0420hrs: Stirred into semi-life and immediately thought I must get things done in time for BJ coming to lift me to the launderette in Carrington.
I dismounted the working-this-morning £300 second-hand shuddering recliner, and off for the first of many repeated WRWWs, no signs of a WRHD yet.
Made a cuppa and had another WRWW.
Got the things sorted for the laundry ready in the bag, the surgery for the Warfarin Blood Test and the chemist for the pain-killers.
Laptop on and finished, Monday post started this one off and checked see if I had time to do any Facebooking – when I remembered I’d not taken me medications or done the checks yet – so I did them. With the following results: Sys 147, Dia 65, Pulse 71, Temp 32.1 and the weight… er… well, 2lb up! Tsk!
WRWW, still no signs of a WRHD yet?
Quick go on Facebook and then did the ablutions and donned my attire and went down to the lobby to wait for BJ’s call to say he’s on his way. I walked to the end of Chestnut Walk to wait for him.On the way, I took this photographicalisation of the wonderful sky.
On the way to wait for BJ, I took this photographicalisation of the wonderful sky. Really wonderful clear sky and magnificent trees, so close to my home too!
As I waited on the corner, I tried to take a long range shot on the horizon, of a house in the woods. It didn’t come out very good, but I blame the intense sunshine.
If I can, I’ll think of something later to add to it for the TFZers site. ‘House on the Prairie’?… no, perhaps not.
Hehehe!
BJ soon arrived and lifted me to the launderette in Carrington. He seemed a little uptight this morning at first, but he soon came out of himself when the laundry was in the machines and going.
As we pulled up outside the launderette, this young Fainéant semi-mendicant approached BJ and whispered something to him. It soon became apparent the man was begging, and BJ rolled him some cigarettes.
As we were sorting the job of washing, this desperate young panhandler came into the building and tried to get money out of BJ a few times. So sad, a thin but tall, good-looking lad too. I noticed him approaching many other pedestrians outside over the next hour or so.
As I was taking the washing out and transferring it to the dryer, BJ reminded me about the prescription to collect and the surgery to visit. Nipped in the chemist next door got the pain-killers, then walked up the road to the doctors surgery. The young lad started to cadge something from me, I sternly said ‘No’ and carried on walking. Felt a bit guilty afterwards.
At the Sherrington surgery, the lovely nurse was on duty. We managed a little gossip as she took the blood. She told me that tomorrow’s appointment they had made was not for the blood test results, as I had thought, but the urine test results. Someone from the City Cardiac unit was coming to talk to me at the same time? Dang dang dang dang! Hehe!
As I came out to walk back to the surgery, the traffic was well built up on Mansfield Road.
Back down the incline and to the washing shop – and the young lad had ensconced himself on the floor against the wall outside, with a few cans of beer spread before him.
Glad I didn’t give hi any money now!
Got the laundry and said TTFN to BJ, who said he might be coming to the Tenants Social Hour on Thursday, and nipped in the Lidl store. Got two porridge pots, mini peppers, and some nibbles to top up the box.
Caught the bus to the clinic, where misery-guts the receptionist almost spoke to me. Again, a different doctor examined ‘Little Inchy’, grunts, frowned forehead and fetched another medic to have a look – she found it hard not to laugh!
The usual, keep on with the Daktacort and use the Hydrocortisone only if the bleeding is hard to stop.
As I left, I could not resist smiling at Happy Herbert on the reception, I gave him a cheery “Bye-bye, and thank you kindly”! If looks could kill, I’d have been a gonna in seconds!
Caught the bus into Sherwood and waited at the bus-stop there for the L8 bus. Met up with some residents at the stop. Had a chinwag. The chap who had had his knees done was out and about without his sticks today. He showed me the scars, and I thought they were healing really well. Tried to cheer him up a bit.
Back at the flats and up to 72, I resisted pressing my new doorbell. Someone will press it one day I’m sure, even if it’s only the coroner! Hehehe!
Put some potatoes on the boil to eat with my fodder later on.
Laptop on to update this then caught up with the Facebooking I ran out of time with earlier. 88 notifications awaited my attention.
The occupational therapy chap Joel rang to say he couldn’t get to see me today, he’s ordered a shower seat that will arrive this Saturday twixt 0800>1800hrs.
The meal was okay.
A little large perhaps? But fine and tasty. I added some dabs of vegemite to each of the potatoes, Mmm!
Sat in the £300 sometimes second-hand recliner chair nodding off so often few a few minutes each time, I gave up and turned off the TV, then lay there in the £300 sometimes second-hand recliner chair trying to get to sleep, but WRWWs kept demanding attention, and I was worn out after a couple of hours or so, with all the climbing out of, wee-weeing and returning to climb back into the £300 sometimes second-hand recliner chair.
0240hrs: Woke up in the unmoving second-hand £300 recliner chair in a right state.
All the hassle to come and to get through over the next few days were running through my fevered brain. Today, to hopefully sort the French-owned British Gas overcharge, which will mean hoping to get to see Deana to arrange once again for me. Then get back for the delivery at the flat. Then get the things packed and catch the buses to Sister Jane and Pete’s to lug to give them their pressies and see the pussies. Looks like being a tiring day.
Tuesday, launderette with BJ, GUM Clinic, INR blood test. Wednesday, find out what is wrong with the blood from the Cardiac Dep’t… And along with this sudden mental upheaval, the ailments were having a grand bout of fun with me this morning. Duo Denal: Worse for ages, Anne Gyna still hassling and the back pains had returned with a vengeance.
I actually nodded off again and reawoke at 0525hrs. Still confused in the brain a bit. Wondered if I’d been having a dream that had affected me? But no recall of anything.
Doubtful of my sanity and bewildered, I climbed out of the refusing to work £300 recliner chair and had a WWHD and WHWW session. Bleeding from the rear, Little Inchy tender and the Throne had to be flushed three times to make it disappear. Noticed all the rubbish in the hallway awaiting my attention – that’s something I might struggle with today I thought, paying attention and concentrating?
Had a bit of a dizzy as I went into the kitchen. Made mug of tea and took the medications. I did the Daily tests while I thought of them. Yesterday the BP was not looking right, Sys 128 Dia 61? Crossed my fingers (Figuratively speaking, Arthur Itis would not allow to cross them, even if I wanted to – Hehe) for today’s efforts. All looked better today, well, not the weight perhaps: Sys 151 Dia 67 Pulse 82 Temp 34.9 and weight 14s 4lbs still, so no decrease, but no increase – in fact, it was the same as yesterday… I do waffle on!
The stomach churning joined in with the other ailments as I got the laptop on to update this and finish off the Sunday diary.
Popped back out, for a WRWW and forgot I’d left the scales out – stubbed me toe on them again!
Got problems with CorelDrawx8 again, not working at all now! Used CorelDrawx7.
Olive, radiant this evening
Got the paperwork regarding the French Owned British Gas overcharge for the unknown account in my name ready to give to Deana at the Tenant’s Social Hut, and called in to see Olive see how she was.
In fine form, she was, radiant! We had a gossip and she told me about her weekend with some of her clan. She enjoyed it so much but was not sorry she was back to normal now. I’m glad she is too! Told her I’d call back later and she offered to massage some pain gel in for me, she is nice!
Hobbled to the hut, and only Julie was in, she said to leave the paperwork and she’d give it to Deana for me. Thanked her.
I set off to the bus stop, had another chinwag at the stop, and caught the bus into town. Very warm this morning.
Dropped off on the busy Upper Parliament Street, and walked a few yards to Sister Jane’s bus stop and got one straight away!
A lot of nearly dressed young females about…
Caught the number 8 bus, and I arrived in West Bridgford and called Jane after I got off the bus to tell her of my progress.
A nice steady walk to their Mansion. Jane was outside when I arrived with next doors cat being fussed.
A gossip and they gave me a cuppa. I made up the footstool with a haven-hole for the pussies in it, along with the cat laser pointer and pet nibble treats.
It tickled Pete anyway, he was fascinated with it… unfortunately, all the cats had absconded?
Janet posed for a photograph and told me off for eating the wrong foods.
She was looking good this afternoon.
Their garden flower looked wonderful, but somehow the photograph I took seems to have disappeared from the SD card in my camera? Of course, I might have got it wrong while taking it?
I didn’t stay too long because I wanted to get time to visit Olive and get things ready for the early morning tasks, thus get to sleep early. (I can hope? Hehe!)
Caught the bus into town, and noticed there were. even more, young almost dressed ladies floating about. The Slab Square was being got ready for the yearly Nottingham Beach amusement show. Plenty of sand piled up ready for spreading.
I decided against taking any photographs of the young ladies.
A trip to the bank for some cash, a walk around the Council House and up Queen Street to the L9 bus-stop.
Bill, who I sit with at the Tenants Social Hour, got on the bus en route and another chinwag was enjoyed.
I called at the Community Hut, but Deana was busy, and Julie had not had time to tell her about the French-owned British Gas charging me yet again for an account they said had been closed! I moved the paperwork from the office to Deana’s desk. She was busy with someone, so I nipped off. I think she said she’d look at it on Wednesday, call then.
To the flat, WRWW and kettle on, then the laptop on to update this.
Called to see Olive. We had a cuddle and chinwag, then the gal massaged in the pain gel for me.
So tired when I got back to the flat.
Made a tasty too large salad.
Chicken thighs, yellow peppers, egg, tomatoes, red and roast onions, pickled cucumber, pate with caramelised onions. And two rice cakes instead of bread.
Tasty, bet this still ensures the scales will record a slightly higher result in the morning?
I bounded, mentally, not physically into life around 0430hrs – In my dream, I’d been doing the chasing for once, instead of the usual me being pursued. Olive was running away from me, she was on a Lambretta scooter on a high street, I was on a push-bike in pursuit… then we were in lifts, and I could not work out whether to go up or down to catch her, and a lift attendant charged me an old £1 note, each time I used it. Next, we were going round and round a playground slide, up the ladders, down the slide repeatedly. I seem to recall my knowing if I could stop she would come round to me and then I could catch her, but the legs would not stop running? I was so baffled and frustrated! The last thing I recall is being in a waiting room with wellingtons and a suit of armour on, and Olive was oiling the joints in the suit?
The £300 second-hand recliner chair allowed me out of it, for a WRWW. I had a sense or feeling of sadness this morning. Apart from not seeing Olive this weekend, the British Gas farce, Anne Gyna being bothersome, World terrorism, the flat being in a bit of a mess with the painting needing sorting in
the wet-room, the spare room being like a jumble sale, my memory going AWOL on me, and I’d just stubbed me toe on the new scales, I couldn’t understand why. Hehe!
Bit off a shock when I stood on the new scales for the first time. I say a bit of a shock? Enough to make me rethink my flaunting of the self-imposed dietary routine.
Oh dear! I’m sorry I bought the flipping thing now! Apparently, they are reading incorrectly, as it is impossible for short little me to weigh this much…? Hehehe!
To the kitchen and made a cuppa and took the morning medications. I hope Anne Gyna eases off soon.
Laptop on and did some graphics to use later, then got the diaries updated and Saturday’s posted.
By now, it was 0745hrs. Did some Facebooking for a while. Well, several hours actually. Tsk!
I rang Sister Jane, and she rang me back to tell her about tomorrow and when I might be able to get to her with the pressies for her Pete and the pussies. I got somewhat confused while I did this, and told her it was the day for my GUM clinic blood assessment thingy – it wasn’t! Huh, Tsk and Humph! Whoopsiegangleplopped again!
T’was to see Warden Deana in the morning about the beautiful British Gas people charging for a non-existent meter charge. To the Clinic is Tuesday before the nurses INR test, then I have to get the laundry in too! But the timing made no difference, and I don’t think I’ll mention to her, she thinks I’m potty enough as it is. Wednesday is the CDH blood test results with the doctor, and the receptionist tells me there were problems with it. Hey-ho, can’t do owt about that, just do as instructed by Dr Vindla, so no point in worrying.
Into the wet-room and had a super shower and freshening up session, using the citrus gel, and making sure I rinsed away everything down the drain and sprayed citrus freshener around afterwards.
I felt surprisingly better afterwards apart from Anne Gyna of course. Humph! Got dressed and checked the flat, and I set off on a walk to the park for a bit.
I left via the back of the flats and stood for a while looking up at Olive’s apartment, feeling a bit sorry or myself cause I couldn’t visit her while her daughter was visiting. Sad innit?
By the time I’d got up the hill into the park proper, a new ailment presented itself for me – the right hip was really painful, and I had to slow down even more so as not to irritate it further? I cut down the length of the planned walk and just went by the pitch and putt and down the other side of the hill and down to the front of the flats, through the magnificent copse.
As I entered the thicket, the blackberries were forcing their way through.
The greenery was so calming. The hip had eased a lot as I was getting to the flats foyer door.
The hip eased a lot as I was going to the flats entrance door. So much so, I decided on the spot to unpack the new spinning mop and bucket, and get the kitchen and wetroom floors mopped! Got the mop and bucket assembled alright, but could not find my floor cleaner liquid? No idea what I’d done with it, hey-ho! So, I used Dettol, white vinegar and citrus disinfectant in the bucket. It looked alright to me, but it no good for the corners and nooks, I’ll use the usual mop, next time for the kitchen.
Then I moved into the wet-room to do that. Oh dear – the new mop did not like the wet-room floor at all, and stuck to it? So I cleaned the mop and bucket in the sink, dried the mop and put it in with the other rubbish in the bedroom. Another costly plan flunked!
Then I condensed the waste cardboard and bags in the hallway so I can take them down on the way out in the morning.
Busy day again tomorrow, and I have to fit in a visit to see Olive at all costs. So much to do over the next few days, not looking forward to it much, the hassle and travelling I mean.
The weariness returned. I got the laptop going and updated this.
Got the fodder ready.and
Fish sticks, garden peas, beetroot, roast onions, pickled cucumber, tomatoes, yellow peppers and tinned potatoes.
Followed by a lemon drizzle dessert.
Didn’t nibble too much afterwards… Honestly!
The mind racing prevented me from nodding off, and once again, sleep was slow in coming. Hey-ho!
Translation into Zulu: NgoMgqibelo 16th Julayi 2016
Woke with a start around 0350hrs. Disentangled me from the £300 second-hand recliner chair and off for a WRWW. Then I got the washing ready and down to the laundry room.
Had a peep out at the situation in front of the compound through the foyer doors.
Got the washer going in Quick Mode and back up to 72 for a WWHD. No bleeding this morning, despite the actions being a tad uncomfortable.
Roger Reflux was in good form and swollen so that it looked like I have swallowed a baseball! Terribly fetid wind from the rear.
Back down to the laundry room and moved the clothes into the dryer. 0425hrs, back up to the flat, set the alarm to try and remind me to collect the washing at 0525hrs, and not forget them like the last two occasions! Humph!
Made a cuppa, another WRWW, and got the laptop on to update this diary. Then finished yesterday’s and got it posted off.
The alarm went off, but I didn’t hear it – I felt it?
The sound was far too low for me to pick it up even with my hearing aids in, but the clock shook and fell off of the £99 1959 G-Plan sideboard I use the laptop on, and landed on my foot via me knee!
You’ve got to laugh!
At least it reminded me to go and collect the washing from the laundry room dryer. Which I did. Cleaned the filter and returned to the flat, put the things in the airing cupboard and felt pleased I’d remembered them this time.
Made a cuppa, and remembered to take the morning medications, with some extra Peptac as the stomach was starting to rumble a bit.
Another WRWW session. Then minutes later a WRHD session?
For the next few hours, in between WRWW’s of course, I did some Facebooking and graphicalisationing.Then did the ablutions and showering.
Remembered (As soon as I checked the emails and got one informing me) the delivery from Coopers is due today sometime. The mop and bucket for the wet-room, the scales, the battery operated doorbell, the mini Ottoman and the Gilet could arrive, or any combination of them. So, I’ll not go out for a walk for fear of missing them – whether they come or not, of course, is in the hands of fate.
Worked some hours sorting out my Words to Use file. Got a headache now. Hehe!
Oh, Flipping Marvelous!
French Owned British Gas, who last week told Warden Deana the Electricity Bill would be scrapped for the second time, have sent me a Red Letter Bill with threats now! Losing me credit rating – hints at bailiffs etc demanding the £250 I don’t owe them!
So frustrated, I did a post about them and put it on Facebook, LinkedIn and on WordPress too!
Still, no Coopers stuff arrived, their email said they were on the way on the lorry this morning.
Calmed down a bit and went on Facebook again.
Then, did the ablutions and showering.
Spent a good while doing the meal tonight.
Battered potato slices, tomatoes, beetroot, apple, fresh pod peas, red onion, yellow peppers, dried roast onions and the last of the cooked pork loin slices.
Rated this one at 9.34/10! Marvellous tasty fodder in a dish! Despite still feeling aggrieved at British Gas, I enjoyed it.
Got myself settled and consumed the repast, washed up and settled again to watch some TV – fell asleep.
Woke in a semi-panic “Had I left the washing down in the laundry room dryer?” had to disentangle myself manually from the £300 second-hand recliner chair that refused to operate, and go and check the airing cupboard to make sure the clothes were in there. Sad innit?
Settled down for the third time in the now working £300 second-hand recliner chair, and nibbled some Melba Toast – the crumbs flew all over the place, the still working £300 second-hand recliner chair allowed me out to get the mini-hoover and clear up the mess, next climbed back into the recliner to watch some TV – then realised the programmes I’d wanted to watch were all over and done with.
Turned off the goggle-box and I was in the land of nod in minutes. Unhappily, this didn’t last long, as trips for many WRWWs followed throughout what was left of the night.
This morning determined not to forget I’d left the washing in the drying machine twelve floors down in the lobby laundry room again, and someone having to take it out and let me know, like wot I had dun on the last two washing sessions during the previous week.
I tried to set the alarm on the black kitchen clock, but knowing I can’t hear it when it goes off, I found the little Poundshop travelling clock and set that to go off at the same time as the other to remind me.
The black clock did not go off? I could not hear the travelling alarm, but it shook apparently when it went off, and slid along the top of me polished 1959 £80 sideboard and landed on me foot, via me knee.
So, I remembered to fetch the washing, see?
The thing was, when I got back up to the flat and saw the three clocks next to each other, I thought of Mummy Daddy and a baby clock? Thus, romance?
Anyway, I doctored the photograph wot I took and made this here graphic and thought it very humorous at the time.
0425hrs: Woke in the £300 second-hand recliner chair, stomach churning again and Anne Gyna giving me some stick. Pondered over the dream I’d been suffering: Many things from the past came into it, not good things, and it seemed to go on for yonks! A feeling of failure and rejection lingered in the ether of my befuddled brain?
Climbed out of the now working again, £300 second-hand recliner chair and made my way to the Wetroom Throne. Carried out my mission there, and to the kitchen to put the kettle on and take the medications.
Made a pot of porridge and turned on the laptop. I proceeded, not knowing what I was doing, toying, fiddling, turn off and on, resettings and praying, along with the accompaniment of various well-chosen words I thought might help. Did this for over three and half hours, to get CorelDraw8 to open and work for me. Around 0900hrs it came on and opened, I still have no idea what I did right to get it to work?
Got a landline call, a chap with a strong Asian voice said: I am calling from Microsoft about your Windows, okay… At this point, I said ‘No’ and rang off. I think I was being attacked by a, what’s the name… Hacker? Con-Man?
I noticed medications I had failed to take earlier, so I took them, made another cuppa and finished the Thursday Diary off and made a start on this one.
Anne Gyna was increasing her attacks then, and concentration was involved. Then some drilling noises started from a nearby flat, no problem with that, these things have to be done – it was just the identifying the sound in the first place was difficult. I took out my hearing aids.
Did a bit of work on my latest funny blog, then got a good shower and changed ready for a walk through Woodthorpe Grange Park for a bit of exercise and fresh air, and take the stuff to the Nottingham Hospice Shop.
I took a route up the gravel hill and noticed a Wet Paint sign on a bit of cardboard on the bench halfway up the hill.
They had painted them black now.
Then right over the grass and into the trees to try and get a shot pf nature like.
I waited patiently in the murk under the trees and was rewarded (I thought at the time) with a couple of piccies of squirrels up in the branches.In the trees.
I hobbled down the footpath towards Mansfield Road and found it devoid of people, never seen that before?
It was a most beautiful site!
It was here that I realised I’d left the catch loose on the camera card cover, and the nature photographs that I thought had been taken earlier had not been taken at all! Humph!
Pressed on down and into Sherwood.
Where I called in the Nottingham Hospice Charity Shop to drop off the clothes and bag of donations… that I’d left back at the flat! Double Humph!
Then down the hill to Wilko to get a bottle of Dettol Lavender. They had none in stock.
Doing well, wasn’t I?
Further down towards Winchester Street Hill and into the Hot Food shop, to get some cooked roast potatoes to have with my pork loin – they hadn’t cooked any today! Treble Humph!
Out of the shop and left up Winchester Hill, I ould see in the distance a bus parked up, but knew I would not be able to make it to it in time. When I got to the bus stop, it was 21 minutes to the next bus. So I pressed on (painfully) up the hill.
As I got to the top to turn left to the flats, I noticed some blackberries, no that’s blackcurrants coming through. I thought I’d go into the bushes and get a close-up photograph of some.
After getting pricked and stung in the overgrowth, I tripped over… I gave up. Quadruple Humph, no… quintuple actually innit? No again, it’s sextuple Humphs?
Scratching at the stinging hands, I plodded on back to the flat, saw a lady tenant outside and waved hello to her… got a scowl back in return.
Actually, not one of my better days today methinks.
Got the laptop on and carried on with the ‘Open letter to Theresa May’ funny post. Blimey, it took me hours to get finished. Reckon it took me ten hours in total to do.
Really tired out now. So late now, too.
Got the din-dins in the oven. Parsnips, carrots and some frozen roast potatoes. Going to have tomatoes and pork loin with them, that’s the plan anyway.
Titivated this dairy then did a bit of Facebooking.
The fodder ready, I served it up and got stuck into it.
As part of my dietary plan, note I took this picture, then put on the rest of the roast potatoes on the plate. Guilt? Hehe.
It was all good especially the roast vegetables and beetroots.
Very late in the day for me now, and despite the plans to watch some TV, I drifted off at the first commercial break…
Congratulations on beating the man you have just sacked from the Cabinet in the Tory leadership election.
I’d like to offer you the opinion of a rather uneducated old fart, who, incidentally much appreciates his pensioner’s bus pass, on a few of your selections for your new cabinet ministers. I understand his opinion is of no value or consequence, benefit or interest to you (Or any of your cabinet or MP’s), but the new growth in distrust of the aforesaid personages, has encouraged me to be bold.
Also, my not having long left to live, had a bearing on this decision too.
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Philip Hammond Brexit Remain Supporter
New Chancellor of the Exchequer
Millionaire Hammond is worth around £8.8m but avoids tax after transferring property as a “gift” to his wife. This Essex boy has never had a proper paid job
He recently stepped in over ‘very disappointing’ plans by new Chinese owners to hike membership fees at Wentworth golf club. Long-time members of Surrey-based golf club have accused the new Chinese owners of using an eye-watering fee hike to get rid of them and turn the club into a preserve of the global ultra-rich. If he fails on this, you can always buy the support of Tony ‘I ain’t rich enough yet’ Blair and William Hague by buying them a two-year membership of the club. Although I’m uncertain if Hague’s wife Ffion is still a Barclays Bank Advisor, but as he and she he joined a lavish Italian trip, one of Europe’s most expensive hotels, where rooms costing £1,000 a night and paid for Barclays executives on a black day for global markets, I assume she will not give up these perks and of course the pay for being an Advisor to Barclays Bank: (£86,000 per annum, tax free?) You know the one, that the Tory Government rescued financially?
MY VIEW: He is the second richest member of the new cabinet, with a net worth of £8.4 million, just under Lord Strathclyde with £9.6 million. Mr Hammond is said to have achieved his worth from stakes in a health care and nursing home developer and “consultancy work”.Within six months, he will be blaming the Brexit Leave Supporters for the country going broke. Only joking – am I? I wish him well and I appreciate that his lock on the front door of his third home costs more than my house did. I just wish he was not so rich that if he fails he will not suffer financially at all – just Jealous Theresa, yer know!
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Boris Johnson Brexit Leave Supporter
New Foreign Secretary
Royal-blooded, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born in New York City to wealthy upper-class English parents in June 1964), Johnson was educated at the European School of Brussels, Ashdown House School, and Eton College.
Boris is, albeit, distantly related, to the present Royal family, and also to the Royal Houses of Europe, including the Swedish and Dutch Royal Families, as well as the Romanoffs.
So, we can see why you have chosen him to be your Foreign Secretary. Also and as well besides, we understand.
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Amber RuddBrexit Remain Supporter
New Home Secretary
Who, as Energy Secretary who Labour claimed misled MPs about meeting mandatory EU energy targets on renewable power, is a buxom lass, and it is easy to see why Theresa has opted for her for her new as her new Home Secretary.
As Energy Secretary, she came under fire for failing to reveal close links to a top lobbyist in official parliamentary records. Under new rules brought in for this parliament, MPs must officially disclose all family members engaged in lobbying the public sector.
The Hastings & Rye MP, also Billed the taxpayer £173,367.16 over the 2014-15 period placing her in sixth place out of the 16 county MPs. She claimed the bulk of her expenses on staffing costs – £137,127.53– as well as £22,794.66 on office costs, £10,330.79 on accommodation, £2,854.18 on travel and £260 on ‘miscellaneous expenses’. So she’s cunning, greedy and not afraid to fiddle if given the opportunity.
Worked as a financial journalist and venture capitalist, after working in New York and London for J.P. Morgan & Co. So, she’ll be perfect for the position as Conservative Home Secretary.
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DavidDavisBrexit Leave Supporter
Brexit Minister Secretary
David Davis, the former shadow home secretary, who grew up on a council estate, spent more than £10,000 of taxpayers’ money on home improvements in four years, including a new £5,700 portico at his home in Yorkshire.
The former chairman of a Commons committee that keeps tabs on government spending also claimed more than £8,000 for over 5,000 gallons of heating oil. Claims submitted by Mr Davis under the Commons’ additional costs allowance system show that he paid £5,704 for the portico – an open porch that normally protects a property’s front door from the weather – in July 2006. The bill was “to supply and install a new portico to front door entrance, new matching gate and frame to court-yard and six-pane window to out building”. The Commons fees office agreed to pay the bill two weeks later.
Mr Davis spent about £5,000 on home furnishings, including £658 to decorate his kitchen and utility room and £640 on a flax carpet for the breakfast room. In 2008-09 he charged £46.33 for changing a lamp in a floodlight at one of his properties.
In 2009-210 his expenses were only £ 109,146.
Davis was raised on Aboyne Estate, a council estate in Tooting, South West London. After attending Bec Grammar School in Tooting, London, he went on to gain a master’s degree in business at the age of 25 and went into a career with Tate & Lyle. Another non-working for a wage MP.
August 2013: Figures from the body responsible for parliamentary expenses show that the highest expenses claimant in Gwent was David Davies, Tory MP for Monmouth, who claimed £40,241. But the MP said that he had not seen a penny of the money and that the term expenses had been used for too long.
He’s going to have a ball now he’s in power int he!
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Michael FallonBrexit Remain Supporter
Defence Secretary
The MP retrospectively claimed £3,521 for legal fees and hundreds more for mortgage interest charges and utility bills — all personally authorised by the head of the fees office. Mr Fallon had previously claimed £1,000 a month in second home expenses to rent a property in Pimlico, south west London. Mr Fallon said at the time: “This was an inadvertent mistake for which I accept responsibility. The fees office proposed that the overpayment should be offset by other claims.”
The MP added that all his other claims “were routine costs properly authorised and allowable at the time”. He began making the excessive claims after buying the Westminster flat for £243,000 in June 2002 and designating it as his second home. Various other household expenses he claimed for after September 2004 included a £250 per month cleaning bill, which Mr Fallon reduced from £300 after being asked for a receipt.
Between 2002 and 2004, Fallon regularly claimed £1,255 per month in capital repayments and interest, rather than the £700-£800 for the interest component alone. After his error was noticed by staff at the Commons Fees Office in September 2004, he asked: “Why has no one brought this to my attention before?” He repaid £2,200 of this over-claim but was allowed to offset the remaining £6,100 against his allowance. After realising they had failed to notice the excessive claims, Commons staff reportedly suggested Fallon submit fresh claims which would “reassign” the surplus payments to other costs he had legitimately incurred.
In May 2005, he claimed £499 for a television, £69.50 for a digital box and £35 for a radio. Mr Fallon sold the flat in December 2006 for £295,000, making a profit of £52,000. He claimed £1,774.50 in legal fees relating to the sale. In the two months before the sale, he claimed £126 for boiler repairs, £170 for repairs to bathroom tiles, £282 for electrical repairs and £225 for carpet cleaning. He then bought another flat in Westminster for £728,000. Soon after moving in, he claimed £1,795 for a bed, £1,500 for curtains and almost £1,000 for a freezer, washer-dryer and deep cleaner. The claim for the bed was reduced to £1,000. He then began claiming the interest on the mortgage for his new flat, which came to about £2,100 per month — almost three times as much as at his previous property. Mr Fallon also shares a large house in his Kent constituency with his wife, Wendy. The house, which the couple bought in 1997, is about 28 miles away from Westminster. It is not mortgaged.
Mr Fallon is also paid as a director of three companies. His salary from one, a money broker, is reportedly £45,000. He also pays his wife from his taxpayer-funded office expenses to work as his secretary.
Fallon, is a board member of a leading brokerage firm that dominates the rates market and which has been asked to co-operate with the Financial Services Authority’s investigation into malpractice across the City.
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Liam Fox Brexit Exit Supporter
International Trade Secretary
In a less shameless world, Liam Fox’s career would have ended in 2011. Or to give him his full title, the disgraced former defence secretary, Dr Liam Fox.
In March 2010 Fox appealed Sir Thomas Legg’s decision that he had overclaimed £22,476 in mortgage interest payments. Fox immediately repaid the money, then appealed the decision. Fox’s appeal was rejected and the decision was upheld by Sir Paul Kennedy, a former high court judge. Fox stated that his decision to remortgage his second home to pay for redecorations and claim the higher interest repayments on his expenses represented value for money because he could have charged the taxpayer for the decorating bills directly. In his response, Sir Paul Kennedy stated: “What you claimed was not recoverable under the rules then in force. I entirely accept that, like many others, you could have made other claims if the fees office had rejected your claims for mortgage interest, and that you may well have spent some of what you raised by increasing your mortgage on your constituency home, but the evidence is imprecise, and my terms of reference only allow me to interfere if I find special reasons in your individual case showing that it would not be fair and equitable to require repayment, either at all or at the level recommended.” This reportedly made him the Conservative Shadow Cabinet member with the largest over-claim on expenses, and as a result, he has been forced to repay the most money.
It was reported in June 2009 that Fox claimed expenses of more than £19,000 over the last four years for his mobile phone. Fox claimed the high bill was due to regular trips overseas, in his capacity as Shadow Defence Secretary and said he was looking for a cheaper tariff.
In October 2012, the Commons Speaker blocked the release of data showing which MPs were renting their homes to other MPs for financial gain. However, a study of parliamentary records was published in the Daily Telegraph. The study showed that Liam Fox receives rental income from his London home while simultaneously claiming rental income from the taxpayer to live at another residence.
In October 2013, Fox hit the news again, after documents showed he claimed 3p for a 100-metre car trip a year earlier. He also made an additional 15 claims of under £1 for car travel approved in 2012–13, two of which were for 24p and 44p. He told the Sunday People: “I don’t do my expenses. My office does them. But they are all done according to the rules for travel distances.
During October 2011 Fox’s relationship with a close friend, Adam Werritty, attracted extensive media attention and eventually led to Fox’s resignation. Werrity, some 17 years younger than Fox, had been best man at his wedding, had lived rent-free in Fox’s flat, and been involved with him in business and in the conservative Atlanticist think-tank The Atlantic Bridge. While Fox was Defence Minister, Werrity had visited Fox at the Ministry of Defence on many occasions, had accompanied Fox on numerous official trips, attended some of his meetings with foreign dignitaries, and had used official-looking business cards which said he was an “advisor” to Fox, all despite having no government post or security clearance. The media raised questions about Fox’s judgment in allowing this to happen, the nature of the men’s relationship, and the source of Werrity’s income.
Fox is a registered shareholder of the medical educational firm Arrest Ltd. His estimated wealth is £1.7 million.
Fox accepted a £50,000 donation from Jon Moulton, whose investment firm, Better Capital, later went on to own Gardner Aerospace, an aerospace metallic manufactured details supplier which includes component parts for both military and civilian aircraft. This potentially exposed Fox to conflict of interest but neither Fox nor Moulton violated any rules with this donation.
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Jeremy Hunt Brexit Remain Supporter
Health Secretary
Since first being elected to government in 2005, Hunt has been involved in a string of scandals which when put together outshine some of the bigger scandals on this list. Yet somehow the impervious MP has gone on to be rewarded with ever more responsibility. Here are some instances where other MPs and the public have called for the Teflon-coated minister’s resignation:
· In 2009, he was forced to repay £9,500 of taxpayers’ cash after allowing his election agent to live rent-free in his subsidised home. This was after he had also breached the rules for claiming for a property that was his designated main home.
· In 2010, it was discovered his former parliamentary assistant had been given a civil service job. The assistant was the daughter of a Conservative life peer who had also been the director of Hunt’s company.
· In 2010, he apologised after suggesting hooliganism was to blame for the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
· In 2012, it was revealed he was a tax avoider (something Cameron said he would not tolerate) after dodging more than £100,000 in tax in a property deal.
· Again in 2012, close links were discovered between his office and Rupert Murdoch’s company News Corporation. Hunt, at the time, was handling the company’s bid to take over BSkyB. It was found Hunt and his advisors had communicated sensitive information to Murdoch.
· In 2013, the British Medical Association said he displayed “complete ignorance” after saying he thought the abortion limit should be changed to 12 weeks.
· His expenses featured: 1p for a 12-second phonecall, £75 on five candles, £700 on signs for one of his houses and a whopping £3,180 on stamps, envelopes and labels (in one year).
Why is Hunt again in the cabinet? Labour leader Ed Miliband once said “it beggars belief” but maybe it has something to do with Hunt’s support during his buddy David Cameron’s leadership campaigns?
A definite bad move from Theresa, if she is wanting to regain the confidence and trust of the voters… but I don’t suppose she’s bothered about that!
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Chris GraylingBrexit Leave Supporter
Transport Secretary
Chris Grayling has claimed £104,183 of taxpayers’ money over six years for a London flat – even though he has a family home just 17 miles away from Westminster. And neighbours said they “rarely, if ever” see him at the Westminster flat where his postbox is packed with unopened mail.
On the eve of becoming an MP in June 2001, Mr Grayling, 46, paid £127,000 for the one-bedroom flat in a six-storey block, which has views of Westminster Cathedral and is only a short stroll from the House of Commons. But a local estate agent said the value of properties in the block had soared to between £210,000 and £330,000, despite the recession.
Our inquiry sparked claims from MPs last night that Mr Grayling would trouser a huge profit from the London property market, largely thanks to taxpayers’ cash. Mr Grayling is allowed to use his additional costs allowance (ACA) to pay for and furnish a second home – either in London or his constituency of Epsom and Ewell. Between 2001 and 2007, he claimed a total of £104,183 under the ACA – close to the maximum possible claim over the period of £122,710.
In 2009, Chris Grayling promised to sell his London flat and repay any profit to the taxpayer. There is no record of this repayment. Numerous requests for information from Grayling’s office have been met with a blank refusal to provide any further evidence. It’s quite possible the payment was made. The records we have are incomplete, having been destroyed under Commons rules. But his office’s refusal to provide any evidence of it suggests the old arrogance of MPs is reasserting itself as memories of the expenses scandal fade.
Just after the May 2005 general election, he claimed £4,250 for redecorating and £1,561 for a new bathroom. The next month he claimed £1,341 for new kitchen units. The month after that he put in a claim for another £1,527 for plumbing and £1,950 for further work.
He got himself caught up in the Fox/Werritty scandal.
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Priti Patel Brexit Leave Supporter
International Development
Her expenses in 2014 were £152,000 plus.
She employs her husband as her Office Manager on £50,000 a year.
On the IPSA granted MPs pay rise of over £7000, she did not comment on whether she would accept the rise or how she felt about it. But she did.
She once worked for lobbying firm Weber Shandwick, whose clients included British American Tobacco – the makers of brands like Dunhill and Lucky Strike. Patel then moved to Diageo, the British multinational alcoholic beverages company, and worked in corporate relations between 2003 and 2007, earning hundreds of thousand of pounds. While the company paid workers £15 a year. In 2014, she accepted a £2,000 donation from a tobacco supplier HT&Co (Drinks) Ltd .
The MP for Witham, supports the death penalty too. In the past she’s professed admiration for Ayn Rand, told reporters: “Murder should never be an alternative to an honest day’s work, which is why I’m strongly in favour of a reintroduction of the death penalty for low-earners.” She added, “A £100,000 earnings cut-off would ensure the most important members of society are not executed, and would also provide a deterrent for the poor and workshy who would rather be housed in jail to save money.”
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… I’m sorry, but I can’t write and research anymore… I’ve depressed myself…
0405hrs: Rather sprang into life this morning. Tried to rid the thoughts about the dream I’d been having. They were not nice at all.
The rickety £300 second-hand recliner noisily allowed me to extract myself from it and have a WRWW & WRHD session. A bit of bleeding from the rear quarters, Arthur Itis and Anne Gyna both giving grief. Tsk!
Two beauties & the Beast
Laptop on and the diary finished off for yesterday and posted.
Started this one off.
Belatedly remembered the morning medications and took them with a cuppa.
Another WRWW then started the graphics and doing this post.
Did a bit of Facebooking, but I must not get carried away, cause I need urgently to get a damned good shave and shower, being as yesterday, feeling rather faded, I didn’t have one. And I want to have time to visit Olive before I go to the Tenants Social Hour at the Community Shed. Must get the nibbles, camera and I ready promptly.
Got a wonderful shower and freshened everything up. Carbolic soap and citrus gel used today.
Dressed then assembled the things needed for the Tenants Hour.
Popped in to see Olive on the way to the Social Hout at the hut. She was perky, as she was expecting her daughter to arrive and stay with her for a few days. We had a chinwag, and I departed, with the thought of not seeing her for a few days now, as I don’t want to intrude on her family gathering.The
A little sad I was, but hoped things went well for them, and Olive enjoyed the visitation.The
Took the jars to the recycle box and on, to the Community Shed.
A really slow start today, despite it being the best day for weather in ages.
Handed in the raffle prizes.
It filled up a bit later, though.
BJ arrived and joined out table with Tina, Bill, Eddy and myself.
I gave BJ the photographs I’d had printed from last week, and off to the flat to get the bags and things ready for this weeks visitation to Asda (Walmart) to get today’s photographs printed.
I was feeling much better now. To the bus stop, had a chinwag with some of the gals at the bus-stop and gave them some nibbles.
Then I got the photographs developed, and did some shopping while they were developed. Got some fresh pod peas, two lemon drizzle desserts, tomatoes, Irish batch loaf and nearly weakened – but resisted the Fresh cream Horn cakes! (Chest swells with pride – hehe!)
Arriving at the bus stop for the return bus, I noticed the battered public bench near to it, had apparently not suffered any more damage?
Had a go at the crosswords on the journey back to the flats.not
Glorious weather today.not
Had to fight and resist the urge from the eyes for my nodding off again.
The trees near the City Hospital were all in leaf bloom and looked lovely.
Back at the flats making my way up to mine in the lift, a mega-dizzy spell hit me.
I struggled for a few moments with this one, but it cleared by the time I’d got out of the lift and to the door?
A WRWW and WRHD were tended to, during which another much less violent dizzy came. (But there was no more today, fortunately)
Medicated myself, and got the fodder cooking!
Some chips in gravy in the oven with some red onions, and made some beef gravy in the saucepan, with two little bits of beef.
I felt suddenly so tired again, that I dare not leave the cooking so stayed in the kitchen all the time while the meal cooked.
50 minutes later, I served it up along with a dessert, apple and banana.
It didn’t look too good but tasted absolutely wonderful! I think my adding some Oregano to the gravy might have helped.
Got settled in the shuddering second-hand £300 recliner to eat it, and the phone rang. By the time I’d half-extracted myself from the recliner, whoever it was had rang off.
Settled down again, (The second-hand £300 recliner refusing to work) and started on the food… yes you’ve guessed, the phone rang again. I was out of the second-hand £300 recliner quicker this time, but still not fast enough before whoever it was, again rang off!
Back in the now working £300 second-hand recliner and to the now getting cold dinner. As the landline rang again, I thought, if it was the doctors, they usually ring on the mobile if I don’t answer the landline – and when it rang again, I remained firmly ensconced in the second-hand £300 recliner!
An urgent call for a WRWW stopped me eating again, the £300 second-hand £300 recliner shook and wobbled noisily at it let me out and to the porcelain.
Long job, when I got back and into the £300 second-hand recliner which reluctantly allowed me to settle in it, the meal was so cold, another battle with the £300 second-hand recliner and back into the kitchen to warm up the meal. I’d served it in the plastic dish, so had to transfer the stuff onto a metal tray to warm it up in the oven. Then put it back into the plastic dish and ate it in the kitchen. I could not face another contest with the £300 second-hand recliner!
Depressed now.
As I was getting back into the mentally and physically challenging £300 second-hand recliner (That I suspected was laughing at me – Hehe!), the landline rang again – I uttered a word I don’t often use and ignored it!
Up 0415hrs: Lay there pondering on the weird dreams I had during the night. What I could remember anyway. The rooftop chases were in there somewhere, old workplace bits and my being refused entry at St Peter’s gates and my setting up tent and making a fire to cook sausages on?
Eventually I tackled getting out of the refusing to work £300 second-hand recliner chair… not easy, but I managed it without any injury, tried pressing the button again afterwards, and noisily and shudderingly worked again?
WRWW and WRHD tended to, no bleeding, good that.
Made a cuppa and found the scribbled notes I made last night when the nurse telephoned me. Noted the INR and Cardiac appointments and added them to Google calendar.
Another WRWW (Wet-Room Wee-wee), and got on with sorting Tuesday’s diary.
Reembered the Asda (Walmart) delivery was coming this morning, I’d ordered some stuff along with the fodder to use for pressies later.
The Asda man arrived and left the stuff. Only one substitution, this time, I’d ordered a box of Ferrero Rocher to use for Olive’s Birthday later, they had subrogated these with large box of Ferrero Collection, which was dearer, but they charged me the original £3.50 not the £5.50 of the collection price. Nice!
The Polish Bozek looked so tasty.
The large jar of sour pickled cucumber was only 90p, very cheap, I hope they taste okay?
Then after putting the goods away, nibbles in the nibbles box, I realised I’d not taken the morning medications yet – so I did, with another mug of tea.
WRWW, Made a start on graphicationalisationing and this diary, then onto Facebook, then checked emails, then a WRWW.
Deana (Flat warden) knocked upon the door to inform me I had a pile of washing that had been left in the dryer – AGAIN! Oh dear… I went down and retrieved it, red-facedly!
Got on with the new funny post for hours and hours, got it finished though and posted off. “Inchcock’s Lecture to the Brexit Remain supporters”
Quote from within: “Mr Steedenski asked if it could be a bottle of Henri Jayer Cros Parantoux, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru, adding, it is produced from grapes grown on a 2.5-acre site, this Burgundy and said to be full-bodied and rich”? I think it might go down alright, but yer never know.
Feeling peckish, but I resisted any naughty nibbles and had just two rice cakes and a bit of Melba toast… Urgh! Hehe!
Nipped over to see Olive, she looked radiant today, despite her ailments. We had a cup of tea and a gossip.
When I returned to the flat, I really felt so happy at seeing her, but so drained it was hard to understand why?
No strength or willpower to do anything other than make a dinner and collapse in the rickety £300 second-hand recliner with a drink of orange juice and the meal. I did remember, as instructed, not to take any Warfarin tablets though.
I tried some of the sour cucumbers wit the fodder, I liked them. Had to force myself to eat the bitter tasting Lidl ‘Special’ tomatoes, they were not nice at all.
Rated this overall a 7.9/10, the tomatoes spoilt it.
The trips for a WRWW decreased, or perhaps I was just too tired to respond? Hehe!
Weary as I felt, I had to find something on the TV I wanted to watch, before I nodded off, then kept waking up every few minutes until well into the morning, around 0200hrs then I got off proper like.
