On 5th November this year, people across the UK will light bonfires, let off fireworks, and burn effigies of a man named Guy Fawkes. The reason we do this is because it’s the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot (1605).Also, drunken fights will take place. Cannabis (Marijuana, Pot, and weed will widely be taken. The drug gangs will ensure that the ‘More Virulent’ and costly uppers etc., will be available on the streets. From Glues, gases, and inhalants for the down & outs. Synthetic opioids, pain relievers and anaesthetic-style drugs for the less well-off users. For the average employed yobbo, there will be LSD, Ketamine, Magic Mushrooms, and Methadone stolen from surgeries, addicts and pharmacies. Cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy, along with lethal homemade hooch, to satisfy the better-off students and politicians.The fireworks party will be enjoyed by the scumballs; then, the competing gangs will be battling each other throughout the morning. Last year there were eight knifings and two shootings, one fatal. They will abandon any pool cars, and steal or hijack a fresh one, that will be unknown to the police. A few muggings might round off the evening for them. I went to make a brew. I could see that a bonfire in one garden had spread and set fire to the shed. I took a terribly bad photo of it. I’ll put it on later for you to see.
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05:00hrs: Decent colour to the urine.
I’d been wakened so often overnight with the discomforts. Photo taken as I lay here in the c1966, £300 Oxfam charity shop bought, second-hand, wincingly grotty, beige coloured, crumb-covered from my nocturnal nibblings, itch-making, uncomfortable, positively unhealthy & dangerous, no longer operational, virus-breeding, easy-to-fall-out-of, Catheter-tube-trapping, recliner… coping with the pains as I had done all night from a vicious, obviously upset by something , which covered an even larger part of the back this morning? And as I got up to take the photo, I decided to take an extra Codeine straight away. I’ll ask the carer to rub some Phorpain Gel on my back when she/he arrives. Here I go again, fighting the pain!
I tried to take a decent shot on the balcony. I failed again. Fed up with this! Hehe!
Got the waste bin content into a bag. Did you notice the empty, Cheesy Curl packets? Only four last night…
Made a brew of Glengettie.
Back to the wet room…
Came as I started on the Saturday post updating. He kindly gave me a good dosing with the It’s never hurt before to have the gel rubbed in, but did this time. He got the medications sorted, and we had a mini-natter – which consisted mainly of me moaning. Tsk!
Back to the blog duties, and of course… By the time I got around to putting this on, it was…
The second Carer arrived, I didn’t get her name, but am sure it was Marie, but I’ll not put money on it.
Then a period of determined work on making up some graphics and storing them. CorelDraw was behaving. Much progress was made over the next four hours or so. If only the pains would stop, I’d have actually been on the verge of being practically almost, nearly content!
Took this shot from the kitchen window. It was so Pareidolianiable! Hahaha!
Got the extremity medicationings done. Plus, the eye drops, and painful application of the to .
Made the second mug of tea, permitted. Four… I say, just four bikkies dunked & eaten!
Putting the above answer on, got me thinking about Nottingham’s old trolleybus service. I dug out this photo below, which I took in 1963. The row of Standard Vanguard, and Austin Cambridge black & white taxis against Slab Square. The Council House was in the background. The Vauxhall Victor car, on South Parade, and the West Bridgford number 21 bus, in glorious colours, an AEC Regent Five. The 40 Trolleybus, a Karrier, went from Well Road to Wilford Bride the end of Wilford Road, in the Meadows. Behind the Karrier, is a BUT (British United Transport) trolleybus. BUT was established in 1946 as a joint venture between AEC and Leyland. I actually drove one of these at Sandtoft Trolley Museum years later. This, I think, was the first photo I ever took. Using a camera loaned me by Mr Wright, a neighbour at the time. Who lived with Mrs Wright, his daughter Christine, and Rover, the dog. He worked at the Post Office on King Street. I can remember all these facts without thinking about it… but can I tell you the time and date of the Audio Clinic Appointment, Ropewalk arranged three days ago by my Carer Kara for me? No!
I’m getting absolutely, thoroughly fed up to my two back teeth left, with these visits! Maybe this problem could be part of the reason for the back and stomach pains?
Late afternoon shots from the kitchen. The one below is of the bottom field in front of the flats.
Arrived and did his thing. A cheeky lad, but I like him.
Got the blog finished and posted, and made a start on this one. Then prepping the meal, seasoned the soup again, with the traditional extra-boiled potatoes, and added some liquid smoke and sea salt to warm it up for later. I took these shots of the sky as I washed the cooking pots all bar the saucepan. This one through the kitchen window, it was raining a bit. Then the end car park. The rain stopped for a while and I took this one.
Well, I smell the allure of the aroma from the soup. Off to get the nosh sorted out.
Well, I was in the kitchen checking the superb-smelling soup and sampling some of the spuds from within and noticed what I believed was a fire in a garden. It looked like a bonfire had spread and a shed was on fire! I’m not so sure after loading the photo, though. It came out to be of very poor quality. I still think I might be right? The smoke from the fire can be seen, and I thought some flames were showing? What do you think?
Arrived. He was not a happy laddie. But I tried to cheer him up a smidgeon. I asked him if could ensure that I do not run out of the Phorpain gel while I’m using so much extra now with & both playing up so much. He said Phorpain Gel is not on the NHS prescription list, so he can’t order any. All a mystery to me! Likely it’s all a part of the Mysteries of Woodthorpe Court, with the hobgoblins, spectres, gnomai, phantasms, ghosts, grotesque succubae, extraterrestrials, ectoplasms, spirits, or the Fata Morganas, that have been sent to taunt, irritate and terminate my already limited saneness of mind? I’ll have to ask someone to ring the Surgery for me… and see if they can out the gel on the regular prescription.
called and whipped of the in no time. Then he fitted the . He gave the
Phorpain gelled a good rubbing into my back for me. He’s getting clever now, and he has learnt to ignore my rambling grumblings and medical complaints altogether. Knowing full well I’d forget that I said them anyway within minutes of mouthing them. Hehehe!
Eventually, I got the meal prepared the saucepan washed, meal was served up. Taste-Rating: 9.2/10. Nice, very nice!
Mystery Photo. I can’t recall taking this at all, or why?
Guilt Producing picture of the bin at the side of 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.
“Empty nibble packets from the nocturnal eating.”
Morning view.
Waste bags collated in one.
Quick wash.
Kitchenette to get the kettle on.
Computer on. Blogging work.
arrived. Today was the first time he’s had to do the ankle and leg support straps. He coped well with it. Issued the medications to me.
The Sainsbury order arrived. I unloaded the carrier bag the man put them into for me (they were delivered loose), And got plenty of potatoes in stock now; Bakers new & Anya Royal potatoes.I just had to get some in the crackpot cooking to eat later. I planned to have them in vegetable soup. I added sea salt, liquid smoke & Winiary seasoning. I will add passata with basil to the mixture in the saucepan later. Hope it comes out alright. Continued putting the other goods away. Oh, yes! No shortage of food here! Beetroot, tomatoes, jelly & chestnuts Did well in the nibbles department today. Cheese curls, Vegan Maryland cookies! And at long last, after months of trying to find a shop with them in stock, the plain shortcake biscuits! The final put away items cupboard-wise. Then, the fridge was filled! Anya potatoes. With a slightly nutty flavour. These are only available at Sainsbury’s. Due to them being grown on Her… no, his now, His Majesties Farms.Lord Sainsbury is the only person allowed to sell them.
Arrived, and really helped me out again. Sorted the dates of appointments on the Google Calendar, ensuring I had not ‘got any wrong’. Bless Her. Checked the and day bag for me, and the ankle & leg strappings. Pain-killer & Peptac too.
Back to blogging, but yet again, decided to make life hell for me. If if wasn’t them it would be Grammarly, CorelDraw or Firefox would.
Added the spuds to the soup.
The rains heavy again. Hours later it persisted.
At last, the soup was served up. Flavour-Rating: 8/10.
arrived. Took the ankle & leg straps off. Medications issued.
Courtesy of the Conservative Party – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – It was one of those horrible fixated-on-word-finding days. I spent far too long on this. The worst thing is the crunch… After eight hours or more metaphorically sweating away at the process, I found out that I’d made a terrible cock-up. The entire file was mixed with the wrong selection, and the new template I’d grafted on at the expense of massing up the yet-to-do list of jobs was useless to me! Self-anger, frustration and demoralisation were my state when it came to getting to sleep.
Naturally, I woke up with a foul metallic taste in my throat and bleary eyes to realise that the wet, warm sensation in the protection pants was blood from my poor . He’s been leaking a long time, I think and continued on and off all day.
Luckily, the agony of peeling away the dried blood beneath the fresh, from the pants padding, the blood spraying onto my clean dressing gown and down my legs… the pain of bending down and getting a visit from when cleaning things up, dropping the Germolene tube and treading on it, any suffering as my left , as I lost my balance, was of no consequence to a pain-bearing hero like me.
At least the urine colour was of a good light shade in the . I’m so glad that the nocturnal pouches have arrived. Less chance of further infection. The morning view (07:00hrs) was, as I expected, after the clocks changing, a lot lighter. Even if I did forget to adjust all the clocks! Carer Marie did them for me.
I made the first of the two-a-day-only permitted mugs of tea. A good, strong one this time, made with my favourite of all, Glengettie tea. I put the last of the small potatoes in the crock-pot and added sea salt and a drop of liquid smoke. Then I limped (the toenail was still hurting from the attack on the Germolene tube). On the matter of health, another ailment all but had me over. as I was stepping over the door runner to get into the balcony to take some photographicalisations. Taking these scattered-about shots. The mudslide at the end of the car park is the first one. Then, a picture of the gravel footpath I used to walk up daily and beautiful trees. How I miss that daily walk. I can’t even get to it nowadays, let alone walk up it!
Got the computer booted up. arrived. Got the medications sorted and checked the taps and cooker for me. Had a mini-natter.
Then, made a start on the word-finding…. It never really stopped for hours and hours… until I realised the cock-up I’d made and the whole kit & caboodle were useless! I think I only stopped for a few visits. All of the exact nature. Not much got on the notepad memory-wise for me to refer to. Tsk!
I took a picture or two of the rain descending through the glass in the balcony windows. I decided not to open the window, of course, that sort of shower I did not need to take. Hehehe! I’m sure there was a pattern to the raindrops in the second photograph? All, no doubt, due to my addiction to pareidoliaising.
arrived with a new gal training. We managed a little nattering and a laugh. I mentioned my problem with my inability to get through to the Audio clinic and the Electricity Meter reading.
At some time or other, I took this shop of Gawd knows what? After a Sherlock Holmesian Mode was adopted, I decided it must be my fingers, knuckle? Arrived. I’d just nodded off in the £300, second-hand, c1968, charity shop-bought, eyesorely-horrendously grungy coloured, Harold Haemorrhoid-testing, easily-falloutable from, unfit-for-use, not working, recliner. Benjamin issued the medications. I tempted him to some Carer Treats from the Quality Street box.
Being deep into creating what turned out to be the most enormous, most prolonged waste of time at the word selections, I’d not noticed how the rain had continued. See the mudslide photo compared to the morning one higher up, this morning’s view!
Here’s the hidden cat revealed. Well, it was supposed to be. Not only could I not find it in the top photo, but I can’t even see it in this telltale photo! Mmm!
Got the meal finished off and served up. Back down in the £300, second-hand, c1968, not-working, incommodious, grotty recliner. Taste-Rating: Erm… err… 4/10.
Summary
The actions, mistakes and confusions of this day have got to me, no doubt about it! The confidence has been shattered, no that it mattered!
Made the first of the two mugs of proper tea permitted to me. Of course, I am allowed as many mugs of the spit-producing, tasteless crappy decaffeinated tea as I like; but I don’t like it at all. It tastes like medicines did many years ago… but blander, yet leaves a bitter taste. Urgh!
Photo from the kitchen window. Complete with a reflective flash-flash!
Later on, a view of the massed car park.
Arrived. There is no need to do the leg & ankle straps; the nurse is calling today. I hope. We had a natter and laugh while she did my medications.
Titivated the kitchenette a smidgen and sorted the waste bags out. Then, a quick sweep up.
A new gal to me. Soon, I got the diabetic socks off and medicated the one still leaking papule for me. Then, I got the fresh socks and leg and ankle straps fitted. All done & dusted!
Made the second call of the day. He recognised my angst about the texts and emails being sent to me asking for the meter reading. I’ve no idea which numbers they need. After looking at the meter, Victor decided they did not need a meter reading, as it was automatic? Thanks, Victor.
Busy day today. As I was on the computer doing my blog, the door chime rang out . I thought it was the next Carer coming early and waiting for them to show themselves in the room. Then a second was heard. I couldn’t get to the door in time for whoever it was, and then… noticed inside the door on the waste bin box, the ‘s! Great news! Now, hopefully, the urine colouring will improve. Four nights without any, have made the bladder evacuations very dark and stinky! Hurrah! These were of the old type, not bother much, but fiddlier if I have the shakes or cramps when I have to fit or release them.
The Tomato-Slicing Tarradiddle:.
I decided to get some tomatoes sliced and put them in the fridge to use later. I’ve a little tip here for fellow PN sufferers about slicing tomatoes. It is best not to leave your fingers in the way of the knife! Especially take care of stabbing yourself down the nail of the digit mentioned above. It hurts. To add insult to injury, to put it, the tomatoes were foul and bitter-tasting! Examining the pack, I espied they were Spanish. Had I noticed this when I bought them from the Co-op store on Mansfield Road when on my way to the Covid jab, I would not have touched them. Humph! They got dished after all that hassle! Tsk!
Did the midday call. He was concerned about me not getting the bedroom cleared. Pointing out that the bladder will never improve until I do so. He asked if he could ask if he could have a go at it for me. I pointed out that his company are not insured to do this, so he can’t oblige. He did an excellent job of getting the straps on the legs & ankles fitted. He has a knack for doing these complicated strappings.
The night was falling earlier now. But still a certain beauty to the view. A pareidolian picture indeed.
I made the meal of the day… Mushrooms, savoury French Fries and no-meat meat slices in gravy. A pot of children’s jelly to follow. Well!
This meal did not stop me from waking up in the morning with more than a few empty Cheesy Curl packs in the bin! GUILTY!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I did find it, but it took me 12 minutes. Tsk! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Carer Richard informed me that the latest straps for are to be removed late at night and replaced in the mornings by the Carers; he then took them off for me. The compression socks underneath the straps are to be washed every two days. And , pads or whatever they will be, should arrive shortly, likely on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. There is no news from the Audio Centre about either of the appointments they are making for me to get the ear wax vacuumed out, and ears retested so they can calibrate both hearing aids for me on a third visit.
A phone call (On a Sunday? Oh, no, it’s Monday, innit!) from the QMC Hospital DVT Haematology Anticoagulation Clinic. They said I had missed my appointment… not that I can remember making one? In two weeks, you need to book in with your Doctor for an INR Blood Test. The Doctor has not taken a blood test for me in the last 6 months or longer? A carer said I am nearly out of day bags for my . Someone came up and had a search for some, but no luck. I am somewhat confused now. My In & Out of it spells today were numerous and worried me a smidgeon.
Another short blog, detail-wise. Sorry! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Although it was a good start to the day, albeit later than usual. Excellent coloured urine in the night bag to greet me. Much better!
The two great-unwashed feet. I’ve got a leg strap under the Carer’s table ready to go on the right leg tomorrow if the wounds have healed sufficiently. The Nurse will be coming, hopefully, tomorrow. I made a mess of the first-morning view photograph taking.
A sad effort. From a tragic, aged, hand & limb-shaking Nottingham lad. Then I took this one of the kitchenette windows with the ledge reminiscent of Steptoe & Son’s from the 1970s television comedy. The white bit on the window is not the moon; it is a reflection of my . arrived. He looked tired out, bless him. He got the medications done and then got the black straps back on the left leg for me. We managed a little natter and a mutual moaning session. Hehe! Afterwards, I actually got the slippers on both feet! This is a Testament to the excellent job done by the convoluted leg strap assembling. Comfortably too! Thanks, Richard! I got the Carers & Nurses Treat Shelve topped up. Looks good now. I like to offer a nibble and or drinkie for them in thanks. I put the waste into one bag and put it near the front door in the hallway… which was a good idea cause I don’t have a back door. Hahaha!
I snapped this view of the late afternoon sky. Bootiful! I wonder if the streaks were contrails-from planes? Or maybe it was from the much-anticipated and awaited aliens investigating life on Earth? Back on the computer. Arrived. During this, it came to light that the instructions on the packaging of some creams were written and read: To Be Used Cutaneous Only! So I looked this up on Mr Google. “Cutaneously” means of, or relating to on the skin” As opposed to under the skin. So, now we know! I’m miles behind with the blogging again. But I saw and had to photograph this evening shot from the kitchen window. Some eerie patterning from hours ago still showed high in the sky. I got a simple meal prepared, some a simple man, me. Bacon bits were done in the oven, and two cheesy topped cobs were put in. Putting the last two mini croissants to eat after the bacon cobs. With frequent drippings into the lemon curd at hand. Tasty, too! It deserved this worthy Taste Rating of 8.2/10!
A day of vagueness, the brain full of wanderlust. After staying up until the early hours of the morning hours to try and make some progress on blogging. I didn’t get up until the Carer woke me. The ablutionalisationings took me well over two hours, and I could not shower either, or even wash the usual one foot now, with the new strapping over the compression sock, and on the masses of compression bandages on top of the woolly wrapping, I’m beginning to smell I think? The day buzzed by, and no blogging was done at all. And I nearly had a tumble and fall. So forgive this catch-up for being small… It’s Monday night now, as I type and scrawl, Will I get any sleep at all? – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Straps and diabetic socks on the left… both legs… & , in both… crippling .
Views from the balcony. The Tree Copse, can no longer visit, sadly. The mud-slide dwindling. Straight ahead. Gloom!
But in the afternoon… The cloudless sky did look wonderful.
Evening Nosh Preperationing… Sorting out the dodgy Asda potatoes. Then I cheered exponentially (Is that the right word?). Yes, I looked it up! Flavour Rating: 7/10 – Decent nosh.
I felt I was just about to nod off, and a mob of, happy-go-lucky, pot-smoking yobboes in the bottom field got the Reggae music going. Bless them!
