Photographs

INCHIE: Thursday 20th July 2023: Nurses Toying With Me! Hehehe!

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Mayhap the oddest day of the week so far.
Unexpectedly Busy? Yes! This blog was not started until Friday.
Being tired after the EENT runabout made me knackered and drained early in the afternoon. But the extra visits were all welcome, all the same.
I faded very early, though; all I wanted and felt needed was sleep.
Fat chance. It can’t be helped. Being a mind-testing set of visits, I had no notes as such to use, and time memory was all I had… Oh, and some earlier-in-the-day photos to prompt me a little. Here goes If Liberty-Global-owned Virgin Media
doesn’t keep going down again. Naturally, it did!

05:00hrs. No night bag attached again, Tsk! The urine in the day pouch was a deep colour. Tummy ache and wind. 

Did the waste bags… Carer Chris arrived to sort me.

Computer on…
2 minutes after getting it back on…
Ten minutes after it returned…

Took these kitchen view shots waiting for the internet…
Up in the sky.
Sun coming up from behind.

Carer Kara arrived. And a blessing she was, as she usually is.
She got the bank payment for my Easy-Link debt payment.
£79.00 was put through to the bank and sorted. Emailed Easy-Link to confirm it. No reply yet. Did the eye drops. ♥

Struggled, and it was time-consuming, but I finished the Wednesday blog and posted off to WordPress.

The landline flashed. It was Phlebotomy Nurse Hristina. To tell me she would call tomorrow morning to take the Warfarin INR blood sample for analysis. ♥

The Asda order arrived.
Nibbles
Frozen favourites!
Fresh food treats!
Drinkies to help the bladder
Fridge refilled now

I thought I was doing well on the odeing, then the rush of helpers arrived – Bless Them All!

Two District Nurses arrived. I’d hoped they were going to remove , so that I could have a go at seeing myself after the Finasteride course of tablets had finished. I did not realise that the penicillin tablets had run out, and not the above.
I was hoping to give manual wee-weeing a go, and that I could pass water voluntarily again. With the (hopefully) now-reduced in size Prostate. If the tablets had worked.
But they seem to have put me on another course of these.
The embarrassment brought forth some witticisms from my lips. As the nurse reached for some of my kitchen towels to cover me up – Carer Kara came in while they were ‘doing me’, and I quipped, a postage stamp would have done! Hehehe!

I remembered I’d got some potatoes in the oven for my meal. Kara kindly went to check on them for me. A Lidocaine (a local anaesthetic) and Chlorhexidine, (an antiseptic) tube were shot into Little Inchie. Stings a bit, but a nurse laughed and mimicked, “Oh, oh, oh!” Which took my mind off of the pain. Clever gal! Then… Dang-dang-dang, Dang!
The insertion of the new tube began…
Naturally, my being the brave, heroic sort of young man, there was no grimacing, chewing of the cushion on the c1966, £300, second-hand charity-shop bought, crumb-containing, odour-retaining, Harold’s Haemorrhoid-testing, nauseatingly beige coloured, non-working, virus-breeding recliner which I was sat on, howls of pain, nor exclamations of any sort, like, ARRGH! or anything of that nature while the tube went in.
.
But this inserting nurse was a no-messing-about one; I think she did it last time, too, straight in unhesitatingly. It was soon all over and settled! Thank you! ♥

Kara did the eye drops and medications for me.

Then I got the meal ready.
Simple food for a simple man. Hehe!
Flavour rating: 7.2/10, fair enough

Night carer Chris came early. Which made me think I could watch my favourite ‘Heartbeat’ episodes. I fell asleep after he’s done the eyes and medications, as he sat at the Carers desk.
I woke up, and he was on his mobile.
No doubt female related. It sounded like he was speaking his native tongue, so I kept my eyes shut to avoid disturbing him for some time. He got the night bag onto the Catheter for me, the pouch in the drip tray, and off he trotted.

No chance of watching ‘Heartbeat’; the first episode had almost finished, and not that it mattered cause I drifted off to sleep again. I’m doing a lot of that lately? Twice at the hospital, several times yesterday in the flat, and now again!

I was woken around 20:40hrs, as Carer Chris came to do the last 22:00hr check. Eye drops and Peptac.

No sooner had he left, I fell asleep again!
This time I was almost jumping awake every few minutes, repeatedly. It wee’d me of this did!

I got up, grabbed and hobbled into the kitchenette for safety checks. Being so tired, I thought I may have left a tap running, a door open on the fridge or oven on from cooking the potatoes. All was okay.

I took this Kodak shot of the beautiful late sun setting.
To my Pareidolia’s Delight, I spotted what looked to me like a shrimp in this photograph. Can you see it?

The rest of the night was Sleep, Wake, Sleep, Wake, Sleep, Wake, Sleep, Wake…
Grrr!

Toodle-Pips!

INCHIE: Wednesday 19th July 2023 – Back to the hospital day

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04:25hrs: I was Gobsmacked, to find the hot water was hot. What happened last night will remain; One of the many mysteries of Woodthorpe Court, with the hobgoblins, spectres, gnomai, phantasms, ghosts, grotesque succubae, extraterrestrials, ectoplasms, spirits, & Fata Morganas, that have been sent to taunt, irritate my already limited saneness of mind? 
I was so pleased to be able to get into the wet room with hot water available to get my ablutions tended to.
IU got the shaving tackled first. Five tiny cuts; which was good considering that I’d got three days of beard growth to remove, and of course, the growth behind my ears and back of the neck. Knowing I was going to struggle to get the feet cleaned…
I had a cunning plan… and a Eureka moment while using it!
I stood in the bowl with soapy water, and… wait for it… baking powder in it! Jiggling watch foot repeatedly while I did the bleeding… er… shaving. When done, I looked down at the water in the bowl, and all the collected dirt from the soles of the plates had floated up to the top of the water! Grrreat Idea!
I pass this tip on to other old farts who cannot get down to wash their feet, free of charge, naturally! It really works!
A lot of aftershave was needed to stop the bleeding, a good spray of Brut deodorant and the medications tended to.

Carer Shaquille arrived and helped me into the crippling shoes.
Did the drops and tablets, and I got on the computer.
Domestic Denise arrived, assisting me to get Velcro’s shoes fastened. I got things gathered together from the list I’d made, to take with me to the hospital.
Made the template for this blog, and turned off the computer handmade a brew of Glengettie.
Tea GlengettieI checked on the day pouch contents with a view to emptying the pouch. The colour of it caught me out, and seemed too dark suddenly, compared to the night pouches urine.
It was still flowing in.
The phone rang, it was a lady who I could not understand a word she was saying. This took my attention away, (it takes very little nowadays) and I forgot to empty the bag.

The landline chirruped and flashed. It was the chap from EasyLink. Advising me that the total owed to them was… £79!
Carer Kara called in for a minute or two, and I mentioned that I can still not get into my online banking to pay this bill.
She could not do anything until later, but kindly said she’d get around to it for me. Nice gal!

I got down into the lobby with Three-Wheeled-Willy the Walker and awaited the arrival of the lift from Easy-link. Which arrived nice and early. It was the lady who took me to Highbury Hospital. We had a chat and laugh en route to the QMC.
The traffic was heavy with queues to get into the EENT department. She had to drop me away from the unit and walked me in through the doors, bless her.

I managed to find my way into the main hall (for once) without having to ask someone. Haha! As I approached the doorway, I felt the nearly full pouch dropping down my leg with the weight!
Two nurses accompanied me into the toilet, but I could not get my leg high enough, and almost fell trying to. So the Angels fetched a cardboard pot and emptied it for me.

Then, in to see a female doctor to have the eyes pinhole tested.
This took a while; she did a good patient job of it.
Then escorted me into another waiting area to await being called in to see the surgeon-doctor.
Another good long deep examination. Difficult at times cause I could not hear what he was saying, and moved in the wrong direction a few times. But he was also understanding with me.
And pleased with the results. He gave me some different eye drops to use for the next four days, in place of the , and put some in so I can start the course in the morning.
Cap on vials, one drop only each time. Four times a day, starting on Thursday 20th July 2023. He handed me a letter to give to the lady in reception on my way out. But I forgot to! Huh!
As I got to the desk, I realised I had a long wait for the agreed pick-up time. The driveress did say to phone if I get done early, and I asked the receptionist to call Easy-Link, please.
She could not get through to them and told me to take a seat while she tried again. Which I did!
I fell asleep, and the lady woke me up to say she was still trying to get them for me. I thanked her and nodded off again.
She woke me again, to say that Easy-Link were on the way, but traffic is horrendous with the school holidays.
I meandered around taking sneak photos.
Exiting patients from other departments.
Can’t recall taking this one of Three-Wheel-Walker Willie, or why?
Got to the doors and out to take some more.
Are folks awaiting lifts?
Taxi.
Turned back to go inside again.
I met a lady who had just had her cataract done and had a gossip. Back out to await the Easy-Link arrival.
This boulder was used by smokers going out for a break methinks. Hehehe!

The minibus arrived, and we had a great journey home! Lots of waffling, I was in my element. Said our farewells, and up in the lift to home sweet home… well, the flat.

Took this selfie.
Seconds later, the weariness came over me.

Got in the flat and rang Meridian to tell them I was back.
Then the absolute pleasure of taking off my shoes.
Boy, were the feet aching now! Yes, they were!

The view from the kitchen window was marvellous, cloudwise.
Gorgeous!
To the left a bit.
Then onto the balcony to take these two.
To the right…
and close-up!

Carer Chris arrived.
Started this blog update.
Carer Chris arrived later for the last visit.
Did some more blogging, and Carer Chris arrived.
Explained the new Eye drops change for a fortnight.
I think I’ve got it right… but?

Making the nosh, as the evening sunset started,
so I took these snaps.

Then made up the nosh.

TTFN

INCHIE: Tuesday 18th July 2023 – Feeling Senticous

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I realise this may be hard to swallow, but I made yet another worrying set of this morning.
I was sat here at the computer desk… well the 1963-bought, falling to pieces, Hopewell’s E-Plan Sideboard, with the doors falling off, having one of my regular panicky modes. And Carer Kara arrived, which always has a calming effect on me. She asked if both of the Thursday appointments had been moved to Wednesday, or just one of them? Panic-Mode Status up to Defcon three! I’d not thought about that! I think she got the idea I was getting worked up when I started to sob and whimper?
Would the Hospital expect me to go two days running? The thought of having to catch a bus and tram there and back put fear in my heart. Mind you there was a fair bit lingering in there, over the thought of having to get trousers, socks and shoes on after the 2-hour ablutioning session each time, already)
Kara got the details and said she’d try to sort me a lift with Easy-Link and find out about the appointments for me.
When the second Carer, Sam arrived at midday. All had been sorted out, much to my amazement, Easy-Link could fit me in! Also, both appointments will be on! Yes!
A quicker-than-usual blog though, I have to find the time for the full ablutionalisationing session somehow.
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An excellent shade of urine!

Not much rain last night, and no dog to watch bathing in it!

After tending to the needs of the , which was very messy and phooey…
I went to make a brew of Glengettie.
Tea GlengettieAnd took a photo of the tree copse area.
Bootiful!

Got the computer on…
After three minutes! ARRGH!

As it returned, Carer Kara, my Angel of Mercy arrived.
See the Prodrome above for further details.
drops in, medications supplied, then after five minutes, the drops inserted. I remembered this time to stick my finger in the eye for three minutes.
Well, Kara reminded me too!

,
This lasted for about five minutes…

This lasted for about one minute…
Then surprisingly, it stayed on for two hours! So I got as much done as I could in that time.

Then Carer Sam arrived for the noon visit.
The great news is that the appointment is for one day only, and the lift had been arranged with Easy-Link. Brilliant!
Sister Jane phoned as Sam was about to leave and answered it for me. Jane said she’d ring back later
Well fancy that!
So, I called Sister Jane back. She rang on the mobile that I rang her on, I can’t remember her number on the landline.
We had a good natter. Turns out she’s just had her cataract done again. But the poor thing’s experience was the opposite of mine. She was in pain afterwards, and she still is. Poor Jane!
We still managed a laugh or two though; that’s us!

I got on with blogging, again-this believe it or not, was the last failure up to now… a period of four hours! From the
Doing well, aren’t they!

Earlier shot from the computer chair, that I’d missed.

The oddest ever trip to the Throne this was… well, maybe not!
I really thought that was losing his grip on the evacuations. For things didn’t seem to want to start moving, naturally, I thought this could mean a cement torpedo or two… but no! After a good ten or twelve minutes on the crossword puzzle... WHOOSH!
Splatter squelch, and all over in less than 30 seconds.
What a mess to clean up!

Into the kitchenette…
Got the potatoes on the boil…
And took this picture.

Then the above snap of the legs, feet and toes.
They did not look like they were mine!
So much improved inflammation in the lower leg, no leaks from the , either! However: and were making up for that. Both get frisky as the day goes on.

Better get the nosh sorted out before the evening Carer arrives.
See you in a bit…

Tuesday Morning Catch-Up
The evening meal
Cheese & onion pasties, potatoes, peas and beetroot.
Cheesecake for afters.
Flavour Rating: 7.2/10.

Went to get the evening’s ablutions done – No Hot Water!

Carer arrived. I mentioned the lack of hot water and asked him to get someone to call the NCH maintenance for me. In and out quickly tonight; the lad was looking tired. Eye drops & medications sorted.

I got up to wash the pots.
Wonderful view!
Close-up of the wonderful view.

Zzz!

INCHIE: Monday 17th July 2023

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Unbelievable! Talk about a reversal.
This morning my worries, fears and panic over not getting help done with so many things were exactly the same. Zilch, nothing was advanced or sorted. But, did I care? Nope!
I really can’t understand it. I was so laid back about things, but the niggles, fretting, and frustration had evaporated, and stayed that way until a few minutes ago, as I started this blog belatedly. Now, All is back to the tension-ridden, nail-biting, sorry for me, considering silly things. It is possible that the wound beginning to heal, but my ankle infection still itching (a good sign). And even the left hip was causing me far less hassle this morning. The urine colour in the night bag was so clear, too.
Comes to something when you have no idea why one suddenly gets the spirits raised a little, but don’t understand why?
Another quickie I’m afraid though. because when I got up after removing the night pouch… Liberty-Global went down.
Even that didn’t sink me into a depression. Confusion Conrad did pay me a long extended visit, though!
Something was amiss with me this morning? Onward…

Pleased with the urine shade, though there was not much of it.
That should have concerned me, but it didn’t.

Got the computer on, it went down within a minute!
So, I couldn’t check to see if the hospital had confirmed the change of appointment days or not. Not that it mattered much to me this Monday… it normally would have.

Into the kitchenette.  to get the kettle on to make a brew of Glengettie. Something else different here. Normally, with my restriction to two mugs a day, I would not have made one so early in the day. (I got up at 0335hrs) The sky was a lovely blue.

A summons me to the diverted me to the wet room.
Well, that’s where the bog is. Hehe!
I even had time for a few minutes of cross-wording.
I even managed things using just a third of the toilet roll.

Back to the kitchen, taking this photo of the morning view as it was getting lighter quickly now.

Waiting for the kettle to reboil, I noticed how well the legs, feet & toes were looking.

When it returned I made a start on updating yesterday’s blog, a fair bit to do… not that it bothered me.

Carer Richard arrived. I believe he was concerned about me being so cheerful. Hehehe! In his usual no-fuss manner he got the first eye drops in and issued the medications. I got him a cold drink from the fridge. Lemon & Lime. Then he did the second eye drop and issued the medicine. Believe it or not, I did not squirm at taking this horrible aniseed-flavoured reflux medicine, for the first time ever I think. Something was still amiss this morning?
Said farewell to the lad as he departed, wishing him a good sleep.
Richard took the laundry down for me. Thanks.

Back to the computer…
Even now I not too wrangled?

I was just about to post off the Sunday blog…
Now the irritation was beginning to return.

Got the laundry bag made up.
The computer is back on but after an hour or so…
Now the bile was brewing!

I started to take photographs each time the went down. I’ve collated them all here with the approximate time taken for up to 17:00 hours. Some great on some of them. More later.
1300hrs
14:00hrs

15:00hrs. See anything in this one? You must?

15:10hrs. Raining a bit…
16:40hrs.
And the one below, a few minutes later.
How I got the terrible colouring, I don’t know.
I was a close-up shot though?
Nothing like it looked colourwise, But you can see a man or bear in the left cloud? Or the hand rising? Or is it just me? Hehe! Spitting blood now at

Carer Chris arrived, full of the joys of spring.
  drops, then the tablets. Next the lousy-tasting Antacid medicine. Then the eye drops.
Drink from the fridge, and the
Aniseed medicine. Spit! Haha!

We took some photos from the balcony of the clouds.
A dog investigating the mudslide water…
Decide it was bath time, and had a jolly-good jumping-about session. The tail wagging furiously! Great!
Carer Chris took these two for me, catching the shiny rooftop on one house as it caught the sun. Must have sun-power-shields?
The cloud formations had changed a lot, but they were still wonderful, almost pretty some of them.



Puffer clouds high in the sky – I love them.
Lower, the skyline ribbon. With its fingers pointing up skywards, beasts and I see the abominable cloud-man. Haha!
18:20hrs: An open oyster there?

21:40hrs: Getting the late meal sorted, and captured this late sunset shot. Bootiful!

The Nosh!
Imitation ham sarnies 7.2/10 Taste with some of…
I find the delicious not-butter, butter, tastier than any proper butter. 10/10 Taste-Rating!
Potatoes crock-pot cooked with sea salt. 3/10 Taste-Rating!
Canned garden peas. 7.3/10 Taste-Rating!
Tomatoes halved. 8.2/10 Taste-Rating!
Soy lemon yoghourt. 7/10 Taste-Rating!
If my calculation is right, that makes overall,
a Taste-Rating of 7.1/10.
I used the Windows calculator.

Of course, a man of my education, I could have done the calculation in my head… but would have got a different figure.
I recall some results as I read my final school test in 1960.
Different days of various exams meant some of the lads had skipped school to avoid whichever they were not very good at;

Mathematics: 34th out of 34 tested.
Chemistry: 25th out of 32 tested.
Metalwork: 28th out of 29 tested.
Technical Drawing: 29th out of 32 tested.
History: 29th out of 32 tested.
P.E: 32nd out of 34 tested.
Geography: 12th out of 28 tested.
R.I.: 15th of 32 tested
Music: 30th of 33 tested.
Woodwork: 18th out of 19 tested.
English: 1st out of 34 tested!

True. Hahaha!

TTFNski!

WP Prompt Response: 1993

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WHAT AM I MOST EXCITED
ABOUT FOR THE FUTURE?

Erm… err… I’m not sure!

Addendum (I think that’s the word) Ode
In days gone by, my excitement would grow.
What would cause it, I would never know,
Get invited to a party or freak show?
Will I win the lottery, and buy a bungalow?
Go on the piste, and play in the snow?
Win big on the dogs, at Walthamstow?
Christmas: find someone under the mistletoe?
Get a part in a stage play, mayhap Othello?
I should have had a part in Rambo!
As a spare, extra or cameo.
Now I search for a carer with Simpatico,
Can’t see or hear anymore; such sorrow!
I’ve stopped drinking and using tobacco!
Not even the odd Amontillado…
I play both teams in Subutteo!
I guess I’m feeling rather low…
Wherever did my excitement go?
Ah, well, Cheerio!

Inchie Monday 10th July 2023: Gawd Bless Liberty-Global, Cause I can’t!

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INCHIES ODE OF THE DAY
He thinks this is one of his bestest ever?
Funny & ambiguous… I know, but he tries…

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I burst back into ersatz life, took off the night pouch, (Great colour!), I did one hundred press-ups while yodelling a welcome to the morning. Then a bit of shadowboxing, and ten minutes on the weights… I’ll try again… I wearily forced the eyelids open and saw it was 06:45hrs. With great reluctance, I began to edge my stiff aching torso towards the edge of the c1968, non-operational, tatty, scruffy, unkempt, uncomfortable, germ-breeding, Harold Haemorrhoid-Testing, sickeningly beige-coloured recliner. The pain when I moved the right leg was good. I think the infection that is clearing in the toes and foot, is creeping upwards now? A complete reversal now; the left leg has deflated a lot, and the right is warm to the touch, swollen rock-solid, and so painful if I touch it… hobbling about today has been worse than last week. Getting the night pouch off of the day bag has never been such a painful struggle.

I went off to have my morning mug of tea early and thought that the view from the kitchenette window was worth viewing. Gawd the leg was hurting!
The beauty would soon be forgotten…

The same as yesterday happened, only worse, it caught me out and caused embarrassment at it happening, Grumph! . As well as an, or two, followed! The rear-end evacuation started, unstoppably, before I’d got to the wet room door on my way to the . What a mess! embarrassment is not a strong enough word!
Agony is not a strong enough word for when I had to clean things up again. I might have been worse I suppose. Getting the fresh Protection pants on was dodgy, nearly had another Whoopsie!

The right leg’s red areas continue to creep up the leg.

I put the computer on, went for another controlled visit to the , I got back to the computer after another mammoth cleaning up job; but…

Made a brew of Glengettie while waiting for the of to get back online. Which lasted for about twenty minutes or so, and then…

I think it must have been the fourth visit to the . The computer came back online.

Got a crack on while I could. At least two hours uninterrupted!
But then…
.
This time the oligarchical owned failed for a much longer time. I kept checking frequently, and when the imitation service, (I use the word loosely) returned, I went to the UT to watch a documentary about the Bhopal disaster. Another result, similar to the poor sods who died, got injured, and had their lives ruined by the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, there were no prosecutions of the guilty gits in charge of running both disasters!

I got very emotional, and could not resist looking at a Grenfell Tower documentary, to remind myself of the crookedness, and protection from prosecution of worldwide!
I don’t mind admitting, both clips brought tears to my eyes.

No sooner had I changed to blogging…

So, I made the second brew of tea, Thompsons Punjana.
With the regular four cookies being dunked!
Still no sign of owned …

Went to wash the mug out, and the breeze coming into through the part-open kitchenette window, felt lovely on my right leg, cooling. I’m not sure why…

But I took two shots of the legs. Of, course there would have been a reason… but…

As the customer service failed for the umpteenth time, my spirits sank. I’d spent hours redoing lost work thanks to the $26 million salaried Mike Fries, or Steve Fries, Mike I think… Where was I?

It may have been more. (And was later on!)

I took a snap of the rather beautiful late afternoon view.

The forehead, eyes, lips of the face. Do you see them?

I’m fed up with moaning!

Another go at getting this blog started…

I surrendered to the

Nosh was prepared… then burnt…
I spat a bit, self-condemned and stuck my bottom lip out!

The night Carer arrived and did me

Then as I put some more potatoes in the air-fryer this time, which has a timer on it to avoid burning food.
I wish I’d realised that an hour ago!
I got Kodak Keith and took these shots of the sunset.

High in the sky

A little lower…

Down a smidgenNightie-Night Sunshine!

Back to keep an eye on the fodder cooking.

The second effort.
Veg soup with Borscht.
Unburnt potatoes with the
last of the Tear & share bread.
A pot of the high-class custard & Jelly.
By gum, I live well!
Taste-Rating: 7.5/10!

The right leg infection or whatever you call it, kept me from nodding off for a while. But I got there… Zzz!

TTFNski!

Inchie: Sunday 9th July 2023 – Libert-Global Failures Again!

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Most paragraphs are from scribbled notes. The latter parts I can actually remember. The odd chronological guesswork included.

REPEATEDLY GOING OFFLINE!
– Going done so often caused me many problems and ultra-frustration. I have used more swear, curses, and words of hatred today than ever.
That is saying something I can tell yers! (Spit, spit, spit!)

According to the scribble on the notepad, I was woken up at 06:45hrs by the Carer calling. Eye drops were in, the overspill was wiped off, and medications were given. Per instructions, the eye drops were inserted five minutes later, and the overspill was wiped off. The regulation 3 minutes of holding the index finger in the nose side started as the Carer departed. I guessed at the timing.
I took off the night bag. Got it emptied and safe-wrapped for disposal.

None of the were leaking this morning. But it looked like the right leg infection was creeping up the chin area.

I sorted out the waste bags and then went into the kitchen again to check on the food situation and if anything needed ordering today for next week. (Forgetting at that time, I’d already done an order from Asda) Took a photographicalisation of the morning’s view...
And a close-up nosey at the house being done up.

Made a mug of Glengettie tea to dunk the morning’s breakfast of four Maryland cookies into it.
Started the notes of the day.
Then got the computer on…
Within five minutes, the above.
So, I visited the … And boy, I was forced to by the oligarchs of .
Because I avoided a right .
As I opened the wet room door, I felt the flow from the rear end coming of its own accord! It was also lucky that I only had the thin dressing gown on; I yanked it off, downed the pants in a rush, and plopped my elephantine body down on the seat. The flow began before I’d made contact with the plastic raised seat!
Splish, splash, slosh & all done! What a stink!
Had a mess to clean up. Then got the gown back on. Tried the computer, and the internet was back on. I got the photo transfer session done with crossed fingers.

Doing so, I realised that the tea had gone cold, and I hadn’t had my breakfast of four cookies yet. Tsk!
So, made another brew, Thompson Punjana, this time.

Started to get the blog updating tackled…
Fancy that!
This time it lasted for half an hour offline.
But returned…
Only for about 5 minutes offline this time.
I actually got some CorelDraw work started.
SHIT!

While waiting for the internet to return…
I started to write down the order for the food I didn’t need, but at that time I didn’t realise I didn’t need it, cause I’d forgotten about ordering the Asda order that I’d done a day or so ago for the next week… I think!

The OLIGARCHS
The monetary-gain pecuniary, merchants, sham, bogus, false interest in offering a workable internet, money-mongers, without a care in the world about any of their internet customers; Continue at their usual rate of failure.
Mind you, had I been getting a $26 million a year salary with guaranteed bonuses and an open expense account – fair enough, I would not need to give a shit about myself either…
I may have got a smidgen carried away there?
My hatred for the man & company is tempered only by the fact that Fries is so damned good-looking! Hehehe!

I felt the right leg stinging in its usual waves, seemingly coming from within the leg.
Took this snap of the agony-giving legs. Rather colourful now?

The owners of returned once more, ten minutes or so later.
I pressed on with the updating, and actually got the blog finalised! Final checks and began to post it off...
SHIT!

During this , I lost a lot of work done and foolishly not saves on CorelDraw.
Grrr!

Oligarchical, capricious, undependable.

During a Carers call, the internet returned!
For three minutes, then…

The day had flashed by already, and little was done.
When, a few minutes later, the internet came back,
I posted the Saturday blog off! But…
About 15 minutes later, yet again…

So, I stretched my legs and went to get another bottle of soda water. Boy, the skies were magnificent!
A Pareidolia’s Delight!
I spotted a giant creature apparently coming into this snap from the right-hand side, with a head, nose, mouth, and fins. Can anyone else see it, or is it just me?
Far left; the jaws of a creature. Another creature’s head and also the shape of an airliner cabin? The cloud formations were beautiful as the darkness began to arrive.

Back again… for one minute!
As Victor Meldrew would say…

More Pareidolia’s Delights!
A long mouse lower centre?
Fantastic! A Michelin Man – Bigfoot in the clouds, with a Dolphin jumping out of the clouds to the right! See it?
The left creature swimming in the clouds?

ENOUGH!
Fries and his money-number-fact-crunching Mafia Mob have beaten me! Computer off, and messages sent out through the ether to any and everyone; spewing my hatred for the Oligarchical Smoke & Mirrors money men!
A smidgeon of jealousy included.

I went to check on the meal cooking…

The pan with the vegetable soup with Borchst added was now a blob of nothingness! I threw away the pan contents, triple-wrapped them into the bin, and washed the saucepan. But, It’s led a charmed life, this saucepan has. The number of times I’ve burnt food in it) Hehehe! Tsk!
I got another can of thick-cut vegetable soup in the saucepan and added a smidgeon of Borchst to it. Got half of the tear & share bread, and put it in the oven with the potato cubes, hoping both will be cooked simultaneously. Then I got sidetracked, as per usual. I and my  against the server trolley wheel and leg.
The soup was okay when I’d recovered and ointmentated the now stinging lesion, but the tear & share bread was a little overcooked. The potatoes too, but I like them that way.
A great nosh despite all the hassle.
Taste Rating: 8.2/10.
It went down a treat, as I ate it while watching an episode of ‘Heartbeat’; as per usual, I nodded off and missed the last few minutes of the programme. I hate it when I do that… but it happens so often nowadays, Humph! I tended to getting the pots and pans washed up! At this point, I can inform you all that the steak knife has lost none of its sharpness.


Late Carer arrived, Richard. He was not feeling very well, methinks. He got the night pouch on and carried out the medicationing and two eye drops, as required. Said my farewells and thanked the lad. After that, I repeatedly sat down to watch the goggle box, waking up and taking a photo of the night.

Here they are:

Bootiful! I could see a stretched face in there?

A close-up, taken by accident. Well, she is
to blame, really. Haha!
A wide shot…
A close-up of the orange rift; Is that the word?

TTFNski, Each.

Inchie: Saturday 8th July 2023

/ Inchie / 2 Comments

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The Health Check Returns this week up to now,
are not too bad at all.
.

04:00hrs, I woke with a jump and jerking motion and looked at the clock. No interest in getting up or even moving was located. So, I violently passed wind, I recall this disturbed poor little to trickle a little blood. I felt the sensation of the wet warmth from the bum, in the Protection Pants. But I did nothing. These American Depend pants can cope with a lot worse than a spot of blood, without leaking anything. Then fell back into the bliss of sleep. The Carer is not due until around 08:00hrs, so I envisaged a good four hours more sleep. Mmm!

06:25hrs: I was woken by the Carer. That buggered my extra sleep, Ha-ha!

She got the night bag off of the  She helped me to get the night pouch detached from the troublesome this morning  , she didn’t want the bag removed for some reason. Tablets eye drops, medicine, and second eye drops sorted out. And as I started the three-minute waiting after the drops were inserted, with my finger in the appointed corner of the right eye, she left to go on her rounds.
Though far from painless, the ankle, feet, and toes showed signs of improvement. I booted up the computer. Tried to load the photographs from last night, and once again, the shuddersome, evil, unpleasant, cruel, uncaring, displeasing, much-hated, reprehensible, shuddersome, God-awful, scandalous, 26 million dollars a year salaried, Herr Fries of the Pathetic pretend Internet Supplier, & customer ignorers failed!
It’s difficult to believe, I know… So, I made use of the time. A fun selfie on the computer screen. Then…

&

Not without some hindrances, though!
The wet room, and got myself comfortably seated on the . No sooner had I picked up the crossword book, than the evacuation, started and it was all over in seconds. But what a mess I had to clean on the rear end, much to the displeasure of !
I started on the shaving, before tackling the stand-up washing of the overburdened gargantuan, but bouncy-fleshed torso. The Brut was needed afterwards due to the several small nicks that I accrued during the detruncating.
Great that Brut! As I twisted and stretched to put the after-shave back on the shelf, . My right leg slipped in the bowl – I grabbed a hold of the sink, as the bowl tipped over and all the dirty water from the bottom of my feet, spread all over the wet room! I may have quoted a commoner’s curse or two.
Then started spitting, questioning God, humanity and hating even more, , who I blamed for my enforced early ablutioning!
Got the mess cleaned up… and found that I’d left the hot water tap running! Good job I’d got the shaving done, then, cause it was only tepid water to use now!
I then against the trolley wheel. Then when bent to have a look… I banged the leg ulcer against the trolley frame! Luckily, I’m able to bare, or should be bear… pain easier than others, and just laughed it off.

Then got back to the computer, on the web… and a few minutes later, it went off again!
According to the backup and revisions page, while I was self-harming myself in the wet room, it had gone down three more times, five in total. Keep watch on this blog for the following failures!

As I was ten minutes or so into updating yesterday’s blog, Carer Jo-Anne arrived, as the owned Internet failed again, for the 6th time! Would you put your business in the hands of the financial wizards, of smoke & Mirrors money conjurers ? I know it will never happen, but if I win millions, at least I know not to invest in anything to do with . It scares me to death that they may start buying up energy or water companies in the UK. The mess they made of Virgin Media, a once reliable company, is now being demolished, with ulterior motives I’ve no doubt, financially inspired.

Ah, it’s back on again… no sooner wrote this and it’s gone again! For the 7th time! It’s not sad as such. No, yes it is!
Huh! It’s raining now.
A strange hue in the sky for mid-morning today?

The next carer arrived, well two of them. One in training. A nice pair of lads, methinks.
Well My Goodness Gracious Me, and blow me down with a feather duster! Strikes again! Can you believe it? I do!.
I got the new dressing gown on. I bought an XL one to make sure it went around my shockingly tubby and wobbly meaty midriff.
It Didn’t. Each time I sat down, the bottom and top splayed open, revealing my privates, belly and legs. Enough of a shock for anyone! I sat down and sneezed – unaccountably, one of the shaving cuts started to bleed.
Int life good?
The Internet returned. And I started to do some work that I had not been able to save earlier, yet again: As if by magic, the world’s most incompetent provider .
The light shower has stopped.
I went to make the last of the two mugs of tea I’m permitted to drink daily. I can drink as much decaffeinated tea as I want they tell me… Have you ever tried it? You’d be better off and get more flavour drinking stale water!

As I was making the tea, the last but one Carer call was made.
The two young lads, CA & CV. One had a look at the accident area and ulcer zone. One thought it looked terrible, the other a lot better than last week, who I agreed with. Naturally, it still hurts, but nothing compared to last week. The toes are clearing a bit too. The ankle swelling is not so keen on going down. They did the drops, the medications, Peptac… well it’s that horrible flavoured Gaviscon now, and then the drops.
I mentioned the kitchen floor’s state, with me having to go to the hospital on the domestic’s call day. And the new lad set about using the speed mop on the floor for me, bless them.

Very late up tonight, blog addiction again. With the blessed going down so often, I was many hours behind schedule with the blogging.
I should imagine that the top dog at , oligarch Mr Fries does not have this problem? It must worry him a bit?

Cheers!

Daily Prompt 1991: Inchies Reply

/ Inchie / 2 Comments

What is my favourite genre of music?
I’ll tell yers...
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In my teens, I recall I could hear,
Until I got stabbed in the right ear,
Music became less importanter,
Until one day, hearing aids in each ear…
I heard Humphry Littleton’s Buona Sera,
I became a Trad-Jazz footsoldier,
I found the laid-back style, was cooler,
And investigated further…
Just loved the style of Chris Barber,
1959, I heard their version of Petite Fleur,
My interest in Trad-Jazz got perkier…
Kenny Ball’s band sound became familiar,
On my gramophone, it became a fixture,
I found the brilliant sounds from Ken Colyer!
I was addicted, as my Dad predicted…
Playing Trad Jazz was a nightly feature,
Now the ears were getting so much dimmer!
But not too deaf, as I caught a glimmer…
Of my favourite Trad-Jazz band, ever!
The laid-back style, of Acker!
He learnt to play the clarinet in Africa,
Despite as a kid, losing half of one finger!
In the glasshouse, it does appear…
He fell asleep on guard duty. Oh, dear!
A genuine bloke; I liked him…
One of the lads; nothing snobby about him!

SADLY…
My hearing is much worse this year…
Have to use headphones so I can hear…
I nod off; sit on them, about five times a year,
They used to cost £5.99, but now they are so very dear.
But Trad-Jazz from these lads is worth it!

I thang You!

Prompt Response: Most Memorable Vacation

/ Inchie / 2 Comments

I’ve not had a holiday for thirty years running…
But I’ve had a few trips, that were harrowing,
Some of them were great and exciting,
The last one was very moving…
Papplewick Pumping station, celebrating,
The war years, remembering…
Many folks in period dress, & vehicles too.
Towards the end, I saw Thomas Crewe,
Not having seen him since 1962,
Hard to believe he was now ninety-two,
My old RAMC TSM, memories, we did imbue!
And I enjoyed the nattering and view!

People in period dress were all about.

Many are in period uniforms.

I had a lengthy talk with this mother and daughter.
They had a fake baby that looked and felt so real.
I told my mate; he agreed, that the effort
put into the celebration and memory of the
was fantastic. He loved the baby!

There were Italian, German, Russian and Polish uniformed visitors. Period policemen too.

A mini steam train on the tracks attracted many of the children… and me too, twice!.

Many vehicles that had been used in the war


.
.
Restored family vehicles too!
Some of them just after the conflict

A demonstration of how fires were fought

German and British troops enacted mock battles around the storage pond.

A Tribute to Wartine Singing ladies
Just Great to listen to!

I felt like was part of a family there.
Mostly ex-forces, and families that loved through it..

The Working boiler house

Inside the Pump House.
I was amazed!

Outside the pumphouse, I was struggling down the steep steps, to get down to look at some, a military ambulance and refreshment vehicles, serving up original drinks and food. The kids were amazed to see loose tea leaves.

I know; it’s not like skiing on a snow-piste.
Or trip on the QE2. Or visiting Disneyland.
An elderly chap in a uniform from the first world war came out from the blood wagon and asked if I needed help getting down the steps. As I was thanking him, saying I’m taking my time, thanks, I’ll make it and laughed at myself… I was totally gobsmacked when I recognised he was my old TSM, Tom Crewe! How old would he be then?

He certainly must have been 30 years older than me surely?
We chatted as it dawned who we were, and Ex-TSM Crewe remembered me from training, all those years ago.
What a natter we had, me mostly listening and taking what he had been through. Which of course he never mentioned back then to me, a new square-basher.

He is the reason I’ve responded to this WP Prompt.
Not the exciting type of vacation or day out…
But meeting Mr Crewe, made it the most memorable.

Bless You, TSM; no, now, Mr Crewe!

Aha, I’ve found a photo with me in it!

A first world war type ammunition horse & cart
The chap allowed me to fuss the animal. Loved the horse.

TTFNski, Each!