Thursday 21st March 2019

Hindi: गुरुवार 21 मार्च 2019

00:25hrs. I stirred into the travesty I sadly call life. The visit to the Mary Potter Centre, taking over my thought processes (Such as they are). The removal and dismounting of my bulbous bellied body from the £300 second-hand, ci 1968 rickety recliner was more comfortable that it has been in years. Another Mystery!

I got my balance and checked the legs. I could hardly see any signs of the leg ulcer (That I have waited eight weeks for the appointment, and that day is today, Grumph”). The colourings had changed again, though. The chins had acquired a painful looking shade with a spotty rash. The knees were getting back to a more knobbly-warped, face-outline design. One leg had more fluid retentions than the other, but they were both of similar colouring. But there was no pain from them? Mind you; I wasn’t using them then. Hehe!

I laid out the tube, big shoes, paperwork all together in the hope that I would not forget to take them with me to the Health Centre.

I poddled painlessly, even the heels and soles of the feet were not tender this morning. Off to the kitchen and got the kettle on and did the Health Checks.

All this sudden bout of lack of pains is confusing me a bit.

The summoning to the Porcelain Throne arrived. So, off to the wet room. The evacuation was somewhat reluctant. But this gave me an opportunity to read some more of the Victoria Wood biography. There was no bleeding from the haemorrhoids today. How long can this go on for; Only the tiniest bit of bleeding from the fungal lesion. There was no bother from Arthur Itis, the soles and heels, Anne Gyna, Duodenal Donald. It’s not natural, and a bit confusing, too!

I even started to sing silently to myself, going through what words of my Frankie Vaughan favourites I could remember. Green Door, Tower of Strength etc. before moving on to some Dean Martin (June in January, The man with the mandolino) and Nat King Cole tunes (Mona Lisa, Unforgettable)!

Got the computer on and started this blog going, as far as here. Then I updated the Wednesday blog. Posted that one off to WordPress. Went on the WP reader page. Then on Facebook to catch up with the TFZers and post some pictures to the albums.

Got the brekkers sorted out. A bigger one today. Sourghdough tomato sarnie, marmite cheese buttons, bits of Melton Mowbray pork pie and vinegar potato sticks.

A letter was found in the hallway. ‘Electrical contractor will need access to the flat to secure cables to the heater from skirting boards, if necessary.’ The timing was given as, ‘Either Monday 25th, Tuesday 26th, or Wednesday 27th March!’

Got the ablutions sorted out. Black bags to the waste chute as I left.

I called at the Nottingham City Homes, Winwood Heights Flats, Oberstgruppenführer Wardens Temporary HQ, Toilet, Sarcasm & Insult distribution area, Rumourmongering Clinic. Tenants Socialisation Shed. Telling Inchcock off Zone. Things like china and pottery to be stolen from, and residents shed. And informed Pole-dancer and Warden Deana, of my having the INR blood test done on Monday 25th, and doctors appointment for the 27th. So, only Tuesday would I be in. Deana said she would pass on the message for me. 

I enjoyed a chinwag or two with my fellow alcoholic tenants in attendance. Hehe! We had a few laughs and exchanged insults.

Caught the bus down into Sherwood, crossed over the road and caught an 87 bus to Carrington. It was cram packed, I had to sit on one of the side-saddle seats, clinging on as best I could. But, it was only for about seven bus stops, before I got off at the end of Gregory Boulevard. I had to walk back to the pelican lights, where I was nearly knocked over in the students rush to get to the college.

Then I walked back towards the traffic island, and got over the dangerous crossing there, without any hiccups.

I began the hobble along Gregory Boulevard.

As I limped along slowly, I was well ahead of time at this point, and the memories came flooding back to me. There were precious few Nottinghamians making use of the Forests greenery this lunchtime. The stubs of the metal fencing that was removed in the first world war for munitions. The charity fancy dress football match I played in for the RAOB so many years ago… and I never got to touch the ball the entire game, and my mate Michael playing in the bath towel that imitated a nappy, Hahaha! Goose Fair, Billy Smarts Circus, the long-gone bowling green, the gals who granted me a walk in the bushes and trees (well, one did!), last months stabbings… ah, memories.

My sad indulging in the wool-gathering session came to an abrupt end when I noticed this Herbert of a Nottinghamiam Pedal Cyclist coming toward me, while he was texting on his phone! This annoyed me, he wasn’t even looking ahead! Although he did stop once or twice. As he passed me by, still using his mobile, I tapped his shoulder and said “Oy, bad enough you’re using the #+?~#/g footpath, but look where you’re going at least!” But my childish outburst was ignored completely.

As I got a few hundred yards or so further on, another Nottinghamian PAvement Cyclist came from behind me, and his bike hit the bag I was carrying. He just carried on, likely not even aware of what he’d done. I contained myself and did not raise my voice at this animal.

Mainly, because I was checking the vial of urine, I was told to take with me, to use if it had been broken open by the inconsiderate slime-ball on the bike. But, oddly I could not find it at all? Oh, dear, had I left it at the flat? I decided to have another search when I arrive at the Health Centre, which was only about five minutes away. Well, for a fit youngster, it took me ten minutes to get there, at hobbling-speed. Tsk! The feet were painful again.

I found this photograph on the SD card later. I can’t recall why I took it?

I arrived at the Mary Potter Health Centre, and it was a larger place inside than I imagined it would be. As I got the camera out to record the breadth and length of the hallway with the reception/helpdesk at the far end, I espied a notice informing me that it is not permitted to take any photographs in these premises! Shame!

I was thirty-nine minutes early, so I called at the Help Desk (Not that it was very helpful initially). There was just the one chap who overtook me and got to the desk first, and I stood behind him, a fair distance so as not to hear what was being said twixt the bloke and lady assistant. They chatted, with the assistant not looking too happy about things. Later she disappeared into the back room, leaving the chap looking annoyed for some reason.

Twenty-minutes later, the queue behind me had grown to around twelve people, the man was beginning to look annoyed now. The other behind me had begun a muttering campaign, that was getting louder by the minute.

Ten-minutes on and one of the security guards looked over, and came to ask if he could assist me… or rather said: “Wot can I do fer yer, youth?” I showed him my letter, asking him for the location of the said Treatment Rooms. He pointed out to the stairs and told me I need to go up to the first floor, adding, thankfully, there is a lift around the back of the stairs I could use. I thanked him and went to the elevator. Pressed the call button for the first floor, and arrived upstairs. Where the layout was distinct, but I stopped at another reception desk and showed them the letter. The lady pointed to the chairs at the end of the corridor, I thanked her and went and got myself down in one of the higher chairs. Got the crossword book out, and a nurse arrived within minutes to collect me. She led me through a maze of corridors to the treatment room. I made notes of the route we took so I would know the way back out later. Clever stuff, eh? Hehe!

I got to the room and sat down as instructed by one of the two very nice ladies in the office. A Q & A session was carried out. When they were asking about the leg ulcer, I got the camera out to show them photographs of the wound and legs in their differing daily conditions. It transpired that the younger of the ladies had attended Winchester Court, and had had a tour of the Winwood Court?

I still could not find the vial of urine!

They explained bits of what they were to do, then I sat on a manoeuvrable trolley. Rolled up both sleeves, and trouser legs. I liked that, hahaha! They placed BP cuffs attached to the four aneroid manometer gauge and inflation bulbs, to both ankles and arms. They spent half-an-hour taking a reading from both right sides, then all variations possible of other options, they got the results and recorded them. Then, they took BP readings for each toe.

After a confab between themselves, they told me that the blood is still getting to the feet. It is possible that Axonotmesis is causing the problem if so, there is nothing that can be done about this. I looked this up in the following morning: Axonotmesis is more severe than neurapraxia, with complete internal disruption of axons, loss of axon continuity, and demyelination. However, the epineurium, perineurium, and endoneurium remain intact. Glad I did, Hehehe!

They asked about what Nurse Nichole had told me about help with the stockings. I said it was a ‘something’ glide, to help put on the stockings/socks easier. The lady kindly fetched one of these guides from another room and proceeded to show me how it worked. Adding that they were ordering two pairs of the elasticated legwear for me. They must be hand-washed daily, and never put in a dryer. I am concerned on how I am to get one pair dry in a day without heat, in time to use it to replace the other one I would be wearing in time? But I failed to mention this, my being whimp. Also, because she said I could search for these on the web and buy some. I can use this frame with loose-top socks as well, these are machine washable but expensive, I can try Amazon to buy some from. I’ll check these out in the morning!

I have to collect the Sock-Donner from the chemist, along with the socks. This picture is the nearest I could find on the web, that was anything like the one they showed me how to use, which I will be getting. The layout workings are similar. The NHS one had thicker stronger square tubular tubing, is bright green and a lot stronger and durable looking to me. It has a snap-on grabber at the back, to trap the sock tops once you have inserted them in the grid. It is much larger too so there may be less bending down to use the NHS one? You can use it from seated. That’ll be betterer. Could be fun lifting the leg up, but far less hassle than what I have now! Carrying it home from the chemists should be fun, especially on the buses.

I’m looking forward to getting and trying it.

I thanked the ladies and gave them a bag of nibbles, which I am pleased to say, tickled them pink.

Said my farewells, and still got lost on the way out. But I found the stairs and used them, coming down in the different area to that I went up from. Haha! Klutz!

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I hobbled along Gregory Boulevard and turned right onto Radford Road and made my way to the Asda (Walmart) store. Where I came out with, a can of hot dogs, Polish sausages, custard pots, sliced brown baguettes and two fresh-cream horns (Naughty!)

Paid at the self-serve checkouts, needing assistance when I blocked the machine somehow.

Out and to the Tram Stop on Radford Road. When the transport arrived, I had to sit on a side-saddle seat again, and they are a lot smaller on these trams, you know. Not to mention much-harder on the haemorrhoids!

I arrived in town, with only fifteen minutes before the L9 was due. So I had a nip down Queen Street to get some pictures of the happy-go-lucky, gay, abandoned Nottinghamians in the slab-square area.

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The bus arrived, and I got on, the only passenger. This will not help the campaign to save the bus cuts, will it! No other residents got on the bus either en route. When I arrived home, a few folks were wanting to get on the bus. When I got back to the modernisation-mayhem of my beloved Woodthorpe Court, I took a few snaps of the entrance area.

Off course, by then I was done-for, tired, weary and not up to doing anything. No health checks were done. I intend to do just one a day from now on. (On advice from Tim Price). 

I did ring my neighbour’s door, to hand her the strawberries. I hope she likes them.

Got the chips in the oven cooking. Then I got the trousers then socks off. A bit painful removing the socks, though. But I felt a lot better after that.

I got the meal sorted out and served up. Brown baguette, buttered and sliced up some Sicilian tomatoes as filling. Chips and chicken mini-sausages. Initially, I put a pot of lemon mousse on the tray to have afterwards, but I remembered I had the fresh cream French horns, (Ahem!) to have.

Which were horrible, and after two bites, the second nibble was to convince myself of how terrible the first one really did taste, I didn’t eat any more of them. Eurgh! Very disappointing!

I thought I could hear the sounds of a police helicopter.

So I had a look outside but could see no signs of any emergency vehicles whatsoever.

Took the medications with a Furesomide tonight.

The legs felt a bit fuller than of late.

Having taken the pills and medicines, I spotted a little white smoke on the distance. It seemed to be coming from near the Hadyn Road/Hucknall Road junction area.

I flaked out on the £300 second-hand rickety recliner within minutes of getting settled.

I slept right through for around six hours, waking in desperate need of a wee-wee!