Catheter Cathleens Contraption

Impish Inchy: Monday 17th June 2024… RIP Kodak Tim

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Oh, flipping heck, pickled walnuts and groats! Just look at the colour of the pouch contents this morning! So, so dark! That was my fault, methinks. I told Carer Richard I’d try to take my diabetic socks off and fit the night bag myself, as he was not up to it. The lad still struggling with his poor legs. But, me being me, I could not get the diabetic socks off, and I fell asleep and didn’t put the night bag on. Life is a struggle for both of us. I was so glad to see him, though. So I left the socks on. As soon as I got on my feet, the electric shocks started from the ankles, and they have been on and off all day, as of 15:00hrs. Cartilages Chloe and Carole are taking it, in turn, to give way, as well. Carer Kimberley came, and I took some Kodak Tim shots. When the gal departed, I got the SD card out to load the shots onto the computer…
!
Only the open photo was on the card. Was that the urine pouch? I must have taken about ten more.
I got the card back in Kodak Tim and took a couple more, but they were not on the card. I swapped cards, tried again, and had no luck. Now I was almost in tears! Shit!

I lost interest after that. I turned on the TV to watch the football, only to see Ukraine lose to Romania. Then France won… Nothing is going right at all!

Then, a series of events played out. I can’t even get a wash and shower because I forgot to ask Carer Kimberly to take my socks off. Depression kicked in then. So, I had to try something to get back online, so I decided to have a stand-up wash and shave, but I didn’t enjoy it.
What utter frustrations!

Back in a bit… hello, the intercom is chiming out. I could see a nurse at the door, let her in, and started thinking of the things I wanted to tell and ask her: the electric shocks from the ankles, the cartilage, and the toothache. The doorbell chimed, and when I got to open the door, the nurse said she was looking for a lady. She realised she had come in the wrong block and needed Winchester Court, not Woodthorpe Court. My sinking spirits sank even further.
Off to the wet room.

I’m back and in a slightly teeny-weeny, microscopic, tinyish,  itsy-bitsy, almost imperceptible bit of a better mood. Why? I’m not quite sure. It possibly has something to do with cleaning my teeth and shaving without the slightest hint of a cut or bleeding.

Late on, Carer Chris arrived. He looked at the camera for me, used his phone camera to take a shot of the evening clouds, and emailed the picture to me. I got it on here Tuesday morning.
He’s caught the essence of the night sky very well. Not that I was jealous, of course. Chris had cleaned through the mechanics of the camera for me.

I made the evening meal and then tried using Kodak Tim again. It was hit-and-miss. The meal photo went through (Yee-Ha!), but my sky shot did not reach the SD card? Lamburger cobs and fries. 8.8/10.

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Taketh Care, Cheers, & Bestest of Luck!

Ideologogist Inchy: Thursday 23rd May 2024

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Terribly dark!
I broke the plastic drainer tube off of the Day Catheter, getting the night pouch off! Hobbled to the wet room initially to empty the pouch. Which had to wait as I almost tore the PPs in haste to get sat on the Porcelain before the flow started flowing, and boy, it came and came!

The legs looked a little worse for wear. The ankles in particular. 
Not sure if you can see it, but the right leg swelling was growing again. The day pouch bag is due to be changed today.

I thought the red eye was looking better. But later, when Carer Christopher arrived, he said it was a lot worse.
Can’t win ’em all. Hehe!
As Chris was putting the diabetic socks on my legs, the light went out. No matter what we tried, it would not work. We assumed that the plastic bayonet had broken. I asked Chris to inform the Wardens for me, which he said he would.
I hope they can get someone to sort it out before it gets dark. Walking, well, hobbling around with a loose catheter bag, cartilages that might give at any time, or worse still, the walking stick and cooking to get done as well. Then there’s a chance I could trip over something, but the Cataract can’t. Well, they won’t be done again until the Glaucoma lasering has been done, but that’s doubtful at my age. Then a real risk of a 
kicking off! The double vision doesn’t help either. I’m talking myself into a depression here, ain’t I? Hahaha!
I collated the various waste fabs into one and placed it near the front door, ready for collection later on in the day.
I took a photo of the trees and felt so sorry for the birds. It was howling out there. I bet a few nest chicks and eggs got smashed, then I spotted…
Police officers in the Woodthorpe Park bottom field.
In the second photo, I caught two officers chasing something or one to the left end, rear of Muggers Alley. Blotches on the lens again! Humph!
I went to the other room to answer the mobile phone that was ringing. It was a lady from the Nottingham Council Social Prescribing Team, but I had to ask her to ring back on the landline, which she did pleasantly. I have to get a Carer to read through it to find out what it is all about. Just my luck, Carer Carer has just gone on a fortnight’s holiday! (Vacation)
So, I’ll see who comes. She wants me to read it and ring her back. This does not bode well, but it does because it’s lovely that someone cares enough to help. It’s me who gets things mixed up, forgets things, and, at times, panics a smidge about anything official. Silly old fool.
Like with MS, CorelDraw, and WordPress, it sometimes does not put the right photos on, and I only find out when I do a preview. I found I have to rename them all the time. What’s the bloody hell is going on here? Is it Google or WordPress wrong? Or thick-me?
Oh, I do miss helpful Kara!

I got carried away there, back to the police presence…
Police appeared coming down the hill of foot, a police van and two more cars arrived.
Innit annoying when you don’t know what going on?
Mind you, that’s standard procedure for me.

I took a snap of the mudslide that had gone down a lot. The wind helped, I think.
Talking of the wind, I had a little escape from the rear end, and ASAP, I fumbled my way back to the wet room.

Warden & Desktop Dancer Julie came in. Carer Christopher had told her about the light bulb problem. She came up to make an assessment. Hopefully, she can get some help today for me, but if not… 

When I was just a little boy
I asked my mother, what will I be
Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?
Here’s what she said to me
Qué será, será…
Now piss-off!

The clouds gathering high in the already dank sky, seemingly getting lower, oh my, oh my…
I don’t know why I said that?
This often happens!

Ah, 168, that was obvious…

 

 

 

 

Better get summat to eat then. Sausages & Spaghetti?
Spaghetti with Mediterranean tomatoes and vegetables, small vegan sausages, Milk Roll sliced bread, and a small pot of orange jelly. I settled to eat it and took this photo on the left. Then I realised I’d still got some large vegan sausages in the oven that I forgot to add to the meal. So I retrieved them and added them to the feast in the bowl on the tray. That’s more like it! Hehehe! T’was not as good as I thought it would be.

TTFN.

Irenologist Inchy: Wednesday 22nd May 2024

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I so hope they let us know if he’s re-homed!
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The urine looks a decent colour. Carer Sam thought it was number 3 on the NHS scale.

I started the ablutions. I cut shaving cream, cut gums while cleaning my teeth, and stubbed my toe against the support bar. These were not unusual incidents; they were everyday incidents. Hehehe!
The ankle ulcer looked likely to erupt again. But blessedly, the Left and were rare today, as indeed they were last night in bed, only had three.
I noticed that the finger’s mystery blue patches were back again. They don’t hurt, and it’s not often I can say that about my ailments, especially the catheter tube giving Little Inchy so much stick!
The cut lip from yesterday’s was scabbing up already. I could see it later on, and the blood flowed.

I opened the window to take this shot but got wet in the rain.
I closed it and took this shot as the rain suddenly got a lot heavier. I’d like to point out that I didn’t trap my finger! I’d turned off the flash, so I think the flash on the photo must have been from the reflection of the lightbulb.

Sorted the waste bins into one bag.

The end car park mudslide was building up.

I got on with updating yesterday’s blog. But for some unknown reason, the damned tube was so painful this morning. And it felt again, just like yesterday, that I thought I was getting a backflow? Still, it’s only pain. Luckily, I have an incredible pain tolerance level and am a brave, heroic sort of chap, you know.
It made concentration difficult, and, of course, many mistakes were made and corrected. I expect I missed many.

Carer Shaquille called. Medicated me, put the diabetic socks on for me, and the light build blew! He heard it crack!
I got the spare out of the cabinet, and he offered to swap the bulbs. He’s a tall lad who could reach up easily enough. 
It took him ages, as the bayonet in the socket had a bit of plastic broken off, making it difficult to fit it in, but he did it. The replacement bulb had a clear glass. Boy, it’s got a bright light; neither of us could believe it.
Thank you, Shaquille! Saved the day!

I tried to concentrate on the blog as best as I could. Cock-up, following a mistake, quickly followed by another error.

Carer Sam arrived. I was telling her about the problem and pain with the Catheter. (Which, incidentally, eased off a lot of hours later.) However, the pains started almost the second Little Inchie got some respite. 
It’s being so lucky that keeps me going, you know.

Still raining!

I think this was an unintentional snap that I took. I’m not sure what I Kodak-Tim’d.

The flow of urine increased. It suddenly became less frequent that I had to empty the pouch. And I was busy blogging (or making mistakes), so I wasn’t drinking anywhere near the usual spring water intake. But what I was passing was gin clear with none of the fluffy bits in it. I was baffled and in pain at the same time. After about an hour, the flow restarted.
Then the pain lessened, still there, but far less severe.
I thought, what’s going on here?

Carer Israel arrived as I was emptying the pouch into the jug.
He pointed out that the fluffy bits were back again! Embarrassingly, he looked at the tube entry point and noticed that light brown gunk around the plastic tube had also returned. He wanted to ring the Doctor for me. But the pain was easier to cope with. (Of course, it got worse later. Tsk!)

It’s still raining!

Took this shot later. Came out fairly well.
Apart from the blotchy smudges, of course.

I noticed this advertisement when looking for local snippets earlier in the day.
It reminded me of my cyber buddy, Tim Price in New Mexico. He’s a clever photographer and naturist, amongst other qualities. He lives near a bosque, and his photographs of the local Owls are just great. Here’s one in particular that I think should be in a nature or art gallery. 
Brilliant!
I’d loved to have gone on a visit to see the baby owls.

This is the early morning shot of the mudslide.
This one is how it looks now! Wet!

I think the rain is easing off.

Ten minutes later – Yes, at last!

A late call from Carer Israel is due anytime now.
Then it’s food, then Kip for me!
Israel arrived. My socks were taken off, medication was given, and he checked the Catheter for me. Gunk still leaking from the tube at the insertion point. Tsk!

Food attended to.

How did you do?
Well, that should have been easy enough.
Even I got two of them. Hehe!

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TTFNski, Anyone want to adopt me? Hehehe!

Impactless Inchy: Wednesday 15th May 2024

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PAROLE BOARDS FREEING TO KILL AGAIN
THEY ARE AS GUILTY AS THE MURDERS ARE!
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But we do not know for sure. Do you have any ideas?
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There are times, quite frequently lately, that I don’t want to struggle anymore with problems… well, anything. Which, of course, is an impossibility to achieve. At my age, my mental and physical condition is a smidge on the slope to depths of unmanageability. With Carer Kara about to be off for two weeks, my problem-solving inabilities will no doubt get further behind; the memory devolves into “Sod-It-Mode”, “Self-pity”, and “Confounding-Confusionability” are already at the limit I can cope with at the moment. Now, this morning, as writing, the have started again; below the knee, lumps are getting bigger and thickened for the first time ever. And started failing, in the fashion of, currently not too bad & . Just three times up to now, but on one occasion, when I was in the kitchen, it could have had me over. But for my razor-sharp reactions and cunning anti-fall skills… Alright, I was standing at the sink when it kicked off. I grabbed the edge of the sink and knocked over some plates and cutlery as I fell forward onto the draining board, having missed my grip.     
First Carer Shaquille. Then, I got on with the blogging.
Carer Kara arrived. She checked the finances for me. She opened a British Gas Email to try and make sense of it, which I couldn’t. Then, she addressed the Demand for a Meter Reading from me. She went with me to the housing in the lobby outside the door and found that according to the meter, I was on five different rates for electricity! None of them produced a five-digit reading, which BG was asking me to fill in on their website. We were baffled by this! Kara said she’d asked the wardens if they could help. I’m not hopeful. Then again, I’ve been bereft of hope ever since having the stroke.
And still, no one wants to Adopt a Grandad. Hehehe!

I woke around 0215hrs due to the ankle ulcer and electric shocks and decided to get up, as sleep was not an option as the shocks became persistent.

I made a mess of the first attempt to snap the nocturnal pouch. I’m not sure what I did wrong, but the second one seemed to come out a lot better.

Even worse than yesterday!

Rubbish bag to the doorway.

Interesting shot through the balcony door.
I’ve forgotten why it was interesting now. Tsk!

First of the day pouch emptying session
Bits in the urine and bubbles. Erm?

End car park later on.

A late afternoon balcony shot.

Early evening skies.

A beauty to these, I thought.

Hello, back to the Porcelain Throns.
Trotsky was well in command.

Did as described earlier. It helped me settle down on the electricity billing. Not only that, she worked out how I could get the publications linked to Linkedin! I was completely lost on how to do it! Bless her! I’ll miss her when she’s on holiday, by the way I will. 

I missed this one, so I loaded it out of sync. Of course, that is nothing remarkable to me, as you know.
My favourite Puffer Clouds soon disappeared as the low outer clouds fell. Or had I loaded one from another day? I am not sure why I put this in. However, I also found this one below.

So, I assume the sunshine sneaking through indicates they were taken together. I’m waffling on here! As the sun passed, these may have been taken early in the morning. Or not. I’m struggling with things today, although I’m doing better with blogging. I thought! Until I spotted the new Grammarly telling me, it had 27 Review suggestions for me. I’d better get them done then. Huh! That took me ages to get sorted. 

♥ Nurse Hristina Arrived ♥
Coming from the Deep Vein Thrombosis, Wafarin, INR level, and Anticoagulation blood-taking clinic session. Such a lovely lady. Always a pleasure when she calls. 

The intercom rang, and it was an Asda delivery, I thought I’d ordered this for next week? Never mind; the J Sainsbury one must be coming next week. 
I asked the driver to put the light things into a box so that I could carry them to the kitchen, which he kindly did. I then moved them from the doorway to the kitchen.
By the time I lugged the bags and box into the kitchen, I was ringing with sweat and breathing heavily. As I just got them into the kitchen, Carer Israel arrived, full of beans and feeling perky. He sorted the medications out for me and took some nibbles as a treat. I gave him a can of grapefruit drink from the fridge, which would cool him down a smidge later. Hehe! Then I got back to sorting the delivery out. Getting the things in the fridge and freezer called for some jiggling about a bit. The fridge loading was easier than the fridge was. In fact, there was still some room in it when I’d finished. Plenty of drinkies in there for the carers to have in this warm weather.
On the other hand, some fodder had to be removed and dished out of the freezer to make room for the newly delivered items. It’s chocker-full now! Damned good job that I ordered J Sainsbury’s order for next week and not this. Else I’d had another load of food to store away! Hehe!

I pressed on with the blogging.

Found this mystery photo on the SD card on Thursday morning. 
Looks like an accidental snap to me. Why, when, I’ve no idea! Where? Balcony curtains?
More blotches than ever in this first evening cloud shot. I got the last of the lens cleaner out and tried to clear it again, but it doesn’t seem to work.
The blotches are still there in the second photo I took. I’ll have to see if there is any other cleaner I can buy and try. I’m not too hopeful.
I made a meal – a simple bowl for a simple man. Hehe! But it tasted fantastic. I still can’t believe these no-meat vegan sausages taste so good, but they certainly do.
I cooked the sausages in the oven at 190° for 25 minutes. I added them to the can of tomatoes in the saucepan but forgot to add some salt. Yet the feast tasted so nice. I used Milk Roll bread to put each sausage in and dip it in the tomatoes. Bootifully Satisfying!

I fell asleep watching the Heartbeat episode on Virgin Media, which conned me into buying a new, expensive TV package.
Night Carer Israel came and woke me up. (What’s happening? Have I died? What day and time is it? Hehehe!) and took my diabetic socks off. Israel attached the nocturnal catheter bag to the day bag, treated to nibbles and a drinkie, and off he went. Looking forward to his own bed. Thank you.

Minutes later, I needed to use the. Twice in one day!
And what a controlled evacuation it was! I started quickly and kept flowing and splattering for ages! A lot of cleaning up was required. Which, I’m sure you’ll appreciate, was a little painful and messy, with me carrying the attached to the day bag nocturnal night bag by the tube and trying not to get it tangled up with , or the tube trapped against anything. After finishing the cleaning, I decided to check everywhere for safety, taps (faucets) in the kitchen, fridge & freezer doors, and the stove being left on.  Seeing the view, I fetched and took photos of the evening view. 
The fanged blotches were still showing on the snaps. Humph!
So much for cleaning the lens again. A fat lot of good that did for me! Tsk!

.
Naturally, a man of my intelligence, know-how, keen, alert, spot-on eyesight, educated, mathematician-like operational brain and investigative skills…
I got three of them in ten minutes.

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Although Putin is threatening,
The West doesn’t seem to be fussing,
The danger they’re not appreciating,
What’s this attitude accomplishing? 
Is their ploy not to do anything? 
Is NATO not amalgamating?
With WW3 approaching,
Will NATO end up acquiescing?
I find the whole situation depressing,
The last thing I see might be Earth’s atomising?
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To Infinity and Beyond, Hehe!

Ibuprofen Inchy: Sunday 28th April 2024

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Or it might have been Carer Victor or Israel. Erm, if I remember correctly, I’ll reveal it all on Monday.
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It was not an extraordinary sort of day, with a few intermittent happenings that were out of the ordinary. I can’t recall having a single , no, honestly! A carer failed to arrive for the midday checks, which was not all that unexpected; last Monday, a morning medication Carer failed to arrive. The ailments and injuries were, as usual, ever-present.
My , or of course it may have been  , added up to three. This seems to be the agreed count these last few days, with my brain taking over masters in conjunction.
For some unknown reason, the burn on the right hand of the oven rack is taking a while to stop being painful. Constipation Conrad is back in charge of the evacuations. My concentration is no worse than yesterday. Not that that’s saying much. I think Concentration Konrad is now a permanent fixture. He joins the other ailments as a part of the Mysteries of Woodthorpe Court, with the hobgoblins, spectres, gnomai, phantasms, ghosts, the grotesque succubae, extraterrestrials, ectoplasms, spirits, or the Fata Morganas, that have been sent to taunt, irritate and terminate my already limited saneness of mind, which is losing its marbles?
It’s a busy week coming up, too. On Tuesday, the J Sainsbury order arrives – a big one, too! On Wednesday, the Pegasus Police form must be filled in and posted back – without any help from Caregiver Kara, who is on holiday for a fortnight. The results could be catastrophic if I get confused and fill it in wrongly, but a man of calibre should be able to cope. When I worked at Tesco, I had six tills to cash up, making sure the money was right, coupons were given and checked, and even the issue of Green Shield stamps had to be checked every day of the week.  
Of course, that was in 1966, a few years ago now. My brain had most of its functions working. All were pre my getting shot (twice), cancer, heart operation, duodenal ulcer operation, Cataract Katie, Glaucoma Gladys, Saccades Sandra, Dementia Doreen, falling in a lake, having the Stroke, getting Peripheral Neuropathy, Cancer of the bladder – Catheter Bag fitted… currently the most painful of the ailments! FND, Diabetes Insipidus, Diabetic Polyneuropathy – leading to Diabetes 2. Going deaf, a failed Cataract operation – currently awaiting a second one, a Glaucoma operation and having a permanent catheter fitted, Cartilage Chloe (left knee), Cartilage Carole (right knee), Onychovryptosis (Ingrowing toenails), None-Epileptic Seizure Disorder Dina, Cognitive Impairment Iris, Vasculitis Vanessa, Dental caries, which in turn assist my given ability for . I wear alert wristbands; if I wore one for each ailment, I’d run out of wrist and arm-room. Hahaha! I’m still searching for an ‘Allergic to Clopidogrel’ wristband. Not that I have room to wear it, Hehe!
They give Clopidogrel to everyone taken in after a stroke. But we didn’t know until it was too late that I was allergic to it. Thus, then I got Peripheral Neuropathy.
But it’s been fun and exciting.  
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I think I saw a speck of blood in the bag this morning when I photo’d it. Likely, it’s just a reflection from the flash, I assumed?
Much drizzle is out there from the balcony’s right window. The usual excellent parking is available from our senior citizens on the yellow chevrons, indicating, do not park here. I’m not jealous that the drivers can still afford to own one. Or that my licence had to be surrendered due to the ailments making me unsafe on the roads. Har, Har! The drugs would still have me nodding off; that’ll most likely be the s. Coming home from work one day from Rempstone, I stopped at some traffic lights in Clifton and dosed off for two hours. I woke up in an ambulance going to the hospital. I felt fine; I just have no memory of what happened. Apparently, other drivers couldn’t wake me up and thought I’d snuffed it and called an ambulance and police.
I decided that at that time, I’d hand in my licence. I realised that I could have killed someone. What if I’d been driving at the time? The RAC returned the car to my garage. I thanked them and cancelled my membership. Within two days, I’d given my beloved vehicle away. At least it helped a mate who was out of work. I never saw him again? 
Boy, I’ve waffled on here! Sorry.
Off to the wet room.
A rare return of .
Almost caught me out! I was expecting a battle with .
After the slushy evacuation, the stomach remained gurgling. I cleaned things up and started shaving.

Partway through doling, I hastily plonked down on the seat again for a repeat performance. Well, not so much, but what exited was even more watery this time. With a tinge of orange in the colour that was not there on the first session on the throne? By the time I finished shaving, washed, and did the medicationings for the delicate areas in need, then got the place cleaned up again, I’d been there for over two hours! It was a more painful-to-pass scenario, but I’d gladly welcome him back.
Pants and slippers on again, I meandered out onto the balcony. The rain was still pouring down.
I took the first two of the snaps. They were not very good, taken through the window glass. 
I hobbled into the kitchenette to do the same through the kitchen glass. All three show how much it was raining, though. We had a fair bit of it yesterday.
 
There followed an almost rapid selection of I caught the hand in the window closing it, right on the burn scar, which naturally made me jump away… ; I knocked the towel roll and holder off of the window ledge. : The stalk broke off from the base. : Bending down to retrieve those as mentioned earlier, I hit my forehead on the edge of the radiator. Turned and dropped the walking stick, which hit the fridge and fell right on my left foot’s ingrowing toenail! Did I swear? Yes! And I did again when I realised I’d sprayed the kitchen cleaner all over the dressing gown when cleaning things up. Humph!

I got out the new vacuum cleaner and hoovered up the mess I’d made when walking to the wet room in the hallway.
I took a snap of the new cleaner to show you the fancy headlights on the machine. Hehehe! The vacuum arrived in eleven pieces in a square box, with miniature writing on the instruction booklet. Luckily for me, Carer Chris came and assembled it within three minutes. Of course, I could have handled doing it quickly; I just wanted the lad Chris to think he’d done something worthwhile.
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The new Catheter Pouch Bag keeps slipping down the leg.
The new Tena Protection Pants keep slipping down.
I also seem to have misplaced my hearing aids. I’ve checked the wet room, kitchen, rubbish tip room, and front room without any success.
To the rescue again. He found the hearing aids within minutes. He’s a very good ferriter. While he was searching, he spotted some biscuits, and he had to have a packet. Hehehe! They had dropped behind the rickety 1962 G-Plan cabinet, and he retrieved them for me. Saved again! 
The evening sky kept changing hue. Well, I thought it did, anyway. Of course, what my eyes see and you may not do…

Or should that be the other way around? You can tell I’m getting tired, can’t you? My thoughts at this moment, remind me of vegetable dumpling stew… mixed, unclear and lumpy.
I took this last, catching the edge of the window frame and the sun on its way home. There’s an elegance to these sunset shots. They’re vivid yet semi-opaque – a bit like the cameraman. Har-Har!


A simple nosh for a simpleton.
Salt & vinegared chips, vegetarian sausages, a soft brown baguette with pickle-flavoured ketchup.
Followed by a pot of mandarins in jelly.
My hunger was pleasantly sated.

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TTFN

Ignorant Inchy: Tuesday 16th April 2024

/ Inchie / 2 Comments

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As days go by, I would not have missed this one had it disappeared into the ether. Cock-ups, confusion,  worry, semi-panics, depressions, frustrations, apprehensions, fears, dejections, rejections, vexations, and complications. Making it even worse, self-pity visited a few times. More killings and stabbings. A , and the persistent today .
Still, it could always be worse.
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Woke around 06:30hrs: Having slept, albeit a broken sleep, for over 6 hours! Dark urine again.

Topped up the freebie thank you drinks shelves. Much more choice for the Carers & Nurses.

Put the waste bags in one.

A hard work getting the motion to start.

The Asda order arrived.
It took me some time to get all the bags into the kitchenette. In doing so, I suffered a little bit of a . I caught my ankle ulcer against something sharp in the bag I was carrying.
I brushed the bag against it, but it was no bother. I didn’t howl, wince, swear, or anything of that nature. I laughed it all off and merrily carried on carrying the bags in.

Instant mash with cheese, pork pie, bacon off-cuts, Lactofree milk and some haddock goujons. Never tried these before in a light batter; it might just suit my taste buds, but …When I was taking them with the other fresh foods to the refrigerator, I dropped some stuff and then . And proceeded to tread on the goujon packet, and the pack burst open, distributing the crushed fish bit around the kitchen floor! This time, I did howl, wince, and swear a bit. Got some antiseptic cream on the wound, and carried on sorting the food out.
A selection of naughty but nice desserts, seasoned potato slices and mash, tomatoes, pasties & a packet of coffee bags for the carers to make and drink in their restroom. The tomatoes were Dutch and delightful!
Milk Roll soft sliced bread. Brown French baguettes, cheap kitchen towels.
I think that the fridge has never been fuller. 
I’ve still got the pasta packets to use up. I think, just maybe, I am a little nervous from when I scalded my hand months ago.
The Freezer is also fuller than ever. I will not receive any more food deliveries until next week. I even had to throw away some dated stuff to make room for the bread and baguettes, which now will fit into the freezer drawers. Carer Kara later took them with the other bags to the chute for me. ♥

Concentrating on blogging for ages and ages, I suddenly noticed that it was light now. Thought I’d take a picture of the view on offer. Such a gorgeous sky. I also realised that I’d been up for a long time, and it was now 11:00hrs… and no morning carer had been – or had they? 
I knew I’d had a earlier this morning and was toying with my head. Uncertainty, doubtfulness, and an unreliable trust in my own memory.Had someone been or not? That is the question at hand now. Surely someone had been by now? I could not get anything from my memory box about one. Not that this is unusual. The first clue of any positivity was that I had not got the diabetic socks on. (But this has happened often before, when I forget to ask the Carer to take them off at night or to put them on in the morning). In fact, I had wrapped a throw around my legs to keep warm while on the computer – doubts still lingered, and I didn’t want to ring about it for fear of being told that I was talking rubbish again. A lingering doubt in question… was could I be certain or not? I still couldn’t decide. I was too nervous to ring to check. I’ll wait until the midday Carer calls and check with her/him. I was baffling myself. Battling a battered brain and unreliable, failing memory-blank is not easy. I’d say the words to use are ‘Frustrating’, ‘Embarrassing’, ‘Annoying’ and ‘Hopeless! If only the social and medical helpers would read this blog, they would learn more about the problems that I will no doubt forget about within days. Humph!
That’s something else that concerns me about my memory, well, more like amazes me. Sometimes, when writing the blog, I am able to press on, but once I am interrupted or waylaid by the door chime, a phone call, having to empty the catheter bag, the need to check if I’d left the taps running, a visit to the , cooker on, fridge door open, etc., getting back into it is a real struggle. 
I’m still not certain that a Carer did not call! Doubts linger on, and an awareness that things are not going to get any easier worry me now. Although, if (when) I do get worse, I may not be aware and stop fretting over the situation? I’m becoming a bag of nerves and fears. But only part-time, now and again?
I waffled on a bit there, sorry.

I’m back on with the blogging. And shortly arrived. I was still in a state of semi-confusion when Kara came. I mentioned my doubts to her. She checked something on the mobile and then looked at the record log. (I wish I’d done that earlier, Tsk!).
Kara gave me the early morning medications and got my socks me legs. She has no time now, but she’ll try to help me tomorrow with the confusing emails that I’ve received. She took the bags with her and did the Safety checks on the taps, doors, and stove were not left on.  Thank you ♥!

Memory Blanks again.
I assume I took these shots at different times in the late afternoon. I’m pretty certain, but not sure, of the artistic clouds in the sky. The second shot down tempted my Pareidoliaising instincts. To my eyes and mind, it reminded me of all things, of the Red Dwarf spaceship? Not so much now after I’ve put it in and looked again though. Can anyone else see it? Or is it just me? Hehehe!
The well urine filled almost caught me out.
What a relief! Haha! The backflow pains gave me the nod that it needed emptying post-haste.

Carer Chris did the last two calls. Nibbles and a drinkie. Night pouch attached, diabetic socks removed. He left me nodding off. Hehe!

I nodded off as soon as the lad had gone and had the best sleep I’ve enjoyed for ages. It was a short but Shock-free session, and I was soon back up again at 02:10 hours, needing the Porcelain Throne. It was another Constipation Conrad session. So I stayed up and got some tidying up done, then onto the computer. I soon drifted off to sleep after Chris had gone. But burst back into life at 02:20hrs, in need of the Porcelain Throne, despite  Doing her best to have me over. Stayed up and back on the computer… It’s a hard life, full of strife, no wife, mental confusion, physical ailments rife! Still, it might get better in the afterlife?

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Siriol!
Cheerio, in Welsh!

Idealist Inchy: Fri 22 Mar 24 Electrical work, Alarm and Fire Brigade

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This Friday, the brain had its usual periods of hazy craziness, with intervals of it being floury. You know, messy, unable to sort out. Perhaps it might have been mini-seizures, I don’t know. Others are more aware of my actions when one is visiting than I am. A Carer had the heart to speak with me after being present when I departed spiritually from reality. Assuring me all that happened differently, I could or didn’t speak, but my mouth moved as if I was doing so? I kept doing things silently, some actions not being relevant to the situation, and I had no idea this was happening. I wouldn’t worry about it, at least. So glad to hear someone explain the unknown to me. Hehehe! 

This was the first time I’d had a seizure when someone was here to see one. At least, I think it was. 

The mail was delivered. I usually put it on the old DVD so Carer Kara can go through it when she comes the following week, but I can’t find it anywhere now.

The Diabetic socks arrived, all three packages, within an hour, each delivered by a different carrier. Photos are further down. Two were extra-long diabetic bamboo socks that looked fine. The bigger one was cotton socks that I ordered by mistake. 
Mistake making? Me? Hard to believe! Hahaha! 
I left the oven and hob on as well. The hot water faucet (tap) I let run cold… again. 

Three electricians arrived to install the new fire alarms and reset the power box. That was mayhem with a capital M. At one point, they had to turn off the power, which caused me to semi-panic. I was scared that the panic alarm box, the internet, and the TV might not come back on again. The very patient electrician checked everything came back on alright; damned kind of him, too! Thank you! All working!
The Fire Alarm was somehow triggered in the flat. I sounded very soft and quiet to my hearing. To the others, the klaxon was driving mad. So, one good point in my being so deaf. Har-har! The brigade arrived and checked out the flat. One spoke to me and walked away. I’ve no idea what he said to me; he’d got his BA kit on. He was soon off after talking to the electricians; at least, I think he did.

Did Carer Victor’s Health Checks on his last call.
Made a decent nosh, much earlier than usual.
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Was the Catheter’s nocturnal pouch was not very full? Then again, I’d not been sleeping for long. The NHS colour grading looked like a number four or five.

I rose from the c1968, tatty, scruffy, unkempt, uncomfortable, virus, microorganism, bug, bacterium, bacillus, germ, parasite-producing, and disease-fermenting, bought second-hand, eyesorely horrible, grungy beige-coloured, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, moth-eaten, non-working, nocturnal-crumb-ridden, itch-encouraging, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, catheter tube yanking, recliner. With insisting on giving way several times, I hobbled almost comically to the wet room. The attempted evacuation was a wasted effort. I was thinking that at least for once, a rarity,   were not bleeding, and I was nearly caught out by collapsing, giving way, enough for a tumble. It should have been one, really, but I fell in the right direction and caught hold of the shower chair in time to stop myself from hitting the rather hard-floored deck.
Infected ankles and legs looked so much calmer this morning. I washed Little Inchy, Harold’s Hemorrhoids, dried them, and medicated them. Then, I creamed the on my forehead and arms. I sprayed the eye treatment on the lids and olive-oiled the earholes. I just remembered at the last minute that I’d not put the barrier cream on the tummy infection yet. So, I did! It’s hard work getting old, Haha!

I took the wet-room waste bag and amalgamated it with rubbish from the other two bins. Making two bags of waste, and took them to the front door.
The amazing blue-hued sky in this poor-quality photo I took from the kitchenette window is so pretty.
Although that’s not the word I wanted to use; it’ll do until I remember what it was. Mind-Blank here!

I got the laundry bag sorted. I must remember to ask someone to take it down for me later. Then, I double-checked that I had put in the wash capsule and softener. They were all present.

Blimus! The catheter day pouch had filled up quickly again. The colour looked very much healthier, too. 
Bent down to empty the day pouch into the urine jug. As I was getting back upright… !
twinged into action. I was so surprised, with her being so kind to me lately. She hit me hard, and I took an extra Codeine 30g. She’s never hurt this bad before. But an hour or so later, the Codeine had done its job and had eased off. I’m so glad to report.

I scurried hobblingly back to the wet room . There was no doubt I made the right decision in rushing to get there. Whatever blockage stopped me from passing minutes ago, this time, was back in full charge of the procedure.
Wet but sticky, smelly and splashy! Cleaning things up took me a while.

I made a grand strong brew of Glengettie tea. Then, at long last, I got the computer on. No biscuits dunked. Was I getting more dedicated to the new diet? No, I let the drink go cold, getting into the blogging. Humph! A few hours later, I took a break. I needed it because I was fed up with making so many errors on the blog (grammatical and chronological).

I decided to open the socks that were delivered yesterday.
The cotton socks I wrongly ordered were a pack of 12 different-coloured socks. I must ask my brother-in-law Pete if he’d like to have them. They are long and warm. I’ll try to remember to ring and find out if he fancies them. Good quality they are.
The next pack contained 4 pairs of proper diabetic long socks. dark grey, I think. The Carer later put a pair of these on for me. Excellent fit, comfortable and warm.
The last pack included two pairs of knee-high bamboo socks. These looked far thinner and stretchier than those above, and they cost an awful lot more. I stored the socks, well, I say stored...

I took this snap of the late afternoon view with the sun and clouds. I am back on the blogging and have started creating the ode.

had once again filled up at a good rate of knots. Still a healthy colour, mind you.

I checked on the Asda order made for next week. To see if I needed anything taking off or adding to it. I took off three items and put a few on it. The original total was for £52.24. After toying with things, it now stands at £66.84!
When will I ever learn?

Another snap of the view of the sky. I went into one of my spells. 
Can you see the bird, plane, or face as I did? Bearing in mind that is making me see double, a shadow of everything attached. So maybe you can’t see them. Hehe!

An early meal tonight.
Potato rostis, Dutch tomatoes, Anya potatoes, and caramelised pork sausages. With a sliced baguette. The Heinz tomato ketchup with pickle was well used. It went down well. I’m glad I remembered to eat early, thus avoiding the Carer calling just when I was starting to eat. 

What’s wrong with the lower circle?
Fair enough, I can’t make out what it is.

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Keep Safe!

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!

Inchy: Tuesday 6th February 2024

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This is a short version to give me time to get everything needed for the visit to the surgery tomorrow. Everything takes much longer to get done nowadays, and I hate cutting down my beloved blog. But, needs must. Sorry.

I have to take clothing, shaving, etc., just in case they keep me in. They won’t, I’m sure; I’m not the King, so I do not need to close down the hospital kitchen and use my two personal cooks with me… or have a ward to myself with armed guards, two nurses and a sister 24 hours a day, and three specialists and four doctors in attendance for any operation needed.
But it doesn’t bother me.

Even darker this morning.

My Iceland Delivery arrived.
With not having another delivery for eight days, I stocked up on nibbles & treats for the nurses, delivery drivers, and carers who call on me.
A little concerned about the use-by date.
On the cobs. Why has it got a hand-written 10/7 on a self-sticky label atop the square? 
They were hard to squash as well.
Mmm?


I bent down to retrieve the just knocked over and clouted myself on the forehead against the tap. Then continued with my evacuationing…
Eurgh!

The legs seemed one heavy, one lighter?
The day set-up is due to be changed tomorrow. But only if the Carer arrives earlier. But I have requested it via other Carers, so I should have time… provided I get up early enough to get the ablutions done first.

An odd outcome for this zoomed-in shot of the street, Cavendish Crescent. Not very good.

Came. She helped me with the leggings. Bless her. Medications were issued, and we shared a laugh briefly. Nice!

An hour later, getting lighter.

Took its time getting light today.

On this occasion, the day punch had filled within two hours of emptying it.

Carer Came and went, and As I got settled on the computer again, I noticed the sound of the wind and saw that the rain had returned. Went on the balcony to take some views. All through the glass.
To the right is the end of the car park with the mudslide from the collapsing mud on the park.
Front view.
Left view.

A rare lately, a second daily visit to the wet room…
With sticky dumplings undercooked!

Easy-Peasy!

Imitation belly pork, fantastic oven chips, and a fruity brown sauce dip for the bread. Rounded of with a pot of orange jelly. Delectable nosh!

TTFNski, each!

Inchy: Fri 26 Jan 24, The Yo-Yo is still with me…

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The 3rd day of ups & downs, ins & outs.
Periods of positive and negative thoughts, moods, or interactions consistently. Just as the leaflet on FND symptoms quoted. A state of perplexity, then of bafflement, inattention, abstraction, and a new one to me, a sort of suspended animation. With moments of almost ecstasy, then back down to submitting to short, dank, dark depressions. It is now Saturday, midday. And this is as far as I’ve got with this blog!
So I’ll have to do a rushed job from here on.

Good colour.

Going to dish these and the other odd pairs that have been weeded on from the leaky catheter bags, valves or tumbles, Whoopsiedangleplops.

I can recall taking these shots. This first one got me in a bad mood as I failed again.
Tried again. Ah, not so bad.
Shame I couldn’t take a close-up.
Well, I did, but they were crap!

This sudden evacuation into the day bag was the first of eleven today. Humph!

Evening effort of the view.
Take within seconds of each one.

I was coming out of another sort of trance, and I saw the colour of the sky through the window. Grabbed Kodak Tim and hobbled to the kitchenette to get shots of the sunset before it disappeared.
Even in my state of mind at the time, I thought how beautiful the view was.
Peaceful, serene,
A magnificent scene,
Like part of a dream,
Not bad for an old sleeveen!
I’d better take another Codeine.

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It beat me.

Oh, missed my nosh photo off

Guess what it is?

Take Care Each!