The Nottingham Lads True Tales of Woe

Inchcock Today – Wednesday 9.3.16: Persistent Rain kept me indoors today!

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GC (4)

Wednesday 9th March 2016

I woke at around 0400hrs and visited the porcelain. Good news, Little Inchy was not and had not been bleeding at all – but the haemorrhoids were leaking badly. However, Anne Gyna and Arthur Itis were such a lot easier this morning; Roger Reflux was not any better, but still, a good feeling the hassle being less than of recent. And, dare I say it? No dizzies lately, Ace that!P1050106

Made a good strong cup of Yorkshire tea and took my medications.

The rain was, as forecast, must have been pouring down all night, and still coming, fine raindrops but persistent like.I opened the window because the rain was falling away from the flats at this stage, and Chestnut Walk below looked more like a river!

I opened the window because the rain was falling away from the flats at this point, and Chestnut Walk below looked more like a river!

GC (2)I got on the laptop and finished Tuesday’s Dairy, then started this one to here.

A day indoors methinks today. I mused on maybe being able to get the laundry done, but of course, all the other tenants without transport will possibly be doing the same and hibernating for the day so they will be after the laundry room as well?

Did some Facebooking. Then some graphicationalisationing. Then some WordPressing. e

Watched the Leeds v Colchester Cup Match from 1972 on YouTube. I did enjoy that, not as much as when I watched at the time mind.

Had a nibble, some biscuits and a bit of Honey BBQ Beef Jerky.

The rain was continuing to fall outside.

Deerhat1I put some clothes in the bowl to soak and realised the difference between the size of detergent I thought I’d ordered, and size I received.

Got the din dins cooking. Largish potato baking, with a minted lamb chop, mini-tin of garden peas and beetroot to add.

Lamb not cooked, so took the potato out and gave the lamb some more time. I did ring Sister Jane to ask how long to give the chop, she rang back while I was taking out the potato. We managed a little natter, that was cut short my need for the porcelain.

P1050155

No bread was consumed with this nosh!

She suggested I put the alarm on so as not to let the chop burn, goos idea, so I did.

Got it all on a smaller plate, not eating so much cause I had that naughty nibble earlier.

Rated it as 9.45/10.

I must try to get some more of the large baking spuds next time I’m out and about.

LyzziI used the plate sent to me from America by cherished TFZ site Cyber-Friend, Lucious Lyzzi.

I’ve still got some Minted Lamb left, three small pieces that I might have tomorrow with some flavoured baked beans and soda bread?

Cleaned the pots and then it came; the dizzies! The next four hours were not very nice. Stopped using the laptop and even watching the TV made it worse. Tried reading my book, a definite no-no that!

Around 2200hrs, I nipped to the throne and the dizzies dissipated afterwards, thank heavens.

I put the TV on (A bit late, for me like), and fell asleep during the first commercial break… Zzz!

Tue 8 Mar 16 – Inchcock Today: Dentist financial shock today – Two root canals and two fillings to be done later – of course it doesn’t bother me at all…

/ Inchie / 2 Comments

CG poorly2

Tuesday 8th March 2016

The body stirred into life, with a jump, the mind followed as best it could later.

The back seemed fair, Arthur Itis was being kind to me now, the Anne Gyna and Roger reflux were still giving me some hassle mind.

I lay a while, considering what the day would bring forth. Ah, the dentist to visit, odds on that will prove expensive again. Must tell them about the fillings that cost so much, on the two front teeth they did last time, already going black.

To the porcelain, no bleeding anywhere, encouraging that was!

Made a cuppa and took the medications. Got the laptop on. Starting this diary, I realised I’d not finished and posted my Sunday or Monday ones yet? Huh, wotta plonker!

So I got them both done and posted off, then did the ‘Celebration Days’ funny post.

21JanWent on Facebook and had a good time on there.

The weather forecast was that the rain would stop later today, but tomorrow; Wet rain, winds and 33ºf tops. I thought I’d nip in the Co-op that is near the dentist later, and I can get anything needed so to have a stay-in day tomorrow.

I had a bath and cleaned up and serviced the ageing wobbly body, and shaved with only one tiny cut during the process.

Got the things ready for me walk through the park to the dentists.

Up the hill and down through Woodthorpe Grange Park, no any folks about. I walked down the hill and booked in at the dentists with Obergruppenfurher receptionist, who commanded me to take a seat. Which I did.

In Sherwood, I called in the Co-op after checking that I had plenty of time. Too scared to be late for the Dentists.I walked down the hill and booked in at the dentists with Obergruppenfurher receptionist, who commanded me to take a seat. Which I did.

Bought a packet of honey roasted ham, a small beef pie and the Classic Car paper. When I paid at the check-out, I was handed my change and four receipts! One for the cash, one telling me I might be a winner and they will let me know before 15th April? A coupon for £1 off any fresh meat, poultry or Quorn, valid until 15th April. Another for 50p off when I spend £4 or more, valid until 15th April. Talk about get confused.

P1050146I walked down the hill and booked in at the dentists with Obergruppenfurher receptionist, who commanded me to take a seat. Which I timidly did.

She then came over to me with things to sign and a form to fill in about medical conditions address etc. Which I timidly did.

A voice bellowed out from the top of the staircase; I timidly hobbled up the staircase to treatment room two. Where the usual dentist, Beata Cwik greeted with orders to it down. Which I timidly did.

This time, she asked if I had any problems, and I boldly told her about the two front bottom teeth going black after she had filled them on my last visit. (Gawd I felt brave!) She said after a three-second inspection they needed X-raying, along with another double tooth on the left lower, and set about doing this. When the results came through I 01Wcould see them on the monitor.

I thought for a moment I could see charges on the screen.

She told me how much they would cost to be put right, and the front teeth have an infection inside them, and would be painful and expensive to try and put right, but she could not give any guarantee that the treatment would work. A rather cruel smile came over her face, and her attitude to me became almost human from then on?

She ordered that I go now, down and book an appointment with one of the receptionists fro further treatment. I struggled down the stairs and joined the queue at the desk. When my turn came, I told her I had to make n appointment fro further treatment, she replied without hesitation; “You will need to pay for today’s checks first!” with a look of sheer determination on her face. So I gave her the £20 quid for today’s check, nervously.

She made an appointment and reminded me that they no longer send out reminders, and a missed appointment would result in a £60 charge, and would no longer be abe to provide any service for me. I acknowledged this and awaited the time and date, writing it down. Wednesday 30th March 2016 @ 1115 hrs!

A sheet she gave me, advised on the future treatment: Examination, Root canal filling (3), Oral X2, Small Xray film,  Root ex-sealing (2), and Scale & Polish. I’m not a lot wiser! Other than it is going to cost a lot, and not knowing if it will work to save the two front teggies, no idea about the double one.

P1050147Out to he bus stop, where I took the photo (above) of the Dentists. Met an old dear and had a good chin-wag with her. I realised after checking the timetable the next bus to the flats was 40 minutes away, so I gave the dear some nibbles and had a walk back through Woodthorpe Grange Park.

Again there were fewer people about than usual.

Not many dogs either, perhaps they are waiting, for the drizzle to stop? No point in trying to do that tomorrow, according to the Red Alert for rain forecast.

I plodded on up the hill and down to the flats.

IMG_0002I checked in the laundry room as I went through the foyer, both washers were in use again. Tsk!

So, up to the flat and I put my bits away and recorded the appointment time and date in Google and Microsoft calendars.

Laptop on and go this updated.

Put the giant potato in the oven to start baking. I’ll add the beef pasty and roasting veg later, if I remember to and don’t fall asleep.

Did some more Facebooking then WordPressing.

GC (01c)Checked the fodder, making ready to do the gravy and dropped the pot and dry gravy mix, of course, it had to fall between the cabinet and the cooker – the hardest of places to get at to clean it up. Huh!

Got it all done and served up. Large baked potato, beef slice, roast vegetables, brown soda bread and chicken thigh, followed be a banana and fresh dessert. Rated this one another 9.54/10, especially as I didn’t drop it all over the place like the night before.

Took the medications and settled to watch some interesting old stuff on the goggle-box. I did well, getting through perhaps two whole programmes before drifting off to sleep…

Celebration Days

/ Inchie / 2 Comments

There are hundreds more of these Celebrations Days, but I chose these, because, in actual fact, none of them apply to me.

14th February – We have a Valentines day;

For those involved in sexual passions and have a partner.

1st March – We have St David’s Day;

For the Welsh folk.

6th March – We Have Mothers Day;

For those ladies who have children.

8th March – We have the International Women’s Day;

General celebration of respect, appreciation, and love towards women, to a celebration of women’s economic, political, and social achievements.

9th March – We have The National No Smoking Day:

To shame the poor buggers who are addicted to nicotine.

17th March – We have St Patricks Day;

To boost the sales of Guinness, and give the lads an excuse for being late for work in the morning.

18th March – We have Purple Day;

To brighten up everyone’s day with a little bit of purple and a lot of fun iin your school, workplace or community. (?)

 

19th March – We have National Poultry Day;

Chicken, turkey and other birds we commonly consume are celebrated on this day. (?)

1st April – We have Walk to Work Day;

For those who just might still have a job. Introduced to encourage people to be mindful of their health and their carbon footprint and a great excuse to treat yourself to that latte on the way to work, as your reward for all those extra calories burned off.

2nd April – We have The Pillow Fight Day;

A pillow fight flash mob is a social phenomenon of flash mobbing and shares many characteristics of a culture jam. (?)

2nd April – We also have – International Children’s Book Day;

 Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday and since 1967  International Children’s Book Day has been celebrated on or around this day to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books. 

15th April – We have Microvolunteering Day; is now in its third successful year, and is a unique opportunity for

Now in its third successful year, and is a unique opportunity for microvolunteering platforms, volunteering involved organisations & individuals to join together in a synchronised effort to demonstrate the empowering potential of the microvolunteering concept.

23rd April – We have William Shakespeare’s day;

To celebrate the bard.

19th June – We have Father’s Day;

To mollycoddle those who can’t keep their pecker in their zip.

21st June – We have Summer solstice day;

For pagans, hippies, druggies and wino’s.

5th July – We have Eid al-Fitr Day;

For Muslims, to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

30th November – We have Diwali Day;

Festival of Lights for Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities.

30th November – We also have St Andrew’s Day;

To assist the whisky and haggis industry and hopefully devolution.

NCCwalk03

Mon 7 Mar 16: Inchcock Today – The day deteriorated as it went on – Whoopsiedangleplop Ridden! Humph!

/ Inchie / 2 Comments

CG poorly2

Monday 7th March 2016

Up at 0400hrs, again in need of the using the facilitations of the bathroom porcelain. Little Inchy needed decoking and cleaning after last nights Whoopsiedangleplop. However Anne Gyna had eased, but the Roger the Reflux Valve was making me gasp and struggle a bit.

P1050138To the kitchen and put the kettle on.

I made an effort to take another photographicalisation of the view, with the light reflecting on the photo from the light behind.

Just for a bit of fun. Well, I say fun, is fun the right word. Should I have used amusement or interest? And am I losing it early today? Hehehe!

Made a cuppa and took the medications.

Pondered on the days requirements. Try to get some WordPressing done. Doctors at 1100hrs. Phone Clinic to confirm my appointment time. Oh, the dentist, no that’s tomorrow isn’t it. I really must try to get some cleaning up done sometime today, even if it’s only a bit. I can’t get rid of the feeling that I’ve forgotten something? A horrible sensation that!

Got on with completing Sunday’s diary, and tries to do an Iceland order, but at the end of the process it told me ‘A problem has occurred – Please go back, so I decided not to bother and ignored it.

Did some Facebooking. Had to prevent myself from forgetting the time, need to have me bath and ablutions yet, before I get the things ready for the walk to the surgery.

I cleared away and titivated the kitchen, then got into the bathroom to do my ablutions. Rather disappointed as the water ran cold so quickly and had to make due with a few inches of water. Must inform the caretaker later.

Got put sooner than planned when I started shivering. It took a while, the back and Arthur Itis saw to that.

Pottered about and got the things ready for the INR blood test, bus-pass for later, mobile phone, camera, nibbles for the medical team and gloves all into the bag.

I did my usual checks to make sure I’d not left anything on: And found the hot tap running in the kitchen! Grottyswellski! No wonder the bath was not hot!

Took the rubbish bags and put them down the chute on the way down. 

Walked down the Winchester Street Hill into Sherwood, left up the hill then down into Carrington. Phones sister Jane on the way and had a little natter.

Arrived at the surgery and booked in, and got the crossword book out. It was the Obergruppenfurher nurse on duty today, but she was surprisingly friendly with me? She decided to find a new vein today because she said the old one was overused and going hard?

P1050139Left the bag of nibbles with the receptionist and poddled to the bus stop and caught a bus into town. Arthur Itis seemed to be easing off, ni idea why, but I was pleased with this. The back continued to give me some jip, though.

Dropped off the bus and walked to Upper Parliament Street to catch one to Morrison’s in Netherfield. Took a photo of the crowds on Clinton Street. It reminded me of New York, with the moody sunshine and folks all wrapped up well.

P1050140I got to the bus-stop and looked up to take a photo of Centre Mission and Church.

I said a few words asking for the easing of pains for a few friends who are suffering at the moment.

The bus arrived, swiped my bus-pass and enjoyed the sunshine as we drove out through town, Colwick and to Netherfield. I’d decided to go to Morrisons cause Iceland’s website, wouldn’t take my order for delivery.

I checked the times of the buses to go back, not a bad service, three an hour during the daytime.

I’m afraid I bought some ‘Naughty foods’ 4IT7Coy: Strawberry desserts (3), Hartleys mandarins in jelly (4) Honey coated cashew nuts, honey yogurt… Tsk!

Gravy granules, dried vegetables, Fresh roasting vegetable pack and spent £12.28.

Timed it well to get the bus back to town. Got to Queen Street, and again was lucky with the timing as the L9 turned up at he bus stop as I did. (Getting a bit worried about things going right for me at this point, my EQ told me I was going to pay for it later!)

I even fell asleep on the bus, but woke up as it was driving into Chestnut Walk outside the flats, brilliant!

As I got into the foyer, a lady there spoke to me, as I checked to see if there was a washing machine free in the laundry room, (No, all in use) and I could feel the blood running down my arm onto my gloves. I had to leave her rather abruptly as I hastened up to the flat, into the bathroom and cleaned it up, and had to put some Brute aftershave on it to get it to stop. (Stung a bit that did, hehe!)

Put the things away in cupboards and fridge, had to manipulate the contents of the freezer to mP1050141ake room for stuff to go in.

Kettle on, and started to prepare the nosh.

Took a photo through the window of the glorious clouds.

I stayed in the kitchen and read my book while the fodder was cooking, and kept a close eye on it.

P1050142I thought it came out okay.

I made some lamb gravy to add to it. The vegetables were not too bad. Added beetroot and a cooked chicken thigh.

Added beetroot and a cooked chicken thigh.

A pot of the Strawberry dessert for afters, and moved it all into the front room on a tray, to eat on my knee while I watched TV.

The idea turned out not to be a good one! The Whoopsiedangleplop proved this!

01W

I managed to fall asleep and dropped the tray and fodder off of my knee. Bits of the meal were spread on my dressing gown, slippers, the carpet, on and under the arm chair & cover… I swore quite a bit.

P1050144Fetched Horatio the Hoover, and in combination with Boris the mini Black & Decker hand vacuum, set about cleaning the mess up.

Down on the knees to clean under the chair (Roger Reflux, Anne Gina and Arthur Itis were not pleased with this and had been giving me anguish ever since, Humph), picking the bits up by hand that had somehow gotten everywhere and it felt like into every crevis! Sprayed fabric deodoriser, over the materials, then passed the wind, and sprayed citrus fresh air spray all over. Getting back up was not an easy or pain-free job either.

In the middle of all this sorting, the phone went; It was the Iceland delivery???

I thought their system told me they could not take my order? I had no email to inform me about it? Had to re-sort the freezer again to make room for the chips that were delivered.

P1050145Had to re-sort the freezer again to make room for the chips that were delivered.And how I managed to order this great big box of 

And how I managed to order this great big box of Surf is anyone’s guess?

Still, the Whoopsiedangleplop got me to clean the room up a bit, Hehe!

Had a cuppa, felt sorry for me, a little depressed and put the TV on.

I succeeded in watching a whole programme, then off into the land of nod, at last!

Inchcock Today. Sunday 6 March 2016: He has an involuntary mud-pack applied?

/ Inchie / 2 Comments

GC (4)

* * * * *

Sunday 3rd March 2016

Been awake for ages, stirred into action around 0500 hrs, carefully mind! Roger Reflux valve and Anne Gyna had both been giving me grief during the night. The lower back seems to have calmed down after all the bending to clean up after last nights series of Whoopsidangleplops!

Not feeling so good again (So tired and again already) now, but not complaining, at least, the ulcer and Arthur Itis are both being kind to me this morning. I made a cup of tea and took the medications. Getting low on Glyceryl trinitrate now, good job I’m going for the INR blood level test tomorrow, I’ll ask for some extra. Dentists on Tuesday.

Found some bits on the carpet from last night’s Whoopsidangleplop with the fodder, that I’m missed when cleaning it up. Very gently I got down and picked them up, took them to the bin, and returned with a damp cloth and got down again delicately, to try and remove the stains. Did a reasonable job, then getting back up again I felt the warm wet feeling coming from Little Inchy’s area. I’m managed to get the lesion bleeding again. Into the bathroom to clean him up, then applied the Dakacort cream again.While in there, I popped on the throne. As I sat there, I noticed the carbolic soap in the tray near the bath, and felt cheered up a bit somehow? Is it, or not is not sad for an old fart to get himself taken to heart at the thought of having a bath using his beloved carbolic soap or not?

While in there, I popped on the throne. As I sat there, I noticed the carbolic soap in the tray near the bath, and felt cheered up a bit somehow? – Is it, or not is not sad for an old fart to get himself taken to heart at the thought of having a bath using his beloved carbolic soap or not?

I looked at the laundry bag; it was getting filled up again, so decided today to get the laundry done. If I can catch a machine, that’s not in use. Decisions decisions Hehe!

After I get the laundry done, I might get a walk in the Woodthorpe Grange Park while the dryer is working and get some photographicalisationing done?

P1050130Best see how the weather develops.

The scene from the kitchen window was nice looking.

The thermometer on he window side was up to 57ºf.

I got the laptop on and completed yesterday’s diary. Then, checked the weather forecast for today; Cloudy, 44ºf and the winds twixt 7 and nine mph, doesn’t sound too bad that.

Had a good wash and brushed up, the shave producing several cuts on te chin and one on the neck.

Took my bag with me with the dirty washing, and got down to the Laundry Room. Got the washing machine on ‘Fast mode’, and did some crosswords in the foyer while waiting. Not many folks around today and those that did pass-by were not in a talkative mood to reply to my “Good Morning, are you keeping well” greeting.

P1050131One washer machine and one dryer were in use. As soon as my wash had finished I got to clobber into a drier. The one that was in use had ended earlier, and someone had left a green bag on top of the machine. I took their stuff out, and folded it into the green bag and left it on top of the dryer. I was obvious by the clothing, it belonged to an old dear.

I got the dryer going and departed for a walk up to the park with my camera.

P1050132I decide against going round the back of the flats into the park, as it looked rather muddy.

Hobbled up the gravel footpath instead, not that was a lot less muddy.

The Copse had many broken branches strewn around, as did the path at the top the of the hill.

P1050133Up, on the main footpath, at the head of the hill, the mud was unavoidable and very slippy. I noticed some daffodils or narcissus growing under some trees and foolishly tried to walk closer to get a photo of this wonder of nature.

I saw some daffodils or narcissus growing under some trees and foolishly attempted to walk closer to get a picture of this wonder of nature. What a P1050134plonker! Got myself stuck in the mud, nearly lost a shoe, and had a hell of a time finding a way back to the path without slipping over! Tsk!

I walked up the path to watch some football match for a while, but gave up, even the road was covered in mud at that end.

On the way back after deciding to retrace my steps to the flat, I met the Greyhound Lady with a different Whippet. He was friendly enough, and the lady told me this dog refuses to walk in mud and always avoids it. I wish I had been as wise!

P1050135Many people out in the park today.

I managed to get down the gravel path and into the foyer. Tried to clean off some of the mud on the kerb beforehand, not very successful, though.

I went into the laundry room and used some tissues and ran water from the tap to clean up my shoes best I could, and then tackled mud on the bottom of my jeans when I noticed it putting my shoes back on.

I wished I’d known who’s the washing in the green bag was, it had still not been collected, I could have taken it to her flat for her.

Did some more cross-wording while waiting for dryer, to finish. Got the togs folded into my bag, and got back up to the flat. Put the clothes away and made a cuppa.

NCCwalk01Laptop on to update this diary, the started the ‘Ode post’.

Got it done and posted, and then went on Facebook.

Feeling a bit better now, Anne Gyna has eased off a lot.

01WGot the fodder prepared. Beef slice, potato cakes, roast vegetables, four little potatoes, made gravy, beetroot, and put black bean cooking sauce on the slice. Then when I served it up, dropped two chicken thighs on the tray. Greed!

Crossed fingers it comes out okay. Strawberry dessert (Last one, sob!) for afters.

No Whoopsiedangeplops while making or eating this gastronomic delight. Pigged it and ate the lot! (Coy mode adopted)

However; when I did the washing up afterwards, I found it no effort at all to drop the washing-up liquid bottle and coat my trousers socks and slippers in Morrison’s Savers green liquid. Then slid painfully about for a few seconds on the now almost like an ice rink floor.

This incident and the cleaning up afterwards brought on Anne Gyna, Little Inchy bleeding again and even Arthur Itis joined in. Notwithstanding, I kept me pecker up, cleaned it up, changed clothes, took me late medications and settled into the even more damaged 1959 imitation leather arm chair, painfully.

Watched a lot of TV tonight, over three hours. Fair enough, it was interspersed with nodding-off periods, but overall, I did well staying awake. I eventually went off into the land of nod, much needed after the last two nights, managing four hours without hiatus. Zzzz!

It’s Been a Funny Old Life Part Five – Starting school year…

/ Inchie / 4 Comments

NCCwalk01

I was born in 1947, an accident for sure,

Mother now long gone, to void being arrested,

This fact I was content to inure,

By Auntie Gail then, I was molested,

I loved it, thought she was a treasure,

Then going to school, this is where my sanity was tested!

*****

Avoiding being beaten up several times each day,

Keeping the bully boys at bay,

Being called a Nancy for wanting to learn,

Having three other jobs, for spending money to earn,

Paper rounds, Saturday job & wood bundling; jobs I couldn’t spurn

For Dad said, I had to Pay-As-You-Earn!

*****

I had to earn enough cash for the school meals daily to eat,

I’d have agreed to being adopted in a heartbeat,

But Aunt Gail didn’t ask, and we never again did meet,

Oh, how I did cry and wailed, I was so downbeat!

*****

I continued working, bundling the fire-wood,

Grafting away every hour that I could.

Doing extra night shifts, when they asked, I would.

The long tiring hours stood me well later in adulthood,

Then the boss showed me how to saw the wood,

He left me to carry on, there was so much blood!

*****

When the plank shot up off the bench, it caused a conflagration,

Then landed on he head, causing a nasty indentation,

The emergency services arrived, quite an accumulation,

Firemen, ambulancemen, police, a right altercation,

The ambulancemen gave me a perambulation,

To the Children Hospital, where they gave me an investigation,

I was sent home within the hour, Dad offered words of caution:

If my dinner isn’t ready when I get home again, they’ll be an argumentation!

Ah, memories…

Sat 5 Mar 16: Inchcock Today: Far too many Whoopsiedangleplops late in the day. Humph!

/ Inchie / Leave a comment

NCCwalk06

*****

Saturday 5th March 2016

I stirred around 0500hrs, after a night of more waking than sleeping and reflected on the disturbing dreams I had earlier.

I read somewhere that: Humans are constantly making evaluations about the direction of movement in time of systems perceived as relevant, concerning whether things are moving to the better or, the worse.

Whoever wrote this was dead right in my case this morning! I felt rotten, pessimistic, miserable and an overwhelming feeling that something so disastrous was going to take place, it would destroy my hopes and incapacitate my mind? Wicked emotions.

P1050118I glanced down at the mini Otterman at the side of my 1959 imitation leather armchair.

The items on it made me think of how life is nowadays for Nottingham’s Puerile Pensioner.

A book about WW2 memories of a sniper, and a Bygones newspaper, all stuff from the past. Which is where I belong I suppose.

Anne Gyna and Roger Reflux Valve have never given me so much of a bashing at the same time before. This means I cannot do any cleaning in the flat, and that really annoys me and gets me down. How long before they give me a break? No sleep as such for a couple of nights now. I didn’t go out yesterday and feel ashamed of my lack of enthusiasm for anything. Still, I did get an idea for a funny post when I was on the throne earlier this morning. That actually cheered me up for a few minutes, and then I went into the kitchen and saw the state of it and the need for cleaning, and felt down again. I must not give up, though, and try to do what I can later, else it will get too much to do when I do feel better?

That’s all my grumbling and griping done now, sorry about that.

Made a cuppa and took the medications. Laptop on and finished Fridays dairy off.

Made another cuppa and took an extra 30g Codeine phosphate.


Started and finally finished the Lavatory post. It might get some laughs, I hope, cause it’s all true!

Had a jolly good bath and spit and polished up myself.

Off out, and met Norman at the lift, Norman is the other 93-year-old who I went to Sainsburys with the other week. We had a good natter and caught the L8 bus into Sherwood, where Norman caught a bus to Arnold, and I crossed the road and got on one into town. A grand chap is Norman.

P1050119When I got into town, I dropped off the bus at Victoria Centre.The new

The new American Diner was not doing very well trade-wise, lots of empty chairs and tables outside. Mind you, the Big Issue seller woman would have driven any customers away with the poor thing repeating “Big Issue, Big Issue, please!” in her accent that made it sound like “Big Tissue Tease!” I felt a bit sorry for her and slipped her a quid as I passed by into the Mall.

P1050120

I limped up the escalators to the top floor and made my way to the hardware stall, and took this photographicalisation of some layabout shoplifters having a rest in the ‘S’ seats.

I proceeded in an Easterly direction and arrived at the Market and commenced to have a wander around the stalls.

P1050128I got three bars of their Carbolic soap at 50p (72cents) each.

Then as I making my way to the other end of the Mall, approaching the escalator to go down a floor, the damned back started to stab at me and the Anne Gyna joined in – Humph and Tsk!

As I got near to Tesco, I called in the HMV shop – a terrible mistake and I knew it at the time that my bank balance was going to get a battering! I dare not say how much I spent, but I only went in to see if had any Hetty Wainthrope DVD’s in, but they didn’t; Unfortunately for me they did have a full James Bond compilation and a Jonathan Creek episode I’d not seen before, and … Oh, shame on me, spending again!

P1050122I limped painfully to Tesco and spent, even more, Lamb Hotpots, Seaweed snacks, Potato Cakes, Bread thins and even had to buy a bag to carry them home in.

Getting very weary now, and the bothersome pains were not getting any better.some 

P1050124I walked through Trinity Square and took a photo to post on Facebook, of some Bling for the TFZ lads, and one of the pigeons I slipped clandestinely some seed to.

Hobbled and struggled to the bus stop, and caught one back to Winchester Street.P1050126

I took a photograph through the bus windows of the Nottinghomians milling about. 

The reflection from the glass made it look a little odd I thought. 

We were soon on the hill where I dropped off and managed to cross the road without any undue hiatus this time.

At least, my spirits had risen a little as I made it back safely to the flats and visited the lavatory!

P1050127Made a cup of tea and put the things away. While doing this the wind suddenly got up, so much so I feared the block of flats might tumble over.

A light mix of snow and rain came later, but soon dissipated, the wind remaining, but not so bad as an hour earlier.

I started to make the meal.

Laptop on and started this diary update.

Feeling tired, weary and in pain with the Anne Gyna and lower back. But avoided feeling sorry for myself for once, and started singing to myself as I proceeded to check the fodder cooking regularly.

Put the lamb hot-pot into the oven for a while, then added the chopped vegetables, leeks, carrots, onions, and swede. Sprayed some oil on them, and added them to the oven tray with the hot-pot. A little bit of advice for other Senior Citizens attempting to prepare vegetables for roasting. When chopping them up nice and small so they cook quicker, please make sure the chopping tray is firmly secured on a flat surface. This may prevent the whole shebang tipping over onto the kitchen floor, a lot of very painful cleaning up, much bad language and pissing yourself off.

Then I chopped some more veg and put some garden peas in the saucepan on a low light.

P1050129While the cooking was progressing, I checked the TV paper and found something I fancied watching.

Got the fodder out and added some beetroot, three small slices of brown Irish Soda Bread slices, a strawberry dessert, and would have added a mini pot of ice-cream, but I forgot about it and left it on the side when I took it our of the freezer, where I found it hours later, picked it up and the liquid poured out – right onto the spot where all the chopped veg fell earlier.

Rated this effort at 9.25/10.

Onto the tray, into the front room, TV on, settled in the 1959 damaged imitation leather armchair and started to watch Top Gear.

Ate the food, fell asleep and woke up with the tray and the remnants of its contents on the floor in front of me, bread crumbs, bits of veg residue, gravy and cutlery spread out on the carpet, the Ottoman cover, and my pajamas!

At this point, I lost the little buoyancy I’d accrued during the day, and quickly turned into a self-pitying pathetic, depressed old man, my spirits sank with all the many Whoopsiedangleplops I’d suffered in the last few hours. Of course, all the bending to repeatedly to clean them up had now caused Anne Gyna to give me more hassle. Breathing is painful and not easy.

This may have had something to do with the fact that I could not get to sleep again? I watched all the programs until I eventually nodded off three hours or so later.

I woke up around 0200hrs, Oh great, then the Reflux Valve started. No more sleep, much more self-pitying and the like until I decided to force myself to get up around 0500 hrs.

Tsk! Right fed-up I am now. Still, I can have a carbolicalisationing session in the bath later. Hehe!

Going to the Lavatory In Nottingham: 2016 versus 1954 Style!

/ Inchie / 2 Comments

Nottingham 2016’s v 1954’s Trips to the Lav’

NCCwalk01

Easy Peasy nowadays!

I wake in the middle of the night regularly nowadays here in the new flat, in urgent need of the facilities in the bathroom. Often called the toilet, loo, bog, privvie,  ****house or Outhouse over the years.

The Inchcock household used to call it the Lav (Lavatory).

Nowadays, getting to the ‘Lav’ is easy peasy compared to how I had to struggle in 1954 to get to the outside ‘Lav’ – a brick built up against the railway viaduct wall that carried the trains that shook the bog and house everytime an express went past. Adjoined to the row of other WC’s and coal houses.

Today, I arise, convince my arthritis to allow me the short few yards walk to the ‘Lav’, put the light on, do my business, wash my hands in hot water, using carbolic soap or washing up liquid, dry myself, hang the towel back up turn off the light and hobble the best part of eight feet back to the 1954 imitation leather armchair with the collapsing with age arms, and back to kip.  

There is so little in comparison to what I had to go through to do the same NCCwalk04from 1952 to 1954! Except the carbolic soap, I’ve alway liked the smell of that, it reminds me of a girl who use to work in service I knew. Big gal, Margaret, solid as a rock and always up for a bit of… oh, I lost the plot there, sorry.

I can still get the carbolic soap off a stall in Victoria Market, in fact, I might have nip into town on Monday and get some more in.

NCCwalk03In the Good old Days of 1954ish, here is what a trip to the ‘Lav’ meant going through:

I’d wake up, usually when the 0125 hr (Then the 0225hrs and so on) London express train belted by the house and shook the bedroom, roof slates would fall off, windows would rattle, ice would fall off the windows in winter, the light would swing about (Not that I had a bulb in it very often, Dad didn’t like to waste money)  and shook the whole place for a minute or so after it had gone.,

I would remove the great coats, Dad’s old uniform jackets and the blanket off of the bed, then get out from beneath, feeling so cold, and step onto the oh so cold lino-covered floor and generally, kick the TreatmentGuzunder, or tip it over.

Then the struggle to get some of the freezing clothes on top of the jammies to help keep me warm on the journey, for it certainly was a journey going to the Outside ‘Lav’ in those days.

I had to be careful not to make any noise that would wake Dad up, or I’d be in for it!

Taking care not to knock the tin Guzunder against anything, I start down the wooden uncarpeted, unlit stairs down to the Kitchen. I knew which of the stair treads creaked and would avoid them. Not easy when trying not to spill the Woodthorpewee from the gazunder I was carrying so as to empty it in the ‘Lav’.

Some of the other residents had lagged the ‘Lav’s’ pipes and made them look almost homely. (Which they were compared to ours, and even our house!). Dad thought this a was another waste of money.

Then to unlock the back door quietly, it had three well-rusted bolts, no locks.

Then the challenge of getting across the yard to the ‘Lav’, if I ran, difficult carrying the guzunder mind, I’d not get so cold. So a mad dash and into the ‘Lav’. Try not to bang the door, empty the Guzunder and do my business.

This could prove a hiatus in my actions because often in winter the pipes would freeze-up.

The return journey was fraught with danger. I dare not pull the chain because our WC was a lot noisier than the others for some reason.

Out from the cold dark ‘Lav’ into the cold dark night, across the yard and into the cold dark house.

No hot water to wash my hands in of course cold was available providing the pipes hadn’t frozen.

Getting up the stairs without causing any creaking of the stair steps was difficult. With my little legs getting over two to avoid the noisy ones was hard, sometimes I dropped the Guzunder. Dad would appear as soon as the clattering started on the Gazunder’s way down the stairs, he’d smilingly belt-me around the head, pick me up and throw me into my so-called bedroom while informing me of the consequences of any repeat performance of waking him up again!

Early in the morning (0415 hrs) Dad would kindly belt on the bedroom door, informing me it was time to get up and go to the paper shop for my morning newspaper delivery round.

Ah, memories!

Fri 4 Mar 16 Inchcock Today: Plans, hopes and health deteriorated throughout this day. Humph!

/ Inchie / 4 Comments

01W01a

*****

Friday 4th March 2016

01W

If you’d made gravy like wot I did today, you wouldn’t risk going too close to it either. Urgh! Hehe!

Good Morning each.

Another night of my waking up between dreams. I think most of them were about being frustrated at work again? The now, almost usual climbing up walls, onto and over roofs, with one odd one out about being sentenced in Court to life imprisonment, by the female judge that looked a lot like cyber friend Marissa Bergen? Well, she kept alternating between playing her guitar and drums throughout the trial? I had no idea what the charge was, but recall occasionally ducking down behind the dock and roasting some vegetables on a griddle?

I got up with relative ease this morning, and toddled to the Porcelain and used the throne. Bleeding again still, but nowhere near as much. And the back was easier too, no stabbing pains at all yet. (Give it time though).

I made up some gravy, ready to use later. I was going to store it in the fridge until it needed to be added to the Beef pie when I made it. I have no idea what, well; I assumed I’d put something into it by mistake, but when I dipped my finger in to taste it, Cor blimus, did taste ‘orrible! I decided to just use oxo cubes later on and avoid the fancy recipe Sister Jane gave me to try in future.

P1050112 P1050113

It wasn’t looking too bad outside. I was partially pleased with the photo I took from the kitchen window of a group of dog-wakers, way away on the steep footpath that leads up to Woodthorpe Grange Park. As I took it, tiny bits of snow began to fall. It must be cold out there; they are all wrapped up well.

Made a cuppa and took the medications. I was thinking of having an early bath, but the hot water didn’t seem to get hot?

NCCwalk05I must get to the laundry room today. I’ll leave it until the bus is due.

Laptop on, another cuppa, finished a graphicalisation off for a post.

Then, set about to trying to find out how to change from Formal to Casual recognition on Grammarly checks. It took me over three hours searching and experimenting to find out how to do it. Of course, it’s so easy when you learn how to. Tsk!

Late now for the laundry, but I’ll get abluted and dressed, then go down to see if a machine is available, got to be done like.

Back in a bit. (I hope).

All the machine being used, so no laundering today.

Back to the flat, WC decided to have a bath. Still no hot water. Humph! 

P1050115The snow had kept off, but the sky looked ominous out there.

I felt a bit weary earlier than usual today.

The vision blurred a bit, and the back and Angina is giving me some grief now.

So, I decided to make the fodder while I was feeling up to it.

Had the rumbling innards start again now, too.

P1050114I got a beef pasty, roast vegetables with parsnips added, boiled cubes potatoes and made some gravy. Had a banana after the fodder.

Not up to eating much of it, though.

I faded and fell asleep on and off for a couple of hours, feeling grotty each time I stirred.

Made a cuppa and took the medications.

The mobile rang, it was the Doctors Surgery changing the time of my appointment for Mondays Warfarin INR blood level test.

While up, I got the laptop back on and changed the time of the appointment on the Google Diary before I forgot to. If that wasn’t bad enough, I realised I’d missed my appointment at the clinic when I altered the calendar. Bunglelworthy I am!

Didn’t do much else other than wash the pots and threw away the uneaten food.

Checked what was on the TV, in the hope, that I’d stay awake long enough to watch Hetty Wainthrope Investigates. Then realised I’d been looking at the wrong day, and Hetty was not on tonight.

Whatever it was I watched, it was in a repeating mishmash of periods of 2-3 minutes wakefulness followed by ten minutes a kip… I’ve no idea why I didn’t just give in earlier to the sleep, The pains from Anne Gyna and the feelings of impending doom and anticipated looming catastrophe. I felt suddenly horribly depressed.

When I did try to get off into the land of nod, I waking up feeling, erm what’s the word? Apprehensive, timid, nervous perhaps. I can’t explain why, but need to get help if this continues. I’ve never felt like this before in my life.

In the midst of all this physical and mental uncomfortableness and apprehension, I had to visit the throne in the bathroom. No bleeding from either end should have cheered me up a tad. I had an idea for a post I thought might be humorous: ‘Nipping to the lavatory over the years.

How do I get ideas like this when I’m suffering so and sat on the throne? And not when I’m in a logical state of mind; when I want to get an idea when I’m sat at the laptop looking for an idea. 

So I wrote this down here to remind me in the morning. Else I might forget it, I fear.

Hello, poetry? Hehe! I got the laptop on and updated this diary while I thought of it.

Although by now, it was well past my usual time for getting up – I got my head down, and a few minutes at most later, I awoke with few memories of a long dream I just had.

Horrible they were, everything going wrong, frustrating, hate-filled nasty people chasing me, and I was back on the rooftops running away from hundreds of people, ending up at a petrol station in the Outback of Australia, kangaroos all around. Not being chased anymore now, I fell in love with the lady putting petrol in my car…

I don’t understand how so much could have been dreamt about in such a short time?

But I was still in pain and depressed when the Reflux Valve joined in with Anne Gyna to make me even more sorry for myself.

So around 0500 hrs I got up, and needed another trip to the throne? Oh dear, I’m fed-up.

Inchcock Today Thu 3/3/16: Winwood Community Hut Get-together today

/ Inchie / 4 Comments

Deerhat1Thursday 3 March 2016

Woke up at 0335 hrs, to the porcelain, and more blood from the rear end. Once more and I’ll have to see someone about this.

I made me a strong cup of tea and had my breakfast.

I looked fleetingly at the dirty marks on the kitchen floor. They’re still there, Tsk! Bent down to wipe one spot and the lower back started off. What a start, still bleeding from the rear-end, now the backs started. And just to make my morning, I had to pop back in the bathroom for a leak, and Little Inchy joined in with the others and he was bleeding. First time in three days too. I assume when I bent down, he got squashed a bit and this pulled on the lesion and started it off? After such a good day yesterday, I half expected some medical hiatus or other to come on today. Tsk!

P1050106Took this photo of my breakfast above, got the laptop on and finished the Wednesday diary off, and then started this one.

The Winwood Residents Meeting is at ten o’clock in the hut. I made sure I’d got the stuff to take with me for their nibbles. My mate BJ might be coming to the meeting, he missed last weeks but didn’t sound too keen when I asked him on the phone if he would be attending this one. Bet he does come, just to prove me wrong (Hehe!) He might call later, don’t want to phone him, because he is not an early riser.

CG poorly2I got my Grammarly assessment through email.

I’m definitely getting worse at this spelling and typing lark. Humph!

I had a quick look on Facebook.

Then set to work doing, or rather doctoring the graphicalisation I did yesterday for the TFZ gang.

I added some of the TFZ gals to it as spectators/audience.

Took me three hours to complete.

Now I have to rush about to get ready for the Winwood Community Hut meeting.

Tsk!

Group04jStill, it didn’t come out too bad, considering I was rushing a bit to get it done.

Got shaved, cleaned the teggies, and dived into the bath with its Radox and lavender antiseptic disinfectant in it.

P1050107Well, I say dived into the bath; more a sort of painful struggling into the tub – it was even more so getting out of the tub. Medicated the body sections requiring such treatment and got dressed in clean togs and departed the flat to walk to the Winwood Centre.

The sun was bright, but it was 0º f on the thermometer.

P1050110I arrived in the centre, quite a few folk there already. I gave them the bag of nibbles to use as they saw fit.

Popular little gathering each Thursday, I’m hooked on it now.

So pleasant to listen to the others and talk about olden days.

It got busier shortly afterwards, and then BJ arrived, late as usual.

A good natter ensued, they had a raffle for bits of stuff, and much talking and laughter was present all the time.

P1050109

BJ (41) left, Ernie (93) right, at the WinWood Hut, Coffee Morning

I sat next to Ernie, the 93-year-old tenant, and BJ sat opposite me when he arrived.They pulled his leg for not coming last week, and he paid them what he owned them.

They pulled his leg for not coming last week, and he paid them what he owed them fro to weeks ago. 

He won on a prize in the raffle again! Hehe!

The time flew and it was time for us to be kicked out of the hut, as Deana and Julie reclaimed their workspace.

I went to see BJ off at this car. He hopes to come next Thursday again, as he enjoyed himself so much.

Back to the flats and as I passed the laundry room, I thought I’d better get some done while a machine was free; then realised I had the Morrison delivery coming soon, so made a cuppa, visited the WC and got the laptop on to update this diary while waiting the arrival of the fodder.

Not arrived yet, so I posted the photographs of the meeting on TFZers Facebook page.

The Morrison delivery arrived, no paperwork with it, despite my asking the driver for it and he telling me it was in one of the bags, it wasn’t? Naughty boy!

P1050111Started to prepare the meal. I’d ordered a bag of pre-cut fresh roasting vegetables; Potatoes, carrots, swede, leek and onions. Sprayed them with cooking oil.

They took the same time to cook in the oven as the Shepherds pie, so they went on the same tray. Had three small, I say Small, slices of Irish Soda bread to dip in the gravy. Followed by a Strawberry dessert. Not a small one. Hehe!

The vegetables came out rather well cooked and singed at the edges, but that is how I like them. Superb tasting! I rated this one 9.4/10.

Took the medications and creamed and gelled certain parts of my flobby-like body that needed attention

I watched some more of the A-Team DVD episodes and nibbled some nuts when I woke up an hour or two later.

I noticed some mail had been delivered. The Nottingham City Homes People had kindly informed me that my Basic Rent had gone down this year! I was overjoyed, and then I read on, to find the Service Charges, Support Charges, and Health Alarm charges had all gone up! Ah, well!

They also made me aware that I could write to my Councillor, MP or The House of Lords?

P1020854The other letter was from the caring Severn Trent Water people, advising me that I owed them £312.26 for the flats usage and £256.12. For the old house, that has still not been sold yet!

That cheered me up no end that did!

Got down in my 1959 imitation leather arm chair with the arms that are collapsing when I lean on them, and snuggled into the deep luxury throw, and drifted off into a dream (Nightmare) filled sleep.