00:30hrs: Got up for a wee-wee; that was terrific, gobsmackingly, absolutely free! Grrreat! But releasing things ready to use the NWWB (Nocturnal-Wee-Wee-Bucket), I got myself in a tangle with the jammie bottoms cord. So, had to go and wash limbs etc., throw the jammies in the laundry bag, and get a dressing gown on. There was no point in getting back to sleep now; I was wide awake. Went to make a brew of Glengettie tea.
I tried to take a photographicalisation of the morning view. My first effort came off a bit smudgy, and the second one didn’t get onto the SD card at all! For the next one, I changed the selector on the Lumix camera to the night view option on the wheel first. This one came out acceptable to me.
While making the brew of Glengettie, my neurotransmitters failed, and as I was stirring the tea bag as well – So, over went the china mug of tea. Another fine mess to sort out! The one redeeming factor was that the mug stayed on the counter, so at least I didn’t lose another one. Haha!
Updated the Wednesday Blog. It cost me a three-hour struggle, with all the mistakes, and towards the end of doing it, the started, but this time it lasted for longer than ever before. Usually, they are over in seconds… but not this time! Peripheral Neuropathy Pete had never bothered me for so long, with so many incidents, some were quite serious. The first one was as I was stirring my tea bag, it’s hard to explain what happened clearly, but I’ll try: The Peripheral Nerves will suddenly not work, and occasionally they go on-off repeatedly. So the brain does not get a clear message from the neurotransmitters of what they want to do. Then the brain seems to guess but gets it so wrong sometimes. Imagine you want to pick some up that you know is very hot… you test it first. Well, it’s similar to that; the fingers keep nearly doing something and repeatedly miss doing it; why? I think the brain is preventing them. Hence I look like a fool, trying to pick up a piece of paper or anything really but just cannot get the fingers to do the right thing. The same if you want to drop or let go of something – you can’t; it’s impossible until the neurotransmitters send a clear message to the brain, suddenly they will, sooner of later, and things go back to near normal for a while… until the next loss of contact from the nerve-ends. The fingers are the worst affected, but it can and has, in the past, happened with the toes and feet and can easily have me over. The silliest and most scary to anyone seeing this happen is when I get what I call an . It’s the equivalent of doing the Oki-cokey; the foot will not settle back on the ground until the nerve ends re-contact. It’s always (up to now) the right leg. And with , it is always on the right side, never the left? I think that my having my stroke on the righthand side helped to create these phenomena.
The was needed as I entered the wet room with the clothes to change into after the shave and shower. Aha! The evacuation was a little easier today – Small blessings are all welcome! I fang-you! Unfortunately for me, the again. During this session, the counts increased ridiculously! I had some irritating and annoying incidents to contend with. But they were short-lived, and after the wet room activities, the nerve ends were back to normal, with just the usual odd ones catching me out. Nothing new there! Dropped the toilet roll into the water! I cut my gums while cleaning the teeth and broke off another bit of the shattered double molar. Four cuts shaving. Carbolic soap dropped twice. Hit my head on the power box and couldn’t find my glasses after showering. (They are still AWOL [Absent Without leave[)
Arrived. Yawningly, Hehe! It’s his last shift for a few days, so I wished him a good rest and much sleep. Got the medications sorted and managed a couple of minutes of chinwagging. Saw him off as he took the waste bags. I shan’t see him for a bit now. Hope he catches up on sleep.
I started on the blog again: it was darned slow work.
Then Windowman Joe arrived. Not getting much done today. We had a laugh and chinwag, but like lighting at cleaning windows, soon off and gone.
Tried to get some graphics done… Cleaner Esther arrived. She was in and out for over an hour. She kept nipping down to check the laundry. She cut me a hole in my trouser belt – I can now wear them with more confidence, Hehehe! Finally told me her new minimum rate of pay is going from ten to fifteen pounds an hour for doing the laundry. Humph! I could do little or no work on or for this blog. I could not concentrate on Esther’s incessant talking. So I gave up and listened to her.
Finally, she departed. Ah, now I can get on with the blog…
The landline rangeth… It was Sister Jane. We had a jolly long conversation, and I found out I was eating the wrong foods, buying too much of it, and should eat more pasta. Fair enough, she was right. But we had a laugh or two. Said out farewells.
And back to blogging...
It was the Asda delivery. The driver helpfully threw the items ordered into the boxes provided for me… this chap was a lot more careful about not putting things like mini sponge rolls at the bottom of the box; bless him. I thanked him and got the food and things into the kitchen.
The big items I bought were the Flash speed Mop and extra pads. There’s a reason I bought these, and I can remember why, too. Oh, YES! Mind you, I can’t remember who it was that extolled the virtues of the costly Flash mop… but someone told me how great and easy to use they were. Although on later looking at, but unable to read the small print on how to set it up and operate it, I’m already sorry I bought them! ! I left them in the hallway – and hoped that one of the carers may as me why and hopefully know how to set it up and work it. Humph! I thought I could smell bleach, and one of the bottles was leaking… So I got the box with the cleaners in it opened first to check... Yes, the bleach had been leaking! Grangknangles! I checked in the empty box, just in time to see the cardboard disintegrating, and got it in the sink. Tore it up… I didn’t know I had so much anger in me, but got the cardboard box pieces and put them in a large plastic bag, and I hobbled grumblingly out loud as I took them to the waste chute and deposited the bag. Coming back to the flat, I realised how childish I’d been and felt a fool for getting all hot & bothered over it. I envisaged my moving into a home for Dementia sufferers, and it didn’t seem that far away! I sorted out the food box next. The only item they had none off in stock was the tomato passata with basil. Shame, ’cause I’ve got none now. Haha! I’m glad they had some of the Soya lemon yoghourts, though; they are nice and tasty without being too sweet. The vegetable pasties that I tried last week, and they were good and tasty, also arrived. I do not remember ordering any fresh tomatoes or cooked chestnuts… but then again, my saying I do not remember – is becoming my catchphrase, I think. Hehe!
I got things put away… not the Flash Speed Mop, of course, and had a wee-wee. As I was washing my hands, I realised that I’d had the potato simmering away for over six hours now in the crock-pot! In the kitchen, I trundled and turned it off. The large potato had split open, and bits of flesh were floating about in the pan… Tsk!
I got back to the computer and started working in CorelDraw, making graphics, tabs and an Ode… I was doing well… I thought… which was rubbish, of course. CorelDraw kept freezing, and MS word, in which I was creating the ode, did the same? I gave up!
The landline rang and at the same time! I’m just lucky, I guess… Esther returned to get something she’s left, and I asked her to talk to the woman who phoned for me; cause I couldn’t understand a word she said! Neither could Esther! So put the phone down. Esther said she was trying to get me to join Virgin Media, I said I’m already on it… IT dawned on me after Esther had gone. A woman who I could not understand rang, but no dice with hearing what she said. When Jenny phoned me to warn me that Liberty-Global Virgin Media was going down on Wednesday, it did. I wonder if it’s going to go down again?
I’ve got so little done today. I’ve now been up now for 16hours. Frustrated at every turn. Evening Carer is due anytime now. I’m tired, hungry and pretty miffed off with things. And still way behind on blogging! Well, it’ll stay that way! I’m gonna get a mug of Thompson’s tea, then something to eat.
I took this evening shot of the view from the kitchenette window while doing the cooking… Blimey, I multitasked there!
At last, I made and ate a decent meal. This one was a gorgeous soya Frikadellen and a veg pastie, tomatoes, yellow and red ones, very tasty, sweet! Sourdough cobs, and a mandarin & lemon mousse. Oh, and a boiled potato. Lashings of BBQ sauce. Bootiful! Taste Rating: 8.9/10! However, in the preperationing for this meal… and … When it came to cleaning the Crock-pot used to cook the potato, The bottom of the base had been leaking! The metal plate underneath had split somehow. So, I no longer have a crock-pot. I saved the porcelain bowl and lid, they are fine, and they may be of use to someone in the flats or carers to have as a spare? I got the slow cooker into three black bags. I may have to take it down to the recycling bin in the morning. It won’t fit in the heavy-metal waste-chute lid. Shame! Then, I may be back… but I doubt it until the morning, with more catching up to do. Muckleworthiness and Crab-ends!
Morning Update: Chloe woke me up. We got the medications sorted out okay. I was still half-asleep. I recall walking to the door with Chloe, taking the waste bags for me; I locked the door and returned to get a meal made.
Had lost interest in me getting back to sleep. It took hours before I faded. Flibblegonknackles!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Panic-Modes – depressions – self-pitying, Doreen Dementia & Anne Gyna, combined with Frustration Frank today.To curse everything that I tried to do or find solutions too! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Woke up. (Well, it’s something to do, innit?) Got the waste bags made up took the overnight wee-wee bucket to be emptied, washed and disinfected, and back to the kitchenette to make a mug of tea.
And I started sorting out the fridge contents. As you’ll have noticed, the mind was a smidge wayward and wandering this morning. I took a terrible photo of the morning view as the day was getting brighter, the thought to myself, I do a lot of that, you know, Doreen Dementia permitting, of course!)
Made the brew of Glengettie and took it with me to the computer, and… a Panic Mode was engaged. What had I done wrong here? The time on the computer was an hour different to all the other clocks. I checked on the mantle top one, the kitchen clock, the wristwatch, and the wet room clock. In fact, I used the Porcelain Throne while in there – one word covers the experience – Solid!
Washed and back to the computer. Even I can’t believe this… but I phoned Jenny to see what time it was! Yes, I’d missed the clocks going back! Which explains why I was also concerned, thinking I’d not heard the Carer arriving. Tsk! It’s beyond sad; this is bad. Class One – Grade A – Docility-Status, Frustration and Self-Loathing modes briefly attended as well. Arrived, and looked tired again, poor lad. But he was bright enough, and after the tablets were taken, we had a minute nattering he was in a rush but still took the waste bags with him for me to the chute. Josie’s meal prepping next. I boiled a large potato, and when it was nearly done, I cut it up into Josie-size pieces, and got then sprayed with oil, and into the preheated oven to crisp up. I think Josie likes these in the chilli-stew. Which had been on the stove gently warming through, with 7-Veg sauce, tomato passata, onions and some chopped tomatoes. I hope she appreciates the effort I put into this for her. She rarely says thanks to me. As long as she’s happy. It’s getting harder and harder to do now. Still, as long as she enjoys them, I can ask no more.
What a great session that was. So many of my usual annoying ailments gave me a free ride this morning – And, as well, besides that, I only had one shaving cut, a tiny one. The were also kind to me. I may be laughing here, but it’s Worrying this is? Hahaha!
Grrreat Blood Pressure Result today!
Finally, and proudly on time yet again, I got the meals for Josie prepped and served up on the tray. A cold version in the grey-lidded tub so she can put it straight into her fridge to eat on Monday. Drinkies and after nibbles supplied as per... and off to deliver it to her door. There was a long wait, several minutes, and I pressed the bell again; in case she was in the shower and did not hear the first one. The meal was getting colder and colder. There was no point in me having heated it up for 30-seconds in the microwave before delivering it, was there. The main worry was is she alright? As I was going back into my flat to call someone about Josie possibly being poorly or having taken a fall… The door opened to reveal Josie. That was a relief! The casual semi-annoyed likelihood at me pressing the bell twice was, “I was on the phone, too, my Sister!” I think she was a little peeved? Ah, well, you can’t win them all. Hehe!
Finally, I got the Friday.. no, Saturday blog posted off. And had to have a break and sit down; the sudden fatigue arrived. I put two baking potatoes in the oven, and .
I woke up, and darkness was falling. I went off into the kitchen and took this photo on the left, of the evening view, in mid-stream of getting the potatoes out of the oven. I halved them and removed the innards into a large mixing bowl. Where the flesh was mangled and mashed with a blob of butter, sea salt and much of the gated Leicester cheese! The resulting meal from my culinary escapades, with the last cod and veg sausages, was one of my better efforts, I’m proud to say. The cheesy baked potatoes were the highlight, taste-wise. Stunningly tasty, the sausages were grand; even the cheap large white cob, which was used to wrap around sausages and dipped into the BBQ sauce, was a cut above my usual too. A Flavour-Rating of 9.3/10 was given! A record-high score, I think? Well filled up and satisfied by the feast… I .
Rudely awoken by , as (I think?) came into the room. Being half-asleep and not having made any notes, I’m not sure if anything of note occurred during the visit, but have a vague idea she was asking me if I was sure I was okay? Just being so tired gave the impression. But I was fine otherwise… hope I thanked her for the concern. Sorry if not, Jodie… also I hope I got your name right too?
But it was fitfully broken. So many times did I wake up and nod off again. I lost count of how many springing awakes I had. But, I was grateful that I got back into the land of nod each time. After the umpteenth time of waking, I needed a wee-wee this time. And the most annoying was needed as I was preparing to use the NWWB (Nocturnal-Wee-Wee-Bucket) with such a lot of PMAD (Post-Micturition-After Dribbling) that by the time I’d waited for it to all flow, I was much more awake, and started working on this post updating around 00:30hrs.
Someone said I should lead my life precociously…
So I looked it up on synonyms; Advanced, forwardly…
Before one’s time, improperly, preliminarily & brainily…
05:00hrs: I have never woken up like this before. The bursting back into imitation life was so violent, my whole body, and there’s a lot of it, you know; jumped up and landed back on the second-hand, £300, c1968, overwhelmingly-sickeningly beige coloured, tatty, uncomfortable recliner, and the second I realised that poor were bleeding, another problem arose. The need most necessitous need for the , this became crucially obvious. No leg stretching or balance exercises were considered. In fumbling-bumbling fashion, I somehow got myself to the wet room in what must have been a record time for me. I’ve no idea how I held things back in rush to get there on time, but I did! and I believe warranted in this case. Although as I sat there as the evacuated produce squelched its own way out, I became aware of a pain in the left foot , and I assumed I must have stubbed it en route, but in my panicky haste to get to the Throne, hadn’t realised it. No extraordinary pong or bleeding either, and also, there was no input needed from me. Why I almost enjoyed it! This incident had taken my mind off of the disasters suffered yesterday. But as I washed and got changed into the day clobber, the memory of the hospital letter came to the fore, and I worried about how I was going to cope and not make mistakes with it. I got cleaned and ointmentated. I was definitely in a better frame of mind than I was yesterday, but naturally, I was still worried about coping with the Cataract instructions, arranging the Easy-Lift both ways, can I find out what time to pick me up afterwards, have I got to use one of those listed in the letter transporters? How can get someone to go with me that doesn’t cost a fortune? Now, I’m getting myself worked up for nothing. Because there is nothing that can be done until Monday… and that’s if I can get through to anyone. Humph!
is starting to give me what for now. If joins in, I don’t think I’ll be any good for anything then.
I got on with updating the Friday blog. With all the details of the farces that took place and the worrying letter etc., Believe it or not, it took me a further nine hours to get it done! And then, before I made a start on this one! I fell a little and my thoughts got me feeling again.
Arrived and was in a positive mood. I feel my telling her about yesterday’s farces, and the Cataract letter should not have been mentioned. I think I must have sounded like an ineffective whinging old man! Which, fair enough, I am! But no need for me to advertise the fact is there. Sam asked me if she wanted me to ask… I’ve forgotten her name now, but the new lady in charge at Meridian Health and Care; to call and see me on Monday. My EQ warned me of staggering upcoming charges at this point. But I’m stumped; how can get free help? Sam selected her bottle in thanks, and Sam took the two waste bags with her to the chute for me. ♥
Many hours later, still, I was still updating the Friday burlesque happenings when the landline rang. It was my neighbour and friend Jenny. She is on Virgin Media, and she told me that she’d received an email telling her that the internet would go down on Wednesday, 2nd November, for maintenance work. She knew I was on Virgin and let me know in case they hadn’t informed me. I found out later they had not let me know. This all adds to the frustrations. I mentioned the Cataracts are being done on the 1st of November, so I may not be able to use the internet for several days until the eye cover comes off. That was kind of her. Thanks, Jenny! ♥
In fact, I started to feel a little out of it after doing some more work and finally getting the blog sent off. Afterwards, I tried to get into the WP reader. Oh, I’m in… but will it let me post comments and likes? I’ll give it a go? Grrreat! I Got on! Better get the Health Checks done, then. It is getting late. The evening carer is due soon. Better get the sphygmomanometerisating done. Better late than never. You never know; the BP might be lower now? We shall see…
It was lower as well! Close to the Amber Zone, no less! Only just in the Hypertension Red-1!
I put some imitation slices in the oven on a lowish heat.
And in came Chloe. Told her, not moaningly though, of the problems I have with the Doctors visit and the Cataract 8-page letter of instructions that merely confuses me. Also, getting the cash to pay for the lifts and which service I am allowed to use, then booking them. I’ll only have one day come Monday, to sort it all. Then I’ve got to locate the two departments I’ve to go to? Pre-Assessment Clinic, then the East Day Cases Unit Outpatients Clinic! Chloe did the medications and said she would also remind their boss, Tina, that I needed help. I insisted she chose a drink in thanks. She took the waste bag with her when she left. Telling me not to worry. Not to worry? Me? Mission impossible nowadays, that is. Haha!
Then, yet another problem came to my attention. I found that I’d got an Asda-Walmart order due for Wednesday, the 2nd of November, the cataract repair day! WHAT NEXT? So, I changed the order day on the web. It took me a while to work out how to do it. But, within an hour or so, I’d got it moved to Thursday. Worra life!
Added these evening photos of the amazing sunset, all taken within half an hour. The rapidly changing scenes were brilliant.
Dearie me, Then I whiffed a smell of burning… the food in the oven!!!
I got the slices hacked free of the oven tray and got the pan in the sink in bleach, washing up liquid and soda. Got the burnt offering slices and some fries from a packet on two paper plates and took them through to the computer. Pulled out the drawer and ate the burnt offerings while working on this blog. Not a wise decision after losing a tooth eating the same thing last night! But I got away with it.
Then the job of cleaning the oven, kitchen and pan had to be done. Was again reluctant.
I didn’t get any sleep at all. Didn’t even try to. Various reasons, Thought-Storms, Anne Gyna and frustrations niggling at me from within my own brain. I use the term brain, loosely!Mostly over my concerns over the timing of, or did I order, the EasyLink transport for the visit to the Doctors to get the results of the Severe Frailty Test. This left me confused and frustrated, and things only worsened as the day of confusion and error-making moved on. On the computer for many hours. Not that much got done. The concentration was again lackadaisical.
I got the done around 02:00hrs.
When I put the results through the NHS calculator online, well… What the heck happened here?
The highest it has ever been since I began using the site!
I’ve never been as high as this. I was in the Hypertension 3+ zone!
All the same, I was not too worried. I put it down to worry over the weekend. As usual, no help was available. Even if any ILCs (Wardens) had been on site, there was no guarantee that I could have contacted them.Anyway, even if I could, they could not contact Easy-Link, who do not work over the weekend, to verify the arrival time of the lift. I felt the tension and an uptightness, and Anne Gyna has been at me again, although not as bad as last week before the medications had been doubled.
I made the first mug of tea I’d had for over eleven hours. Not me at all! Mind you, after this brew, the old tea addiction returned.
Took this snap of the morning view. But didn’t appreciate it at all; I was still fretting (and EQ told me things were going to go ape-shit) over the lift arrangements and appointment time. Nothing positive, you understand, just this sense that I had somehow put them down wrong in the calendar.
The computer turned off, and I went off to the wet room. Not that I can remember much about it, but I think it went well. Made a second mug of tea, Co-op 99 this time.
Arrived.
We had a chat, some of it dedicated to ways of making things easier for me to grasp. The usual laughs and natter were granted by Richard. Not sure if we put the world to rights or not today. Hehe!
My memory notes a sparse for some reason… and unreadable in parts as well. Rich took the bags to the bin with him on his way out. Usual Monday thank-you treats were given. Oh, yes, I remember now; Richard helped me get the in-the-ear hearing aids going to use today; bless him.
I got myself and the things needed for the Doctor’s visit ready, and I was struggling through the door with the three-wheeled walker when I heard the phone ringing. I battled my way back inside, bruising my knee on the trolley and on the wheel. All the time, a voice (EQ), telling me not to answer it, you’re doing wrong! But I thought it might be the surgery or EasyLink phoning, so I got back and had to answer it. It was Sister Jane. Telling me about the Sun & Mon merging today. Of course, with all the concern over the bus and appointment timing, I was in a mini-panic in case I missed the bus. I forgot all about it until the morning when it was too late. I felt bad about that. After Jane had taken the bother to let me know as well. Sorry, Jane! ♥
Unfortunately, although I didn’t realise it at the time, this was just enough delay for me to miss the bus! EQ was right again. Why don’t I listen to him?
Faffed about in a hurry now, stubbing the same toe again. Down to the lift lobby. I went through to the main lobby, and it was 5 past 10. I thought the bus was due at 10:15hrs, so had plenty of time after all. But no bus arrived.
I waited ten more minutes and then walked to the ILC (Independent Living Coordinators), Oberstgrüppenfuhrer, Warden and Primo Ballerina, Warden Deana & Generaloberstess, Ice skating champion florist and Warden Julie’s holding-cell office. Through the ether, an audible, almost physical voice screamed at me, “Argh, it’s him again!” Haha! Julie phoned Easy-Link to see about the bus. Now I knew I’d just missed it by five minutes! Damn-it! Will I ever get to this appointment? Julie called the Doctor and got a new appointment made for me, bless her cotton socks. This one is for Tuesday, 1st November 2022, at 10:20hrs. Then she rang EasyLink again to confirm a lift to get there, but none to come back, as I just did not know how long I would be at the appointment. Thanked her. Coming out of the holding-cell office.
I bumped into Carer Richard. I was a little tense and so tired and disappointed at things going wrong yet again that I can’t recall exactly what we said during our chinwag in the Winwood lobby.
I went back to the flat along the link passage, into the flat, and got the timings clearly on the Google Calendar for the next Doctor’s meeting.
Deana had written a note for me to keep as a reminder as well. I cello-taped that to the end of the high bookcase.
At least I get some kip in now; surely, this would not be a problem after being up for 28 hours on the to now?
I’m certain, sure that I took a photograph of the Chilli-Not-Carne meal. Four Cumberland sausages I cooked, well, nigh on incinerated, by giving them a good 12-extra minutes or more in the oven. Had to chisel them out of the tray to get them on top of the dish. But the photo was not on the Lumix SD card. I can’t understand why, but in the morning, when it came to updating this blog, blow me, there the photo was? Mind you, it was one of the worst photos I’ve ever taken. Still, it shows the burned sausages and disgusting-looking chilli. Yet I enjoyed it. A taste rating of 7.2/10 was given to it. The sausages? 9.2/10 even though they’d been cauterised! Hehehe! Put the tray on the Carer’s table, and .
Woke me up an hour or so later. And I really was deep in sleep. So much so that I think my first greetings came out as gibberish and waffle! It took me until getting the medications and seeing the Warfarins in the pot to realise it was not morning but nighttime and that I’d only been kipping for an hour. Hehe! I came around a bit and offered Carolynne a cold drink from the fridge. Had to go to the door with her as she collected the waste bags for me, said my farewells and locked the door.
I got back down in the £300, second-hand, c1968, charity shop-bought, eyesorely-horrendously grungy coloured, Harold Haemorrhoid-testing, easily-falloutable from, unfit-for-use, not working, recliner, and was back in the land of nod within a minute I reckon. I slept for another seven hours! Yes! Mind you, my body and feeble brain needed it! Hurrah!
I was up out of the second-hand, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, microorganism-microbe producing, gungy, moth-eaten, beige-coloured, non-working, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, c1968 recliner on my feet, by 03:30hrs. But the mind was so confused. I could remember the night before how well I felt in body and mind as well. It was as if a different person had woken up? Paramount in my head was being so far behind with my blogging. And apart from when the Carers called, I spent the next 16 hours trying to get caught up with it. But, it was a failed mission I’d given myself. Mainly due to my making cock-up after cock-up with trying to rush the job. and made (that I know of, at least).
① Using CorelDraw to put some word info re the Ode. The CorelDawr progamme froze. I had to lose the progress I’d made. Turn the computer off, also losing the Ode I’d just written! ② Rebooted the computer, and some autosaved was available for the last used page. Opened it, and there were some bits of use on it. Then I had to save this one in a new name. Then find and delete the old one. ③ Then I got the Health Checks done. Copied the results on the NHS site and saved some graphics I could use to make up the finished product. But, No! The dam blasted Liberty-Global Virgin Media went down in the middle of it! How I hate that man, know-all Fries! Considering the salary he gets, he can’t even get his internet to work! ⑤ I had to wait for ages for the signal to return, then it was so slow! ⑥ I’d forgotten where I was when it came back on! ⑦ I made even more mistakes by getting all agitated and hateful of Fries. ⑧ Then, in the middle of mind-blank trying to sort things out, The kicked of with his tap-tapping and knock-knocking! ⑨ I’m afraid this was too much for me… Every knock he gave was returned by my trying to copy the noise with my Wooden-Wally Walking Stick against the top of the high bookcase. I’m not proud of this – but at the time, I even shouted out as loud as I could, “You Noisy *astard!” He gave me some more hassle later – which got the same response – but not the naughty language.
Not the best start to a day at all!
That’s all apart from the few things below that were not involved with getting on with the blog and making even more errors in it. I was fixated on getting it caught up with.
Genuinely worried about my lack of concern at the same time. As I said, it was like someone else ruling my mind. At around 2150hrs, I still hadn’t done any ablutions or even changed out of my jammie bottoms. What’s going off
Here is a quick rundown of the day’s non-blogging events;
Carer Sam arrived. Can’t recall too much of it, but I’m sure I must have mentioned how I felt. Had a Snowball as a treat in thanks. ♥
I got the finished eventually.
The days’ events took the shine off of the results. I was actually down in the amber!!!
Checks were done on the taps and fridge/freezer doors. Heaters and stove not being left on.
The late morning mist was lingering a little. I took these snaps of the view that seemed to look more like an artist’s watercolour effort than a photograph to me.
.Aha, sa trip to the Porcelain Throne was called for. After eight bloodless evacuations, it had to happen. Especially today… let’s cram some other Accifauxpas on the lad. ‘Humph!’ More blood from poor old than for ages. An almost grey-coloured torpedo slowly, bloodily and painfully escaped.
Many hours later, when I got around to putting the above snaps on, I found this photo on the SD card. I reckon I must have taken it when setting the Lumix before taking the two earlier photographs. An unintentional selfie of decent quality?
Then I also discovered the one below, of the car parking on Chestnut Way. I can’t recall taking this one at the moment, though?.
Evening Carer Charley arrived, her usual cheery self. I was getting the stuff out for a meal… this was at 19:05hrs. We had a natter and laugh for a minute when she’d done the medications giving. Cheeky-Charley selected a can of WooWoo and a choccy bar in thanks. ♥
At long last, around 2I:40hrs, I got the chilli meal sorted. Chilli, beans send 7- Roast smoked vegetable sauce added, and a pot of instant mash. Two out-of-the-oven part-baked rolls that went down well; and helped me to mop up the delicious, if a bit strong for me, chilli. Sweet Morpheus was resistant again. Cragknangles! TTFN all.
04:45hrs: I returned to the land of the limitation living. At the same instant, I required the attention of the . So did the balance exercises (that sounds so good, dunnit? Ha-Ha! They take about 30 seconds. Caught my balance, put the slippers on, grabbed Metal-Mickey, and started to go to the wet room? Blimey, the toes were tender this morning!
The evacuation was as soft as grease. No bleeding, and Harold’s Haemorrhoids were not stinging too much. I decided, as I often do on a morning when the Throne is needed so early, to get the ablutions done. And the went exceptionally well, so much so that a . One cut shaving… did you read that? Grrreat! Only the situation was of any real hurt. Mind you, I do have two of them, Humph! The fear is that will join in later on. She’s been a right nuisance these last three days.
I got Carer Richards bit on the server top; I just got the stuff from the fridge added to them later. Made a brew of Thompson’s Punjana tea and got the computer on. I was updating the Sunday blog but got another summoning to the Off to the wet room, carefully. I must avoid any stubbed toes now the ingrowing nails have started. What a difference this session! It was only 45 minutes ago when I last sat on the Throne. But this time, the evacuation was reluctant. And it needed much forceful input on my behalf to get it started. Once the bomb started escaping, it gathered great speed, hitting the water, splashing some water up my bum! As I stood to inspect the results, Hehehe! The main thing on my concentration was the pain from the toes – which soon changed. Temporary Boy had it bled! I was concerned about where the blood came from. An inspection, a blind one of course, of the rear end using the kitchen towels, and it soon became apparent that it was , but not the usual deep red, so I assumed it was the internal ones that copped for the tearing treatment? Certainly set off the stinging again. Washing myself afterwards and , the absence for the best part of a day, kicked off. That was when I realised that Harold’s externals were torn as well… Either that or I cut them when I started performing, Which raised an interesting question; Why can’t I wipe my bottom with the left hand? I’m a lefty at writing? Just a thought, like. Finished up and went back to the computer.
The snotty neighbour from above started his banging, and I replied each time with a bang back on the top of the high bookcase. Childish, I know.
Oh, I forgot to put the photos of the early morning view on the blog. So, here they are.
How does the saying go? Red sky in the morning, Shepherds Warning – Red Sky at night, Shepherds Delight.
Arrived, and he was making out things were not too bad when I inquired if his status. But the lad was coughing, sneezing and yawning an awful lot this morning. He’s got an extra call to make. Hehe!. I told of Fridays happening in the wind and rain, the Vampire foot girl cutting two of my ingrowing nailed toes, etc. But I gave him the short version, or I might have lost him as he fell asleep.
He left his treats until the next day. Took the three bags of waste to the chute and then returned to say a fond farewell to me. Bless him; he looked all done in.
I got the started. The figures returned were similar to yesterday. The body temperature was climbing again. SYS 168, DIA 77. Pulse was still pretty high at 89.
I made an addition to the Blood Pressure Chart. I put a caricature of me using with a paintbrush on it. Just for fun! Another day all in the Red Zone. This time back up to Hypertension Red – 2. It’s not looking good. When I went to the doctor in error last week, I mentioned this High Blood Pressure to Doctor Vindla. She didn’t answer, speak or acknowledge that I was there. At least she’s consistent nowadays. Tsk! I was going to mention Doreen Dementias’ part in my life. But what was the point? Then I finally got the blog sent off to WordPress. Made a start proper on this blog and; started on me again. Just as I feared she may. With Anne Gyna, and then when I stand or move bothersome ingrowing toenails, I don’t think I could handle anymore at the same time. This is bad.
At about 15:00hrs, an alarm went off, but only for a few seconds. It sounded to my ears as if it was in this room. But if it was the fire alarm for the flat, I’d have heard that, alright.
And her stabbing pains are getting more severe all the time.I’ll see how it goes but I may dial 111 if she doesn’t ease up soon. I took a Codeine; that might help… or burst the duodenal ulcer. Fed up? Me? Hehehe.
Oh, Testicles! I took some formatted frame text from CorelDraw to the blog – and lost everything when CorelDraw crashed. My language was sickening; I was so angry with myself!!! Grumbling, sulking, cursing… Grrr! It took me over an hour to get it back on track. Then another two hours to get the photographs I prepped for the blog back on from the SD again. Then I start to doctoring them again. and !
What felt like a week later, I got caught up. As if to spoil my pleasure, started again, but at least she gave me a small break… or the CorelDraw disaster may have taken my mind off of her? Then:
So, I’m going to get something to eat, the evening carer will be here in a while. I got some chestnut mushroom on the boil. Added liquid smoke and salt and simmered them for ages.Then got the sausages in the oven.
Lastly, as the other stuff I hoped would be about ready, I heated some Ben’s Korean Style BBQ flavoured rice in the microwave. This is the first (And Last!) time I’d this flavour. I got the bowl filled with what I thought looked like an appetising meal. But, Oh, No! Every single part of the meal tasted so strange, and a flavour rating of 1.5/10 was given after trying to eat it. The Korean Rice was far too strong for my palette. The mushrooms tasted, I imagine, like leather! The sausages, well, they tasted nothing like the ones out of the same bag that I ate last week? Horrible is the word. I couldn’t even eat the lemon cheesecake, one spoonful, and I felt sick! I must ask Richard to check the dates in the fridge for me, but he’s so busy.
I dished the more significant part of the meal into a food bag, a freezer bag, and a waste bag. While sealing it all up, I had a mammoth, chest-wrenching sneeze! And since then, has been in attendance! Still with me in the morning as I type this up!
Jodie arrived. Soon got the meds sorted, and I asked her to take my socks off for me, please. Got a raised eyebrow response, but she did remove them, bless her cotton socks. Chose nibbles and a drink in appreciation, taking the black bag with her to the chute as she left.
I took two photos of the view from the kitchenette window in different camera modes/settings.
They seemed to turn out pretty much the same in appearance?
The frames were different shapes.
I got settled in the second-hand, £300, c1968, overwhelmingly-sickeningly beige coloured, tatty, uncomfortable, wobbly-recliner. The tummy rumbled, and I had to rise to have a wee-wee. Back into the £300, second-hand, decrepit, Haemorrhoid Harold-testing, sleep deterring, nauseatingly beige-coloured, not-working recliner. And blow me, needed another wee-wee. Up again and over to the NWWB (Nocturnal-Wee-Wee-Bucket). Back yer again into the £300, second-hand bought, c1968, nauseously beige-coloured, not-working, rusty, rickety, crumb-holder of a tatty recliner. Mastered it this time. I was asleep in minutes… Bliss!
23:55hrs: I shot awake with a new problem on my mind… I’d realised as I lay there, unable to sleep due to the Thought Storms, that I’d got the Morrison order coming at the same time as I should be at the Doctors surgery this morning! I tumbled my rhinoceros-like but wobbly body from the c1966 recliner and got the computer on to change the delivery time. But it would not let me! I tried their helpline… Helpline? Ha! An hour later, after going through the reasons available that I could use, but finding none about delivery time changes, I got to a message centre on their helpline…Helpline? Ha! I explain the reasons for my wanting to change the delivery time to later in the day, whichever suits them. I even told them of my dementia and being partially disabled, thinking it might spark a bit of compassion and help. Then, later on, I was so glad to see a message from them in the inbox. “How kind of them”, I thought. This is the message I got back:
In a mess now, just don’t know what will happen or what I can do?
Did the Health Checks. 04:20hrs now, I must get the ablutionisationing done next.
The Blood Pressure was in the Hyper Red One again. The pulse had shot up, likely due to my getting all het-up again over my damned cock-ups with the doctors’ appointments, then the food delivery from Morrison’s.
Started. The end hook came off of the shower curtain again, which meant to replace it; I’d need to go from the wet room through the hallway into the end room and get the step ladders. Through the hall, back into the wet room. Then risk an climbing up the steps, no doubt cutting my finger on the hook as door usual, then get safely through the climbing down the steps, and back through the hallway to the back room and replace the step ladders. Back to the wet room. I thought Sod that, not with the luck I’m having. The teggie-cleaning went okay. The shaving was a smidge ridden. So many cuts that I lost count of them. Nothing serious, though. I enjoyed the showering. It was Dizzy Dennis, Shaking-Shoulder-Shirley, free, and headbutting the panel. I wasn’t about to go into Smug-Mode… Oh no! I dried off without knocking anything off of the floor cabinets, no .
Started a new tube of Daktacort cream to use on Little Inchies Fungal Lesion. & .
Germoloided At least there was no pain from this, just blessed, cooling relief. These tubes are now £6.50 each at Sainsbury’s. Humph!
Phorpain gelled both knees and then rubbed some into and around the ball joint.
Despite the cadaver colouring of my lower limbs, which I can worry about at a later date. (Well, maybe) The ulcers were the calmest they’ve been for years.And, the bloating had all gone now. Oh, and not a lot of bother from Peripheral Pete’s leg dances or any involuntary Hitler salutes either. So that was good!
Got dressed and went into the kitchen to make the first brew of tea, Thompson’s Punjana. I tried a different setting on the Lumix this time. Hand Held Night. I was not overly impressed. The screen said it takes several shots together to reduce blurring. Mmm?
All done. Now to get the things I’ll need into the pockets of the jackets.
No Carer had called. So down to the lobby for the EasyLink bus. It did not show up. I waited half an hour. Had a good look outside in case they had gone to the wrong flats block.
Back up to the flat. Morrison food arrived. I got it put away, put away.
Phoned Meridian about medications they are sorting. Scary! Nothing happened, of course. Stripped of the outer clothing and tried to relax a bit. Put Deana’s flowers in the sink.
Rang EasyLink. They said the bus was due at 10:00hrs.
I had to rush around getting the clothing back on again to get down again in time. I went through the link walk to see if Deana might be there, but she was busy elsewhere, on her own again. I got out and to the waiting driver just as he was about to give up on me. But he was a little early, bless him.
Got to the doctor in plenty of time. Went in and to the reception. It seems that I didn’t have an appointment today! What? Dr Vindla came to me as I was seated, waiting for a decision on what to do about me. She said she’ll do my flu jab, and took me into her room and did just that for me. Her lips curled, and a smile partly broke out as she stuck the hypo in my arm, sending me to the reception, saying I will be given another appointment for the Severe Frailty Checks. (The brilliant bit of this is that Nurse Nicole is giving the test! ♥♥♥ Yippee! Thus, I was given a fourth appointment (since August) for the Frailty Test! For Thursday 6th October at 09:00hrs. What are the odds of it being changed again after I’ve arranged with EasyLink for a lift? Cragknangles! I put the date and time on Google Calendar when I got back to the flat. Getting there was delayed by Lidl and my Shopaholic tendencies!
I walked to the Carrington Pharmacy. And bought a tube of Germoloid without really thinking. It cost me £7.49!
Then hobbled to the Lidl store, where I got carried away a smidgeon, buying enough stuff to fill a large carrier bag. Getting on the first bus was a battle; it was crammed with passengers, and I struggled with the trolley walker and the bag of food. Dropped off in Sherwood, and I limped over to the bus stop to catch the 40 bus up the hill to the flats. Got inside and managed to catch poor overworked Deana. Still on her own. She said she’s ring EasyLink for me about the lift tomorrow. Not heard anything yet, but still hoping to get lifted.
It looked a little healthier with the Morrisons and now the Aldi stuff in the fridge. Is that the right word? I’ve decided tonight to have the Frikadellen and sliced potatoes, with some tomatoes for the meal. It really is years since I’ve had these, back in the days before they even made Veggie-Frikadellens.
Phoned Meridian about medications they are still sorting, getting medications for eight hours ago sorted.
Esther turned up. I gave her an intimidating look that I could muster. (It didn’t work) and asked outright; How much will you be charging this week after helping yourself to my drinks and charging me £20 last week, because I’m short on funds! “Nothing!” she lied! Later she moaned about the machines being broken down and how long it took her to get the washing done and mentioned a fiver. So, I gave her all the change I could find, only £4.70. Later she went through my pockets and found some odd coins – Cheeky-Poo! So I gave her the 30p I was short, and a penny extra! Hahaha!
The New Meridian lady came up to see me for a chat. Nice patient, gal. She took the flowers down with her for Deana. Can I remember her name? No! Which is surprising for an educated young man like me. Ahem!
I was showing interest in kicking off. She has been known to throw a few mini-shakes for an hour, not often – but then the barm-storming ball-joint-wrenching shoulder shuddering starts in earnest. I can feel her warming up[ for one now!
The ticker rate was slowing down nicely. That’s the thing that worried me an iota. Was a bit of a pest still. Reflux Roger was giving me some sharp bursts of wind and some rapid outbursts of wind. Although they are now getting less frequent. Having a nice female in the flat is tantamount to taking CBD, you know? For me anyway!
Oh, I forgot to mention this morning’s after-shower session with Glenda.Will suffice!
I had a bottle of Morrison’s Raspberry & Blackberry Spring Water on the computer side. It was refreshing and is now about empty.The Roast Vegetable Risotto will do for tomorrow night. I’m going to dine well. In fact, I’ll get cooking now! I got the sliced potatoes seasoned and into the oven.
Then, fifteen minutes later, I got the Frikadellens in the microwave, and I cooked them for two minutes. Getting the potatoes out of the oven, as per usual, and I burnt my right thumb... Which was better than the left one. Cause of the Peripheral Neuropathy being on my right side, it was a painless experience! Hehehe! I think the neurotransmitters must have been out of touch at the time! Got the meal served up, and the only thing OI did not eat or enjoy trying to was the crap Morrisons substituted tasteless Danish bread; they did the same last week, but I gave that one away. I wish I had this one now! However, this meal attracted a Flavour-Rating of 8.9/10, all the same.
Sinead arrived as I was battling to stay awake to watch a ‘Heartbeat’ episode on Freeview. She was her usual caring self, bless her. Got the medication sorted and inquired what had gone wrong with the morning Carer, as no one had filled in or signed the log sheet? We had a natter, and I offered her one of the Special Mini Bottles I got from Aldi today. I thought they were dead cute, and Sinead agreed, alcohol-free Aperitivo Rosso. This gal has class; I can see that! ♥
Back to the TV after Sinead departed, I was brokenhearted.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I just thought I’d do you an Ode to cheer you up!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
05:30hrs: I stirred slowly back into imitation life. I had a desire for a mug of tea, a strong one. So this forced me out of the £300, second-hand bought nine years ago from the second-hand shop on Mansfield Road, Harold Haemorrhoid testing, repugnantly beige-coloured, crumb containing, virus-breeding, acne-giving, rickety, none-working recliner. Did the exercises and caught my balance, albeit not fully; I was a little wobbly doing to the kitchenette and got the kettle on.
Glad to see I had not left the hot water tap (faucet) running, no heat left on the stove, and had shut the fridge and geezer doors. The view outside was, to me, anyway, one of the prettiest for a long time. I decided to take some photographs. The Lumix battery was still charging, so I used the Fuji camera. A smidgeon disappointed with these shots compared to how they looked to my eyes – but then again, I have , and Achromatopsia Archie to contend with… the only excuse I could think of. Hahaha! I delayed making the brew, so I could get the done. A little higher than yesterday’s figures. Still in the Hypertension Red 1 zone, just but close to the Hypertension Red 2 zone. It seems my two-day sojourn into the amber zone has ended. SYS 157, DIA 71, Pulse 82. The body temperature at 35.8°f. That’s come down a fair bit; very nice!
I got the figures into the Excel graph and cut out the last few days to show the comparisons. The daily zones I’ve been in are looking too good, Six in the Reds but three in the light greens. So not so bad after all. Then I made a brew of J Sainsbury Extra-Strong Brown Label tea. Superb!
I got a waste bag made up and then went to get the ablutions done. No shaving, as I had one late last night, did I not? Yes, I did. Sounded the ♫Oh, Susana ♫ tune and came into the room. He was splitting the time between coughing and yawning this morning, poor bloke. I took a bag into the kitchen to get Richard’s treats packed up. As I got underneath the door frame, I collapsed on both knees! No dizziness nor Neuropathic leg dancing, and no idea what had caused it? Hit my head on the way down. And within moments, kicked off as well. It was a blessing that Richard was here when it happened. He got me back up and into a chair. The effects were, apart from Anne Gyna, not too bothersome. I took an extra painkiller, with the usual medications, and Phorpained both knees. The knees and head were soon cleared. It’s just that’s giving me hassle now.
Further…
① The flipping Lumix camera has stopped working again!
② The Fuji camera I left on this morning and the batteries are flat! Humph!
③ has started what must be a mammoth job. Not stop banging, tapping and clattering noises for bloody hours; he didn’t stop until around 17:00hrs!
④ My concentration was shot, and my anger and impatience grew!
⑤ kicked of with a fogginess never known. Is it not bad enough that had a tumble? , , and the cursed were making me miss shake and hitting wrong icons, which I could barely see anyway… my frustration and Herbert’s noise were really getting me uptight! Without the next cock-up:
⑥ I actually deleted all of the 80-40-0 icons from the computer! Permanently! I had to spend hours making new ones on CorelDraw, getting them on WordPress, and sizing each one of 32 tags individually before using them!
I am now going to stop computing and try to get something to eat. The evening carer is due anytime now – she or he will miss the pleasure of waking me up.
Fed-up. Peed off, in pain, struggling to see, and generally not feeling very good. If Herbert starts his noise again when I’m eating my food, I will be tempted to go up to the animal’s flat and have words, but I’m ready, through frustration and anger, to go a step further than words- which is a silly idea at my age. Of course, he may have had some carpet fitted or repair work carried out?
Well, blow me down with a feather duster! The Lumix us working again? This is baffling me. Then again, a lot of things do that nowadays!
Jenny called on the landline; the last of the glasshouse tomatoes had arrived, and she kindly said she’d pop some up doe me later on. ♥ Bless her. She’s so kind to me. Minutes later, burst from the door chime. Jenny had brought them up and left them outside the door. And they were super-duper tasty! She even skipped in a Cadbury creme egg for me. Hahaha! I made the meal; I sliced some tomatoes on a leaf-side tray. Just got down to eat it, and… Rang out! Got up and ventured to the door; it was neighbour Josie, bringing me some bananas as a thank you for her letting me down with the Sunday lunch. For the first time ever, she apologised for letting me know so late in the day. Bless her! I still ink her Sister is a bit of a bully towards her; what the Sister says, Josie does. I made light of it and asked if she enjoyed the reheated chilli. “Oh, it was lovely!” she replied. That cheered me up. I got down in the £300 second-hand, decrepit, Haemorrhoid Harold-testing, sleep deterring, nauseatingly beige-coloured, not-working recliner. And took the first forkful of the BBQ-flavoured rice, which was nice… , came in. She got the medications sorted, and we had a little natter and a laugh about something or other. Sam took her choice of drinkies and nibbles on her way out. I was going to get back to the now cold meal, but could not rely on me remembering to lock the door, so went and did that.
Tried again to get the meal eaten. I succeeded this time. Haha! Despite it being barely warm, I thoughourly enjoyed it.As I mentioned earlier, Jenny’s tomatoes tasted superb.
A Flavour Rating of 8.2/10 was given.
I put the emptied of all food tray on the Carers table and proceeded to watch an episode of Heartbeat on Channel 10 on Freeview. Ahhh!
03:25hrs: I so reluctantly stirred. I battled the willpower telling me to get up and get the ablutions sorted out. But I still rose delicately onto my feet and hobbled into the kitchenette and got the kettle on. I recalled taking a decent photo yesterday of the morning view – whether or not I did is in question. Anyway, crossing my fingers that the Lumix will still be working, I selected an option for the SCN choices for a nighttime starry scene. Unbeknownst to me, it then told me to wait for 30 seconds after taking the photo and not to move the camera. Haha! Me, hold anything still for 30 seconds with Peripheral Neuropathy? Not a cat in hell’s chance! But I did my best and had hopes of it coming out alright. As you can see above, it didn’t! So I shot the next effort in Auto-setting. Not so bad, but should have been better. a smidge disappointing.
I got the teeth, shaving and showering done. All went well, with no problems. The body temperature was high again, a new highest ever, I think. 36.2°f. Mmm? SYS at 144, DIA 71 and Pulse at 85 bpm. It looked like this was going to be another low; I put the figures into the NHS assessment site. In the res, I didn’t expect that. I thought it was a certainty to go in the High-Normal Amber zone.
But, No! It was in Hypertension – 1. But only just, so it’s still better than recently. So, things, apart from the temperature, were looking good for once. In fact, looking at the graph, an improvement. I got the waste bags made up. Then sorted the waste out of the three-wheeled-walker trolley. On the computer, and found I’d received a comment on a blog. Replied to it, stopped computering, and got some suitable clothing on ready for the trip to Bulwell. ♫ Oh, Susana rang forth from the door chime, and in walked Carer Jodie ♫. She looked at the Blood Pressure Health Check chart. And gave me another Temperature check, which was higher than the earlier one, at 36.70°f! So, she gave me a Covid Test. Nope, I’m Covid-free. A little concerned about these high temperatures of the last couple of days? Particularly with it being low every time for the last two years and four months! Gave Jodie some
I thought I’d check everything to take again… not that I’m over-forgetful, a ditherer, waverer, vacillator, or dimwit. I was so pleased; over-the-moon with the Lumix working. Now I can take snaps of the riverside, the birds, the Market Place today. I was almost getting gregarious. I took a photo from the window, but nothing showed on the screen. My heart sank, so tried again, several times to take pictures, each one to no avail! The day just went down to level three in the pissed-off stakes! I put the camera b battery on charge and had to leave it at home. Time to rush out for the Link minibus. Not in a good mood now!
The driver was looking rather annoyed as I stumbled out from the foyer on the ground floor. But he did not moan at me; bless him. We were pulling up at the Riverside Complex car park; it seemed to me in no time. Of course, I spent the journey nattering, and he couldn’t hear a word I was saying. A shame that!
Of how I wished that I had the camera with me. As I walked into Bulwell, the birds around the river Leen bank were bounteous and beautiful. I’d have loved to have taken some photos. Over the next hour and a half, I visited three stores, and I got a carrier bag of this and that from each one. B&M, Heron, and Iceland. Spent a bit!
Had I got the camera, I could have photographed the shop that I worked in back in 1962, a travel agent now. The butcher’s van with tons of meat on show. Most likely horses, judging by the cheap prices he was asking. Hehehe! The river Leen, not so many people around, and the fancy ducks and birds had abandoned the place to the many pigeons. Which is to who I fed the seeds. A fist fight near the no longer open toilets on the other side of the road between two blokes, the shorter man had a good upper-cut. It was broken up before any police arrived… mind you, that’s not surprising in Nottingham. Three women sorted them out, and the bloke wandered off and into the pub together, laughing it looked like?
On my hobble to the Centre to catch the bus, there were an awful lot of escooters flying about and some damned dangerous disability scooter riders!
The good news? Was that was as good as gold to me. And I did a fair bit of hobbling around with three heavy food-filled bags hanging on the trolley, too. At the centre, I sat down near the end door to and from the car park… When I say sat down, I mean clumped down! I really didn’t see how low they were, and I think , burst a few papules… well, I know he did. Tsk!
The minibus came dead on time; it was Beryl who lifted me last Friday. Bless her. Likes a natter, my sort of gal. I don’t know her real name. Enjoyed the lift home. Bade farewell and off inside the foyer of the flats. Where neighbour Josie launched into Sherlock Holmesian mode. Where have you been? Did you meet anyone? You’ve bought more food? Do you need it? Hold on, I’ll come up with you… Did you get yourself some bananas?
I was slightly dazed when I got into the flat. Hahaha! A drop of rain fell, but it only lasted for a few seconds. I got the things put away and ended up with a mightily cramped-up load of fridge contents. I think you must have noticed that the Lumix was working again? ! Definitely, I won’t need any substituted and short-dated food delivery for a few days or longer! I will have to ask Carer Richard to check the dates on the stuff in the fridge on Monday. Since I can no longer read many of the smaller-printed dates on such a lot of the things in there.
I’ll be spoilt for choice for a few days now. I did manage to get some of the drinks from B&M. I got a few non-alcoholic drinks of different types for the Carers and Nurses. A can of Mango Juice, one of Grape Juice. A couple of bottles of Coke signature drinks, which are Smoke flavoured? Cans of Rhubarb & Gin with Ginger Ale and a Passion Fruit Martini!
① Then things got back to normal. Huh! The Link Service called me to tell me that they are picking me up tomorrow, at 07:55hrs. To go to the doctor. Needless to say, I’d forgotten all about this. I’m not sure if it is the Memory Test, Severe Frailty Check or the Flu Jab? ② I thanked her kindly and checked the date on the calendar. Hmm! I’ve also got the Chiropodist at 11:15hrs. Oh, dear… ③ Then WordPress played up. And half of the screen was taken up with telling me the LinkedIn link needed updating. But it wouldn’t let me! ④ Kicked off with his noises again Concentration was hard enough without that uncommunicative, unamicable, unneighbourly, superior-natured, snotty, gits banging about! ⑤ Then I realised I did not have enough cash to pay for the bus in the morning! ⑥ Huh! I only dropped the spring water bottle, and it landed right on big toe! ⑦ Suddenly I realised it was a Saturday tomorrow. (I can be sharp sometimes) The problem is, most Saturdays… well, all of them, Carers come much later in the day. So I’ve now got to talk t.o whichever Carer comes tonight (Not always an easy task). And explaining that I needed them earlier tomorrow. Life is not easy when one gets older and is on their own! Problems that cannot be solved. I bet you they let me down in the morning, and I have to go to the doctor without taking my medications? That is, if I can solve the shortage of money to pay for the minibus with – if I can’t, the whole day is going to be a further problem-bringing nightmare! I’ve gone from almost contented to depression in ten minutes!
Blimey! The Carer is due anytime now. Just started to eat the meal, and ♫ Oh Susana ♫ rang out. had arrived, and I had to explain the cock-up with the doctor’s appointment timing. He rang into his Meridian Care HQ and told them. The man said: “You are getting an outside Carer tomorrow, so they should be early. It would have been better to have informed us earlier…” If he thought about who he was dealing with for a moment, someone with Vascular Dementia who has had all the appointments changed on him by the surgery twice, he may have found it unnecessary for sarcasm.
I ate the three-quarters of the now cold meal left, washed the pots and took these evening shots from the kitchenette window
.
I used two different modes to see which was best. Naturally, I forgot to write them down so I’m none the wiser .
Inchcock Blames the new medications for this Ode. They are called Talimogene Laherparepvec. He hopes he will never have to ask for any. How are you supposed to Pronounce it? Hehehe! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Having to boil kettles and saucepans cause the hot water is not hot. And the shakes and dizzies have been rampant! So no Diary as such, just bits I can recollect, and from a few scribbled unreadable notes. Sorry! Owing to many cock-ups and the camera not working for some unknown reason.
06:30hrs: I woke; it’d been another night of waking ups again. And I rose, dragging the superfluously elephantine-bellied body up on the poor feet, and caught my balance. And went to check if the hot water was hot yet. It wasn’t!
I mused over whether or not to have a shave in the lukewarm water… the usual decision-making routine. Humming and hawing, dilly-dallying and generally fence-sitting, procrastination took over. After last night’s mega-shaving nicks, I was dubious… but I went ahead again and had a stand-up wash & shave. Amazing how one can cut oneself so easily! Of course, during the shaving session, I had a and , which ensured that the blood flowed. The cold hop water did nothing to stop it from flowing. So I had an expensive Brute splashing session that did the trick, temporarily.
Off to the kitchen, intending to make a brew of Thompson’s Punjana tea. I got sidetracked by the moon that was still trying to get through. Took the wide shot and then tried to get a decent zoomed-in picture. So, you can see, I didn’t exactly do a good job of it. Humph! No sooner had I zoomed in; guess who paid me another visit?
I got the waste bags made up, only two this morning for Richard; if he comes, it should be. I got his treats, and thank-you bag made up, all bar the fresh stuff in the fridge.
Next, I got the done. Another giant leap for mankind! Hehehe! Terrible results! SYS shot up to 173, DIA a massive 146, and even the Pulse was an astronomical 98!!!
Not good, is it? Can’t wait until tomorrow to see if it’s back down again. I mentioned these fluctuating results to the Doctor last week – I didn’t even get an answer, scoff or tut from her? Yet Sunday’s figures were marvellous?
I got on the computer and got myself in a double mess at the same time, more or less. First, the photo reader was toying with me, but I kept all calm and went through the usual routine to try and get it working again. I’m so proud of myself; for making and keeping a list of what I tried last time, and I kept it handy in the left-hand drawer! As I was working my way through the actions to try… I realised that I must have scratched at the chin, and the blood was flowing again. Nothing like badly, just little streaks, but it took me ages and about ten sheets of kitchen towel and £3 worth of Brut to get it to stop! I know this is impossible, but I thought I heard laughing; hehe!
The morning Carer arrived, it was No-Yawning-Richard. He looked a lot better in himself today. I think it’s because it is his first day back after his break in shifts. He noticed the bloody tissues in the waste bucket. I informed the lad of the hot water being off for three days. Richard got onto the phone and reported Nottingham City Homes Maintenance of the problem without messing about. Told me they would be coming sometime today. Bless him. None of the other carers does that for me. So glad I gave him an extra big bag of nibbles and drinks now! He looked at the blood pressure, He didn’t do a wristlet alarm battery check, but last week if I recall, he did it on a Wednesday. He’ll not forget to. He’s a good lad, and seeing him more like himself was a pleasure.
After I’d bade Richard farewell and all the best, I returned to the computer. But not for long. Carol rang; she wanted to do the laundry. Lovely! The poor gal has been covering for Esther. Who decided to stay two more weeks on her holiday in South Africa, leaving poor Carol in a quandary. He thought she was away for three weeks, and she made plans of her own. Now she is struggling to get the washing done for everyone. Bless her.
Then, a memory blank fell over me. No more notes on the memory pad. I had to check on WordPress to see if I’d finished and sent off the Sunday post. Luckily I had! I think I lost about four or five hours. Not sure if any plumber had called?
Sort of came back to mock-life, and I was working on words for the Ode. So I carried on. I went to make a brew and found a cold pored mug of tea next to the kettle. I wonder when I made that? No milk it, stone cold! Also, a packet of BBQ rice was on the counter, and the oven was on… nothing in it! I got on and started this blog so late it was well into the afternoon; in fact, it was almost evening! Kicked off, and I’m nearly out of Peptac now. Not that it is any good, just better than nothing.
Jodie arrived. Again she came in without pressing the chime and came right up behind me as I was concentrating on the computer. She’ll give me a heart attack one day! I asked if Jodie could press the button before coming in (again). But all it got was a smile! Hehe! Still, She’s not a bad gal. I remembered the chocolate mints I’d been meaning to give her since last Friday. Got the medications given to me, and she was soon off.
Aha, the intercom lit up. Twas, the plumber from Nottingham City Homes Maintenance. He looked around and told me the additional switch in the airing cupboard had been turned off. Probably the Friday plumber who solved the leaking tap turned it off for some reason? Cause I’ve had no hot water since Saturday? He assured me that it would start getting hot after ten PM. GrrreatI Gave him a choice of thank you treats, and off he went!
I carried on with the blogging. At about half-passed ten, I checked the hot water situation. Still cold. I must be patient. I got the roast veg risotto in the oven and will add the microwave BBQ-flavoured rice later. Then when both are ready, put them in a dish and add some vegan BBQ sauce. After eating it, I’ll test the hot water again. Please be working!
Got the nosh sorted out. As planned, the BBQ-flavoured Ben’s rice and roast vegetable risotto. Some mini-tomatoes. A diddly pot of lemon mousse for afters. This was the meal of the year up to now! Fantastic flavour! Taste: 9.3/10!
Went to check on the hot water. It was still only lukewarm! . How disappointing! I think I may have sworn a little under my breath in frustration.
