the same problem and found out that hers had been sorted out yesterday! (I can get depressed, and sulk, you know!) Hehe! Wanna bet they come tonight, not this afternoon. Otherwise, how could Nottingham City Homes make my sleep-deprivation worse, or piss-me off effectively?
Ah, well, the wee-weeing has seen a sharp reduction today.
The pulled jackfruit, smoky BBQ, Chilli with corn and beans (What a mouthful!), meal is still on the cards, with all the planned extras to go in it. Black bean sauce, baked beans, sliced tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and basil! I think that is what I put in the last one I had, and found it delicious! But it will probably be late in the evening before the Nottingham City plumber arrives to sort the hot water supply out fro me. At least I now know they will be coming sometime today, anyway. (He says with a modicum of circumspection and mistrust) Hahaha! Of course, when I can get to wash and shave safely and actually eat anything, is in the lap of the Gods… well, the Nottingham City Home plumber, anyway!
I kept stopping to move the jammies into another position on the airer, but the pants don’t seem to be getting any drier at all!
It is already oast my head-down time. And with a day of being active for 20 hours, followed by one of 21 hours, then today’s lesser one of only 13 hours up till now, sleep will be very welcome when and if it comes. I’m not feeling too good now, and yet I cannot take any rest until the chap has been and gone, to do the hot water jobbie… I’m tired and irritable again. But, I dare not nod-off!
So, I went on CorelDraw to make some graphics up. Not that it is easy to concentrate. Tireder and wearying. I gave up on the computerisationalisticalisationing. Hahaha!
I put the TV on, and watched whatever crap had subtitles on, including a Hells Kitchen, and a Police show.
So, once again the promise from Nottingham City Homes of a plumber calling to mend the hot water problem, has failed to mature. Now I am five hours beyond my usual kip-down time! Yet they came out to a flat with the same problem, eho reported it a day later than I did, and they have hot water now? It’s not what you do, it’s who you are? Sadly, I am not one of the in-crowd, obviously!
I got some handwash-drying moved around. During which the silly-flimsy bar airer, colla[sed on me. A burn on the arm, much pain, frustration and anguish in getting it made-up again, and low self-esteem towered over me. And then did some black-bagging. The increase in fatigue made things very awkward. No washing myself tonight, I’m just too incapacitated mentally and physically to cope with the kettle and saucepans of hot water needed. Disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, dolefulness, and downright-downheartedness, at the delay, doom me to depression! (Damnably clever that, do you like it?)
They (Nottingham City Homes maintenance Team) will not call after 22:00hrs as I understand it, so I can get the meal made and gobbled up now. They must be up-to-the-neck in it, and that is why things are not going as planned? Which doesn’t help in preventing me from injury, pain and depression, when others get the job done for them. Gnash! Gobblediegumps and Sob!
The Soul-Food chilli with extras added as I had planned, was another great experience. Smug-Mode-Engaged! As you can see on the right here, the big bowl was needed, and nearly filled with the feast of vegetarian chilli, black bean sauce, tomatoes etc., and thoroughly enjoyed. Flavour-Rating: 9/10. We’ll see later what it causes the innards to do. Hehe!
I got the kettle and saucepan on the stove and took some photographs of the ever-changing skyline. It took the problems of my being dismissed as unimportant off of my mind for a while.
22:00hrs
22:10hrs
22:20hrs
Then it all came back when I was doing the dishes and saucepan washing. The hand and shoulder did an impression of St Vitus dancing, and I got a tiny burn on the back of the hand, minuscule it was, but it hurt like hell! Another scar, to remind me of the unfortunate incident with the hot water, and how I coped with being put-down and ignored and put at the back of the queue.
I got down in the rickety recliner, blurry-eyed, pissed-off, drained, frustrated and temporarily beyond consolation. Because, how can I be sure that Nottingham City Homes, who have failed on every commitment they have made, was unable to keep me informed, and effectively kept me imprisoned indoors for three days; while they failed to arrive… will come tomorrow? Indeed, if on the half-chance they do ever call, will they be able to solve the issue? Will I top myself with anguish, disgruntlement, infuriation and exasperation, and frustration?
01:00hrs: I woke up with an instant mind-storming session rattling away in the fount of missing knowledge/wisdom/advice/ideas etc. brain-box; fears, worries, frustrations, bad memories, trials, and tribulations. The lack of hot water, and how I will manage to cope with bringing hot water from the kitchen to the wet room to do the ablutions was the main worry. Closely followed by, ‘Will the plumber arrive this afternoon, tonight, or the Wednesday morning, afternoon, or night… or later?’ ‘Will he call at all?’ The third in line in the fretting stakes were; ‘Should I not go to the After-Stroke session after all, and stay in, just in case they do arrive this morning’… which started the whole circle of predicaments, quandaries, catch-22s, hassles, and hindrances all over again! It was a good while before things settled, and the almost panicking situation resolved itself when a wee-wee was needed, quickly followed by the Porcelain Throne requirement needing attention.
I heaved my ever-augmenting, accrescent, wobbly-porkodile body out of the Xyrophobia-suffering Brother-in-law Pete knackered while he was flat-sitting, when I was in the Stroke Ward, and he fitted new CCTC cameras, and searched for my valuables, which he found and took, (I still haven’t got them back yet four-months later), £300, second-hand, near-dilapidated, gungy-beige coloured, c1968, sometimes working, but not often nowadays, recliner, and took a PWWDIB (Pathetic-Weak, Why-Did-I-Bother) mode wee-wee in the GPEB (Grey-Plastic-Emergency Bucket). Then to the wet room, and enjoyed a not too messy evacuation session.
Then I tended, to avoid doing it later, and it needed tackling, to the ablutions. Regrettably, the hardest and messiest I have ever taken in my time here in the flats! Talk about painful! I dare not use the shower to fill the sink, as suggested by Warden Deana, because of the noise it makes when the water goes down the drain, and when it works. Certainly not at this time in a morning! I went to the kitchen and got the saucepans filled and on the rings, put the kettle on, and returned to the wet room to do the teeth-cleaning. All okay up to hear, this is where it got uncomfortable!
– I fetched a pan of hot water from the stove ring, and as I reentered the wet room, the right leg launched into one of its imitation Neuropathic Schuhplattler dance routines. Resulting in a stubbed toe, dropping the saucepan, burning my foot and clouting my head on the sink when I tried to retrieve the pan from the floor! Then I had to go to get some more hot water again!
– I was not interested much about washing when I got back. The shaving was done in a half-hearted fashion, and with more than a little… what’re the best words to describe how I was feeling? Erm? Pissed-offedness, I’d had enough of things going wrong! That might represent my emotional state at the time bestest! I was irritable, annoyed, self-critical, shirty, snarky, and now sore-headed! The brain-blast started again as I was drying myself and applying the medications to specific areas in need of it! ‘Will the plumber arrive this afternoon or not?’ Will I catch the 40 bus on time?’ How can I get caught up on blogging?’ ‘Why did fate make me not look at the note about Pete passing away?’ ‘How come the RAI (Rheumatoid Arthur Itis) in both knees kicking off again, just before the After-Stroke session?’ ‘Will I find the exact £2.30 in cash for the bus fare as needed?’ There was much more waffling and nervous thoughts being bandied-about from the brain, but I lost interest in them after I’d knocked over the bloody sock-glide! Now, I was worried in case the noise had disturbed someone! When drying the rear-end, a sore spot was felt. I got the camera to investigate – fancy that, it was a boil! I shan’t show the photo. Gawed, I was on a downer!
A smidge of self-pity showed itself for a moment. ‘Not my fault, all this shirty, snarky, and now sore-headed! The muddle, disarray, fracas, hullabaloo and chaos, was not caused by me doing anything wrong, surely? No one list… and then I pulled myself together, silently offered some insults and put-downs for my abhorrent thoughts and pathetic mawkish, maudlin approach to the difficulties. I didn’t clean the wet room after the ablutions, cause that would mean more carrying of hot water (Too risky!) ‘Will the plumber arrive… ‘Oh, shut up Inchcock!’
I took the medications and made a brew of tea. On to the computer to update as much as I could. As I got typing, that famously annoying whing, humming sound from outside (I think anyway), was the loudest it had ever been? I wanted to know what was causing it, others can hear it as well. It was extra-teeth-grittingly-pesterous this morning!
I felt a little better when I had got the updating finished and sent off. About four hours it took me to do, a lot of photographs to get on. Very few wee-wees needed during this time, and several mugs of tea were made and let go cold. Haha! I posted the blog, then some stuff to Pinterest. Then I caught up with the TFZer Facebooking. But there was no time to start this post off, as I had to prepare myself, get things sorted out, to catch the 40 bus to town. I found the right cash for the bus fair.. no, Bus Fare! Tsk! It’s the thought of Xyrophobia-suffering Brother-in-Law using my money to go to the fair that caused that mistake I think!
I have no idea why, but I was definitely feeling perkier now, as I galloped around checking I had everything needed. I set off but returned to make sure that I had not left anything on that I shouldn’t have and had turned off what needed being turned-off. Sad innit?
I went through the link-passage, into Winwood Court, and out through the foyer entrance doors. The morning was dark, dank and a little wet, with a fair wind blowing, and not a warm one. Glad I put the jumper on now.
As I hastened to the bus stop on Winchester Street, I found that I was singing to myself, I even remember the song. ‘Walking Back to Happiness’ by Helen Shapiro, her first song as a 14-year-old, and a number one hit! I remembered a lot of the lyrics, too? I can’t understand how she didn’t answer my letter her all those years ago. I fancied her something rotten!
Waiting at the bus stop, the incredible cloud formation was coming up in the distance, it almost looked like a Sunami! Bit of an eerie picture this one, methinks. Especially as the hands and fingers were doing a little dancing when I took this photograph.
The 40 bus got even fuller with passengers than the one last week did! But at least I was prepared for it this week. I got the three-wheeler right tight up to my legs, and the ankle-snappers getting on and off, did far less damage to my feet and legs this time. At one stage, the driver had to herd them to the back of the bus, to allow more folks on the bus. Hilarious it was – watching about fifteen schoolkids all moving to the rear, and all bar one were on their mobiles! Hehe!
I stayed on the bus to the terminus on Queen Street, to avoid too much walking in the drizzle. I Hobbled down into the Slab Square, and took this photo of the Council House, with again, an amazing sky in the background.
I limped slowly to go around the square, and along towards Wheeler Gate.
One of the infamously ignorant Nottinghamian Pavement cyclists passed by, and I turned to snap him as a school lad was sidestepping to avoid the idiot hitting him! Grumph!
I took a shot over the Slab Square, towards Wheeler Gate, where my destination of the Poundland shop was based. Mainly, I took the chance to catch yet another great and fantastic skyline again! How the sky was so bright and everything else in the dark, captivated my attention!
I snapped the picture below, to show the different styles of building in the City Centre. The decaying, the new, the old, the being repaired, and some of the many thousands of student apartments. Not one of my best photos, but I did zoom in a lot to take it, and the fingers were a bit wobbly at the time.
I had a steady nosey around Poundland. I bought a lot of stuff this morning. Tunnock’s for the nibble bag. Some pens, twenty for a quid! Bread rolls. Two large bags of Twiglets (A sad story to follow later about these!) Fabric softener. Mini-sausages. Nuts. And, a 2020 diary for a quid! I paid at the self-service tills and made my way to the front of the shop, to redistribute the things between the trolly bag and the carrier. (The sad part is I took out the two Twiglet bags while sorting, and left then on the shelf, leaving without them! What a draycup!)
As I left the shop, I came across this piece of Nottinghamian Street Art near the taxi rank. Whatever the contents were, they didn’t go down very well with the purchaser, did they? Perhaps, over-alcoholic intake might have played a part? Haha!
I had another walk around the Slab Square.
And again I was nearly clobbered, my an arrogant, uncaring, dangerous, self-centred, and egotistic young male Nottinghamian Pavement Cyclist. Argh!
One more recordable almost exciting sky v land contrasting view was taken.
I have to say that some of the locals actually had smiles on their faces! Not many, mind!
The place was abuzz with student and schoolchildren.
A smartly dressed young lady Pavement Cyclist passed by, and she nearly came off of the kerb onto the tramlines at one stage, but she was alright.
More Nottingham Street at was spotted. McDonald’s nosh this time. I had a little memory prompting thought pattern at this stage. I recalled the original Wimpey Bar we had, on Maid Marion Way. Or more precisely, a girl who worked there. Why now, after all of my capabilities have left me, died, gone away, am I thinking of things I can no longer do? Hehehe!
Walking up Market Street on my way to the Church Hall for the meeting, I spotted some new Notti0nghamian Street art. Vandals, winos, druggies or drunks, had smashed a window in a shop some poor devil was getting ready to open. Grumph!
Along Goldsmith Street, the college and student stronghold, I spotted more Nottingham Street art!
I arrived a little early and remembered the look of derision I got when I was early at last weeks After-Stroke Physio session.
So I had a little walkabout, as the day finally grew a tad lighter, and the sunshine, cold as it was, broke through. I walked down the hill, then back up and to the other side of the road, back towards the church. As I crossed again over Goldsmith Street, yet another Nottingham Pavement Cyclist was spotted! A student, I assume.
I approached the doorway to the church. There were five patients in there, and a different nurse, the same droll, matter-of-fact, book-checking lady was in charge. And we six were all that arrived today! I handed some nibbles over. We seem to be dwindling in numbers? The session went wellish and passed quickly enough, but, the Arthur Itis ridden knees gave me a fair amount of hassle and pain.
They tell me that when the silly-to-me relaxation tape was played, I fell asleep and snored rather loudly! Red-Face-Adopted!
The nurse took my BP. It was 160 sys, Dia 100. She said the pulse and temp’ was very high but did not reveal what they were. Ah, well, with all the hassle, I wasn’t surprised.
When it came to where we would usually do the social bowling game, a rather good looking handsome well dressed and muscular bloke arrived, to give us a talk on what to eat and why, etcetera. I didn’t like him, young, had his own hair, didn’t wear hearing aids or glasses… Huh! The lesson lasted about an hour, I took to him later. Haha! It turned out amusing and exciting at times, humour was used cleverly as he told us off.
With aching limbs, I said my farewells and departed. And blow-me-dow with a feather duster the same lorry as last week was unloading on Goldsmith Street, so I had to go over the road and take a different route. Not that it mattered, I’d missed the L9 bus home anyway.
A Deliveroo pavement Cyclist lurked about, but he was far enough away from me!
So, I caught the 40 bus. The three-way traffic lights at the roadworks needed a bit of care in getting over and through, but all was okay. The hobble back to the flats was a bit uncomfortable, but the mind was racing again now… Has the plumber been? Will he come this afternoon or tonight? Maybe in the morning? No one is keeping me informed of the situation.
I called in the Wardens Holding-cell room, to ask if they knew anything about the plumber. But Hauptbereitschaftsleiteress Warden and Ice-skating Champion Deana was not in, she was out and about. Obersturmführer and Catwalk Model Warden Julie, only knew that someone else had the same problem, but could advise me of nothing about the plumbing situation. I handed out the nibbles, thanked her.
Then I was off on the way home via the link-passage to Woodthorpe Court. I put the buys away. This was when I realised I had no Twiglets in the bags! I actually remembered taking them out in the shop when I changed the bags. What a plonker!
I had a job to get the intercom camera to work. It was showing fault when I tried to view it several times. I tried setting without any luck. So I thought I’d take a picture of the ‘Fault’ sign on the panel. Got the camera, and it was working! Ah, well! Tsk!
I took another snap of the view from the kitchen window. Which was a pleasant one!
I made a start updating this blog, with so many photographs again, and the finger-ends not recognising touch still, I spent many hours, frustrated and annoyed with things.
Put the kettle on, and readied the stuff for the meal later. Unsure of when I can make it, though. Still no word about whether the plumbers will be calling or not today or tonight. Christ! It is night already! Hours passed my head-down time already! But I must not fall asleep, just in case something really fantasmagorical happens – like a plumber arriving! Sarcasm-Mode-Adopted there, did you notice? Haha!
I went out on the crumbling balcony, to do battle with the window openers, and take this picture on the left, at an angle of the end of Chestnut Drive, and to check to see if I could see any Nottingham City Homes vans about. None!
Back to updating again. Getting dark a bit now. I’m tired-out and so annoyed at not being kept in the picture about the repairs. Whenever they come, it would have nice to have been informed. And of course, I still have no hot water, so face the same farce and struggle to do the ablutions in the morning! I’m really fed-up now!
I pressed on with the blogging, ever-struggling more to keep awake. It must be 46 hours since I reported the problem, and I’ve only had 6 hours of sleep in that time. Gone through the Stroke Physio session, done a fair bit of walking, too.
Bad-Luck has infested my life. Good-Luck shies away from me. I’m getting to the stage of not being able to cope with any more bad news, failings etcetera.
I can’t concentrate anymore. I’ll get the fodder sorted out, and try to stay awake long enough to eat it.
BBQ rice, with dashes of light soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, sliced tomatoes and half a little jar of black bean sauce. And, of course, they told not to eat after I’d bought the mini-sausages. These are going to be hard to resist in the future. Tired out and depressed as I was feeling, this nosh went down a treat! Taste-rating of 9.25/10 granted. An umami delicious, lip-smacking, cornucopial feast!
So much so, that I somehow dropped the limoncello, and later when I rose to clean the pots, I stod on it…
While I was boiling the water to clean the plate etc. (What a bind!) the mind started to work again… Would the plumber arrive this late? How can I get the handwashing done? I dare not go out until they have been! I’m shattered! Is it worth the fight anymore? And so on!
I managed to stay awake until ten o’clock. Which in itself, should make me eligible for an award of some sort. Hehehe!
While thinking it was time now that I can get some sleep – I fell asleep! And did so for eight-hours straight! Plainly, much-needed, but I woke up after the start-time for the Ocado delivery. Which set me off, panicking, fretting, worrying again: Will the Nottingham City Homes plumber arrive in the morning? Or will he not? I’ll have to stay indoors, just in case! Will someone actually contact me? Will someone advise me of their ETA? The last two thoughts were right idiotic ones!
00:30hrs: I woke, again in need of a wee-wee. Disentangled my blubbery body from the Xyrophobia-suffering Brother-in-Law Pete damaged, £300, second-hand, near-dilapidated, gungy-beige coloured, c1968, sometimes working recliner £300, c1968, second-hand, rickety, rinky-dinked, rattling, rusty recliner. Made use of the GPEB (Grey-Plastic-Emergency Bucket) for a PWWDIB (Pathetic-Weak, Why-Did-I-Bother) mode wee-wee.
I took the bucket into the kitchen to clean and sanitise it, only to find that there was no hot water coming from the tap (faucet). The water heater had gone down again! Grumph! So did it using boiled water from the kettle. Not comfortable with the Peripheral Neuralgia making the finger-tips loose sense of touch, and of course, I burnt myself without knowing it once more, until I saw it, then the brain got the message from the nerves, and the pain began! I must get someone to ring for me and inform Nottingham City Homes.
No hot water, no handwashing. Shame, handwashing every morning is part of the accepted physiotherapy and was doing me alright, I think, healthwise. How I’m going to shower and shave, I don’t know. Defcon Three Adopted! Fretting a bit!
I got the updating of the Sunday post finished and posted off. Then I made a start on some graphics needed on CorelDraw, in between the odd RWPS (Reluctant-Weak-Painful-Spraying) wee-wee.
As I stripped for the ablutions, I noticed that I had grown some more wounds, (which seems to alter per diem!) on the chest/belly this time) near the heart op scar. To join with the new spider veins, itches, cuts, lumps, blood papsules, blotches, scars, bruises, stubbed toes, spots, abrasions, boils, abscesses, Clopidogrel-outbreaks, eruptions and Rheumatoid Arthur Itis’s misshaped knees.
The water in the shower was not warm enough to use in the sink, but the hot water from the handbasin sink, was a little more lukewarm, so I had a stand-up wash. Only two dropsies, the toothbrush and a razor. I had to fetch hot water to shave with from the kettle, but luckily I didn’t have any Dizzy Dennis moments, shakes or involuntary Hitler salutes or unwanted Neuropathic Schuhplattler dancing.
I took some black bags to the chute on the way out. I met Olive in the lift, she was on her way to use the new laundry room in Winwood Court. We nattered as we walked along, and I offered my farewells as she went into the washroom. Lovely to see her.
I met Pole-dancer and Warden Obergruppenfùhreress Deana in the Winwood lobby area. I mentioned the lack of hot water. She said she would phone them later, and let me know. I mentioned Josie’s heater not coming warm. She said they will sometimes take 2-3 days to heat up. Also in the lobby, was Roy. In the big room was Malcolm and Welsh William. As we chatted, Angela came through on her way to the bus stop. We all joined her on the hobble (well, Malcolm and Roy are not old enough by far to hobble, so they sped ahead!) to the bus stop. Anklesnappers they are. Hehehe!
I had a change of mind and returned to the flat, so I could tell Josie about the heaters and catch the next bus instead. On the way back to the apartment, the rain was a little more substantial and then stopped altogether.
I pushed the green auto-release button on the fire-door exit out to the seated area and had to shove the door open, to take this picture.
It was a good job I did go back because when I rang Josie’s door chimes, I just caught her getting ready to go out. I explained what I was told by Night Club Dancer and Scharfhreress Warden Deana, about the heaters that can take three days to warm up! It seemed to take a little weight off of her shoulders, and she looked a bit more cheered up. I felt good at being able to assist someone else.
I update this a blog a bit. Sister Jane rang me.
Pete had sent me some photographs from his visit to Goose Fair. For me to put on this blog, along with threats of my being knocked about, my being decapitated, and having Little Inchy chopped off; if I failed to publish them. These threats didn’t scare me! I just happened to think they were decent enough to show… Ahem!
Hang on; “Goose Fair? Spending my money that he nicked and didn’t return, no doubt! – Humph! Grumph and Clapperstoitall!” Hehe!
He gave me an idea what to I might do with one of the photos when I get the time. A good one too! I’ll get it done!
I put away the computer, as I had left it a little late gossiping with Jane, and didn’t want to miss this bus. I got all ready and shot off… well, limped at a decent wobble, to catch the bus.
A damned good chinwag was had with the others at the bus stop. Paul (I think it was) fell asleep on the bus en route. It did me no end of good, seeing someone else nodding off on the bus, instead of me doing it! Hahaha!
The original plan was to call at Tesco to get some more seaweed nibbles. Across the road and halfway to the store, and realised I had come on the late bus! So I turned around and out onto Upper Parliament Street. I watched as the Nottinghamian’s crossed over the pelican lights with the Red-man sign lit! On the green man, I nipped over and down Clumber Street.
The citizenry did not look to be in a good mood this morning. Some hangdog expressions, scowling, dirty-looks and threatening-stares in my direction.
Most people don’t like to be photographed in Nottingham. I suppose, considering the number of illegal immigrants, drug dealers, knife-carrying gang members, shoplifters, muggers, beggars, burglars, car thieves, child-support defaulters etc. we have locally, and the 12% increase in violent crime, it’s perfectly understandable. Hehe!
I got to the end of the road and onto High Street, and walked through the Exchange Arcade. It is a sad walk nowadays. So many closed retailers, so few customers about. On the right, is the new Exchange Barbers. One of the highest-rated according to the Nottingham Post. Even they only had one customer in the shop. And they are reasonably quoted prices: Gents cuts from £14, Students from £12, Boys under 16 from £10. OAP’s from £7, Beard trimming £5. Additional Services: Skin fade £2 (?), Skin fade with foils £3.50 (?), Beards £3.50 and Cut-throat razor £2 (Is that for a shave?). They cater to the younger bloke, I think.
A unit on the other side of the arcade is a unit currently being offered for rent at… £6250 per calendar month! God, how many haircuts and shaves will be needed just to cover the rent? Not to mention rates, taxes, staff wages, insurance etc. Even if they picked the pockets of each customer! Hehe! I wished them all the best!
I left the arcade, and walked down to South Parade, and took this shot on the left, down Exchange Walk. Still no smiles to been seen.
Slab Square, with the Council House behind me.
Top of Long Row, Pavement Cyclist animal shoots by me.
Top of Long Row behind me, Slab Square.
Top of Long Row, a sad looking Debenhams building.
Towards Queen Street corner, another dangerous, bonkers, antisocial, speeding and weaving through people, Pavement Cyclist tearing about!
He was, I think, a Deliveroo food bloke.
One more ignorant Nottinghammian Pavement Cyclist passed me by as I neared the Council House again, on my way around. I could have taken so may more cyclist shots, but there were too many to keep up with!
I spotted a rare, few and far between, seldom located in real life, infrequently sighted, unfamiliar, thin on the ground, unexpected, eye-opening and momentously-surprising site! A Police Officer on foot, in Nottingham! It didn’t bother him that the do-do of a Pavement Cyclist nearly ran into him. For he was walking with gusto, to someone who had collapsed on Long Row.
An ambulance arrived, and moments later, I think a defibrillator or ventilator was being used on the gentleman. He had already been wrapped in a foil blanket, and within minutes they were loading the sick patient into the ambulance. I hope he or she will be okay. This put me on a downer, and I made my way up Queen Street, to the bus stop. It was getting nippy out there, and the bus was a little late arriving.
But the driver, possibly a relative of Stirling Moss, soon caught up with the time-table.
For a while, I was the only passenger on the bus. Later on, Cyndy and Margaret got on the bus. And I made the faux pas of the highest order, with asking Margaret how Pete was. He passed away, two-weeks ago. I was dumbfounded that I had not been informed. I was feeling so bad now, and I am not sure if I even said I was sorry to hear it. Shaken up! I must have said something because Margaret said a note had been posted on the board. I was somewhat withdrawn after that. I do not do funerals as a rule but would have gone to Petes. He was such a grand chap. CIDP I think got him in the end. I hope the new warden feels guilty, after not checking up on his health correctly a few weeks ago.
I was morose, as I made my way to the warden’s office to see what was what with the no-hot-water situation. Deana had not rung earlier, too busy, but rang straight away. After an inordinately long time getting through, she spoke with someone. Result: They may get here tonight, so I have to stay awake until late to listen for the door chime if it goes off. However, if not, they may come tomorrow afternoon or night. This is going to be a strain on me. I’ve been up since 12:30hrs, as I write this it is 17:20hrs, it is already two hours beyond my usual had-down time. And, I have to stay up until 22:00hrs in case the plumber arrives tonight. In the morning, I’ve to get ready and catch the 0725hrs bus to the After Stroke Physio torture… I mean, exercise class. Until around 13:00hrs, and stay awake and fit enough to do the drilling. This is not going to turn out well! My EQ tells me!
I thanked Deana and got myself back to Woodthorpe Court. A mess in the lift foyer area.
The water from the hot tap was not completely cold. Washing and shaving in the morning might be messy, having to use the saucepan and kettles to get washing and shaving water. If the shower water is hot, I can perhaps use that to get reasonably warm water?
I was all twisted thinking-wise and confused now. Pete and the water farce, oh, dear.
I tried to concentrate on updating this post.
I spent five hours doing it and was fighting what I thought was a losing battle, n trying to stay awake. The door had been left open, in case I do not off and if anyone comes. I couldn’t get a wash, dare not make a meal. Was terrified of falling asleep! Dare not put the TV on, without it had subtitles, and I could watch it without the headphones on and still stand a chance of hearing the door chime.. if it goes off! Will it? Won’t it?
The rain was stopping outside again.
As if I wasn’t already struggling to get enough sleep. I even began to feel sorry for myself. Hehehe! I don’t get many lucky breaks, do I? I’m not blessed with good fortune! It’s not easy being a lifelong accident-prone, cursed, hapless, luckless and anathematised idiot!
I can make a baguette, a German Ham baguette with tomatoes, a Dagwood style with a soft drink – but will I nod-off eating it?
I really have no self-assurance, self-confidence, nerve, or self-assurance arising from an appreciation of my own abilities or qualities. Then again, that’s not surprising, as I have no skills or qualities. Or have I? No, I give up! I’ll get the sourdough in the oven, make a nosh, sit down and find some rubbish on the TV to watch that has subtitles on it, and just do my best not to fall asleep! The complete opposite to what I’ve been doing every night for weeks that is trying to get to sleep and failing… Shurrup Inchcock! Yer going bonkers here! You do know this? (Yes!) Okay!
Made the nosh, and ate it, fighting off the desire and need for a kip!
It was tasty, all the same. Flavour: 7.2/10.
I purposely used an old oven tray, to avoid any washing up. (Cunning that!)
I couldn’t do any handwashing, so the clothes pile up!
The breathing was getting a little difficult now. I succumbed to the land of nod, somewhere around 21:00hrs. After my being up and about for 21 hours!
A frustrating day of mental mayhem and wretchedness-ridden day.
I don’t handle pressure, worries, failure, criticism, and being spoken down to very well nowadays.
May all my troubles, and strifes, go forth and multiply!
00:30hrs: Woke, wrestled my humungous body from the Brother-in-Law Pete damaged while he was flat-sitting, when I was in the Stroke Ward, and he fitted new CCTC cameras, and searched for my valuables, which he found and took, (I still haven’t got them back yet four-months… no, five months now, later), £300, second-hand, near-dilapidated, gungy-beige coloured, c1968, sometimes working, uncomfortable, rickety, rinky-dinked, rattling, rusty, resurrected, reconditioned, recalcitrant, recidivating and rotting-away recliner. I utilised the GPEB (Grey-Plastic-Emergency Bucket), for a BOBS (Blasting-Out-But-Short) wee-wee.
As I made my way to the kitchen, the ailments seemed to be being kind to me. Even the Arthur Itis knees were not as bad as they have been of late. The shakes, Hitler Saluting and the right-leg-involuntary Neuropathic Schuhplattler dancing, were all calm! The finger-ends lack of sensation was a bother, though. Making the brew, I came close to dropping the mug, then the milk, then the spoon… well, you get the idea. Hehe! Oh, and the hissing, droning sounds were joined by a few knocks and taps this morning.
I thought about Josie and hoped she’d got her new heaters working. Then, another BOBS (Blasting-Out-But-Short) wee-wee was passed. Took the medications, and to the computer. I was so far behind with things, I had to do some graphics to start this post going.
A cracking head-ache came from nowhere as I typed and retyped the mistakes, many caused by the insensitive to touch finger-ends, other by my natural uneducated ignorance. The stomach rumbled and grumbled, brewing up for the Porcelain Throne activities, I expect.
I went on the WordPress Reader, then off to the Throne, as a matter of urgency… And a decent, clean, not too messy evacuation flowed! One of the most comfortable for a long time! Most copacetic!
I had a wash and changed the PP’s. The pins (legs) knees were a lot less warped, maybe this shows why Colin Cramps was not as bad as he had been, overnight? I did note the almost light blue whatever it is above the right knee. No pain from it, even when I pressed it. I’d like to learn how and or why, and what these short-lived blotches are a sign of. I think that Consultant Stroke Physician Dr Senthhil K Raghunathan may have found the cause in his latest examination report. He mentioned Clopidogrel, causing a rash all over the legs! I must look that up later. All I need to do is remember to do it! Tsk!
I did an Ocado order, after seeing they had the Glengettie Gold teabags back in stock; unless they are conning me! If they send substitutes on Wednesday, I’ll send them back!
Then I moved on to updating the Saturday post. A bit of a fracas, alarums and excursions as the right leg offered up one of its performances of a more energetic mode of the involuntary Neuropathic Schuhplattler dances. It caught me out a little, and I had a job not to fall off of the chair! But, it only lasted about 20 seconds, then it died down, and the shoulder gave a Hitler salute (I wrapped my knuckles on the computer screen), and it all went quiet.
The humming, droning noise is loud again! Hello, off to the Throne again… Well, that was another twenty-second evacuation, but not messy at all!
Got the updating done, and sent off to WordPress. Put a few piccies on Pinterest. Went on the WordPress Reader. Then caught up with the TFZers Facebooking.
I got Josie’s potato and some mushrooms in the saucepan. Then made a brew and ate a mini BBQ pork pie with some Twiglets and an apple for a late breakfast.
Got Josie’s ingredients ready, and got the ablutions tended to. Fingers crossed with the sock-glide-battle! Here goes… No Accifauxpas apart from some dropsies, as is usual.
To the kitchen and prepped Josie’s meal. Mashed the spud with cheese, butter, vinegar, salt and a drop of soy sauce. Sugar-snap peas, beetroot, mushrooms, tomatoes, an apple and gherkins. Limoncello dessert on the tray. Mixed the tuna with some mayonnaise, and added the potatoes. Served it up, and delivered it on the server to Josie’s apartment for consumption. I got back to the flat and washed the pots used.
I sat down to watch something on TV and nodded off! Woke with a jolt, hastily got the scarily ever-growing again body from the recliner, and made use of the bucket, for a wee-wee, of the ELPSOAO (Extra-Long-Powerful-Spraying-Out-All-Over) style.
The thirst was still with me, and I took this photograph as I got the kettle on the boil.
One heck of a visit from Dizzy Dennis as I was getting the cuppa made. Short in duration, but it left me unsteady for a while, as I clung to the countertop, sure I was going to go over and make contact with the floor. By the time I felt steady enough to carry on, the tea had gone cold, and I’d lost interest in drinking it anyway. Tsk!
I decided to have rice again for today’s nosh and checked the cupboard for available flavourings. In went: mushrooms, soy sauce, BBQ sauce, basil, BBQ oil, tomatoes and oregano in the saucepan, and warmed it up to boiling. Then added the rice, and franks, continuing to stir the mixture non-stop as it cooked. I felt sure as the wonderful aroma of all the spices and herbs drifted up my nostrils, that I must have overdone the seasoning. Oy Vey!
My allotriophagy with the seasonings, proved for once to be spot on, and to my odd tastebud’s delight, and got a Flavour-rating of 9.4/10 from me!
I ate this spread with deglutition and degust, savouring every mouthful! The excellent, possibly unsurpassable taste of this ambrosial concoction, prompted me to write down the ingredients added, for another taste-feast in the future! Smug-Mode-Engaged!
When it came to doing the washing up, I found that the hot water was cold! The longest time I’ve gone in this flat without the hot water heater tripping, leaking, flooding or breaking down was the six weeks I’d had in hospital after the stroke! I must not forget to inform a warden if I can find one. Else, ask Jenny to help me yet again, toring them for me to advise them and ask for help. But, I do not like having to keep bothering the kind-hearted gal.
If I can get a message out, it might mean my having to stay in for the plumber to arrive tomorrow, but, Hey-ho!
I nodded off within minutes of resettling in the £300 second-hand, c1968, rickety recliner. I woke an hour or so later in need of a wee-wee again. A change in style this one, it was an LRWS (Long-Reluctant-Weak-Sprinkly) type.
I took this fantastic picture of the sky, as I went to check if the hot water had come back on. Of course, it was a hopeless wild-goose chase, lost cause, and waste of time.
I got back down in the rusty, scarily-beige-coloured, grotty recliner. I thought I’d look at what was on the TV.
I know no more… until I woke up with a jump, in need of a wee-wee again, three-hours later!
02:30hrs: I awoke, feeling thanks and appreciation that Colin Cramps had been a lot kinder and gentle with me last night. I still don’t know if the magnesium tablets helped, but I’ll continue to take them, just in case, and try not to miss one again. Boy, it was terrific getting six hours kip in, and no wake ups for wee-wees. Also, there were no signs of nocturnal nibbling having taken place! Smug-Mode-Adopted!
I extracted the lumbering flabby body from the Xyrophobia-suffering Brother-in-Law Pete damaged while he was flat-sitting, when I was in the Stroke Ward, and he fitted new CCTC cameras, and searched for my valuables, which he found and took, (I still haven’t got them back yet four-months later), £300, second-hand, near-dilapidated, gungy-beige coloured, c1968, sometimes working, uncomfortable, rickety, rinky-dinked, rattling, rusty, resurrected, reconditioned, recalcitrant, recidivating and rotting-away recliner. Had another USBUWSS (Ultra-Slow-But-Uncontrollable-Weak-Sprinkly) wee-wee.
I took the GPEB (Grey-Plastic-Emergency-Bucket) to the wet room for emptying and cleaning. Half-way through, the sudden urgent need to use the Porcelain Throne got me in a bit of a poorly-timed and messy pickle. I grabbed the stick to turn and deposit my more than adequately proportioned body on the Throne… Dropped the walkingstick, then the bucket onto the floor… Then I stubbed my toe on the sock-glide, and somehow I got to the WC seat on time! It was all over in seconds, and needed a good cleaning up after! The Porcelain and I were cleaned-up. Next, the walking stick, sock-glide, and GPEB had to be retrieved. And, just as I bent down to pick up the cane, the peripheral neuralgia ridden right leg, launched into one of its imitations of a Neuropathic Schuhplattler dance routine! I dropped the walking stick, which the curved handle bit landed straight dead on the stubbed toe, and I wanted to cry! Hahaha!
I cleaned up the floor, gently threw the sock-glide into the corner, as I cursed silently to myself, and took the bucket with me to the kitchen, for disinfecting! The semi-ersatz waking feeling of thanks and appreciation, faded fast! I got the handwashing moved onto the airer and hung. (WW!)
Took the medications, including the extra magnesium, Codeine 30g, and Loperamide anti-diarrhorea capsule. Made a brew (yes, the unaccountable thirst was still with me!) and got on the computer to update yesterday’s diary. There was not a lot to add, having sorted the photos last night, but fates-fickle-finger forced the fidgetting finger-ends to play up, and I lost a lot of time correcting and using silent curses!
Within about half-an-hour of being sat down, the annoying howling buzzing noise all over became louder. Then, as I stood up for a break fro making the cock-ups, and to go and make another cuppa, the RAI Rheumatoid Arthur Itis knees enjoyed giving me a lot of agonies, pain, and annoyance! They kept in this mode all day! Grumph, Oy Yey, and Grobbleackersticks! I had to use the bucket yet again, this time for an LRWS (Long-Reluctant-Weak-Sprinkly) wee-wee.
I made the brew, and sod-me, I had to return hastily to the Porcelain Throne! This evacuation was over even quicker than the first one was! However, it was not messy, at least. I took a couple of snaps of the morning view. But the hands and fingers were still a little shaky.
Back to the computerisationing. The finger-ends were no better, though. But, I pressed on and got the diary finished, at last, at long last. Phew!
I got the post sent off and went on the WordPress Reader, not a lot on there yet, weekend and all that, I suppose. Sent photos to Pinterest. Then I went on the TFZer YouTube site to catch-up.
Then the big job next. Getting the graphics made up for the page tops, etc., not an easy task, but what the heck!
Three hours, six-wee-wees late, I’d got a couple done.
Josie rang the door chimes, she could not get her heaters to come on. I checked what her meter sowed, and mine did the same. The selector on the panel on each heater, was not allowing me to make any changes? I could not find my stand-alone heater to let her borrow. Where that’s gone, I don’t know! Unless Pete took it when he stole my valuables. Hehe! I could not help her, and felt a right fool!
The weariness dawned suddenly. So, I got the nosh sorted out. An easy to prepare one tonight. BBQ seasoned rice and ready-to-eat-frankfurters added to the pan, a few tomatoes, with two little wholemeal cobs and a fresh orange drink. I did burn the rice a tad, but this was good, I like it this way. Tastier, palatable, and more scrumptious! Taste: 9/10!
I was so tired, I did not wash the pots, but I did put them in the bowl to soak overnight.
The sky tonight had not got its red or blue glow at all. Shame, I was enjoying looking at this view/scene each evening.
I went on Google to check out the weather forecast for Sunday. Ah, rain! A pity that, cause I was hoping to get out a bit and take some photos in Woodthorpe Grange Park. But with the threat of precipitationalisationing, I’d better not go out.
Mind you, tomorrow I might go through the link-passage to Winwood Court, and up in the lift to the roof level? I’ll see how I feel later, but how I am at the moment, who knows.
I did watch odd-minutes of TV, bits of a film, and many bits and pieces of Hells Kitchen, before getting off to sleep, thankfully!
01:10hrs: I needed a wee-wee on waking up, after a night of not-a-lot of kipping. Mainly down to the Colin Cramps agony, and the repeated needs of the GPEB (Grey-Plastic-Emergency Bucket) throughout the flaming night! The Cramps were the worsed I have ever experienced. Fingers, feet, knees and legs, hands, etc. were all affected, and nastily! I missed taking the Magnesium tablet last night, that might have been the reason for Colin Cramps visitations? As for the wee-weeing, that continued for hours, repeatedly. Everyone was of the BOBSL (Blasting-Out-But-Short-Lived) mode. I’ve probably got an infection again. Back to the diary proper after that little moan. Sorry.
As I attempted to move the limbs, the Cramps returned with a viciousness. I’m sure that it bent the leg at one stage! I applied some more of the ineffective Fenbid-Forty pain gel. I think I must have used ¾ of the last tube overnight.
I got myself out of the Xyrophobia-suffering, zillionaire Brother-in-Law Pete damaged, £300, second-hand, near-dilapidated, gungy-beige coloured, c1968, sometimes working, £300, c1968, second-hand, rickety, rinky-dinked, rattling, rusty recliner. I grabbed the stick and went off to the kitchen to take the medications with extra pain-killers and take the belated Magnesium tablet. I had to, yet again, visiting the GPEB en route for the umpteenth BOBSL wee-wee!
I got the kettle on and moved the handwashing from last night to the airer. Made the tea and took the medications, and had to answer the summoning from the innards for the Porcelain Throne. The evacuation was plentiful, but once more, of a typical Diarrhorea Donald style, messy!
(I shall not mention the wee-wees again for a bit, but they seemed to be coming around everyfifteen minutes, and all of the same GPEB mode.) Which is worrying, as they come on rather urgently! I had hoped to get out today for a stiff hobble. If things don’t change, this will be too risky. I’ll just put a (WW) in the text.
I made a start on updating yesterdays blog. Despite all the water leakages, I still had a hell of a thirst on me, and kept making brews all the time?
On one such trip to the kitchen, I had a Whoopsie and serendipitous luck at the same time. I’ll explain: I was taking the freshly washed and dried mug from the sink to the counter near the kettle – the leg burst into one of its imitations of a Neuropathic Schuhplattler dance, and I dropped the cup, which then (bear in mind it is a delicate China mug), hit the server tray shelf, and I ditched the walking stick in a forlorn effort to catch the receptacle, but was far too slow – and it bounced off of the tray, and landed straight in the waste bin, without touching the sides, which was full of screwed up kitchen towels from my drying off the draining board earlier. UNDAMAGED!
So, on the bright side, it was empty when I lost it, and somehow it didn’t get broken or even chipped as it bounced off the plastic tray and landed, almost gently, in the bin! Fair enough, I did stub the same poor-old toe again against the metal leg of the server, but with the nerve-ends playing up at that instant, I hardly felt a thing! (WW)
That cheered me up a bit, and with all the people I met yesterday still in mind, Jenny, Joyce, the nurse, the window cleaner and partner, I perked up. I thought well if I can’t go out because of the risk of any leaks, it doesn’t matter, I’ll get caught up on the graphicalisationing.
Then as I returned to the diary work, the innards suddenly brast into a rumbling, grumbling with sharp stabbing pains! I should have known something like this would happen, it usually does. My good-luck standard is cataclysmal, ill-omened, or anathematised, but I’ve got used to it now. Haha! I anticipate another visit to the Porcelain Throne will be needed shortly. (WW)
I went on the WordPress Reader for a perusal. Some great stuff on it!
Back to the updating of the Thursday blog. Got it all finished off, then went on TFZer Facebooking.
Made a start of this post. Got myself in a mess, when the finger-ends began to lose their sense of touch. (Exasperated sigh released!)
(WW) I made yet another mug of tea and had some biscuits with it.
Ablutions needed, if I am to go out? The shaving produced just one tiny cut. The dropsies were rampant today: The soap (2). The flannel (2). The razor (3). The socks (4) The mouth-wash bottle. The toothpaste, the toothbrush, the drain-unblocker, the shower-head, the sock-glide and the kitchen towel roll! I had to get a move on, that may have been the reason for the multitudinous dropping of things? Too late to sort and take the black bags, as I did not want to miss the bus up to Mapperley Top.
Got things ready, and out and down the lift and walked through the link passages to Winthorpe Court.
In the expansive social room, I managed a natter with a couple of residents for a minute. Then moved outside to the bus stop. What a gang of Winwood Heights tenants were there too! I enjoyed listening to their insults, put-downs, moans, laughs and general gossiping. Hehe!
The Nottingham bound bus came in behind the Bestwood L9. Most of the gang got on the first bus, I mounted the Nottingham bus, with a few of our clan. Malcolm and I got off about three bus stops or so later, at the Sherwood Rise – Woodborough Road junction.
I made my way to the Aldi store. It was busy, but nobody ran into me with there trolleys, or shoved and barged me out of the way, or trod on my foot like they did last week! Tsk!
I dropped some things as I went round, as the fingertips went all nerve-unresponsive on me – luckily no glass jars or bottles, though. I got to the checkout and bought: Homestyle frozen chips. Citrus scented room spray. Some mini-BBQ flavoured pork pies. Vine tomatoes. Brunswick German smoked ham (two packs). “2×2 Sourdough baguettes, and two tins of garden peas. It was enough to force me to faffle-about at the checkout, getting the stuff in the bags. The young lady on the checkout was patient enough with me, the bloke in the queue behind me was not so understanding. Humph!
I paid, and moved away, to sort out the bags, heavy stuff in the wheeler, others in the carrier bag. When I got outside, the rain had stopped altogether.
I took a careful, steady hobble along Woodborough Road. Walking in a dream world and feeling so placid and calm, it concerned me. No worries, fretting or fears. I even stopped at the Haunted Museum, to take photos of its frontage. They had fitted some real-flame-looking old lanterns outside. The opening hours prevent me from visiting, cause I’d like to have done, but the 11:00hrs start is a little late for me. I’d probably fall asleep while going around the museum! Haha!
I later found this 1929 photo of the Grand Opening event for the original building, The Majestic Cinema!
I turned down the Mapperley Rise hill. Always a risk with this trolley, especially on the uneven pavements. Not only is it so steep, but today, there were many obstacles to overcome to get down to the flats. Oy Vey!
First, this dog coming up with a lady, did not take to me at all - she dragged it across the road out of the way?
I snapped one of the many holes. Sad to see the tree roots were destroyed.
Bit of a struggle to get through in places.
Looks like a lot more digging in the pipeline?
You can see how serrated, uneven, and prerupt the hill’s pavement is. I had a couple of occasions when I thought I might lose control of the three-wheeler. But with skill, efficiency, and pot-luck, I kept it perpendicularish. Smug-Mode-Adopted!
As I got onto level ground, I began to sing to myself, the mind went into Inductive-Reasoning mode for a while, as I pondered, but not for long, on the Brexit situation. Then, the mind reverted to its usual sort of blankness and state of voidness.
As I neared the people-less Winwood Heights flats, I decided to go up on Winwood Court’s roof to take some pictures.
The gloriously wonderful Winwood Court rooftop restroom
View of Woodthorpe Court
Water retemtion on the roof, still there!
View towards Nottingham.
View towards Woodthorpe Grange Park.
The press-button to open door, now has only one side opening.
4 / 6
I enjoyed the little photographic meander, out on the roof.
Back down in the lift, and hobbled on with the trolley and shopping along the persons-free link-passageway to Woodthorpe Court.
The fire-installation lads were using the elevators to transport equipment up and down. Buy no bother to me, I was in no rush.
I go back into the flat, and still didn’t need a wee-wee?
Well, that’s a change!
I got the nosh bought put away.
Then got the black bags sorted out, and along with the box of recyclables, I departed the flat. Took three bags and deposited them down the waste chute, then down in the lift with the box. Frank got in the elevator on the way down, and we had a little nattering session. Steve, the caretaker, was in the lobby on the ground floor and took the box from me to save me going outside with it. Jolly-Good chap!
I returned up to the flat, and the wee-weeing started again! After the first one, they flowed regularly! Although not so frequent as they did earlier in the morning, I’m glad to say. This and all the following leakage maneuvres were of the BOBSL (Blasting-Out-But-Short-Lived) mode again.
I started to update this post. Inbetween wee-wees and making several mugs of tea. Why am so thirsty?
Got the nosh cooking and did the handwashing while the chips were in the oven.
Then prepared the Dagwood sandwich based, nosh. Which got a flavour-rating of 6.5/10. I could not eat it all, a lot went into the bin, but I enjoyed what I did eat. I wasn’t too struck on the mini BBQ flavoured pork pies, but they are okayish.
Washed the pots. Took the evening medications, and got down in the £300, second-hand, tatty, rickety, revoltingly-beige-coloured, recliner. Sleep, as usual lately, was resistant to come, but on the other hand, I stayed awake longer and watched some TV without the nodding-offs for a change.
Up for another (Wee-Wee), and back down… Ah, sleep!
01:30hrs: I almost literally sprang awake. I was out of the Brother-in-Law Pete damaged while he was flat-sitting, when I was in the Stroke Ward, and he fitted new CCTC cameras, and searched for my valuables, which he found and took, (I still haven’t got them back yet four-months later), £300, second-hand, near-dilapidated, gungy-beige coloured, c1968, sometimes working, uncomfortable, rickety, rinky-dinked, rattling, rusty, resurrected, reconditioned, recalcitrant, recidivating and rotting-away recliner, and having a CMOUSTSTBOWV (Catching-Me-Out-Unwilling-Slow-To-Start-Then-Blasting-Out-With-Venom) in the GPEB (Grey-Plastic-Emergency Bucket).
Like an automaton, I limped into the kitchen and moved the handwashing on the airer.
I took the medications, and made a brew, dropping the milk carton as I used it. No hassle? I simply got it cleaned up, even Arthur Itis wasn’t too bothered about the bending of the knees? Worrying, that was!
I took the reworked mug of tea with me to the computer, and noticed that the Shake Fire Alarm was Activating! Thus, I had a check around, and there were no sounds or signs of a fire alarm anywhere else? Mmm? I had turned up the heater in the kitchen to help dry the handwashing quicker, from 22°c to 24°c last night? Haha!
The belated mind-blast of worries, fears, self-disgust, and nervous thoughts began as I sat down at the computer. Nurse Etienne is arriving today to do my blood sampling. Must try again to see Josie with her strawberries and cream cake treats. Phone Sister Jane and Pete. Get the… thankfully, the stream of problems, tasks, etc. was interrupted here – by another need of the GPEB. It was of a BOBSL (Blasting-Out-But-Short-Lived) mode this time.
I got on CorelDraw and made the ‘Day’ graphic above. Virus Appreciation Day? Never heard of that one before. There were plenty of dedicated days to pick from that were on for today, including Techies Day, Boyfriend Day, and Bring Your Bible to School Day. Then added the Brexit Fun header, and Thought.
I then got on with the mammoth job of updating yesterday’s blog. Somewhat rebarbatively interspersed with five trips to the GPEB (Grey-Plastic-Emergency Bucket), for wee-wees, all of the SSP (Short-Sharp-Painful) variety! Oofta! It was a big job, due to the peripheral neuralgia affected fingertips failing to inform the brain when they contacted anything hard. Oops, I meant to writeperipheral neuropathy affected fingers. Out of interest, I just looked up peripheral neuralgia on Google. I could only find neuralgia without the Peripheral bit.
In general, neuralgia causes intense and distinct symptoms, including:
Sudden episodes of extreme shooting or stabbing pain that follows the path of a damaged or irritated nerve.
Persistent aching or burning pain.
Tingling or numbness.
Muscle weakness.
Loss of muscle mass, or atrophy.
Involuntary muscle twitching or cramping.
The area may be excruciatingly sensitive to touch, and any pressure is felt as pain.
The pain can be sharp or burning, depending on the affected nerve.
The affected area is still partly-functional.
The muscles may spasm.
Falls possible.
So, whichever I use, the symptoms are similar and match many of mine, even if I used both!
Then on the WordPress Reader. Finally, I got around to starting this blog off properly, with written details. I went to make another mug of the lip-smackingly tasty Glengettie Gold tea, and took these pictures, from the unwanted, dirty, uncleanable, thick-framed, light & view-blocking new windows. I put the selector on the Canon to ‘P’ and took the shot, then changed to Auto photographed roughly the same area. What a difference!
I’m told that the ‘P’ is for preselected settings for Auto. So the factory settings must be for a little broader and somehow more detailed? Me changing parameters with the tiny buttons and nerveless fingers is too dodgy for me to try. And the booklet is printed so small, even with the reading glasses on is impossible to understand. Of course, my lack of knowledge and skills in anything remotely technical is well known. Harupmf!
I got as far as here and went on to start creating some more graphics and Thoughts, as I had run out of the ones I had made-up. So, on to CorelDraw. I did an hour, but unfortunately, Mr Fries company he gets all that money for running was very slow.
So, I got the ablutions sorted out. I put some drain unblocker down the sin hole, as I was getting ready to start, to allow it to hopefully free any blockages.
The shaving went well enough, as did the teggie cleaning. The shower was trouble-free, and only one dropsie, the soap.
The legs looked a lot betterer this morning. Apart from the knees. The spots, lumps, blotches, blemishes, blood papsules, and spider-veins all seemed a lot less vivid. The stubbed toe even seemed to be less painful.
Then it came to using the sock-glide; I’m not sure how or why they used the word ‘glide’ as being appropriate? Haha! Sock-Destroyer might be apter!
Oh, by the way, the shaving produced nil, nolla, zéro, null, nulo, no cuts! Head Swaggers from side-to-side, and a nonchalant semi-smile spreads over the face! Haha!
I got dressed, although I’m not going out, it’s going to be a catch-up day on the graphics for me. I am hoping to catch Josie in with her nibbles, and the phlebotomy nurse is calling in a bit to take my blood sample. I put a large potato in the new saucepan, it’s not the biggest, but it is the deepest I own. I must treat myself to a deeper one.
All presentable-ish looking, I got the nibbles and called at Josie’s door. All of three paces from mine. I was lucky enough to catch her in, she was just getting ready to go out with her Sister. Josie and I had a chinwag for a few moments. They are going to the East Bridgford Garden Centre, the same one that Sister Jane and Pete go to. Usually for them to have a coffee and stock-up with the individual sugar sachets and milk cartons from the cafe’s tables. So, you can see that I haven’t a cat in hell’s chance of getting my valuables back that Pete nicked while flat-sitting (well it saves him on heating) when I was in the Stroke Ward Hehehe!
Back on the computer to update this and get back to the graphicalisationing work.
I could hear the drilling close by, the fire-sprinkler fitters. And there seemed a very faint noise at the same time, like a bubbling sound. I foolishly ignored it and carried on computing for a while. But when a break in the drilling noise came, I could still hear it.
I investigate in the kitchen, where now, without the noise of the drilling, I could hear it was coming from. Oh, heck! I’d left the saucepan on too high a setting, and it was boiling over!
I managed to burn a finger as I banally wiped up the water with a kitchen towel. And then cut it in the same place as I cleaned the edge of the saucepan! (What a putz! Oy gevalt!). I cleaned up the mess and waited until the ring had cooled and left it on a low setting.
The drilling started off again. I wonder when it will be my turn to suffer the worker’s visit?
10:50hrs: Back to CorelDrawing, I won’t get much done, the nurse is due anytime now.
11:00hrs: Jenny called me, she’d had a word with the window cleaner chap, and he is on is way up to see me! Yahoo!
11:20hrs: The blood nurse arrived. Heart-Rate-Increases! She kindly sorted me out while offering some chit-chat at the same time, and departed. Heart-Rate-Decreases!
Back to CorelDrawing.
12:20hrs: The window cleaner arrived with his better half. (Thanks to Jenny!) Nice friendly couple. Got on with sorting out and cleaning the windows for me, in no time! They even had a chinwag with me while doing it. He also tried to tighten the new trolley handlebars for me, and the chap opened the pickle jar for me! Great service!
Back to CorelDrawing.
13:09hrs: Mail delivered. From Nottingham City Homes. Confirming repairs to the crumbling balcony roof, for 13:00 to 18:00hrs on Friday 11th October. Which is a little late in the day for me.
13:20 hrs. Jenny booked it for me. I went down to Jenny and Franks flat, to ask if she could schedule it earlier for me, please. I do feel a pest to keep bothering Jenny.
13:45hrs: Jenny kindly said she would arrange it for me and post the letter back to me.
Made a start on cooking the meal.
13:55hrs. I found a note from Jenny, saying she had booked it for Wednesday 16th October. 09:30 > 14:39hrs. I finished booking I was doing. I sent an Email thanking Jen.
14:20: I was feeling all-in now. I had to stop doing the graphics and computer word. Suddenly drained of energy.
I got the handwashing done and changed into my nightwear.
Took the medications and got the meal sorted out. A worthy 8/10 flavour-rating for this mix of boiled sliced spuds, garden peas, sugar snap peas, cooked beef slices, tomatoes and mushrooms. Some Bulls-Eye BBQ sauce, and a Cox orange pippin! The Limoncello dessert, I dropped when the finger-ends lost contact again.
Sadly it fell into the waste bin and split open!
I got my head down, and it soon became apparent that sleep would not come readily again. From nowhere, Colin Cramps kicked off! Toes, ankles, legs, fingers, wrist, arm; you name it, it suffered! Gnash! In little breaks of CC’s attacks, I would nod-off, but only for a minute or two, and be woken again with the most vicious attack of cramps I’ve ever had! This repeated itself, over and over for hours!
To make things more harrying, the demand for wee-wees meant I had to keep getting up to utilise the GPEB (Grey-Plastic-Emergency Bucket) so many times. Each one of the BOBSL (Blasting-Out-But-Short-Lived) mode.
At some time or other, I remember not when I must have taken this shakey photograph. After seeing it on the SD card, memories flooded back. I was having the worst of the spells, and the toes and foot were in agony! But why I took it I don’t know.
Sleep never came proper, to I always seemed to up and using the bucket! Thinking about it, maybe the confusion over the tablets had caused me to take a Furesomide in error. With the medications being in the blister-packs now, there are three that look almost the same. The beta-blocker, the 30g Codeine and the Furesomide water tablet. The latter sometimes not being wanted, I have to remove it and might have taken way the wrong one. They all look so much alike in colour, shape and size. I hope I didn’t miss the beta-blocker!
I gave up trying to sleep and rose at 01:00hrs… for another wee-wee of course! And stayed up. Oy gevalt!
02:30hrs: Boy did the wee-wee need’s wake me up this morning!
Followed by the call to the Porcelain Throne! Resulting in my confirmation of Trotsky Terence’s return! So, from agonistic blockage mode, to almost liquid, overnight! Uncomfortable and lots of cleaning up needed! Tsk!
The morning Mind-Blast started as I moved the handwashing to the airer.
Took the medications, and made the mug of Glengettie tea. Then needed another wee-wee. I could feel the need for the Porcelain Throne brewing up in the innards as well, so off to the wet room. The evacuation was soft and messy. So I decided to get the ablutions done while I was in there.
The battle with the sock-glide was more than uncomfortable. But I was battling to put on the long bamboo socks! At least this hosiery hid the scars, papsules, clopidogrel and lumps & bumps! Pretty sexy too? Hahaha! I’d wear them every day, but the conflict with the sock glide and the mess and time to wash them does not encourage me much. Oh, and not one single dropsy!
I got on the computer, to download the photographs, and found on the SD card, many of the photos on it has taken two and six shots, not one? I was amazed and had no idea what I had done wrong? Here is a snip of the SD card!
By the time I’d got them on CorelDraw, I had a headache sorting them! So, not knowing how I got in this pickle means I do not know how to get out of it! Grumph! Hopefully it might reset itself on today’s outing? I felt nervous about it.
The Morrison order arrived. Pleasant delivery man. I got the bags into the kitchen, ready for sorting out. I’d ordered some bits prepared for Christmas pressies. Yes, I’m hoping to last long enough for the festive season. Next year I might not be so confident. Hehe!
I got the fridge stuff away first.
I’d got some cream cakes for Mary and Josie, and Strawberries for Josie. I’ll drop them off this afternoon for her. Too early for her to be up and about when I go out at 09:00hrs, or thereabouts.
I’d got some Special Offer Alpen bars for the nibble bag.
I got back to the computerisationing. But time beat me, and I had to give up and get things and myself ready for the bus. I took the black bags to the waste chute on the way out and made my way through the corridor to the Winwood Court, and the Oberstgruppenfhreress Wardens Holding Cell Office. But no one was about, so I carried on to Winchester Court and out to the bus stop. Where lots of residents were situated waiting for the bus. Doris, Mary, Chrissie, Cyndy, Betty, Malclom, to name a few. We were joined by many others, and it was like a Monday morning, with the gang accumulating and nattering away. I loved just listening to them, and the laughter that surrounded me.
The Bestwood bound bus arrived and all the clan, bar Mary and me, got off in Sherwood. I handed Mary her cream cake and nibbles. We were soon in Arnold and dropped off at the Asda store on Front Street.
Mary soon lost me in Arnold, we were even talking at the time. Haha! I had a shopping wander around and came out with; Bacon flavoured fries, wholemeal sliced cobs, BBQ sauce, and a pack of cooked mini-steak slices. When I got outside, to search for Mary, was when I realised I had not got my £2 second-hand Charity Shop bought rusty watch on! This was going to be fun, working out the timing for catching a bus home! I assumed that Mary would be at the bus stop on Front Street to get the L9, so tried to keep looking to see if she had arrived. At the bus stop as I walked to the Saver Store, the time was displayed. I and about twenty-eight minutes before the bus was due. I pressed on to the Saver shop and got two bottles of their cheap drain-unblocker and a fresh-air spray. I had the time to wander over to the Fulton Foods Store, in search of some more of the Roast beef slices, that I bought there and enjoyed so much, last week. I came out with a pot of salt. A Texas Chilli sauce that was on sale in Asda for £1.29, for… 29p! Some Balsamic vinegar crisps at two for £1. A pack of Beef Trimmings. And most surprisingly, they had some Cox’s Pippin apples!
Paid and outside, and I could see Mary sat in the bus shelter, so knew I’d not missed the bus, at least. I joined her, and we had a natter, I handed one of the bags of balsamic flavour crisps when she said she liked them. I shouldn’t have bought them anyway, with the nibbles I already had at home. No more shopping for me this week!
The trip home on the bus was most uncomfortable, but that didn’t stop me from nearly nodding off a few times. Tsk!
Back at the flats, I got off last as is usual for me, and had a quick few words of greetings with some of the clan getting onto the bus.
I asked Mary to pose for me in front of the new Winwood Court, while O took a snap. It came out, as you can see, with a blue-hue to it. So I thought I’d take another on as I chased after the gal. I think it came out alright. I like her trolley!
Now I have to find the time to get the photographs printed out at Asda if their photo-booth thingy is working. The last time I tried it, the coin input slot had chewing gum rammed in it! The time before, part-way through the process, it came up with “Power interruption Call ….” Hrmph!
We walked through the link-passage still nattering away, neither one of us hearing what the other said entirely. Hahaha! We parted as Mary got off of the lift, and I carried on up to my apartment. I called at Josie’s, but no answer.
I got in the flat and put the nosh away.
Still, the blue-hue outside, from the unwanted, thick-framed, light & view-blocking kitchen window, and the view looked so beautiful.
I took this picture on the right, and the moment I’d snapped it, I felt the warm, wet sensation from the lower regions. Oh dear, Little Inchies fungal lesion had started to leak again. Off to the wet room and cleaned things up. Washed me up, and called on Josie again. No answer.
I got the potato out of the slow cooker and mashed it all up with some Leicester cheese, butter and a little salt.
Got it in the oven to brown off, prepared the plate, and then I got the handwashing done, and moved the things on the airer around to aid in the drying process. I got settled to eat the nosh, and it was grand, most of it tasted lovely. Sugar snap peas, sliced boiled eggs, tomatoes, Cox’s apple, beetroot, and the beef offcuts. The beef was the only thing that was not very good at all. It tasted like plastic. So, only a 6.5/10 for taste.
I called on Josie again to give her the strawberries and cream cake. No reply, though. Bet she’s gone for a drink and meal with her Sister, perhaps.
I stripped off and got the dressing gown on, and put the TV on. I’d hoped it would help me fall asleep if I watched some banal programme, but yet again sleep was obstinate and refused to come.
After a while, I got up and rang both of Josie’s doorbells. Still no answer. Back in the flat and head down again.
The Thought-Storms began, which is very rare for this time of day, they regularly get to me in a morning usually. They did not help me settle to sleep. Fears, qualms, anxieties, worries, even a panic attack slipped in! The shaking started, and I got up gingerly, to get some more spring water, noticing signs of nibbling all around me! How the hell I can’t recall eating all this junk food and following a meal too, is beyond me!
I sat down again and put the TV back on. That did it this time! Zzzz!
02:05hrs: I stirred into ersatz existence, with fears, worries, and concerns filling the brain. I really didn’t feel up to taking part in the After Stroke physio session, nor did I look forward to the early morning trip to get there. This despite a decent five-hours kip! My E.Q. knew something as going to go wrong!
Almost in a morbid mood, I extracted the blubbering body from the £300 recliner, got my balance and the stick, and set off for the emergency grey plastic wee-wee bucket I’d left in the kitchen. Giving myself a very pretty looking middle-toe-stubbing that came up all red/brown in an instant! I may have silently released a few naughty words. This is not going to help me enjoy the exercise class at all! Grumph!
I moved the drying handwashing on to the airers, as I want to wear the shirt today. Then took the medications and made a brew. Straight onto the updating of yesterday’s post. A lot to get done, with doing nothing but mope and nod-off when I got home from shopping on Monday.
Within five minutes, the gloriously crap Virgin Media started to play me up. Getting the updating done seemed to take hours and hours – that’s because it did!
But, it got worse, as I began to try and send off some links, etc., I only got one done, and…
I gave up and turned everything off, and got the ablutions tended to. Which bought me more pain and hassle! Oy Vey! The sink took ages and two bottles of drain unblocker to free! The WC cistern had to be filled by hand after using the Porcelain Throne, and the session was messy, I think that Trotsky Terence is back again! Little Inchies Lesion was bleeding badly. Stubbed the same middle-toe again, against the damned fear-installing sock-glide! I didn’t get to upset, for the warning from the E.Q. meant my acceptance was more comfortable to show. At least the legs looked a little better… with the bamboo socks on. Hahaha!
I tried the internet, and it was working but very slowly…
Then, after about ten minutes…
I gave up. Luckily I checked the time of the buses before the net failed on me.
I gave up altogether, else I might miss the bus. Not that this would be anything different for me, I’ve missed it on the last two After-Stroke sessions, so I anticipate with how today’s luck is going, a third time.
To early to take the black bags to the chute cause of the noise.
I got dressed and depressed, I duly dourly departed. Boy, I’m fed-up already! Oh, thanks to Mr Liberty-Global, Virgin Media Mogul Fries! How does he keep his job? Ah, Mafia or Illuminati backed, I expect! Fries, will be in charge of causing the needed chaos and making the proletariat rise-up?
I’ll try for the 07:06 bus, then I can call at Tesco to get some Puff Pastry Fingers and find out what time the Bargain shop opens to get some of the gloriously-tasty Ventagliette biscuits, all planning you know. Hehehe!
I put a packet of the Ventagliette biscuits in the trolley, as a treat for my fellow stroke recoverers at the physio-torture session. Haha!
All readied, a check again on the notepad for the times of the number 40 bus, and off out, and feeling perky, in spite of the dull weather and Mr Fries best efforts to depress me!
Out into the rain, and dropped the recycling jars in the green bin.
My jars were the only non-alcoholic ones in the bin. Gawd, I’m jealous! Humph! I walked gingerly along Chestnut Way, avoiding the lake of rain and leaves. The drizzling rain was not heavy, there was little wind, and it was not cold with it at all, just wet. He-he!
Near the right turn onto Winchester Street, I noticed the had come up with a different Health & Safety plan, for the missing sewer (Well, I think it is) cover. ‘Cone-Over-it’ style.
I pressed on down the hill to the bus stop. I turned and took this photograph. It turned out a decent one, I think, caught the atmosphere if that’s the right word.
At the third attempt, after two missing it, I caught the bus, it came within five minutes.
The story of the trip was interesting, to say the least:
I got on the single-decker bus, about ten passengers, including myself. Deposited my overly-flabby body on a side-saddle seat, and collapsed the three-wheel guide trolley. By the time we had gone about five bus stops, and halfway down Wells Road, there were I counted, 24 people standing, and that’s not counting the ankle-snappers I could not see. The three-wheeler was in between my legs, and both it and I were squashed against the window behind me, Hehehe! The driver picked up some more passengers at the next two stops, and it got ridiculous! I don’t think anyone had room to sneeze! The driver had to stop picking up people, and we arrived in town. The unloading of the tellurians was painful and in a stampede fashion. Every one of the fifty or so people passing by me to get off the bus kicked, or knocked the three-wheeler, that banged against the left knee, (RheumatoidArthur Itis was not pleased with this!), and jolted the right shoulder against a holding pole! I cowered and tried my best to pull back to give them more room, but was still battered and bruised when I got off last, thanking the driver and off into the welcoming rain! Hahaha!
I did admire the schoolkid’s ability to keep using their mobile phones while the battle ensued, though. One squashed up near to where I was sat, never stopped with her texting throughout the journey, and was still on it when she trod on my already-stubbed right toes as she alighted the bus!
I made my way to the Tesco in Victoria Centre (Mall) and bought a few bits. I later found that the Seaweed Snack was so different from the ones I usually get. They were sweet and sickly tasting! Eurgh! On the plus side, the only Hi-Temp crispies they had on sale, were the ‘Hot’ ones, but I bought one to try it out. And that was superb!
A chap came to the till behind me, smelling of what I thought must be Ganja or Mariuana, and off his rocker. He had stuff in his basket, all treats no essentials, and never stopped talking, most of it gibberish, bless him. Not too hot, really even for me!
I paid and departed through the Milton Street entrance. The rain was slightly more torrential than earlier on, I found some partial cover, and took this shot of the new McDonald’s, with a few customers in, at around 08:10hrs.
The rain eased off a bit as I made my way to the Poundstretcher Store, in search of some nibbles for the After-Stroke Team and patients, and some more Ventagliette biscuits, to replace the one I was about to donate at the physio session.
As I approached the Poundstretcher door, there was the chap who I saw in Tesco, begging. And he was enjoying a roaring trade, I’ve never anyone being given so many donations in the few minutes I stood to watch, in my life. It made me think for a second… It’s better than working, no job hunting, and if this is anything to go by, a good income, tax-free, too! But, of course, I shouldn’t say things without knowing about the circumstances of the chap. Sound business mind, all three folks in this picture, gave him cash. Jealousy! Haha!
I dived in the Poundstrecher shop as the manager opened the doors. I made for the biscuit shelves and got some packets of the irresistible Ventagliette biscuits, and more. I came out with four packs of crackers, Wagon Wheels for the nibble bag, chocolate Hobnobs, and cream bikkies for the Stroke team. A jar of Baxters Red Pickle (That I cannot open, Tsk!), an oven-glove for £3.99, and paid at the checkout.
Then as I left, I had photographicalisationg session around Milton Streer:
Up Milton Street, towards Carrington
End of Milton Street, Clumber Street
Trinity Square - oh, dear!
Then made my way to the St. Andrews with Castlegate Church hall, for the Physio session,
Took a picture of the old no longer in use Guildhall Courts building.
Then, passing the Trent University main building en route. There seemed to be hundreds of more students about this morning, all seemingly late as they were rushing about almost bumping into each other as they were on their mobile phones. Hehe!
I arrived, a little early for the Physio Torture Session (Ha-ha!). Which drew looks of scorn and displeasure! Five minutes later, a second arrivée came, and was welcomed heartily? The session only had seven folks turn up when it began. Many chairs had to be removed. Hehe! But, the course went well, all bar the knee bending exercises, which were painful in the extreme, thanks to the football-crowd-like bus journey injuries I’d collected in getting there. Oy Vey! I was pleased to see Precious turn up later to join us.
All through the session, I noticed the extraordinarily large and frequent movements from the students, so did the patient physio nurse, Charlene. She’d worked out that they kept moving from one building to another, about every 40-minutes! And some of them were not on their mobiles! Mind you, it was raining. I took this photo on the left, through the window of them. We never did find out what was going on, someone mentioned a change of semester. I’ll have to look that one up, it probably means term? I’ll see if I remember to find out later.
We ended the session after they ate and did not like the nibbles (Oh dearie me!), with some games of bowls. Although each one of my efforts was abysmally way off target, I enjoyed the session and gave congratulations out for those who won or came close. Relaxing game, as long as you weren’t bothered about winning, Haha!
We parted a happy little crew. Two patients even answered my cheery farewell and hope’s to see them next week! Although fair enough, one was with a grunt! Hehe!
The end-timing was unfortunate in a way. It left me with 55 minutes to wait for the next L9 bus home. So I meandered down into town, foolishly to call at the Poundland shop, again!
As I poddled along Goldsmith Street, I could see an obstacle in the distance, that was going to prevent my safe passage to Market Street, a parked lorry delivering to a pub or club. Not that I can blame the driver, what choice does he have, but to park full-on the pavement to unload? Which, if I had carried on, would mean my having to get off of the footpath, risk a conflict with a tram! I got to the drop in the pavement and crossed over to the other side of the road. A bit dodgy getting the three-wheeler over the tram line, mind you.
I walked to Upper Parliament Street, crossed over and down Market Street. Where I took the chance to take this shot that I thought was interesting and different. It shows the street cleaners working away on the pavement, and an even more dangerous Motorbility (Not Disabled!) scooter, scooting down the hill. I’ve seen this gentleman before a few times, and his driving is a threat to humankind! Straight ahead and ‘Sod-anyone-in-the-way, style. I was glad to be on the other side of Market Street! The couple in front of him had to move a bit swiftly!
I arrived, a little damp, at the shop and had a hobble around, coming to the self-serve checkouts with far to much stuff than would fit easily into the bag or carrier. Mishegosh! Twiglets, black bags, pressies chocolate bar, antiseptic disinfectant, a BLT ready-made sarnie, and yet another bottle of drain-unblocker. It seems I am having to use a container at least every day to keep the wet room sink drain free enough! Humph!
I was in no rush, though, plenty of time to catch the bus. I had a dodder around and through the slab square. Perhaps it was the rain, but everyone I passed had a look on their faces that revealed, sullenness, grief, rejection, and disconsolateness. Even the youngsters. Ah, worrying over Brexit perhaps?
Up Queen Street and under the bus shelter to wait for the L9. Wich arrived promptly and soon loaded up with passengers en route. It was a fraught trip today. I say this, cause it was battle to stay awake! Yet again I nodded off several times but didn’t miss the Winwood Heights stop. Haha! I got off last, as usual, the others all stampeded through the drizzle and disappeared into the Winchester Court entrance. Many using it to gain access to the link-passage to Winwood Court, and then the one to Woodthorpe Court.
I hobbled, shaking off the rain, and in through the Winwood Court lobby, and down to the Woodthorpe lift lobby. Up in the elevator, and into my apartment, and emptied the bags out. The oven gloves looked a bargain.
I took the medications, had an unnerving LPSAOS (Long-Powerfull-Spraying-All-Over-Splashback) wee-wee. Then got the handwashing sorted, and hanging to dry.
Stripped off, had a wash, and started making the nosh. The door chime rang out. It was Josie, bless her, giving me some tomatoes, greens and cans of tuna. I felt a little bad being only in my PPs, but I hid behind the door. I did feel a right fool!
I really wanted to make a start on updating this blog, but the energy had drained, the joints ached from the Physio session, and tiredness overtook me.
The meal was the BLT sarnie, two home-made dagwood sarnies, greens, tomatoes, beetroot, seaweed and a bit of pork pie meat. It was not a brilliantly conceived meal. But it went down well (Flavour-Rating 7.5/10) before I fell asleep with the tray still on my lap! And stayed asleep for at leastsix hours!
01:35hrs: I woke in a haze of ambiguity, confusion. Indeed the incertitude was a deep one. Had I snuffed it and gone over? Was there really something on the other side? I soon came out of the possibly dream-driven world of half-reality, when I nearly fell out of the £300, second-hand recliner, as I gave a sneeze that may well have woken up tenants three floors above! Gaining a modicum of control over the wayward mind, I soon discerned the need for both a wee-wee and the Porcelain Throne. So, without much pain or hassle, I got my endomorphic body out of the recliner and caught my balance, got the stick, and ventured to the wet room.
Noticing, the state of the room as I waddled off. Empty spring water bottles and nocturnal nibbling indicators (crumbs, empty foody containers with lids off… etc.), things had definitely been moved overnight, in different places, the ANkle-Support Strap was on the carpet, near the balcony door? I thought this must be investigated, but the need for the WC forced me forward, and hastily onto the Throne!
The session went swiftly: “Sit-No-effort-Splosh, all done with!” But! The mess left behind and evacuated, meant it took me ten times or longer to clean up, than for the session to take place! That irony-taste was in the throat, that one gets when suffering from Diarrhorea Donald, makes me think he is about to blossom into a full-on visit! Even more surprising, was needing another wee-wee while cleaning things up, it was of the LHLB (Long-Hosepipe-Like-Blasting) mode! And I do mean long!Blimey!
Into the kitchen, and realised I had not done the handwashing last night. Naughty! Schlimazel! Double-bubble-trouble to sort out tonight then! Humph! Took the medications, and made a brew, of Extra-Strong English Breakfast tea. I was amazed at how strong this came out, it is not usually this strength, but I liked it. Then, when adding the milk, I found that I had put two teabags in the little mug! Haha!
The brain was now less macaronic, and I got the computer on. Started to make-up this blog, and got carried away, and nearly forgot to update Sunday’s! So, I made another brew took some pictures with the Nikon camera.
I’d put the Canon on recharging the battery, and started on the updating. Got it finished and went on the WordPress Reader section. Then on to theTFZer Facebooking page.
Got it updated, I love the folks on this site. Then, made a brew, and having lost all my cornflakes when I dropped the box, I made a pot of porridge for breakfast, while I watched some YouTube funnies, before getting the ablutions done. Which resulted in only three dropsies! Oh yes! Much betterer! Toothbrush, razor, and soap.
Got the black bags made up, and also had the box that the 3-wheeler arrived in, filled with recycling stuff. I dropped the bags down the chute and took the box down with me on the way out. There was me, pushing the trolley-walker and dragging the giant carton behind me. Getting into and out of the elevator was interesting (comical really), but I managed it and took it to the caretaker’s door.
I re-entered the flats and walked along the link-passage to Winwood Court.
The rain had stopped, but droplets remained on the plants in the outside sitting area. I took a photograph through the passage windows, but the droplets of rain on the plants, that somehow looked so life-giving and beautiful to me did not show up well. Shame!
Along the tunnel to the Obersturmführer and Catwalk Model Wardens detention and interrogation office. All locked up. As I pressed on, the new Winwood Court Warden (I really must find out her name!) was coming in the opposite direction. I offered the nibble-bag, and she took a couple, one for Warden & Pole-Dancer Generalleutnantess Julie. Deana, was, I assume, either on holiday, or cover-working to cover holidays at another site.
Out to the bus stop. The sun came out, and as the few, grew to many tenants awaiting the bus, chinwagging broke out, and I listened with great interest. Group cognition, heuristic and critical observational discussion flowed. When a few sarcasticalisational comments were bandied, I joined in with my comments on the crumbling balcony. Hehe! I thoroughly enjoyed my waiting time at the shelter. I arrived in town and got off at the Upper Parliament Street stop.
And hobbled along into Victoria Centre (Mall), and to the Tesco Store. I came out with some Piccalo tomatoes, baby chestnut mushrooms and the last two packets on their shelves, of my beloved crispy seaweed snacks.
I paid at the self-service checkouts, with the assistance of a young man.
Then out into the even sunnier than it was earlier, Milton Street. Not a hot sun, mind.
I ambled along in a distant frame-of-mind. An imprecision or nebulousness had taken over the grey-cells. I got to the Poundstrecher Shop, in a search for some sherbet lemon saucers, but found none. I exited with a bottle of Texas BBQ sauce, and a pack of light biscuits (They didn’t last long, they were so gorgeous! So tomorrow, when the After-Stroke Physio session is over, I’ll get some more, if I remember!)
I paid and meandered along Milton Street, taking some photographicalisation in the sunshine.
I still wasn’t feeling fully in control, a smidge of vagueness remained, and the fatigue was coming over me earlier the never today?
I walked to the Poundland shop and had a nosey around. I got to the self-serve checkouts and bought; Some more drain unblocker for the wet room sink. A Pork Farms pork pie, Dettol disinfectant, and bleach.
I crossed back of the pedestrian crossing and got to the bus stop to wait for the L9 bus, now I felt even more tired and weary? The prospect of the Physio exercises in the morning were getting less eagerly awaited! I took some pictures while I was at the bus shelter.
To the left...
To the right...
To the right again...
On the trip home, I must have had about twelve or more nod-offs! Luckily, being on the side-saddle seat, the bumpy ride and going around corners and nearly parting company with the chair, kept jolting me awake.
Off the bus, and so wearily, I walked to the Winwood entrance, and along the passage to Woodthorpe Court, and up the elevator to the flat. Totally pooped, lassitudinous and tired!
I put the unneeded foods away and got the handwashing done, before I fell asleep, for I felt I would do, as soon as I sat down.
No cooking, too tired to bother. I got a plate of saladish stuff made up. Wholemeal cod sarnies with German smoked ham and tomatoes, chopped ‘granite-like’ beetroot, a Worcestshire apple, and some crispy seaweed. Boy did I enjoy it, too! Those Ventaglietti puff pastry biscuits were delightful! I really must try to get some more of them in the morning or tomorrow afternoon. Delicate, sweet and tasty with it. But, messy to eat. They have a crumb distribution-zone rating of 90%. Hahaha! An overall taste-rating for this nosh was 9.25/10!
I took the medications, had an unexpected CMOUSTSTBOV (Catching-Me-Out-Unwilling-Slow-To-Start-Then-Blasting-Out-With-Venomously) wee-wee. Cleaned up, and got down in the rickety recliner, and put the TV on.
But sleep still did not come as such, so many little nod-offs for a few seconds, though. Too tired? Humph! Still, I did eventually nod-off, not get woken-up, and slept for around five undisturbed hours. Twas nice!
