The usual blog has been delayed, folks... Things depend on the procedure I’m having down by the Medico’s in the morning. But I anticipate a few scribbled notes may replace the next few days’ usual, magnificently written and presented Inchy Blog.
Adored by many people all over the globe. I hope they both understand why I have to deprive them of their usual daily, witty, intelligent meanderings of the old chap from Nottingham.
I expect to be back on Thursday… or Friday. They won’t keep me in as long as they did King Charlie, nor I expect, will the Doctor tell me to take-it-easy for several days. I anticipate coming out of the operating theatre and being thrown in an ambulance or taxi and lifted home. Argue about the cost, and report my return to the flat as I always do to the Management. Last time, they didn’t know I’d been in hospital. Hehehe!
So far behind again, comments at a minimum; most of them are anyway. Sorry.
A wee bit dark. Haha!
The first morning view.
A bit of bother this morning from . Followed by an Inchy cock-up! I saw the date on the Paracetamol box. I assumed this was the use-by date. I dished them and got another box out of the medical drawer. Then realised the date was the delivery date. Humph!
Eurgh!
I realised I had not had much time before the Carer called, but I decided I could surely get a full stand-up wash and shave in an hour & a half. So, I proceeded at a hurried pace. By Jimminee! I did it when I’d estimated… well, nearly anyway! One teeny-weeny nick shaving, I hit the shoulder on the door-frame, leaving the wet room and got the PPs on without injury! I considered going into a . But didn’t. I found a bruise on top of my left foot, but I didn’t know why or where from. Oh, and I did the shaving while standing in a bowl of hot, disinfected, soapy water with bi-carb in it, so the dirt came up from the feet.And all without slips or injuries!
I got the dressing gown on, and the leggings and diabetic socks out ready, as arrived. I explained that I was not going to put the ankle or leg strapping on yet, and was leaving it for the midday Carer. Because I wanted to get the cream on the legs and let it sink in properly. This does indeed help ease the eruptions, but only if I can get the time to let it soak in properly under the diabetic socks. Which Richard put on for me next after giving me the morning prescription medication and Peptac.
The JS order arrived. I carried the bags to the kitchen one at a time, leaving them on the floor to return to Richard. Who was tired out. He offered to help put the food away, but I thought it best if the lad got home and to bed, sharpish. Cheerios and treats were done, and I returned to the kitchen and the bags. This is when I came over all Pareidolianiable, Hehe! I took a photo of the bags on the floor… I saw something in the photo that had me back on the computer and CorelDraw to make the graphic I spotted. I just had to do it! My sense of humour was alive and kicking!
Back to putting the goods away. The doorstep-sized sliced Sourdough bread was massive. It was a substitute for two little sourdough rolls. I’ll ask if anyone would help by taking half the loaf to use cause it was far too much for me to eat without it going out of date, and I had no room in the freezer. At last, I’d got some of the Branston Fruit Sauce, 3 bottles; although they were not cheap, they remain my favourite brown sauce. The diddly bananas will do for me. Some biscuits, too.
The light arrived, and I took these shots. From the kitchen window.
Again, the bladder pains informed me that the day pouch was backing up. I can’t understand why it has been doing this lately?
Did the midday call. She brought in some mail that had been posted for me. One from the bank. The other is from Lisa in the USA with a Christmas Card; bless her. She is such a treasure to me. With all her ailments that outnumber mine, I think she’s so caring and kind! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Then Kara put the diabetic socks on for me and checked the day pouch. Bless her.
Got a landline call come in; it was Hristina. She is calling tomorrow to take the DVT Warfarin INR blood test for me. All my sweetheart connections today are cheering me up. I took a can of Gin Spritz to neighbour Jo,sie too.
I decided that I’d have the cheapo off-cut bacon today with tomatoes; I’m doing the bacon in the oven, but I had to cut off such a lot of fat that the product that went in the waste bin was three times the size of what made it into the oven. Made them small chunky bits so they cook quicker and crisper. Przyprawa and liquid sea salt were added to the tomatoes in the saucepan, and later, I added the bacon and some soya pieces. I can heat this up easier later on.
Two late afternoon shots.
Did the first evening call. He was half-with-me and half-not. He selected a nibble and bottle of pop and took the laundry bag with him. I hope it comes back this time! As he left, I spotted the sunset, and it was about to sink out of view. I hastened to fetch , and as I , into the balcony to take a couple of shots. I got the first one just as the sun seemed racing down over the horizon. By the time I’d got set to take another… The sun had disappeared!
Finally, I made a start on this blog. Talk about getting further & further behind...
Many hours later, I decided to give up and get the meal heated and eaten. Hehehe! It went down gorgeously. Well worth the long time spent in preparation. I ate the sourdough bread and most of the tomato and bacon mix. Great!
00:30hrs: Got up for a wee-wee; that was terrific, gobsmackingly, absolutely free! Grrreat! But releasing things ready to use the NWWB (Nocturnal-Wee-Wee-Bucket), I got myself in a tangle with the jammie bottoms cord. So, had to go and wash limbs etc., throw the jammies in the laundry bag, and get a dressing gown on. There was no point in getting back to sleep now; I was wide awake. Went to make a brew of Glengettie tea.
I tried to take a photographicalisation of the morning view. My first effort came off a bit smudgy, and the second one didn’t get onto the SD card at all! For the next one, I changed the selector on the Lumix camera to the night view option on the wheel first. This one came out acceptable to me.
While making the brew of Glengettie, my neurotransmitters failed, and as I was stirring the tea bag as well – So, over went the china mug of tea. Another fine mess to sort out! The one redeeming factor was that the mug stayed on the counter, so at least I didn’t lose another one. Haha!
Updated the Wednesday Blog. It cost me a three-hour struggle, with all the mistakes, and towards the end of doing it, the started, but this time it lasted for longer than ever before. Usually, they are over in seconds… but not this time! Peripheral Neuropathy Pete had never bothered me for so long, with so many incidents, some were quite serious. The first one was as I was stirring my tea bag, it’s hard to explain what happened clearly, but I’ll try: The Peripheral Nerves will suddenly not work, and occasionally they go on-off repeatedly. So the brain does not get a clear message from the neurotransmitters of what they want to do. Then the brain seems to guess but gets it so wrong sometimes. Imagine you want to pick some up that you know is very hot… you test it first. Well, it’s similar to that; the fingers keep nearly doing something and repeatedly miss doing it; why? I think the brain is preventing them. Hence I look like a fool, trying to pick up a piece of paper or anything really but just cannot get the fingers to do the right thing. The same if you want to drop or let go of something – you can’t; it’s impossible until the neurotransmitters send a clear message to the brain, suddenly they will, sooner of later, and things go back to near normal for a while… until the next loss of contact from the nerve-ends. The fingers are the worst affected, but it can and has, in the past, happened with the toes and feet and can easily have me over. The silliest and most scary to anyone seeing this happen is when I get what I call an . It’s the equivalent of doing the Oki-cokey; the foot will not settle back on the ground until the nerve ends re-contact. It’s always (up to now) the right leg. And with , it is always on the right side, never the left? I think that my having my stroke on the righthand side helped to create these phenomena.
The was needed as I entered the wet room with the clothes to change into after the shave and shower. Aha! The evacuation was a little easier today – Small blessings are all welcome! I fang-you! Unfortunately for me, the again. During this session, the counts increased ridiculously! I had some irritating and annoying incidents to contend with. But they were short-lived, and after the wet room activities, the nerve ends were back to normal, with just the usual odd ones catching me out. Nothing new there! Dropped the toilet roll into the water! I cut my gums while cleaning the teeth and broke off another bit of the shattered double molar. Four cuts shaving. Carbolic soap dropped twice. Hit my head on the power box and couldn’t find my glasses after showering. (They are still AWOL [Absent Without leave[)
Arrived. Yawningly, Hehe! It’s his last shift for a few days, so I wished him a good rest and much sleep. Got the medications sorted and managed a couple of minutes of chinwagging. Saw him off as he took the waste bags. I shan’t see him for a bit now. Hope he catches up on sleep.
I started on the blog again: it was darned slow work.
Then Windowman Joe arrived. Not getting much done today. We had a laugh and chinwag, but like lighting at cleaning windows, soon off and gone.
Tried to get some graphics done… Cleaner Esther arrived. She was in and out for over an hour. She kept nipping down to check the laundry. She cut me a hole in my trouser belt – I can now wear them with more confidence, Hehehe! Finally told me her new minimum rate of pay is going from ten to fifteen pounds an hour for doing the laundry. Humph! I could do little or no work on or for this blog. I could not concentrate on Esther’s incessant talking. So I gave up and listened to her.
Finally, she departed. Ah, now I can get on with the blog…
The landline rangeth… It was Sister Jane. We had a jolly long conversation, and I found out I was eating the wrong foods, buying too much of it, and should eat more pasta. Fair enough, she was right. But we had a laugh or two. Said out farewells.
And back to blogging...
It was the Asda delivery. The driver helpfully threw the items ordered into the boxes provided for me… this chap was a lot more careful about not putting things like mini sponge rolls at the bottom of the box; bless him. I thanked him and got the food and things into the kitchen.
The big items I bought were the Flash speed Mop and extra pads. There’s a reason I bought these, and I can remember why, too. Oh, YES! Mind you, I can’t remember who it was that extolled the virtues of the costly Flash mop… but someone told me how great and easy to use they were. Although on later looking at, but unable to read the small print on how to set it up and operate it, I’m already sorry I bought them! ! I left them in the hallway – and hoped that one of the carers may as me why and hopefully know how to set it up and work it. Humph! I thought I could smell bleach, and one of the bottles was leaking… So I got the box with the cleaners in it opened first to check... Yes, the bleach had been leaking! Grangknangles! I checked in the empty box, just in time to see the cardboard disintegrating, and got it in the sink. Tore it up… I didn’t know I had so much anger in me, but got the cardboard box pieces and put them in a large plastic bag, and I hobbled grumblingly out loud as I took them to the waste chute and deposited the bag. Coming back to the flat, I realised how childish I’d been and felt a fool for getting all hot & bothered over it. I envisaged my moving into a home for Dementia sufferers, and it didn’t seem that far away! I sorted out the food box next. The only item they had none off in stock was the tomato passata with basil. Shame, ’cause I’ve got none now. Haha! I’m glad they had some of the Soya lemon yoghourts, though; they are nice and tasty without being too sweet. The vegetable pasties that I tried last week, and they were good and tasty, also arrived. I do not remember ordering any fresh tomatoes or cooked chestnuts… but then again, my saying I do not remember – is becoming my catchphrase, I think. Hehe!
I got things put away… not the Flash Speed Mop, of course, and had a wee-wee. As I was washing my hands, I realised that I’d had the potato simmering away for over six hours now in the crock-pot! In the kitchen, I trundled and turned it off. The large potato had split open, and bits of flesh were floating about in the pan… Tsk!
I got back to the computer and started working in CorelDraw, making graphics, tabs and an Ode… I was doing well… I thought… which was rubbish, of course. CorelDraw kept freezing, and MS word, in which I was creating the ode, did the same? I gave up!
The landline rang and at the same time! I’m just lucky, I guess… Esther returned to get something she’s left, and I asked her to talk to the woman who phoned for me; cause I couldn’t understand a word she said! Neither could Esther! So put the phone down. Esther said she was trying to get me to join Virgin Media, I said I’m already on it… IT dawned on me after Esther had gone. A woman who I could not understand rang, but no dice with hearing what she said. When Jenny phoned me to warn me that Liberty-Global Virgin Media was going down on Wednesday, it did. I wonder if it’s going to go down again?
I’ve got so little done today. I’ve now been up now for 16hours. Frustrated at every turn. Evening Carer is due anytime now. I’m tired, hungry and pretty miffed off with things. And still way behind on blogging! Well, it’ll stay that way! I’m gonna get a mug of Thompson’s tea, then something to eat.
I took this evening shot of the view from the kitchenette window while doing the cooking… Blimey, I multitasked there!
At last, I made and ate a decent meal. This one was a gorgeous soya Frikadellen and a veg pastie, tomatoes, yellow and red ones, very tasty, sweet! Sourdough cobs, and a mandarin & lemon mousse. Oh, and a boiled potato. Lashings of BBQ sauce. Bootiful! Taste Rating: 8.9/10! However, in the preperationing for this meal… and … When it came to cleaning the Crock-pot used to cook the potato, The bottom of the base had been leaking! The metal plate underneath had split somehow. So, I no longer have a crock-pot. I saved the porcelain bowl and lid, they are fine, and they may be of use to someone in the flats or carers to have as a spare? I got the slow cooker into three black bags. I may have to take it down to the recycling bin in the morning. It won’t fit in the heavy-metal waste-chute lid. Shame! Then, I may be back… but I doubt it until the morning, with more catching up to do. Muckleworthiness and Crab-ends!
Morning Update: Chloe woke me up. We got the medications sorted out okay. I was still half-asleep. I recall walking to the door with Chloe, taking the waste bags for me; I locked the door and returned to get a meal made.
Had lost interest in me getting back to sleep. It took hours before I faded. Flibblegonknackles!
06:05hrs: I been laying there wondering what it was that was different as I stirred back into imitation life. Then, it clicked! I’d had at least six hours of sleep! Still a deficit overall, but so much better than the night before, with a total of Zero-Hours! Then as I moved my limbs, something else was not normal… There was no pain whatever coming from ! Well, this is a good start, I thought. But refused to go into a smug mode. I’d not gotten up yet, or checked for any Whoopsiedangleplops from last night. Like taps running, stove left on, fridge door or window left open, etc. So, after doing the balance exercises, which went well, I grabbed Metal-Micky, and we looked around. No signs of nocturnal wanderings, tap off, oven off, window shut… Mmm?
I decided to get Josie’s Sunday meal prepped. I’m using the black bean in chilli sauce I got from Bulwell in the rain storm on Friday in it today. Sliced some tomatoes and chestnut mushrooms, nice and small, how Josie likes them. Then added the 7-vegetable sauce in chilli to it. Put the mince in it, and make some chilli gravy using the smoked chilli seasoning. Later, I added a can of mixed vegetables and some liquid salt. Made a brew of Thomson’s Punjana tea, and I started on the template for today’s blog.
Jozeph arrived. I’d not seen him for a while. He explained he’d been off work with Covid! And he said he’d had three shots and four booster shots. Doesn’t give you much confidence, does it? I’ve not had a booster at all yet. The Carer gave me a test the other week, and I was clear then. We got the medications sorted, and he had a little natter. He’s got an extra patient to go to. He took the waste bag with him as he departed with a drinkie and a nibble in thanks.
I went to check on the chilli stew, or whatever you call it. Got all the ingredients into one saucepan and left it on low heat after a good stirring.
Then, I decided to get them done. I got the Boot’s Sphygmomanometer, manufactured by ZDEAC (Zhongshan Daguan Electrical Appliance Company Ltd) in Guangdong, China.
The was needed, and urgently, so much so, I feared, “I’m never going to get there in time!
I rushed so much to the wet room; the toes were really hurting again, so much. Down on the seat, the action flowed, no pain, no bleeding, but a little messy – Thank heavens there were no leaks, or it would have left me with a right mess to clean up. I allowed myself a Smug-Mode moment this time.
SYS 154, DIA 89 (High). The Pulse was also high at 90 bpm.
The body temperature was also back up a smidgeon, at 37.3°f.
The Excel graph showed an awful lot of reds. Still, compared to yesterday, at least I was down to Hyper-Tension Red one again. I stirred the saucepan and turned it off to marinate. I opened the computer and found this photo on the left that I believe I missed putting in Saturday’s blog. Hard to believe that such an erudite, educated young man as I could forget such a thing. Absolutely beautiful! Started his enosis iffy again. A persistent dough ball of arrogance, he is. I continued from yesterday, and I started giving the high bookcase a clout with metal Micky in return each time. With any luck, he may have heard it and may come down to complain? He’s impudent enough. I await his calling… after which an ambulance and police may also be calling. He kept it up for hours. My high bookcase may get damaged if he doesn’t give me a break. Hahaha! Oh, it’s gone quiet?
Got the Saturday blog finished and posted off to WordPress. Replied to the flood of comments coming in about the blog. I answered them both.
Oh, time to get Josie’s meal served up. Did the usual with the chillies; I split it half and half-ish between a porcelain bowl and a lidded tub, so Josie can reheat it later in the microwave. Two meals that way, Sunday and Monday, for the gal to enjoy. Got it delivered to her door. I remembered to take the Lumix with me this time, so I got a shot of Josie taking the tray. She posed for me in her doorway. She poses well, does she not? The tray displays the two meals, two cans of plonk, Gin and a Vodka & orange. Teacakes nibbles, Orange Yorkie bar (Josies struck on them), and a pot of Limoncello. Not been able to get any for ages, so that should cheer her up. It didn’t do me any good, though. The last time I got some, a couple of months ago, they were two for £1.40. Now, Morrisons have upped them to £1.89. Tsk!
I got back into the flat and washed the utensils, saucepans, tray etc. and made a brew of Thompson’s Punjana. I’d left the first one to brew up and forgot all about it. A regular occurrence. In fact, I probably make more brews than I drink.
Then onto CorelDraw to make up some tags, then updated a page of the Ode words to use.
McCartney sausages, tomatoes, oven-warmed cobs, and a lemon dessert for the meal.Nothing fancy, I was so tired. But, it went down well. Simple food for a simple mind. I did enjoy it all the same. A worthy Flavour-Rating of 7/10. I ate it all up. Slurp! Washed the pots, had a wee-wee, washed and .
Blared out from the door chime – jerking me awake from the beautiful deep sleep I was in! It was Carer Aoki. A little confusion arose from my positive conviction that it was morning, not night! Courtesy of Doreen, and my still feeling half-asleep. The first clue to the truth was when Aoki issued me the tablets that included 2½ Warfarin tablets. I slowly came back to normal. (When I say normal, I possibly should have told my usual sub-normal state) I tried to explain why I got confused, but fear the stuttering in my talking only got a furrowed brow from Aoki. I possibly could have sounded drunk, I think. Aoki chose a non-alcoholic drinkie in thanks. Took the black bag with her as she departed.
I felt I had to make a check of the flat to see if I’d left taps, lights, heaters, oven etc. on anywhere. As I limped around each room, the got more painful. These nails are going to be giving me more and more bother… Humph! Checked the kitchen out last. The holy thing I found untoward was the fridge soar not shut properly. The view I caught a little late to catch the sun part of the sunset, I thought adorable, calm and peaceful. I took this photo, closed the window, and knocked a jar of my beloved vegetable flavourings off the ledge. It broke this time. Getting the smashed glass and sauce from the floor was possibly even more painful than it was. I managed to cut my finger on the bits of glass. And really annoyed the preciously calm , bending down, and she joined in with the angry, pain-giving, with me doing so much genuflecting.
I nodded off quickly enough. But kept waking up with a jerk, repeatedly. It was well gone midnight when the waking-up-jumps stopped. I know this because I had to fumble my way out of the second-hand, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, microorganism-microbe producing, gungy beige coloured, none-working, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, c1968 recliner, to have a wee-wee. So noted the time.
