Tuesday 2nd January 2018

0150hrs: The body stirred, and waited patiently for the reluctant brain to activate. As far as I could tell, only Hippy Hilda was giving me any pain worthy of mention at this stage. When the grey-cells joined me, I was having difficulty in the disponibility of my thoughts, plans, worries and fears.

There lingered a sense that I had been dreaming and wanted to recall it. But no memories and no scribbled notes on the now crumpled notepad I found between my fluid-filled thighs and the £300 second-hand recliner. As I moved to manually try to raise the right leg, affected by Hippy Hilda’s determination that I should not do so without excruciating pain. I became aware that the now broken pencil was also down the side of the arm of the chair, and doing its best to lodge its pointed end in my bum!

Bent forward manipulating the leg by the knee, the pencil pressed against the right buttock, I got in a pickle as to how to and what was the best way, to avoid setting off Hilda, and avoiding the splinters of wood from the half-pencil penetrating the skin of my rear end at the same time? I failed entirely in this. The leg fell, and Hilda let me know, and the pencil drew blood as it punctured the fleshy skin.

“A good start this,“ I thought. By 0205hrs (15 minutes from waking-up) I’d managed to get myself perpendicular, in pain, yes, but I was up. Even I had to laugh at myself. Off to the wet room to check things out.

There was only the tiniest speck of blood from the rear-end pencil wound with no pain whatsoever. Hippy Hilda was doused with the Phorpain Gel, and the Porcelain Throne utilised. Messy! Unfortunately, Little Inchy had been bleeding again. I cleaned up the place and me and limped to the kitchen.

Got the kettle on.

Cleaned the pots from last night’s delicious plate of fodder.

Made a strong-brew of Yorkshire tea and then I did the Health Checks, all looking very fine to me this morning. Actually, despite the earl Accifauxpa and Whoopsiedangleplop, I felt surprisingly good at this stage. Even the scepticism drifted from my brain. Mind you, a lot of stuff escapes my mind nowadays, Hehe!

Stuck my head out of the window to see what the weather was like.

Drizzling a bit. But it did not seem as cold as of late, although I felt it was nippy in the flat despite the four heaters all blasting away in a fashion that will upset the Bank Manager.

The vehicles looked parked better, too. This brought to mind that I have an INR blood test to get to for 0930hrs today. No buses till 0930hrs, so hobbling is the only choice. Not that I mind the limping along, for I desperately need to get out and some exercise after being stuck indoors for three days without a bus service to use.

Got the computer going and checked the weather forecast.

It looks like I might get another soaking like the last blood test I went to, it’s gonna rain! Hehe!

Not looking forward to that then. I got on with updating and finishing off the Monday diary, then started on this one up to here.

Then I sorted out the nibbles for the nurses at the Sherrington Park Medical Surgery and the GUM Clinic. Should have plenty of time to get there and beg then have a look at Little Inchy. Oh, I’ll check on the web for the drop-in days… Ah, holidays, no drop-ins this week.

Made sure I’d got the Health Checks lists, mobile phone and camera in the coat pockets, the Anticoagulation Card too.

0700hrs: Ablutions tended to. I pondered on how long it is taking me now, to get the socks on. This, the hobbling and the falling asleep early will possibly result in four-hour days for me soon. Haha!

Set off at around 0830hrs, brolly in the carrier, remembered to take the INR card, gloves, brolly, nibbles, camera and mobile phone with me. Also, I put two empty jars in the bag to drop off at the recycling bin on the way out.

As I exited the flat into the elevator area, there were four workmen with parts of some old heaters working there. I greeted them with a genuinely cheery “You’re doing a good job lads!” Three ignored me and one cast a glance in my direction that said: “Silly old fart!” with a practised degrading-casting look up and down my torso. I’d say almost up to the Lidl staffs standard, but not quite.

I got in the lift and down to the foyer. Tenant Roy was having a fag near the doors, and as usual, he did not have his hearing aids in. Since I’ve been in residence here, this had turned up some humorous exchanges – but I think this one takes is the most confusing. Me: “Morning, Roy, everything okay mate?” Roy: “No, she had a shower!” Hehe!

Although I didn’t realise it at the time, I waddled off down the road wondering what it might have been that he thought I had said, and forgot to drop the glass off at the bin.

The Obergruppenfurheresses Portacabin was still locked up when I passed, and the site was jam-packed with new workmen putting out parking cones and moving heaters from the compound to various flats.

I did notice that the external work to the balconies and windows was still on hold.

All bare of bodies on the hoists and scaffolding on this dark, dank and miserable morning.

I expect the Wildlife Preservation people will call sometime today about the bats?

I pressed on along to the end of the road and turned right down Winchester Street Hill.

Where I had a bit of a struggle, with the foot that sticks out and carrying the heavy bag, to get through between a lorry and the fencing. He had apparently parked up to await a timed delivery to Willmott-Brown?

Onward down the hill and I cut through a road.

There was a small squirrel on a low wall, who didn’t seem bothered when I got out the camera and zoomed in on him or her.

The moment I went to press the button, he was off like lightning flash. Hehehe!

I thought squirrels hibernated? No doubt I’m getting all confused again with some other creature or other.

Up the slow gradient on Mansfield Road and over the crest, down towards Carrington.

Arthur Itis and Hippy Hilda both in a decent mood with me at the moment. Only Anne Gyna to worry about for now.

From a distance, I spotted a van parked on the pavement. I hoped it would be moved by the time I got down to it.

As I approached the vehicle, a man came out of the garden, gave me a good stare, and got it and started the engine.

He pulled out onto the road crossing three lanes of traffic and getting some horns blown at him in response to his dangerous driving.

As he passed me, he shouted something to me, but I don’t know what it was he said. I did understand the sign language he used, though. Naughty!

Aha, a clear pavement to plod along to the surgery on.

But, is that a Nottingham Pavement Cyclist I see in the distance heading my way? It is!

I took a risk in photographing this rather large cyclist.

He was totally unimpressed with my actions, nearly hit me on my right side as he sped past. He even said “Morning” to me as I was doing my best to get out of his way. And with a cheeky grin on his face. At least I think he said “Morning” to me. You never know do you, it might have been something else he said? Hehe!

I got to the surgery and went to register with the receptionist, who was busy on the phone.

So I got a prescription form filled in for Little Inchies Daktacort cream while I waited.

I think I might have had a funny turn then. Because I sat down and got the crossword book out, and the lady asked me what it was I wanted earlier? Blown if I could remember asking her anything?

Within minutes my beloved Nurse Nichole came out to collect me.

As she was taking the blood, Dr Vindla came in and asked me why I had put Codeines on the request form. I could not remember doing this. Further proof of the likelihood that I’d had a funny turn. Yet at the back of my mind, I thought there might have been something else I’d asked for? She departed, giving me looks of suspicion and distrust. Nurse Nichole had a chinwag and laugh after she had gone, and I gave her the bag of nibbles. The Doctor returned, and we spoke about Hippy Hilda and Little Inchy. She is to send appointments to me when she gets them, for the GUM Clinic about Inchy, and the City Hospital about Hippy Hilda. She handed me the prescription for the cream. I said my thanks and farewells and departed. With Nichole’s feature firmly in my head and foibles.

Its been a hectic and busy day so far. Irritations and memory losses, been attacked and insulted, nearly knocked over and glared at. Hehehe!

I took the prescription to the chemist and got it filled. Then hobbled to the Lidl store. I should have known better really. I bought three cheesy cobs, Lime & Mandarin yoghourts and some cheese slices. Foolishly I used the self-serve checkouts. Where I have never done without a problem and had to summon unwilling help every time I’ve used them! Today was no exception. Having got only five items to scan, I thought, At last, success! The bill was precisely three pound. I put in a £2 and £1 coin. And the pound coin kept getting ejected, five times!

There were two Lidl trained experts gossiping nearby. I asked for help. One of them ignored me totally, the other tossed-up his head as if to say, “What?” He deemed it fit to meander over to me, and using all the Lidl staff training expertise, said “Huh!”. I told him about the coin being rejected, and this man actually used real words to me. “I’ll Gerrit changed fer yer!” He won’t last long at Lidl like that. Haha! He returned and threw a £1 coin into the tray and said, “There ya!” and wandered off to resume his natter with his mate.

Out to the bus stop and waited for one to arrive. I was dropping off in Sherwood minutes later. Boy, could that driver drive!

As I alighted the bus, I had to walk around some Nottingham Street Art in and outside the shelter.

Kebab and chips, I think?

A sad sight a few yards up the hill on my way to the Pelican lights.

So, we had a new cafe opened and two more units closed down in Sherwood this week!

Over the road, and into the Wilko Store. Where I invested 90p in a nail brush and sponge. ♫ Hey, Big Spender ♫.

Out and up the road, and called in the Card Shop, no, Card Warehouse it’s called. To see if they had 2018 diaries on offer.

Ended up getting one laid out like the one I bought last month. But much more substantial, meaning that writing and reading will be a lot easier, and just 50p more than the little one.

Something else to sort out now. Must get all the details transferred from the old one into it.

Out and up to the bus stop. Had about ten minutes to wait for an L9 bus. The rain started to drizzle, but I got myself under the shelter in the corner.

Although it doesn’t show well in the photograph I took of it, but there came all at the same time, seven buses!

Never known that before.

As these cleared, the home-bound L9 arrived.

In minutes I was getting off at Chestnut Grove, home at last.

A lot of workers but not many tenants about as I walked to the foyer.

I got in and had a wee-wee and put the Daktacort cream away ready for later in the wet room.

Had a wash and got the cheesy cobs out ready for having later with some smoked bacon. Mmm!

Got the computer going to update this post.

What a confusing, annoying and angry-making farce! I’d done up to here on it, and for some reason, it would not save! I ended up losing it all from where I left the flat! Grrr! Humph and Globdangerations!

I had to contact WordPress helpline. No idea what they were saying, or instead, telling me to. Kept losing contact with them. What a shambles!

Spent well over an hour with them and eventually after moving and trying Chrome instead of Firefox, it came back on. Still not Working on Firefox though.

Then I had to redo it all again! Gnash!

Just finished it up to here now.

Feeling worn-out and confused, I got the cobs and bacon served up.

Found pieces of stuff in the fridge that was at the end of their use-by-dates and piled them on the plate.

Ate at most, 30% of it.

Atrocious. 3/10 rating. Might have been all the hassle over the WordPress mess that had put me off?

Herbert at it again with the knocking tapping and scraping noises, but not for so long or frequent today.

Got the TV on, but for the duration of my so-called viewing, I spent far longer nodded off than awake.

Remembered I’d not took the medications or done the Health Checks, so I fought off the tiredness, battled to get out of the recliner and did them.

Don’t recall much else, so I must have got down and nodded off.

What a busy, mayhem Whoopsiedangleplop, poorly making and wearying day!