Photographs

Inchcock Views High-Rise Council Pensioners Flat on the 16th Floor

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Woodthorpe

The other day I went to view an warden aided flat,

To get there I had to be strong and an acrobat,

Top of a hill, it was windy, glad I had me hat,

I found the City Councils Commissariat.

–

We went to look at the flat, on the 16th floor,

I noticed the kicked in panel on the front door,

The place was in a right state, very poor,

Electrics hanging off the wall down to the bare floor,

A smell lingered everywhere, a sweet sickly odour,

Noises from the Romanians living next door.

–

A distinct feeling of gloom lingered in the air,

I decided I didn’t want to live there,

Although the view from the window was fair,

I turned on a tap, the water was brown… I despair!

–

I caught the wall and the plaster shred,

A lick of paint will sort that, the Commissariat said,

That only made me cringe and exacerbate,

Then under the sink an insect zoo did await!

–

The light switch hung off the wall by its wire,

In the front room a non-working electric fire,

The ceiling peeling, electric needing a rewire,

For living here I could not aspire!

–

I told the Commissariat Thanks but I don’t think so,

She took it like a mortal lethal blow,

She scowled at me, and don’t you know…

She didn’t speak to me again and let me go.

Hey-ho!

Tue 16th June 2015: Inchcock Today – Confused again Tsk!

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Tuesday 16th June 2015

Yee-haaa – got some sleep in last night without waking up too often too! Oddly I have no traces of any dreams in my mind?

The cramps in the legs I got last night were still there occasionally for a while throughout the morning. Huh!

The stinging from the wound seemed a bit less this morning. (Until I caught it on the wall when I lost me balance putting me socks on – Tsk!)

Made a cuppa and laptop started. Took me medications.

Sent some happy birthday messages out while I thought of it like, in case on the day I’m under anaesthetic or something like that. Debbie Taylor’s birthday on Thursday – I hope it all goes happily smoothly and is fun for her.

Should get me second Tesco delivery today and then I have to meet Steve from Age UK at the flats to view them. I haven’t heard anything back from the Guinness people yet about me application for the home at Colville Court yet? Don’t bode well does it? I’m not looking forward to the treck up Winchester Street though.0703

Hell of a struggle getting up that damned hill. Although during the day there is a local mini-bus that runs every so often into the flats and around the other streets eventually getting to into town.

I’m not too keen on the thought of moving there even if I get accepted. The place smells a bit off like, tobacco and alcohol fumes lingered when I visited it the other week, along with a strange sweet smell I could not identify? But Steve wanted to have a look so he can gain some knowledge on them for other old folk he helps.

Tesco delivery came on time. I got an email later telling it it was delayed?

IMG_0150The pack of ten quick cook sausages that could be done in the microwave arrived, I got two packs as they were on offer from £2.50 down to £1 each pack but only for a limited time like. Little bargain hunter me!

Could not resist putting a couple in the microwave oven and trying them.

IMG_0151They looked good, smelt good and didn’t taste too bad at all.

But I would never pay full price for them.

Rating: 7/10

Couldn’t put the stuff away properly so just got frozen in the freezer and fresh in the fridge, others left in bags all over the shop – Tsk!

The throat and voice are still bad, started coughing and sneezing too now. Oh dear!

Did some Facebooking while I waited to get ready for me walk into Sherwood and up that flipping hill to the flats to meet Steve.

0704Steve phoned, he’s going to ring the Guinness Trust to see if we call view the flat today. He’ll get back to me.

I noticed when I Googled it on Street view, they had a To Let sign up – but of course I don’t know when the scene was taken?

IMG_0152Set off on me walk to Woodthrorpe to meet Steve.

In St Johns graveyard was a  woman with her five dogs playing ball. Very respectful I thought that.

Plodded onto and up Mansfield Road – nice weather and very little wind today.

IMG_0153Several Nottingham Pavement cyclists encountered en-route… again!

Into Sherwood and up to Winchester Street and set off up the hill of hills.

As I slowly made me way up, I looked down a side
street, Cavendish Vale I think it was, and got a view of one of the high-Rise blocks of flats, Woodthorpe Court I think, that I was on me way to have a IMG_0157look at.

The last part of the hike was not easy as the roadway got a lot  steeper as I approached the flats.

I arrived and sat on a bench reading me book to await the arrival of Steve from Age UK.

He arrived and we a chat about things related to me failed home-hunting for a while.

We went over and met Susan the lady from City Homes and she told us there was one double bedroomed flat in Winchester Court, and one single in Woodthorpe Court that I could make a ‘Bid’ for.

IMG_0158a

Woodthorpe Court

We had a look at the double, and it was in a right state. Then we moved to Woodthorpe Court to have a look at the single flat on the 16th floor of the 19 floor complex.

I liked the layout of the kitchen, and the views, although all obscured a tad by the Anti-pigeon netting, were amazing.

After talking with Steve he decided I should put in a bid for the flat and Susan said she would do it for me later in the day.

Steve agreed I should still have a look at the Guinness flats at Colville Court. Although I have heard nothing back from them – Steve said he would phone them and see what the situation was and if we could visit to see them. He’ll let me know later.

Steve went off, he offered to give me a lift home but the wound on me back made me than him but decline his offer.

Walked home, took longer than I thought it would.

IMG_0158Had me nosh of baked spuds, tomatoes, Marmite cheese, BBQ chicken and microwave sausages.

The mind was reeling.

So tired and confused.

Soon nodded off I think.

Fri 12.6.15: Inchcock Today – Skin Cancer surgery – Whoopsiedangleplops, it’s all go innit?

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Friday 12th June 2015

F8

Woke at 0430hrs. Not feeling good.

No dreams remembered at all?

Thought about me tasks to get sorted today: Finish yesterdays diary and get it posted (I was just too tired to do it last night), start this diary off, contact the clinic and beg their forgiveness for missing me appointment and make another, contact Steve with update on the Colville housing application… there’s bound to be others.

IMG_0109

No one on the street this morning

Cuppa made, and laptop on – email from Guinness saying my application had been forwarded to Chesterfield for consideration.

I’m feeling very heavy eye-lidded this morning. Suppose yesterdays long day of tasks completed didn’t help.

Another cuppa and took me medications.

Can’t get any shredding or sorting done with all these appointments to tend too.

Finished yesterday diary and got it posted. Did some Facebooking.

Had a good bath and scrub-up.

Then off and caught the bus into town, then another out to the QMC treatment centre. Walked round to the back of the compound in into it and up to Cancer treatment section G. Handed in me paperwork and waited until  I was called in.

To the waiting room locker and got changed as instructed by the highly intoxicating nurse.

Then taken into the treatment room where they started on removing some of me infected back for analysis.

They took me INR level to make sure it was safe to dig out me infected bits to test first.

It took them well over and hour to sort me out – with me laying on me face as they chatted away about why the doctor had the email of one of the nurses and not the other?

Eventually the stitches were put in, and a massive double pressure pad was applied then a gigantic plaster. When one of the nurses told me the eleven stitches must be protected, I mustn’t do anything physical for four days at least, must go to the GP with the paperwork she gave me to arrange the stitches to come out on the 24th June. If it bled I was to stand against a wall pressing backwards for at least half an hour and summon assistance?

She then took me in the anti-room and gave me a much appreciated cup of tea, telling me to sit there as long as it took for me to feel well enough to wander home.

F3

The bus wot I missed pulling away from the bus stop – never mind eh…Tsk!

I dropped off the paperwork for the receptionist and staggered down the two flights of stair, out and around the compound to the front to catch a bus to town.

I saw one at the bus stop and hastened best I could up the winding path to the same level and just managed to miss it as I drew close it pulled away. Hey-ho!

F4

The Old Guildhall – unused since it closed

When I got off the bus in town, I thought what a shame it was the old Guildhall building was still unused.

A grand looking and character ridden part of old Nottingham.

I imagined a McDonalds, Pay-day loan sharks, one of the £3 a cup coffee shops, Mobile phone companies or maybe a pawnbroker or two might have been interested? Only joking like.

The pain from me back started stinging as the pain-killer began to wear off, and I still felt so tired.

F5

One of any Gits Cycling on the Pavement today

Took a photo through the bus window of one of the many many Nottingham Pavement Cyclist I saw during the day.

I has this idea come to me like – feeling confident that I as about to get a sheltered flat fairly soon, and not being able to carry owt from the shops while the stitches were in – I’d sign up for Tesco on-line and order a load of long-life nosh and cleaners etc and put them into the bags I’ve got ready to take with me. As it turned out, not one of me better ideas at all... more about this later like.

F7

Me visits here are getting a bit too frequent too!

Dropped off the bus and walked to the GP surgery where I gave them the paperwork and explained about needing an appointment on the 24th fer the removal of the stitches. She looked on her computer and said I have an appointment on the 23rd. But none of us knew why? So she moved it to the 24th with the stitches one.

I later found out the 23rd one was for me CHD checks. Must let her know on Monday.

F6

Mansfield Road near the GP surgery

Surprisingly there was not much traffic on Mansfield Road.

That was until I tried to cross the road of course.

So I wobbled painfully up to the pelican lights and as I crossed on the green man, a ruddy Cyclist nearly had me as the idiot didn’t stop on his red lights!

Still flt a little bit giddy and the wound was really stinging now as I made me way back to the flea-pit.

Got in and WC’s, even sitting down is painful.

f1

What a bloomin’ Day!

I decided to sign on the Tesco site and did so successfully. Then put me order in – but when it came to paying – it kept telling me the card was suspended  and I had to call the Co-op bank – so at great expense I did.

They informed me the card was not suspended and they had no claims for cash from Tesco?

So I rang the Tesco, so called helpline. (Helpline! Huh!)

The chap eventually after keeping paying for the call for ages – it was suspended now after I’d tried so often to get it accepted.

So I called the Co-op bank again and explained what was occuring – it had been suspended by Visa – (Eventually gawd knows how much must have cost me) she said she would cancel the suspension, but it would talk two hours to clear.

Well pee’d off I rang off and started to update this diary while I waited the two hours to try and pay Tesco again!

What a crap day I’m having! Intense pain, Whoopsidangleplops and try as I might, I don’t seem able to get any decent sleep in – Huh, Tsk and bother!

I just made a cuppa, and it even hurts to lift the cup to me gob… though

 I shouldn’t be surprised, it hurts when I do nothing as well. Just a bit worse when I move anything.

I’m dreading it if I sneeze! Hehe

Well, it’s been two hours and ten minutes – so I’ll risk trying to pay Tesco again – Oh dear, here we go…

Gordon Bennet! Had to do a new Tesco password now…

Aha… Success!

IMG_0116

The nosh it took me three hours to get round to eating!

That means tomorrow I can at least get some packing of stuff to take with me done… and maybe a bit of shredding too… wound permitting.

YeeHaa!

Better get me nosh done.

Refried means, bacon and sausages.

Unfortunately as I came to shutting down me laptop, I got a message telling me there was an update for Coreldraw 7x – so I thought (I keep doing that recently, thinking… it does me no good yer know!), I’d just download it. It took about 15 minutes… then I was informed it needed a restart to take effect…

The green start screen came on – message on it: Restarting.

That was a hour and a half ago! Not sure if something wrong or is it the installation of the Coreldraw update that’s taking all time?

I seem fated not to get any sleep or eat me nosh.

Well another half hour as gone by now, I’ll go and check it again, hang on please…

No, no luck yet, still the green ‘Restarting’ screen.

Eventually started eating me nosh on me knee waiting for the laptop to finish restarting. It was still good reheated, Excellent taste! Rated 8/10.

Nature Camping & Hiking - Postcard - Large

Managed to take a photo by painfully distorting my body to get me hand up and behind me to take a photo of me wound dressing to see if I could see any blood leaking. A bonus here I caught a bit of the wound I got on me head when I banged it on the cupboard door. Hey-ho – Carry on regardless!

Struggled to take a photo of me dressing on the surgery wound to see if any blood had leaked out, but couldn’t get a shot of the lower 2/3rd of the dressing. And it toook me over nine attempts to get this one.

Hey-ho.

Had to lay in a contorted position to avoid pressing on it and I consequently got very little sleep again.

Huh! TTFN all.

Thur 11.6.2015: Inchcock Today

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Thursday 11th June 2015

0205

The ‘Hand’ statue at the Queens Medical treatment Centre from a previous visit on 21.4.15

Another night of frequent springing awakes with a jump.

I’m certain I had a different dream each time I nodded off again, but can’t recall any of them really – just something about trying to buy an old pipe from Harold Wilson but he wouldn’t sell it to me, I think I was counting money in £. s. d. There was an old ten-bob note in there somewhere too?

When I looked at me Lumia Mobile phone, the message I’d put on me Google Diary to remind myself of the hospital visit for today with Pete was showing. No idea how I did that? But none of the other diary notes were on it?

Had a bash at making me second ‘Inchock: It’s a funny old life’ ode/rhyme/prose/poem for me to post for a few hours. Me mind wasn’t very concentrated though.

Found a new boil coming on me right wrist as I caught it on the desk… Well fancy that!

I searched the web again for sheltered housing in Nottingham. Searched on Accent, ASRA, Longhurst, NCHA, Metrolpitan, Derwent and Tuntum sites without any luck, then went on hte Guinness Trust site and found facility to send the an email inquiring as I was writing finishing this email – I thought to let Steve from Age UK know.

Good job I did too – he’d got a number from them for me to phone asking to fill in an application form on the phone. Not good with my hearing… or lack of, but still. He said for me to try and get a appointment to see the flat (Two available currently) for Tuesday when he is going to meet me at the high-rise council flats to view them.

I rang the number it asked me to press option 1 – but could I find out how to access the number pad on the phone? Huh! Rang off and fiddled with it to find out, and rang them back again. Of course I couldn’t make out half what the bloke was saying – but I think he said after I explained everything he’s going to send me an email with the form on to be filled in and returned.

I’ll have a look now see if it’s come… Yes it’s here now…

Took me over an hour trying to get it filled in saved and posted to the email. First off I could only save the original and lost all what I’d filled in – Huh! Then I went into the green windows screen on me second attempt and couldn’t get back to me desktop – so had to restart. Double huh!

Eventually got it (The one sent to fill in) onto PDF and filled it in for the third time saving it as PDF file and loaded it as a file attachment at last to the email. Thanked them and sent it off. What a pa-lava!

Well mentally drained now – and I’ve got to go with Peter in an hour to the hospital yet, in case he has any adverse effects reactions to the medications like, and he don’t like hospitals much bless him.

Steve from Age UK and Donald from Guiness might both be calling later on the mobile, so I must make sure the phone is near me ears all the time.

IMG_0098

Through Town to meet Pete at his bus-stop

Got myself cleaned up and bussed to town to meet Pete a his bus-stop.

Being a tad early I called into the EE shop and asked an assistant if it was possible to block my voice messages as I can’t hear them anyway.

IMG_0099

Nottinghomians in the summer wear today – crossing the lights against the red of course…

Many of the staff discussed this between themselves and one said i’d have to contact customer services while another toyed with the phone and blocked them?

Met Pete and we had a chin-wag of sort, both of us being a bit deaf like.

Caught the bus to the QMC and walked to the treatment centre at the back of the compound.

IMG_0100

Pete and “The Hand of Help”

When we arrived Pete was interested in the aluminium so called artwork of the hand.

We went in and pete handed his paperwork in and we sat down to await being called in.

Which was only about 5 minutes and well before the appointed time – they even let me go into a waiting room and have a cup of tea from the machine.

IMG_0101

View from the waiting room window

Pete was seen to quickly and about half an hour later he returned.

I took a photo of the view from the window while waiting.

IMG_0102

Pete looking good as he left the QMC

Sample taken for diagnosis and a pressure pad applied. He’s to go to his GP for the stitches to be removed later and await the results. I  assume I’ll be going through the same tomorrow when it’s my turn for the same treatment?

Took a photo of Pete, looking good as we made our way to the bus-stop to return to the City Centre.

We were soon dropping off the bus in town, and he traffic was horrendous. Well it would be as it was the rush-hour now.

I was well drained and tired by then.

As we alighted the bus I noticed some blood on Pete’s back coming from the dressing through his shirt. Only a little bit, but told him so he could have Janet check it out when he got home like.

I decided that trying catch a bus would be too hassle-ridden and decided to walk home to back to Carrington.

Pete thanked me for going with him and said cheerio and we parted.

Pete could not do the same for me tomorrow as he was going with Sister Jane to the City Hospital for her cancer checks.

IMG_0105

On the walk home from town

We ain’t much of a family are we? We’re using up all the NHS resources between the three of us. Hahaha!.

I set off on me walk through town and up Mansfield Road.

The youngsters form the colleges were out and about with their flesh showing early as the set off on the prowl for entertainment of some sort.

Wearily I plodded on, feet and knees aching, so tired.

IMG_0108

Nosh. Chips, bacon, roasted onions and bread thins – and the last of me Lemon cheesecakes.

I made it to Carrington and was tempted by the smells from the chip shop into buying a bag of chips and on to the dump.

Too weary to do any diarying or owt else I made me nosh and fell asleep.

Thinking about tomorrow and my turn for the Treatment centre.

Oh, knucklewhoopsiedangles! I’ve forgot about the clinic visit! Tsk!

Mon 8.6.15: Inchcock Today: In a mingent state, Poor thing!

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Monday 8th June 2015

Woke at 0540hrs, no bleeding from other end – good that – unfortunately I’m somewhat mingent with the bladder – Hey-ho.

IMG_0077

This mornings sky – forewarning of nice weather and local yobs un-hibernating… Huh!

Busy day ahead for me… again Tsk!

Took me medications with a cuppa.

Got to get me posts finished and put them on the League of Mental Men WordPress site.

That took me 3.5 hours to get done.

Hey-ho, now to get the things done ready for BJ who called last night, he’s calling today at 1200hrs to collect the stuff for the Nottingham Hospice Charity shop and take them there for me, and drop off me shredded paper in the recycling bin.

So, better get on with sorting them out ready.

Back in a while…

Did much sorting and shredding, having 4 big boxes and a bag to go when BJ arrives at 1200hrs (We’ll see).

Had a wash and change and continued shredding away.

Spot on the dot – BJ arrived at 12.55hrs. Good old BJ never fails to be late bless him.

The bladder still painful when in use. Huh!

We loaded BJ’s car and he took me to the Recycling station, where all the bins were full. We managed between us to half close the lid on the bin we deposited me shredding results in.

Then to the Nottingham Hospice Charity shop.

BJ went into the Co-op to get some stuff for his better half and I went in with him and got some bread thins.

BJ ran me back to the dump. I thanked him and he shot off after kindly telling me he’d pick me up in the morning at 0800hrs with me laundry and take me to the launderette like.

IMG_0078Got in and pondered on what to have fer me nosh – decided on sausage, mash, garden peas, carrots and chick peas. I cooked em in Red onion caramelised cooking sauce. Oh, and some bacon bits.

It was one of me better tasting meals  this one, it were grand. I wondered if I should send the recipe to Her Majesty like – but being as she hasn’t send me single birthday card in 69 years, I decided against it. Hehe!.

Laptop on to update this diary, then did some Facebooking.

Feeling somewhat shattered at the moment?

Sun 7.6.2015: Inchcock Today

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Sunday 7th June 2015

Woke at 0545hrs, mucho bleeding from the little Inch again.

On the WC – and couldn’t get off for 45 minutes! Oh dear… blood from the other end now. Tsk!

Cuppa and medication taken – pots cleaned and laptop on.

Did a graphic for Clivey Boy and emailed it to him. Coreldraw x7 crashed again! Grrr!

Then did the header for this diary – and started it off.

Early yobboes lurking up and down the street this morning?

Another cuppa, then finished me blogs for yesterday and got them posted – only took me four hours.

0701Had a good scrub-up and shave, in me togs and set off to town.

When I got towards the Victoria bus-station, I took a photo showing the old filled in railway lines and the supports that hold up the actual bus-station.

I bet that took some graft and  know-how to get built?

Caught the C single decker bus to Mansfield (another instant decision made to to Mansfield).

0702We went through Bulwell, Hucknall which I took the first photograpicalisation of me often visited GUM clinic as the bus went passed it like. Memories flooded back to me… eurgh!

Then through Newstead then Annesley where I tried to take a photo of some horses in the 0703fields as sped along, but this dark blue Transit van is all I got as he sped passed us!

Huh!

Just passed Annesley I managed to take a photo of some old colliers (miners) terraced houses. This set me thinking of all the Collieries we used to have in this area:

0705Gedling, Hucknall No1, Hucknall No2, Linby, Radford, Wollaton, Newstead, Bevercotes, Mansfield, Harworth, Kirkby, Ollerton, Bentinck, Pye Hill, Thoresby, Welbeck, Clipston, Rufford, Blidworth, Annesley, Moorgreen, Selston, Sutton, Silverhill, Teversal, Firbeck, Sherwood.
Lodge, Highpark, Manton, Warsop Main, Shireoaks, New Hucknall,
Steetley, Langton. Cossall, New Selston, and Oakwood Grange, and I’ve probably missed some off the list?

I went into deep contemplating mode for a while. The miners were extremely militant and their unions decision not to hold a strike ballet was one route cause of frustration within Nottingham colliers – but Maggie Thatcher already had plans for the destruction of the industry in the pipe-line before the strike it transpired. Whoever one chooses to blame the most – the suffering of the colliers families and the break up of communities was so very lamentable and sad.

0704The bus was at Kirby-in-Ashfield when I pulled myself out my moroseness.

As the bus passed the graveyard that has many American Airmen in it I thought I’d take a photo…

But an ambulance with it’s blues and twos belted passed from the opposite directed and frit me a bit Hehe.

0706That was two photographs ruined. Would I make me hat-trick I thought?

At Sutton bus-station I noticed that KFC had done there… er… food place up and made it look nice now – shame there was no one actually going in it for the time we were there waiting for the bus to move.

We drove on eventually getting in Mansfield bus station, and I made me way to the book shop to get half the money back I paid for em, when I got two more book and swapped em – if yer see worra mean like.

0708It had closed down – Huh!

So I poddled up to the B&M store and had a wonder around.

Got a packet of bacon that looked nice and was cheap.

Well!

0710Then I moved up to have a decker in the Pound-stretcher shop – they had some dried onions in, and jars of Red onion cooking sauce with Rosemarie, so I got one of each.

As you can see, the Pound-Stretcher shop was very busy by the photo on the left wot I took see. And this is just one of five aisles in the place – wonder how long they’ll last?

Then I trudged back to the bus-station and caught a Pronto bus back to Nottingham, that would drop me of in Carrington.

0712The house I photographed while we were driving passed it is the one just bought by a certain media mogul chappy with a beard. A bargain at £3.3m I’m sure.

Of course I was goiing to put in a bid missen like – but he beat me to it.

FibMode

0713The sky looked nice and bright as I got back into Carrington.

Made me way back to the bomb-site with aching feet – not the bomb site with aching feet like, it wer me with the aching feet!

Yobboes on the street, had to go through them to get in the house, luckily cars were going by at the time and all I got was dirty looks form them.

IMG_0076

WC’d and updated this diary.

Then had me bacon with me flavoured baked beans and bread thins.

And jolly nice it was too…

Evening all!

Inchcock Remembers the Royal Visit to Nottingham… (Sneer adopted)

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Inchcock’s Memories of the Royal Visit to Nottingham

Nottingham is preparing to give the Royal Family a warm welcome when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the city with the Queen.

Residents have spoken of their joy and surprise after Buckingham Palace announced Prince William and Princess Catherine will join the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on their trip to the city on June 13.

The Royals will greet crowds in the Old Market Square, before making an appearance on the balcony of the Council House.

They will then travel to Vernon Park, in Old Basford.

Iris Busley, 65, of Skylark Drive, Basford, was delighted at the news of the Royals’ trip to the area.

She said: “I’m really gobsmacked. We’ve never had anything like this in Basford before.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.”

Susan Davis, 59, of Corncrake Avenue, called for everyone in Basford to turn out for the occasion.

She said: “I just think it’s incredible. It’s just wonderful.”

Buckingham Palace announced the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will arrive by train at Nottingham Station, where they will be met by the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge.

The royal party will then be taken by car to the Old Market Square to greet the public, before going into the Council House to meet the Lord Lieutenants of Notts and Derbyshire and invited guests. Huh!

They are one of 16 couples in Notts given the honour in recognition of celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this year. Mr Starbuck, of Clarewood Grove, Clifton, said: “It’s all come as a bit of a shock. We’re thrilled they are all coming to Nottingham.

“We will be more than pleased to meet them and welcome them to the city.”

A spokeswoman for Sir Andrew Buchanan, Lord-Lieutenant for Notts, said: “We are thrilled with the visit. It’s unlikely a visit of this magnitude will happen again.

“It’s a one-off, and we are all very excited about it.”

The trip to Vernon Park will see the guests of honour treated to sporting and musical performances by children from schools and groups from Notts and Derbyshire.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will leave after this, but the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will remain at the park to watch more activities.

Nottingham City Council leader, Councillor Jon Collins, said: “As the capital of the East Midlands, it’s great Nottingham’s playing host to this royal visit.

My response was:

I’m so glad for them both. FibMode

It will be a reet-treat for them!

Being a long time resident of Nottingham, being made redundant three times, living for a month on a pension that’s less than they pay for a bottle of champagne, recovering from heart surgery, suffering with arthritis, impetigo, and angina, collapsed reflux valve, haemorrhoids, and knowing where to find the cheapest short date foods to buy, will no doubt fascinate them.

I offered to show then around the places they would not usually visit without their nine full time protection armed officers and an MI 5 helicopter hovering above.

Well, you’ve got to try and help the poor little Royal mites, bless them!

* I can show them the fourteen police station torched in the Summer riots – or rather the six that are still operating anyway.

* The burn marks on the Canning Circus station grab bars still visible as you climb the steps to go into it to report your being mugged again still brings back memories.

0402* I could take them home and show them my album of photographs of the local yobbery, with the one of the young gang who terrorise we old fold with mugging us, carry guns, breaking into our property, egging our windows, door knocking and general anti-social behaviour.

* I could show them the scenes where a party-goer was shot in the head with an air rifle, that’s only a few hundred yards to the south of my house.

* Then the pub where a youth was shot and killed, that’s just a few hundred yards north of my house.

* The spot where a man sat in a car was shot at by members of one of the  many drug gangs, that’s about half a mile from my abode, and on my weekly 90 minute walking route to the hospital for my INR Warfarin level blood tests.

0401* Take them on my 40 minute walk to town down Mansfield Road, and point out the variety of closed down retail businesses (46), where the 84 year old lady was mugged and hospitalised last June, while at the bus stop by two illegal immigrants one Sunday morning,  the now closed down shop where a lady of 67 years of age was gunned down in a raid and no one has ever been caught for it.

* Let them see the colourful Big Issue sellers as they sometimes get off their mobile phones to actually sell an issue.

* The newly opened outlets in the city centre – the Charity shops, the Bookmakers, the Coffee shops, Pawnbrokers and the ‘We buy your gold’ retailers.

* The constant traffic jams in the city, where they could increase their word knowledge I’m sure!

* Take them to the Arboretum, where sometimes you can find enough grass to sit on without having to move the used condoms, beer cans (Empty), pop and water bottles (Half-empty), half eaten take away foods, fag packets, phlegm, and sick, while they can listen to three or four other peoples music at the same time!

I haven’t had a reply to my offer yet!

I recall when I was in E19 Men’s surgical at the QMC a few years ago now, and Prince Charles was in a ward to himself above us, with two nurses and a sister in attendance full time – having his ‘tennis elbow fixed’!

I was having a hernia repair done, when they found I’d got cancer of the bladder, so attended to that for me at the same time… bless them.

0501* I might show them a photo of one of me nosh’s, to see how it matches with one of theirs? I bet they’d only be jealous though?

When Princess Diana arrived on a visit to Charles, with her armed protection officers, they were admitted through a fire door to avoid the awaiting press – someone shouted out in great admiration – “Oh… it’s Lady Di, and all the staff ran to the window to take look down at her… unfortunately for me, the auxiliary nurse was taking out my drainage tube from my penis at the time, and as she shot off to get a view of the royalty, she caught and dragged the tube with her foot, and I was covered in blood and in great pain!

I bet nothing like that happened to Charlie when he was having his tennis-elbow sorted?

Angry? Me?

Well….

Tue 19.5.15: Inchcock Today: Progress! Too late but still, Progress!

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Tuesday 19th May 2015

I felt a bit like the sky this morning IMG_0266a, bit dark and unsettled, on edge, anxious.

Must do me best to get some sorting done again: I just hope BJ gets in touch. I think he rang last night but just ‘Private number’ shown on phone.

Must remember Wednesday the Age UK gentleman is calling and Thursday the evaluator from Spencer Courts is coming to interview and assess me for application to the flat.

The mind still swirling. The littlest setback criticalistion or failure and down I go. Sad state of affairs.

Even me BP readings looked dodgy to me this morning, I’ll ask the District Nurse when she comes to give me the needle, if she can have a look.

Sys 131, Dia 76, Pulse 99, Temp 34.6c?

Started this diary – had a washski and started to sort some paperwork out.

BJ rang again, this time on another phone that showed up – rang him back. His better half answered, BJ will call later to see me.

I think missing me walks and wanders is doing me no good, but just do not have the time with all these appointments to go on ’em – Sad!

So, Wednesday Age UK advisor coming – Thursday MRBHA assessor coming, Friday clinic, District nurses twice a day  for the next six days at least.

BJ called and I explained me situation come plight to him – he took me bags of washing to give Mandy at the launderette to do a service wash for me bless him. He said he would come this afternoon to take some of the bags away for me. What a mate!

Waiting for the nurse I updated this sad Tommy-rot. Whilst doing so the warm wet sensation came in me pants – Boggleplonkdamn! – Little Inch was bleeding again. Cleaned missen up and continued to wait for the nurse.

IMG_0003Nurses arrived and done me injections. We had a nice chin-wag for a bit.

I then searched totally without any success for me multi-point Sim card attachment for the laptop, the one I’d used  three hours ago! After over an hour of searching I gave up. Oh dear…

Updated this diary to here, then waited to hear from BJ.

BJ arrived, returned me done service-laundry (£15.99) and set too helping me sort the bags out, and he not only took bags to the bins, but lifted me to the computer shop, where they didn’t have any multi-card reader (shame) and then to the Nottingham Hospice shop with the bags, heater, TV and DVDs. Unfortunately, the lady said they cannot accept or sell TVs? So BJ ran us to the Sue Ryder shop and they accepted it.

Got a call from the nurses, the Anoxaparin was to be stopped – as me last INR test had improved. So nobody will be calling who I can have natter with – Huh!

IMG_0004Then back to the flea-pit and BJ spent hours helping me sort a corner out.

During which it suddenly hailed in bucketfuls.

By now I was done in physically but still wanted to get a multi-card reader to replace the one that had magically disappeared.

So when BJ left, saying he’s try to get here tomorrow afternoon and help some more, I thanked him and set off for the bus-stop to go into town and Jessop’s camera shop.

IMG_0005Damned decent chap is BJ.

One of the best, bless him.

As I waked along the hail that had fallen for a few minutes had turned into snow.

Down Church Drive over the pelican crossing and down to the bus-stop.

I soon caught a bus into the City Centre. Got off on Milton Street and walked on to cross the lights into Clumber Street.

IMG_0006The famous Nottinghomian’s again proving there determination to ignore the Walk Don’t walk lights at all costs.

I popped into the Jessop’s shop anf got the multi-card reader – same model as the one I lost.

It was getting late now and I was getting more tired than ever – but as I passed some noshery or other – the smell of the food made me hungry again.

IMG_0008When I got on the bus I took a photo of a building housing shops, and mighty fine workmanship and design too. Erected in 1901 the plaque said.

When I got off the bus in Carrington the smell from the Greek fish &chip shop even smelt nice… well, not as repugnant as it usually does like.

The rain began starting as I got to the flea-pit.

I cooked me nosh and made a cuppa.

IMG_0010Then ate me nosh – bet yer can’t guess what all the ingredients were from this photographicalisation wot I dun?

Clues?: American… root, toms, beet, leaves, two kind of pot’s?

I’m so glad to be eating again.

Did some Facebooking and got me head down – now to see if me mind let’s me sleep Hehe!

Sat 16th May 2015: Inchcock Today

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Saturday 16th May 2015

Got up feeling well drained still – remembered bits of a dream involving a large house and various large ladies of an amorous nature I was pursuing around the rooms and gardens, happily they seemed to respond to my advances – now that really is a dream!

IMG_0237

Pretty but weird sky

On me way down to make a cup of tea, I espied the sky from the top window and thought it looked a bit different with its light blue with white edging and the swirling dark clouds above.

A sign of something coming methinks, but what?

It seemed a bit warmer this morning.

I remembered to get ready for the nurse coming to dispense the Anoxaparin injections into me ticker. They are coming in twice a day over the weekend (planned to anyway) to do this for me.

Did me BP thing: Sys 141-Dia 85-Pulse 85-Temp 33.1c

Checks on me other ailment: Arthritis knees not bad at all, hands fair, Blind-boil nasty, Anne Gyna fair, Duodenal ulcer okay, hernia okay, Reflux valve sticking but not swollen? Inch Lesion no bleeding, Haemorrhoids no bleeding.

IMG_0241

Breakfast today

Made me cuppa and had me breakfast (Medications hehe).

Started laptop and it didn’t recognise the power supply. This happened a couple of months ago and I had to get a new unit – Huh!

Started to create this diary.

The call to the porcelain intervened and things were still loose to say the least.

IMG_0243
The Sky continued to impress

Did a bit of sorting, but of course the bins are full and I’ve already got several black backs and box’s of stuff ready to find a kind person to take the away for me.

Weary now.

The District Nurse arrived and gave me some more bruises with the syringe bless her.

CityRain

Selfies of me syringe marks

She seemed intent on going in deeper than the other nurses did, tonight between 2000 > 2200hrs another nurse should be along to ‘do me’ hehehe!

Tried to do some ‘selfies’ (Is that the word?) of flabby belly bruises. More to come too. Hey-ho! 

So I’m going to try and get some sleep in between because I really feel knackered now, excessively so.

I’ll try to do some Facebooking and see how I feel first.

IMG_0242Had me nosh for the day.

Fell asleep – easily.

Woke around 1825hrs.

Had wash and shave and took me evening medications including the 2½ Warfarin.

Updated this diary to here and went down to await the arrival of the Night Nurse.

Still feeling tired with my spirits seeming to be up one minute and down the next?

Hey-ho!

Woke up around 1935hrs and titivated missen and got ready for the District Nurse took.

Made an impromptu rhyme while I was waiting for the nurse to arrive. I’ll post it later – about when I stopped drinking.

IMG_0244The nurse arrived and injected me flobadob tummy.

I’d been feeling a bit shivery and cold, but it was actually warm tonight?

Glad I managed a bit of a kip now, but guilty that I have again got no sorting out done. Tsk!

Finished this diary off and got me Rhyme post done and posted too.

Nodded off and woke with such gusto within about five minutes – panic and confusion fer a few seconds – I must have had an instant dream perhaps? Real weird feeling – and I could not get back to kip for yonks. Tsk!