Friday 12th August 2022: Diary & Odeing

13th August 2022 / Inchie / 11 Comments

FRIDAY’s ODE
Inspired by this morning’s moon

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After a weird night of waking ups with a jump, jerk or both, I gave up. Went into the kitchen to see what cold drinks I had in there. And spotted the orange moon and took several shots of it. Only this one is decent.

Tended to the , and was pleasantly pleased with the lower SIA, SIA and Pulses.
The body temperature was yet again, once more, within a point of the NHS figure, at 34.4°f.
Down near Amber zone again. ♫ Up, down, flying around, looping the loop and defying the… ♫, or whatever it is. I left the writing off of the NHS graphic wot I had done, on purpose for a change, like. I forget why.
Eventually, I found the sunglasses, hidden in plain view, not with other spectacles, but in the three-wheeled trolley walker basket. I’d even put them in a clear semi-see-through class case, so I would find them easily enough when I got things ready to go to the Riverside Centre. Ahem!
Had a quick wash, shave and shower. Four little nicks in shaving, teeth bleeding, a visit from SSS (Shuddering- Shoulder-Shirley), , and A warning from EQ; “Don’t expect things to go right mush… the won’t!” Which really was no surprise to me, not after the last five days of mayhem!
I’m afraid the last eight lines written on the remember-pad mean nothing to me. Utter twaddle, I wish I could make out what they were meant to say cause it must have been something emotional; judging by the state of the handwriting, I was uptight. Another Mystery!

Got the things in the trolley checked. Hearing aid batteries, sunglasses and a bottle of water were in there. I started to check the flat… Talk about Taps, lights, heaters, oven, fridge & freezer doors, windows… some of these checked several times. Eventually, I forced myself to stop reviewing things, and I got down in the lift to the main foyer: to await the Link Transport.
This is when I realised I’d left the paperwork upstairs. Too late to go back up… Th minibus arrived moments later. As told me to, I got the bus pass shown to the driveress and learnt that I could not use it, and the trip will cost me £9 each way due to the distance we had to go. She helped me into the bus, got me seat-belted, and off on a mystery tour to Bulwell. I was not surprised it cost me so much, the route taken.
We arrived at the Riverside complex, and the lady came in with me to make sure I was in the right place. Bless her.
I met with the tutor, Nathanial, who gave me to another patient who got me up in the lift to the room on the first floor I needed.
As we entered the room, there were about Diabeteites sitting around, maybe twenty or more. The room was cavernous, and I could not hear a word spoken. The sun shone through into So, I couldn’t see much either. This was not going to be workable at all.
Then the hearing aid batteries both gave up the ghost at the same time. I felt a right fool. Sat there, not taking part in anything that was going on. Well, I couldn’t see much and could hear even less!
With the collection of hearing aids on the table and trying to fit the batteries, which was a farce! I dropped them and the hearing aids several times – rescued by the good-natured common folk around me, and one of the men took pity on me and got the new packet of hearing aids and fitted them for me. The batteries were dead as a dodo?
The same chap took a look, and we discovered that the batteries had a use-by date of 2018. My embarrassment knew no limits! Humiliated, frustrated, and suddenly so confused.
The chap helping me was an Angel in disguise. He said to give him the money, and he would nip to the chemist in the building and get some batteries for me. I thanked him, gave him a fiver, and sat in silence, pretending to understand what was going off!
The man returned, giving me the fiver back. He’d got some from the Health Unit for me, bless him. Then, he fitted the new ones for me when he saw me struggling to see to get them in.
I gave out an involuntary loud verbal burst; “Ah, voices! I hear voices!” Which got a laugh, even a clap from someone I think I heard!
But things didn’t work out well after all that help from my fellow sufferers. For this reason alone, I intend to try and work something out that can help me hear better, so I can continue with the sessions.
The difficulties after getting the aids working, I must thank the two gents who helped me out before I forget to.
As Nathanial moved around between the ‘L’ shaped desks talking to us all, as he spoke in the other direction, I could not hear a word he was saying, and the sunshine rays made sure I couldn’t even see the chap. So it was farcical trying to take part.
The tutor was staying behind to give the two of us who missed the first lesson an update on the first. I can’t even see to read the booklets either.
Depression fell. And I said as kindly as I could, “I’m sorry, this is not working. I’ll have to go; thanks for trying”
As I embarrassingly left the room, the flooring in the lift lobby nearly made me feel giddy. Why? I could hardly see the patterning on it… something seemed not right. Which was probably due to my eyes?
I can’t recall taking this photo at all. Can’t imagine any reason for my doing so?
I felt awful for leaving. But the whole episode had got me feeling so nervous and low in spirits. Confidence is at an all-time low. I self-pitied as I walked out of the building and into the 94°f heat. “Will anything ever work out right for me again?” Living with Cataract Cathy, Peripheral Neuropathy, and Deaf Dennis is bad and hard socially. But Dementia Doreen was to blame for 75% of all the cock-ups and embarrassments I’ve suffered so far today. (But there were so many more to come that I didn’t know about yet… but always half-expect nowadays, every day! I wish some Doctor would read this and offer me some form of help or hope!
I’m becoming an inept gibbering wreck here.

I suffered a mind-blank period once outside the building; when I realised that through my leaving early, I’d have a while to wait for the lift.
The next thing I recall is being in the Bulwell Pound shop, about 50 yards or so from the Riverside Centre. I became aware of this lapse, yet not too concerned at the time. I had in my thee0wheeler trolley basket some bird seed cakes. Obviously, I’d seen the birds on the banks of the river Lean across the road and thought I’d feed them and have a natter. So, I bought the sees and fed the birds. I had to rush a bit to get back to the centre in time for my lift!

As I entered the hallway to the other end, she was coming down the stairs, and I knew it was her when got near enough. The gal didn’t look bothered about me not being there when she arrived, so I wasn’t sure if I’d upset her or not. She got me fitted in the minibus again, and we set off. She told me that Hucknall Road had been blocked off, so we needed to find another way back.
In my mind, I thought, ‘good’, we can take a shorter route back, hopefully costing less. Hehe!
I suggested taking Highbury Vale, and we did. At a pedestrian crossing, we pulled up to have a birds-eye view of a bit of road rage. I didn’t see the incident that cause it. A bloke on an E-scooter, apparently with a girlfriend of wife on it with him, approached the car driver and kicked and thumped his vehicle. The Chap got out of his car, and fisticuff positions were adopted! The driver eventually got back in his car. The scooter man got his female in front of him on the E-scooter, then changed his mind and ran back to the car, thumping the windows again. The driver waved him away and drove off. E-scooter man should not have anyone else on the scooter with him anyway… should he? And it was a privately owned one that technically is not allowed on the public roads?
We got home, even with the altercation to gals us, a lot quicker than taking the £9 route we took to get to Bulwell.
The lady dropped me off in front of the entrance of the flats. Bless her. As she was helping me off of the bus, the mobile phone made a noise, I didn’t hear it but the driver did. She read it, a message “Feet Today!” I thanked the ‘Link’ driveress.
And inside up to the apartment in great haste! The text was from the Chiropodist in the hair salon. I’d either not put the appointment in my calendar or done it for the wrong day. Dementia Doreen strikes again! Got some note reminders on the notepad for use on here, stripped off of the sweaty clothing, got fresh ones on, and the slippers. And down to have feet tended to. Which drew blood this time.
The foot gal was not pleased with me being late, I think. The toenail cutting was painful enough and rushed, obviously. I apologised for being late and tried to explain why. I don’t think she was impressed at all. So I gave them both their choice of drinks from the trolley basket. Hehe! Paid the bill, and I departed. Thought I’d drop some plonk off for the Wardens, but the office was closed, so I didn’t.

Back up to the flat. Got the slippers off, and the feet looked rather suave, no... that’s not the right word, calm, that’ll do.
Apart from the cut toe, of course. A case of Chiropodists’ revenge?

I took this photo of the view from the kitchenette in the searing heat. Although, according to the computer, it was down to 81°f now.

Got onto the computer to make a start on this blog. Got the photos on first to use later in the gallery. The day had taken a lot out of me, and my eyes were drooping.

So I closed the computer down. The plan was to get something to eat, then after the Evening Carer has been, to get my head down and hopefully wake up and have time to start finishing this blog.

A meal with a difference tonight. The use-by today vegetable risotto, and the use-by yesterday fresh chips. Nothing else.
And it went down a treat! The taste rating given was 8,8/10!

The lad seemed a smidgeon more with it tonight. I asked him if he knew how to adjust the colouring background on the mobile, but nope. We did have a mini-natter, however.

Then I got my head down. Amazingly, I was soon off in the land of Nod. But will I wake up in time to get this blog done?

Inchcock’s Great Escape! Photographing pavement cyclists, chinwags, and nit-picking, to his heart’s content!

2nd June 2020 / Inchie / 4 Comments

Fanmarveloustic! Chinwags, From a Socially acceptable distance, of course! And great weather!

Well, Jenny, bless her, delivered the lemon bleach and yoghourts she’s ordered for me good and early. Left them near the doorstep. Thus, I had time to rush about, (this may be a slightly excessive description) and get ready for my much longed for, my first trip out on the bus into town, for months! Excitement flooded the brain!

I made a complete hash of getting ready. It’d been so long since I went out, many things confused my poor old stale, addled brain:

I had to leave the socks off, cause they were too painful to wear!
Thus, I had agony with the feet and toes. But no matter, I was in my seventh heaven, about to escape into the outside world again!
Where were the unused for nine weeks flat keys? Found them quickly
Where was the bus-pass card, unused for nine weeks? This took yonks to find!
Where was the cash card? This took an aeon to find!
Time was getting on, so I put on the coat I last went out in. The heavy one!
Going to be interesting fun this, no hearing aid batteries!

I got the three-wheeled walker-guide, made sure some spare shopping bags were in it. And a few pressies in case I encounter any of the regular kind shop staff. And off I set!

Picture based record of the best day out for months. Well, it the first one!

Down in the elevator.

Checked on the electronic notice board, no rush after all. 12-minutes before the bus was due! A hobble down Chestnut Walk

2Tue14a

Met several tenants, and had a chinwag or two, en route to the bus stop.

At the stop, people were mostly being sensible and keeping to the social distancing rules. I had a natter with Margaret, Christine and Steve. The bus arrived, and Christine seemed to be aware of my nervousness getting on the bus. On the short trip down the hill, she made me feel comfortable as we chinwagged.

I followed others who had got off the bus, down to the bus stop for a ride to town. Oh, dear, I was a tad confused getting on, but someone put me right. Each second side-saddle seat had been taped off and not in use. But there were not any available. Now there I was with my trolley, and in a pickle as to what to do. But a gentleman saw me in a ponder, and got up from a side-saddle, and moved to another seat, freeing it for me. Bless him!

We all got off at Victoria Centre, Christine had to remind I needed this stop. Haha! I chatted with her for a while, and she told me of the L9 bus being on a two hour Saturday timetable, and that I needed to get the bus back at 11:05hrs.

I felt so cared about, it was lovely.

2Tue14b

I hobbled, (and the feet were giving my terrible gip) along Milton Street, and called into the old Poundstretcher shop. They, like the other shops, had set a new layout, and the in-door had been blocked off. I had a hunt around the grocery shelves, in search of some Pakistani potato cakes. But could not find any. But I still got to the checkout with; A can of Bonners BBQ sauce, Italian lemon cookies (Froletti Al Limone), Largeish bottle of Light Soy Sauce at £1.49. You’ll like this, a small packet of… ready for it; Asolo Dolce, Alla Marmellata di Arance! Which was Strudel with orange jam! Haha! And, All’Arancia Limone cookies. Finally, a face-mask, for a quid! I didn’t find out until I got home and could use the magnifying glass, it was made in Turkey.

2Tue14c

I still found it hard to believe how few people were about. Milton Street, apparently the busiest in Nottingham City Centre, had six Nottinghamians, and so many closed stores!

2Tue14d

As I crossed over Lower Parliament Street to get to the Poundland store, four cyclists came along the pavement, more or less at the same time. I struggled to get the camera out, by then there were only the two in the above picture left in view.

Into the shop, and they too had changed things around. I got a bit puddled trying to find the disinfectants, and I asked a lady assistant where they were; I followed her non-verbal finger that pointed towards the shop door, thanked her, and went to find them. The maze of aisles was challenging to manoeuvre around, with so many being blocked by the shelf fillers. Not that I blame them, they’ve got a job to do. With hopes high, I approached the fresh food fridge, almost tasting Pork Farms pie as got there. But, no, they didn’t have any. Which is a good thing really, I shouldn’t eat them anyway. But I did spot the tasty Frankfurters were in stock. I can’t work out why, but this brand, despite having less meat in than others are so filling and flavoursome. That’s tonight’s nosh sorted! Potatoes, peas, mushrooms, tomatoes and franks!

I did overspend, though!

WDPBa I got to the checkout. As I was struggling anyway to put the basket on the counter, guess what? Without any warning or twitches, Peripheral Pete’s right-legs did a Neuropathic Schuhplattler dance routine, and to make things more embarrassing, Shuddering Shoulder Shirley had a bash at me! The basket tipped off the counter, and I made things worse by grabbing at it and spilling everything out onto the floor! Grobognangles! A lady arrived to help me, I moved out of her way, and she calmly gathered the goods and put them back in the basket and onto the counter for me. I mumbled my apologies, and the Tut-tutting from those behind me grew louder! To make those waiting angrier and even more likely to belt me one in the kisser, I’d bought a bottle of disinfectant, that was two for the same price as one, a quid. The kind lady pointed this out to me and called for someone to get another bottle for me. This was not making me very popular at all!

Yet the understanding of the serving lady was so much appreciated. The leg was still twitching a bit, and I feared it might ‘Dance-off’ again. So I paid the lady, thanked her, and hobbled to the door. I swear a heard a ginormous ‘Sigh’ from behind me!

2Tue14e

Getting out back on the pavement, I took a shot of Parliament Street traffic; or lack of it. It was a sad sight. Made worse by so many obstreperous, leary, ignorant, dangerous, uncaring pavement cyclists. Notably, the scruffy-haired, tattooed neck and ear tab young delinquent who almost ran into me while I was taking the photo above, from behind! While I had the camera out, I turned to my left and took a shot of the end of Milton Street, then got in one of the closed-down shops’ doorways and sorted the weight distribution of the things in the trolley-basket and two carrier bags.

2Tue14f

I’d bought a bottle of Aquafresh mouthwash, the two disinfectants for a pound, Frankfurters, Cheeslets, cashew nuts, a concentrated Lemon & mint, and Lemon disinfectants, and a (Not joking) Lemon & Sherbert freshener!

2Tue14g

As I was passing the end of Milton Street, I was nearly assaulted by two pavement cyclists, from either direction! I caught a snap of the younger of the two illegal, contemptible, parasitic, moronic, spit-worthy urchins in this picture above.

Now here’s a rare sight, Milton Street with no moving traffic on it!

2Tue14i

I got along to, and down King Street. The whole thing seemed so, almost hallucinatory. All I could see down the hill were two people! Weird!

2Tue14j

As I got towards the bottom of the road on my way to the Slab Square, it got crowded, (Hahaha!) The spunk-bubbling, repugnant, detestable, unlikeable, arrogant pavement cyclist put on a display here. Unfortunately, I only caught this one parasite coming up the hill with my trusty Canon lens.

2Tue14k

A little further down, and sod me, another sycophantic, tellurian organism of a pavement cyclist appeared. But I contained my hatred, fear and desire to knock the froward, mordant, noxiously pestiferously whippersnapper-bugger off of his bike… mainly cause he’d only belt the hell out if afterwards. Hahaha!

2Tue14L

A handful of Nottinghamians in the Slab-Square, the quietness was eerie, and Nottingham’s Fothergill Watson designed building opposite, showing a sharp contrast the newer erections in the background, and was a touch saddening.

2Tue14m

I turned to make my way to the bus stop, and a smidge of concern suddenly came over me. “What happens if the Coronvirus makes a comeback? And how come, it hasn’t seen off many pavement cyclists? Makes you think, dunnit?

2Tue14N

Ah, another PC (Pavement Cyclist) made an appearance, as I turned up Queen Street towards the L9 bus stop.

The mind wandered as I limped slowly up the hill, Brian Clough’s statue on my right, The old Prudential Buildings, more pavement cyclists, not a sign of a policeman all day, how come I’ve gone for nearly two days without needing the porcelain throne?

2Tue15

The sheer magnificence of Fothergill Watson’s architectural designs. How come, I’ve gone so long without wanting a wee-wee? I was really into the mind-straying and changing routine, as I got to the top of the hill. But it came to a sudden end.

When I caught my foot on the wheel of the trolley as I secured it, in the middle of the pelican crossing refuge, to take this photo of Parliament Street, in all its bleakness. The burning, throbbing pains from the toes and souls of the feet were excruciating, and that’s no exaggeration. It ended my day out, in a despicably nauseating style. But it wasn’t quite finished yet.

2Tue14O

I waited for and caught the L9 bus. Having to sit with the trolley in front of me was a bit awkward and difficult. The brakes on the three-wheeler would not apply? Which meant I had to sit leant forward, holding onto the trolley, to stop it rolling away for the whole journey. This stopped my blood flow, and Shuddering Shirley and Colin Cramps accompanied me. However, once Christine got on the bus, I concentrated on her amusing and witty tales. We had a laugh or a few en route home. She kindly didn’t run off, but walked at my steady pace and chatted as we walked the length of Chestnut Walk back to our beloved Woodthorpe Court. We waited for the lift, and Chrissie went up as we said our farewells to each other. It felt like I’d been out for hours and hours, and the fatigue was dawning. But, when I took a snap of the electronic notice board, as I did when I departed, showed me that I’d only been out from 09:20 to 11:41hrs.

2Tue14p

I got the lift, and with there still being no call for a wee-wee or the Porcelain Throne, I put the purchasers away and made a super-duper mug of Thompsons Punjana.

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3.7 hours out in the fresh air,

I have to say the weather was fair,

Pavements Cyclist apart,

And the toe-stubbing on the cart,

It made the day for this worrywart,

I’m so glad to be back in my lair!