Made a brew. The carer arrived; I forgot to ask them to take my laundry bag… again!
This’ll see me to the funeral.
That filled up quick again!.
Next, a box of catheters was delivered. Then, some spare straps.
I decided to have a snack, a meat pastie. I put it in the oven and returned to blogging. Two hours later, I smelt the burning. The top of the shortcrust pastry had literally exploded in the oven. Pain and effort were gone through to clean the mess up afterwards; it was taken matter-of-factly and light-heartedly. That was because today, the ups & downs periods continued, just the same as for the last four days. Shame, but the pie was well and truly beyond salvation or eating!
Blimey filled up again!
But I did get to do some crosswording. Started a new one and was doing well until a mind freeze developed and mental confusion reigned.
See the stain on the carpet? That was where the damned catheter had been leaking, for all the time I was merrily crosswording and waiting for the evacuation to develop, that never did! Humph!
I tried to take some decent shots of the evening view as I titivated the stew I was cooking. A bit wobbly this one!
Blimus! Filled again! But the colour was much lighter; I’d say it was a perfect number one on the NHS grading card!
I’m not sure why I made such a fowl-tasting bean stew. Make the regularly, but have never done one with such a terrible flavour? Eurgh! I managed a few spoonfuls and gave up as Carer Victor arrived. Got the ankle and neg straps removed. Took his BP & vitals. (They can’t touch me for it, Hahaha!)
Another busy day. But, not not in a wrong way. The pleasure of Vampire Nurse Hristina coming to take my blood for the Warfarin INR checks. Another of my Angels. So sweet & patient, too, and the best bloodtaker I know. Very rarely have bled after she does me! ♥ called for her financial help visit. She ordered a lift for me following Monday, to the Diabetes Clinic in Bulwell. We were too early to book the doctor’s visit in February, but Kara will remind me nearer the time. ♥ She also pointed out how to use the TV remote again; I’m just not taking anything new in, nowadays… well, not keeping it in, anyway. She then made up the meal at the chair table for me – What a gal! She took the laundry down with her for me as she left. She’ll replace the catheter pouch in the morning.
I rose gingerly and felt so cold, as 05:40hrs. Removed the slightly dark urine bag and emptied it. I had a bit of a struggle to get the link tube out, but I got there without any .
Maddeningly Mangled Morning Moon Images
The last one was a smidge betterer!
Signs of a guilt-promoting nature in the bin!
Made a mug of Glengettie tea. I planned to drink it while blogging. But… Was interrupted by the need for a rear-end evacuation. And what a messy one, it was! Had a wash and got the tended to. Then I got daily as and if needed ones attended to. A lot of them were needed. I ran out of the dry-eye spray, but I’ve a little left of the dry-eye drops. Must get some more.
I had a search around in case I might have left a bottle of the eye spray with the medical supplies in or near the Steptoe & Son rubbish room. I’d not, Humph!
The laundry had not been returned yet. I’ll ask the Carer if they know where it is… as long as it’s not been stolen again, I’ll be content with that. Tsk!
A telephone call from the surgery confirmed the February Medicine Assessment appointment. Also, the change in the Warfarin doses, & the need to keep to them strictly. As the level is up and down, they want to know why.
I ordered some slippers from Amazon to stop people laughing at me when they called. Hahaha! They should be here tomorrow, about 22:00hrs. The chances of me hearing the intercom or being awake at that time are questionable, to say the least.
I found these photos of the morning shots that I had unaccountably missed earlier. Well, I say unaccountably, of course, the guilt will be shared twit, , and . With the wind blowing hard, I took these through the kitchenette window glass. The misshaped moon and reflection of whatever it was gave it an airiness? The wide shot of the houses qualified as terrible and artistic, I think? Hehe! It brought back to mind an arcade and Atari computer game of the 1970s. I can’t recall the name. Is there something about space?
The potato was selected to be used for the cheesy baked potato nosh. Got the mega-spud in the oven. Getting the ingredients together and the catheter day pouch emptied. Hours later, when the potato was nearly done, I got the knife and cutlery ready to cut the spud in half and mash it up with some Leicester Cheese, sea salt, black pepper and a knob of Flora no-butter butter… Getting the sharp knife, I, once again, knocked the box off of the shelf… Double-Humph! One of the cheaper knife blades broke into two, another the tip snapped off, not be seen again… (I anticipate finding it, or instead treading on it with no shoes on, later) Emptied the flesh into the mixing bowl. And gave the contents a food mashing up. I put a plaster on the cut fingernail afterwards.
Carer Chris called… or was it Carer Israel?
Finally, I got the nosh served up. I rinsed, put the pots in the sink, and took the meal to the front room. I very nearly had an . Luckily, I often do this; I was unsure if I’d left the tap running, so I went back to the kitchen to check… and I had! The plaster had come off of the finger and blocked the sink plug hole! The sink had filled virtually to the highest point. So I dived, moved the bowl, and yanked out the plaster. Saving the day and water-alert alarm going off! What a Hero! I ran the three scalded fingers under the cold tap and applied some Germolene. The finger had stopped bleeding, so it needed no attention. Back to the meal… eating it from the £300 second-hand shop purchased, c1966, welt-causing, uncomfortable, not-working, itch-inspirational, crumb-containing recliner, using the Carer Kara sorted out for me collapsible table. The cheesy potatoes were fantastic! The burgers were horrible. The wheatmeal rolls were okay. The HP fruity sauce… Eurgh!
05:45hrs: I tackled the removal of the stubborn attachment on the nocturnal and day bag and got it done by 06:00hrs. Hehehe!
It was damned cold this morning! Mind you, I’d not got the ankle & leg straps on yet. Took the first shot from the kitchenette window, and I knocked a bottle of Lloyds Tomato & Basil sauce off of the window ledge. It landed on my right foot. I may have cursed a bit? On the plus side, it didn’t break, missed my , and it was the only item that I dislodged. I disrobed and went off to the wet room. It was too early to use the noisy shower to get a stand-up wash and shave. I got the dressing gown in the laundry bag; it was well full now. I collected a pair of protection pants to change into later, and as I did so, I decided it best to check on the computer first to make sure that the Iceland order was not going to arrive while I was doing my ablutions. A rare moment of temporary mental clarity and memory activity there! Smug-Mode engaged temporarily! The session went well… Yes, that’s what I said! Only two weeny cuts shaving, mind you; there’s always something, and the gums gave me the only bother I had. Even getting the PPs on went almost easily. Great!
Confusion Reigns… I knew I’d got an hour and a bit before the earliest possible time for the Iceland delivery. So I was about to try to get the sink cleaned; I’ll get it done one day... And . Well, Iceland was well early? Within minutes of pressing the unlock button, a rattling came on the door from the food deliveryman. It did not register with me when he said do you want it in the kitchen, I said please, and adjusted my now rather loose dressing gown, and adjusted the day pouch that was slipping… and he’d put the stuff all over the kitchen, loose… this was when I realised it was not the Iceland man at all! He was from J Sainsbury, with whom I had a mess on last week’s order on Friday, delivering the order I’d made for next Tuesday, not today! He shot off, and I went into a semi-panic mode. I’ve got all this stuff to get in the fridge and freezer, but I knew it would fit in… and the Iceland order was also due shortly! It was hard work, but some fodder had to get ditched from the fridge to make room for the new stuff. I ended up taking a carrier bag full of short-dated stuff to the waste chute and ditching it. Then started rearranging things to use less room on the shelves and freezer, suddenly realising I had all the JS stuff to sort yet… These were sorted… Then these… I hope I can get the soda bread in. Great news here, though. The terrible foul-looking meat in a jar that tasted heavenly was delivered, Yummy! More sorting… I got some of the Anya potatoes into the slow cooker for later with the mushroom risotto. Took this shot of the blue-looking view. It wasn’t this blue; I can’t understand why it came out like this. If I remember, I’ll ask Tim from New Mexico later on.
Carer Marie, with a new carer with her, Sanamal and showing her the ropes. Marie is an angel; she said she would get me a pair of slippers from Primark when she goes to town again. ♥ Bless her!
Then, the Iceland delivery arrived. I had to empty the day bag as the chap took the bags to the kitchen for me. Thankfully, not a lot of frozen stuff. Some sauce was substituted, but I gave that and the bread I could not get in the freezer to Carer Kara later; she can hand them out to whoever she thinks. I had a heck of a job getting the fresh stuff into the fridge. I’d bought treats for the carers. Just look at the choc-o-block fridge now! Still, I’ll not starve. Haha!
I took this shot and got on with the blogging. For hours, and hours… it’s been seven up to now.
Teatimish, I took a couple of more… Through the glass of the balcony. The one above showed rejectionist patterns in the rain. Har-Har! How did it get a copy of the cars not in the shot, in amongst the trees and bushes? They look like ghostly cars.
Carer Christopher came, taking the wee-wee out of my peed-on several times and washing designer slippers. Haha! He dished out the medications, and as we chatted, I told him about my not being able to get at the hairs growing on my neck to shave them. We went into the wet room, and he dry-shaved my neck for me… I’m sure the bleeding will stop eventually. (Only joking!)
Back to the blogging. The blue sky returns.
Carer Christopher arrived on his last visit. I was just getting my dinner out of the oven and plated. He took it to the front room for me, and I forgot to photograph it. Mushroom Risotto with some Anya potatoes. Nothing like as delicious as the mushroom Risotto Sister Jane did for me in 1989. That was so good, I can still remember the taste of it! But it was a processed meal, so I couldn’t expect too much.
Zzz! But not for long… soon kicked off. He was vehement tonight, waking me up many times, & starting again within minutes each time I nodded again.
Making the late… or early morning meal, I dropped a saucepan on the kitchen floor. It took me ages to clean up the mess that I made. Accompanied by a few select curse words and name-calling to myself.
Cor, the urine bag had filled up sharpish again; It’s been doing that the day or so now.
I got my cooking hat on. Hehehe! Taking care of not having another ‘dropsies’, I added some potatoes to the veg mix, come stew. Added a jar of chunky tomato-vegetable sauce, some peas, and butter beans to the pan. Putting the last of the roast mini potatoes in as well. Stirring and tasting all the time. Grrreat! By gum, I enjoyed that! Washed the pots.
I retired to the £300 second-hand shop bought in 1966. moth-eaten, bedraggled, grotty, cringingly-beige-coloured, much-dilapidated, crumb-containing from my nocturnal nibblings, bug-ridden, itch-inspiring, not working recliner… get my head down. That was another farce. He was in good form. He really peed me off! I got about three hours kip but woke up needing to use the Porcelain Throne. Two extremes at the same time?
As I removed the night pouch, the urine was dark enough to concern me.
My first view shot of the day.
By the time I’d taken it, the day pouch was pretty filled again, so quickly? But a slightly better colour.
Took a second snap.
Arrived. We had a chat and laughed as the medications and jokes were shared. I took her BP before she left, and it’s all looking good!
I must try to get more slippers… maybe a few pairs if I can find some on sale at a reasonable price. Cause as sure as the Rishi’s Tories are condemned to lose the next election, go into near extinction, as they wait for the Labour masqueraders to financially cripple the nation, Legalise grass, and Nationalise the railways; I’m bound to have another escapade of fluid from the , via a burst, a leak, a strap coming undone again, or perhaps another messy . I think I’m averaging one unanticipated a week this month. Tumbles, faulty valves and walking into a door frame were the last three main reasons.
The next pouch emptying session, and there were so many today, was it back to dark again?
A sticky, gooey edge! Hahaha!
One of my worst ones ever. I read on my notes that the Carer called, yet I have no recollection of the call or who it was either? As I regained a degree of logicalness and awareness, I saw that I’d been working on CorelDraw and this blog. I found many errors in both, but I must have missed many more.
Over the next hours or so, the day pouch was emptied so many times that it seems I took photos of each one; they were on the SD card in this order; They started (apparently) a good colour but grew grimmer at emptying time. Fed up with this!
The clouds could be seen in the dark. The high winds maintained a presence for some time. Aircraft had been grounded – I’m not surprised at the speed at which the clouds were being driven across the night sky. It’s a wonder that they didn’t leave a contrail. Hehe!
Came & went for the rest of the night. Sort of mini-blanks.
I can easily recall taking this shot. I think my cyber-mate, Tim, would call this photo artistic, that’s not the word, but I can’t recall it now. Ten seconds ago, it was all in my mind, ready to type it, and it went AWOL. I can only pass on any praise to, supported by sweet .
. Just Bootiful! Thanks, Jane & Pete!
Another Mystery?
CK was unwilling to come forth, then, as he did, TT controlled the watery, almost splashing out into the Porcelain, stinky finale.
The last leftover vegetable stew was doctored with more borlotti beans and chunky vegetables.
Have a Magnificent Martian Meeting on Monday! In May 1959, Mandell Meggendorfer, predicted Monday’s date as the day the aliens will arrive, and openly reveal all to the earths masses. It’s too late to bet now, but apparently, one German bookie was offering odds of 1 million to 1 that this would happen. Just thought I’d mention it!
06:35hrs: Up and removed the nocturnal night pouch from the day pouch on my left leg. Read the contents label. It showed that 500ml of urine had been passed in a few hours of kip.
An early Blue-Hue shot. I seem to have taken two? Nobody told me. Hehe!
Wet room to get a wash and empty the half-full already day pouch.
Carer Christopher arrived and spent the rest of the day thinning I’d had a wash & shave. But, of course, the slightest distraction from the job in hand, always comes with the risk of forgetfulness.
Christopher has a new yellow bobble hat on. I resisted making any comments of a humorous nature. I liked it, and was jealous! Haha! Chris took a couple of shots of the ailments of the morning. The waste bag, the catheter, always filling faster than Rishi, is losing votes. Chris & her swollen knee for me, bless him. I got the diabetic socks fitted and medications issued.
The urine bag filled quickly again, and the colour didn’t look very good this time.
A bit of red joined the blue hue!
I got the computer going, and I had to empty the flipping pouch again. It was really full this time. I didn’t take a photo, being in a rush to get to the WC, in case it shot all over when I released the valve. Using the WC in the wet room did not turn out to be a good idea! I got into the room, emptied the pouch without any bother, felt a little smug about that… then washed my hands and turned… walking straight into the edge of the door I’d left open. Hitting the chin and shoulder at the same time. Tut! Needless to say, but I will, this set off . I am typing for the rest of the day… well, most of it. It is hard to concentrate, but it is easy to make mistakes. Of course, putting Phorpain gel on the shoulder, dropping the tube and treading on it, squirting most of the contents sell over my legs and the wet room floor, my two odd slippers ageing a stickiness and spreading it about so had to be taken off… then the flaming started as I bent down to pick them up for cleaning, didn’t have me swearing, cursing or anything thing like that, whatsoever. I was cool, calm and collected about the incidents.
I decided, rather sillily, to make an order for Iceland for the following Monday or Tuesday. I’ll check… It was Tuesday. Regarding paying, it went through the confirmation routine, and the bank sent an email;l with a one-off code to use… !!! Could I find my 1986 bought mobile phone? No! I couldn’t even hear if it was sounding. A semi-panic mode was engaged. I searched all over but without luck for half an hour or so. The code usually has to be used within so many minutes, and the time had run out long before I eventually came across the mobile. It was straight in front of me under the computer. But with my eyesight so bad, I did not see it until after searching the drawers and coat pockets and deciding to cancel the order; I found it when I got back to the computer. I tried again to pay, and sent another text message, this time I succeeded in paying up. Whether I blamed Cogniscent Impairment Iris, the waiting to have the Cataracts and Glaucoma Gladys done again, or just blamed my stupidity, it didn’t matter. I was feeling a little low again!
Yet another need to empty the pouch! How come this is happening when I’d not been drinking very much at all? Far short of requirements anyway.
I decided to make a brew of Glengettie tea. I opened a packet of the new large cookies with white chocolates on the top and black chocolate bits inside. They were far too sweet for me. Humph!
Took this shot from the computer chair. I continued making mistake after mistake and errors in typing on the computer. I’ve known for months that this was going to come as Peripheral Pete and the dying neurotransmitters got worse. But it was still a shock to find myself struggling so much. Now I’ll have to cut back on the blogging, no choice. So sad!
Off again. Still too dark as well.
I’m going to get some nosh sorted out. I’ll do some CorelDawing while it cooks.
I must get some size 8 slippers ASAP.
Another tsunami and the last two odd slippers that I have to wear will not be up to withstand another washing machine job.
To say that I was overly miffed and cursed an awful lot is putting it ridiculously calmly, compared to the anger, frustration, and even a short depression (Which, as you’ll read later, only got worse at the Whoopsies increased in frequency), along with the teeth grinding, which caused my toothache to kick off again and an even more profound than usual belief that is no God, and boy, did bloody well hurt like hell? (Which, after this outburst, may be my next port of call?) I almost cried at my pathetic, endless daily runs of bad luck. (A smidgeon of self-pity crept in there, methinks?) Understandably, in my case. Hehe!
Then, the spraying of the room, cushion and carpet. To try to limit any pong from the escaping urine. Then, I disinfected the well-soaked slippers, double-wrapped them and put them into the waste bag with them. Since having this damned fitted a year ago. that is the fourth pair of slippers I’ve urinated on and had to throw away. I have none left now… well, I have one slipper, and I had to put on an old walking slipper that had escaped the last flood from the catheter pouch eruption. Uncomfortable, odd-looking, and embarrassing, to say the least. Of course, it didn’t bother me. I noticed the valve was closed, so how did the wee-wee go AWOL? A dodgy valve on the Nocturnal pouch? A closer look revealed that the out-spout on the bottom of the pouch was not there! Well, Israel and I didn’t notice its absence. It must have been trickling out and straight onto the carpet all the time I was kipping... luckily that was for only just over three hours.
I am off to the wet room to get the urine pong removals seen, too, and then the task is done. However, despite the innards demanding that I evacuate, nothing, and I gave up and got the feet in a bowl of hot water and washing up liquid, with some baking soda added. Then, while the stinking feet were soaking, I started shaving. Only one tiny razor nick. Then, as I was taking my feet out of the water bowl on the floor… … Gave way as I took out the left foot. What followed was, to me, nigh on a miracle! Going over to my right, I grabbed at the seat-raiser handle… But I had the small towel on there and slipped off… No idea how I managed it, but I reached the far handle, twisted backwards and around, yet stayed on my feet. Fair enough I on the base, yet as I got upright, apart from a little stinging, but not a lot, from , I had no pains that I could sense anywhere else. I think I was so amazed at avoiding going over; it must have confused , & , plus me? I felt better straight away until I resmelt the urine when I went passed the room into the kitchenette. I investigated the condition of last night’s leftovers in the saucepan. Had a spoonful and decided it was not too bad tasting. I’ll have this for my nosh later on. Little did I know at the time it would be 13 hours time before I was around to eat it or what it would taste like by then. Then the pouch was ready for emptying, and me not drinking anything? Still, it’s good that the bladder seems to be working… maybe too well? Have the Finasteride tablets done their job so soon? Have I any prostate left to control things? Is this why the floods took place. Do I want to go to sleep tonight, or stay up watching the nocturnal; pouch? I took this morning’s picture of the blue-hued sky through the kitchenette window. Lovely blue hue! Of to the Porcelain Throne again. This time was a complete reversal of the earlier visit. Gawd, it took me ages to clean up. I’ve never had a messier, stickier, costly toilet roll evacuation in years. Haha!
Took this snap through the balcony doors and windows. Still a pretty blue hue on offer. Put the computer on.
It said it was currently -6°c in Nottingham. But the sun coming up now, and the rooftops were soon clears of the ice and frost. But I could still identify the houses that were most likely to be growing weed in their attics. The ice had cleared on the roofs much quicker than the others had. Note that, I slipped into a Sherlock Holmesian Mode here? Hahaha!. As I made a mug of tea, the door chime rang out its tune.
In came . He was in a good mood, but not about the cold weather, that he’d battled through to get to work, bless him. We decided that we didn’t need to attach any of the usual this morning. Because the legs looked so much better than they have done for weeks. He did put the diabetic socks on for me; I dared not leave them off.
over the next few hours while computing. But I do recall calling. She’d had an emergency to deal with and was running late, so she changed the pouch for me and will do the finances later in the week for me. A help as usual that gal is.
The sun was rising from the left. I took the chance to take this photograph that includes the Nottingham City Hospital in it. Grey and Cream colours to the right. The free-flowing bladder had filled its day pouch again, so off I went to empty it… sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Oh No! This is Inchy we are talking about! Stubbings number three, this time smack against the , of course, I took it like the heroic brave, courageous man that I am. I barely cried at all. Haha!
I went to make my second mug of J Sainsbury’s extra-strong Red Label tea and spotted some folk out in the cold on the bottom with their dogs. I got heartwarming, jealous and sorry-for-myself feelings all at the same time, watching them for a few minutes. Especially the lady with her two hounds, Little & Large, as they were about to enter the tree copse. And that is something I miss most of the things I am no longer capable of doing. I swear I could smell the distinctive aroma inside the copse, even after two years of absence. Sad!
Back again to the front room and my computerisationing. I took this shot through the balcony from inside. It seemed the darkness was starting to arrive, but the cold sun hid it a bit. Blimus! The bladder is still belting out the urine at a high rate of knots. I wonder if something’s wrong?
I nearly missed the sunset; I was so involved in struggling with the mistakes I was making on the computer. Took this snap and then went back to check on the Odes reading and grammar…
No… rather, a MEGA MONSTER that I’d done was found in CorelDraw. My weariness & tiredness were joined by a rather deeper depression now. Over the last week or so, I’d been making date graphics for the blog in advance and was pathetically a , at how well I thought I was getting on with it. But, No!
I’d made dozens of graphics for each of the coming eight weeks in advance to save time later. A cunning plan, I thought. But, No! Instead of February and March, I’d put the wrong month on every single one of them! And, on many of them, the right month, but the wrong day!
I was caught between the many options to take… Crying again, Swearing, Spitting, Howling, Thumping the wall, Committing suicide, Murdering a Parole Board Member, or Voting Liberal in the next election. I only carried out two of the options… I’ll not say which at this stage. I made do with a long period of . Still got it, actually!
Got some potatoes in the oven to add to yesterday’s leftover homemade soup. I had to sort out a good few pot-marked multi-coloured, spuds first. This one was the oddest, if that’s the right word to use? Then when they were cooked, I added them to the left-over vegetable stew; it smelt rather nice! Mixed them all together in the saucepan to heat up. Took a spoonful or toe to try the taste… good enough for me, but I added a little extra liquid sea salt (anchovies). Took this evening shot of the view from the kitchenette as I cleaned the oven dish and kept stirring the feast of stuff that was in the saucepan. Boy, the day pouch (Well, it wouldn’t be the night one, would it, Hehe!) had filled up quickly again, at the maximum, too, 500ml.
Got the nosh served up. And it was delightful to the palate. A banana and a pot of raspberry jelly for afters rounded the feast off rather nicely! Two enjoyable meals.
I must try to ring the District Nurse place about my day pouch filling so fast and repeatedly. It might be a good sign? But it is filling so fast that I cannot get to the hospital appointments in time before it backs up in the bladder. That’s concerning.
Carer Christopher on the last call. There was nothing to do; no painkillers or Peptac was needed, and the legs were much better. I’ll ask the nurses if I can stop using the ankle & leg straps, I think… providing I remember to ask, naturally. All that he had to do was for the night pouch to be added on to the day bag. I’m praying that it does not leak again tonight straight out the other end and over me and the carpet. PLEASE!
I grappled my way up from the itch-creating, bruise-giving, catheter-tube-tugging, crumb-decorated from my nocturnal nibblings, God-awfully uncomfortable, cringingly-grotty, no longer working, dirty beige, anti-sleep designed, c1966, second-hand bought for £300, ten years ago from the charity shop, recliner, and felt amazingly up for it. Took the photo above of the nocturnal pouch. Then…
However, by the time I’d spent on the crossword book and counting the acne and Excema clumps that had fallen on the floor, about 15 minutes or so… The day pouch had almost filled up!
Carer Shaquille arrived, and we got the medications sorted; no need for any of the ankle or leg straps this morning; I planned to get a stand-up wash and shave. I didn’t make it; that was due to falling asleep again for over three hours later on.
Got on the computer, and I got a visit from my Angel of Mercy, Hristina. She is so kind and understanding, patient too. I also believe she has a high EQ, for she soon picked up on my depression, and we chatted a minute or two after she’d painlessly taken the INR Warfarin blood Test. ♥ A Sweetheart!
The long unanticipated Sleep. How did I not wake up or fall off of the chair remains another of the mysteries of Woodthorpe Court, with the ghosts, wraiths, spectres, cacodaemons, apparitions, and other grotesqueries that haunt the hallways and lobbies, searching for Inchie to curse with bad luck, create ambiguities, abstrucities, perplexities, misfortunes and botherations, to scare. worry and confuse me! Cataract Kathie, Neuropathy Pete and Cognitive Impairment Iris were the main culprits. There’s others, too.
But it took its time.
I cut the fat off of the meat, and cubed it, ready to go in the vegetables later on. Mind Blank Got the veg and sauce in the saucepan. Added the meat, peas and beans, and stirred it in, with some chunky veg sauce.
Blimey, it was freezing out there; the nurse and Carers said so as well.
Made a mug of Glengettie tea. And started on the Ode.
Sister Jane rang. We had a little natter. She will call me later, in case I nod off before the Forest Cup match begins later on. It’s on TV.
Pretty delicate clouds.
An hour later, the darkness fell, and the sun rushed down over the horizon. Then I took a close-up shot.
I got the potatoes from the oven and added them to the pan. Good and crisp they were. Maintained stirring up and, at one time, added a bit more sauce. Enough there for two meals, sn tomorrows will all ready for warming up. Well, that’s the plan!
I got a phone call from the Doctors with the updated Warfarin /INR blood test results. The INR had dropped to 1.8, from 3.2. The dosages had gone up a smidgeon, as I expected. 1½ every night, apart from Thursday, that is two. I got the nosh served up.
Bootiful! Rich, tasty, lip-smacking good!
Carer Israel arrived. In a bit of a rush, he’s doing the last late call as well, as I got ready to watch the football. I took a photo of him that was the best shot I’d taken for ages. Whoopsiedangleploppery! In the morning, I found that I’d not got the SD card in! Grumph! Sister Jane rang to remind me about the match being on TV.
The Cup Match was between Blackpool (League 1) v Nottingham Forest (Premier Div, [as of now anyway]). Premier League side Nottingham Forest needed extra time to see off League One’s Blackpool in a thrilling FA Cup third-round replay at Bloomfield Road. Forest had looked to be cruising into the fourth round when Danilo made it 2-0 in the first minute of the second half after Andrew Omobamidele had scored in the 16th minute on his Forest debut. But Blackpool fought back in style at a raucous Bloomfield Road.
Albie Morgan, whose poor back-pass had led to Danilo’s goal, pulled one back with a great strike from 25 yards before substitute Kyle Joseph headed in from close range to make it 2-2 to set up a frantic finish. Then, in the eighth minute of additional time, Blackpool almost won it, but Orel Mangala made an incredible block on the goal-line after Karamoko Dembele had gone around Forest goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Early in the second period of extra time, the visitors retook the lead as Ryan Yates’ low cross from the left was turned in by Chris Wood for what proved to be the winning goal.
Blackpool boss Neil Critchley felt the goal could have been disallowed for offside and said the fact video assistant referee technology was used at the first match (because it was held at a Premier League ground)) and not at the replay was damaging the “integrity of the competition”. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will now play away at Bristol City on Friday, 26 January, in the fourth round.
Although sleeping with its usual broken nodding and waken routine, I was still in the second-hand, £300, c1968, overwhelmingly sickening beige-coloured, tatty, uncomfortable, wobbly, germ-producing, falling to pieces, food residue collecting recliner at 07:15hrs. And was almost annoyed when the summoning to the Porcelain Throne arrived and had to get up.
A decent amount of pee was passed! I can’t say the same for the rear-end evacuation on the Throne. Ah, well! A False Alarm, then?
I found this mystery photo on the SD later. What it was and why I took it remains another mystery of Woodthorpe Court, with the hobgoblins, spectres, gnomai, phantasms, ghosts, the grotesque succubae, extraterrestrials, ectoplasms, spirits, or the Fata Morganas, Cognitive Impairment Iris, & FND, that have been sent to taunt, irritate and terminate my already limited saneness of mind? You never know; I might remember what it was all about while I’m doing this blog… What am I saying… Tsk!
Washed, and I went back to the recliner… deliberately emptying the bags without checking for any nocturnally nibbled empty packets of crisps. Looking through the balcony windows, the ground frost was apparent.
Ti the kitchen to make a brew of J Sainsbury’s Extra Strong tea. And took the view above.
Carer Richard arrived, I can remember bits of the session clearly, but so many blanks remain. Even I can’t believe or understand why. Then a mild depression started due to this. I was losing what we’d said minutes earlier. But could recall the time he arrived?
I made a start on today’s ode. Concentration was good, and I knew this was going to take some time. Carer Maryam arrived. She said she was here to do the domestic shift. And a grand job she did for me. And, I can remember a lot of what the gal did and said. She cleaned the oven and the kitchen floor, tidied around, and had a go at the wet room floor but had to rush it a little as the time was up. Bless her cotton socks. Oh, yes, socks; I can recall Richard putting on the socks, ankle and legging straps for me now. And he checked the medication’s stock in hand and dates.
Back on the ode creating, which for some reason, I was struggling with. This annoyed me, as they usually flow pretty easily from my infected brain. But not today? After emptying the fast-filling day pouch… I got seated, and actually, no joking, I nodded off on the computer chair for I don’t know how long for. I woke up as chimed out, and Carer Marie came into the room. She was in a hurry today, but we did have a little natter, moan, and laugh, as she issued the medications. ♥
As the gal left, I got another hint that I needed to use the again, so I did. Haha!
It was a long wait, but I got the evacuation to start, and it needed some effort on my part to free the initial concrete torpedo, which edged its way painfully and bloodily into the WC; there followed a tsunami of almost liquid shooting out! I felt drained, and somehow or other, as I was working out what needed doing cleaning up and medically… I fell asleep again and sat atop the dark brown torpedo and brown liquid in the bowl. When I woke up, things had dried on the lower rear-end region, the stink was terrible, as I got myself sorted out first, a good cleaning, drying and Germolened the backside, I saw the clock, and by Jimminee, I reckon I’d been asleep for over an hour and a half, maybe longer. Another cleaning up session of the floor, porcelain and WC lid had to be done. Where did the time go? What day is it?
I got things sorted, went to the kitchen, and planned the meal of the day. Chips, peas and beef & gravy! A banana and pot of jelly for afters! Despite my frustration at the events and another bout of depression, I turned into a different person while eating this nosh. It tasted grand!
After Carer Chris called, I decided I’d had enough of taking horrible night photos and would do my damnedest to take some good ones! Well, that one wasn’t any good… Strewth, how many moons did I take? Haha! Wrinkles again. A misshaped moon too, but at least I got it looking vaguely like a moon.
Had a mug of tea, and… FELL ASLEEP AGAIN When I woke up, Carer Chris was in the room, taking off the leggings. I can’t say much more; I cannot recall much of what happened at all. After he’d left I realised that I had not started this blog off yet! Made a start, and now, at 02:45hrs in the morning, I’m up to here with it.
I went to check that I’d not left the tap or stove on, and decided to try one last time at taking a morning hot of the view from the kitchenette. Took the sky first, not very good was it… Again! That’s it, a semi-decent one at last! Well…
The stretched photo revealed (Just the bottle).
So weary now. 03:50hrs! I have the District nurse coming tomorrow, an Asda order, and someone else, but I cannot recall who, and I’ve not put it on my calendar. Humph! So, I do not have much time free tomorrow.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Could have done without the tumbles, though!– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Sister Jane sent me this graphic below, and quite funny it was, too, I thought!. Ha, Ha, Ha! I thought of a few more straight away:
LHA: Lost hearing aids.
CPF: Catheter Pouch Full.
ACA: Arthritis Cartilage Agony.
WDII: What Day Is It?.
LMDS: Laddered My Diabetic Socks.
LTVR: Lost TV Remote.
LTR: Left Tap Running.
DNC: District Nurse Calling.
FMDOBATB: Forgot My date Of Birth At The Bank.
ROPP: Run Out Of Protection Pants.
LCO: Left Cooker On.
FOG: Fell Over Again.
DMOT: Dropped Mug Of Tea.
FAOTB: Fell Asleep On the Bog.
TWTA: Took Wrong Tablets Again.
FAOTB2: Fell Asleep On The Bus.
LBP: Lost Bus Pass.
CMS: Cut Myself Shaving.
LMS: Lost My Spectacles. Hahaha!
I hope Jane likes them.
Another bad night’s sleep. Mid afternoon I was well out of it. Struggled to get this blog going. Hence, it’s now gone 22:00hrs, and I’m still working on it – mostly doing things wrong and making corrections. But the ode today did take me ages to do, and three pretty young carers distracted me somewhat. Haha! It’s only natural for a man with my sex appeal. Har, Haha!
More in the pouch this morning.
I made a point of not counting the empty crisp packets. But this did not assuage the guilt!
Off to get my done. The shaving had only one tiny nick under the chin. (I used this photo later as part of the Ode header). Getting the PPs on after finishing was a work of painful art. The Stroke and Peripheral Neuropathy affected right leg, which was joined by and in making the task one of the most painful jobs of the month. Boy, that leg did not want to bend or lift at all. Somehow, I eventually, with cunning, I might add, got them on. I got the towel and picker-upper, wedged myself in the corner of the room to avoid any tumbles, and lifted the leg ankle with the towel flipped over the ankle, while grabbing the PPs with the picker. I’m still amazed at how I didn’t go over, but I didn’t. ! Then realised I had not yet ointmentated the piles! No problem, I Germoloided the rear end, then , and Phorpain Gelled both knees. I think I did a good job, really. Yet another brief !
Carer Kimberly arrived. Took the laundry down for me. We joked about last week’s bag of laundry getting lost and never found. She later returned with this one… the clothes were there, but the new B&M bag it was in had been snatched, and a dirty old bag was left in its place! The diabetic socks were inside out and still damp, so I reversed them and got them on the airer. Kim helped me hang the dressing gowns up, bless her.
The Phantom bag & clothes nicking resident… Are they doing it for bedevilment? Twice on the trot now, so blatant! Compensation, can I become a claimant? If it happens a third time – disappointment… Annoyment, cursing and discontentment, Is someone turning belatedly delinquent? For warmth, on my dressing gowns, I am dependent, To stop these thefts, we must be diligent… Will I ever know where my washing went… I want my leg straps back; I’ll be lenient, I’ll not get uppity or militant, Though it makes me slightly malcontent, Could it happen twice, both an accident? It could be, or maybe, malevolent!
Carers & Nurses drinkie-treats, and the last remaining warm dressing gown hanging over the door.
The carer earlier helped me get the leg straps on. I took this photo in the wet room ages ago, and have only just remembered it. Tsk! Sad?
Gorgeous clouds in the afternoon. Plenty of contrails higher up.
I got and took three shots of the views in different directions. So that, my mass of foreign followers can both see how tight the housing is. Slightly to the right. Ahead… And to the left.
The close-up shots are terrible!
A few hours later, and this one was terrible! A little betterer?
I planned my meal for the night. The other pack of battered chicken that I forgot to put the SD card in the Kodak and took a photo of last night. I’ll have some chips with them, methinks. With some potatoes. Back in the mooring to catch up – I hope.
Mystery photo?
Last of the ‘I shan’t bother buying again’ battered balls’, with potato cubes, a pot of side sauce, ready sliced wholemeal cobs, and pickled green tomato salad, was plated and consumed. A late picture of the nosh. Part-eaten.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Last night must have been the worst one for me for months. It seemed to me I was waking up more times than falling asleep! Worse still, each time I woke up, I had other ailments playing up. With the over-bearing belief that it was about 04:00hrs or so, I had Violent up comings from , the bladder and bowels were both rumbling away, too. I could hardly believe it as burst from the door alarm, and in walked . It was gone 07:00hrs already! , along with the were having a go at me.
I did inform Maryham of how I felt. She then recommended to me that after she had gone, I get back to sleep. (Which I’d been trying to do all night) But only managed a few minutes each try before waking up again. Hehehe! She made sure I had the Alert-Alarm on, telling me to use it if needed. A very sensible suggestion, gal. No idea what I looked like, but I felt properly poorly, weary, in pain, & tired out. I was so confused, that I forgot to remind her about the new medications to take in the mornings.
The PM caller remembered and asked me if I’d had one, but I wasn’t sure or not. She checked the amount used, and decided not. So gave me one, only one a day, incidentally… Later on, when I’d started to feel a bit better, I looked up Folic Acid; and found some interesting things it is taken to counter. ① To limit hair loss. ② To help your baby’s brain, skull and spinal cord develop properly in pregnancy. ③ As a medicine used to reduce side effects treating arthritis. ④ To treat iron deficiency & anaemia. ⑤ We suggest that folic acid may play a role in improving the repair of peripheral neurotransmitters, nerve injury, and dying by promoting the proliferation and migration of Schwann cells, & secretion of nerve growth factors.
And all these years, they have told me there is nothing they can do to mend my dying Neurotransmitters? Peripheral Neuropathy?
No time to ponder on this now. I’ve just read the possible side-effects of Folic. SIDE EFFECTS – ANAPHYLAXIS Symptoms of anaphylaxis happen very quickly.
Symptoms include Swelling of your throat and tongue. Difficulty breathing or breathing very fast. Difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice, wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing, Feeling tired or confused, feeling faint, dizzy or fainting. Skin that feels cold to the touch, blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue. If you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet. You may also have a rash that’s swollen, raised or itchy. Sometimes it’s not known what caused an anaphylactic reaction.. Well, that takes a lot of sinking in. I’ve got the majority of the listed side effects already! I’m glad I looked it up now – Not. Hehe!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – It is not one of my best-ever morning view snaps. I tried again.
had kindly got the pads, straps, and diabetic socks from my feet. My plan was to get a shower & shave later. But I’d forgotten about the ladies from the social services who were calling on me later today, so the shower & shaving have not been done for three days now. Dirty, Boy!
I tried my best to concentrate on starting the blog… but it was not easy. had never been so vicious, loud or painful with his valve returning all wind up the tube, gullet, I mean. In fact, he was so noisy and forceful that it encouraged his partner to join in! At this very moment, I heard the access requiring hallway intercom tune playing. (I’d got my hearing aids in) It was the ladies from the Social Prescribing & Community Support team. They arrived and introduced each other to me. Very kind ladies, with a tendency to listen to me as I answered their questions. As , and was blasting away, so loudly at times, I turned down the hearing aids volume so I could hear their voices. Roger seemed determined to try and stop me from listening, as indeed, Stuttering Stephanie tried to stop me from talking. Hehe! The kind ladies’ names were Katarina and Belinda. During the question and answering, I had a mini , and a few minutes later, gave way. Which I think was a good thing, for them to see what I have to go through daily? Both were very understanding and patient. I think we agreed on some actions to be taken to get me more help, but am not sure what. A possible cooker that could not catch fire, I believe was spoken about. Assistance with travelling to and from medical visits. Many other things were discussed. But seems to think it best if I cannot recall them all now. But as usual, some things stick with me, and others fade quickly. A vague help with washing and dressing lingers in the brain, but, of course, I could be wrong. Doing this ode makes me realise that my spending so much money on Grammarly saves many errors, not all of them, but I think most of them are still being made & missed by me.
The ladies departed, and I got back onto the blogging.
I put the TV on and spotted that the ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ film was on. So I watched it for a while then I had a mug of Glengettie and dunked some of the lovely LU and Maryland cookie biscuits. But I soon lost interest, thought back to the ladies’ visit, and wrote down the details above, which I recorded on the pad to use later on.
Arrived and gave me the Folic Acid. Checked the taps and the cooker were not left on, for me. We had a little natter
. Well, that was different!
I had a look at my book of favourite poems. And, I found… A new best one for me pleasure.
Balcony views parade! End car park… With the least-ever mudslide! A close-up of the almost a puddle! The gravel footpath, into Woodthorpe Grange. Park, that I can no longer get up to visit my beloved tree copse on the left. A single young man walking on the far path.
The gal from the salon arrived at the flat, and she got my toenails cut. What a relief… it also relieved me of £30!
Checked the time, and got back to working on this blog again. I felt the pouch on the left leg pulling… Blinking Heck! Got it emptied just in time!
Going to get a meal sorted out now. Mayhap, I’ll get some lamb & mutton burgers… in the oven, with some… Pickled green tomato salad… Eat the burgers in sliced cobs… And, maybe a brew of Glengettie?
Back in the morning to finish this off… I Hope!
I made a rather pathetic-looking meal. I was not really all that hungry. I was so tired & weary again, but really enjoyed the lamb & mutton burgers I made.
Washed the dishes, checked the taps and cooker were not left on, and proceeded to nod-off and wake up again all night long! Humph!
