Tuesday 15th May 2018

Scottish Gaelic: Dimàirt 15 Cèitean 2018

0400hrs: I stirred into imitation life and waited for the brain to join me. First thing I observed was an extraordinarily detailed and mostly readable scribble on the notepad. It related to an odd dream I’d had last night. (Most of them are strange though, aren’t they?) I used this later on, in updating the Monday diary.

I had to move a bit sharpishly to get the Health Checks done and updating, as I did not want to be late for the bus for the Melton Mowbray Market visit with some other tenants. This will be a hopefully happy dépaysement for me.

No pleurodynia pains today. Got on with the Helth Checks.

The sphygmomanometer was taking many efforts to get it to work and coming up with EE (Error) messages on the screen.

A call to the Porcelain Throne had to be responded to. A good session, no bleeding from Haemorrhoid Harold at all!

Back to the hemadynamometer, which operated first try this time.

The pulse is a bit low again. As for the tea, most enjoyable.

I got on with updating the Monday post. Made a graphic to use in the tale of the dream. Got it completed and posted off.

Began on this one up to here. Time to get the ablutions tended to.

All readied, I kerfuffled, grubbled and fumbled around with much ingemination, and eventually got, what I hoped would be everything needed for the little bus ride and the visit to Melton Mowbray Market.

Arriving in the lobby, to find nobody around. Then wondered, had I make a Whoopsiedangleplop over the timing?

I took an amble outside to take some photographs.

Back into the foyer and sat doing a crossword. Others arrived, led by Jenny. We all had a natter for awhile, and the mini-bus arrived. A new Ford Transit, about a 14-seater. We mounted, got out seat belts on and soon we were off travelling.

Considering how annoyingly uncomfortable and hard the seats were, the draught coming through the open sunroof creating an annoyance, and enjoyable to listen to nattering from the other, I don’t know how many other residents from both Courts: I fell asleep in seconds.

I woke up as we drove by the Nottingham City Homes flats in Sneinton. By the time I’d got my camera out, we had gone by them. The seats, the seats with an inbuilt hatred for Haemorrhoid sufferers, ensured that no more nodding offs occurred for the rest of the journey.

Jenny was in good form, I love listening to her tales and always end up smiling to myself when I hear them. And, she asked if the sunroof could be closed when others asked her.

Luckily, I had taken some codeine with me and took two, which helped diminish the pain level from the rear end, a tad.

Jenny had it all in hand when we arrived in the coach park in Melton. She aided us all to get off the bus and reminded us that if we feel a little strained or drained, the bus will be here and open for any of us to call back to and have a nap. (I knew she was aware of my tendencies to nod-off and fade in the early afternoons, bless her.) I was well impressed with the gals and guys at the speed with which they all shot off. I followed in their wake so I could find out where the Market was. I caught up with them at the Pelican lights, and Jenny pointed out which way to go to the market.

Frank was over the moon at seeing there was a Wetherspoon pub located nearby, just over the road from the bus park. His wonderful smile lit up, and I had to smile too. Bless him.

We all split up, and I made my way to the market.

I kept meeting up with Jenny and Frank as I hobbled around the market street. I think they might have thought I was haunting them. Hehe!

I did get a pair of dark trousers that were my odd-size. Short legs, wide stomach, Hehe!

I ambled around, going up alleyways and side streets, I was amazed I didn’t get lost.

I decided not to buy any Pork Pies until after I’d perused all the places selling them. I did have a look at the Dickinson & Morris shop to see what they were offering.

The only other ones on sale were at a Market Stall, but they had some pork pies without tops or lids and had squashed extra-strong blue Stilton cheese in place of the crust. £5 each.

I met again with Jenny and Frank, who were sat outside a Caffé Nero. Jenny invited me to sit with them for a while, and a lovely natter ensued. One of the tenantesses from Winchester Court joined us for a while.

I had a limp around outside the market area and came across the River Eye. A shallow river near a Rest Home and the Memorial Gardens.

I did take a picture of the waterway, but it seems to have gone off into the ether, for I could not find it on the SD card in the morning when I started this update?

I decided to fetch the Pork Pies. Finding the Dickinson & Morris Ye Olde Pork Pie Shop to get a £4.95 pie, and then the market stall to purchase a £5 stilton topped pork pie was surprisingly easy for me.

Once I had these purchases in the bag, hunger pangs arrived. I called into the Iceland store and bought a bottle of fresh orange juice, mini pies, and some cheese-topped cobs.

This simple meal went down so well. I sat on a bench outside the shop and sat there for ages,  slowly enjoying this feast in the sunshine. Had to keep the hat on though, shame.

After the agony from Haemorrhoid Harold at getting back up after so long a sit, I meandered back towards the bus park and thought about going into the Mobility Shop there, to see if they had any picker-uppers for sale.

But was put-off when I saw a dirty-great big bloke in blue overalls coming out of the place. Slash scars on his face, tattoos everywhere, dark, sinister eyes, a twitch in his left eye, rings on his ears, nose, and lips… eurgh! Put me right off that did!

I noticed some activity near the bus at the other end of the park. It looked like they were a lot of us old folks ready to go home, (I was!).

I joined them and soon got seated and belted up ready. Haemorrhoid Harold was burning and stinging away at me! Hehe! The rest of our party were assisted by Jenny to get settled and soon we were off, back to the place we all call home.

As the driver bloke reversed out of the parking space, I took this photographicalisation.

I was listening to the conversations that I could make out the others were having… I’m not sure how long it took, but it felt like seconds later, I fell asleep.

I woke to find the bus had pulled up and folks were alighting with the help of Jenny. Missed the trip back there, didn’t I?

The driver dropped the Winchester Court folk off first, then went down to Woodthorpe Court to release our clan.

I realised as I stirred and got ready to get off the bus, that I had not taken any photographs as I had intended, of Jenny and Frank. Humph! Schlemiel!

The first one I thought was the bestest of all the three.

I pointed out after taking it that it looked like Frank was indicating something naughty. Hehe!

The clan were all eager to get back to their flats, no doubt all for different reasons. I imagine some would be requiring the use of the porcelain throne, a cup of tea or coffee?

Or like me, desperate to check if I had left the tap running again or not! I Hadn’t, Phew!

I took the last shot of Jenny with the driver. Nice effort I thought, considering how tired I was.

Some words were shared, but the brain just cannot recall what was said, now. Klutz!

When I got in, Herbert above was clattering away on and off until 2006hrs! Which prevented me getting to sleep, despite how shattered I felt.

Still, no need to make owt to eat. Did the Health Checks. Had a wash, utilised the Porcelain Throne, had a rinse, changed into jammies and got down to watch the TV, thinking this would get me off to sleep.

I even had the headphones on when I heard another clatter from Herbert, it surprised me, just as I was drifting off again, too!

Monday 14th May 2018

Danish: Mandag den 14. Maj 2018

0325hrs: I woke with an abjectness and lugubriosity, undoubtedly brought on by the usual weekend’s loneliness, self-pitying and depression. The moment the brain engaged with the body, and I moved to extract my body-mass from the £300 second-hand recliner; the head and shin bruising reminded me of yesterday’s Whoopsiedangleplop when I fell off of the step-ladder while trying to change the light bulb. A behind-the-eyes headache that followed is still with me. Tsk!

The usual ailments all seemed to be kind to me at this moment. Well, apart from Duodenal Donald and Little Inchies lesion, anyway.

Off to the kitchen to take the medications, do the Health Checks and make a brew.

It was really pippy in the apartment again, this morning.

To the computer and made-up the record for last week on Excel.

Off to the Porcelain Throne. A much better, more comfortable and less messy evacuation this time. Good!

Back to the kitchen to make a second small mug of Breakfast Tea.

The wind was whistling in through where the plastering repairs were done last week.

Both the left and right-hand sides of the window frame was blowing in, around the room and right up my jammy bottoms! Hehe!

Oh, dearie me. I no longer own a dinky, just the right size clear glass milk jug. Schlemiel!

Dropping and smashing it was bad enough in the first place, but getting back up off of the floor after retrieving the shards of glass, and wiping up the milk, proved far more pestiferous for me! Humph!

I started to feel a little more down-in-the-dumps, despondent, after this klutzy Whoopsiedangleplop.

We all have to endure and tolerate accidents, misadventures, calamities and setbacks; but I seem to get such vast amounts of these?

Think about it: Born into the world and Mother’s first words to the Midwife were “I don’t want it, throw it in the Trent!” I caught double-pneumonia at the age of three. Mam and Dad were fighting all the time. Born with the smallest appendage ever. Thrown in the canal at five-years-of-age. Sister goes to live with relatives. Older Brother goes in the army, ends up in Hong Kong and stays there. Mother kept running away when she got too much in debt, returning now and then for a few weeks after Dad had paid off the bills she’d accrued in between, and she’d be off again. Me and Dad now. Got shot then stabbed while being a security guard. A hernia and Duodenal ulcer came along. Prostate Cancer next. New Aorta Valve ticker next. Then the reflux valve played up. Arthur Itis started. Hearing aids fitted. Hippy Hilda kicked off. Been mugged three times. I had the house broken into five times. Lost driving licence after the ticker operation. I got a parking ticket charge from Manchester, where I have never driven! Haemorrhoids become rampant, still waiting for ops. Moved into independent living accommodation. The flats are being upgraded, carpets destroyed, holes in walls, can’t hear the fire alarm and got a noisy neighbour living above me.

Got a bit morbid, frustrated and self-hating again there. Sorry about that.

Back to make another small mug of tea.

The usual morning blue-hue out through the kitchen window.

Got on with finalising the depressingly downbeat Sunday diary.

Posted it off to WordPress. Which once again started spell checking in American English. I had to go in settings yet again, but it was already on UK English? Back to the edit page and it was now correcting for UK English? All part of Whoopsiedangleplop ridden luck of this old chap.

Another mug of tea went cold, so off to the kitchen to make yet another one.

I got some Black bean cook in sauce in the slow cooker, then got the vegetables (Shallot, red onions, orange peppers, tomatoes and turnips. although of course are a fruit, not a vegetable) chopped up and placed in with lemon grass, onion salt, tomato puree and BBQ seasoning. Added a little balsamic vinegar.

When I’d got in the crock-pot, I took a close-up photographicalisation. Of a spoonful of the concoction.

How I managed to get the red first shot, I don’t know? I tried again without changing any settings, and it came out alright? What did I do wrong?

0550hrs: Herbert was making a bit of banging noises? Only the two of them, then nothing followed? A bit early that!

I recalled that tomorrow was the trip out on a coach to Melton Mowbray Market. I must get to pay Jenny for the outing later, and ask her what time the bus leaves. I’ll try to remember on the way back from Arnold to call and ask her.

I made a start on this diary.

0755hrs: Off to get the ablutions tended to. Jolly-good shave, teggies were done and a showering session of depth and a reasonable duration.

Made up the waste bags from the bins, and took them to the refuse chute.

All readied, I grubbled about and did the double-checking, had I left anything on that should be off or visa-versa, taps lights etc. routine.

And, then I was off. As I arrived at the Oberscharführeress Warden’s temporary HQ & Social gathering shed, I met Obergruppenfurheress Deana as she was coming out to do her rounds. We spoke briefly. But being as I have been forbidden by the Nottingham City Homes Management, from revealing any words spoken twixt myself and the lovely Deana and Julie on my blog; I shall say no more!

I turned back to facing the Woodthorpe Courts, and the new build extra care flats and Gefreiteress Wardens new HQ is being built. The rooftop recreational seating area will soon be finished at the rate these lads are going. I took this photographicalisation, in the not as warm as it looks, sunshine.

Got into the Obersturmbannführeress Catwalk Models and Warden’s temporary HQ & Residents Social gathering hut. To find There were about a dozen or so folks in there, and more joined us inside, and others added to the queue outside at the bus stop. Inside, I listened to their gossiping and discussions over which are the best types of bets to have on horse races and the optimum bookie to use for the best odds. Led by one of my neighbours, bless the little addict. Not that he is little!

No one to talk to on the bus, all my fellow tenants bar one, got off in Sherwood, where a lady and I went on into Arnold.

I was surprised at how many shoplifters there were about on Front Street on a Monday, as I made my way to the Asda (Walmart) store.

Where I spent a fortune again! Tsk! I took my time and enjoyed having a good look around, checking for the most extended ‘use-by’ dates and anything on offer.

I bought some cooking sauces, turnips, a parsnip, potato cakes. Irish Batch bread, sliced seasoned potatoes, a pork pie, some mushrooms. More nibbles for the Social Hour box, Fresh cream horns,  tomatoes and some new to me Breakfast tea bags; One by Yorkshire Tea, one Asda own label (Which I warn anyone wanting a strong or tasty drink of tea to avoid at all costs. Like catwaz it was!) Another £21.55 gone.

When I’d paid for the groceries and made my way out into the cold sunshine, I thought the bomb had been dropped or something. All the folk from earlier had seemed to have gone and left?

As I stood outside waiting to make my move to the bus stop on High Street, I saw this jet high above, and boy, was it moving, with seconds it was out of view!

I waddled up the hill to the bus request stop and put down the bags to ease Hippy Hilda.

She had begun giving me bother now, and she was not happy with me at all.

The guilt when I looked down and saw the Fresh Cream Horn cakes there on above was authentic!

The girl from the Care Home on Chestnut Walk arrived at the shelter. I was pleased to see her and lend an ear to her. The poor gal is not very good at the moment, with her problems. We spoke, but most importantly, I listened as she related the difficulties she was battling with, all the way back on the bus. Bless her.

As we were getting off of the bus, and that very kind lady from the 4th floor asked if she could carry one of my bags for me to the flats. Then as I was biding my farewells to the girl from the home, Caroline and the kind lady both said I looked poorly, with Caroline adding ‘It’s his hip again!’ The tender lady, replying ‘Yes, he doesn’t look well at all!’

And here was I, thinking I was doing so well physically, as well. Hehehe!

I took these shots above, of the buildings as the generous warmly-kind lady walked along Chestnut Walk at my speed with me, and chatted away. She held the door open for me too! I felt so blessed to have someone showing such warmth to me.

I thanked her for caring as she got off the lift.

I travelled up to the 9th floor and alighted, calling at Jenny’s apartment. I asked about the timing of the bus in the morning. I paid the £6 costs of the outing, and we chatted a little. As I was going up in the elevator, I realised I still didn’t know what time the bus was due. So I got up to the flat and deposited the bags, then I went down and visited the Generalleutnantess Wardens temporary HQ shed and Tenants Social hut, and inquired of Warden Deana if she knew of the timing for the bus to Melton Mowbray, tomorrow. Obviously, due to the Official Prohibition on my mentioning anything spoken of between any Nottingham City Homes representatives and myself on my blog, I cannot repeat anything that took place. But I was told to go and see Jenny!

So, back to the flats and up to see Jenny again. Which is permitted as reportable on my blog. I discovered, well, Jenny found I’d already paid for the bus trip earlier. And the bus leaves at 1000hrs were are to meet or congregate in the lobby at 0930hrs. I was happy to learn this.

Thanked Jenny, and limped back to the flat, with Hippy Hilda suddenly in a much better mood.

I checked the crock-pot progress, stirred and after a quick taste of a spoonful, I decided it needed an hour or so longer before it would be cooked to my liking. I added some caramelised gravy granules to the pot, another good stir of it, passed wind and went for a wee-wee. Washed-up and did the Health Checks. I was surprised but well pleased with how Hippy Hilda had calmed down so quickly.

Got on with updating this diary. Checked the slow-cooker regularly and after getting carried away with this post updating, three hours later, I got the seasoned chips into the oven and added some potato scones then.

I nipped to neighbour Doris (I think that’s her name, a lovely lady) next door and asked her if she would accept one of the French Horn Cream Cakes. Luckily she liked them and helped me out, thus saved me wasting food.

I misjudged the potato additions, and they came out burnt a tad. But still tasty, even though I had to soak them in the gravy to soften them enough to bite into them, especially the scones. Hahaha!

A delicious effort this time. I mentally gave the meal a rating of 9.55/10 and deservingly so, I thought. The cream horn cake finished off the feast perfectly.

I got the pots washed up, did the last Health Checks and settled in the £300 second-hand recliner, nodded off within seconds I think.

It felt like I was dreaming straight away, and what a terrible dream to have. 

Seated in a cell of some sort, with threatening looking women and blokes, with tattoos, nose, ear and lip rings and scars over their faces; They insisted I would not be allowed to converse with anyone on earth again. With verbal threats and promises of my physical mangulation and slow death, if I did talk ever again. They then left me alone with a bucket of water, a box of medications and a dictionary; telling me that I could use the book to learn words I can no longer use? They informed I would be given time alone to consider their ‘offer’ and give them a solemn promise not to speak again when they return after my ‘thinking’ time.

After they all departed after knocking me about a bit, they all said in unison, “We will return!” I pondered on this and realised I would find it difficult to talk to them to give a decision or promise, because that would mean my talking to someone, surely?

Confused, and no one returning, I died some years later and assumed a spiritual observation of the cell.

This is where the dream memories let me down. All the early stuff, I found written on the notepad on the Ottoman and used them to prompt real recollections to write here in the morning, but no mention of what took place after I commenced my watching of the cell? Shame!

.

 

Sunday 13th May 2018

Finnish: Sunnuntaina 13. Toukokuuta 2018

0430hrs: I woke, (Late for me, but I did not get to sleep until around 0100hrs as I recall), believing I was still dreaming for a moment or two. Cause in the dream, I was in a sewer of some kind, being chased by ghosts, aliens, and robots, every time I found an escape hatch and climbed up it into the daylight. Then I saw myself laying in a hammock, bed, pile of leaves or whatever, where I woke up again. The location and form of bedding changed each time. This seemed to go on forever.

I extracted my full, podgy pilgarlic body out of the £300 second-hand recliner and off into the kitchen to make a cuppa and do the Health Checks.

The Sys had shot up, and the pulse had detruded down to 79 from the 100 recorded on yesterday’s morning Health Checks?

Had the shakes for a short while, I was concerned at first, but they stopped within minutes this time.

The wind was blowing in through the cracks and gaps left in the new window frame.

In fact, it was uncomfortably cold throughout the apartment this morning.

Had a long, drawn-out, slow painful sprinkling like wee-wee.

Fetched the dressing gown from the other room and got it on sharpishly.

 Then, I just had to absquatulate back to the wet room with some urgency, for another annoyingly, tingling wee-wee.

Once again the tea had gone cold, so I made another and returned to the main room to get the computer started.

Class One-A+

The light was not any longer on in the room, I didn’t remember turning it off. I went to turn it on at the wall switch, to find it was already in the turned on position.

Dangnations! The bulb had blown, yet another one bites the dust. This failure makes about five that have died on me in this location this year. And it was an expensive one too! I retrieved a sister bulb; I bought two of the same type last time. Fetched the step ladder and set about trying to change the bulbs.

I struggled a bit balancing on the top ledge, but got it swapped over; then got myself down taking the fast route and bypassing the steps down from the platform on the ladder.

Gave my right shin a good bang on the edge of the steps too, as I ended up in a somewhat hideously deformed, mangled and ugly mishmash of limbs and flesh. Landing partly on the Ottoman, and rolling off of it onto the carpet, clouting my head against on the legs of the £300 second-hand recliner.

Getting back upright from this position, proved to be a comical, farcical and quisquose task.

If it had been during the week, when assistance would have been on site, I would have pressed the wrist Health Alarm, and asked for help. They could easily have summoned one of the Hauptscharführeress Wardens, to ask them to call and give me a hand up. But, this being the weekend, with no none on site, I did not want to bother the Nottingham City Homes Control; because I felt they would have reasonably called for an ambulance to attend, and I thought this was not necessary.

Which, proved right as it happened. (Smug Mode Adopted – Hehe!)

Eventually, after grappling with the challenge of the ‘getting-back-up-again’ manipulations, I manoeuvered myself upright. But it took a lot of pain and effort. Hehe!

I got some cream on the head and shin.

Then had a look at the base of the expired light bulb.

It looked to me like there was some green and brown mould around the contact points?

Back to the wet room for a wee-wee.

Made another small mug of tea, I still hadn’t managed to drink one yet. Tsk!

It was 0740hrs by the time I got to updating yesterday’s post. Darnwangle! The WordPress was checking my spelling and grammar in American English again, of its own accord!

I did some WP reading and answered the comment.

Then made a start on this blog. Got up to here, then went on Facebooking, but it was slow so, I visited CorelDraw to do some TFZer graphics to use later.

1045hrs: Feeling a bit groggy, so I did the Health Checks and sat down in the chair for a while.

Got the meal done early.

Bit of a headache coming on. Did the pots and had a wee-wee

Nowt to fret about and Herbert was giving it some clout. Sat down and nearly passed-out. Snuck some poetry in there. Haha!

Got the Health Checks done.

TV on, feeling drained for no apparent reason, just sort of just lay there absorbing none of the Tommy-Rot being aired on the television, with the odd mind-wanderings’ delving into so many subjects, thoughts and frustrating things in life… Still awake eight-hours later… Tsk!

Saturday 12th May 2018

0340hrs: Stirred into life, and gently pandiculated while awaiting the brain to join in my hopes and dreams in acquiring the necessary awareness, to grasp the needs of the day and plan ahead.

Within seconds the newly procured ailment pains in the chest and around the left armpit were stabbing away at me as I took in involuntary breaths. (As the morning aged, these got far less frequent, I’m glad to report).

But, there was little acuity within the grey-cells. No signs of nocturnal nibbling or somnambulating having taken place.

As I got out of the £300 second-hand recliner, and stopped wobbling and gained some balance and confidence, no idea what I was about to go to do, though. Sad innit?, I felt the trickle of dampness down below in the PPs. Even sadder! Hehe!

The need for the Porcelain Throne arose at the same time. I fumbled a bit as I hastened to the wet room, Dizzy Dennis had not done with me yet. But, I did manage to avoid any toe stubbing en route. Evacuation and medicationalisationing and cleaning up all completed.

I was feeling a lot better now than when I first woke up.

The kettle switched on, and I went to get the slippers…

But where were they? After a few minutes probing and searching in the recliner room without any luck, I checked the wet room, not there either? And, I was sure I’d taken them off as usual when I settled in the recliner last night, and there were, as I said earlier, no signs of nocturnal nibbling or noctambulation having taken place? After what seemed like an hour of investigating and thinking I was going bonkers; I found them in the airing cupboard with the clothes… Why, when, how and what for? Got me beat this one!

An added puzzlement produced itself when I took the slippers out to put them on, the right one had a pen in it! Aliens? Ghosts? What a Meshugener!

Bemused, I went to do the Health Checks.

The pulsation rate had gone over the top again, by a fair margin, it’s not reached 100 all week.

My not knowing what the new ailment is being caused by, I took an extra codeine 30g and Ramprilil, not understanding if I’d done right or wrong, really. Hey-ho!

I realised at this point that I’d not had any visits from Craig Cramps last night at all. It’s been months since this has happened. Is there a link twit this and the new pains?

Heck of a thirst on me this morning, I made another mug of tea and got the computer on to update the diaries. I can inform any tea-drinkers out there, that the Extra-Strong English Breakfast tea bags, taste great, and they are delicious! They need a little longer to brew, but Mmm! Great! Oh, they are expensive to buy. Oh, I got a load of them from Morrisons when they first started to stock them, and they were on offer. Gone back up now, Tsk! But I’ve found some own label Breakfast tea bags in Marks and Sparks, which cost half as much, but are not so strong, but okay when I use my mini-mug. I’m waffling again, sorry.

Got the photographs from yesterday and those done already this morning into CorelDraw for formatting. Then began on catching up with the Friday post.

As soon as I started writing, the Grammarly add-on informed me I was spelling neighbour wrongly? As I wrote and it again stopped me when I wrote centre, I realised that somehow or other, Grammarly had changed my settings option to American English from UK English. But it took me ages to find out how to set this right. I just could not remember how or where it was in the programme. Klutz!

I ended up finding out I had gone to the right place first time but had not highlighted the American English to get into the options for other languages. Double Klutz!

Went to make yet another small mug of tea. And took this photographicalisation of the early morning Tree Copse – Bootiful!

Pressed on with doing the diary work for Friday’s lamentations, ululations, moanings,  and grief-stricken Whoopsiedangleplops. Hehehe!

Hello, the new stabbing pains are right under the left arm now! They do get about a bit! Haha! Not complaining yet though, they are still far less often than yesterday’s attacks.

And, as well as and besides that; If Arthur Itis keeps giving me a break as he has been doing for last few days, I’ll feel obliged to write a threnody or even a soliloquy to him. A touch of silly imbecilicness there, sorry!

I got the two medication pots emptied, washed rinsed and left to dry on a kitchen towel on the window ledge, the one with the cuts chips and holes left in it, during the upgrading of our Concentration Camp, process.

Herbert above doing a bit of banging about up above. But it is the weekend, and he is always worse then noise-wise. It didn’t last long though. Still, as the Nottingham City Homes Management told me, he is doing nothing wrong, it’s his hobby. Oh, no, they also told me not to put anything said between NCH staff and me on my blog, I forgot that for a moment, I’ll cross it out. Sorry.

Off for another wee-wee, not surprising with all the tea I have the craving of today. Wonder why?

It was a little windy, and I could feel it coming through where the walls were plastered last Thursday, both left and right side of the window.

More expense to put things right after the onslaught of the upgrading works. New carpets, curtains, holes to pay someone to fill in for me… No! Naughty Inchcock! Stop moaning!

The medicinal pots had dried nicely. So I set up next weeks doses while they were handily placed.

I got the nosh prepared for cooking, then into the crock-pot.

Chopped up the parsnips, tomatoes, red onions, gherkins, orange peppers and beef and mixed it with the tomato and mushroom pasta sauce. Seasoned with BBQ granules, balsamic vinegar, caramelised gravy granules, onion salt and a drop of lemon juice.

After I’d looked up the weather forecast for this week, I began to feel a little… erm, what’s the right wording? Sorry for myself and my astoundingly rotten, sick, dreadful, awful, terrible, frightful, atrocious, hopeless, inadequate, inferior, unsatisfactory, laughable and depressed making pathetic, lousy luck!

I had planned to get out again to the tropical house in Woodthorpe Grange Park. And on Wednesday I have at least an hours walk to the City hospital for the blood test. I have to go there this week because the doctor’s surgery people again forgot to give me an appointment. (Sherrington Park Medical Practise – I recommend you give them a miss if you are looking to sign on at any doctor’s unless you are a sadist of course). Of course, rain is only forecast for two days out of the seven, both the days I have to go out!

With this, the mess to sort out in the flat, the new ailment and Herbert again knocking and banging away above me, I find it hard not to get feeling down and pitiably sorry for myself at times. Humph!

I took a panoramic shot of this beautiful view out of the kitchen window.

Blow me, Herbert’s started clanging about again now! I wonder if I could take up playing the flugelhorn or euphonium in a brass band and practice my hobby every day?

Many hours later, I got caught up to here with this update.

Went to the WordPress Reader page. A comment perused and answered.

I put together 34 of the political page headers and posted it off to WordPress.

Then went on CorelDraw to create some more for later. Did this to the accompaniment of Herbert above.

Came to update this again, the WordPress options had gone back to U.S. English. Had to put it back again, third time today! Damn thing is still doing the spell-check for US English! I’m peed off!

The crock-pot mixture should be ready any time now I think, just tasted it, the vegetables still a little longer. It’s had about five and a bit hours, I’ll give it another hour more.

The casserole whatever it is called was just fine. An enjoyment rating of 8.9/10 given.

Got the pots washed and settled in the £300 second-hand recliner in search of sleep.

I tried everything I could think of to nod-off.

Watched the TV, tried reading, then watching a DVD… but nothing would ease the mind from its fretting, worrying and analysing.

Last time I noticed, when I got up for a wee-wee, it was 0100hrs gone!

The best thing, was that the sharp chest/arm pains had not bothered me for hours. Yeehaa!

Friday 11th May 2018

Filipino: Biyernes Mayo 11, 2018

0338hrs: Woke, after having an odd night of weird dreams. With the EQ bearing a definite suspicion or anticipation of something adiaphorous being in the air and imminent! I hope it does arrive, it will be early as opposed to late-on, or I’ll be fretting about it until it does occur.

I noticed some notes on the scribble pad, I’d recorded bits about the first of last nights dreams. As I positioned my ever-getting more gargantuan body to get out of the £300 second-hand recliner, signs of much nocturnal nibbling became apparent. Chocolate and yoghourt covered peanuts, some melted and stuck to my stomach, leg and the cushion were cleared up, crumbs of an unknown origin on the recliner, and bits of nuts stuck in between the few teeth I have left. Oh, dear! Naughty me!

Off for a wee-wee, washed-up and made a brew, then got on with updating the Thursday post.

After getting this finished and sent-off, I got the summons to the Porcelain Throne, a little later than usual. All good though!

Did the Health Checks.

The ailments seemed to be a kind to me. Even Duodenal Donald was in a good mood this morning.

Hippy Hilda too, Reflux Roger, Hernia Harry, and Craig Cramps. By gum, all this was nice. But somehow it also concerned me.

I did the Morrison order for next week.

0700hrs: I started to update this blog.

I went to make a replacement mug of tea for the one that I’d let go cold.

As I took this picture, it dawned on me that the shadows from the new build block are going to have an adiaphorous effect on flora and fauna across the road; by preventing the sunshine getting to them. Poor things!

Closed down the computer at this stage, and got the ablutions tended to. All done, and out to the Oberfeldwebeless Wardens Deana and Julies, Hauptgeschäftsstelle hut.

The wind was a lot sharper this morning. Had a walk around the back of Woodthorpe Court to take this photograph

This show you how busy and such a lot more work they have to do yet.

Got to the HQ shed, and had a good natter with those in there also waiting for the bus to arrive. Cyndy, Roy, and Welsh Bill amongst them. When the coaches came, I mounted up and sat in front of Cyndy, bless her cotton socks, she helped a chap from Winchester Court to get on the bus. ♥

Dropped off on Queen Street and hobbled straight down to the slab square and caught a tram to the Asda store in Radford. As I arrived on the platform, the transport got there seconds later!

I’d gone to Radford Road Asda (Walmart) to search specifically for some Nordic Style Boczek Polish cooked bacon with herbs, (Which is so flavoursome one can become addicted) Their own label BBQ Sauce (Which tastes marvellous!), and their seasoned sliced potatoes.

I got a new ailment come on around this time. I don’t know if it is connected with Reflux Roger, but when I breathe in sharply or deeply, I’m getting one heck of a sharp pain on the left side under the arm and chest? Of course, Roger Reflux was playing up at the same time, so there are plenty of sharp intakes of breath! This, I do not like, and it has stayed with me all day.

I had a lot of luck shopping today in Walmart, though, I got all three of the things I went there for; And a small fresh turnip, sliced onions, baby yellow peppers and some suitable nibbles on special offer. £13.23 spent at the self-serve checkout, where the assistant only had to help me out once. Smug Mode Adopted, Hehe!

I walked to the tram stop opposite the closed-down Church, and the tram arrived within seconds. Doing well here!

Talk about ‘à l’opposé du spectre,’ compared to the almost empty transport from town, this one was cram-packed! It got even worse when the tram got to the university stop. I thought this amount of people might cause the tram to break-down! I gauged there must have been around 400 passengers on it at one time. It was such an event, I wanted to photograph the mob of Nottinghamian’s with their mobile phones, but there was not room enough for me get the camera out of my pocket!

By the time I’d got my camera out, the alighting passengers had scattered.

The tram is pulling out in this photo.

I’d made a mess of the timing, and had got 55 minutes before the next L9 bus was due to lift me home.

Another  , really here. Because it meant I decided to call in the Poundland shop. Then, I stupidly spent even more, in buying a case for the new Lumix! Tsk!

What appeared to be a visiting family group in the Slab Square, they sounded Polish to me, were enjoying themselves taking photographs of each other. They were keeping alert and looking closely at everyone that went near them; So I assume they had been warned about the Nottinghamian’s little habits, like pickpocketing, mugging, etc. and wanted to make sure no one stole their camera, perhaps? As I got near, I gave them a smile and a thumbs-up. They returned a big smile and their own thumbs up. A man who was with them said: “Thanks gadgie, they divvin’ speak any English.” This gentleman spoke with a Geordie accent. (I think?)

I continued with my superfluouscity of spending pointlessly and relinquished any odd bits of common sense still lingering within my mind, and went to the Poundland Shop for another bout of spending on supererogatory foods. I ended up buying six packets of stuff for the nibble-box, and two packs of biscuits for myself (Rich shortcake and a Lemon cream cheesecake ). Also two fresh-air sprays. £7 spent.

But, I did manage to operate the self-serve till without any help needed. Double-Smug Mode Adopted Hehe!

Still, some time to kill, so I limped over the square and along Long Row and left up Clumber Street, and foolishly called in the Jessops Camera store.

Came out £19 worse off and so annoyed with me! £19, for flipping canvas camera case, Cor Blimey. Worra Schlemiel!

I paid while resisting bursting into tears and hitting myself.

I meandered to Queen Street, avoiding the Nottingham Pavement Cyclist.

On Parliament Street, I spotted two Nottingham City Police cars, with the officers chatting to a bloke on the pavement and laughing. I was suspicious as both officers gave me a look of contempt. Why?

Caught the bus, not many on it this trip, and no one that I knew. I feel sure I would have fallen asleep, but for the Jame Hunt inspired bus driver clogging it a bit.

 I did try to do a crossword, but the book pages fell apart. Humph!

I fought against nodding off all the way after that but was successful. When I got off the bus, I popped into the Hauptgeschäftsstelless Wardens/Social cabin, to see if the wonderfully priced £3 two-course meal was going ahead or not. As it was dead on time, for the start time. I opened the door, and two volunteers who were providing the meal were talking to the tenants who were sat with the cutlery all laid out on the tables.

The looks I got from them all was not encouraging or welcoming – So I walked through and out the door at the other end. £3 lost here. No problem though, it goes to the Scouts, I have no problem with this. But if someone had told me it was going ahead, I would not have gone out to spend even more money, would I? Anyway, I wasn’t too bothered, as I planned to have seasoned potatoes and salad later, with Pork Knuckle. Yum!

As I plodded back to the apartments, I could see the Willmott Dixon lads working in one of the hoists. It looked to me like they had finished, or were finishing off the insulating on that particular wall.

I turned back to take a snap of the workmen doing Winchester Court updating.

Looks like they were doing the balcony doors.

The pains in the chest underarm were a bit persistent still.

As I got in the foyer doors, Doris, my neighbour, joined me in the lift. Nice lady! We had a good nattering session, and she noticed me suffering from the breathing heavy. Told me to knock on her door anytime if I need help. I thanked her and went in the flat.

Did the Health Checks and took an extra painkiller, had a wee-wee and the chest still giving out unexpected kicks, it is now doing it when I am breathing normally?

I wish I knew what was causing this.

Took a shot of the camera bag I hung on the window handles. As you can see, there is still no precipitation, despite it being forecast for this evening.

Got the kettle on and took a look outside. The poor whoever it is, in the white care was up and down, up and down searching for a parking space.

I put the fodder away and got the oven on to do the seasoned sliced potatoes later.

I started to update this page. By golly, it took me hours to get as far as this. The lack of concentration was helping me to make more syntactic and morphological mistakes than I have ever done before in one sitting.

Did the Health Checks, the sphygmomanometer needing four attempts to get it to operate for me. 

Then I got the seasoned sliced potatoes; that had been in the tray getting dried out now, for hours, into the oven at last.

Got the nosh prepared.

The nosh was a little large, and I left a lot of I but enjoyed the bits I ate. The pork knuckle, Aldi hard cheddar, and yellow tomato sandwich were all tasty.

I think the new stabbing pains may be linked to the back pains of late. I started to get both back and arm/chest pains now. Maybe its a development of some sort from Anne Gyna? This always happens at the weekend when no Doctor to ring.

I did the washing up and had a wee-wee.

Settled in the recliner and put the TV on. But sleep took an aeon to arrive, and tornmenting dreams arrived to really get my goat; cause I could not remember any details about them. Only a perception that were of a very frustrating nature or theme.

Thursday 10th May 2018

Maltese: Il-Ħamis 10 ta ‘Mejju 2018

0325hrs: Duodenal Donald greeted me on waking up. No signs of nocturnal nibbling or somnambulation found. No pandiculating risked. I waited for the brain to engage with the limbs, and extracted my body-mass from the £300 second-hand recliner and off for a wee-wee; A long wee-wee.

Got the Health Checks done.

Then I guzzled endless amounts of the unfructuous antacid medicine, and took an extra Codeine 30g with the morning doses, to try to counter the nagging pains emanating from Dangerous Duodenal Donald. Hehe!

The readings looked all good to me.

Back to the wet room for another wee-wee of long duration.

Outside was wet from the obviously heavy rain during the night. But only the odd spot or two was falling now.

I remembered the Morrison order was due for delivery twixt 0600 > 0700hrs.

So I got the computer on and updated the Wednesday diary. This took me up to 0430hrs. When I made a start on this blog and did the comments, and then did some WordPress Reader reading.

0440hrs: Started the ablutionalisationalistic activities. Being so early and not wanting to disturb my neighbours, I had a stand-up bath at the sink. Medicationalisationing attended to. Bit of a long job sorting out the fungal lesion, Tsk!

0545hrs: All done. Got the nibble box and raffle prizes in the bag and made a brew-up.

Went on Facebooking to catch up a bit, before the Morrison delivery arrives.

Hello, Morrisons, he’s here.

Very disappointed in myself. I got the order wrong and received several items I did not want. Chocolate Coconut Cups, Morski Cheese block, a giant bag of Kettle’s Crisps and a jar of Onion Chutney? What an Eizel!

The dried lemon-grass in a jar arrived, though.

I’m making a stew or soup of some sort today for my nosh.

I prepared it all and got it cooking in the crock-pot. Chopped some turnips, sliced some mini tomatoes and red onion, cut up some beef; and added it all to the tomato and mushroom cooking sauce. For flavouring, I tried Caramelised gravy, onion salt, Balsamic Vinegar and a stick of the lemon-grass. No idea what it will all taste like, but here goes. Haha! I put the slow cooker on Auto-setting.

Put the grocery things away, and readied the black and recycling bags to go to the chute when I go out, and collected the empty glass containers, bottles and jars and washed them ready to take to the bin on the way to the Social Hour.

I managed with little or no effort, to knock the just cleaned Balsamic vinegar bottle off of the counter. It bounced on the floor, coming back down from the rebound on one if the black bags waiting to go out, spun off as it landed, rolled into the cupboard bottom and stopped near the refuse sack – and – It did not break! Hows that then? A bit of luck! Now I’m worried about what will happen when fate gets its revenge on me for this little bit of good fortune! Hahaha! No need to quaeritate about this happening later, it always does to me!

Made sure I’d got the nibble box, raffle prizes and in one bag, the glass in another, and the waste and recycling ones, too. Blimey, It looks like I’m going on holiday instead of to a Social Hour. Hehe!

Set out, took the waste to the chute, down in the lift and dropped the glass in the recycle bin as I left the flats.

There was a brisk breeze in the air as I set off walking down Chestnut Way to the temporary Hauptsturmführeressess HQ and Social shed. It was not cold in the least.

The Willmott Dixon lads were busy working away, especially on the new centre block of 44 Extra Care units and Warden’s HQ.

The plant machinery was milling around. Other than these activities, there was little in the way of any human life or observable movement.

The mind trundled off into a derestrict thinking mode. By the time I arrived at the hut, I was in a confused state and found it hard to concentrate on anything, and in a niggly mood for whatever reason.

Had a natter or two: well a few words with Jenny, Cyndy, Mo, Frank, John, Doris and William and BJ.

Put the prizes on the trolley for the raffle. Bought two tickets. Took the nibbles around, then gave out the raffle numbers and settled on a seat and got the crossword book out. With the help of BJ and John, we got a few more answers in, but not many.

The hour was soon all over. As I left, I took these p[hotographs of the flats.

The new centre build is a lot larger in real-life than it appears on the blueprints and various posters and signboards.

I could hear the lads inside the compound grafting away.

Then took a zoomed-in shot of the chaps doing the dirty great large sign-support preparations on the side of the Woodthorpe Court block.

Cyndy, Doris and John caught up with me before I got there, and we all moved into the elevator. Cyndy organised who lived on which floor and got us inside in order.

Brilliant gal!

I got in and had a wee-wee.

Then as I emptied the bag, I realised I had not given Cyndy the shower-gel I promised I would last week. So I took it up to her and Eric’s flat on the fifteenth floor. I was invited in to view their new curtains. They do look good the way they have laid them out, I must say.

Said my thanks and cheerios and came back down to 72.

Did the Health Checks, made a brew and got the computer on to update this post.

A Willmot Dixon chap arrived to do the board at the bottom of the bay inner window, and to put one over the gaping hole on the left hand of the frame of the balcony doors. Glad I didn’t go out now.
I pointed out the other needs, and he phoned into his boss, and this got some attention quickly, bless him.

Five minutes later another young chap arrived to see to the kitchen vent.

This is how it looked after he had tended to it and left.

Ten minutes later the plasterer arrived to do the missed off on his last visit holes around the kitchen window.

I worked on this diary while they were all grafting away.

The kitchen man I didn’t see again, but I wasn’t looking for him.

The plastic chap explained that they would not be doing the bottom pelmet repairs because Nottingham City Homes had refused to pay for it to be done. I asked him if this was because it was Willmott Dixon men that broke them in the first place? He wisely did not give me a direct answer. Nice lad. Below is a before and after photo of the damaged pelmet.

They all worked away swiftly. Soon the plastic lad departed, offering his farewells.

I started to clean up after their correctionalisational visit to get my apartment sorted out.

Then the plasterer bloke shouted through to me that he was all done and leaving as well. He left a far less hole-filled scene for me bless him. And he filled in the holes in the lower wall from where they moved the storage heater, I thank you.

All three departed within minutes of each other – it felt lonely in the flat suddenly. Hehehe!

Within minutes of their leaving, I checked the hotchpotch in the crock-pot. It was almost ready.

I updated this post up to here, then got on with the Health Checks and got the stew, casserole whatever it should be called, served up.

Feeling tired now.

An equal best-ever rating for ‘Taste & Enjoyment, of 9.45/10 was given for this meal.

Got the pots washed up, did the last checks and got down in the £300 second-hand recliner.

No visits from Dizzy Dennis this evening, however, Colin Cramps gave me some bother in the left hand, contorting, twisting and hurting the poor fingers for a good while.

Turned on the TV, to watch a Heartbeat episode. I nodded off expeditiously and appeared to go straight into a dream, that seemed to last for days! I was in an underground cave,  wearing only underpants and bright coloured underpants and socks. Searching for my hearing aids. There were pipeworks in some of the caves, and I never did find the hearing aid, but did get lost. I can’t say it was a scary nightmare, but it seemed to drag on forever and, I reckon I said to myself in it, “I’m fed-up with this dream, boring… please let me wake up before I die of boredom…”, or words to that effect.

When I did wake up with a start, only a few minutes had passed?

I scribbled some notes down about this dream and nodded off again.

Wednesday 9th May 2018

Italian: Mercoledì 9 Maggio 2018

0330hrs: Last night, I was so tired, but I am sure at my hypnagogic state, I was wearing some jammie-bottoms and did not have any socks on. I felt, on waking, assured that I had slept right through for nearly seven hours, and perceived that I was in the same position as when I languished into blissful sleep. But no!

As the brain reluctantly engaged with the physical aspects and into a wakey-wakey and do’s don’ts and needs mode; Signs of possible somnambulism were recognised. The fact that I was longer wearing any jammie-bottoms and their current location being laid out neatly on the carpet gave me a clue. Tsk! And now, I had a pair of socks on my feet, concerned me.

At least there were no indications of any nocturnal nibbling having taken place.

Out of the £300 second-hand recliner with surprising ease and lack of aches. Another (pleasant) surprise! Off to do the Health Checks. Which looked alright to me.

I did notice a cupboard door left open, I’ve never found this before? But the taps were all off, cooker off, and no signs of anything else untoward. This is good.

I was about t take the mug of tea with me, and I got a slightly sudden and urgent internal demand for my attention being needed at the Porcelain Throne.

I responded without hesitation, of course.

All went well with the evacuation, another multi-coloured session. But no bleeding.

Washed-up and back to the kitchen. Where I threaded my hands and camera through the narrow gap in the window and took this photo of the outside. Nice!

Then, I got the computer on and updated yesterday’s diary. I’ve not disliked doing this before, but it is unpleasant this morning. It tormented me having to write about my abject failure to help my old mate Jim with his problems. It took hours to do as well. Partly because I went out so late (Fool!), and was so tired and incapable of concentration when I got back, and the number of photographicalisations that needed sorting.

Well gone 0800hrs by the time I got it all finished and posted off.

Made a start on this post.

The sun had come brightly out, as I went to make another brew of tea.

0855hrs: No noise from Herbert above this morning yet. I hope he’s not snuffed-it. (I suppose). I could hear the acceptable drilling and tapping of the Willmott Dixon lads starting work on the insulation, getting ready for the cladding to go on top of it.

Hippy Hilda began playing me up, and Reflux Roger joined in. But not severely, bless them.

The absence of hassle from Anne Gyna, Duodenal Donald, Hernia Harry and Arthur Itis was most welcome. If only I could get the fungal lesion to stop bleeding, I’d be a lot happier, though. Even he is not leaking overly much.

Checked the emails and found Sister Jane had sent me this photograph. I reckon she knows I have a liking for mallard ducks. Hehe!

This started me reflecting back to when I was working at a transport depot in security on nights. It began with me recalling the odd good times I had there. But ended with great lugubriousness, as all the disasters and Whoopsiedangleplops came to mind.

I started to feel better after I’d gone to make another brew, and I noticed how the tree copse was thickening out a bit at last.

If all goes well, I might have a walk through later today. I can’t go out until I get a telephone call or Email from the clinic.

I just hope I get it early in the day.

Got onto the WordPress Reader next. Then the Comments were read and responded to.

Good Heavens! 1030hrs already!

Closed down the computer and got on with the ablutionalisationalistic duties. PArt-way through them, despite enjoying myself scrubbing away with the scourer under the shower, I suddenly realised if I was to go out and get the vegetables from Mapperley Tops, I needed to hurry if I was going to get to the bus stop on time. So I went into Mach three speed. Haha!

Rushing about, I just hoped I’d not forget something. As I left the flat with the bag, I still wasn’t sure if I would be on time, it was getting close.

Someone had to stop the elevator and get on didn’t they, then the chap got off on the fifth floor, I thought I might make it yet, and departed hobbling up Chestnut Walk as fast as my little short fat legs would permit me.

Panic over, when I spotted some folks at the bus stop, I knew it hadn’t arrived yet.

Frank and a few others came out of the shed, and we chattered a minute or so about nothing. I like Frank, a decent bloke.

I did take a photo of one side of Woodthorpe Court block and noticed they were putting up a support frame and wondered why.

Frank told me it was to put a massive sign up with the complex’s new name.

The bus arrived, and I travelled the five bus stops up to Mapperley Plains Road. Frank got off here too.

I ambled down to the pelican lights, and over to the greengrocers to have a nosey-about at their vegetables on offer. A bit disappointed in their having no turnips, but got some other stuff. One shallot, one red onion, one satsuma, two New Zealand grew Cox’s Pippins, some very expensive Italian pod peas, but only a good handful of them, and three Wonky tomatoes, one yellow & orange, one yellow and one orange. See photo further on.

Paid the lady the frightening £4.15 for the few bits. I sauntered, albeit limpingly, the feet and Hippy Hilda were both giving me some stick now, along Woodthorpe Drive and walked down it, and into Woodthorpe Park to cut through back to the flats.

The view to the right at the top of the Drive was terrific.

The beautiful views on the way down the hill meant my camera was used a lot today.

I entered the top car park of Park and had a lovely stroll through it in a zig-zag route.

 

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I enjoyed this little walkabout back from the shops.

Got indoors and had a wee-wee.

Washed, and got the vegetables sorted.

  Needless to say, I could not resist a pod of peas when I shelled them; Flipping Horrible and bitter they were! So I put some balsamic vinegar and brown sugar in the saucepan and got it on a low heat.

Worked on updating this post up to here for a couple of hours.

Did the Health Checks

Got the nosh sorted.

Another successful blend of flavours. Well, apart from the Italian garden peas, but, they were just about passable.

Everything else was A1.

A few spots of rain started to fall as I settled in the £300 second-hand recliner.

I fell asleep almost at once and woke up an hour or so later, with the rain belting down.

Getting back to sleep, only after the grey-cells had taken my mind through some terrible mistakes and choices I’d mad over the years; and self-hatred and shame reared their ugly heads.

Tuesday 8th May 2018

Bulgarian: Вторник, 8 май 2018 г.

0315hrs: Woke up, feeling somewhat confused, but not knowing why, and went for a wee-wee.

Got the Health Checks tended to. !

The readings seemed back to regular at last.

I still can’t work out why yesterday’s first checks had such a low Sys and Dia? This fritted me at first.

Made a brew and took the medications.

On to the computer to update the Bank Holiday Monday Inchcock Today.

Then, remembered about the old colleague from work, who is coming to ask me for some help to do with the SIA. So I set the timer, to remind me to get the ablutions done early. Because I don’t know what time he is to arrive at. I asked him to come in the morning. A mystery to be resolved later, I hope.

Got the updating done, and moved on to start this post off. The stomach gurgled, and off I almost ran to the Porcelain Throne. A lot of blood from the rear this morning; may well be all that sitting down at the computer and not getting out and about. I hope the chap who needs my help comes early today. Otherwise, I might not get out again!

Back to the computer. The comments were done, then the WordPress Reader perused.

Tended to the stand-up ablutions, no shower; too early, cause it makes a heck of a noise.

Got weeks medication pots made up.

Then took the waste bags to the refuse chute.

To the kitchen are did my best to do another panoramic shot of the scene outside. Good quality I thought, but I still cannot get a broader shot. Tsk!

A beautiful view though, no doubt about that.

No feeling sorry for myself, jealous or depresses now – all had withered away into the ether.

Back in the main room and got the foyer-area channel on the TV. This is in case Jim forgets to give me a call to tell me he is on his way and arrives without knowing the entry system to get in, I might be lucky enough to spot him.

Did the ablutions.

0830hrs: I went back to creating and preparing graphics for the diary page headers, while I awaited his arrival.

I saw a bloke trying to get in the flat on the monitor, and assumed it was Jim. I kerfuffled around and went to get down before he left. Both lifts were stuck on the 9th floor. I started to hobble down the stairs, got to the 8th floor and checked the elevators, they were working again, I pressed for one. Absolutely no chance of catching Jim, if it was him now.

Got down to the lobby, and realised I’d not taken the door fob down with me in my panic, so could not go out to look for him. Well annoyed with myself now, I went back up to the apartment.

Minutes later the phone rang, it was Jim. But it was not him that called earlier, he asked if he could come now. No problem. So I kept an eye on the monitor for him and waited.

After a while, I went down (With the swipe fob in pocket, Tsk!) to wait in the lobby for him. May was sat there, and we were chinwagging when Jim arrived.

A quick showing him of the mess the builders had left me in, and onto the computer to try and sort the things out with the SIA membership for the lad.

I’m afraid it was getting stumped at every stage of our efforts. Security Officers now have to renew membership online. So we went to the SIA site where we had to register with them. Jim not having a computer meant the lad was struggling. We went on Yahoo to register with the email, which the SIA required, but every time we sent for a confirmation number, none arrived! Three times we tried without any luck. Did a search for help, but got none.

Ultra frustrating. I could not even get the lad on email so he could pursue his application. After several hours of trying out best, we had to give up on it. I felt terrible not being able to help out. Then the poor bloke had to catch buses home. I felt useless.

It was near to my usual kipping downtime after Jim had gone home, disappointed and frustrated.

However, in my depth of depression at my failure to help Jim, I decided to go out to town and get some photographicalisations for the TFZer Gang, and fodder.

Did the Health Checks and took the medications. Then I grubbled around and got things sorted, and off out to catch the bus. Called in the Obergrupenfurheresses Cabin, and Cathy and her Mother were in the hut. 

We had a laugh and nattering session: then I caught the L9 bus to town.

IT looked a proper summer day as I took this photo through the bus window on Upper Parliament Street, at the South entrance to the Victoria Shopping Centre (Mall).

Then sunshine and warmth seemed to go down well with the Nottinghamian shoplifters. There were many smiles on display today.

I got off the bus at the Queen Street terminus and limped down to the Old Slab Square. With an odd nagging annoyance with me all the way, about not being able to have helped out Jim, earlier.

In front of the Council House was a slow leak from underground pipes to the fountains and paddling pool. (I assumed).

It had spread all the way across to South Parade.

As I took this photograph, memories were induced, of many years ago. Some horrific, others beautiful, others emotionally shattering.

Things I thought I’d never recall again floated into the old grey cell box.

On South Parade, near Peck Lane, there was a Wedding Car parked up. They do wedding celebration do’s in the Council House, for a charge of course. I looked this up later and found this: “Did you know you can book your wedding reception or other celebratory events at the prestigious Council House in the Old Market Square?- Exclusive use of the Council House for a Saturday evening is £1500 (which can include a 4 pm Marriage or Civil Partnership Ceremony in the Grand Ballroom or Dining Room)” Grand Ballroom? Dining Room? I didn’t know they were inside there?

This git on a delivery bike, (and many others) was belting about all over the place, weaving at speed between the unemployed benefit seekers of Nottingham. (Hehe, only joking folks).
The swine was so close to hitting me and others as he rode so dangerously, leaving a few in his wake questioning his parentage, and suggesting he goes forth and multiplies.

I ambled along and around for a while, then made my way to the Poundland store on Lister Gate.

Where a giant of a Nottingham Pavement Cyclist nearly had me over as well!

I visited the shop and spent a fair bit, leaving with a reasonably well-filled bag of goodies. Vienesse Whirls, Wagon Wheels, Orange Creams, Caremalised biscuits (packs of 2) and Cheese crackers for the raffle prizes and nibble box. Mini Pork Pies, and some foil cook-in-the-oven containers. Paid at the self-serve checkout (I’m getting better at using these!) and departed.

Went to the M & S food hall. Where more fodder was purchased: Breakfast Tea bags, chunky chips, triple-cooked chips and one small Melton pork pie. Paid, gain at the self-serve tills. Twice today now, I’ve used these, and without any having to ask for help. Swank Mode Adopted. Hehe! Struggling with the weight of the bag now.

Off back to the Slab Square, and took this picture of the Council House. A few folks in the fountains enjoying themselves.

A good count of Nottinghamians doing what they are best at; flopped down lazing while using their mobile phones and iPods. With their Niacin, trigonelline, putrescine, Acetylmethylcarbinol, dimethyl disulfide, 3.5 Dicaffeoylquinic acid, Quinic acid, 2-ethylphenol, theophylline, caffeine and water: In other words, Costa, Starbucks and Caffé Nero mugs at hand. Haha!

I made my way across the square and up to the top of Queen Street.

It was strange not to see any clouds in the sky in Nottingham, especially in May.

My earlier failure to help an old mate out, I found quisquose to handle and caused me anguish.

Caught the bus, and had a good bash at the crosswords en route home. Well, as far as Carlton Road; I think I fell asleep then. Well, it is late for this old-timer, you know! Haha!

I made sure I did not fall asleep again, for fear of missing the bus stop at the flats. I arrived back on Chestnut Walk.

Called in the Obergruppenfurheresses Shack, and had a laugh or two with Cathy and two others in there.

I took these photographicalisations of the upgrading stage of the complex, as I left the hut. I think they are going to name it Windwood Heights when its all finished.

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So late, and I was so tired when I got back in the flat. A wee-wee first and had a wash, changed into night attire.

Got the oven heating up to cook the chips in. Then put away the other fodder and did the Health Checks. Got the chips in the kiln and prepared the plate with the rest of the food: Gerkhins, beetroot, pork pie, sugar-snap peas and tomatoes. Put some Caramelised balsamic vinegarette on the pork, vinegar on the chips and onion salt on the tomatoes.

It tasted blooming scrumptious!

Went to do the washing up! Found that I’d left the oven on.

Turned it off and so foolishly thought I’d give it a quick wipe over. I’ll get the knuckle skin off of the inner oven wall, later. What a schmuck!

Despite this enlivening episode, I got my head down, putting the TV on to ensure I’d drop off quickly. I had not needed the TV on, I drifted off within minutes of an episode of ‘Hustle’ starting.