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06:15hrs: The old codger awoke. He found himself appreciating that he’d woken up overnight for only about six times. Much better than the previous two nights. Three by his 
, and the same by 
. He had a rumbling grumbling in his stomach.
He then emptied his nocturnal catheter pouch. Not pleased with the amount of blood that seemed to be in his passed 
urine. He… well, I (Slipped into the second person mode there, sorry), I grabbed hold of 
and off to the wet room. WC duties first, and what a session this one was! The evacuated missile clunked into the WC bowl; it was wedged with about a quarter of it out of the water, and covered with the after-flow of a small dollop of high-quality stinky splashes from 
‘s follow-up flow.
Ablutions and medicalisationing tasks were carried out. But, not without the odd 
. Here they are… Maybe not in order as they happened, but at least I can remember them: Cut my neck shaving, only a tiny one, no bother. 
Teeth and gums bleeding. All but went over getting the PPs on; I hate that balancing job. The urine flowing into the pouch looked a bit bloodied. And 
needed cleaning up again and ointmentating.
But, I got it all done in under two hours. And then as a parting shot as I left the wet room, I shoulder charged against the door frame, and set off 
. Went back in and got 
some Phorpain gel on the shoulder where I could reach to rub it in. Oh, and I trapped my finger in the cupboard door. People won’t believe my good luck… or lack of it!
Carer Marie called. In a rush, but we managed a mini-natter. Then I spent hours making errors as I tried to get the blog started.
Carer Kara called next. She was in a rush, too. However, she did sort out the problem I had with the TV yesterday. Did it in two minutes. (I did feel a fool not being able to get it done myself) Bless her. She shot off, and I was lonely again, just like when Marie departed. Sad, innit? Hahaha!
I got a snack made up to satisfy my sudden hunger. Some Microwave chips, Eurgh! Milk Roll bread, and soy franks. Nice!
Taste Rating: 5.2/10.
Washed the things, and spotted some unusual activity of Devon close. On, Cavendish Close. So, I got 
from the kitchen and concentrated on getting clear photographs of whatever it was that was going on.
But it was only some resurfacing of the road.
I really must get to the opticians to get the eyes tested again… but then… if I do it will cost hundreds of quid, and the the Glaucoma operation is due shortly. Of course, I was talking in the NHS 1960’s mode there – what I meant was, (back to 2024); The Glaucoma operation may be due within three or four years, if I live long enough!
A kitchen window photo to the right was taken first.
No idea what it was, but I loved this one. Nothing special on shoe, but I found it appealling.
Then I took one of the lowering sun to the left of the window.
At this stage, the night Carer called. It was nibble-nibbling Carer Christopher. We had a chinwag, but he wasn’t listening. Nothing new there. He took the laundry bag with him, it wasn’t full though. Laughs, and lads insults were swapped. Hehehe!
.I almost got caught out when the catheter day pouch suddenly filled so quickly again – all okay though, nae bother. It was emptying slowly for some reason unknown to me.
When to get second and last brew of tea, 
.
And the beautiful sight of the sun setting caught my eye. I had no other choice than to go back to the computer to get the camera, and return to take these shots of the views offered me by Mother Nature. 
Gorgeous, even if not as good as they might have been.
Ten minutes later, I caught the sun just as it was about to disappear over the horizon, and out of view. Lovely!
Finally got the blog finished and posted off to WordPress.
I watched the TV at the same time as starting this blog going. But it ended up not being. I found so many mistakes on the blog I’d posted earlier, that it took me an hour to correct them all. Even then, I probably missed a few.
The baby baguettes at the side of the tray of potato hot-pot, shows up just how measily the mini-sized Parsley Box meal was.
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May Joy and Jollity Join you!
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I tried to take a photo in the reflection of the balcony glass of me waving at you.
Morning view.
My one and only mug of Glengettie of the day! Of course, I let it get cold… Tsk!
Filling up quick again, dark shade.
Mystery photo taken?
I put the TV on and became more confused about what I was doing. Left it on for hours. Forgot it was on!
Again.
I heard the tune playing for ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ on the TV and watched the episode.
Carer Christopher arrived, and I mentioned that the laundry had not been returned. He gave me the medications and shot down to fetch them for me. Bless him. 
Still too dark, I must start guzzling the water again.
I’d not turned on the oven!
, 
, 
, and 
. With the possibility of 
bleeding, 
, or 
& 
joining in the feast of pain and discomfort. 
, along with 
whether or not I remember all this on Wednesday morning. So, I suppose that 
will have to play his part in the proceedings, too. 
, and hobbled semi-hastily 
You can almost see the heat in this shot.
I salvaged the porcelain bowl from the vice-like grip of the artistic-looking, smelly mess. (I should have sent the photo to the Tate Gallery?) I left it in the sink bowl in hot water, bleach, baking soda and washing-up liquid to soak overnight. I’ll inspect things in the morning.
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Making the late… or early morning meal, I dropped a saucepan on the kitchen floor. It took me ages to clean up the mess that I made. Accompanied by a few select curse words and name-calling to myself.
Cor, the urine bag had filled up sharpish again; It’s been doing that the day or so now.
I got my cooking hat on. Hehehe! Taking care of not having another ‘dropsies’, I added some potatoes to the veg mix, come stew. Added a jar of chunky tomato-vegetable sauce, some peas, and butter beans to the pan. Putting the last of the roast mini potatoes in as well. Stirring and tasting all the time. 
Grrreat!
By gum, I enjoyed that!
Washed the pots.
Two extremes at the same time?
As I removed the night pouch, the urine was dark enough to concern me.
My first view shot of the day.
By the time I’d taken it, the day pouch was pretty filled again, so quickly? But a slightly better colour.
Took a second snap.
Arrived. We had a chat and laughed as the medications and jokes were shared. I took her BP before she left, and it’s all looking good!
I must try to get more slippers… maybe a few pairs if I can find some on sale at a reasonable price. Cause as sure as the Rishi’s Tories are condemned to lose the next election, go into near extinction, as they wait for the Labour masqueraders to financially cripple the nation, Legalise grass, and Nationalise the railways; I’m bound to have another escapade of fluid from the 
, via a burst, a leak,
. I think I’m averaging one unanticipated 
The next pouch emptying session, and there were so many today, was it back to dark again?
A sticky, gooey edge! Hahaha!
One of my worst ones ever.
They started (apparently) a good colour but grew grimmer at emptying time.
The clouds could be seen in the dark. The high winds maintained a presence for some time. Aircraft had been grounded – I’m not surprised at the speed at which the clouds were being driven across the night sky. It’s a wonder that they didn’t leave a contrail. Hehe!
Came & went for the rest of the night. Sort of mini-blanks.
I think my cyber-mate, Tim, would call this photo artistic, that’s not the word, but I can’t recall it now. Ten seconds ago, it was all in my mind, ready to type it, and it went AWOL. I can only pass on any praise to
, supported by sweet 
.
Another Mystery?
The last leftover vegetable stew was doctored with more borlotti beans and chunky vegetables.
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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!
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. 
and straight onto the carpet all the time I was kipping..
Then, while the stinking feet were soaking, I started shaving.
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 
, & 
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! 
Took this snap through the balcony doors and windows. 
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. 
As I made a mug of tea, the door chime rang out its 
tune. 
.
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. 
The sun was rising from the left. 
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.
Back again to the front room and my computerisationing.
cold sun hid it a bit. 
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…
,
. Still got it, actually! 
. 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. 
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.
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, the bladder and bowels were both rumbling away, too. I could hardly believe it as 
burst from the door alarm, and in walked 
. It was gone 07:00hrs already! 
, 
along with the 
were having a go at me.
Later on, when I’d started to feel a bit better, I looked up Folic Acid; and found some interesting things it is taken to counter. ① To limit hair loss. ② To help your baby’s brain, skull and spinal cord develop properly in pregnancy. ③ As a medicine used to reduce side effects treating arthritis. ④ To treat iron deficiency & anaemia. ⑤ We suggest that folic acid may play a role in improving the repair of peripheral neurotransmitters, nerve injury, and dying by promoting the proliferation and migration of Schwann cells, & secretion of nerve growth factors. 
I tried again.
to join in! At this very moment, I heard the access requiring hallway intercom tune playing. (I’d got my hearing aids in) 
It was the ladies from the Social Prescribing & Community Support team. They arrived and introduced each other to me
, and 
, and a few minutes later, 
I put the TV on and spotted that the ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ film was on. So I watched it for a while then I had a mug of Glengettie and dunked some of the lovely LU and Maryland cookie biscuits.
Arrived and gave me the Folic Acid.
.
And, I found…
A new best one for me pleasure.
Balcony views parade! End car park…
A close-up of the almost a puddle!
The gravel footpath, into Woodthorpe Grange.
Checked the time, and got back to working on this blog again. I felt the pouch on the left leg pulling…
in the oven, with some…
Pickled green tomato salad…
And, maybe a brew of Glengettie?
I made a rather pathetic-looking meal. 
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Not bad at all.
Kitchen view, kettle on.
Amalgamated the waste bins.
And
Legs creamed.
Whoever mopped the floor last had put the mop away without washing it. So, (No cleaner this week, holidays?) I washed it and then tried to mop the floor a bit…
Part-way through. Stung, then gave way. I pulled my back as I grabbed for the handrail, and that was the end of my mopping-up session. Then, I made sure of that. Got the new PPs on. After a struggle and a little foul language
Put some thick-skinned red potatoes in the crock-pot. Plan to have these later, with the smoked haddock and some garden peas. We’ll see how it goes. My EQ is telling me it will be messy for some reason? He’s rarely wrong.
Got the diabetic socks and leg straps on.
I asked him to take the laundry down for me, please.
I got the computer on, hoping to update yesterday’s blog without too many complications.
Treats galore! The smoked haddock was the star of the delivery. I hope to follow Sister Jane and Neighbour Jenny’s instructions and make a decent meal with it.
Why did I get Pickling vinegar? What did I think I was ordering? Has 
Topped up the Nurses & Carers Treats shelves.
The smoked Haddock pack.
The bottom of the smoked Haddock pack.
Made this above to see the instructions clearly.
Trip number two.
Taken through the balcony windows.
I was surprised later to see how the mudslide was so big. I’m sure that we had less rain today.
It was getting late now, but I tried ringing neighbour & friend Jenny and Sister Jane for advice on this cooking issue. But could not get through to either. So, decided to wrap it with the foil on the inside. I prepared everything and spotted a chimney fire through the window… Out came 
They were not very good attempts, were they? Tsk!
The fish might have been a smidge undercooked, but it was good enough for me. The lemon juice and butter came through in the taste. 
The landline burst forth.
Took this photo as I was washing the pots.