Iconicless Inchy: Thursday 25th April 2024

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I was gobsmacked this morning and genuinely amazed, astonished, astounded, surprised, staggered, stopped in my tracks, stunned, dumbfounded, discombobulated, flabbergasted, knocked sideways, to the point of feeling awestruck! I had a slice of inspiration last night that I didn’t realise then. I might call it an epiphany. It is complicated to word it, but I’ll tell you about it.
Last night, I was still in agony with the Little Inchie problem, so I got a wash and felt the tribulated lower regions. Anyone with a much lesser midriff than I have would have taken a look. I had a grope around. My hand felt dried blood on the hairs. I tried tugging it off, but that was too painful, so I got the scissors, and using feel instead of sight, I riskily cut of the bloodied hair. Ouch! With the help of the now-working Codeines, the pain abated shortly afterwards. Brilliant! I went into an adopted temporary Smug Mode. 

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Up at 0:15hrs. This photo on the right shows how it came, terrible and oh so blue, of the Nocturnal Catheter pouch. I did not have the foggiest idea of what I did wrong and tried another effort. That came out spot on what my eye saw. A too-deep colourisation in the urine again. Humph!

Off to the wet room. Diverting to the kitchen en route to ensure that I’d not left the taps (faucets), cooker on, or fridge or freezer door open. I took a snap of the morning view while doing the safety checks.
Eventually, it was ruled by an iron rod—or maybe a reluctant concrete torpedo. It was one of the longest evacuations, from start to finish, ever, leaving a highly stretched, pained bottom and slight bleeding. In fact, when I rose to tackle the cleaning up and freshening, I felt a bit giddy.
A quick ablutioning session, in which I did not have a shave or clean my teeth. But there is a perfectly understandable reason for this. I forgot to!

Another duff photo of the beet and legs was taken, so I tried again, and it was much better this time. The legs are getting much thinner, and the bones are showing through now! but
are more infrequent.

I had to sort some frozen foods out, and when I checked the fridge, I found many items out of date, not that I could read many of them.
I made up two more bags of waste. I needed to make some room to get the frozen food ordered for delivery today. What a Plonker!
Carer Chris came, scoffed some nibbles and scrounged a drinkie. Hehehe! 
Then Window Cleaner Man Joe arrived. I nattered away about my problems as he did the windows. Paid the lad, and off he flew to his next client.
The Asda order arrived.
I was well pleased that they had the vegetarian sausages in again. I decided to have some for my nosh… then found that the pork pie had an eat-by-date for today on it. So, I’ll have that tonight instead.
Minutes later, the Iceland order arrived. Eight carrier bags worth were put in the doorway, and I moved them one at a time into the kitchenette,
I bought some crisps and snacks. There must have been a reason for so many, but I don’t know what it is.
The freezer was not cram-packed, and the fridge a little fullerer. I’ll not starve, that’s for sure. I think I also have a J Sainsbury order coming next Tuesday! Patties, chips, pies, sausages, a veritable feast.

Or must have hit me because I recall nothing until arrived. The bad news is that Kara is going off on holiday for two weeks, so if I have trouble with the bank, they will only talk with Carer Kara as my representative or something, and I’ll be up the creek. Going to have nobody to check my finances or orders and no one to set my heart beating. Haha! Kara fitted the new catheter bag holder on my leg for me. I hope it helps because yesterday’s pain relief for me is now starting to come back on again. Kara also brought some Codeines; bless her.

I cut the pork pie into pieces, sliced tomatoes, and spread some of the gorgeous-tasting Flora Non-Butter butter thickly on some slices of Milk Roll bread. It’s a giant round potato hash cake, and very nice, too!
What a feast it was with Heinz tomato ketchup and pickle! I got the hash brown thing frozen from Iceland. It crisped up marvellously.
I may have the other one tomorrow.
A shot taken with Kodak Tim while I was washing up came out looking somewhat eerily. Haha! Another one for the Tate Gallery to reject.

Carer Chris returned, bringing the laundry up with him. He attached the nocturnal night pouch to the catheter and whipped off my diabetic socks.
Chris selected some nibbles and a bottle of Lucozade, and then we said farewells.

I soon nodded off into a deep and miraculously uninterrupted kip. Nice!

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I wanted to buy a Volvo,
But broke, I settled for an Oxo,
I don’t drink alcohol or vino,
Now I’ve become a fatso…
Chips and marshmallow?
Ever in a mental imbroglio,
Confusion an ipso facto,
I used to do judo,
Then it was Ludo.
Not now, thanks to ailments neuro,
I blog but with many a typo,
I’m mentally all Akimbo,
Physically, I need a neuro-physio,
Life’s all saltimbanco, Cheerio!

TTFN

Acne Ridden Inchy: Tuesday 9th April 2024

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ARRGH! I woke, coughed a little, and edged toward the side of the bed to get my legs down… By Gum, it was painful! Both , and , the second one, in particular, did not like being moved at all. I suppose an Arrgh! Would describe it at the time. When the legs were lowered, and I tackled, standing on them, Arrgh! Seems far too timid an expression to use. 
I had to riskily sit down again to get at the , for removing it. Took a poor snap of it here. 
Even darker this morning.
I went to the kitchen to check if I’d left any of the taps running, the cooker on, or the fridge or freezer doors open. Everything looked good, so I took the above photo from the kitchenette window. 
Then I got the dressing gown, socks, and shirts from the laundry bag that Carer Christopher returned last night and that I’d forgot to sort out. Made a mess of the snap of the T-shirt Sister Jane bought for me… “Grumpy Little Elf”, indeed! Hahaha!
I topped up the carer’s and nurses’ nibble boxes on the carer’s table.
Then, I got the waste bags into one. The knees were not getting much better. I’ll be glad to get to the doctor’s appointment to have them checked over. The very thought of the injections working and hopes of some pain relief instead appeals to me.
Off to the wet room, Porcelain Throne duties and ablutions to do.
Constipation Conrad was back in control. At least the pain from the ginormous concrete torpedo that eventually slowly emerged, and I was doing rather well on the crossword, too, took the pain of the knees away for a few minutes. Until I had to stand up to clean up!
The teeth cleaning brought bleeding. The shaving did not! Fantastic! A bit of a downer, though. I struggled to get the clean PPs on after washing and took a semi-tumble. Luckily, I tumbled towards the corner, which saved me from buzzing for help getting back up again. With the state of my knees today, there would be no way I get back up on my own. Naturally, the drooping day bag pulled like heck on Little Inchies, and I had to clean up and medicate. It could have been much worse. I got the dressing gown on and wobbled to the computer to put the photographs on WordPress, which was ready to use. I thought I’d better cause when the nosh arrives later, I’ll have less to do and maybe save some time. I found this photo on the card? A classic cock-up, I’m thinking?  
The Asda order arrived, and it was a big one. Carrying the bags through to the kitchen upset the Cartilage girls. Hehe!
The top-up for the treat drinks was left in the doorway. They were the most hurtful to carry.
Daffodils are to be given to the
wardens and handed to whoever. I topped up the drinkies shelves in the front room with the new cans delivered.
Flavoured Cider, Carlsberg, and Corona are amongst them.
A lot of long-life foods go into the cupboards. Some packets of instant mash. Fresh spuds, brown Baguettes, and tiny pots of sour lemon jellies.
♥ arrived as I’d just got back on the computer. She put my diabetic socks on for me. Medications were handed over. She was hurrying this morning, but we managed the odd natter.
A fine rain descended, and the whole place became so cold. I was glad Marie had fitted my socks.
Brrr!

For an hour or two, I was out of it. Nothing was done on the computer or anything at all during that period. Had it been a , I’d still have been working on the blog and found some done, but it wasn’t. 

I arrived a minute after clearing the fog of what must have happened. She sorted the medications. She listened to me as I told her of the Doctor’s and Clinic Appointments needing a lift.
She was busy, too, and said she’d look at things tomorrow for me. I was surprised at how light stayed tonight. To those unaffected by FND, or , they would have naturally expected it, considering the time of year… but not me! Although I did remember later on, while I was sitting on the . Why the Hell did I tell you that?

I sorted out some food. I have to admit, it’s not an exciting-looking vegetarian meal. Also, as you can see, I burnt the Mediterranean vegetables, and the sausages looked undercooked rather sadly at first. But I pressed on with eating. I couldn’t believe how good it tasted! The sausages were pretty tasty, and the flavour of the vegetables was supremely tasty! However, the look of it, bruised banana, and dry bread let it down a smidgeon.

I thought it was an epaulette!

I got the pots washed and settled to watch some TV. I drifted off the second the adverts came on and woke up feeling terrible. I was sneezing, coughing, and in a mini-mind fog. Yet now, in the morning, the memory of it is clear. Carer Christopher arrived to take off my diabetic socks and give me medications… and, of course, to have his supper. Hehehe!

It took me over three hours to get back to sleep. I know this for sure because as I was tossing and turning. (I wasn’t, but it gives the sentence a richness, don’t you think?) I caught the remote control, and the TV came on. It Frit me! The new TV with its large screen suddenly flashed at me… I thought I might have snuffed it, and this was Hell welcoming me! 
I saw time on the screen and turned it off.

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Cheers!

Improviser Inchy: Wednesday 20th March 2024 – Sleep what’s that?

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The giving up in need of sleep arrived even earlier today. I was doing really well, considering the lack of sleep last night. (15 minutes) – I gave up trying and rose (02:00hrs) to visit the wet room. I washed, shaved and had a near-normal evacuation this morning. 
But I was struggling to get my head together, although it cleared shortly afterwards. I was surprised at how well I was doing mentally and physically under the circumstances. Naturally, this was not to continue. I knew somehow that the ‘Big Fade
‘ was bound to fall sooner or later. I took a snap of the morning view.

The Asda order arrived; thank heavens I’ll not need another until Wednesday 28th (On order)
I sorted the waste bags. Later, Shaquille took them to the rubbish chute for me. That was kind of him.
The Asda order arrived.
This is a big one this time. Four items are missing, I’m glad there were, too! Well,  they were out of stock. While taking the carriers filled by the driver for me to the kitchen, Carer Shaquille arrived and got the others. After tending to my needs, off he trotted and I sorted the groceries out. 
I’d got some drinks in for the bladder encouraging.
Buxton Spring water as usual. Baguettes and the potato cake rissoles,  rosis whichever they are called; I love the taste and flavour of these!
I got caramelised sausages, lemon desserts, and some Jerk Patties. I also had tomatoes and Frankfurters. I may be tired out, but I think I will eat well this week.
A ready-made meal feast!
Cumberland pies, Shepherd’s pie, sausage & mash, and, what I plan to have for today, a Toad in the Hole meal for two, it said on the box?
It was a challenge to get everything in the fridge. I tried various combinations to get all the fodder into the fridge.

As you can see, it wasn’t easy to do. Hehehe!

Although the freezer was filled, and I got all three breads and baguettes in alright, I’m just glad I forgot to order any chips and pasties because they would never have fit in. Haha!


Got on the computer and started with CorelDraw, putting on the SD cards photos from .
Then I went to the kitchen to get the kettle on. I made a brew, and then I went back to the computer, where I diligently stayed grafting away until   arrived. She didn’t have much time, but she checked my order for the diabetic socks from Amazon, and she found I’d ordered the wrong ones! Then she selected some proper bamboo socks, and put in an order for some of them. ETA tomorrow by 22:00hrs. I’ll be scared to try to sleep now, in case I miss them. You can’t win, can you? Well, I can’t.

Started feeling tired & weary again. I was about to save everything down ready to close down the computer, and a message from Norton came on the screen. Something like… the writing; “We have found 3,429 errors on your hard drive. Click here to repair”
The 3,439 number stayed in the memory, cause it frit me! So I clicked!
Well, the repair started, and 30 seconds later, Norton told me the Repairs were Completed. A restart would be needed. Not wanting to lose the work I had done, I tried to save the blog and CorelDraw work. But Windows also told me a restart.
So, I lost all my heart. The hours of work will all be lost and need to be done again in the morning. Humph!
I nervously pressed the restart.
Then, when it reloaded, Norton said I needed a Scan needed doing, so I did. It came out all clear.
After refusing several pricey and complicated, not fully understood offers of various route protectors and dark internet extras, I closed down windows.
I sat for a moment, ultra depressed at losing all the work, then…
THE BIG FADE FELL – AGAIN!
That was it. Once again, my body and mind told me to get some sleep, so I tried.
Carer Israel came, the laundry returned, and I put it away in the morning. Sleep was my main unfulfilled aim at the time. The Barrier cream was delivered at the same time. 
The night shots taken of the view looked rather like the mood I was in. Glum, dark, depressed… Arrgh!

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Cheers!

Ironical Inchy: Thursday 7th March 2024

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Definitely worry about this colour!

An eerie, misty morning. I like it!

Ablutions and medicating tackled.

Gums bleeding after teeth cleaning.
Shaving, eight tiny nicks, no bother!
Showering: I deliberately took my time doing this. And I got through it without a single Accifauxpas or Whoopsiedangleplop. Smug-Mode Engaged!
Medicationalisationing: Harold’s Haemorrhoids were exceptionally tender. Little Inchy was bloodied, but nothing unusual in this. Olive oiled the earholes.
I applied eye sprays. Phorpain gelled both cartilages; I put plenty on and rubbed it in well.
Then, the big challenge… Getting the
Protection Pants on. A bit of a farce… However, I did eventually get them on, but a slight tearing of the pants was overcome by my ingenious (well?) plan to use the Catheter tape to hold them together.
I even walked out of the wet room without knocking into the door frame. Smug-Mode Mark2

I started this blog but haven’t gotten very far…
For then, the interruptions flowed.
The gentleman from Diabetes Support rang. He explained that they could not meet me face-to-face, but I could use the App. I asked what that was: On your
mobile phone! – My mobile phone does not have internet access! – What? – My mobile phone does not have internet access! Well, use your iPad! (I’m not sure if he said iPad or ePad) – What are they? I can use my computer, can’t I? – No, it is not set up for computers,  ask your doctor if she can arrange anything!
So, my hopes of getting any help with Diabetes 2 were over. I’ll have to find the time to search for advice on my computer. Felt a smidge low now.

Another try at blogging… The landline chimed and flashed; It was someone asking about the bed. Had the bar been fitted or not? – Yes! – Then someone will come out to you with a new mattress. – The one on the bed is new, I think? – That one was the wrong size! – Yes, they sent the wrong-sized bar as well. – That’s why I’m checking to see if the new bar has been fitted – Yes…
Can we come to fit the new mattress today? It’s no problem; I’m in all day. – Good!
I was a little perplexed, but I had to get back to starting this blog (I never did; you’ll gather that as I waffle on about my busy day).

Back to the blogging…

Carer Kara called; she only had 15 minutes, but she did an amazing job getting my socks on, checking the catheter bag, and putting my mind at rest about an email I’d had. Got the medications given and had to rush off. Thanks, Kara! ♥

Carer Christopher returned the laundry, and I put it away. Now, it’s well into the second half of the day!

Back to blogging…

I decided to make the second brew of the day; the first went cold again. I filled and sealed the waste bag.

Back to blogging…

The man with the mattress arrived. He was helpful; he had to remove the old mattress and put the new one on from the junk room (but they are all junk rooms).
Showed me how to use the lifter/lower control.

Back to blogging…

For about five minutes, it gave me time to put the first photos on in the wrong order and change them to where they should be…
I was sorting the wristbands out, and one of them snapped. I swore and bent down to retrieve it…
Clouting my forehead on the way down against the edge of the open drawer. Got up a little too quick, and paid me a visit. Naturally, this was of no bother to a man of my calibre and resistance to pain; I laughed the matter off. Ahem!

It was getting late, so I gave up on the blogging as the tiredness and fog descended.

I took this photo as I went to the kitchen to make some nosh. Carer Chris arrived, looking in a rush. Well, it was his last call before his going home time. Hehe!

The meal consisted of a four-bean stew with added mini sausages and baguettes. A lemon yoghourt, too!

I emptied the day bag and was ready to attach the nocturnal pouch. Getting so tired now!

Even I did – Easy-Peazy for once!

TTFNski

Incel-Inchy: Thursday 29th February 2024

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Night bag red!
Bad, innit?

He looked poorly. No, cheering him up at all was successful. He must be going through hell with the diabetes symptoms. Poor lad.

Got on with the blogging catch-up. (Of course, I never caught up; I just got further behind as the day crawled, mistake-ridden on!). I thought yesterday was the worst day in months for typing and memory loss, which was annoying, but today was worse!

The intercom rang out. It was the Parsley Box delivery that Kara had arranged for me. The access button was pressed, and I realised the catheter pouch had to be emptied and hastened to do so. During this, I heard a loud thud. I thought it was the chap in the flat above; he has been getting noisier daily this week. I’m not complaining. I believe he also has to walk with a stick, so I know how he is, like me dropping stuff all the time, hence making noise for the poor tenant below me.
I got to the door and found what the earlier thud must have been. The DHL driver had dropped the box of ready meals on the floor outside the door. This was poor; the box split and tore… will I use them anymore?
I spent a long time using to take photos of each meal I’d bought.
Collectively.
Mushroom Risotto
Vegetable & Lentil Hotpot
Three bean Chilli
Vegetarian Cottage Pie.
Meat Free Chilli.
Cumberland Pie.
I read each meal to find the cooking time it needed. Each one varied a little, but the timing and the sell-by dates were written large enough for me to read easily. The shortest sell-by date was Nov 24. Some had Jan 25 dates. They can be stored without a fridge or freezer. I’ll try a Cumberland Pie tonight and add some canned garden peas. 

Finally, I finished the blog. As arrived. She rang the Community Nurse’s place and told them about the new Catheter pouch being too long and the tube too thick. They said they would replace them with men’s day bags ASAP. Thanks, Kara! ♥.

I realised when I got back on the computer that I was out of templates for the blog. So, foolishly, thought I’d do a month’s worth in advance. This time, determined not to make a right hash of it and get things wrong, like dates and days for each one, and have to re-sort them like last time. I went into concentration mode and proceeded to make up the templates. After three hours, the next Carer arrived.
It was . We had a natter after she’d sorted the medications, and she had to rush off, busy, busy, busy; bless her, leaving with a smiling face.
When I got back to the template making. I was like another different creature. Confidence was all gone, and I got myself lost for a while, trying to find where I was up to with the task.
Another hour later, I felt delighted and thought I’d done an excellent job this time. I almost went into an undeserved . This belief later turned out to be fallacious! Humph!”.

I smugly turned off the computer; I’d tired myself out with the concentrating, I think. Mind you, I’m not getting much sleep due to my fixation with doing this blog… for far too many hours each day. But I love it when I can raise a smile or two with the truth.

Arrived to carry out the late call.
I showed off to him and looked at the list of templates I’d done.
Dagnabbit, and balderdashski! I’d missed two days off and doubled up on another. And now they are all out of order and sync. Crying was an option, as was cursing and self-recrimination… not as far as suicide, though! Chris thought it was funny. Huh! Boy, was I irked at my own stupidity! No meal or TV watching tonight; I had to correct the errors and spent an aeon getting them sort of nearly, well, something like an imitation of a workable order.  
A really mixed-up mess to tackle every day of the month now. I fear dates, days, etc., may get flummoxed!

Not a good shot, Tsk!
A smidge betterer?

A commonplace late-night event here.
I wanted to stay awake to watch the film The Rock. Every single time the adverts came on, I drifted off into slumber. But not for long. Because I kept getting woken up with . I gave up and turned off the TV, but the mini-shocks kept coming regularly. Thankfully, took the night off, and it didn’t bother me. Then again, with the ankle shocks, he wasn’t needed to ensure I gave up not only on watching the box but also trying to sleep. I got up at 03:15hrs and rose up like a behemoth… is that the right word? Pondered on what day it was and got my feet down on the floor again as I climbed out of the itch-creating, bruise-giving, catheter-tube-tugging, crumb-decorated from my nocturnal nibblings, God-awfully uncomfortable, cringingly-grotty, no longer working, dirty beige, anti-sleep designed, c1966, second-hand bought for £300, ten-years ago from the Scope charity shop in Sherwood, recliner.

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Fare Thee All Well…
Luck’s coming your way,
Yes, I can tell…
If not, have a day that’s swell!

Adios Amigos!

Inchy: Tuesday 23rd January 2024

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05:45hrs: I tackled the removal of the stubborn attachment on the nocturnal and day bag and got it done by 06:00hrs. Hehehe!

It was damned cold this morning! Mind you, I’d not got the ankle & leg straps on yet.
Took the first shot from the kitchenette window, and I knocked a bottle of Lloyds Tomato & Basil sauce off of the window ledge. It landed on my right foot. I may have cursed a bit? On the plus side, it didn’t break, missed my , and it was the only item that I dislodged. I disrobed and went off to the wet room. It was too early to use the noisy shower to get a stand-up wash and shave. I got the dressing gown in the laundry bag; it was well full now. I collected a pair of protection pants to change into later, and as I did so, I decided it best to check on the computer first to make sure that the Iceland order was not going to arrive while I was doing my ablutions. A rare moment of temporary mental clarity and memory activity there! Smug-Mode engaged temporarily! 
The session went well… Yes, that’s what I said! Only two weeny cuts shaving, mind you; there’s always something, and the gums gave me the only bother I had. Even getting the PPs on went almost easily. Great!

Confusion Reigns…
I knew I’d got an hour and a bit before the earliest possible time for the Iceland delivery. So I was about to try to get the sink cleaned; I’ll get it done one day... And . Well, Iceland was well early? Within minutes of pressing the unlock button, a rattling came on the door from the food deliveryman. It did not register with me when he said do you want it in the kitchen, I said please, and adjusted my now rather loose dressing gown, and adjusted the day pouch that was slipping… and he’d put the stuff all over the kitchen, loose… this was when I realised it was not the Iceland man at all! He was from J Sainsbury, with whom I had a mess on last week’s order on Friday, delivering the order I’d made for next Tuesday, not today! He shot off, and I went into a semi-panic mode. I’ve got all this stuff to get in the fridge and freezer, but I knew it would fit in… and the Iceland order was also due shortly!
It was hard work, but some fodder had to get ditched from the fridge to make room for the new stuff. I ended up taking a carrier bag full of short-dated stuff to the waste chute and ditching it. Then started rearranging things to use less room on the shelves and freezer, suddenly realising I had all the JS stuff to sort yet…
These were sorted…
Then these…
I hope I can get the soda bread in.
Great news here, though. The terrible foul-looking meat in a jar that tasted heavenly was delivered, Yummy! 
More sorting…
I got some of the Anya potatoes into the slow cooker for later with the mushroom risotto.
Took this shot of the blue-looking view. It wasn’t this blue; I can’t understand why it came out like this. If I remember, I’ll ask Tim from New Mexico later on.

Carer Marie, with a new carer with her, Sanamal and showing her the ropes. Marie is an angel; she said she would get me a pair of slippers from Primark when she goes to town again. ♥ Bless her! 

Then, the Iceland delivery arrived.
I had to empty the day bag as the chap took the bags to the kitchen for me.
Thankfully, not a lot of frozen stuff.
Some sauce was substituted, but I gave that and the bread I could not get in the freezer to Carer Kara later; she can hand them out to whoever she thinks.
I had a heck of a job getting the fresh stuff into the fridge. I’d bought treats for the carers. 
Just look at the choc-o-block fridge now!
Still, I’ll not starve. Haha!

I took this shot and got on with the blogging. For hours, and hours… it’s been seven up to now.

Teatimish, I took a couple of more…
Through the glass of the balcony.
The one above showed rejectionist patterns in the rain. Har-Har! How did it get a copy of the cars not in the shot, in amongst the trees and bushes? They look like ghostly cars.  

Carer Christopher came, taking the wee-wee out of my peed-on several times and washing designer slippers. Haha! He dished out the medications, and as we chatted, I told him about my not being able to get at the hairs growing on my neck to shave them. We went into the wet room, and he dry-shaved my neck for me… I’m sure the bleeding will stop eventually. (Only joking!)

Back to the blogging.
The blue sky returns.

Carer Christopher arrived on his last visit. I was just getting my dinner out of the oven and plated. He took it to the front room for me, and I forgot to photograph it. Mushroom Risotto with some Anya potatoes.
Nothing like as delicious as the mushroom Risotto Sister Jane did for me in 1989. That was so good, I can still remember the taste of it! But it was a processed meal, so I couldn’t expect too much.

Zzz! But not for long…
soon kicked off. He was vehement tonight, waking me up many times, & starting again within minutes each time I nodded again.

TTFN

Inchy: Thurs 18 Jan 24: Embarrassing Nocturnal Night Bag Mega-Leak!

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05:45hrs… I stirred reluctantly back into mock life.

To say that I was overly miffed and cursed an awful lot is putting it ridiculously calmly, compared to the anger, frustration, and even a short depression (Which, as you’ll read later, only got worse at the Whoopsies increased in frequency), along with the teeth grinding, which caused my toothache to kick off again and an even more profound than usual belief that is no God, and boy, did  bloody well hurt like hell? (Which, after this outburst, may be my next port of call?) I almost cried at my pathetic, endless daily runs of bad luck. (A smidgeon of self-pity crept in there, methinks?) Understandably, in my case. Hehe!

Then, the spraying of the room, cushion and carpet. To try to limit any pong from the escaping urine. Then, I disinfected the well-soaked slippers, double-wrapped them and put them into the waste bag with them. Since having this damned fitted a year ago. that is the fourth pair of slippers I’ve urinated on and had to throw away. I have none left now… well, I have one slipper, and I had to put on an old walking slipper that had escaped the last flood from the catheter pouch eruption. Uncomfortable, odd-looking, and embarrassing, to say the least. Of course, it didn’t bother me. I noticed the valve was closed, so how did the wee-wee go AWOL? A dodgy valve on the Nocturnal pouch? A closer look revealed that the out-spout on the bottom of the pouch was not there! Well, Israel and I didn’t notice its absence. It must have been trickling out Porc failedand straight onto the carpet all the time I was kipping... luckily that was for only just over three hours. 

I am off to the wet room to get the urine pong removals seen, too, and then the task is done. However, despite the innards demanding that I evacuate, nothing, and I gave up and got the feet in a bowl of hot water and washing up liquid, with some baking soda added.  
Then, while the stinking feet were soaking, I started shaving.
Only one tiny razor nick.
Then, as I was taking my feet out of the water bowl on the floor…

Gave way as I took out the left foot. What followed was, to me, nigh on a miracle! Going over to my right, I grabbed at the seat-raiser handle… But I had the small towel on there and slipped off… No idea how I managed it, but I reached the far handle, twisted backwards and around, yet stayed on my feet. Fair enough I on the base, yet as I got upright, apart from a little stinging, but not a lot,  from , I had no pains that I could sense anywhere else. I think I was so amazed at avoiding going over; it must have confused  , & , plus me?  
I felt better straight away until I resmelt the urine when I went passed the room into the kitchenette.  
I investigated the condition of last night’s leftovers in the saucepan. Had a spoonful and decided it was not too bad tasting. I’ll have this for my nosh later on. Little did I know at the time it would be 13 hours time before I was around to eat it or what it would taste like by then. Then the pouch was ready for emptying, and me not drinking anything? Still, it’s good that the bladder seems to be working… maybe too well? Have the Finasteride tablets done their job so soon? Have I any prostate left to control things? Is this why the floods took place. Do I want to go to sleep tonight, or stay up watching the nocturnal; pouch? I took this morning’s picture of the blue-hued sky through the kitchenette window. Lovely blue hue! 
Of to the Porcelain Throne again. This time was a complete reversal of the earlier visit. 
Gawd, it took me ages to clean up. I’ve never had a messier, stickier, costly toilet roll evacuation in years. Haha!

Took this snap through the balcony doors and windows. Still a pretty blue hue on offer. Put the computer on.

It said it was currently -6°c in Nottingham. But the sun coming up now, and the rooftops were soon clears of the ice and frost.
But I could still identify the houses that were most likely to be growing weed in their attics. The ice had cleared on the roofs much quicker than the others had. 
Note that, I slipped into a Sherlock Holmesian Mode here? Hahaha!.
As I made a mug of tea, the door chime rang out its tune. 

In came .
He was in a good mood, but not about the cold weather, that he’d battled through to get to work, bless him. We decided that we didn’t need to attach any of the usual  this morning. Because the legs looked so much better than they have done for weeks. He did put the diabetic socks on for me; I dared not leave them off.

over the next few hours while computing. But I do recall calling. She’d had an emergency to deal with and was running late, so she changed the pouch for me and will do the finances later in the week for me.
A help as usual that gal is.

The sun was rising from the left. I took the chance to take this photograph that includes the Nottingham City Hospital in it. Grey and Cream colours to the right.
The free-flowing bladder had filled its day pouch again, so off I went to empty it… sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Oh No! This is Inchy we are talking about! Stubbings number three, this time smack against the , of course, I took it like the heroic brave, courageous man that I am. I barely cried at all. Haha! 

I went to make my second mug of J Sainsbury’s extra-strong Red Label tea and spotted some folk out in the cold on the bottom with their dogs.
I got heartwarming, jealous and sorry-for-myself feelings all at the same time, watching them for a few minutes. Especially the lady with her two hounds, Little & Large, as they were about to enter the tree copse. And that is something I miss most of the things I am no longer capable of doing.
I swear I could smell the distinctive aroma inside the copse, even after two years of absence. Sad!

Back again to the front room and my computerisationing.
I took this shot through the balcony from inside. It seemed the darkness was starting to arrive, but the cold sun hid it a bit. Blimus! The bladder is still belting out the urine at a high rate of knots. I wonder if something’s wrong?

I nearly missed the sunset; I was so involved in struggling with the mistakes I was making on the computer. Took this snap and then went back to check on the Odes reading and grammar…

No… rather, a MEGA MONSTER that I’d done was found in CorelDraw.
My weariness & tiredness were joined by a rather deeper depression now.
Over the last week or so, I’d been making date graphics for the blog in advance and was pathetically a , at how well I thought I was getting on with it. But, No!
I’d made dozens of graphics for each of the coming eight weeks in advance to save time later. A cunning plan, I thought.
But, No! Instead of February and March, I’d put the wrong month on every single one of them! And, on many of them, the right month, but the wrong day!

I was caught between the many options to take… Crying again, Swearing, Spitting, Howling, Thumping the wall, Committing suicide, Murdering a Parole Board Member, or Voting Liberal in the next election. I only carried out two of the options… I’ll not say which at this stage.
I made do with a long period of . Still got it, actually! 
Got some potatoes in the oven to add to yesterday’s leftover homemade soup. I had to sort out a good few pot-marked multi-coloured, spuds first. This one was the oddest, if that’s the right word to use? Then when they were cooked, I added them to the left-over vegetable stew; it smelt rather nice!
Mixed them all together in the saucepan to heat up. Took a spoonful or toe to try the taste… good enough for me, but I added a little extra liquid sea salt (anchovies).
Took this evening shot of the view from the kitchenette as I cleaned the oven dish and kept stirring the feast of stuff that was in the saucepan.
Boy, the day pouch (Well, it wouldn’t be the night one, would it, Hehe!) had filled up quickly again, at the maximum, too, 500ml. 

Got the nosh served up. And it was delightful to the palate. A banana and a pot of raspberry jelly for afters rounded the feast off rather nicely! Two enjoyable meals.

 

I must try to ring the District Nurse place about my day pouch filling so fast and repeatedly. It might be a good sign? But it is filling so fast that I cannot get to the hospital appointments in time before it backs up in the bladder. That’s concerning.

Carer Christopher on the last call. There was nothing to do; no painkillers or Peptac was needed, and the legs were much better. I’ll ask the nurses if I can stop using the ankle & leg straps, I think… providing I remember to ask,  naturally. All that he had to do was for the  night pouch to be added on to the day bag. I’m praying that it does not leak again tonight straight out the other end and over me and the carpet. PLEASE!

TTFNski, each!

Inchy Saturday 13th January 2024

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Can You Find Two Faults – in 5 Seconds?
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Another bad night. I can’t think of an inner area of me that didn’t give me some bother overnight. Sleep? What’s that then? As this Saturday progressed, things got easier… slowly!

Too dark!

‘Red Sky in the Morning.
Shepherds Warning!’

Later in the morning.

arrived
He took off the nocturnal catheter pouch for me. I forgot to ask him to put on the diabetic night socks and .
He classed the urine in the night bag as a level 6, colourwise.
The lad was keen to get home after a hectic shift, he said.

Started the computer, and ,  an Iceland delivery arrived. Which caught me out a little; yet again, I thought it was due next Monday?.
Slurp!

Stored the fodder, and made an order for next week with Asda.

called. We spoke of catheter hassles and had a laugh while she issued the medications

I later found photos of the meal and view shots on the internal section, but I could not access them. Plainly I’d taken them without the SD card in again! 
So, I’ll not show them! Tsk!

Just looked at this over-full day pouch!
What a brilliant colour on the scale – a 2!

Evening views from the kitchen.

Well, they both beat me!

TTFN

Inchy: Tuesday 9 January 2024

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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!

Inchy adopts another !

TTFN.

Inchy: Sun 7th Jan 2024 – Whoopsidangleplops

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So many again today. It is now gone 18:00hrs, and I have only just started on this blog!
The Major , was with the Ode creating. You wouldn’t believe how I was struggling with the graphic header above on CorelDraw without even starting on the ode-making itself! I’d eventually, after several hours, got it how I wanted it. Copied it and turned the copied version to BMP; I usually do this so I have a vector copy to restart over with, in case of errors, cock-ups etc., grammar-wise or colour-wise.
It was well into the afternoon by then.
I went to make a brew of tea, saw a fire through the kitchen window across Sherwood, and took some photographs of the smoke for this blog.
When I returned to the computer… I deleted the Bitmap..
. and the Vector graphic. Not noticing at the time. Then, I spent hours doing the ode wording to try to get a bit of humour going, changing and tweaking it here and there, and eventually, I was satisfied that it was okay and error-free. Then, I realised the header graphics had both been deleted! Self-Hatred flourished! I never got caught up after that.

Gonna be a long day!
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I awoke after another lousy night of odd dreams (Hence today’s Ode). Unaware of the upcoming disasters! I got the nocturnal Catheter pouch off, and as seems usual lately, I had to visit the Porcelain Throne. Ruled the evacuation, but not so bad as yesterday. I thought to myself, Ah, things might not be so bad today, a decent start… I should have known better, of course.

I returned to the itch-creating, bruise-giving, catheter-tube-tugging, crumb-decorated from my nocturnal nibblings, God-awfully uncomfortable, cringingly-grotty, no longer working, dirty beige recliner, anti-sleep designed, c1966, second-hand bought for £300, ten years ago from the charity shop, recliner. Noticing the six empty packets of Cheese Curls in the bin near the ottoman. I know I have many problems, , and the newly diagnosed but surely I should remember eating all those darned nibbles nocturnally? The mess of crumbs in the quilt cover and on the floor made me madder than ever with my nighttime feasting! What? 
Into the kitchen to get the potatoes in the crock-pot. I have now been cooking for 13 hours!
I took a shot of the morning view. But it was not a very good one again.
Oh, dearie me! Trotsky was bad to his worst, or best, whichever way you look at it. I can’t believe how many toilet rolls I’ve got through in the last few days!

I got the computer going and was still in semi-hopeful mode, hoping to get a move on with my blogging, which I was far behind with anyway. Got another photograph taken as the sky out there turned to a beautiful blue hue. I thought things were going so well with the CorelDrawing. Humph! I went to make another brew and took a shot.
I’d sooner not go into detail here, as I was a bit angry with myself, putting it mildly. But after a while grafting away, I found my cock-up with the graphic headers! Grrr!
Carer Kim did me today. A refreshing change to have someone who listens and laughs with me. Bless her! I spent so flipping long concentrating on trying to salvage the artwork (I couldn’t) and started all over again: It was not until the pains from the bladder told me, that I realised I’d let the day pouch overfill, and it had backed up.

I am off to the wet room this time to empty it, as I needed the Yet again! Another messy, time-consuming cleaning-up job! 
The sky and clouds were darkening already. But still looked beautiful to me. 

I have to say, if I have to leave this flat to go into the care home, I’m so going to miss the views.I did my best to concentrate on the blog, but for some reason, I struggled. I spent far too long making corrections… well, making errors too, of course! Then a bit of excitement. I spotted what looked like a fire in the distance in Sherwood or Basford. I could see the blue lights, presumably from the fire engines. So fetched my to take some pictures of the smoke.
It looked to be clean smoke coming from somewhere.
Then suddenly, some brown smoke appeared.
Got a decent photo of the brown stuff here. Nothing on the local news about any fire later on?.
 
Closing the window after taking the photos, I knocked over the kitchen’s knife block of off the window ledge.
Only a smidgeon of bleeding, which was soon stopped when I splashed on some Brut aftershave on both fingers.
Made a start on the blogging yet again, but was feeling a little depressed suddenly. So, on seeing the sun setting, I took two more pictures of it. As bad as I felt emotionally, I still got pleasure from standing at the kitchenette window, looking at Nature’s display of power and beauty!
A couple of hours later, I’d got the CorelDraw graphic redone. Carer Kimberley arrived, and that cheered me up. As she left, I took some more shots of the evening sky. The clouds had broken up. Letting the dying sun through. Bootiful! Though not particularly good photographs. The colour itself was unique to me.
This last one on the right shows how quickly the cloud reappeared and the sun sank behind the horizon.
Now prepare some food if the potatoes haven’t fallen to pieces with their marathon cooking session. Hehe! I hope to be back in the morning to catch up. TTFN. 

Monday: I’m back. I got the fodder sorted out. I’d better put the puzzle result in here now. So I do not forget to put it on. It best me completely… Arithmaphobia, you see.

I got the spuds from the crock pot, dried them off, burnt them and cut a finger, then got the unskinned spuds bashed up in a mixing bowl. Add liquid sea salt, a sprinkle of basil, and a drop of blood from the finger, and put it into the oven for an hour or so to hopefully brown off.
As the potato was nearly burnt enough for my tastes, I put some Walls sausages into the new red microwave cook pot for two minutes. Then put the disposable foil dish with the burnt nicely spuds & cheese onto the tray, and I added the sausages, two ready-sliced cobs, a pot of sauce dip, and a tub of lemon mousse. 

did the last call. Ointmentated the leg wounds for me. Little chat while she issued the medications, thanked her, and off she went. Bless her!

As tired as I was, and believe me, I felt drained, and sure that Sweet Morpheus would be no bother tonight. Huh! Was I wrong! (Yes, I was!)
I must have been in the c1966, £300 charity shop bought, second-hand, wincingly grotty, beige coloured, not working, crumb-covered from the nocturnal nibblings, itch-making, uncomfortable, virus-breeding, easy-to-fall-out-of, recliner, for well over 7 hours. I fell asleep dozens of times, but the waking-ups seemed much more frequent. Come my usual stirring back into imitation-life time, was spent dozing and waking up again. I resisted the temptation to get up for about an hour or so, still feeling physically drained.
I  felt . With a decent flow this time, so was forced to get up, clean things up, and get fresh PPs on again. Worra Night! Why was the night so broken, sleep-wise, with no dreams, nightmares or even any hassle?

CHEERS!