Thursday 4th January 2018

Swahili: Alhamisi 4 Januari 2018

0120hrs: Up and lively too. Hippy Hilda was not over-bad at all. Confusing, but cheering at the same time. Went for a wee-wee.  The wet room light still flashing, nictating, almost sparkling on and off permanently – I could not stay in there.

Got the laundry ready, a big bag this time, and went down and got it in the washer, took a couple of photographs outside the foyer door, and back up to the apartment.

Started the computer and got some nibbles ready for the Social Hour later. I must remember three things: Tell Obergruppenfureress Warden Deana about the circular flashing light tube, ask about Friday and if I can be absent for the heaters being blocked off, and something else I can’t recall?

Down to move the things from one machine to the other, and started another small load of washing going. I stayed down there while the second amount was washed, reading the English Words book. When finished I moved the damp wash into the dryer with the others.

Back to the flat and into the wet room.

The Virgin internet had gone down! Again I might add! I tried all I knew to fix it, but with resulting failure. I got out the Virgin folder and found the help number and rang it. It was a recorded voice requiring many option button to be pressed. Hearing this voice was not easy, but the message was “All seems right at their end” Told try a to pressing the reset on their box. If that didn’t work, turn off and leave for four minutes and replug. Ring-back if you are still having difficulties!

So I tried this advice. Still no connection. I gave up and went for a heavy-duty session.

The herky-jerky wet room light decided to go off completely! It would now not work at all. Alas, it went while I was making use of the Porcelain Throne. Sat there in complete darkness, half-way through the session, too! I stumbled about to find the toilet roll, knocking over the deodorant, bleach and disinfectant, then tripped against the floor cabinet and tumbled to the floor, clouting the top of my head against the other box. I think I said something to the tune of “Well, fancy that!” Then cleaned the mess and me up. Well annoyed and frustrated now! Tsk!

All this faffing and arfing about, I turned everything off. Back down to collect the clothes from the laundry room.

I’d not noticed it earlier, but the state of the washer I’d not used was disgusting.

Had a while to wait for the dryer to finish, and did my best to clean out the gunk and dried solid soap powder from the input drawers.

The outer casing had soap powder, and liquid cleaner dripped all down the front. As you can see in the photograph, it didn’t come up very good despite my efforts. As for the floor beneath, even I could do nothing with that. The annoyances so far, the light, the Accifauxpa and Virgin internet going down had got me in dark mood. Other days this would not have bothered me.

I got the togs out of the dryer. Cleaned the filter.

A bit larger load than usual, that took a bit of extra folding.

I’d emptied all the clothes out, and during the folding session, I found I’d got an odd sock again! Checked inside the dryer, nothing in there. This didn’t bother so much as it typically might have. But the last article I folded was the dressing gown, and the miscreant sock fell out from within it as I shook it ready to be wrapped. Hehe!

Up in the lift and home. Put away the washed washing. Started the computer and tried to get Virgin Internet on, once more, went through the turning the router off routine, no success. I wanted to spit! Also, I could feel the gentle rumblings in the stomach indicating that I may need another visit to the Porcelain Throne soon. This concerned me somewhat, risking going in the darkened or flashing like lighting, filled shower room again!

Around 0730hrs, the door chime tune (Dusty Springfields ‘I only wanna be with you!’) rang out. It was the Morrison’s delivery bloke. Not seen this one before. He kindly carried the bags into the kitchen for me and collected last weeks bags.

The cream cakes I’d ordered for Joy’s (I think that’s her name) birthday arrived in excellent condition. I got some for Jenny and Frank and the Warden Obergruppenfurheresses as well, with some sourdough bread. I got the stuff into storage and the hand-outs in the bag ready with the nibbles.

I got the NHS Cardiac Patient questionnaire filled in and into the envelope. Six big pages of it.

Had a think about how I was going to get the ablutions done. No showering in the dark would be risked. So I had a stand-up strip wash at the sink with the door open. Did the teggies.

Then took the shaving tackle into the kitchen along with the Daktacort cream and pain gel. Had an uncomfortable shave, and treated Little Inchy who was bleeding still, but not much and applied the gel on the dodgy areas in need. Hippy Hilda, the knees and wrists.

The lump on the head from the fall was a bit tender.

Cleaned up the kitchen and returned the stuff back to the wet room.

Then, belatedly got the morning medications and Health Checks sorted and done. Took the medicines with a warm drink for a change. A beautiful mug of the Extra Strong English Breakfast tea-bag. Nice!

Still annoyed at the loss of the Richard ‘Rich & Robbing’ Branson Virgin Internet, I tried once more to get it on. No luck – Globdangerations!

I assembled everything in the bag and checked them. Cream cakes, nibble box, DVDs for Mary, jars for the recycling bin, notes, the NHS form etc. to post on the way out.

Feeling a little down with all the problems suffered. But told me to appear happy with everyone at the meeting, cause they will all have difficulties of their own to cope with.

I called in flat 38 on the sixth, no, the fifth floor, on the way down, to give Mary some cakes and the Seagal DVDs. Bless her!

Out into the drizzle and wind. Dropped off the jars in the bin. Doing well here remembering stuff. Haha!).

Got to the Obergruppenfurheresse Wardens and Social Hut. Well early I was as intended, so I could see Deana and get some help with the list of things I’d taken with me. Some tenants were in there waiting on the warm for the bus to arrive. Jenny seemed in good spirits and health and greeted me.

I got to see Deans and explained about the internet failure and asked if she knew of any reliable computer wizards, but she did not. Informed her of Friday’s cock-up with my arranging to go see Sister Jane for her birthday and finding out I’d forgotten about the radiators being isolated on that day. Deana said she would let them in for me. Phew! I added the wet room light. Deana said she would call them as long as I would be in. They will be here in no longer than four hours, and to let her know when I leave the Social so she can call them. I thanked her.

The meeting went very well. Joy got two rounds of Happy Birthday, presents and a cake with candles for her to blow out. All great stuff. When I got the raffle tickets, I handed them both to the Birthday Girl with her cream cakes. She said they were her favourites too! That cheered me up!

I found out from Jenny, that her Richard ‘Rich & Robbing’ Branson Virgin Internet was also down this morning as well! This also gave me hopes of it coming back on later.

BJ arrived, and we managed a little natter. Mostly me complaining about things going wrong, I’m afraid. I handed out the nibbles.

I left early, offering my farewells to all, and remembering to call at the office and tell Deana I was on my way back to the flat.

Got in and tried the internet again. To my greatest of joy, it came on at the third attempt! Hurrah!

Updating this post on Google Chrome, WordPress won’t work on Firefox it doesn’t save at all. And to my dismay, WordPress stopped saving on Chrome! I tried opening it in Firefox, and it was now saving on that, but not on Chrome? Totally confused I pressed on with crossed fingers and an in an irritated mood.

I’d taken two-and-half hours to catch up on this diary. No signs of the Nottingham City Homes workmen to replace the light in the wet-room yet?

The test results arrived. The next one for Tuesday 16th January, they left it for two weeks this time, cause the outcome at 2.4 was very close.

I went on email and requested an appointment for as early as possible with the surgery. Done that.

Now I’ll have get yesterdays blog finished. What a day. Up 12 hours plus and only just getting around to this! Accifauxpas, Whoopsiedangleplops, Internet, Chrome, Firefox failures and problems, no light in the wet room and I can’t do the ablutions! Grrr! Humph and Curse!

Well over four hours since I was told the light in the wet room should have been replaced. It’s dangerous using the Porcelain Throne in pitch darkness, and so messy having to wash in the cold kitchen and moving stuff around to do so. I hope they do arrive, even if I have to wait up till late. That’ll do me a lot of good, waiting up and they do not come!

Ah, well, I’ll try to get caught up on Facebook first. Thank you, Mr Richard ‘Rich & Robbing’ Branson of the ownership of the pathetic Virgin Internet! Boo!

I got the camera and left Facebooking when the Fire Brigade arrived.

They were here for a good while. No alarms activating in the flats, but that is not unusual.

I’m pleased to see that they searched for and found the offending driver of the Mini, and got him to remove his car parked in the Emergency Vehicles Only chevroned area.

They apparently had a few words with him.

Moments later after they drove off, boy did the rain come down!

But did this discourage the workers out there on the hoists and scaffolding?

Not a bit if it.

They pressed on drilling and banging and knocking as if there was no rain or heavy winds at all! Brave lads, who wanted to finish the job! Heros each! Must be on piecework?

Opened Facebook again, and the intercom rang out. It was the chap from Nottingham City Homes come to replace the light in the wet room.

And look at it now!

I’ll be able to apply my creams, corticoids, Enoxaparin injections and lotions much more accurately now.

Mind you, seeing my face in the mirror more clearly when shaving, might be a bit of a shock for me. Haha!

I is different to the old one, I hope that it will not cost more to run.

Back to Facebook.

Getting so tired out now. It’s been a long and stressful day for this Nottingham Pensioner. I’ll have to try and catch up with WordPress reading, time, health, computer and internet permitting tomorrow.

Carried out the Health Checks and took the medications.

Just too drained to do any ablutions.

Getting the nosh prepared now.

In the recliner, tray on knee, TV on, headphones on and nodded off.