WOT A MESSY, GET NOTHING DONE DAY! A quick rundown. You know me and quick, so it might not turn out that way. It was horrible today! But it didn’t start that way 05:00hrs: I woke reluctantly and waited for the to stop stinging me. A few minutes later, I edged my blubber-bellied body from the bed, cautiously started to do the balance exercises, and forgot I’d got hanging from Little Inchy, the tube and Catheter pouch on. Forgetting that took some skill on my behalf cause a moment earlier, I’d thrown it on the floor as I eased myself onto my feet. It has a very long tube. Then I trod on the bag, wobbled and. I got the nocturnal pouch removed and emptied, then made up the waste bags into one and left it near the door in the hallway. I took this early morning view on the left from the kitchenette window and decided I’d get a stand-up wash and shave. Which seemed to be going well, apart from when getting my feet in the bowl of water (it was too early to use the shower, as it can easily wake up the neighbours below), And stubbed the same toe for a second time on the raised seat leg on the throne. Got the shaving done in a fashion, teeth then I felt the need to utilise the . Yet another messy, misshapen, long, streaky bacon-shaped, session. I decided not to get the fresh PPs on yet and got back on the computer to start blogging again. He mentioned I was limping more than usual, so I told him of my morning so far, including the toe stubbings. He did larf! As I was boring him with my tales of woe, he was texting on his mobile, and I felt a little dampness in my groin. I got some kitchen towels and wiped the suspect area. When Carer Christopher left laughingly, I went back to the wet room and cleaned up and remedied things in need of it. Took another snap of the view from the same place earlier. Brightening up a bit now. The new mouse started playing up. I tried various things to find out what the trouble was, but no matter what I tried, I couldn’t. I wiggled the sender plug, put in a new battery, and then tried another mouse, all to no avail. Fed up, I took these shots of the oh-so-blue sky, with beautiful light clouds forming. When I got back to the computer, the mouse was working??? I’d got many items being delivered this morning, from Amazon. Then I checked the emails, and Amazon told me the Cat Mouse Mat had been delivered. I found it in the letterbox after farting about searching for ages. I took this shot on the right through the balcony windows, and then I checked the tracker for the other mats ordered. Sod me, it said they had been delivered. Another search around was fruitless. (Well, it would be; they are made of rubber, Hehehe!). My big fear was that Amazon had either left it down in the ground-floor foyer or maybe delivered it to the wrong block of flats, both of which they have done in the past. I had to put on some pants and hobbled to the lift to go down to the foyer to see if it was there. En route, I met Carer Chris, who came down with me to have a look. There was nothing there! I returned to the flat, and another email had come in, telling me the DPD company had delivered the Amazon parcel! What next could I do? Then, I spotted an update button on the email and pressed it. Up came proof of delivery from the company. A photo of the parcel being shoved through ‘Your letterbox!’ I espied the cock-up that had been made. It was not my flat number on the door. It was someone on the floor, above the number 76! So, I went back out again and went up to number 76. There was a sign on the door asking people to be patient after knocking, as the resident was disabled. So I knocked and waited for a few minutes, then gave up and returned to the flat. I pondered what to do or try next, and the door chime chimed! A gentleman from flat 76 found the packages and brought them down for me. That was so kind of him. Then the final delivery arrived from Amazon: a big box of Depend Protection Pants and a contraption I hope will let me use the new cheap camera’s mini-SD card. The highlight of this farrago was getting the first item delivered, the Cat-Mouse-Mat, out of the envelope and trying it out. I think that my cyber-mates Tim and Doug, both cat lovers, would have liked one of these mini mouse mats. Nowt special, it’s just the picture of the kitten that appealed to me. Can I get your addresses and I can order them for Amazon to deliver one to each of your homes? Go on, let me! The mouse seemed much better to use when on the Cat-Mat. Hehe! I got the Nurses & Carers treat shelved filled up. There’s a great choice for them now. I might try one of the grapefruit & pineapple. And pure grapefruit ones myself tonight. I’ve got some cordials to add flavour to my Bladder-Needing spring and soda waters: cherry, orange, lemon, and pineapple. Tons of choice in the cupboards, fridge and freezer to go at and pick from. Mind you, I’m broke now after getting the fodder and needs from Amazon, Tsk! Carer Victor arrived to perform his teatime medicationings. Had a little laugh. Gawd, my stubbed twice ingrowing toenail hurts! The blotches on the snap of the sun lowering really annoy me, but these things can’t be helped. It’s a bit like Putin, really. Hehehe! I finally finished and sent off yesterday’s blog and started on this one. It’s late now; I’m so tired after the complicated, problem-ridden day! Carer Victor did the last call. A Food Craving bout dawns!
But first, the evening’s earlier photos. I thought these were almost perfect specimens for me to do some of my beloved pareidoliaing. I found a few worms, a dragon, and faces and more than a few noses in them. Well, it gave me something to do while nipping in to check the cooking of the food every few minutes and test for readiness to feast. I took a lot of care in getting the Vegan sausages cooked. This time, I felt I needed to give them a little longer in the oven, and it paid off nicely. I tried putting a splash of mushroom ketchup in the tomatoes instead of salt, but I’ll not bother next time. The sunset picture taken from the kitchen window while I washed the dishes sadly had even more blotches on it than usual. I’ll try to see if Amazon has anything that may clean them off, although possibly they are inside the camera. I could not help but try to doctor the Kitten-Mouse-Mad to make it look as it appeared to my eyes. I love it!
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I had a quick check on the weather. Misty, it stayed that way all day. Although, it wasn’t cold.
I felt the need to go and attend to an evacuation from the rear end. There was no rush, as there was no rumbling or grumbling from the innards. Indeed, I felt sure it was time for Constipation Conrad to make an appearance. I even got the crossword book ready… Huh! I was wrong again!
Another dollop of semi-liquid straw-like-waste was released. I decided to get a wash and wash after cleaning up the mess from the inner landslide of Trotsky. For a change, I got my magnificent lower parts of my body medicated first, then got the peggies done. And started shaving… Now, don’t ask me how I managed it, but as I was getting the dressing gown on, I spotted in the mirror that blood was coming from both nostrils! I know I get confused easily nowadays, but I was pretty sure I hadn’t shoved the razors up my nose! Hehe! Can you see the pale-looking, handsome, young features of my face?
That was thanks to the cream for the Acne and Excema being applied, maybe too liberally. Carer Christopher arrived and helped me get the PPs on, then issued the medications and got my socks on for me. Thanks, Chris! Then I popped into the kitchenette and took this depressing-looking Kodak Tim shot of the view. Not much sun got through today. I made up and took the waste bags to the front door. Being a keen, alert young man (Hehehe!) I espied some mail stuck in the letterbox. A new dosage sheet for the Warfarin from the Anticoagulation DVT clinic, Some unwanted selling bumph and a possible worry-letter. It looked official to me. I’ll get a carer to open it later. (I didn’t remember)
For the next five hours, I spent trying to sort out the CorelDraw, and learn why it was opening different dockers when I clicked to Edit a Bitmap? I never did find out, but it seemed to stop stop of its own accord later on? But, it also changed a;; pf the dockers back to a small size. I could barely see them, and my memory was not good enough to remember. So this is being done using my spyglass! Although, to be fair, for some unknown reason, I seem to remember where and which to us creating paragraph text. I stretched my legs and went out onto the balcony to take this ‘blotched’ snap of the end car park and standing rain or mud. Then, I spent another four hours on the blog. Carer Joanne came for the midday checks, and we had a little natter and laugh. It seemed to me an hour later, but it was three when Carer Chris returned. He spent a minute or two showing me how to get the Cheap Camera working. But we could not use it as the card that came with it was a mini-one. Another bash at the blogging. I got tied up with doing the ode for a while. It didn’t flow as easily as it normally did today. The blotches seemed to be getting bigger. So I got the cleaning stick, no good. Then, I used some spectacle cleaning sheets. I may have made it worse!
I was feeling a smidge down, so I thought I’d make myself a brew of Glengettie… ARRGH! As I stood up out of the computer chair, pain like never before came from Little Inchy! I grabbed at the Protection Pants to release their grip on Little Inchy and found he was bleeding blood! Haha! Off to the wet room to get the Germolene and Barrier cream applied. I thought the tube must have been chaffing against the Fungal Lesion – but no! It was too loose for that. I made sure that the catheter bag was emptied, but there was very little urine in it to have made it drop down. Puzzled and in pain then – well, I’m still suffering with it now. Gotten Himmel! The sun battled its way through so late in the day. Carer Christopher made his last after-nibbling and drinkies call. He returned the laundry for me, and I gave him a cold drink and pasty from the fridge. Then I got the washed clothes, hung them up, and put them away. I had a little bother trying to feed the belt through the eyes in all three dressing gowns—well, two of them. One didn’t have its sleeves inside out. All the socks were inside out, though. Hehehe!
I’ll have to finish this in the morning.
Good Morning. I was beyond doing any more blogging. Carere Christopher made the last call. I asked him not to attach the Catheter night bag, as I had plans to make a very late meal.
He left it in the bed for me, so I wouldn’t forget to put it on later. Removed the diabetic socks and gave me an extra painkiller due to Little Inchy’s Fungal Lesion and the catheter tube causing a fair bit of pain. It’s still leaking a few drops of blood as well now and then. Said our farewells, and got the meal prepared and served up. Vegan sausages, potato cakes (well burnt, how I like them), the last of the sugar snap and garden peas. A pot of ketchup with pickle added and two small pots of dessert. A lemon mousse, and an orange and lemon ‘Sour’ jelly. Oh, that was good!
I got the diabetic socks that had been returned wet from the laundry and hung them to dry on the balcony. Carer Chris put them on for me while he was nibbling the treats. Haha!
Kitchen view from inside.
Another go at getting CorelDraw sorted out, as I would like it to be for ease of selecting functions, toolbars, colour pallets, etc. I decided that I’d press on with it even if it took me a couple of hours. Carers calling broke my concentration a few times. Now, this may sound extreme… But, eight hours later, I was still struggling with the CorelDraw amendments and settings, and I gave up!
I did take some sky photograph breaks, though. These above and below were taken first. A little later…
Then these beauties. Getting a smidge darker. Closer… Bootiful!
Smashing meal for once.
Then, I had another go at the CorelDraw amendments. But was too tired and weary within a few minutes. Zzz! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Today was the hardest one in a while. My concentration was terrible, and my memory was maundering. My eyesight was repeatedly more double-vision than single. The return of the Catheter pains was disappointing more than painful (if that makes sense). Not a lot made sense today. I was concerned about the medical appointments on Thursday. Well, not the appointments, but getting to and from them without missing something and first getting ready for these things. Using the bus did worry me. The last two times I used a bus, I fell down getting on the first one and fell getting off the second one. I was fretting about not forgetting to take something I needed to go with me. Can I get up and do the challenging ablutions in time and safely. Struggling to get dressed. Will the Caregivers arrive in time for me to do the socks and medications? Will I miss them getting back late? Or the dreaded risk; will I leave the hot tap running and have no hot water for washing & shaving? (I left it to run cold this morning!) So many pathetic things I worry over, nowadays. The blog may suffer over the next few days, but I’ll try to get something on it. I may have to miss one or two, though. In the event that my reaction to the Covid Jab is like it has been for the last two years. I just flaked out. The second year, for 18 hours! According to my blog, I also felt tired even after I woke up for another 12 hours or so of feeling out of it. This blog took me a long time to complete, finishing it so late on Wednesday. I’m not in high spirits. Hahaha! Me, in high spirits? What am I expecting, saying? Hehe! Silly Old Fool!
05:25hrs: I leapt out of bed, did a couple of somersaults, and yodelled out loud. I then did squats, toe-touchings, and press-ups. Then I woke up. I painstakingly nudged my way out of bed and removed the catheter’s nocturnal night bag, grabbed Metal Micky, the four-pronged walking stick, and went off to the wet room to empty the pouch and use the Porcelain Throne. Tried to get some of the crossword done, while waiting for the torpedoes to start. A Massive Mind Blank followed. I think it was Carer Marie who came during these hours. I do recall her helping me with getting the JS order in the kitchen that had arrived. No other details until after Marie ♥ had gone, taking the waste bags for me. I started to sort out the delivery. I obviously must have taken these snaps of the fodder. As I recall, Carer Kara did the midday, and Carer Chris raided the IPA bottle, cans of lager and tropical fruit, and some biscuits along with the usual nibbles. No stopping him, so I gave him a beefburger as well. Hahaha! This array of Kodak Tim snaps were taken; well, they were on the SD card, so they must have been. Nobody told my brain that I’d taken them at the time; and Cognitive Impairment Iris had kept it a secret!
Top one: Must have been taken early on. 2nd: A little later. 3rd Through the balcony glass door. The flash reflections spoilt this one a bit.
The fourth was taken in the wet room. It shows the five-day-old scar from the hand-burning on the oven rack wire Accifauxpas.
I think I recall taking this last one of a brew of Glengettie on the desk near the computer as I started updating the blog. Contrails in the oh-so-blue sky, taken from the balcony, I think, this time. In comparison to some of the later shots, these are almost serene. Bootiful!
Carer Kara called. She checked the catheter bag; I think she said it has to be changed tomorrow. She gave me some Peptac and painkillers and checked the taps, fridge doors, etc., for me.♥ It’s one of my better efforts here, sky-shot-wise, methinks. Exploding clouds, faces, and an amazing selection of different colliding clouds! Throughout the afternoon, I spent hours and hours making the templates. But occasionally, I marked where I was up to carefully and nipped to take more shots of the fantastic sky clouds on offer from the kitchenette window, then got back to the templates. The last one of these on the right almost spoke to me. It had a lot of interesting things in it; A dragon, a hand & fingers, faces, an explosion, and a dog. This one on the left is another mystery photo. It was plainly taken by accident when I was shooting the above sky shots. Was I possibly adjusting the camera at the time? I made a meal that went down very well. I’d got two ready-made Cumberland Pie meals, both just out of use-by date, so I decided to cook them both, along with a Cornish vegetable pastie and peas. I buried them in shredded Leicester cheese. I cooked them all in the oven, then scraped them in the bowl, adding some ketchup with pickle. Slurp!
The last snap of the evening. I’m already worrying about getting things sorted for the medical and voting appointments. Tsk!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Or it might have been Carer Victor or Israel. Erm, if I remember correctly, I’ll reveal it all on Monday. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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. . 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.
Not a lot passed last night. But it’s a decent colour this morning.
Not ‘arf!
Mug of Glengettie tea, with four biscuits dunked.
Those makes that come and go on the lens are back. No matter what I try to clean it with, they suit themselves, whether of not to smudge my Kodak Camera photographs. Tsk!
I took another shot and zoomed in a bit. But the smudges are there in this one, too.
Carer Christopher arrived. Nibbles and drinkies were selected. I’d lost the receipt for the Heron Food Store. I’d been searching for ages, and Chris found it!
The smudge was still there in the end car park shot!
The catheter supplies box and the new straps that Kara had organised were delivered that day. She thinks they may ease the pressure on Little Inchy. I hope so!
Kara will not be back until Monday or Tuesday, I hope they help. Oh, I just said that!
Brightening up out there now as the sun intrudes on the rather pretty view. The smudge is still on.
I felt it coming, I thought?
Carer Sam arrived; I’ve not seen her for ages.
Painkillers, and she did the safety checks.
After she was gone, I discovered that the Alert Alarm Wristlet was not on my arm Ah! I must have left it in the wet room. But no, there were no signs of it in there. On, around, and under the bed were searched. Nope! In the cupboards, drawers, etc., Nope!
Hoping I didn’t need it, I got on with the blogging for a few hours.
Photo to the left. This one is to the right.
I do love these puffer clouds.
I went into the kitchen again to prep the meal.
As gave me a turn, I grabbed hold of the draining board to steady my elf. And there, lying on the kitchen towel, in the draining rack, was the wristlet alarm! Gorrit!
I made a vegetable stew today. All I needed to do was to bake some potato bits to add to the vegetables and sauce already in the saucepan. No smudge?
I woke up, although I wasn’t unaware I’d fallen asleep. I could see the mess I had made on the blog, presumably in a stupor of some sort. A was engaged, and I nervously checked the cooker, taps, etc., with surprising results.
① The taps were all off. ② The fridge door was shut… and ③ I realised that I had already eaten the vegetable stew, ④ and washed the pots!
When I returned to the front room, another surprise surprised me! The evening Caregiver had already been. I realised further that this was correct, as the diabetic socks had been removed. I had not the vaguest memory until I noticed his. I had to check the Caregiver’s log to see who had called! It was Christopher. The nibble box contents had been significantly reduced, so I knew it had to have been either Chris or Helen. Bits of foil from the medications were on the carpet. Haha!
I then proceeded to fall asleep properly this time. I didn’t have the energy or willpower to sort out the blog mistakes anyway.
The last call was from Carer Vi tor. Medicated me and attached the night bag for me. These Carers’ names cannot be guaranteed to be accurate. Not in the state I’m in.
I found them! Eventually… well, alright then, I found two of them, or maybe one? I can’t tell the difference in the lower left circle with the prawn. Is it a shrimp? I’m not optimistic about the chocolate, either.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – It was another rush to get things sorted out before the earlier lift arrived to take me to the Riverside Diabetes Course. Carer Maryham helped me; she came as I was washing myself. She put on the socks and shoes and made sure I was leaving the flat in a safe condition. She even helped me into the overcoat. How kind. Bless her. Actually, this morning in Bulwell, I went to two shops. The meeting went quicker than usual, so I plodded down the road to the Heron Food Store and then to the B&M shop. I’ll write about the events in those chronologically later. (Good stuff, not bad!) Here we go…
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Up, in a rush, catheter pouch off took this snap of the blue morning.
Waste bags sorted.
Off to the wet room.
Porcelain Throne duties took me a long time to force out. Four chunky pale green torpedoes eventually clonked and splashed into the water closet.
Then I started to get the ablutions done.
The tune indicated the arrival of the morning carer. It was Carer Maryham. And she really looked after me this call. She assisted me with the ablutions, put the diabetic socks on my legs, and helped me put on the trousers and shoes. Then, I checked the flat thoroughly to make sure everything was honky-dory. Taps, doors, and cooker. She even reminded me to take the keys with me. Bless her cotton socks. Minutes later, I was out of the flat, locked the door, and entered the 13th-floor lift foyer. I went in and out of the lift and took this snap to the left, the way I was to go. Then, I took the second picture to the right, in the opposite direction. That leads to the connecting swipecard door passageway into Winwood Heights, the centre block of flats. I timed it well, the eta for the lift being 10 minutes later. I got seated in the main lobby opposite the clock and had a go at the crossword. The bus came spot-on at 08:15hrs. I planned to take some photographs as we pulled away, but I only managed this one. Why? I’ll tell you.
The agony I was going through from the Catheter tube tugging at Little Inchie! I imagine that with going out yesterday as well, the Fungal Lesion had had enough of being tugged and pushed. Hehehe!
I was in such pain that I spent the whole journey trying to get into a more comfortable position.
The chap dropped me of at the front door of the Riverside premises. I thanked him, gave him a treat, and attended the session. I may not bother going again. I could not see the graphs or hear what the chap was saying. Humph!
I left early, meandered into Bulwell Market, and called in the Heron Store. Where I was looked after again! I like this... a lot. First, when I went to get some cash out of the machine thingy, ATM, I think it’s called, I could not recall how to put the card in, just like a few weeks ago. I did feel a clot, so I asked one of the assistants to help me. Yet she was very calm and sorted me out. The really fantastic thing is I remembered the 4-digits! Smug-Mode Engaged, temporarily, at least. I spotted some great-value instant potato pots. I could just about reach them, and I did… But I dropped all three, which fell at an assistant’s feet on the floor! Kindly, she said, if you struggle to get anything, just ask, and we’ll get it for you. All this strange being nice to Inchy was worrying me now. Haha! When paying for the goods, I bought a bag, and the lady packed it with the purchases for me!
I thanked them and hobbled down to the B&M Store. They had some pork ball franks, as opposed to the usual sausage shape, and at a fantastic price. 75p each, two jars for a quid! Having them tonight with beans, potatoes and sauce. I struggled to get them off the high gondola end, and a lady came and got them for me. More Joy! I thanked her profusely. Got some bird food to feed the dickies on the River Lean on the way back to get the lift. I turned to look back and took this snap of the pigeons still nibbling away. As I returned to the centre, the Easy-Lift bus had just arrived. This was another thing that went right for me; it’s nerve-wracking, you know! No, really, I’m just not used to it. I got the Kodak Tim camera out ready as I got in the seat and took shots all the way home, depicting the Nottingham area. Here they are Leaving the car park. Leaving Bulwell. Highbury Vale. Bilborough. Redhill. Behind the City Hospital. Mansfield Road Sherwood one. Mansfield Road Sherwood two. Turning up Winchester Street Hill. Winchester Street Hill. The flats, partly in view. Turning onto Chestnut Walk. And the flats. The driver had a treat in thanks, and I felt Little Inchies fungal lesion was bleeding again.
I got inside, took the lift to my floor, and entered the flat without seeing a soul. I already began to feel jaded and tired. Got the bags off of three-wheeled Theresa. Emptied the catheter bag. Washed and Treated Little Inchie, then back to the bags The pork ball jars, potato pots, batteries, pork pie, carer and nurse treats, as well as cans of pop and two more Passion Fruit Martinis, sound good; I hope they like them. Nibble treats, disinfectant and cooked beef slices. Nice and cheap, too! A good example is when I emptied the day catheter into the urine depository jug. Did you notice the change in colour in the bag now, compared to this morning’s, which I forgot to empty out? It’s a better colour now.
As time passed, I was getting increasingly tired. Carer Helen came and took a few old and new treats.
Then, on with this blog. There was a lot to do and a meal to prepare in between. The time flew, and Carer Chris arrived. We had some nibbles and a drinkie. I took photos of the sky throughout the evening. No idea of the timing. Plenty of faces and animals in the clouds. Semolina pudding? Haha! Got some beans in the saucepan. Illusionable snap? A Pareidolianist Delight!
Carer Christopher returned the laundry for me.
I prepped and ate the football-shaped sausages with a can of BBQ beans and added Mediterranean vegetable sauce. A Lemon Curd yoghourt to follow. Not bad at all.
Came. Took off the socks, and asked how the appointments went. Painkillers given & Peptac. She checked the pouch, and I told her about the pains from Little Inchie, probably brought on by the exercise I’d been doing going out and about. I enjoyed it; Little Inchie didn’t. Haha! Kara left a night pouch handy for me to put on.
I checked before getting my head down, and I got this, very late, it seemed to me, a shot of the day’s final appearance of the sun.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – A LONG DAY…
Up at 05:15hrs, doing this at (now) 23:55hrs! Friday started reasonably well and ended up 18 hours later with the fire alarm alerting. The potatoes burnt, and cleaning up the mess took me three hours. Burnt finger, dropped the second saucepan on my legs and dressing gown… I’d sooner not mention this again. I may have to start looking for somewhere else to live.
I’d got the intro bit done but little else. I started on it Saturday morning. I’m in the new bed at approximately 04:30 hrs, and I have cramps in both legs. The right eye is so painful, and the vision in both is terrible… I’d sooner not mention this again. I may have to start looking for somewhere else to live.
I woke when Carer Chris arrived.
I’d sooner not mention this again. I may have to start looking for somewhere else to live.
Getting out of bed in the morning was a struggle and a half. Carer Chris aided me. Got up on the sticks, & joined in the pain-giving antics of the other ailments that had been attacking for the previous four hours of sleep… I’d sooner not mention this again. I may have to start looking for somewhere else to live.
This will be a short one, but at least I took some photos; some I recall taking, others not. Oh, and I forgot to ask the Carer to take off my diabetic socks for me, and also, the Catheter Night Bag was not attached. The lad was trying to let me get back to sleep, I think, bless him. He did mention how poorly I looked, which was a rarity. As a man living a fit & healthy lifestyle and at a young age, I am usually a bundle of joy & happiness, laughing, joking, giving, and forever yodelling and singing… – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Of, dearie me, the ablutions went hellish this morning… But not the
Bad picture of the better ankles
Morning view.
Through the balcony windows.
Afternoon views.
A few hours later. Bootiful!
I worked all day on blogging and still hadn’t caught up. I was well gone by 03:00 hrs before giving it up. That was when the smell of burning was detected, followed shortly by the fire alarm. I think the timing is right.
This is possibly my worst-ever attempt to take a shot of the moon high in the sky! Four failures, but they did have an element of modern art. Is it suitable for the Tate Gallery? Perhaps, maybe?
Huh!. I missed this shot taken earlier.
I got it within 2 seconds… when I looked at the revealed answer. Hehehe!
The burnt potatoes from the large saucepan. The mess where things had boiled over. I got some not-so-bad potatoes with almost dried-out vegetables. Washed up and had the Accifauxpas mentioned above! I’d sooner not mention this again. I may have to start looking for somewhere else to live. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Depression does not dawn so often. It just stays for longer & longer… It’s rotten!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – It took me ages to get to sleep again after the last Carer call for Christopher. When I did float off, I kept waking up repeatedly. Cragnangles! But last night’s coughing, sore throat and sneezing had disappeared. Thankfully. I pottered about and got the waste bags sorted for collection. Again, the evacuation seemed as solid as a rock. I didn’t even try to force it; I left it to nature and counted the cracks in the ceiling. Still no motion. So, I got on the crossword puzzling book. I was getting brave, but the expected anticipated torpedo needed some encouragement. Which hurt a bit, but things flowed.
Red ski in the morning, Shepherds Warning? I trapped my finger in the cupboard door, pulled my hand away, and knocked over the kitchen towel and its holder. I spent an hour or so trying to get it glued back together. If I’m gentle with it from now on, it might last for a while. Back to the wet room and deposited myself on the Throne. The relief of the last visit a short while ago was forgotten about. had returned with a vengeance! Tsk! As I left the room, taking care not to walk into the doorframe this time, chimed and in walked .
A, or maybe it may have been a; I can’t recall Shaquille leaving, yet a glimmer of me in the hallway saying cheers lingers at the back of my mind. So, maybe I can after all.
called on me. I remember all of this visit… I think. Kara booked the two hospital lifts for me. Ah, maybe I can’t recall all of it! I seem to believe that Kara rang the Doctors for me, but I have no idea why and am not sure she did. Things are not good in the head’s hard drive today, not that they have been for many months. Kara also checked the two emails and text I was struggling with. Checked the dates on the food in the fridge for me; that’s a great help. Sometimes Kara finds out-of-date items that, with my failing eyesight, I cannot read, the print is too small, and her cotton socks. ♥. I shot ominously dark clouds, which could be seen again, as last week, lurking about up in the sky. I missed this Kodak Tim shot earlier. Or did I? I’ll have a look now. Yes, I missed it off. It’s a pleasant-looking view of local homes near the flats. Three murder spots have been in view this year already. Two muggings were on the cut-through between the houses. I had no idea what happened last night, but I saw the blue flashings from the police cars and ambulance. It’s all clear this morning, though. I’ll keep an eye on the news to get some snippets. Time to get some food down me now. I’ll need to pay close attention to this meal. It has the same base as yesterday’s. The vegetables bake for 25 minutes. Then, I must add the vegetarian sausages 15 minutes later, no, 10 minutes later. When the 20 minutes were up, I put the root-vegetable potatoes in the microwave for five minutes, as if I knew what I was talking about! I really cocked it up in the morning. I was checking the SD card and thought what a great job I’d done taking a picture of the second vegetarian meal in two days, effort. Minutes later, I got the car in the slot… but the snap of the meal had done a runner! Or, conversely, I may have hit the delete button by mistake. This now seems more likely, as Peripheral Neuropathy, making the fingers numb to touch, is getting more frequent and lasting longer. (Mind you, it comes in handy when one burns a finger or hand on the oven; one doesn’t feel the pain! Until I smell the burning and take a look – then the brain gets the message from the warped eyes, and I do feel the belated pain. I’ve noticed this. Mistakes on the keyboard have got me into many a pickle this last week. Well, this week, as well!
I’m unsure what or who to blame for today’s lunchtime disaster. may have been the natural culprit, but she might well have been supported to a degree, possibly, by , or maybe I had a , or even might have had a visit? It was embarrassing, annoying, angering, and so frustrating. I felt worth about tuppence after Kara found the mess, and sorted it for me. I’ll explain about this cock-up come now, to get it out of the road that I was so humiliated with committing. Here goes, then…
WHOOPSIEDANGLEPLOP OF THE YEAR! There I was, bashing away at blogging and catching up. Carer Kara called. She replaced the Catheter Day Pouch for me and got some socks on me. She emptied out what was left in the pouch and took it to the wet room for emptying, I heard her call, but did not know what it was she said… but the tone told me I was not going to like it. Simultaneously, my EQ told me I’d get into Schnook! I got , and I went with dread in my innards to the wet room. The completely flooded wet room! It was coming over the stop-ledge onto the hallway carpet! At one point, the word Tzunami came to mind! And there, in the midst of the man-made lake, the floor drain is not working because the shower has to be working for the drain to start. Kara bless her, got stuck into mopping up the flood and tipping; I think she said eight buckets of collected water in the WC. I’d left the damned hot water tap running again! Instantly, my self-esteem shrank to zero; I became self-conscious, unsettled, ashamed, humiliated, remorseful, contrite, and castigated, and this turned to embarrassingly feeling chastened, castigated, sheepish, and guilty all at once! I ran her Obergruppenfurheress to tell her what had happened and that she would be late for her next appointment. I can imagine what was said about this. My blameworthiness got worse now, but it got even worse minutes later. Obergruppenfürheress Warden Deana and Brigade Fürheress Warden Julie both arrived with worse news. Julies flat below was flooded! My self-recrimination didn’t really need any help by being told they may have to have me evicted. Even if she had a smile on her face. Hehehe! I asked if they would take my apologise to Julie with some nibbles and drinkies. Which they kindly agreed to for me. Kara was a treasure helping me out like she did. Thank you very kindly, gal! ♥ – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
According to my memory notepad, I got up at 05:30hrs. Just a few overnight. The problem was getting to sleep. I felt properly worn out as well, but Sweet Morpheus wasn’t letting me for an hour of more. Drifted off eventually. Not that it was planned, but I got the kitchen floor cleaned by using the Speed-mop. I wouldn’t use the mop and bucket, so as to save the hot water from running too cool, for when I planned this afternoon to have a jolly good wash and shaving session. (What with the later flood the hot water now being colder than the cold water, this did not happen. Huh!) Both cartilages were playing me up again. Carer Chris came, put on my socks, medicated me, and took the laundry down, telling me he’d bring it back up later when it was done. I thanked him profusely. Well, he’s a cheeky but nice bloke. I’m glad that Rishi didn’t stop him from getting in. Nearly missed this Kodak Tim photo I took when I was mopping the floor earlier. It was a good effort, but still pretty. Into the wet room to use the . But realised I’d left it there when I went in earlier. So I emptied the night bag. I gathered the waste bags into a large bag and placed them near the front door. Then, I went into the kitchen to see what I could have for a treat for tonight’s meal. Potato chunks, peas and lamb burgers seemed a good idea to me. Then again, me and good ideas don’t really go together, if you know what I’m saying. Cause I have the tremendous ability to misread, miss-see, and miss-hear at the same time. Not to mention having a seizure, mind-blank, or forgetting where, what, why or how I was doing anything at any time. The district nurse visited. Checking on the legs, weighed me, checked the acne. Removed the socks to see how the leg ulcers had got so much easier. The leaking legs had stopped altogether; she was impressed, she said. Then, she looked at my privates and was not pleased at all with the mess the catheter tube had caused down there. She noted that one goolie was larger than the other. I explained that about 6 months ago, it was the size of a grapefruit but had gone down without any medicationing being done to or on it. She said to feel them every day; if any growth is felt to the right testicle, I’ve to call the Clinic straight away. I thanked her and insisted she tales some nibbles and a drink in thanks.
WHOOPSIEDANGLEPLOP OF THE YEAR!
I won’t upset myself by repeating things.
Carer Chris returned the laundry, and I hung it up. Not the towels, I forgot to put them in the bag.
I tried to take a snap of the Ex-NHS bed adjuster controller that they kindly got for me, adjuster controller.
I’m not sure what happened, but I missed it completely. Maybe one of the cartilages gave way? This is happening so often today that I barely notice them unless they give all the way, of course. Then, I usually notice when I tumble to the floor. I tried again to get a picture and managed to get the one above. There are no instructions; it is all graphical. But I’m blown if I can understand it. I took this shot of the front car park, but with little interest, I’m afraid. I was feeling so low about flooding Julie’s and my wet room. I think I’ve said above that ‘Guilt’ is the overbearing sentiment. It suddenly went dark outside. This photo was taken on , and minutes later, the sun was coming through again? I started to get the things ready for making a meal. Washing the pots that had not been done earlier due to the Whoopsie with the damned hot water tap in the were room. I felt the catheter pouch pulling; boy, was it full and ready for emptying; the flow back when this happened gave me the sensation I used to get when I could manually pee. Hehehe! Off to the WC and drained it. When done, I forgot all about the washing up I had been doing and got back onto the computer and blogging. I spent around an hour or so on this and decided to make the second brew of permitted tea of the day. Off to the kitchenette, and… WHOOPSIEDANGLEPLOP Mark Two! I’d left the hot water tap running in the kitchen sink this time! All the same, emotions as I had after the first cock-up in the wet room. I got a nervous rash coming up this time, and for some reason, the Acne flared at the same time. I know this time it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as the earlier one, but making the same error twice in a day is not only a record for me, but it lowered my interest and shattered any hopes for some mental improvement. Plus, my submitting to the wiles and rule of . But, of course, this meant the water was cold again, and it ruined my hopes of getting the shower and shaving for tonight. I must get up early in the morning and get it done. My EQ just laughed at me when I wrote this? Wonder what are the odds of me getting up early? It will be 2½ days since I had a shower or shave. So I’m dirty bodily, struggling emotionally and mentally. I must get up as soon as I wake up… oh, the wet room might need more cleaning after using… I wish I could stop thinking! I went to the wet room WC to empty the day pouch again. The urine smelt awful! What next should I moan and groan about? Sinking into a mild depression and giving up hopes and any chance of improvement, I concentrated on getting the meal to be cooked right and tasty at the same time. I tried to put my failures out of my mind for a while. I put some ready-made garlic potato cubes in the oven. I forget their name now. They have a bit of garlic and thyme in them – gorrit! Parmentier potatoes. (I looked them up on the web.)They needed 30 minutes to cook in the oven. So the oven was already heated with the tray in it, so I added the potatoes. (Hence the little burn mark on my right knuckle) Then back to save the work done and turn off the computer. 15 minutes for the tray of J. Sainsbury’s lamb & vegetable hotpot to do in the microwave. I was concentrating hard on getting things right, no idea why I bothered). Some of the tomato ketchup with pickle to zing it up a side, and the last brown baguette to soak up the gravy. Got it dished up on the tray, it looked fantastic. But the potatoes let it down. They had been in the oven for longer that the 30 minutes it said on the wrapper, 40 minutes at least, but they were still undercooked. Disappointing! Everything else was great. With the help of sploshes of the ketchup, I did eat all of the potatoes… well, I was hungry!
She called to deal with me. She took off my diabetic socks. Brrr! She medicationalised me. She listened to my moaning about the events of the day. Well, she almost did. I can’t remember what it was about, but I’m sure we had a laugh or two. Likely from my tales of woe today?
I can’t even see it in the revealing photo?
I don’t want a day like this again! It tested & tormented my brain, Mind you, it wasn’t mundane, Filled with emotional pain… Physical aches, language, profane! Depressions oddly, like a hurricane, I asked the Carer for Cocaine! Still, yer don’t like to complain!
