I had not had any sleep to speak of; one horrendous night; With Thought Storms, and each time I moved an iota, either the or else would wake me up, not that I did a lot of nodding off last night. At around 0600hrs, I was forced out of the discomfort of the £300, second-hand, musty, Haemorrhoid Harold Testing, cringingly beige, crumb-covered, not-working, rickety recliner. Standing up, and getting to the Porcelain Throne, has never been more excruciating.
I got to the wet room and proceeded with the evacuation. Apart from a little bleeding, there was no struggle or pain involved. I decided, as I have done for several days now, that as I was already in there, I’d get the done. Which I did! I felt sure that I’d hear the door chime music if a Carer Came. Started with the shaving. Determined not to get so many cuts this time, I went steady with the razors… but that was not working, not around the neck, anyway. It’s not fair that the hair does no longer grow on the head but is growing enthusiastically on the neck and shoulder tops. I’ve just got to apply more pressure to get the soft twine-like razor-blocking type. I acquired about eight cuts, all on the neck, so I couldn’t see them. Looking in a mirror at one neck hole is impossible with and jerking you about.
Got around to the medicationalisationings. Harold’s Haemorrhoids first. Always the easiest one to tackle. Then the worst one, pain-wise, Little Inchies Fungal Lesion. A few, well, many Oohs and Arghs were released while doing this task. I believe a couple of words describing my hatred of the lesion sneaked out, too!
The farce of trying to put the eye drops in the eye seemed more ridiculous than usual today.I used about a third of the new bottle, and of that, I doubt if much of it actually got into the cataracted eye. The nose, cheek, chin and chest… Yes! No problem with the nose spray. Germolenes the creases in the belly and put some on the neck cuts that were resisting the Brut and were still bleeding. I rubbed some into the hands as well. But there was no way I could get close enough to do the toes! Humph! I’d have done the toes as well with the Phorpain. But the problem’s the same, isn’t it? I can’t get to them. I think I’ll ask one of the Carers to rub them both in if they would for me.
I was getting the fresh PPs out and realised I had left the trousers in the front room. So I popped in to retrieve them from the computer room; The evening Care had let herself in and was at the Carers Desk when I limped into the room – naked, I thought at the time! Oh, what a mistake to maker! I hid behind the back of the recliner. Thank heavens that I noticed I actually had put the PPs on! Phew! The was Sam. It all happened so long ago, it 18:00hrs, and as I say, the fatigued is coming on, so with that, the memory and concentration fade. So things may be short on detail from here on, as I have only my poorly scribbled notes to go by.
I missed putting this photograph of the morning view I took earlier. Another not-too-great shot. I’m becoming quite skilled at taking these. And also the shaky-+looking pictures. Not to mention the mystery photos that came from I know not where. Oh, I mentioned them! Noisy-Neighbour Herbert, in the flat above, has been knocking and tapping away on and off for hours now. And this continued until 17:00hrs When I got a blessed relief from them. Must have been having his dinner. I am afraid I am getting pissed off with Mr Untouchable, and for an hour or two, maybe four, each time he kicked off, I hit the ceiling with Metal-Micky. Who has not left my side and has been used so many times? I hope he complains… mind you knowing that ignorant superior, loved by the Nottingham City Homes Management, it’ll be in the wrong, and I’ll get myself thrown out of the flat.
Blogging on and off all day, and as the day progresses, so do my mistakes, errors, Whooposiedangleplops and concentration.
I spotted a bag of prescriptions on the Carers table that will be left for Richard to sort out on Monday.
I keep meaning to ask Richard if Meridian might ask for some Anusol to be put on my monthly prescriptions. Having to pay over £7 for a tiny tube is prohibitive. I hope I remember to ask and that they do add it monthly. I got the bowl with some Dettol and washing-up liquid in it and gave the feet a good soak. The toes are just not easing up, pain-wise.Mind you, paying a woman £25 pounds to cut your toenails, and she cuts your toes as well, almost every time you go… Is not good! I shall ask whichever Carer comes tonight (Assuming one does come, of course) if they will rub some Germolene on the toes gently. And Phorpain Gel on the ankle and legs. Surely I must get some sleep tonight after last night’s sleepless nocturnal hours?
Just as I was correcting the multitudinous above passage, there really was a lot of them to do! Arrived and read the above passage after giving the medications. Although she was late, she still agreed to do my feet for me; bless her cotton Socks! She’d seen where the tubes were and got on with looking after me. She’d chatted while doing them and was deserving of some extra treats, which she selected. ♥
Ah, the feet felt better now! I was not hungry at all? So no cooking; I could concentrate on sleeping. Got the TV on so I could fall asleep when the commercials came on. I took a Hemp capsule; hopefully, that should calm me down, ready for the much-mossed sleep ahead. I thought I had worked out well all that I could do to encourage Sweet Morpheus to visit me. Got the computer off. Some nuts and bikkies on the Ottoman next to the chair, with a litre of blackcurrant and apple-flavoured spring water.
Now for the challenge! Can I get to sleep? Will the Thought-Storms arrive? Will the unneighbourly, superior-natured, snotty, unfriendly, superior-acting standoffish kick-off so late at night again? With his weekend concerts of banging, tap-tapping and thudding again? Or, mayhaps, either or will ruin things for me? We Shall See. I’ll report back in the morning to finish this blog. Fingers crossed of course.
I’m back. I weakened and made a meal of sorts after all. A roasted vegetable Risotto with BBQ sauce added a banana and a pot of lemon mousse. The mousse was not eaten. The fries were added, and I dined while watching the 1968, I think, cup final twixt Coventry City and Tottenham Hotspur. Flavour rating: 8.2/10.
I washed the pot, back into the recliner and soon fell asleep… Bliss!
TODAY’s CARTOON – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – ODE OF THE DAY
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
NEMO MORTALIUM OMINBUS HORIS SAPIT
04;30hrs: I woke, but not time for Thought Storms, self-pitying, or passing the usual wind… For the was desperately needed, I frantically farted about and somehow made it to the Throne in time, just. The evacuation took about 30 seconds, and it was all over. Minor bleeding, but not a lot. No effort from me was needed; it was all passed in auto-mode. Besides the regulation cuts shaving, everything went so well that it worried me. However, on leaving the wet room, I did a Master-Class Top Quality, Damned painfully . Right on the edge of the door as I was closing it! Of course, it didn’t bother me at all, being the brave, heroic sort of young man that I am. Ahem!
Off to the kitchenette to make a brew of J. Sainsbury’s Extra Strong Brown Label tea.
But the morning’s views from the window caught my good eye. It was raining and appeared so different to what it normally is. Out came the Lumix; I offered up a prayer that it would fail me again and took these shots. The second one was taken through the bottom portion of the window. I tried different modes from the SCN options. But didn’t do very well. Although the last one was not too bad, I’m not claiming it is good, mind you.
As I was taking the last shot, an even more urgent than the first one needed for the . This time a totally changed mode of evacuation again! Rock hard, reluctant and bloody painful. The cracks in the ceiling counted up to 46 this visit. I spent an hour updating the Thursday blog and a further 45 minutes putting photographs on Pinterest.
Then got the seen, starting with the temperature and Blood Pressure. Roughly the same as yesterday’s results. The NHS site indicated that the Blood Pressure was almost down in the Amber zone. The Excel graphs have broken the run of reds, and it looks much better now!
The Body Temperature has come down nicely, too! It’s taken a while for it to tumble… but all fine now!
I checked the flat repeatedly for safely leaving, lights, oven, windows, taps, heaters etc.
Jodie arrived and got the medications sorted out for me. The regulation treats accepted. ♥
Herbert above was giving me some banging, tapping and knocking. But I knew I’d soon be going out, so it didn’t bother me so much.
Then I spotted how the weather had changed so quickly. To fog!
As it turned out, I foolishly got the Lumix out of my coat pocket to take these two pictures. The first straight ahead, and the second one of the car park below on Chestnut Walk.
Oh, I’d better get ready for the bus trip. Tried to make sure I’d got everything needed, pen, mobile, hearing-aids and batteries… but I’ll tell you now, I forgot to put the camera back in my pocket!
I got down and waited for the EasyLink bus. The lady was lovely, and we chatted, and we were soon inRiverside, Bulwell. As she dropped me off, she said the pick-up was at 15:30hrs! I was sure Deana had asked them to make it for 13:30hrs? The lady said just ring us if you want it earlier, and if we can, we will do it. Fair enough. Of course, I forgot to ask her for the number!
Up in the lift, and all the others were in the room, the meeting was starting. I gave a cheery “Good morning each”, displaying my bestest smile. Humph! No one answered. The usual thing was that so many of us could not hear everything the tutor was saying. He just carried on in the same tone when I pointed this out. When he was talking about the exercise details of what we need to do… I could not resist letting myself talk out: “Well, on Wednesday, my morning Carer arrived just after I’d collapsed onto the floor… I went down to get the bus that did not arrive. I went back up to the flat, took off my outer clothes, and rang Easy-Link, who told me they were due at 10:00hrs. I dashed about to get dressed again. Caught the bus to the doctor, who told me that I didn’t have an appointment today. The Doctor gave me the flu jab. I had to walk back to Sherwood. Catching the bus back up the hill, I missed the step. The driver and passengers got me back on my feet. Now, I think that was a reasonable amount of exercise, bearing in mind that I had a fight with the sock glide and lost when I got into the flat? (I kept a straight face throughout) And I got the best bout of laughter from the patients for it! Although a couple on the other side just furrowed their brows and looked confused, the educator Nathaniel’s glare should really have melted me on the spot! The best moment of the day for me, this was!
But, of course, there were bad things on the horizon going to happen that would send me back into a Dracula Depression.
I was last to leave and made my way in the windy weather that had got up into Bulwell Market to have a delve into the shops. Going into the shops was a mistake. A shopaholic should never risk it when he has his bank card. A financial disaster! In the B&M store, I got some drinks for the nurses, Wardens and Carers. Different ones, I like to tweak their interest. I came out of the shop with two big bags full of stuff! Babycham, cokes, disinfectant, snacks, chocolates, mini wines, and biscuits (A lot of them!) As I turned from the checkout and the dangerously overloaded with the two bags hanging on the handles of the walker, I realised there was a min-rainstorm out there!
I was soaked to the skin in minutes. People were running into shops to escape the wind and rain, and the Market Stalls were abandoned. I got out the umbrella, and with needing both hands to control the walker-trolley in the howling wind, this was an impossibility. So I just had to get wetterer! What could I do? So I went into the Heron Foods store. I came out with non-alcoholic drinks (I0), a Korean black bean Chilli. (I still don’t know why I did that), lemon desserts, black bags and Skinny Whips for the Carers.Came out, and the rain and wind were no better, so I took cover in the Iceland Shop. Tsk! Black bags, rice, Orange flavoured Wagon Wheels (they were for me!), Zoflora, and Party Ring biscuits.
This is where I thought I could get some smashing shots of the abandoned stalls, people running this way and that, and the atrocious weather. I got outside again, and the weather was worse than ever! The Market Place looked like a bomb site as the wind blew the emptied stalls all over. I tried to hasten back to the shelter of the Riverside Venue to get under cover, at least. But controlling the three-wheeler with all that weight on it, there was more weight now as the carrier bags filled with rainwater! Then I realised I’d forgotten to take the camera with me! Wot an Idiot!
Fighting to keep control, I walked into a massive puddle; I had no choice in the matter. The way the wind went, so did I! The shoes filled up with the cold rain. Eventually, I got into the building. And walked through to the car park entrance. Checked the time, and I still had over an hour to wait for the Easy-Link bus to arrive.
The waiting area inside had these massive automatic sliding doors for exit and ingress. The rain and wind continued! And those sliding doors never stopped opening and closing, even when no one was near them. I was chilled to the bone, wet and miserable.
Also, when I got the crossword book out to have a go at during my marathon wait for the lift, it was soaked through. Not surprising, really. But it did annoy me a bit.
When the minibus arrived, and the driver chap came in, boy was I happy! I could have kissed him, but didn’t! He was not a natural natterer, so a silent journey, apart from me talking. But, he cheered up when we got back to the flats. When I gave him a choice of drinkies from the trolley bag.
All I wanted to do, was to get a mug of tea and dried off. BUT NO! There in the foyer, hands on her hips and looking threatening was Warden Julie. “They’re waiting for you in the salon, you’ve got yer feet appointed, and that was for over an hour ago!” I couldn’t argue or even bother to explain the reason for my being late; I was drained and very damp. She kindly frog-marched to the salon. Not really, but it sounded good, dinnit? Just walked with the dripping trolley and soaked all over in the squelching shoes as fast as I could to the salon. I don’t think the nail-cutter was very happy at having to stay on longer to do me. I did explain to her why I was late, but it didn’t raise a smile, get me out of her hatred zone, or even get any comment after telling her. She did speak to me after cutting two of my toes. She only nobbled one last time? She told me I now had two ingrowing toenails. From start to finish, she did the job in less than five minutes? I was certainly in pain from the normal toenails she cut; the last toe that she cut; made me jump. I said a naughty word! Shame! Usually, I offer them a drinkie, but the cans were in the water in the carrier bags, and I didn’t know which one anyway. I’ll take some down for them next week. Paid the £25 demanded, with my last £30. Telling the lady at the desk, who owns the salon, about how I struggle to find pound coins to pay the Easy-Link with, and she gave me Five coins instead of a fiver. x
Got back into the flat at long last. Got the wet clothes off, drained the carrier bags, and sorted out the purchases bought. Disinfectants wot I got. The Fabulosa washing scent stuff stunk awful to me, but the Carer loved it?
Ah, the treats here, each and every one a new variety. No, they are!
I can’t understand why I bought those Mexican beans in chilli? They’re bound to be too hot for me! That Dairy-Free spread looks worth a try.
Chestnut mushrooms. Sausages for Richard on Monday, and I’m looking forward to trying that Korean BBQ-flavoured rice. I’ll ask Richard to help me break them up. I got on the computer about six hours ago, and am still on it doing this blog, now. Apart from when Sam (I think) called. Some names I can remember… but not many. Got me sorted and chose one of the new drinkies and a Chunky White Milky Bar for nibbles in thanks.
I pressed on until I started getting the shivers, obviously, from getting soaked through earlier. I shall get something to eat and call it quits. I’ll have to finish this in the morning… There’s a thought, I hope I get a Carer, it’s Saturday innit tomorrow. Back in the morning… I hope!
A sad meal was made up. A veggie burger on three uncut sliced cobs, and I sliced up some of Jenny’s donated tomatoes. ♥ And a banana for afters. Not the best looking or appetizing meals I’ve done, but I was in pain and so weary. The Taste-Rating of 3.5/10. But most likely, this low score was due to my state of Health. I can’t smell things very well now with the cold coming on. I’m still shivering cold, sniffling, stabbing away at me, and the feet are so painful, it’s hard to believe! To counter the discomfort, I took an extra Codeine and a Hemp capsule.Sleep will help as much as anything, I think. After the care calls, I’ll get myself settled in the second-hand, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, microorganism-producing, smell-retaining, gungy beige coloured, none-working, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, c1968 recliner, and if it’s not on, turn on the TV, in hopes that it will help me get to sleep. It normally does; I’ll nod off when the commercials come on screen.
Ad KI was checking the SD file before turning off the computer, and I found the one on the left was on the SD card.
The Mystery Photo of the Month?
I know what I think it might have just been, but that would have been a physical impossibility. Does anyone have any thoughts on the subject? Obviously, a shot was taken by mistake?
18:25hrs: Jodie, I think it was, but you never know for sure – Well, I don’t anyway! Sad, innit? I was watching an episode of ‘Heartbeat’ at the time she arrived, and I was almost dropping off. Hehehe! Got the tablets issued. The Carer put my socks on… not on herself, on me. Hehe! I think I’ve made a mess of this? Might have been Sam? We had a chat then, she chose some treats, and she took the waste bag to the chute on her way out.
I settled to watch the second episode of Heartbeat. During which I estimate I nodded off about eight or nine times. Ruined the viewing. The next time I woke up was about an hour later. I turned off the TV, assured now that I would soon be in the Land of Nod within minutes, which I was!
, I bounded back awake, convinced I’d left the hot water tap running! I rose painfully onto my feet. The feet and toes were giving me some bother and a half! mainly. The knees seemed to have given way to the new Unguis incarnates pains. Off into the kitchenette, no tap running, then I went into the wet room to check there and shoulder-charged the doorframe going in. This got going; the toes were getting worse, and after all that, the hot tap was not running. Not that that was the end of the little mental pandemonium known as , Oh, no! Back in the £300, second-hand, c1968, cringingly-beige-coloured, not-working, rickety recliner, without the slightest chance of nodding off again, due to the hurting and activities of !
But nothing could stop the Thought Storms from raging into life. This triggered the . As far as recall, I got up to check the fridge and freezer doors, and the oven had not been left on, and then if the front door had been locked. Each trip was making the toes more painful! Thus even less chance of dropping off to sleep now! I elapid there, train to think of something I could concentrate on to avoid the Thought Storm messages. I made a story up, a comedy, with relative to me failures and Whoopsiedangleplops on it. The feet were now getting the attention of Colin Cramps! I think I might have been about to fall asleep, for the Thought Storms had gone offline in my brain. And I started sneezing hard and often. Of course, this set off , and I gave up any hopes of sleep, all together. I dare not take any more painkillers today… or yesterday as it is now.
23:55hrs: I shot awake with a new problem on my mind… I’d realised as I lay there, unable to sleep due to the Thought Storms, that I’d got the Morrison order coming at the same time as I should be at the Doctors surgery this morning! I tumbled my rhinoceros-like but wobbly body from the c1966 recliner and got the computer on to change the delivery time. But it would not let me! I tried their helpline… Helpline? Ha! An hour later, after going through the reasons available that I could use, but finding none about delivery time changes, I got to a message centre on their helpline…Helpline? Ha! I explain the reasons for my wanting to change the delivery time to later in the day, whichever suits them. I even told them of my dementia and being partially disabled, thinking it might spark a bit of compassion and help. Then, later on, I was so glad to see a message from them in the inbox. “How kind of them”, I thought. This is the message I got back:
In a mess now, just don’t know what will happen or what I can do?
Did the Health Checks. 04:20hrs now, I must get the ablutionisationing done next.
The Blood Pressure was in the Hyper Red One again. The pulse had shot up, likely due to my getting all het-up again over my damned cock-ups with the doctors’ appointments, then the food delivery from Morrison’s.
Started. The end hook came off of the shower curtain again, which meant to replace it; I’d need to go from the wet room through the hallway into the end room and get the step ladders. Through the hall, back into the wet room. Then risk an climbing up the steps, no doubt cutting my finger on the hook as door usual, then get safely through the climbing down the steps, and back through the hallway to the back room and replace the step ladders. Back to the wet room. I thought Sod that, not with the luck I’m having. The teggie-cleaning went okay. The shaving was a smidge ridden. So many cuts that I lost count of them. Nothing serious, though. I enjoyed the showering. It was Dizzy Dennis, Shaking-Shoulder-Shirley, free, and headbutting the panel. I wasn’t about to go into Smug-Mode… Oh no! I dried off without knocking anything off of the floor cabinets, no .
Started a new tube of Daktacort cream to use on Little Inchies Fungal Lesion. & .
Germoloided At least there was no pain from this, just blessed, cooling relief. These tubes are now £6.50 each at Sainsbury’s. Humph!
Phorpain gelled both knees and then rubbed some into and around the ball joint.
Despite the cadaver colouring of my lower limbs, which I can worry about at a later date. (Well, maybe) The ulcers were the calmest they’ve been for years.And, the bloating had all gone now. Oh, and not a lot of bother from Peripheral Pete’s leg dances or any involuntary Hitler salutes either. So that was good!
Got dressed and went into the kitchen to make the first brew of tea, Thompson’s Punjana. I tried a different setting on the Lumix this time. Hand Held Night. I was not overly impressed. The screen said it takes several shots together to reduce blurring. Mmm?
All done. Now to get the things I’ll need into the pockets of the jackets.
No Carer had called. So down to the lobby for the EasyLink bus. It did not show up. I waited half an hour. Had a good look outside in case they had gone to the wrong flats block.
Back up to the flat. Morrison food arrived. I got it put away, put away.
Phoned Meridian about medications they are sorting. Scary! Nothing happened, of course. Stripped of the outer clothing and tried to relax a bit. Put Deana’s flowers in the sink.
Rang EasyLink. They said the bus was due at 10:00hrs.
I had to rush around getting the clothing back on again to get down again in time. I went through the link walk to see if Deana might be there, but she was busy elsewhere, on her own again. I got out and to the waiting driver just as he was about to give up on me. But he was a little early, bless him.
Got to the doctor in plenty of time. Went in and to the reception. It seems that I didn’t have an appointment today! What? Dr Vindla came to me as I was seated, waiting for a decision on what to do about me. She said she’ll do my flu jab, and took me into her room and did just that for me. Her lips curled, and a smile partly broke out as she stuck the hypo in my arm, sending me to the reception, saying I will be given another appointment for the Severe Frailty Checks. (The brilliant bit of this is that Nurse Nicole is giving the test! ♥♥♥ Yippee! Thus, I was given a fourth appointment (since August) for the Frailty Test! For Thursday 6th October at 09:00hrs. What are the odds of it being changed again after I’ve arranged with EasyLink for a lift? Cragknangles! I put the date and time on Google Calendar when I got back to the flat. Getting there was delayed by Lidl and my Shopaholic tendencies!
I walked to the Carrington Pharmacy. And bought a tube of Germoloid without really thinking. It cost me £7.49!
Then hobbled to the Lidl store, where I got carried away a smidgeon, buying enough stuff to fill a large carrier bag. Getting on the first bus was a battle; it was crammed with passengers, and I struggled with the trolley walker and the bag of food. Dropped off in Sherwood, and I limped over to the bus stop to catch the 40 bus up the hill to the flats. Got inside and managed to catch poor overworked Deana. Still on her own. She said she’s ring EasyLink for me about the lift tomorrow. Not heard anything yet, but still hoping to get lifted.
It looked a little healthier with the Morrisons and now the Aldi stuff in the fridge. Is that the right word? I’ve decided tonight to have the Frikadellen and sliced potatoes, with some tomatoes for the meal. It really is years since I’ve had these, back in the days before they even made Veggie-Frikadellens.
Phoned Meridian about medications they are still sorting, getting medications for eight hours ago sorted.
Esther turned up. I gave her an intimidating look that I could muster. (It didn’t work) and asked outright; How much will you be charging this week after helping yourself to my drinks and charging me £20 last week, because I’m short on funds! “Nothing!” she lied! Later she moaned about the machines being broken down and how long it took her to get the washing done and mentioned a fiver. So, I gave her all the change I could find, only £4.70. Later she went through my pockets and found some odd coins – Cheeky-Poo! So I gave her the 30p I was short, and a penny extra! Hahaha!
The New Meridian lady came up to see me for a chat. Nice patient, gal. She took the flowers down with her for Deana. Can I remember her name? No! Which is surprising for an educated young man like me. Ahem!
I was showing interest in kicking off. She has been known to throw a few mini-shakes for an hour, not often – but then the barm-storming ball-joint-wrenching shoulder shuddering starts in earnest. I can feel her warming up[ for one now!
The ticker rate was slowing down nicely. That’s the thing that worried me an iota. Was a bit of a pest still. Reflux Roger was giving me some sharp bursts of wind and some rapid outbursts of wind. Although they are now getting less frequent. Having a nice female in the flat is tantamount to taking CBD, you know? For me anyway!
Oh, I forgot to mention this morning’s after-shower session with Glenda.Will suffice!
I had a bottle of Morrison’s Raspberry & Blackberry Spring Water on the computer side. It was refreshing and is now about empty.The Roast Vegetable Risotto will do for tomorrow night. I’m going to dine well. In fact, I’ll get cooking now! I got the sliced potatoes seasoned and into the oven.
Then, fifteen minutes later, I got the Frikadellens in the microwave, and I cooked them for two minutes. Getting the potatoes out of the oven, as per usual, and I burnt my right thumb... Which was better than the left one. Cause of the Peripheral Neuropathy being on my right side, it was a painless experience! Hehehe! I think the neurotransmitters must have been out of touch at the time! Got the meal served up, and the only thing OI did not eat or enjoy trying to was the crap Morrisons substituted tasteless Danish bread; they did the same last week, but I gave that one away. I wish I had this one now! However, this meal attracted a Flavour-Rating of 8.9/10, all the same.
Sinead arrived as I was battling to stay awake to watch a ‘Heartbeat’ episode on Freeview. She was her usual caring self, bless her. Got the medication sorted and inquired what had gone wrong with the morning Carer, as no one had filled in or signed the log sheet? We had a natter, and I offered her one of the Special Mini Bottles I got from Aldi today. I thought they were dead cute, and Sinead agreed, alcohol-free Aperitivo Rosso. This gal has class; I can see that! ♥
Back to the TV after Sinead departed, I was brokenhearted.
01:30hrs: I rose after a good three hours of uninterrupted sleep. And with yesterday’s Blood Pressure being the lowest ever, I dismounted the £300 second-hand, musty, Haemorrhoid Harold Testing, cringingly beige, crumb-covered, not-working, rickety recliner, and: ! Could I find the Boot’s Sphygmomanometer? Well, not for a while, no! Confusion reigned in my ‘Under the control of Dementia Doreen’ brain. I have always put it at the back of the carer’s table for months. And never misplaced it before. I assume that with all the excitement of yesterday’s ‘Lowest-Ever recorded Blood Pressure, I may have lost concentration and placed it in a different place? I went on a controlled Sherlock Holmesian search. Starting in this room, where it has to be, I thought. However, a ten-minute hunt around failed to produce the errant recorder. It must be in the kitchen, then? So off to the kitchenette and checked cupboards, drawers, and Good Heavens; I even looked in the oven, fridge and freezer. No luck! Ah, thought I, remembering I went to the clothes racks in the junk room abbot that time. So I delved into the Steptoe & Son like spare room for a ferret om there. I even thought I’d have a look for the missing trouser belts at the same time. I did find two belts. Which almost brought on a Smug-Mode, but then , when I found that both of the belts were now too small to go around my ever-ballooning waistline. I knew I had two belts that fitted last week and seem to think I hung them over the clothes racks, again no joy. I continued searching for the belts, confident that I had left them in that room, no question in my warped little mind. (At the time) Half an hour later, I gave up and went to make a brew of Glengettie tea.
I tried to take a photograph of the morning view from the kitchen window, using the 15-second taking nighttime mode. But it came out like the one last week, fuzzy! I shouldn’t bother, really, not with all the twitches, shakes and uncontrollable jerking of hands and legs. I’ll not try again. So, I moved the dial into SCN and chose the night option on that; Ah! much better this one was. I was pretty pleased with this one, but of course, the cataract can be misleading. Put a splash of milk in the brew and hobbled back to the computer. Asked myself, “Now, where was I up to?” I’d forgotten abbot the search for the missing Boot’s Sphygmomanometer. Huh! Getting side-tracked, losing the plot and simply forgetting things, I seem to have got into an art form nowadays! Well, the only places not searched were the hallway, three-wheeler-walker trolley, and the wet room. Back into Sherlock Holmesian Mode, I limped to the Hallway to investigate. Not on the waste bag box, not in the trolley basket. I was pretty confident as I went into the wet room… ‘Thud’; I clouted the shoulder on the doorframe again! Which, of course, immediately and painfully set off , I dropped Metal Micky, and when I bent to retrieve the stick, kicked off! I thought about becoming a gibbering wreck at this point, as my previously above-average contentment level sank towards a developing depression! Or could I just cry and carry on?
I rubbed some Phorpain Gel into the shoulder and looked around for absconded, escaped Boot’s Sphygmomanometer. There was the machine with the razor and tackle with the toothpaste? I had to ask myself why? How? But I didn’t get an answer. I know that I missed shaving yesterday, and I am already concerned about doing so today due to the risk of cuts on the extra stubble. So how come I left the Boot’s BP unit in the wet room? I can only put it down to Dementia Doreen! That’s the Dementia that my Doctor refuses to recognise that I’ve got. Can anyone help? I sank even lower now! I should be pleased I’ve found the flipping Boot’s Sphygmomanometer, but things ain’t good. So, down in the mouth, I did the
Ah, yesterday’s result must have been a glitch. Back up in the red again today. In the Hypertension Red-1. SYS 142, DIA 69, Pulse 88, and the body temperature at 36.7°f. If you’d like to look at the Returns graph for the last seven days, the temperature has gone up by 0.1 for four days in a row now. Well, it’s consistent, if nowt else. Hehehe! Will tomorrow bring a reading of 36.8°f?
I got the computer on and got the call to the . That’s something else that’s variable, different in nature every sitting. Haha!
And it was today. Meatballs, no Torpedo, not almost liquid, and a pale Karki in colour. There was a heck of stink with it this morning. And talk about bleeding; I’ve not lost that much in a session for ages. A smidge worrying cause it wasn’t the deep red one usually gets and associates with, Not that there is any point in telling my doctor. If I walked into her surgery with my head under my arm, they’d make an appointment for three weeks’ time. Then it would be cancelled and rearranged for a fortnight later. Then I’d forget about it… Worra life! Look at the Severe Frailty Assessment. I had one and failed it badly, and the doctor refused to accept the results. Because I didn’t have my hearing aids in. So made another appointment for six weeks later. My Bad, I missed it. They made another in three weeks’ time! Let me know two weeks later that it is being moved to two weeks later than planned. Last Saturday, actually. The Link transport phoned me on Friday and said we are picking you up at 0755hrs tomorrow, which surprised me; I wasn’t sure they worked on a Saturday. Come Saturday, no minibus arrived. The Doctors surgery phoned me about missing the appointment, and I got in a right muddle, and still am not sure if they made another appointment for me or not.
Minutes later this morning, another lady from Link called me to say my lift will be here ‘this morning’, at 08:00hrs? I explained about Saturday, and as told: “Yes, we don’t work on weekends” I asked politely; why I was told the lift would be with me, in the morning, on Friday? Not that I needed telling, well, I wasn’t told. A simple mistake by the caller with the days. But anguish and worry for me. Now in the bad books with of all places, the Doctors surgery again! Desperation makes me waffle; what can I do to get any help? The day was getting really light now. I went to the kitchenette and took the top photograph here of the cloudy sky.
Then this one downwards to the car park on Chestnut Way in front of Woodthorpe Court. Then this one from the balcony. Straight ahead, I caught a piece of balcony plastic in this one.
I don’t know why I said that? Then to the end window, which I failed to open, trapping my fingers trying to do so. I surrendered and took the shot through the glass. It was at the far end of the car park.
Where parking on the no parking chevrons has become such a very popular activity amongst the tenants of these flats. Arrived. I’d been looking forward to seeing him today as well. But disgustingly, all I did was moan and grumble about my plight at first. As soon as saw how tired out he was… the repeated yawns and the vacant look on his face gave me a clue. He was so worn out, poor devil. I don’t think he was listening anyway. Don’t blame him either, even though I’m sick a tired of my whinging! He got his treats; all the lad wanted was to get home and try and get some sleep. Wished him good luck as he departed.
I got on with updating the Sunday blog. I may have waffled on that too. sorry if I did the graphics needed, then made a start proper on this blog.
But concentrating was hard, as was at it again with his mechanical concertos. The noise was varied for a minute or two, decorated the tune with some clunk thuds. He serenaded me with some delightful whining noises, then back to the tap-tapping, with the odd thud thrown in.
I was struggling, so IO went on the WordPress reader to see what the bloggers had blogged.Ha-ha!
Cripes! Look at the time; where did it go? Better get some food prepared!
Sadly, I used the last of the chips and no-fish fish sticks in this meal. By gum, those chips were good! I’d better get a JS order made up for next week – Oh, no, I won’t – Oh, yes, you will. Hello, is that Alto-Ego? I decided not to; I’ve got instant mash I can use up.
+I put the tray on the Carer’s desk, and just . It was a wonderful experience… but ♫ Oh, Susana ♫ chimed from the door chime, and the Came in. I think it was Carer Jodie, but I was half asleep still. We might have had a little natter, but she had to go as she was running late. Went with there to the door and locked it was she left with her treats.
I got the pots washed, and doing this reminded me that I’d not yet done my , Tsk! So I did them. So tired and blurry-eyed, yet things went well. Teeth, a very little bleeding, shaving, only three teeny-weeny nicks. And the showering was dizzy-free, with just one clunk on the powerbox with my forehead. Pretty chuffed with that!
Got into the night attire, and decided to do some work on this blog… But…
It used to amaze me how with Fries making such a pathetic mess of running Virgin Media, he go an increase in salary and bonuses. (see left graphic) He destroyed the good reputation of Virgin, which now gets an overall rating of 2 @ 5 on Trust Pilot! But I’ve realised that this must be why: Mr Fries Artful deception, flimflam, hokum, prestidigitation, illusion, hocus-pocus, and mumbo-jumbo skills distort or blur any facts and figures. The man is a genius! That, or the top boss at Liberty-Global, must be extremely gullible?
So, I got down and had a long, losing battle with to get to sleep!Humph!
04:45hrs: I woke up, and Little Inchies fungal lesion that had been giving me so much hassle and pain last night had calmed down remarkably? I lay there, preciously close to the edge of the £300, second-hand bought eight years ago from the second-hand shop, Harold Haemorrhoid testing, repugnantly beige-coloured, crumb containing, virus-breeding, acne-giving, rickety, none-working recliner, and mused over a few things of concern. Of course, there were no solutions, cures, or alternatives found. So I did! At about 06:00hrs, I found the impulse to get up.
I got the sphygmomanometerisationing going, and boy, was I surprised at the returns! SYS (A new lowest-ever) 115, DIA 62, the Pulse 85, and body temperature still high at 36.6°f. Putting the figures on the NHS site this time and got this rather uplifting graph. Absolutely! Grade One! Hehe!
I’d only been in the Normal once in the past eight years, but now I am in the… wait for it… The IDEAL Green Zone, for the very first time! Now I’m worried about going too low. You can’t win, can yer? Hehehe! I certainly shows up well on the Excel Blood Pressure. I copied the Sunday to Sunday part of the graph. Just look at it, only one day out of the eight, in the reg overall! I did think a moment ago that I may have misread the SYS, and it should be 175? I had a look using the magnifying glass, and I’m sure it is 115 now. Only the high-Temperature is in the red. Wonder what I have to do to get it down? I’ll look at Google later. Cause, as you can see, it’s creeping up!
I went into the kitchen; it’s always a nervy thing, the first thing to do! Will it be the hot tap left on? Is the oven left on? Or a window left open? Mayhaps the freezer or the fridge door is ajar? It’s worrying each and every morning nowadays! Mind you, last week I found the food in the cupboards had all been moved and still can’t find some things I know were there. I have been known to partake in nocturnal somnambulism. All was okay this morning. I didn’t check the cupboards, though.
I made a start on prepping Josie’s Sunday lunch. I made a slightly different style of stew for her today. Beef and the usual vegetables and seasonings. I’m going to cook some beef sausages for her later, slice them into small pieces and add them, then the BBQ sauce last thing and reheat.
I made a brew of Thompson’s Punjana and took it to the computer.
But I got distracted. With the need of the . Where I found the evacuation most aperient. Yet poor old still bled a good bit. Washed up and went back to the computer.
Started a session of clumping, tapping and banging away from the above flat. That’ll help me concentrate a lot.
Pressed on, getting lost in updating Saturday’s blog, until nearly eight o’clock, when the arrived. It was Sinead again. Always glad to see someone cheery, even though they are tired after a long shift. Her eyelids were beginning to droop, but she maintained a smile. I didn’t keep her with my gossiping, she selected a can of drinkies, and she made her way home, me being an extra and her last call. I felt guilty about asking her to take the waste bag with her. An hour or so of computing – or, to be more exact, making mistakes and getting confused with the blogging work. Then I got the Lumix and went to sort Josie’s meal out. Cooked the bangers, sliced them, and then added them with the sliced mushrooms to the mix in the saucepan. I’ll photo this saucepanful, I thought, it looked lovely. , with felt so ! The Lumix was not working again! It went through the motions, but the shots were not getting to the SD card! Grrr! I checked the card was in the right way around, and the lock tab was in the open position. All I can think is that the battery might have run out. Even though I charged it up two days ago? This happened last week. And I came back on the next day as I recall… I think, but I am likely getting confused. What can I do? The only thing I can think of, apart from suicide, is charging the battery again? Yes, I’ll do that, then…
As ♫ Oh, Susana ♫ burst forth from the door chime. Now, who could this be? I asked myself pointlessly as I hobbled to the door. It was a demure-looking Josie. She told me her Sister had just phoned, and she was coming to collect her and take her out to the Marco Pierre White restaurant for a meal. This was about 11:00hrs, and the meal is delivered every Sunday at twelve-noon!So she will not need a meal today. I think that Josie might be bullied a little by her Sister. She often almost demands that Josie goes out for a meal with her at very short notice. And all that effort I’ve made this morning to get her a different meal, the cut finger slicing the mushrooms as well. Haha! She’ll be here in about an hour, Josie said. Bless her! I was not angry with her, just that it happened. Not only does it cost a fair bit, but the washing up I now have to face was unnecessary! I got two screw=lid food containers and filled them with the feast. Told her she could eat them later and could pop them in her fridge. A can of pink gin slipped for her as well. Hahaha!
I delivered them and got back inside onto the computer. It’s not going well. But I pressed on.
Then realised I’d left the big saucepan in the sink soaking. Had I left the tap running? I went to investigate, and I had not – Phew! Then, all the other saucepans, cutlery, lids, wooden spoons, and slicing boards were washed. While doing this, the fatigue fell on me. I had to stop. I put some roasted vegetable risotto in the oven… now I must stay awake and remember it’s in there.
Liberty-Global Down!
SMOKE & MIRRORS EXPERT!
I got the meal out and returned to the recliner to put my feet up and get it eaten. I made far too much for me to eat it all. Although I did try too, a mistake mayhaps, that I may regret on the next Porcelain Throne visit. Put the tray on the Carer’s table, and then I . I woke to the smell of part-eaten Roast Vegetable Risotto wafting up my nose. I discovered that cold risotto does not smell nice at all. This prompted me to put the uneaten food into two bags, and then a black bag, and sealed it in the waste bag! Cor, it was foul-smelling! And a pile of that is working away in my stomach?Shudder!
Back into the front room and again. To be woken up by the , Riona, who did not ring the doorbell and was looming over me as I woke from the depths of glorious sleep. I wanted to cry momentarily! A record visit timewise, 5-minutes medications given, treat refused and gone. I followed her to the door to lock it, and she took the waste bag when I asked her to.
05:00hrs: When I stirred, I struggled with , for control of my brain. For I was aware (for once) of the need to rise and get lots of things that needed to be done; so as not to let down the Link bus driver by being late at the collection point. I was determined not to get myself into a pickle and keep calm, not get all agitated like yesterday afternoon when things went apeshit again. I really wanted to keep calm today, with an eye on my Blood Pressure to help me on my mission. (Had I known what lay ahead, I’d not have bothered! I rose with little difficulty and, at that time, was rather pleased with myself. Indeed, I was close to having a . As soon as I got into the kitchen the I’d left the hot water tap running in the sink! Cold water again – just on a morning I need to get a good shower and shave for the visit it the Doctor! Already the self-despising and anger were brewing! I cursed and swore for ages and had to take the decision to have stand-up wash teeth and shaving sessions, using water from the kettle and two saucepans. Carrying them into the wet room, back before the water got cold, to refill and get them on the stove and back again to the wet room several times was decidedly risky. I paid the price. Blistered finger, scolded foot, and clouted my elbow on the corner of the cooker, dropping the luckily empty pan on the floor! My anger and frustrations were getting shameful now!. I got through with the task pretty quickly; then again, I was still determined to. A few more little nicks when shaving, but the hands were like blurs as shaved away at warp speed! Got medicated where needed, dressed, and out of the wet room to check on the pots and pans I’d used in the kitchen. I’d made a bit of a mess, but no time now to worry about that. I hoped whichever Carer came was early. Then I could ask for help with things… well, why not? I had to return to the wet room. This typifies my rotten luck – things have been fone in the evacuation department. But just because I needed to rush… Four rock-solid giant H-Bomb-shaped escapees! One at a time! Each one was more painful and took me longer to force out. The last one was a battle and a half! Bled so much, poor things. Even more, time was lost in cleaning and . I wasn’t sorry that was over!
0735hrs: ♫ Oh, Susan ♫ chimed up. At last, the Carer had arrived! Of course, Meridian Management had not sent her a message about coming earlier! Told me had she been advised, she could have gotten here earlier. Shame! Lovely Carer Sinead, it was today. She set to give me the medications first. Then help me with the cash for the bus fare. Even closed the tabs on the shoes for me when I asked. I insisted she take a drinkie and nibble of her choice in thanks when she left. I avoided the problems for once, being in such a rush to get down in time for the lift.. I arrived with three minutes to spare in the ground floor lobby. And began a mega-long ait for the arrival of the Link bus. I was questioning if I’d got something wrong about the appointment after all? Nothing showed up… well, a squirrel did. Haha!
I waited for about an hour, then gave up and returned to the flat. I got the magnifying glass and found the telephone number on the Link leaflet and gave them a call. No one is available at weekends, call back on Monday after 11:00hrs. Well, another problem without a solution? Now there may be an email from the foot lady about their appointment today. At least I can get there this time. I set the alarm on my mobile phone for an hour later. Just in case I don’t hear the text when it comes in.Then finished the Friday blog and posted it off. Noise from the flat above that did not settle; it went on for hours and hours. Clunks and bangs! Later there were a few breaks from the noise of the impolite, insensitive, disrespectful, snobbish, haughty, pompous Herbert. But he was back again within minutes each time. Huh, just typed that, and he’s gone all quiet?
The alarm went off on the mobile. I got ready and trotted… well, limped down with the three-wheeler walker trolley in the lift to the ground floor. I meandered gently along the link corridor to the end and the hair & foot salon on my left.
Aha, locked up and empty of people! I moved on to the end of the corridor and took a photo of the ILC (Independent Living Coordinators), who are Oberstgrüppenführeress, Primo Ballerina, Warden, Deana, and Generaloberstess, Junior Ice-skating champion Julie. I could see no souls about anywhere on all my wanders.
I turned, somehow I was not surprised they had closed down, let’s face it, it’s just my luck, innit? I took a close-up photo of the sign.
So we could read it. Bodes not well for the business, closing down for holidays?
I then had a thought – I do that sometimes, you know… have a thought! I nails growing so fast, I’m going to find it harder and harder to walk? Just a thought!
I’ve been into this blogging, and the times have flashed by. The will be here soon. Better get some quick nosh sorted, methinks. Back in a bit… or the morning. (The Morning updating):
Got the meal prepared, down in the £300, second-hand, decrepit, Haemorrhoid Harold-testing, sleep deterring, nauseatingly beige-coloured, not-working recliner. Feet up on a swivel chair. Not ideal when one is trying to eat peas and cope with the Peripheral Neuropathy Pete’s twitches and palpitations. Spent a lot of time retrieving odd peas from my body, the carpet, one in the slipper, two in the dressing gown pocket (No ideas how they got there], some made their way into the waste bin near the recliner, and about four are still on the floor underneath the Hopewell’s G-Plan, 1966 made cabinet, but at the back, I’ll ask Richard on Monday if he can retrieve them for me. Where was I? Oh, yes, the meal! Flavour-Rating 6.5/10. Ate it all, apart from the errant peas, of course.
Chloe arrived in a rush, as is usual. But we did have a laugh while it lasted. Treats and off she went, taking the waste bag with her.
I went to wash up the pots and things, and I could not resist trying to get some decent shots of the evening sky through the kitchen window. I took the first one in Auto-Mode on the Lumix camera. Crossing my fingers that the SD card will get them this time. Then tried a zoomed-in a bit, effort using the SCH-Evening mode on the camera dial. As I was taking this one, an instant demand came to a wee-wee – No messing about, I grabbed Metal Micky and shot off to the wet room. Fearing that the Comfort Protection Pants might be about to be tested here! But, No! I whipped out Little Inchie and had to wait for ages for the trickle to start, and it only lasted for a few seconds; this confused me somewhat? Washed and went back to the kitchenette. Where I took this picture of the changed view on offer from Mother nature. Amazing how quickly the evening skies change. And back to the wet room. This time for Porcelain Throne duties, during which; the wee-weeing flooded out? A comfortable, aperient evacuation was taken. But I had to wait for Little Inchie to stop leaking for blooming ages. The fungal lesion was bleeding again. I assume through my stupidity of whipping down the pants so roughly on my first visit for a wee, Tsk! I tried the new ointment this time, in hopes that for some reason it would be less painful than the Daktacort was. It wasn’t! I went back to the computer and took the nightly capsule of Hemp. I pondered on whether to risk an extra Codeine 30g. No doubt the lesion will sting for a while yet, and sleep, I would like to have some. But resisted and took a tablet of the less effective but much better than Paracetamol, Co-Codamol.
I settled down in the £300, second-hand, c1968, charity shop-bought, eyesorely-horrendously grungy coloured, Harold Haemorrhoid-testing, easily-falloutable from, unfit-for-use, not working, recliner, in search of Sweet Morpheus. But every time I nodded off, the pants would catch on the lesion as a shuffled about in search of a comfortable position, and sharp pain would bring me back out of any sleep mode I was in. I did consider changing into one of the larger pants. Maybe thinking about it now, I should have, I think! Cause I lost count of how many times I was unceremoniously and painfully woken up!
Yet amazingly, when I shot awake again around 05:00hrs, there was no pain from Little Inchies fungal lesion whatsoever?
THURSDAY’s POLITICAL CARTOON Inchies Ode Of The Day – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
That’s all the photos, mates. Unless I can sort out the Lumix later. But I’m not up to much, not a good day. Esther the cleaner just charged me £20 for doing the washing. And I caught her helping herself to at least one 1½ bottle of Spring Water. No idea if anything else is gone.
She seemed totally unconcerned about me seeing her? No wonder she can afford to go for a four-week holiday to see her family in South Africa.
I am not up to challenging her at the moment. Wonder if she’s fiddling with any of the other residents, as well?
I’ll get something to eat now. I’m not feeling up to much still. But at least the shakes have eased off. I’ll have to do the Morrisons short-dated Parmentier spuds and a roast vegetable risotto, methinks. Must sort out the shower and shave before the Carer arrives later on. Then I can get the trolley sorted out with the bags and paperwork for in the morning and get the togs ready. I shan’t use the sock glide tonight, hopefully, I can cope with it in the morning easier. Oh, I’ve got the potato cubes in the oven. In 25 minutes, I can get the Risotto in the microwave. I’ll have a go at the Lumix again. Not that I know what I did to lose it in the first place or have the foggiest idea how to get it back working.
Fell asleep, uncomfortably waking with Thought Storms raging so often; it got to me, I made the meal. Took a snap of it, but it didn’t show on the viewer or card. In the morning, to my amazement, the meal one was on the DS card, none of the others I’d taken, mind you. They’d gone off into the ether.
Overdid it by a wide margin quantity-wise. But ate most of it, put ray down and drifted of to sleep again. Until Care Cheeky Charlie arrived, full of the joys of spring. As she got the medications sorted out, she took my temperature.
My temperature has never been so high in years! 36.1°f! She selected a drinkie and a nibble. And reminded me to lock the door as she departed. Bless her! I slept on and off until 03:15hrs.
03:40hrs: Another shooting awake, the arms jounced, and slowly the brain woke up as well. The only thing it was interested in was my hastening to the Porcelain Throne. So, I did! No injuries or Accifauxpas en route; I got settled in the regulation position, and the evacuation began. I should think it was 80% putrid air and 20% of watery kaki-coloured liquid, with a few bloblets of the expected stuff mixed in. Not too messy it didn’t spurt out. No bleeding. Again, I thought, well, I’m in here now; I’ll get the ablutions tended to. most another bit of the left back double molar again… I don’t know how it hasn’t all gone by now; the number of times I lose a chunk of it? I took extra care with the shaving this time. A couple of tin nicks, no bother. Ah, there were some difficulties here. The Germoloiding of Harrolds Haemorrhoids went perfectly smoothly, with minimum pain of any sort. Then, the Phorpain gelling was more or less in the same style. Then, for some reason, the applicationing of the Daktacort can only be described as horrendously painful. I stopped as soon as I felt that much pain in such a delicate area. And went to fetch the magnifying glass to see if I could find a use-by date in the tube or box. Nope, couldn’t see one anyway. I went to the medical drawer in the kitchenette and ferreted about for another tube. None left! I must ask Richard or Deana to order some for me. A smothering of Germolene in place was tried. Totally-ineffective. I dare not use what bit of Daktacort that was left in the tube, so threw it away. Then, the Danger of the Day, so far, had to be faced.
Of course, I wasn’t worried at all; a heroic man with so many ailments is not going to let a plastic-coated finger-crunching, blood-letting thing like metal Sock Glide intimidate me. Well, more than suspected! I got through it and got the socks on. A plaster on the trapped bleeding finger was all I needed this time. Freshened up my wobbly short-overweight body with antiperspirant spray and aftershave. Got dressed and tackled the next job, the . Back down again! SYS 137. DIA 72, Pulse 78 bpm, and body temperature a good return at 34.3°f. Back in the High-Norm amber area. I suppose a being shown is okay? The second lowest rating I’ve ever recorded! Now I shall be looking to get in the green soon… Hehehe!
Was banging about above early again, around 06:00hrs. He must be making things for Christmas pressies early, mayhaps? Come think of it, I reckon he was noisy late at night and early mornings this time last year? I may be wrong, of course. ♫ It’s not unusual for Inchcock to be wrong… ♫
I got the computer on, and many comments on my blogs were received. It was from Bill, so I answered him. Off to make a mug of Thompson’s Punjana, and I took this morning shot of the view from the kitchen window. Not exactly awe-inspiring, is it?
I went back to the computer and checked the Emails.
Morrison and J Sainsbury’s had set a list of their substitutions and not available goods in today’s orders to be delivered. Not good, is it? Still, I can give away the Tikka substitute; Deana might like them. The tomatoes should be okay. It’s funny how they always send dearer than the original substitutions. JS had done even worse than Morrisons; that takes some doing. Same thing, dearer substitutes. But they failed to tell me that the cheaper chilli cans I’d ordered were going to be substituted with a lot dearer ones! Humph! Anyway, I started to get things stored away. The Imperfect Tasty Strawberries were one for Deana and one for Francis, who I hope she’s back from the hospital by now and feeling better. I’ll ask Deana later. Ah, my treats to myself here! Vegetarian shepherd’s pie, roast potatoes, veggie pasta, and sliced potatoes (well, it cuts back on chopped fingers!). Seasoned fresh cut chips as well… Oh, and a new one to me, Silky Butternut Squash Risotto; no idea what it will taste like, but without trying it, I’ll never know. Did you see that? Words of Wisdom… from me! Hehehe! Beefburgers and pot noodles for Carer Richard. Some individually portioned sticky rice pots and substituted No Chicken Tikka Masala with rice. I tried the one I ordered cause I knew I was okay with sweet & sour sauce. But I’ve tried Tikka before and did not like it. Are J Sainsbury staff told to select lousy substitutions on purpose? Is not sweet & Sour Chinese? And Tikka Indian?
At least they didn’t send me a pot of brown shoe polish this time. I’m not joking; I ordered potato cakes once and got a shoe polish pad!
Still, the owner has just lost a family member, the Queen. So, say no more. At least Morrison’s managed to deliver my favourite ready meal of all time. Roast Vegetable Risotto. It’s cracking tasty! I always put just a drop of BBQ sauce with it. And the packet of mushroom risotto I had yesterday, I think it was, was grand.
This is a loaf got the Wardens, cause it keeps fresher longer… someone told me.
I got some brown cobs for me from Lord Sainsbury: J Sainsbury plc is the parent company of Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd, the third largest chain of supermarkets in the UK, with a 16.4% share of the market. As of 2021, the largest overall shareholder isthe sovereign wealth fund of Qatar Royal Family Investment Authority, which holds 14.99% of the company. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. The chain’s annual report shows that chief executive Simon Roberts picked up £2.8 million in bonuses for the year to March 5, on top of his £878,000 a year salary and other benefits. His mammoth pay deal includes a £1.7 million annual bonus and £1.1 million in long-term incentive scheme shares. Shame no one there knows the difference between a Chinese meal and an Indian one. Just thought I’d mention it! Not that I have anything against the Indians, they have my greatest respect and admiration. It’s just that their food does not sit well with me. Where was I?
Oh, yes… These were some of the giveaway items. I bought a few trays of fluffy rice. I just thought Deana might like one to try. Hope she likes Tikka. She did call later after I’d got everything put away… Ah, something else I forgot to mention… A pack of six 1 litre Spring Water was delivered today; luckily, it was the first thing I moved into the kitchen from the blocked by food doorway. I felt the leaking water running down my leg onto the carpet; I then dropped the bottles when I got into the kitchen. What a mess I got into, and cleaning it up was no fun! I lost the plot there… Sorry. I put the flowers on the trolley, ready for when Deana or Julie, or both, came to see me about the lift for Friday. Richard told me Deana would be calling today to see me. Which she did.
She told me she’s arranged for the lift on Friday to be for 10:00hrs So, hopefully, I can get to the B&M store to get some of the canned drinks that the Carers took to. I got some last week… no, a fortnight ago. But they all went first, but I just cannot remember what they were called. When I see the cans, I’ll know, He says… Hehehe! Onto the computer to make a start on this blog at long last.
♫ Oh, Susana… ♫ Hello, who’s that? It was Esther, after her six-week break visiting her family in South Africa for two weeks, that turned out to for four more. Can’t blame her! She’s calling tomorrow to do the laundry. She asked for a pen so she could write a note to another customer and post it through his door – I made sure I got the pen back this time! Hehe!
I believe the sudden fatigue is coming back again now. 14:00hrs? I’ll get a vegetable risotto in the microwave and add one bay-sized fluffy rice after three minutes, so they are ready at the same time. A drop of BBQ sauce will be added after cooking. This week I shall try harder to avoid any burnt fingers or dropped items when struggling to get the lid off of the trays. The foods were both nearly ready. I made up a pot of Idaho instant mash with bubble & squeak, adding some extra-strong grated cheese and a quirt of my made-up to the bottle of liquid salt & distilled vinegar to the pot. Added a mini-pot of lemon mousse to the tray and got into the recliner to feast!
I had a cough and thought I saw some specs of blood in the tissue, well, the paper towel I used. The meal was cooling as I checked the nose and mouth. Nowt to fret over, but puzzlingly all the ulcers in the gums seem to have erupted at the same time. I didn’t realise I’d got so many pustules in the gums. As for why this happened, I remain, as ever nowadays, confused. Finally, I began the feast, ’cause that’s what it was, and even though I’ll let it cool more than I meant to, it was delicious! A Taste-Rating of 9.3/10!
I put the tray on the Carers desk next to the £300, second-hand, c1968, charity shop-bought, eyesorely-horrendously grungy coloured, Harold Haemorrhoid-testing, easily-falloutable from, unfit-for-use, not working, recliner. And drifted of with a satisfied stomach into a wonderful – but short-lived, dream-filled sleep. ♫ Oh, Susana… ♫ chimed out and brought me rudely to a state of semi-wakefulness. Blow it; I can’t remember her name now. Humph! She apologised for being late and mentioned how rushed she was. She soon got the medications sorted; and, with what seemed a reluctance, ask if there was anything else.There was, but she seemed so pressed I didn’t mention anything. A nice gal, I told her to pick a treat on her way out. I think I was about to nod off again when I remembered I’d not locked the door. So, I locked it…
Turning back from locking the door, I thought I’d have a look through the spy hole – which proved near fatal. Hehe! I twisted my back as I turned again, setting off poor and, at almost the same time, stubbed my toe on the three-wheel walker guide wheel… but I’d not finished yet. Oh, no! Cursing my bad luck under my breath, and went into the wet room for a wee-wee and apply some Phorpain gel to Shirley. And walked into the doorframe, hit the shoulder, stopped, and automatically pee’d in my PPs, and I felt like crying. But I resisted it, after all being the heroic, stoic, brave, strong young man that I am… At least Bladder-Belinda’s sudden leak came when I was in the wet room. I evacuated the remaining few drops of urine from Bladder-Belinda. Stripped off and had a good clean-up. Germoloided Harold’s Haemorrhoids, And got the crap, not very effective Phorpain gel, rubbed into my back as best that I could get at. Surprisingly, the toe stinging started to ease off? Got some fresh PPs on, the Depend brand that had coped admirably well with Bladder-Belinda’s earlier escaping mini-torrent. was left until last. Because the shoulder charge on the wet room doorframe had set her off shuddering away, but now she had calmed down. It took me so long to sort things out that by the time I was leaving the wet room, the and , were of little bother now. Of course, now I had to rely on to get me through the doorway without any . Easy-peasy! I think that when I go going into the room and the light blaring at my eyes is why there are more walk-intos than when leaving the wet room?
A momentary Sherlock Holmesian conclusion there?Haha!
I got settled into the c1968 recliner seat… Tired out, with Thought STorms to compete, My mood was just a tad downbeat, Thought of the Risotto… that was a treat! Cramps now, in the fingers, legs and feet! I must be getting closer to the scrapheap, Losing my battle for peace and sleep… My life seems full of things grossièreté! Don’t know when, but I got nodded off alreet… Dreamt I was on holiday; it looked like Crete? 2:55hrs, I sprang wide awake. Did I oversleep? Asleep only five minutes, I could weep!
Not that I’d had any sleep to wake up from, but I dropped some pluppets of wind, then moved into a position ready to free myself from the clutches of the second-hand, £300, c1968, overwhelmingly-sickeningly beige coloured, tatty, uncomfortable, wobbly-recliner. At this stage, I changed plans and made my way to the wet room for the. The was also needed a visit. I whipped down the sleeping slacks sharpishly, fearing a partially liquid evacuation. Splurge-splatter all over and done within seconds! Ah, now the teeth breaking… I mean cleaning and the potentially dangerous shaving to be done.
I wetted the chops and neck, then a good covering of shaving cream, and I was off. The blood flowed at the first glide of the four-blade razor down the chin! Several minor nicks followed, and one at the back of the neck that I could not get to see. So, after doing the teeth, breaking another lump out of the double molar, which also bled away! It was bleeding long after I’d finished the ablution and got dressed. I discovered that I’d torn the gum as well, but still, I managed to stop it in the end.
The only other ailment bothering me was . Very tender! Duodenal Donald and Anne Gyna were being sweethearts this morning. And Dizzy Dennis, , and the recent nuisance was nice and calm, too! Worrying innit?
I went to make a brew of Glengettie tea and took this photograph of the dark dank morning out there. To me, it looked nothing like on here when I viewed it on the viewer screen on the camera. Most disappointed in my efforts, I thought it would be much sharper?
Arrived. Richard was in the much better form today. We had a netter and chinwag. Seemed to go on for ages. I enjoyed us putting the world to rights. Hehehe! Took his lesser-filled treats bag with him, taking the waste bag with him. I think I mentioned something to him as he went down the lobby, and I have a feeling it was about something important, but I’m blown if I can remember what it was about now.
I got out the Boot’s Sphygmomanometer, manufactured by ZDEAC (Zhongshan Daguan Electrical Appliance Company Ltd) in Guangdong, China, out and working. And what a change in the figures today!
The up and down results continue. SYS 132 (lowest for a week!) The DIA was within range at 72. The pulse had, at last, come down to 87 after five says being in the red zone.
And the body temperature was the best for weeks, at 34.3°f!
.I put the new figures for today into the Excel graph. I wanted to get an average reading, but it’s so long since I’ve used Excel I wouldn’t remember how to do it. Can’t read the advice I found on the web; when I zoom in, it gets more blurred than ever.
It’s times like this, and the same as yesterday when I made a right mess with WordPress and nearly lost the day’s blog. That I wish the Cataract operation would come soon.
I pondered over the failed morning view taken earlier. I do a lot that, you know, pondering. Hehehe! Trying to think what I’d done wrong. Especially after last night’s decentish sun-setting shots.
You are forgiven for not believing what this photo was of that I took next… Tsk! Go on, have a guess. Haha! Yet again, it looked nothing like this disaster on the viewer screen? The red light shows, was the back of the Lumix, the charging of the battery light. Obviously, I took this with the Fuji camera. So that’s a mess I’ve made of a Lumix picture. And a disaster with the Fuji. Has the Cataract gotten worse? Am I going bonkers? Have I lost it altogether? Humph!
Just to put yet another dampener on things, I stood up to go and get the kettle on. Yes… Much pissed-offed language flowed, a few naughty words were uttered, and my mood dipped again, my interest in everything flailed, and depression dawned… not to mention the agony it left me in! It also pulled viciously at and her knee! I got a great dollop of Phorpain gel and rubbed it energetically all around the right knee. It did not ease the pain at all. So I took another Codeine.
Then, the same as the week before last, the instant fatigue come over me. I knew I just had to sit myself down and likely fall asleep. I had the forethought to make some rice for a meal, in case I’m in the land of nod for as many hours was last Thursday, or was it Wednesday? Luckily the rice can be cooked in the microwave, but of course, I can’t read for how long. Huh, then I remembered forgetting to ask Richard to read it this morning! I’m going to get the rice done and sat down. I’m not feeling very good at all now?
Made myself some rice, added mushrooms and a bit of BBQ sauce. The flavour rating, as best I recall, is 7/10. Then I flopped down in the c1968 recliner and, for hours, did my best to get some sleep. My body instructed me to. Nonetheless, I stayed awake. I did come close to nodding off a couple of times, but on the first occasion, started banging about upstairs and woke me. I think this is when I took these two photos? Not sure, though. But it was light, so must have been around then. Both of and from the balcony.
The next time I was about to find bliss with Sweet Morpheus, ♫ Oh, Susana ♫ burst from the door chime. Struggled up and to the door. It was Josie bringing the dishes and tray back from her Sunday lunch.
Finally… at last, around 18:00hrs, it was getting dark, and I actually drifted off to sleep! But moments later sprang awake with a jump. Unsure of why I had to get up to check the front door, intercom, mobile, and each room in case something had toppled over or similar. It gave me chance to unlock the front door before a carer arrived, at least. Nothing untoward or possible reason for whatever did wake me up with such a jolt and had my mind and body limbs threshing out.
Then minutes later, I was close again to joining Sweet Morpheus; and ♫ Oh, Susana ♫ burst from the door chime. It was the Sam arriving. Despite the rude awaking, I was glad to see Sam. Who dealt me the medications, and she closed the curtains for me. Choice of nibbles in thanks.
Sleep was still resistant, despite my body and mind begging for some. No idea when I did drop off into the land of nod, but when I woke up, I felt a lot easier and fresher. And with a frantic need of the Porcelain Throne!
I think I had more sleep last night than I have in any week! Sadly, it was all in bits and pieces, broken by being woken and my habit of straying off doing things after I’d needed one of the several wee-wees. Also, some persistent Thought-Storms of an aggressive nature.
But I returned to the doubtful comfort of the £300, bought eight years ago from the second-hand shop, Harold Haemorrhoid testing, repugnantly beige-coloured, crumb containing, virus-breeding, acne-giving, rickety, none-working recliner; after each hobble about, or moving things around for no reason, and rearranging of a food cupboard. Why? I anticipate finding other things that I may well have done in my noctambulations later on.
I lay there, pondering over this and that, and anything and the bowels decided to try and evacuate the inner product of its own accord… There followed a sequence of events that were events that were worthy of the Comedy Sketch of a Year Award. I thank heavens there are no CCTV cameras in this flat!
①: I fumbled and bumbled my way up onto my feet; crumbs, the TV remote and a part-eaten packet of pistachio nuts hit the floor and spread all over the carpet... ②: No time for the waking-up to catch my balance routine, I grabbed Metal-Micky, and on the first imitation step, I found one of the pistachio nuts with my left foot. ③: So, as I crumpled onto the floor, my right knee found another escaped Pistachio nut! ④: I went through some pain getting up again, and was only concerned at that moment with getting to the in time… The narrow hallway walls sustain me getting into the wet room, for Metal Micky was laying somewhere in the front room wherever it was, I’d dropped him in the tumble. ⑤: The fight to get the pyjamas down delayed me and caused more panic; I tore them, in the end, to get them down quicker… ⑥: To no avail, I fear! The bladder and bowels won this one! They both started before my bum got down on the plastic . ⑦: At least things were over quickly, but they left me with I don’t know how long to put right and clean up the wet room, then the exit points had to be cleaned and medicated. Fortunately, I keep a supply of the PPs and large kitchen towels with the Germolene and Germolids to hand in the wet room. Along with the aftershave and plasters to steady any shaving cuts or leaks from Little Inchies Fungal Lesion while I’m doing the ablutions.
I can’t understand why now; no doubt it made sense at the time, but I felt a little smug at coping with these embarrassments and decided to get thedone while I was in there.
The right knee was not in good shape after its attack on the Pistachio nut earlier. Hehe! in shaving, left me using the plasters and the aftershave to stop the bleeding! Little Inchies Lesion was not leaking; all were okay! Oh, and the hair at the lower back of the head come neck is definitely growing again – white! I shaved it off.
After getting things all sorted, new PPs and socks (that were a hell of a job to get them on!) on, The right knee was now very tender! I packed the affected PPs in the disposal bag and returned to get Metal Micky from the recliner room… When I got back in the room, I thought I’d had burglars! I’d cleared the shelf above the electric fire of all the rubbish, and that had joined the crumbs and food on the carpet! Making it worse, a bottle of disinfectant I keep there for the wee-wee bucket had lost its cap when it got knocked over!
I’d also like to know how I managed to get Metal Micky left right in the corner her the bookcase? I think it would a physical impossibility, surely? Anyway, it was hard enough trying to retrieve it; I had to climb over the many fallen object to get to it – so I used the long picker-upperer. Cunning that, I thought! I got Micky back with the stick and was almost on the verge of congratulating myself as I turned around and against the shredder. Another flipping moment!
I stopped doing everything. And mountaineered my way to the recliner, resisting crying, and just sat down and spoke to myself as calmly as I could… “This is not a good start. Fair enough, the bladder and bowels are out of your control, as are your fingers, feet, legs, shoulder etc… no good getting depressed, mate; it’s just how it is. What you need is some help when things like this happen. I agreed with myself, called myself a pratt, and did my belated balance exercise.
At this point, I noticed the clock… that was on the floor with all the other jetsam and flotsam – I checked with my watch, and they both indicated it was only 04:30hrs! Christ, what time did I get up then?
I swore to take things calmly from here on today. And tackled the mammoth job of cleaning and sorting things out in the room. I’m not saying I didn’t have a few moments of self-pity cause I did feel sorry for myself once or twice. But found the determination to just press on with the sorting. No rushing, doing it quietly. I got something out of it at the end of the task, I’d got three waste bags full of rubbish to go to the chute. Hahaha! Somehow or other, I perked up a smidgeon, too! It was well gone eight O’clock by the time I’d sorted the mess. Then I made a prayer for it not to happen again for a while, please.
It then dawned on me… the Morning Carer had not been yet? Quick as a flash, I realised it was a Saturday, so no fretting. Meridian was very late arriving last Saturday as well. They do have trouble getting staff at the weekend, it seems. Moments later, a call came in through the landline, and it was from Meridian. The lady told me that the Carer was outside and could not get in. I took it as she was outside the building and told her to press the intercom 72 and I could let her in… then I thought I’d better check, and I inquired if she was outside the door or the flats? But the lady did not know. I said I’d get my walking stick and go have a look. Got the Wooden Wilmer stick, and I went to the door. The Carer was outside of the flat door, complaining because she could not get the key lock code to work. I smiled gently, using one of my calming half-smiles, and told her I can’t either! And broke into a broad grin. That did it, I think; I caught her heart! Hahaha! I explained that the door was not locked; sometimes, I forget to unlock it, but not often. If she presses this button, pointing out the door chime, I will hear it, but not anyone knocking on the door. I’m deaf, senile and decrepit, but that can’t be helped. She did larf!I liked her straight away.
Her name was Sinead, not seen before. I think she was from another assignment somewhere else; that’s why she was late, getting me added to her list. Nice gal, we had a little chinwag. She said she’d come again if she got the chance.
Well, I’ve still not done the Health Checks yet, better get them done. The last time I did them later in the day, the figures were down, so here’s hoping.
Well, that didn’t help much, doing it late, did it? Ah, well, as a part of my commitment to resist swearing, feeling sorry for myself and keeping calm, all I can say is: Hey-Ho!
Time to sort out something for dinner; no bother making up my mind today; I’ve a fancy for some chips and a veggie burger! The chips are oven ones that claim to be vegan. looking forward to trying them. and Yet again, the photo I took of the meal has evaporated into the ether! I’d love to know how this happens; cause I took a look at it after shooting it and was pleased with the result. Come the morning, when I uploaded the last few photographs, there it was gone! Grrr! The chips looked very tattie and were thick-skinned, but I did enjoy them all the same. Taste-Rating: 6.5/10.
Arrived, it was Sharon; I knew her name the second she told me after I asked her what it was! (Dementia Doreen again!) She didn’t stay long, but we managed a mini-natter before she chose her treats and departed.
Washed the pots, locked the door and a rinse, and made for the warmth of the rickety c1966 recliner. I feared that I may not be able to get back to sleep and put the telly on… but could I find anything worth watching? No! I mused over which DVD to watch. Whilst doing so, I drifted off into Sweet Morpheus’ land… Nice!
Two hours later, I woke in desperate need of a wee-wee! The memories of this morning’s facial, embarrassing and painful events came flooding back. Would I make it to the NWWB (Nocturnal-Wee-Wee-Bucket) in time without any more Accifauxpas? again, but I got things flowing without any disasters. Stopping it flowing was the problem! The went on and on… I was almost tired out by the time it ended. Hehehe! I did have a mini during the leaking, but it only lasted for seconds – !
I felt the warm wet sensation when I pulled up the PPs. So, off I limped with Metal Micky to change the pants and clean up. As I entered the wet room, I stubbed my toe against the vicious, blood and bruise-bringing, metal, agony-to-use, brutal ! I’m sure she had moved from this morning; I thought I’d put her safely out of the way behind the mop bucket… I’m sure I did! Now, she was near the sink? Obviously, the work of the mysteries of Winwood Heights, the ghosts, wraiths, spectres, cacodemons, apparitions and other grotesqueries haunt the hallways and lobbies, searching for Inchcock, to create ambiguities, abstrucities, perplexities, misfortunes and botherations, to scare. worry and confuse me! Or maybe .
That was the end of any thoughts of getting back to sleep again!
