It’s been a Funny Old Life.. Part 3 Updated

18/08/2015 / Inchie / 10 Comments

It’s been a Funny Old Life.. Part 3 Updated

I started with nothing, I’ve got most of it left.

At shoplifting Mother was rather deft,

Eventually they charged her with fraud and theft,

At this I wanted to cheer and wave a wheft,

But she got off with it, and I was bereft!

I left school, started working at just fourteen,

Mother reappeared on our then contented scene,

‘Cause for several years she’d hardly been seen,

This meant I’d be broke before I was fifteen,

After most of our valuables were never again seen,

Mother disappeared to stay with Auntie Eugene,

Who later also went bankrupt we did gleen,

It not that she was nasty, cruel or mean,

She’d just leave you without a flipping bean!

But she’s sadly missed by many you see,

By magistrates, solicitors and many P and DC,

There’s often times when comes back in me memory,

In me nightmares usually.

Dad knew for Mam’s next return I had no yearning,

And she would return when I started earning,

And when she did, things would be worsening,

Bank manager and wallet regretted her returning,

The neighbours got new locks, tongues were burning,

How to lock their doors they were relearning!

She told us she was a changed person nowadays,

She’d become kinder and changed her ways,

Having just avoided the judge sending her to Strangeways,

After with the police the pillock did liaise,

The magistrates let her off with probation – this did amaze,

And that meant the restart of Dads and my malaise,

She soon started selling t’neighbours none-existent holiday chalets,

We were really worried when she offered Dad praise,

She soon ended up back in her old ways.

Conning, shoplifting, bingo halls, fag-end collecting, even conned a solicitor,

She became locally famous for that one hereafter,

The magistrates this time, got even dafter,

Let her off again – in the courtroom there was much laughter!

They gave her a flat, and furnished it, believe that can you?

The rent they paid half of it for her, and the gas bills too,

Half of the electricity bills, and scrubbed her debts it’s true!

Arranged for her flat to be decorated and furnished all through,

As she left the Court, she smiled widely and off she flew,

I imagined her inwardly shouting “Yabbadabbadoo”!

And Crime Don’t Pay some idiot will tell you!

I suppose I’ll meet her again in heaven maybe I think so a bit,

I’d better prepare for when I go and snuff-it,

I’ll spend all me dosh now, before she can get her hands on it!

Bless Her – See yer in a bit Mam!

Mon 17 Aug 2015: Inchcock Today: Medicationalistical activities

18/08/2015 / Inchie / 3 Comments

Monday 17^th August 2015

Off on me way to hospital today, well it cheers the nurses – Hehe!

0200hrs: Woke slowly – the dreams I’d had fresh and worrying in me mind – by the time I got up and visited the porcelain those memories were gone completely. I hate it when that happens!

Another bloody bloody visitation – ‘Little Inchy’ so sore and leaking, back passage the same. I’m getting fed-up with this!

Made a cuppa, opened laptop and got morning medication pot out ready for later. Made sure me INR record log was in me pocket ready, along with me bus-pass and camera.

Did me LOMM site posts while I had the chance, then posted yesterdays diary off.

Made cuppa, took me medications and Facebooked for ages and ages.

Did some graphics fer the TFZ site.

It took me ages to get them something like right, but I do enjoy making them for the TFZers and me Cyber-pals.

Best thing I did in a whole it was to get the newer (very expensive) Coreldraw x7 suite and the new (Then) laptop so I can make use of the power of the programme like.

WC’s and doctored the bleeding parts of me anatomy.

Hehe, wot a life!

Another cuppa then I got a good scrub-up and freshening missen a bit.

Checked to make sure the nurses nibbles and camera was in the bag and bus-pass, INR form and mobile phone in me coat pocket ready for me trip to the Queens Medical Centre tests.

Had a natter with some of the other tenants at the bus-stop – the caught the L9 bus into town, again proving the value of me Free Pensioners Bus Pass.

Dropped off in the City Centre and made me was to catch another bus out to the QMC fer me tests.

The team in the haematology department were all new to me – and the other four people and every one but one of the six nurses were not English. Nice people though.

Came out and made me way to the bus stop back into town. Took a photo of the crowds going into the hospital.

Ahem… on the left…

Got into town and thought I’d see if i could get any of the working socks like last time from Primark, they were comfy they were.

I noticed on me way to the store, the wicker displays had had flowers planted in them now.

I thought the high-heeled shoe one was worth photographing.

Got into Primark but they did not have any of the type of socks like wot they had in stock last time I called in – shame.

The crowds on me way to the store were a bit large for a Monday.

Still, if yer collapsed going down this Clumber Street, yer wouldn’t hit the floor cause of all the shoplifters… no, no, sorry… Nottinghamians I meant to say like.

I poddled into the town’s Slab Square where the Nottingham Beach and boating pool was well attended, despite the lack of sunshine.

Caught the L9 bus back to the flats and took advantage of me getting seen to early at the hospital and gor me washing ready to take down t’laundrette room.

Started the washing machine off and returned up to the flat to use the WC. Put some letters in me bag to take to the Community Hut/Shed that had been delivered for Margaret, the previous tenant, when I got downstairs sadly someone had dropped off a letter for a lady tenant before whoever left it, the lady had passed away last week.

That makes three this month as far as I know of, two in Woodthorpe Court and one in Winchester Court – by gum we’re dropping like flies. Hehehe!

I got the togs out of the washer and into the drier and for some reason it didn’t start, so I had to pay again, this time it started okay.

I popped to the Community Shed and Obergruppenfurher Kommander Julie was in – but that didn’t scare me at all. I gave her the letters and a choice of nibbles from me bag.

On me way back to Woodthorpe Court, I caught a squirrel as I turned the corner and managed to get a shot of it on the concrete slabs at the end of the complex near the entrance to the woods.

Got back to the washing room and read me book for a while (Can’t find me crossword book anywhere?).

When I went into the room to see if the drier had finished there was water on the floor, not from anywhere near the drier mind? Nipped up to the flat and got some towel to dry it off in case anyone slipped on it, but it remains a mystery as to where it came from?

The drier did its usual good job, togs in bag, back up to flat, togs in airing cupboard, then back down to the laundry room to collect me book. Huh!

Back up t’flat (Good job the lift ain’t broke today).

Got some chips int oven, and made me nosh, again I enjoyed it – but then I sank into depression for the rest of the night.

Suddenly gripped with anxiety over not getting things sorted at the old place.

Took me evening medications.

Sun 16 Aug 2015: Inchcock Today

17/08/201517/08/2015 / Inchie / 3 Comments

Sunday 16^th August 2015

0144hrs: Woke, with feelings of uncertainty and uneasiness?

Me back twinging away at me, the angina playing up, bleeding ‘Little inch’, bleeding haemorrhoids, coughing and sneezing, stomach rumbling and felt so cold! Still, the reflux valve and ticker seemed calm.

Put me dressing gown on and looked at all the mess around me that needs sorting… guilt-ridden at me lack of abilities, money and help to get owt done, being conned by United Carpets… then the self-pity came over me and I felt rotten!

I took me readings BP etc.

Sys 146 – Dia 73 – Pulse 70 – Temp 34.2 I’m none the wiser till, but it seems like me usual readings or there abouts. Me problem is I keep forgetting to do these every day and the nurse ain’t happy when I go in without the readings.

Put some Betamethasone cream on the Little Inch, Phorpain gel on me knees and back where I could reach anyway.

Depressed beyond understanding I hobbled into the kitchen (The arthritis in the knees bad as well this morning, but the hands seemed okay… but later events soon changed this!).

Made a cuppa and took photo of the opening screen when I started the laptop, and tried to make use of the WC but the innards wouldn’t let me?

After I went on WordPress and got yesterdays diary finished off and posted, I went on Facebook. This cheered me up a bit I’m glad to report – so many messages and comments from me Cyber-Friends. Despite Anne Gyna letting me know she was not happy.

Made another cuppa and took me morning medications early but still.

So much to try and get sorted today. Tons more paperwork to sort and that takes ages, I don’t want to rush it and shred owt I’ll need.

Still too early to start making noise with the shredder.

Answered me emails and blog comments, then I did some preparatory graphicalisationing on Coreldraw and Corel Paint X7 for a while.

Guilt at getting nothing done rose its ugly head and I tried to get the overspill paint off one of the four doors that he’d left some on for me.

Failed miserably with me cleaner spray and marked the wood – don’t know what to try next?

Still feeling guilt ridden, I decided to try to use the mechanism on the kitchen window to to turn it 180° ready for me to clean them – not easy as I have to get me arthritic hand between the button thing and the wall and hold it open all the time while turning the great window with me other arthritic hand!

A real struggle that, now I have red bruises on me knuckles.

Bits of the decaying window frame fell off all over the place and floor when I got it turned – eventually.

Tried Asda window cleaner – not much good, then tried kitchen cleaner with bleach on it, a bit better but it took ages and was so painful stretching up. The framework was filthy and took extra effort and patience to get something like clean. Chips in the glass inside and out.

When I eventually got to closing it to clean the inside I still had to keep the button thingy pulled out all the time or it would not move at all again – well pee’d off and annoyed with that I was.

Then of course I could see marks I’d missed off on the outside – Huh! No way I was going through all that pain again, they could stay there until I can get someone to help me next time – which might be forever!

Cleaned the narrow static window at the bottom. Then had to clear and clean the ledge and floor of droppings when I had opened the window – sod this for a lark – but who can I ask for help? Yes… nobody.

Hard to type now ’cause of the pain in me knuckles – yer can’t win can yer? Tsk.

Took me first picture through the window at 0620hrs.

I could hear noises again that I could not recognise – this seems to happen every day here lately?

Couldn’t even tell where they were coming from?

WC’d with great difficulty for some reason – the haemorrhoids bled profusely again as did ‘Little Inchy’. I really must mention this to the GP on me next visit, it’s getting a tad worrying, especially with the Warfarin INR level having just returned to something like normal last week.

Updated this diary, then returned to me graphicalisationing on Coreldraw.

Got a good bath and changed – ‘Little Inchy’ not bleeding so much now. Haemorrhoids still bad though. Tsk!

Set off on a walk into Woodthorpe Park, determined to find the Tropical House to have a viewing of and take some photographs of it.

I walked up the back and to the top of the hill at the back of the Park.

It took me while because there were no signs for it to be found.

When I did find it, it was closed!

Hey-ho, never mind, at least I know where it is now.

Tomorrow it’s closed all day – but I’ve got to go to the Queens Medical Centre anyway, for me Warfarin INR deep blood tests.

It was lovely walking back through the gardens part, they were unkempt but that didn’t stop me enjoying them and for a while at least, forget me other worries.

I walked down into the thickets of wood and came across a tree stump that had some amazing looking fungi-growth at the base of it.

The wonderful two different fungi is on the right bottom of this photograph.

There was an orange and white ticket nailed to the stump, wondered what it was for?

Anyone know please?

Hobbled on and down the field back to the flats in a bit of a rush – The WC porcelain was summoning me attentions like.

Got in just in time – soddit, ‘Little Inchy’ was bleeding again – I really must mention this to the nurses tomorrow.

I met me lady neighbour when I was taking out some rubbish to the chute – and asked her if she’s like the bottle of Clementine juice that was too sweet for me.

I asked her in to show her the mess United Carpets had made of installing them – that’s UNITED CARPETS!

Just thought I ought to warn any other prospective mugs like, yer know.

Did even more prep work on Coreldraw.

Hunger pangs matured and I got me nosh on.

The coughing started to return and the odd sneeze emitted.

I must say I really enjoyed me nosh tonight.

Chips (Fries for me hoards of fans in America Hehe!), garden peas, roasted peppers, lettuce and cabbage and some bread thins. I’d tried these chips before and they were a bit tasteless – so cunningly coated them with a pot of herbs and spices, that did the trick. Rated it 8.3/10.

The usual sudden fatigue overcame me and I retired for the night.

TTFN all.

Sat 15 Aug 2015: Inchcock Today – Dispirited!

16/08/201516/08/2015 / Inchie / 1 Comment

Saturday 15^th August 2015

0150hrs: Woke, a feeling of something wrong, missing or amiss pervaded… Ah, it was ’cause I had got me head down in front room on the softer carpet like, and the beat of the fridge-freezer was missing!

Coughing a bit now – getting soaked in the rain yesterday didn’t help.

I perused the condition of the room, noticed I’d left me paperwork part-sorted from yesterday lying out in order so I could remember where I’d got to with them – of course none of it made any sense to me now?

Called to the WC, and not a good visit at all this morning at all: Coughing away I investigated ‘Little Inchy’, he needed cleaning up again and some more Betamethosone treatment – and the haemorrhoids were bleeding like ridiculously! The Reflux valve was sticking out of me chest like a mole-hill, never known it as bad. At least Anne Gyna wasn’t bothering me much and the ulcer was calm, Arthur Itis of course ever-present, especially in the fingers again today – it’s taking me ages to type this with all the correcting I’m having to do. Huh!

I did manage to finish the graphic for Les Johnson for his excellent book Erskine Quint – Timeless Insanity. I must say it’s the best fiction adventure book I’ve ever read – bonkers but captivating.

I had hoped to get to some charity shops to see if I could find a desk for me computer and a bed – but then remembered the chair is being delivered some time today from the Sue Ryder charity shop. So that’s me stuck in until it arrives.

Had to redo me medicating of ‘Little Inchy’ again. That and the reflux valve and me coughing were all a bit concerning, but still, I’ve done well to get this far so far… I think…

Made a cuppa and took me medications.

After a search for me hearing-aids and putting them in – I could hear a noise, no idea which way or where it was coming from – or what it was for that matter?

I listened for a few minutes to try to identify it, couldn’t tell if it was whining deep voices or not, seemed to be mechanical at times as well… so annoying I took out me hearing-aids.

The back pains started again as soon as I tried to pick up some swept up bits of carpet trimmings. Felt a bit low now.

The chaps arrived with the chair from the charity shop and put it inside for me.

Got fed-up with myself and seeing all the mess everywhere, and decided to have a trip into town to get out a bit.

Took this photograph leaning out of the kitchen window – and it tool a lot of pain and struggle to open the window too.

Blackberry pickers and dog walkers with confused dogs now they have cut the field back.

Walked up and through Woodthorpe Park and down into Sherwood and had a look in the charity shops to see if they had any desks or beds for sale, but no luck.

Back up to the bus-stop and utilised me pensioners free-bus-pass into town.

Called in Tesco and got some tomatoes, then walked through Victoria Centre (Mall) and over the walk-over taking this photo.

Not many folk about for a Saturday.

Down the stairs the other end and walked along to the bus-stop for the Arnold buses and caught one dropping off in Carrington and calling at the old place which had not been burgled I’m glad to say.

Gathered some stuff to take back to the flat in two big bags.

Feeling a bit like I was on auto-pilot at this stage and somewhat confused as to what and why I was doing this. Mind racing, stomach churning, Arthur Itis giving me some stick too now.

Left the mess at the house and caught the bus back to the mess in the flat… Tsk!

Dropped off in Sherwood and walked to the top and back to the flat through Woodthorpe Park again.

Feeling sorry for missen again I think as I struggled up the walkway with the bags.

I somehow noticed an odd coloured lady bird crawling over the leaves at me feet, and tried to take a photograph of it for the Facebook site.

This is the lamentable result.

I suppose I ought to just accept that me and the little camera ain’t up to taking such close-up shots. I put it on max zoom and bent down to take the shoe… and it took me through some pain getting back up again. As I straightened up and began to walk on with me bags, Anne Gyna started giving me some gip.

Back in the flat and feeling low still, hunger pangs made me get me nosh early.

Salad and a half it was.

Potatoes, last of the mushroom pate’ and mini sausages, tomatoes, strong cheddar, beetroot and cabbage and lettuce. Caramelised red onion relish and bread thins to-boot.

Unfortunately I ate the lot, and then some biscuits afterwards too!

Did some graphicalisationing for a few hours.

Coughing and sneezing.

Weariness overcame me again.

No choice other than to get me head down in the front room. Kept waking up with coughing or the back pain… and Little Inchy bleeding again.

Worrying and fretting each time about the mess I was in.

Not in good spirits at all.

Hey-ho!

Fri 14 Aug 2015: Inchcock Today – Window replacement day

15/08/201515/08/2015 / Inchie / 5 Comments

Friday 14^th August 2015

0157hrs: Woke, put me hearing-aids in, and listened for a few seconds to the whir thump clud bang of the fridge freezer – at least I knew it was still working!

Up and WC’d. Pleased with the lack of bleeding from ‘Little Inchy’, when I returned to the kitchen/bedroom and cleared away me things then realised just what a state the place was in!

But no point in doing owt until those nice gentlemen from the Nottingham City Homes Maintenance team had been and destroyed the kitchen while replacing the condemned kitchen window.

The letter said they would be here twixt 0800hrs to 1400hrs.

Took the photo’s for the header and top of this blog.

Back to the WC… Haemmorhoids not bleeding so much today, Anne Gyna very quiet, Arthur Itis his usual self, annoying but not crippling. The wobbly stomach is a lot easier too.

Did some graphicalisationing and got one posted.

Me graphic of Patti Bekert at her second Art Gallery display. I was quite pleased with it, just hope Patti is.

The man came to look at the window in the kitchen – decided it was just ‘a bit stiff’ and was not broken as first assessed. He did show me how to move the switch that is on the right of the frame, into the correct position to allow the window to turn all the way around for cleaning the outside – after three failed attempts due to arthritis in me fingers, he suggested I rang them when I needed to clean the windows and they send someone to open it?

If I managed it and any rain came out from the windows when I turned them, ring him again.

Nice chap, took the vacuum cleaner out of the box for me, so at last I can use it to clear up the Cowboy carpet fitters mess they left. I’ve have to read the instructions first though.

Nipped to the Community shed to beg for help with phoning the British Gas about me electricity bill.

No one in.

The field outside had been mowed and finished nicely.

Returned to the flat and updated this – then Steve from Age UK answered the phone call I made – surprised that did. He was at the dentists and could not talk at the moment, he’ll ring back later. That didn’t surprise me at all.

Shelled some garden peas ready for later.

Really tasty nosh today – Seasoned chips, cooked fresh garden peas, pickled eggs, mushroom pat’e and mini-sausages.

Rated it 8.6/10.

Started to do some paperwork sorting and shredding – after I made a cuppa of course.

Had me nosh and somehow fell asleep in the swivel chair – taking me like in me hands there! How I didn’t topple off I don’t know.

Steve rang, he’s going to phone the Carpet Cowboys to see about where the bed is? Said he’ll ring me back.

He did ring back, they have no record of my order for a bed? Asked Steve to ring them back and tell them to forget it then – after the cocked-up carpet laying I want nowt to do with Untied Carpets ever again!

Thought about it, and decided to go to the bank on the next bus – just got time fer a wash and shave I hope… made it okay.

Dropped off in town and went straight to the bank, where a nice young lady listened to me and set me up on set up so I can just call in when I get an Gas/electricity bill and pay it.

To early to catch the last five-past the hour bus yet, so had a walk around – but the rain started so I ducked into the Pound shop and had a wander around. Got a pack of three heavy duty floor cloths.

Popped into Tesco to get me bread thins fer the weekend. How that cream cake got into me bag is still a mystery…

The rain coming even heavier I made a dash for the bus stop. 15 minutes to wait, but no hassle apart from a lady who came right up to me face and said “My name is Gladys I’m from Radford…” I said No, but she continued: “My friend is coming over from Latvia and I have no food in for her, would you be able to lend me £2o so I can…” I repeated a rather sterner ‘No’. Tsk, yer should have smelt the poor wino’s breath.

It dawned on me just as I was wondering why the bus was so late – the last one went an hour earlier! Felt a right plonka again!

Walked up and caught an Arnold bus, getting slightly soaked in the rain and dropped off in Sherwood, of course being this late there would be no buses up the hill available – so I set off on a walk through Woodthorpe park and back to the flats – just as the rain came belting down, and all the trees I had to walk under made it worse – Tsk!

A very soaked through Inchcock made it back to the flat.

WC’d, Little Inchy had been bleeding again, badly.

Kettle and laptop on to update this diary again. Plenty of jobs I could have been doing but felt a bit too fatigued, fragile, coughing away and Anne Gyna played up as bad as she ever has done now!

Took me medications and put me bank papers back in the correct folder – sneezed and me glasses fell off.

Odd sort of day, even fer me! Huh!

Thur 13 Aug 2015: Inchcock Today – Poorly

14/08/2015 / Inchie / Leave a comment

Thursday 13^th August 2015

0425hrs: Woke up with severe stomach pains, not feeling good at all this morning.

To the porcelain and suffered seriously when relieving myself, much blood from the haemorrhoids and pain from the intestines, ‘Little Inchy been bleeding a bit, Anne Gyna playing up.

Good job I’d got the day wrong for the window replacement being done (It’s tomorrow not today) cause there is no way I could lift the stuff out-of-the-way for their arrival at the moment. I can manage the paperwork and bits, but not dare to risk lifting the microwave or cabinet. Might feel less tender later and do it then.

I wondered if the cold Clementine juice drink I had yesterday afternoon caused the stomach to flare up so? Tons of natural sugar in it, too sweet fer me, so I’ll give the other bottles to the Hut and me neighbour if I get to see her.

WC’d again, that’s both actions that caused me pain now… Tsk!

I went in the other rooms and notice there are tons of little bits of carpet and nylon to pick up yet left by the Cowboy carpenters – then… Found they had knocked off the telephone connection box from the wall! Raw-plugs screws and the box was laying on the floor, dust and cement laying on the carpet and skirting boards!

I shoved it back in for now.

UNITED CARPETS

Remember that name folks, and avoid them at all costs!

It took me three weeks to get them to deliver the carpets when I also ordered a bed – I had to go to the shop to pay them for the carpet and bed and was told I needed £100 in cash to pay the fitter on the day – Eventually the fitter arrived and laid the underlay then nipped off telling me they had not yet received the carpet from untied Carpets – They returned and in a mad rush laid the carpet in 20 minutes! – Thousands of bits of carpet all over the surface – The doors don’t close in either room – and now I find they’ve damaged me electrics on the wall!

I thought they nipped off a bit quick like…

No sign or owt about me bed heard! Thousands of bits of carpet, nylon thread all over the place and me in no state to pick it up this morning so it’s going to get trod around innit? And I’m still finding splashes of Paul the painters efforts all over, Huh!

Well dis-pleased I am.

Made a cuppa took me medications and started this diary like.

The stomach still playing up, agony when I try to bend down – Huh!

But I’m sure things will get better…

Had a good bath – found some more of Painter Paul’s deposit on the bath taps. Had a nice soak and thought about, should I get a TV after all these years without one? Should I have got the lidded containers for the kitchen wot i saw in the J Lewis store the other day? Am I gong mad? Things like that…

Decided I would get a TV after-all, and ensured the Free Pensioners Bus-pass, camera and me debit card was in me pocket, and set off and caught the bis into Sherwood. Then caught one into town.

As i got into town there were several Nottingham Pavement Cyclists to photograph this morning – but unfortunately I had left me camera card stuck in the laptop. Curse!

Went into the John Lewis store, ground floor kitchen accessories and viewed the lidded bins again. Decided to get some and asked a lady if they had three of the small and 6 of the large bins in stock. She checked on the computer telling me they had them in stock.

Then I told her I was going to buy a TV as well. And could they deliver them at the same time please. “No problem, I’ll take the numbers and write them down for you to hand to the staff in the electrical department and they can add it to TV you buy”.

So, up to the third floor and was about to give up getting served when a bloke approached me at last. I informed him I was after a TV with built-in Freeview and a DVD player. He pointed out three in stock after checking every set to see if they had DVD slots. I opted for the cheapest and asked if they could deliver along with the containers. “No problem” he said. And set about sorting it on his sales monitor… “It will not let me add the containers, tells me I must check the stocks in store!”

He informed me they could not deliver before next Wednesday and got details from me about where I lived, access etc and added it to the list. Oddly enough, he had my record from past purchases with the new Address on? So, Wednesday 19th between 0700 > 1400 hrs was arranged – £47 set-up charge, total £349.95 (Usd $545.40 – Cad$709.48 – Aud$709.48. Oh dear…)

He printed off my purchase order and then we walked back down to the ground floor and found the lady who gave me the details of the containers, but had to wait because she was serving a customer – look around, whistle, scratched me bum, whistled…

Eventually she finished and they had a con-fab. Then I carried the containers in three trips to behind the serving counter, the man returned to his department. I asked “What now?” – “Just go and pay for them at the sales counter!”

So, back to the sales counter and joined the queue… looked around, whistled, scratched me bum, whistled… When my turn came a young man had me explains all this again when I handed him the sales receipt… Finally paid him. Worra a palava!

To the bus-stop and back to the flats – nearly nodding off again.

Called in the Community Shed and Herr Julia was there in her usual sociable mood, so just dropped off the letters and got back to the flat.

Saw Mr Pound-signs-in-eyes Caretaker and thanked him for taking away the Cowboys bags of rubbish for me. I felt so guilty as the disappointment appeared in his face when I didn’t slip him few quid this time.

Took a photo from the kitchen window of the grassed area of land that had been rutted by the dogs being walked as they followed the scent of other dogs. Two tractors were… I don’t what the word is… mowing it?

I bet this will confuse the dogs tomorrow when they take their owners for a walk? Hehehe! I’ll have to have a peek in the morning to see this.

Stomach feeling a bit better now. WC’d, no more blood from ‘Little Inch’ but the haemorrhoids had been leaking a tad – (Huh! – more washing to get done!)

Cuppa and laptop on to do this diary.

Got the shredder and did some sorting and shredding of even more paperwork despite Anne Gyna’s efforts to cripple me. Hehe!

Got me nosh on. Seasoned potato-curls, battered onion rings, fresh raw garden peas and bread thins – very nice too. Rated it 8.2/10.

Sorted the kitchen stuff into t’other rooms some more.

Then another payment demand ‘Bill’ arrived from British Gas for my first estimated Summer Bill for £149.62 – Argh!

So tired now, cuppa and medications taken and head down really early, so weary again now. But the mind was still racing thinking and worrying about things, but fatigue overcame the fretting and I was soon off in the land of kip.

Mon 10 Aug 2015: Inchcock Today – Utter Mayhem

10/08/2015 / Inchie / 5 Comments

Monday 10^th August 2015

0415hrs: Woke with a start and got straight up knowing I had a lot of hassle and work on today – not a good idea, cause I had a dizzy as I gorrup… Tsk!

I’d got the kitchen area all cleared where they hopefully will be knocking out the units to get to foam fill the holes in the wall. Every-time a fitter comes to look at it they change their plans!

First they came to fix the air-vent – He decided it needed bricklayers to come and block up the holes – Next the bricklayer came and did nowt, having decided it needed a carpenter to come and take out the units cupboards and drawers and fill the holes with foam? He’s due today, and I’m getting nervous.

Then I have to go to the dentist appointment afterwards, and get some bread in on the way back.

Tomorrow it’s the turn of the carpet layer to scare me and lay me carpets – so all the stuff I’d moved out of the kitchen to make way for the carpenter has to be moved back into the kitchen along with all the other stuff in the flat to make room for the carpet fitter to do his damage.

The condemned kitchen window is being replaced next week, by then I have no idea of the mess I’ll be up to me neck in, and redecorating will be needed of course…

Then there is the old place to get sorted yet…

I’m not feeling well now, just thinking about it all… Tsk!

To the bathroom and boy were the haemorrhoids bleeding! Another mess to clean up.

Brekkers today

Laptop on, cuppa and medications taken.

‘Little Inch swollen and throbbing, but only trickling with bleeding, still sore and painful though.

Bits of the dreams I’d had kept coming into me mind I couldn’t make much sense of them again, something involving big holes in the floor?

As time passed the angina and arthritis joined in playing up too.

Getting a bit worried about how I’m going to cope with things now.

Feeling sorry fer missen I suppose – can’t have that – must buck missen up somehow!

Got a new email from Angie that temporarily boosted me spirits, bless her and Patti and the TFZ members.

My kitchen curtains… another job to sort! Huh!

Went and had a shave, teggies and brush-up, changed into some old togs thinking best to for when (IF) the hole gets filled in I’d have to clear up the mess afterwards – then remembered the dentist appointment and changed back into decent togs. Huh!

There are times that I excel myself and commit self-inflicted Whoopsiedangleplops – this is such an occasion!

It is not today for the Dentist – it’s tomorrow at 1415hrs!

Pressed on sorting paperwork out, selecting what needs keeping and shredding much of it, filled two of the small orange recycling carrier bags.

Then moved some stuff out of the kitchen into the living room to give the bloke more room like.

The Carpenter chappy arrived and i explained the problem to him – nice chap, sociable type – rare that.

He soon had the base unit out revealing the rather large hole in the kitchen wall that had been causing the problems with the wind ingress.

Rather large wonnit? The one at the top that they are not touching is even larger.

Bit of drilling, banging and sawing and within half an hour he was ready to replace the cabinet.

He assured me the foam would continue to expand and fill in the whole of the hole… eventually like.

Spur of the moment decision to catch the L9 Bus into town and get some bread and maybe treat missen to a cream cake.

I emailed Deana Walker to tell her the hole had successfully been blocked. Thanking her for sorting it out for me.

Got me bag, bus-pass and list and set off to catch the bus into town – wait for it…

I got on the wrong one.

So dropped off in Sherwood and caught a bus there into Arnold, Norman from the flats was on the bus L8 and caught the Arnold bus with me and we had a good chin-wag – then we both realised we’d caught the wrong bus into Arnold – so we dropped off early and I walked into Arnold. Tsk!

I called into Sainsburys and looked for some of the nobbly potatoes but they didn’t have any, so I got some bread thins, spiced chips and fresh garden peas.

Walked into Arnold and popped into Asda to see if they had any of the nobbly potatoes in – they hadn’t – so I got a fresh cream raspberry and cream turnover.

En-route another Nottingham Pavement cyclist nearly had me as he meandered wobbly along the pavement with his radio or whatever it was blaring out from his headphones.

Swine!

The Arnold Market looked sadder than I’ve ever seen it.

I cut through the jitty and to the L9 bus stop to get back to the flats.

I don’t know why, but again I kept nodding off on the bus? I always seem to do this on the L8 and L9 buses?

They are electric-powered, that shouldn’t affect me should it?

Got into the flat and put me nosh away.

Made a cuppa and laptop on to update this tosh.

Remembered!

Had a walk down to the Community Hut (I’ll try to remember to take a photo of it) to hand in some more letters delivered for the previous tenant Margaret.

The shed was all locked up again.

Hey-ho!

Back to the flats and met a lady from the 8th floor visiting the lady in the flat next to mine. I gave her the ladies hair-brush with a mirror on the back that I’d got from the old house – for some reason. She liked it and that cheered me up a bit.

Got me nosh on – seasoned potatoes, two vegetarian sausages and crispy bacon and apple with the bread thins and sauce.

Rounded off with me fresh cream raspberry cake.

Great! Rated this one 8.6/10.

Then the horribly painful job of moving things into the bathroom and kitchen in readiness for the cowboy to fit me carpet tomorrow began.

Took me hours to get what stuff I did manage – me back is playing up wicked now – and I didn’t get everything into the kitchen and bathroom, still need to finish off moving the remainder of the stuff in the morning.

Too tired and weary now.

Sat 8 Aug 2015: Whoopsiedangleplops, Dilapidated body, Confused Brain…

08/08/2015 / Inchie / Leave a comment

Saturday 8^th August 2015

0415hrs: Stirred to like (Of sorts) The fridge freezer seems to have settled for a morning chorus of ‘Clunk, Whir… bang shudder whine chatagrurgle, Hoooiii clunk shudder this morning.

Bit of a dream still lingered:

In an old dilapidated building with dust and sunshine coming through the broken windows… chasing someone through the corridors that turned into passageways on a boat? Someone then chasing me… that’s all I can recall?

WC’d, only a bit of bleeding from ‘Little Inchy’. Still felt well tired but in good spirits this morning.

Laptop on to finish and post yesterdays diary – made a cuppa and took me medications.

When I got up to make another cuppa when the first went cold, I glanced out of the window to see a bloke who was walking his three little dogs on the green opposite the flats, and all three were taking a dump at the same time! Original photograph time I thought… but by the time I’d got me card out of the laptop and put it in the camera they had all finished their ablutions. Hehehe!

Incidentally, me fingers are a lot less bothered with Arthur Itis this morning?

I wondered if the Magnesium tablet I took last night wiv me evening medications might have helped? The cramps that I took them for in the first place started to come on a bit last night, but nowhere near as bad as they have been, surely one tablet can’t have been that effective? I’m puzzled.

I put the batteries for the camera on charge, charged the mobile phone, then got yet another ‘Wrong Call’ on the land-line. It sounded like the regular chappy who calls every night and can’t understand what he’s saying but he persists – I might have to get rid of the land-line if this continues. He’s calling ever night between 1700 to 19oohrs and now starting it at 0600hrs? Foreign accent, muffled voice, just can’t make out what he’s saying?

I put the Betamethasone Corticosteroid cream in the bathroom in case needed again.

Facebooked and graphicalisationed for a few hours.

Got the overfull washing bag, capsules and freshener ready, camera in bag and went down to see if I could have any luck with getting a washing machine free to use – I couldn’t. Both in use, and one indicating 35 minutes left the other 33 min’s – seems someone has used two machines – greedy little monkeys.

Back up to the flat and updated this diary while waiting to go down again and hope someone else doesn’t beat me to it again, and get me laundry done. If I can I’ll take me camera with me so when the drier is on I can have a poddle up to the park, find a bench and sit hoping to catch a photo of some wild life in the woods.

Made a cuppa and did a bit on Coreldraw x7.

Popped down to the laundry room and a machine was free.

while the wash was a-washing I did me crossword book a bit, and managed to a few answers done from te previously started one – not a lot, but some.

Got the drier going, but had to use the one that was very low to the ground.

Whoever had used it before did not clean the filter out.

This gets to me somewhat yer know, I’ve never yet… no I did once, but only once find the drier had been had its filter cleaned by someone after using it’.

Blimey, they even supply us with toothbrushes and knives to do the job – and still the moronic idle scum-bags don’t do it! Still it don’t bother me in the slightest bit really.

Off on a walk up the hill into Woodthorpe Park, too many humans playing music, kids screaming, footballers etc for any chance of a decent photo of any wildlife. Huh!

As I was crossing the grass, I came across a bumble bee (I think it was) that was crawling through the grass, seemingly pressing its body against the blades?

I wondered what it was up to, even when I bent down close to take the photographs he wasn’t put off his path or intentions?

I went up and around the Mansion at the top of the hill and back down the other side.

I veered left into the woods and through a thicket (If that’s the right word?) of trees and was so impressed I wandered further in and around it then took a photo of it as I was about to come out of it.

As I thought how much I loved all those different shades of green, and the trees fighting each other for the sunlight, it dawned on me – I was lost! “Whoopsiedangleplop Mark 1 for the day”

I could see the tops of the flats and eventually found a way through back to them.

I hope no one saw me laughing at missen as I appeared out of the wood into the grassed area.

I took a photo of the flats as I emerged into the open – from the other side to those I have taken before.

Woodthorpe Court on the right, Winchester Court on the left.

The right one is where I now dwell, but on the other side of the building.

Then: “Whoopsiedangleplop Mark 2 for the day”, as I was steadying myself to take a good stable photo, I stepped forward a couple of paces to try and balance the shot – and trod in some dog-phoo!

Back into the bushes to clean me shoe up, then back to the flat and me laundry drying.

As I was taking out the washing “Whoopsiedangleplop Mark 3 for the day”!

Me back went when I was bending down getting the togs out – didn’t half feel a fool having two women help me up again. Double Tsk!

Back up to the flat, put me togs away and got the carrier bags ready for clearing out the cupboards tomorrow ready for the demolition men who are going to tear out me cupboards and drawers to fill in the hole in the wall – well that’s the plan anyway – but we’ll see when they get here eh?

Updated this diary and put the photo’s wot I took on it.

Pondered on what nosh to have. Bacon sarnies methinks?

Did some graphicalisationing again on Corel Draw and Paint x7.

Herbed chopped tomatoes and crispy bacon with bread thins fer me nosh. Rated 8.6/10

Had a great bath, soak and shave. It took me more time than having these did to medicate missen afterwards! Hehe! Put Phorpain gel on me legs hands and back.

Cuppa and took me evening medications.

Tired again now, and me back is still painful. Huh!

Fri 7 Aug 2015: Inchcock Today – So busy he’s worn himself out. Poor mite!

08/08/2015 / Inchie / 12 Comments

Friday 7^th August 2015

0405hrs: Woke, WC’d and got the laptop and kettle on.

Mused over me dreams: I’d got the old place sorted and sold… I was so glad and happy to be able to concentrate on the flat and had a load of people visit me, and they all wanted vegetarian sausages to eat?

Then I was at a football match and ran on the pitch, tackled Wayne Rooney and served him with a writ for knocking off a £2000 a time prostitute and being rude and crude in public?

I was glad the cramps again had not been too bad last night – but still intend to get some magnesium tablets today from Holland & Barrett’s.

Spent ages finishing yesterdays Diary and doing graphics.

Had a wash shave and spruced missen up. The angina was a bit rough with me, the haemorrhoids bleeding but otherwise not too bad at all.

Got me bag with Sister Jane and brother-in-law Pete’s nibbles, letters delivered for Margaret the previous tenant to hand in at the community shed, and the paperwork I needed for Steve of Age UK when I meet him later at the old dump and cash and bus-pass.

Off to the shed and handed in the letters to the Obergruppenfurher.

To the bus stop and had a nice chat with some of the other residents.

Got the Magnesium Tablets at last

Dropped off the bus in town and had an amble to Holland and Barrett’s to view the Magnesium on offer. They had sprays, creams and tablets.

Being as the tablets of 100 one-a-day pills were on offer, buy two get the second for a penny… I did.

Walked to Pete’s bus-stop and met him. We had a little natter and worked out where we needed to visit.

I wanted to buy a battery operated radio for the bathroom with preselect channels and a clock to replace the one I dropped and broke – and Pete needed to go to the Asian shop for some cheesey seaweed, and Wilkinson’s for some bits.

We went around several shops looking for a radio but the cheapest we could find was £49.99, so I decided against it.

We went into Wilkinson’s Pete got his bits and I got a £3 alarm clock, same model as the one I broke.

Then we plodded to the Asian shop and i joined Pete in getting a pack of the cheesey seaweed fer missen.

Walked into the City Centre to have a look to see if any of the charity shops had a battery radio for sale – they didn’t.

A Dangerous Nottingham Pavement Cyclist

The plonker on the bike across the road was one of the most dangerous gits of Nottingham Pavement Cyclists I’ve ever come across, he was on his phone as he drove along the pavement and actually hit one woman and just carried on! Tsk Nasty Ignorant Swine!

Left Pete at his bus-stop after our second failed search to find a radio had concluded.

Hobbled up to Parliament Street, buying a salad cob on the way to the bus-stop.

Got off in Carrington and nervously made me way to the old house. Where I overdid it with the lifting and sorting. Made up four large bags of stuff for the flat. Then managed to carry some furniture out to the bins for the looters to take later. Then put weed-killer on the garden weeds, and there were many there.

I was lucky enough to find a part-used tube of Betmethasone corticosteroid cream and put that in me bag to treat ‘Little Inchy with in the morning if he’s been bleeding again.

Age UK’s Steve does some phoning for me

Utterly fatigued and me back was playing something rotten by the time Steve arrived at the house.

He rang BT for me to cancel me phone and Internet – found there would be a £42 charge for leaving them. And we had to ring them back on the 18th to confirm our decision?

Then he rang British Gas (You know them… the French company!) They informed us there would be a £30 fee, one months payment costs and 59p a day charge until we informed them the house had been sold???

I was losing heart by then.

Steve and I went upstairs which started me arthritis off to join Anne Gyna and me bad back. Feeling pretty weary and unwell by now. Steve brought some stuff down and then lifted me and two of the bags back to the flat, bless him.

I was so some pleased things had got done for once, but not pleased with state of health at all.

He came in with me and reclaimed his blow-up mattress that he’d lent me.

After he went I did feel a bit poorly, but forced missen to eat the cob with a cuppa. Didn’t feel hungry enough to bother making a meal – so drained.

Got me next lot of medications pots sorted and done

Did this diary and then had to sort out me medication pots to make sure the old and new ones had some magnesium tablets in each pot – that took over an hour, but I was pleased I’d got it done.

Remembered to put the Betamethasone cream in the bathroom so it’d be handy for the morning if needed.

Late Nosh – with slightly burnt pasty

Sudden Hunger pangs now – so made a quick nosh, instant cheesey potatoes, pasty, beetroot and tomatoes.

I may have overdone the pasty a touch?.

Way passed me bedtime now.

Must try to get some of laundry done tomorrow, it’s stacking up yer know…

And some of the paperwork to get sorted and shredded, oh, and get the cupboards emptied ready for the Nottingham Homes man to destroy the kitchen cabinets and drawers when they fill in the holes in the wall… Tsk, work work work… I’m working ‘arder now than when I actually working – Huh!

Thu 6 Aug : Inchcock Today: Busy yet again – Tsk!

07/08/2015 / Inchie / 6 Comments

Thursday 6^th August 2015

0435hrs: The tones of the fridge-freezer stirred me, it had added a few more clunk-thuds to its chorus this morning – bit worrying that.

Up and at em… well, I stirred and appreciated the lack of cramps again last night, then mused on the dreams I could recall:

I was struggling to get up a beach from a canoe… it looked like I was an Australian beach – Kangaroos and koala bears all around…

Climbed over some sand dunes and found it was Los Angeles, I have no idea how I knew it was Los Angeles but I did. I caught a cab and the driver was a robot with a shiny metal head and spoke in an Eastern European voice to tell me I should not be here since the Declaration of Independence was declared, only non-humans were permitted in the City?

Can’t recall what happened next, but I ended up in the middle of a gigantic plate of chips struggling to get out, with Marissa Bergen trying to pull me out using guitar strings with hooks on the ends?

Shame I can’t recall owt else though.

Kettle on, cuppa and me medications taken then a check on me failing body parts when I had a wash and shave: Arthritis not bad in the least, Anne Gyna bothersome a bit, ulcer very fair, hardly any bother, Reflux valve closing okay at the moment, even the sin cancer wound has stopped itching – all good really, even the Little Inch had not been bleeding last night. (Should I have said that I’m thinking?).

The food delivery man rang, Asda (Walmart to me American friends) had failed to change the directions to the one’s I changed on their site. He arrived a few minutes later and I now have an overfull freezer.

Whoopsiedangleplop number one – knocked the new clock over, and I now do not own a new clock that works. Huh!

Little Inch was sore as soon as I moved the blood flowed again. Took me a while to get it to stop.

Laptop on, WC’d a few times, made a cuppa and finished off yesterdays diary.

There is only 1½ hours to go to the time the Nottingham City Homes repair man comes to replace the condemned fan heater, so no time to get any laundry done. Tsk!

Steve from Age UK rang (Yes he did, honestly – amazing!) he’ll meet me tomorrow at the old house t 1400hrs.

Got paperwork ready in bag now to take with me to meet him.

Filled in the electoral register letter I’d received and went to post it off.

Took the mail for Margaret the previous tenant, to the Community shed, and to ask anyone there if they still want the walker and tell them not to worry about making the phone calls fer me as I’d got hold of Steve from Age UK and would be meeting him on Friday.

The door was open – Yahoo!

Julia asked me if she could have the walker before I could mention it – I pointed out that it had been in me shed downstairs awaiting use for two weeks now! (That’s telling her… she don’t scare me!)

Deana appeared and I gave them a choice of nibbles.

I realised I’d not crossed off Margaret’s name from the form I was about to post and Julia stuck some Cellotape on the envelope for me after I’d corrected me error.

When I informed them not to bother doing the telephone calls for me to the BT and Gas company to cancel their services for the old place, it became apparent they had forgot all about me request, judging my the confused and bemused expressions on their faces. Hey-ho!

Poddled to the letter box and then back to the shed, at the flat and got the Walker and took it back to the shed so they could donate it to the needy person. No thank you’s, just a ‘Yo wer quick!’ when I got back to the shed with it.

Mind you there might have been thinking about it, I didn’t have me hearing-aids in.

Rushed back to the flat in case the maintenance personage who had been booked to replace the condemned wall heat arrived… silly me thinking they’d come early.

Must remember tomorrow – meet brother-in-law Pete at 1030hrs at his bus stop in town then make sure I go to the old house for 1400hrs to meet Steve.

Made a cuppa and tidied around a bit – no point in doing a good job, the fitter will no doubt cause a decent mess – and next week I’ve got the carpenter tearing out the cupboard and drawer to block up the hole in the wall – then the week after it’ll be mayhem from their replacing the condemned window – oh the thought of it all… Tsk!

Doing this diary while I await the arrival of the Nottingham City Homes electrician.

Re-posted me graphic wot I dun on Facebook.

Titivated the open cupboard.

Nearly fell asleep once.

The Electrician chap from Nottingham Homes rang the buzzer and came up to replace the heater on the wall.

He didn’t speak much, took all his time to answer me questions and comments.

Took him around ten minutes max to change it.

He’s left me a nice spot on the wall to paint over bless him.

I can’t see any controls on the heater? I’ll have to ask someone later maybe they are handily placed on the top of the heater where I cannot reach them?

I got the brush and dustpan and swept up the bits of wire, plastic and the screws he’d left on the floor as a donation no doubt. Hehe!

Dinner in’t oven.

Chips (Fries), baked beans, tomatoes and pickled bullets… no, beetroots, smoked cooked pork with some bread thins.

I consumed this with great relish – the chips were savoury French Fries from Asda (Walmart) and pretty good they were too.

Rated this nosh at 8.4/10.

Sorted paperwork needed for tomorrow afternoon when I meet Steve at the old dump, so he can phone and cancel BT phone/internet and British Gas to cancel them.

Odd that innit, British Gas, owned by a French company? And BT biggest shareholder is Renaissance Technologies LLC a multinational company based in New York USA.

Took a photo from the living room window of the evenings skyline.

Tired and weary I got me head down – but not before coating me legs in Phorpain Gel first to counter the’Cramps’ when they came. Took me evening medications.

Feeling just tad less unsettled tonight, knowing that at least some progress in sorting the old place might get done tomorrow.

I dreamt early about Duncan Robertson (Cyber-pal), thought he was here and we were having a cuppa on the balcony and we started singing and a police helicopter hovered above us with one officer on a megaphone, but I can’t recall what he was telling us.

When I woke up for a porcelain visit after about two hours head-down, I actually looked around for Dunc – wish I could remember more.

TTFN.

Inchie Today

Old, sick, weary, but harmless. I need to make others smile!

Photographs

It’s been a Funny Old Life.. Part 3 Updated