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Another frustrating, frabjous, fracas and fault-filled Friday. Fractionally more upsetting than last Friday was without the fun with Nurse Felicity. My mind was more fragmented, and Doreen Dementia’s logicality dissented when I attempted to glean a modicum of sense from the (fewer than yesterday, I admit) cock-ups of today. However, I did formulate a cunning plan to ensure that I could get the shower. (The first one in the five weeks of the diabetic latherings of bandages on my right leg). ①. I had to finish and post yesterday’s blog by midday. I was a little behind, but the wife used to like that. Hahaha! ② After the Carer sees me, I must get on with ablutions. Even if it takes me 3 hours again, I’ve no deliveries or nurses calling. So, you can get on with the ablutions and medication and get the PPs, the nightshirt, and slippers on. However, I’d forgotten about the foot lady calling to cut my toenails. She did them quickly. I paid up, her reminding me to. Ahem! I’ve gone all out of sync again, sorry. I’ll start again…
According to the bits I can read on the notepad, I got up at 05:10 hrs. The nocturnal catheter pouch was removed and photographed. This is another 6 on the NHS scale.
Off to the wet room Throne.
Opened the kitchen window and took this Kodak shot.
Rubbish sorted.
At this point, kicked off. She was so kind last night. I’m having totally unexpected pains from the left leg ulcer now. Then, the Mystery Rib Pain joined in when I sat down at the computer.
Carer Maryham arrived. She confirmed the colour of the not-yet-emptied catheter bag so she could do this for me. It was a level six on the NHS colour card. Maryham checked the cooler and taps for me and told me I’d left the window open. Medications were distributed, and a mini-natter and laugh were shared.
After the gal went, I made a fresh brew of Thompson’s Punjana tea. I then got on the computer and hurriedly made an error after mistake, as I wanted to keep to my plan of getting a shower, shave, and sh… in.
An email arrived from Iceland, telling us they had made changes to today’s order, which has happened in the last four deliveries from them. Humph! I went even faster on the blog, determined to finish it, but the delivery arrived, which at least came early despite shortages and unwanted substitutions. Treats for the nurses and Caregivers’ table had arrived. Carer Chris called today. The caramel bars won’t last long; he loves them! Hahaha! I refilled the big and small bowls of nibbles on their table. And I scattered some bikkies and crisps around so they may be tempted to try. Thanks. Unfortunately, the smoked ham offcuts tray was blown. I cut the wrappers to make sure they were safe… Boy, the stink! I’ll not get them again!
I got the little potatoes out to boil them and nibble later. On the left is a photo of the sprouts removed from the few that were cookable. The disputed potatoes that made it to the new saucepan were put on a low light. Well, that’s what I thought at the time! I was to find out I was wrong half an hour later when Carer Joanne arrived and checked the taps and cooker. In my usual airy-fairy way, I’d not turned it down to one but up to level three on the hob. The new pan as well! I thought at first that it was hundreds of eyes/sprouts that I’d taken off all of and that they had magically returned. Carer Joanne grasped the situation and asked me if I’d added any seasoning. I had, and that was what was floating about after being overcooked. I got mad, apparently called myself names, and swore a bit self-condemnatory. Told me off, saying (repeating a self-insult I muttered to myself at the time) You are not an idiot! Bless her. Off she went, and I felt better that someone understood my mental & physical problems. I was finishing up on the blog and ready to post it at last – no nurses to call or carers are due for three hours (Sadly). I began to think about the things needed and in which order to get the ablutions and medicationings done. After over five weeks of having the diabetic swathings on, they are removed. And the joy of damned good shower was with my grasp… When did a plan of mine ever work out? This one didn’t either! As I saved the work done on XL, Work, CorelDraw and WordPress for later, I got a telephone call. It was from the salon, telling me the gal was coming up to cut my toenails. So that threw out the timing of my plan straight away! I finished saving things, and the gal arrived. It didn’t take her long, and I put the computer to sleep as soon as the gal left. I removed my alert wristbands and wristwatch and struggled to remove the catheter pouch. Yes, that cost me a lot of time and not inconsiderable pain, but I did it! As I entered the wet room, the need for the Throne arose. The evacuating produce came and came; it felt like it was in rapid waves. So, I manually cleaned the rear end before doing the teeth, then tackled the potentially high-risk job of shaving. It went like a dream! Not a single cut! I forgot to mention that I asked the young lady cutting the toenail if she could move the shower curtain for me so I could help keep the spray from splashing around too much. It’s been that long since I’ve had a shower. But I forgot to ask her to put the retaining clip in the static loop. That was a painful mistake for me to make. I got into the shower and took a bowl of water with Dettol in it to soak my feet first thing. After washing the feet, I tried to lift the bowl to empty it in the sink – cause I remembered that the extractor drain on the floor only lets so much water down that matches whatever quantity the shower issues. All very technical, Hehe! So, having filled the bowl from the sink, I knew all the water would not drain away. I have to say, I remember this was a Smug-Mode-Moment! I lost my grip on the bowl, and the water joined the evacuating water from the shower, and almost immediately, I nearly had a flood situation on my hands! I’m confused, too! My big fear was in case it flooded down to Mary’s flat below like the last time I cocked it up! I got myself into level three-agony, trying to mop up enough water before it leaked through and emptying the bucket down the WC. I’m amazed the hanging catheter bag did not come out! It worked. But cost me about another hour wasted. I went back in the shower, turned on the flow, and found water shooting from the showerhead all over the place at a rapid rate of knots!
What next? I must find out if Nottingham City Homes will mend it or if I must pay for it? Then I realised the end hook had come off of the shower curtain! This required the use of stepladders. With a left tendon that hurts if I move my left foot higher than four inches, this could be interesting and even more painful! It was! The knee would only allow me to climb up one step, from which, luckily, after reattaching the hook, I fell backwards, hitting my arm on the door edge, but miraculously kept on my feet! I made up for this bit of luck when taking the step ladders back; I trapped my finger as it snapped shut. Int Life Good! Carer Christopher arrived. He selected himself some vittles and a cold drink, and we nattered as he issued the medications. Then he got a mobile call and said he had to rush away. Thanked & off he shot. No chance for me to ask him to fit the catheter pouch leg bag cover back on for me. So, I’m in pain, even more so now, cause the Foley Catheter Pouch, without any straps on it, was tugging away at poor Little Inchie, which I’ve just discovered is now bleeding. (1740hrs) Worra day! I’m having to hobble more carefully now until the 21:00hr Carer calls. It might be Chris, it might not. I carefully went to take this photo on the left of the gorgeous evening clouds on offer. Beautiful!
I pressed on with this blog. Until the eyes faded and double vision started coming on again. It’s too late to make a meal and eat it. As the Carer will be here by the time it’s cooked. I’m getting peckish, so I ate the earlier burnt potatoes.
It’s days like this that one can fully grasp and appreciate the complete frustrating futility of life. The moment I returned to the flat from the QMC Hospital A+E. Feeling Guilty for wasting their time.
I needed some nourishment, vittles, and hastily made a meal. Vegan mini-sausages, oven chips, two sourdough rolls crammed with salted sliced tomatoes and plenty of the gorgeous-tasting Flora, No-Butter butter. I enjoyed this.
Then, as I was stripping off to get my head down and seated in the c1968, tatty, scruffy, unkempt, uncomfortable, virus, microorganism, bug, bacterium, bacillus, germ, parasite producing, and disease-fermenting second-hand, eyesorely-horrendously grungy beige-coloured, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, moth-eaten, non-working, itch-encouraging, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, catheter tube yanking, filthy, repulsive recliner, I felt a fair outburst of pain kicking off from both of the then the joined in and for the rest of the night, one or the other was waking me up with their stinging. Another crap, kip!
Although today was no worse than any other day in many ways, I felt I’d reached a new standard of dépaysement. I was cheered up a smidge when Carer Chris did the last call. He got the diabetic socks off of my legs, gave me a painkiller, and said he’d collect the laundry in the morning as the bag was packed, which he did. Nibble treats in thanks, and off he trotted. Cheers!
The combination of the ankle ulcer’s stabs of pain and the odd issue of lightning shooting up the right leg ensured that sleep was minimal. Although, after each awakening; and so many, I had no trouble nodding off again… for a few minutes at most. I’m just glad that there weres no visitations from .
I lost my District Nurse for the leg ulcer and Lymphorrhoea Leslie. Last call today. The wound has healed. Damn it! Another bright highlight is lost to the misery of my existence. The pain was worth it to get some company in the flat. Still, they will call to tend to the Catheter contraption every few weeks. So all is not lost company-wise. I got an unexpected Iceland order today. I cannot recall making one at all. To make things worse, I’d just made one for Friday! The ablutions again took me an age. Nearly three hours. Of course, after that, I forgot what I was doing and got terribly confused. When I returned to the computer, I proceeded to open the wrong blog and lost hours again before I realised I was working on an old one. Then, I made a mess of transferring it back to the original blog, and even more hours evaporated while trying to get it right again. I fear it may contain some errors, mistakes and cock-ups. I even made a mess of the Ode and had to touch it up… but now I find I’ve reposted the graphic with the mistakes still on it. Condemnatory self-loathing combined with a frustration of mega-proportions followed. There is no doubt about it: & They are winning the battle to control my mind. They are increasing cock-ups daily and creating a feeling of pointlessness in life. Along with my financial bewilderment, my frustration grows deeper. The pointlessness I feel now is prompted by my inability to counter these at-the-moment problems and knowing they will only worsen. It’s the same with , & dying-off. It ain’t gonna get any better. All this created a counter-opinion, and I feel shame complaining to myself. Obviously, (to me), I must deserve this misery. My past actions, maybe? I am just hoping that someone in the medical world reads this blog and can conjure up some compassion and help me to cope. Hahaha! Enough of this self-pitying! At least, although a struggle time-wise, I can somehow produce the odd decent ode. Even if this blog is reduced to just an ode a day. Inevitable eventually, what with taking me three hours to get the ablutions done, and all the time spent correcting errors, the tumbles and stumbles, my camera using problems, my memory being unreliable, the catheter pains, Leg dances, my eyes fading, lack of hearing so bad I can’t hear the intercom, fire-alarm, door chime or water leak alarm. I’m guessing what people are saying. And the unwanted Dark-Dank-Depressions after each related incident, yet I still love doing this blog & ode. So, as long as I can, I will, even in cut-down form. I love reading other folks’ blogs and receiving and answering comments on mine. It’s my social life. And I do appreciate it. I can’t help it; I’m addicted! Now, where are my Codeines? Hehehe! Another minimalistic set of unreadable notes to refer to. It’s a good job that I took some Kodak Tim photographs to help me recall things. But it is now tomorrow, and my recollections needed some help. I’m getting things so mixed up lately. My concentration and eyesight are getting worse earlier each day.
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The nocturnal catheter pouch was removed, and the day pouch connected. At the same time, a little naughty, disapproving language was spoken to the painful . Which seemed to get them more irritated. Tsk!
I got the three waste bags made into one and placed it near the front door. I then had an . I didn’t need to struggle to remember this incident! I hit my poor left foot’s toe as I turned around to return to the mini-hallway. Arrgh! Even considering what was about the Cartilage girls and what was about to happen in the wetroom, this remains the single most painful experience of the day!
I hobbled to the kitchenette and took some non-prescription painkillers. Taking this photo of the view from the window. Still cursing for stubbing my toe!
I got on the computer to start the graphic for the ode of the day. To my Utter Dismay, the alignment options in the WordPress Gallery had a blank icon for the No Alignment choice box! Has anyone else gotten this new error from their WordPress? All is not lost. Pressing the blank rectangle still makes the graphic or photo non-alignment. Good innit? WordPress!
Five cube-shaped articles plonked into the WC. Followed by a short hailing of following up. I got the feeling that I had better not stand up yet. A good job, too! For a second wave from , heavier than his first, flowed… well splattered, freely. I think I was lucky here.
I cleaned and cleared up after the double-entendered evacuation. And did the teggies. Then, the potentially dangerous job of shaving was tackled. Five bloody cuts, and a later by around ten minutes, I gave up trying to stop the flow of the red stuff on my cheek and nose. The Brut was not working this morning. This called for the strong stuff! I got the tube of cream that I used for Little Inchies Fungal lesions and dabbed some on the stubborn face cut. I’m so glad I didn’t jump any higher than I did, or else my head may have gone through the concrete ceiling into the above flats’ wet room! Well, it felt like it! I put a plaster with some Dettol on the ultra-tiny cut. Then I had another jump!Hehehe! But it did the trick for a while and stopped the flow. Then, yet another farce: getting the fresh PPs on. It was all the same hassle and pain as yesterday’s attempt, but it took longer to get them on today. I’m not sure why, really. Silly me! Obviously (now I think of it), were hurting me far more today. It was another record length of time to get the job done.
I got back to my blogging duties, and the intercom sounded. It was a food order from Iceland. And did I make one only yesterday for next Friday? Indeed, there was an error somewhere. As I accepted the bags kindly dropped in the doorway for me by the driver, it was clear from the contents that this was indeed my order. The 2 extra large Lamb Shanks confirmed this. I got the things stored away, and what a job this was! After loading it up, I thought I heard the fridge creaking. Hehehe! I was pleased to see that I had some more pod peas in there, and they will be eaten up with a lamb shank & gravy, with some roast potato cubes! Iceland had substituted some items again! Don’t think that this angered me, made me spit, or got me feeling all pissed off. Well… yeah, I did! A few drops of rain when I eventually opened the curtains and took these belated morning shots of the view from the balcony. The mudslide was somewhat intrusive this morning; well, it’s lunchtime now.
The Cartilage Girls continue to give me some pain. In fact, not that I’ve done a lot of hobbling about. Cartilage Chloe once and Cartilage Carole twice gave way on me. But thankfully, there have been no tumbles. I’ve been Tumble-Free all day up to now!
Carer Sam called belatedly. They are doing their best. Obviously, they have problems just as we do. No bother.
I launched myself most belatedly at the blog updating.
District Nurse Sarah (I think it was) came in to check over the burst ulcer from the burn and Diabetic Edema. She called for advice, and they agreed that this is as much as is needed with the diabetic bandaging. The ulcers on both of my ankles are leak-free now, but I’ll miss them calling on me. I didn’t cry too much! Haha!
I started shelling the pod peas in preparation for the meal preparations. Quite a few of them got into the bowl, but many amazingly just jumped into my mouth. I can’t understand it. These lamb shanks are easy to cook in the bag. I later dropped the peas in the water to cook. On a low boil, they take only 30 minutes to cook this way. I then sorted the potato cubes from the Asda bag from the freezer. Remove the ones with any black spots on them. Which was about 25% in total. And got them cooking on a tray in the oven. After a while, Carer Sam arrived. Medicated me, and then I went to check on the now-burnt potatoes. I picked through them to remove the too-hard ones and those with the black spots I missed and got them in a dish to add later. What a feast! Thoroughly enjoyed it, apart from some of the burnt spuds being too hard for my shortage of teeth and the few remaining being in the sad, broken, painful state. It was almost, but not fully worth the pain afterwards from .
I had planned to get back on the blog, but fading eyesight and increasing tiredness forced me to stop everything and just sit down in itch-creating, bruise-giving, catheter-tube-tugging, crumb-decorated from my nocturnal nibbling, God-awfully uncomfortable, cringingly grotty, no longer working, dirty beige, anti-sleep designed, c1966, second-hand bought for £300 ten years ago from the charity shop, recliner. I turned on the TV and just fell asleep. It was heaven! Carer Chris came, and I cannot recall much of this visit. I think he… well, no, I don’t know. Later, Christopher called for a late visit, and I still slept. I can recall him taking off the one sock I had on. In the morning, I found it crumpled up on the ottoman. He must have put the catheter night bag on for me.
I continued to sleep without any problems. Having the longest-ever kip for months! I suppose I needed it? – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Please try to be happy, Content, surrounded by magnanimity, Ousing with loveability & affinity, Wallow in moving mutuality, This sounds good to me! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Keep Safe! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
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– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 04:25hrs: I begrudgingly heaved and hauled my overweight, blubbery body from the bed. I even thought of getting back in it as Cartilages Carole & Chloe kicked off the moment I put my colossal weight on the knees. I bent to release the nocturnal catheter pouch. The bag was a little fuller this morning, considering I’d only been in bed for about four hours. Yesterday’s not being a happy laddie lingering into today. There I was, sitting on the Throne, having a go at the crossword puzzle book, just seeing if I get some answers to the many not-finished ones over the months. I counted the cracks I could see on the ceiling. It amazes me how I seem to get a different number each time. And I suppose. 23 today. The first long, deep brown torpedo escaped painfully, followed immediately by splatterings from . The end loose evacuated product was once again of a Kharki hue, small and wet but lumpy. Well, it made a change for me. Haha! The were tackled next. Starting with the hurtful, bleeding-again teggies. Then, the extremities needed cleaning in preparation for the medicationings. These were done before the shaving this morning. Another first for me is that I’ve always done the shaving first, but not today. I’ve no idea why. One good thing about having the diabetic socks and the compression bandaging on both legs is that I can’t clean them, so one job is saved. Also, I do not need to medicate the leg ulcers or ingrowing toenails. Were Germoloided once things had dried from the washing of the bottie. I found that I’d run out of the anti-fungal cream for Little Inchies cream. So I tried some Germolene to see if that eased it a bit. It didn’t help, but it didn’t make things any worse, either. I got the Derma cream under the arms, man breasts and forehead, which was silly because I’d not done the shaving yet. Tsk! Then moved on and gave a good rubbing in of the Phorpain gel to both knees. To ease the pain from , and. Next, I got the olive oiling done down both earholes. Had a bit of an then. I dropped the dropper bottle and lost even more time cleaning the mess I made up. But worse, all the bending to retrieve the olive oil from the mat and floor, set the Cartilage gals, Arthur Itis and off. I then performed a short but natty, nasty version of a , which made me wobble and joined the list of injuries. And I hadn’t even tackled the dangerous parts of shaving and getting dressed yet! Still, being of excellent pain tolerance, a twerp, and so brave with it, it didn’t worry in the least, not one bit! But I assume you already knew that? Then , the costly Cataract Blepharitis application process had to be done. The spray is no bother, but the drops I just can’t hold my hands steady enough to get it in right. Doing the pads is okay. Then, I waited for the regulation for 5 minutes and wiped it all off again from the eyelids. I would estimate the cost of liquid I missed the eye with that ran down into my mouth and onto my testicles from my chin, not to mention poor Little Inchie; it must have been about £10 worth every day I do this. Now, the shaving needs to be done. I wondered how long I’d already spent doing the ablutions. I reckon I was already over two hours and still had to shave and dress. The shaving was cutless! Yes! But getting the PPs on more than made up for my good luck with the shaving. With either knee being liable to give way, my left leg is so painful to lift up. Always a risk and or possibility. On routine, I set about the tried, tested, but often failing ‘get-the-pants’. I wedged my rear end against the sink, with at hand, and of course, the small Plastic Pickerupper Paul. I was gobsmacked at how easily I got my right foot in the pants. Might not be so bad, I thought to myself… What a plonker! I all but went over when I first tried to lift the left leg up high enough to get the foot in the pants. On about my third attempt, I was getting frustrated, to say the least. Not necessarily because I couldn’t get the foot in; this is a regular problem, but with the pain I was going through trying to! I tried one last time and was prepared that the pants would stay off if this did not work! Which, of course, is not on if Little Inchies fungal Lesion bleeds, as it often does, hence the PPs in the first place; it could be bloody and embarrassing if a Carer or nurse was here when it flowed down my legs, over the catheter bag and pouch, onto my foot and then the carpet! There’s no other word for this; Lifting the leg with one hand holding the sink and the other with a picker-upperer and the walking stick was bloody painful! One final effort, a grimace, a few curses and both legs were in! I was shattered! Aching all over. I felt like I’d been up for hours; in reality, it was about three hours of angst and pain, but at last, it was all over… until the morning, it’ll start over again! Painkillers and some anti diarrhoea capsules were taken! I actually chirped up a little later, Yes! Then again, I usually do if get on the computer, and even more so when the eyes are as clear as they can be, and I can see the keyboard and the letters. But at the back of my demented brain, I know that come midday, the double vision will return. (It did)
Carer Richard arrived minutes after I turned on the computer. I patiently waited for CorelDraw to load up —no, that’s another fib. Richard got the medications sorted out, but I forgot to ask him to take of the diabetic sock, so it will have to stay on until tonight when a Carer can take it off if I remember to ask him or her. I bet it reeks a bit! I put the kettle on and sorted the waste bags into one. I left it near the door. I returned to the computer and steadily progressed with the extra blog of old cartoons blog. Then, a sudden… well, fear came over me. Had I left the hot water tap running again? I hobbled hastily to check. All was okay. After yesterday’s farcical, imbecilic three times of letting the tap run cold, my confidence was at a low ebb. I checked several times today, but up until now, I have not left the hot water tap (faucet) running. At least today, I got a wash and shave with hot water available. Despite spending nearly four hours in the wet room in agony, at least I got the cleaning and medicating done. I had a mammoth, or maybe it was one of . Or perhaps I fell asleep on the computer? Up to now, I’ve only had two !
The sun did its best to get through today, but it couldn’t do it just like yesterday. I took this shot through the kitchenette windows. I made a brew of Thompson’s Punjana tea. I never got around to making one earlier. I took the brew to my beloved but poorly computer and digested some of my favourite biscuits via a good dunking. Haha! I like Yeo Valley organic milk and have tried it a few times. As instructed by the Doctor, I’m keeping within her demands that I have only two mugs of tea a day.
Arrived. A nice young gal. Showed concern at my wobbly walking. I explained the ablution episode and showed her a photo of yesterday’s burnt meal and saucepan. She did laugh! I found some potatoes in the only saucepan I had left. Humph! They were well seasoned with sea salt, pungent soy sauce and a drop of vinegar to eat later.
Great balls of fire! The bag tore off of the catheter pouch; it was so full!!! It had filled up so quickly. It’s a darned good job that Carer Kara keeps a supply in stock for me.
Now I’ll have to pack up on the blogging. My vision is getting much worse. .
Back to finish off in the morning – I hope!
I’m back… Carer Chris arrived. Tucked into the nibbles and drinkies, but he was in a rush, poor lad. He turned down the heat on the oven. And I watched part of one episode of the old Heartbeat on the resistance to making a link, unwanted and needed, overpriced Virgin Media fibre TV.
I had a pastie, potatoes, and sliced fresh tomatoes for my meal of the day. Followed by a naughty but nice Lemon and cream Bliss.
I took this late shot while washing the pots and settled to get some sleep. It took me hours to nod off, yet my body and mind were worn out.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – — – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – — – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – — – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I’ll not mess about… Today started pretty well. The Computer Froze. Somehow, I got it back on after the dreaded blue screen appeared. I pressed on with the blogging. The SD reader stopped working, and I spent hours not knowing what I was doing and getting so upset that Duodenal Donald kicked off for the first time in weeks! The Peptac was guzzled a lot after this started. It does no good, psychologically it may?
Then, both websites froze, including Google and Firefox. I’d already lost hours on the first two disasters. I was lost on what to do with this one and thought it was the end. I turned off the computer and then went back on again. I then got another dreaded MS blue screen. I was offered four options. But they may as well have been written in Outer Mongolian, from what I could glean or understand. Only the ‘Turn-Off Your Computer’ was decipherable. So I did. Really pissed off now. Even almost angry. I had a vision of me going into the fire at my cremation and waking up – such is my rotten, unbelievable luck. I decided to get a wash and shower. Carer Chris came, and I got off track to give him his weekly treats for his son, as he’s off for two days. Medications, one diabetic sock on, and I bade him farewell and a good rest. I went to the wet room for a good shave and shower, only to find that the hot water faucet had run cold! I remembered putting last night’s dishes in the sink to soak—then that, you know, sort of tightness of realisation in the stomach hit me en route to check to see if I’d left the hot tap running. I Had! When Carer Joanne called, she didn’t look very well. But was kind enough to tell me some problems, with advice for me, with her Catheter, and I was having similar trouble. We were united in our sufferings. ♥ The JS order arrived, and the Low-Cost Food order arrived an hour or so later. The JS driver kindly put the things into boxes and bags for me, and bless her with cotton socks. ♥ Despite all the hassle of the day so far, I was pleased with some lemon wafer biscuits from the Low-Cost shop. And the adorable Vegan Maryland Cookies came from J Sainsbury. Now I have my three favourite nibbles to hand, and being depressed, lots of them were soon my tummy! I got a lot of bother from …serves me for being greedy. Paracetamol & Codeines were taken. And no sooner, started electrocuting me. Bad enough, but she’s been at it now for eight hours on & off! I got some peas shelled t have with the beef pie and potatoes later on. But was concerned about not getting the blog done. So, I ventured to the computer desk, smelling my unwashed B.O., as I prayed 🙏🏻 for the SD Card thingy to work and Google or Firefox to work again, and got the computer on. Hallelujah! 👍 Or at least partly, the browser was working again, but the SD card reader wasn’t interested. About four hours later, I tried another reader, but that did not work. So, I took out the leads one at a time and returned them. About the 11th, the lead was returned, and Bejesus, the reader, worked! Now it’s getting dark, I’m drained, and my eyes are getting worse. Just thought I’d mention it. I’ve been up for over 18 hours and still only just started this blog. I had to get the photos on CorelDraw to save them to file… and I know this sounds impossible – But CorelDraw Crashed! Luckily, this costly, incompetent art package does a lot of crashing, so I can remember what and how to go through the salvation process several times a week. But it cost me the most valuable thing after my health and wealth loss: my precious time. And I’m not in a good mood now. However, I shall continue into the morning to get caught up. ,
Well, it is well past time to get summat to eat, See you later… if I can wake up in the morning. Haha!
It is Sunday morning now, and I am still well behind with this blog, with a lot of catching up to do. But, first, I had difficulty forcing myself to get up. After a terrible night of broken sleep. On with the blogging photographs…
Dark again.
Beautiful tree copse and bottom field,
Treats packed up.
Waste bags sorted.
Say no more…
Later kitchen window view.
JS order arrived. Got the stuff away. Ready-made meals and fresh garden peas.
Low Cost Food order.
Thompson’s Punjana brew.
Hours & hours lost with MS Windows, computer and CorelDraw difficulties. Deep Dank, Dark Depressions!
Ah, a nice shot here.
I started shelling some pod peas to go in with the ready meal of Cottage pie. Got on a slow boil-simmer.
Went to get the fodder served up. The rain was back!
Baked potatoes are on the left of the tray, and gorgeously tasty Flora No-Butter, butter, and podded peas are added. Cottage pie with some Hammonds sauce on top. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
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We Need Peace
Peace to all, deserving or not… Peace; Very little have we got, Thanks to the Oligarchy lot, Their fortune made is misbegot! Peace? The chance is a longshot, For peace, we can scheme and plot… Putin prefers a riot… But not amongst his own lot, Anyone else is liable to get shot, Peace is needed, but who gives a jot? Find Peace? Humankind cannot! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Unknown why I took this. I can’t recall taking it.
Morning.
Taken seconds before the tumble. Struggled to get the slippers on. You can see the loose carpet I slipped on seconds later between the slippers.
Waste sorted.
Bootiful!
Food delivery. 4 Frazzles were ordered and charged for, and 2 arrived.
Football Match. Seizure.
Taken to the right. Taken to the left, both from the kitchen.
Still kaki, almost cube-shaped. Had to patch up the compression dressing, then do the usual medicationings, olive oiled the wears, and Germoloided the haemorrhoids. Acne and Barrier creams were applied. Had a struggle to get the PPs on today. And getting the Phorpain Gel on; It was as painful as it had ever been. Talk about making myself jump, which, of course, got the Cartilages playing up. With the compression tackle on the right leg, I can no longer use Phorpain to ease the agony. Hehehe! So, more painkillers were taken. At least getting dressed was not so bad; it was just the long pullover nightshirt. The carer arrived and got the one odd bamboo diabetic sock and slippers on for me.
Fantastic sun rays are coming through the cloud to the right of the balcony. Had the alien invasion started? Hahaha!
Lamburgers with sliced tomatoes in sourdough rolls, & a can of carrots & peas were cooked and served up. A pot of mandarin segments in orange jelly was the day’s dessert.
What a great hue later on! A Pareidoliaising Delight! Heads, eyes, animals, Great!
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My mental deficiencies, although bothersome at times, generally took a back seat to actual confusion amidst the physical shortcomings throughout today.
Care Kara rang the Doctor for me about the red patches beneath both armpits. I’ll mention the follow-up farcicalness now, so I don’t forget later. Kara took a photo of my red pits and then rang the Doctor for me. Bless her; she was in a rush as well. Thanks, gal. The Doctor said she’d call me back later after it had been assessed which medication may help.
An hour or so later, the surgery lady called me back, asking if I could email them a photo. I said Carer Kara had taken one earlier, and I’d try to get through to them to ask.
I called the carer’s office and got a voice message that I was not sure about. I gave up and called the ILC (Independent Living Coordinator), Oberstgrüppenfuhreress Warden and Primo Ballerina, Deana, who came up to clarify. It seems I was stuttering as I spoke, although I didn’t realise it then.
Deana arrived and saved the day after she rang the surgery and clarified things. Then she sent a photograph she took off to the surgery. They would ring me back again.
An hour or so later, they rang me. The Doctor sent a prescription for the same cream they used last year when the red pits showed up. The prescriptions could be collected from the chemist in the morning. Tell your caregivers. I mentioned it to Carer Chris later, but how or when they will manage to fetch the prescriptions is unknown.
Then, ankle electric shocks increased in frequency.
The Glaucoma affected eyes got worse as the day went on.
The Iceland delivery arrived. I stubbed my toe and walked into the door frame five minutes later.
And Cartilage Chloe gave way a few times, but without causing me to have any tumbles.
I did not even start this blog, although I did make some graphics ready. I was weary & tired earlier than ever.
I have no snippets; I just didn’t have time to.
I fell asleep in the c1968, tatty, scruffy, unkempt, uncomfortable, virus, microorganism, bug, bacterium, bacillus, germ, parasite producing, and disease-fermenting second-hand, eyesorely-horrendously grungy beige-coloured, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, moth-eaten, non-working, itch-encouraging, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, catheter tube yanking, recliner.
Carer Chris made a late call. He took the diabetic socks off my feet and attached the nocturnal night catheter bag. Christopher took nibbles and a drinkie at my insistence, and off he went. When I mentioned the prescription to him, he said he thought Carer Richard may be returning to work. That’s good news; I thought the lad would be off work longer.
So, here is a minimum detail set of photos today. I fank you!
Morning Medicals… Catheter day pouch and leg bag Ankle Ulcer with electric shocks. Hehe! Messier than messy! This photo was taken of the Germolened pit by ILC (Independent Living Coordinator), Oberstgrüppenfuhreress Warden and Primo Ballerina, Deana.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – My body and, more importantly, my mind are in a different state today. I thought my cerebrum was not my own, which, of course, it isn’t nowadays. There have been so many lows with intermittent unaccountable high moments. I’m baffled! A bit worried as well. Although I knew this would develop, I was warned by the doctors years ago. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Still a bit dark.
Carer Maryham arrived while I struggled to get the fresh PPs and helped me with them. Then, Maryham creamed and ointmented certain areas. I could not have a shower too early cause of the noise and neighbours. Bless her!
A few spots of showery rain, but no more.
Bootiful clouds,
The first day pouch emptying was much better,
I know I was working on the blog, but not much else. Hours passed, I think Carer Sam called, and then the next one was Carer Chris. I mentioned that I had not taken many photographs today for the blog. He took Kodak Tim onto the balcony and started taking skyshots for me. Apparently, I was shaking a bit. Jolly decent of him.
He even took a shot of me after. When he’d done the clouds for me. Seeing the ageing, pot-bellied man in the above photo, I was shocked to see how I’d so quickly gone so decrepit. I’d love to know what I was thinking with my ponderous look?
When Chris departed, I emptied the day urine pouch again. Oh, a very much better-looking colour this time! There’s hope yet for the Urologist. Hehe!
A shot from the right side of the balcony later, after the sun had forced its way through and the clouds thinned down. I saw many things in this shot.
I got the nosh made and put it on a tray, and Carer Christopher arrived. He took my socks off, medicated me, and attached the nocturnal catheter pouch for me. He selected his drinkie and nibbles, and off he trotted. I tucked into the now cold meal.
Two-thirds of the way through, I realised I had not taken a snap of it, so I did. Cold chips, cold pork knuckle, tomatoes, red onions, and a pot of Lemon Mousse. I dropped it, and it split open, making another mess to be sorted out for me. Tsk!
I went to wash the pots and took shots of the evening sky with the quarter moon showing in the centre of the photograph. Marvellous colours. I tried several times to get as close in a shot as Kodak Tim would let me. I must have taken four shots; this was the best I could manage. Humph! The blotches and stretched moon might mean this is Tate Gallery-worthy? On the other hand…
I stripped and nearly tripped over the night pouch’s long tube. It was another struggle to get settled into the bed. With the nurses adjusting the heights and dips so she might get better access to plunge the catheter tube back into Little Inchie, the bed is now in such an uncomfortable layout/position. After playing with the controls for ages, I decided it was not working for me. I got out of bed, , swore and cursed a little, and hobbled to the second-hand, c1968, eyesorely-horrendously grungy beige-coloured, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, microorganism-microbe producing, gungy, moth-eaten, beige-coloured, non-working, bacillus encouraging, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, c1968 recliner, and settled back in it. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Possibly, just perhaps, well, at least in the last week, this morning was the oddest one yet. For a variety of reasons, which I will no doubt get mixed up and out of order. But I’ll do my bestest to explain. 04:20hrs: First, I woke up with an unexplainable… well, Zest! I found the nocturnal pouch of urine to be a lighter colour than of late. An urge for a mug of Glengettie came next, and off to the kitchen, I poddled to get the kettle on. Then, I took a snap with Kodak-Tim of the morning view and realised it was only 05:00 hrs. I decided to have an early wash and shave, being as I was feeling almost chirpy. (I knew it couldn’t last, so I made the best of it.) Then I noticed that the kettle was not working. I toyed with the connections and plug for a while, but it did no good. It wouldn’t have it! But on top of the cupboard was a kettle I bought about a year ago. The problem was, how do I get it down from there? I ended up using the long picker-upperer carefully, but I got it done safely enough. However, the base plate was still up there and at the back near the wall. My desire for the tea drove me on. After a little thought, I fetched the 3-step ladder from the junk room. I could only manage two steps, thanks to , in particular, the back of the knee emitting severe pains. But my determination to get a brew of Glengettie was strong! I managed to reach the plate using the small picker-upperer. Finding that it and the kettle needed a good cleaning up before using it. This is when the stubbing of the toe took place. Undaunted, I got the dust of and out of everything and the kettle on the boil. Moments after taking a photo of the Jenny donated china mug on the left, is when I knocked it off of the counter with the dressing gown sleeve. I caught hold of the mug as it bounced off of my overly abundant belly. Thus, spilling some tea on the gown, me and the floor! My previously rare morning zest was flattening down now, and the idea of making another mug of tea did not appeal to me. I felt a brooding coming on. I got all the waste bags sorted and placed them near the door. Then I decided a darn good wash and shave was called for. So, I took off my dressing gown and wobbled along to the wet room. The wobbling was caused by the catheter fitted yesterday, which has a thick, massive, long tube. The release valve tap was so low down it rested on my foot! It was not easy to reach down to empty it, which was my first task as I got inside the wet room. The favourite was again in full control of the evacuation. Cleaning up was a heck of a job, and it was difficult with the long catheter on and using the walking stick. Still, I freshened things up and cleaned my teeth. The bleeding soon stopped. There was a funny incident that I realised about much later when I got around to uploading the photos. I dropped Kodak-Tim from the dressing gown pocket later, and while making sure nothing had broken, I took the selfie above, catching the image in that shaving mirror, Hahaha! The shaving ended with a cut count of only two; oddly, one was on the ear lobe? Beats me too! I get the body scrubbed up; it takes longer nowadays. What with the monumental girth I’ve acquired since I’ve become flat-bound, bending down is so difficult and painful. The Cartilage Girls & don’t help. I suppose on the bright side, if I ever tumble forward, I’ll have a chance of bouncing back up. Hehehe! Then, I decided to mop the kitchen. I used the Flash speed mop for the job—a mistake that was! It appeared to look okay afterwards until I walked into the place. The soles of the slippers stuck to the tiles, and I could hear and almost feel them squelching as I walked on the floor. Now, my mood was almost reversed to what it was earlier. I noticed many bits of something very small still stuck on the floor, and a Carer mopped it last week. So, I had to get the mop and bucket brought into action. Gathering several leg bruises on the way from the walking stick as I mopped one-handed, then found somewhere to lean again, to bend painfully down to hand wring the mophead. I even got Kodak-Tim out a few times to record my progress. Now, I was worried about my sanity. But I was pretty happy with this second proper mopping job done. As I went to clean and store the mop and bucket, I realised that I’d not done the morning medicationings for many regions of my story, plump, wobbly body. So I did. I put on the Acne cream. Then, I applied barrier cream around the fungal lesion and barrier creamed the tops of the inner legs and the ever-growing stomach fold. Then, I Germoloided Harold’s Hemorrhoids. I put on a fresh dressing gown, made a fresh mix of spring water, put the old dressing gown in the laundry bag, and noticed the clock. It was 08:55 hrs. I’d been so concentrated on and frustrated with the Whoopsies, cleaning, and farcical morning that I wondered if the Carer had been and if I’d forgotten about it. I checked the Carer’s log, and there was nothing on it for this morning. At least I didn’t have to worry about that.
Later, Carer Sam arrived. She listened to my tale of the morning’s woe; bless her. Finally, I made a belated start on finishing off yesterday’s blog. I was calming down nicely.
, sod-it! The Google and Firefox thingies went down at the same time on me! I could do nothing for an hour. I tried all the usual stuff, but the mouse was working, not the keyboard. I kept getting messages coming up that meant nothing to me. I was near to dismay. Then I got Norton Messages telling me a series of numbers were safe; no action was needed! Was Google healing itself? I gave up and turned off the whole shebang. I was sitting feeling sorry for myself when the intercom sounded. It was the delivery of Medical stuff from Vyne. Boy, did it take some sorting out? Yes, it did. I had many things on my mind and worried about the computer, too. I didn’t know what all the things were for, but indeed, they must be connected with, for, or part of the dreaded and disliked . They look awfully complicated to me. But, then again, so do women, Putin, arithmetic, Judges, the Conservative Party, and Doreen Dementia. Ah, I recognised the painkiller jet thingies that the nurses shoot down Little Inchie when they have to put new tubes into him. Oh, they are good! Haha!
When I returned, I turned on the computer with my fingers crossed. Well, I never did. Google was working again. I was nearly too stressed and tired to appreciate it at first, but a semi-imitation joy crept through my brain all the same.
Carer Christopher arrived. I gave him a cold drink and a bar of chocolate. I chatted away, but he missed most of what I was saying as his fingers belted away on his mobile phone. Hehehe!
I pressed on with starting this blog. It is now past 21:00 hrs. What a day! Where did it go? I’ll read this and find out later.
A caregiver is due on the last day, anytime now. So, I think I’ll put the vegan slices in the oven. Well, I’ll put the stove on, and it’s ready to heat up.
I finally had the meal of the day and enjoyed it, although the incident with prepping the potatoes slightly tempered my enjoyment.
I’d got the instant mash into the bowl with some sea salt, basil and a large knob of No Butter, Butter. Then, I added a packet of grated Leicester Cheese to the mix. I added some freshly boiled water and was about to set it to give it all a good mixing. Then I noticed some mould on the bits of cheese! I’d discarded the good-dated packet and kept the just-out-of-date packet of cheese! Luckily, the unopened packet was retrieved from the waste bin after I chucked the bowl contents into a bin and re-cleaned the bowl. I had to start the potato prepping all over again. Which meant the veg pasties were tastier. I thought the cheesy mashed potatoes were Pareidolianiable. Can you see the chick or rabbit on them? No? It must be me, then. Hahaha!
At last, a photo to be proud of was taken. The blotches were all hidden in the dark night clouds. Is it like the surface of the moon with a volcano erupting? I may ask the Tate Art Gallery if they’d take this one. If not, I can always display house bricks on a wooden palette, 2024 style. I could spill blood on them, break them up for them. I could call it Putin’s Pallette, perhaps? Haha!
Well, the diabetic socks were not removed last night, and the muggings here forgot to ask the Caregiver to do so. So, as I woke at 05:30 hrs, I realised that my planned mission of getting an early shave, sh+t, and shower was in tatters! For I could not get my socks off without help. But having climbed out of the hospital bed with a monumental effort, I decided to just leave the socks on until a Carer arrived and have a shave and old-fashioned wash at the sink straight away. This takes me back to over 70-odd years ago. When we had no hot water, we had to boil pans, kettles and saucepans on the stove and coal fire to have a wash. At least I have heating and hot water now. I checked after thinking this to make sure I’d not left the hot tap (faucet) running. No, all was okay! I needed the Porcelain Throne first. It was another messy affair, too. I cleaned up the porcelain and finished the teggies. A minor miracle when shaving this morning. Not a single cut or nick whatsoever! I began the body washing, and there seemed to be more body than ever that needed doing? I pressed on, dried off, and then turned my attention to the medicationalisationing needed. I started with the Olive oiling of both earholes. Moving on to the Germolening of the sore bottom’s extremities. Next, the delicate operation of completely drying the skin and applying the Germoloid ointment to h
Harold’s Hemorrhoids. Oh, this was so cool! Then, I got the Daktacort cream at the end of Little Inchie and his fungal lesion. Arrgh! Seems the most apt word to describe this. I spilt a drop of the cream on my hand, which was surprisingly painful. I seemed to have acquired some bruising overnight on the wrist? It didn’t look fresh, so maybe whatever happened occurred yesterday, and I’d not noticed it. Did the nasal spraying next. The Medi Derma-S cream was applied to the forehead and right wrist, and it would have also been put on the ankles, but I can’t reach to do it. Over two hours after going into the wet room, I finally came out. I’m not sure how much longer I can keep doing this daily. I felt worn out already!
I made a good, strong mug of Glengettie tea. Oh, no! For a change, I had Thompson Punjana Gold. It’s pleasant enough but not as tasty and lip-smacking as the straight Thomson’s Punjana. I think Carer Maryham and later Carer Sam visited. I decided not to put on the diabetic socks. Some form of imitation logic told me that with them on for 24 hours, it was too early. I’m not sure what I’m rambling on about here. I’m so tired.
Carer Chris did the teatime call while I was deep into creating the new features for the top of this blog. But I did stop when I went to make another brew, Glengettie this time, and the Pareidoliaising caught me as I took this photo below of the clouds. It’s been overcast more or less all day today. The Kodak Tim photo blotched actually gave the nearer smaller cloud the impression of having an eye in the head of the monster or giant bird? A blotchy-indeed later Kodak-Tim shot pg the horison. The closer shot below shows how light the ribbon of light was.
Carer arrived.
In response to the sudden gurgling innards, I managed without any problems to get to the Porcelain Throne in time, and promptly gave my right foot a good toe-stubbing on the high seat leg. Humph! I went to the kitchenette to plan the meal of the day. I noticed the eeriness of the houses on view and then fetched Kodak-Tim to try to capture them on film. It was not one of my best-ever photography efforts. In fact, I was disappointed in how they came out. They looked far crisper in reality than they presented. Then again, with my eyesight, I shouldn’t complain, really, I suppose. A pretend Beef & potato pie that was none-meat. Nice! I halved some tomatoes and cooked some oven chips. Very nice and tasty all round. Then ate a pot of lemon yoghourt! .
I have blogging duties. I needed some cartoons, and I spent three hours trimming them up and getting them ready to use on CorelDraw, which, dare I say this? CorelDraw did not crash all day long! There, now we’ll see if it continues… Dang. Dang, Sang, Dang!
A change in the meal stakes today. I put a can of vegetable soup in the pan and added fresh onions, peppers, mushrooms, and peas. A packet of basil passata, and some Turkish beef, chopped up by my fair hands and mixed into the mix. Later, I added a drop of tasty Polish Krakus beetroot Borscht and Winiary seasonings. I left it on a low light to marinate all the way through, then returned to the computer work. Made a start on the blog at last.
The sun was taking its time getting through.
What a change to an hour earlier that was!
I was struggling with my concentration for hours and hours of making errors on the flog making.
This was a great cloud formation not to miss. Can you see the faces in it?
I baked some potatoes and added them to the saucepan. What a feast. Lipsmackingly Gorgeous!
Carers, as I recall, or don’t. Christopher, Joanne and Victor.
I was pleased to see the plane’s contrails showed up so well in this Kodak Tim snap of the sun on its way down. I loved the E or Pound sign, Little Clouds. Can you see the chess rook just above the sun? The flying fish to the left of the £ sign? I am well pleased with this photo. Oh, I’ve just spotted a spider on it, too! I so love photos that are Pareidolianiable!
Well, something of a miracle happened overnight. Yes! Although it was broken into pieces, I reckon got at least seven hours of sleep! Not been known for many a month. Are things getting better for me? What a stupid question! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
