Monday 2nd July 2018

Albanian: E hënë, 2 Korrik 2018

0500hrs: I woke after very little sleeping, and the initial thought activation informed me that I needed to get to the Porcelain Throne with as much haste as was possible. So I did. Escaping the £300 second-hand recliner was relatively pain-free this morning.

The evacuation was of prolific proportions, but minimal bleeding from front and rear. 

Washed and got on with the Health Checks, and made up last weeks record on Excel.

Took the medications and made a brew of tea, then started to update yesterday’s Inchcock Today. This took a few hours, too long. For it meant I did not have time to get the ablutions tended to in time to catch the bus to get some bread and milk.

So, I made a start on this blog.

I must say, I feel a lot better than last night. Come to think of it, this should only be expected I suppose. With the horrible depressing, lonely weekend gone and being a Monday, I have a chance of social intercourse with someone today, with the family. (In the block of flats).

I was slightly concerned when a summoning to the Porcelain Throne came again. This time Harold’s Haemorrhoids did bleed, but ‘not a lot’ – as Paul Daniels used to say. Hehe!

I got caught up to here on this blog. I thought I’d get the ablutions done, then have a walk up and through the Woodthorpe Park down into Sherwood and catch a bus to Arnold, where I can do a search for fresh pod peas, sourdough bread, and spring water. Of course, I shall not buy anything, not on my shopping list. (I can do this… I can do this… I can do this…) Hehehe!

I tried to clear up some of the tiny beetles that were all over the kitchen. If they have come through the holes in the wall or through the windows, I don’t know. But I woke up Sunday with some on my stomach and arm. You cannot kill them with fly spray. They have to be crushed until you can feel their shell breaking to get rid of the pesky things!

I’ve already got the black bags ready to take to the waste chute on the way out, all stacked in the kitchen. (Eight small sacks: It is a nuisance with the chute opening being reduced in size – but, it had to be done. Some naughty pensioners have been shoving stuff, like blankets, broken furniture and oil cans down and blocking things up, Tsk!)

When I got in the wet room, the place smelt musty. And twenty or thirty of the little beetles were spread out over the floor. By the time I was ready to have the shower, time was running out for me to catch the bus on time, so I had a stand-up session.

Then the sink plug connector broke off. Tsk!

All ready, at last. I didn’t see a soul as I deposited the black bags, down in the lift, through the lobby and out onto Chestnut Walk all alone. A few workmen were busy at it, both blocks and the new Extra Care build in between.

With a smile, I bade a cheery “Good Morning” to the tractor operator and waved to him. Judging by his lips wobbling and curling, I lipread it as I had got a Phwert or Humph back in return. Hehe!

I hobbled along, enjoying the sunshine, with my hat and arms covered, of course, due to the carcinoma. I don’t half get some funny looks when I have to hide the skin in sunny weather.

I got to the abandoned-looking devoid of people, Nottingham City Homes, Winwood Heights Flats, Unterscharführeress Wardens Temporary HQ, Willmott-Dixon workers breakfast and tea-break room, Sarcasm & Insult distribution area, Tenants Socialisation Shed, Telling Inchcock off Zone, Things like porcelain and pottery to be stolen from, and residents room.

In one end, out of the other. Another empty place. No tenants at the bus stop either. I did feel lonely! The temperature read 29°c.

Two lady residents joined me at the bus stop. We had a laugh and chinwagging session.

Then caught the bus the Caught the bus down into Sherwood.

Crossed over the Mansfield Road. Where I took this photograph of a handbag in raffia on a street decoration. I thought TFZer Lyzzie in America, might like this one. I thought at first; it was a bag of some sort.

Now I see the photograph as I put it on the blog, I’m not so sure, after all. Lyzzi loves her handbags and purses.

I went into the Wilko store and got some of their liquid soapflakes, and a new plug for the wet room sink, well two of them.

I paid the lady and out for a walk down the incline to the Co-op store.

As I walked down to the Co-op shop, it was as if I was in a film noir for a few moments. Melancholy, alienation, bleakness, silence, disillusionment, disenchantment, pessimism, ambiguity, moral corruption, evil, guilt, vagueness and paranoia, all at the same time. I was surrounded by traffic and Nottinghamians, as well.

I then realised that both hearing aid batteries had conked out at the same time. Haha!

The Big issue Lady seller with her three mobile phones was having a day off, today.

Into the store and found some fresh looking pod peas. They didn’t have any sourdough bread or Lemon spring water. I got a bottle of Indian tonic and a Lucozade on Special Offer.

I’d paid the lady and got outside. Had a grubble about in the bags and found some hearing aid batteries at the bottom of the bag. Replaced them, and like a good, caring citizen, I took the old ones and dropped them in the battery recycling box back in the Co-op. 

Braggadocio, haughty, self-congratulatory and immodesty modes all adopted! Hehehe!

With trepidation, I turned left and along Winchester Street hill, and took a snap of the bottom end of the road. And heard my name being called. It was Cyndy across the road. I didn’t realise it when I took this photograph, but I caught Cyndy in it the picture on the other side of the roadway. Lovely to see her after so long. I can call tomorrow after 1230hrs to give her, her belated birthday chocolates. Good job I’d just put the new batteries in the aids, cause I could hear all she said from the other side of the road. Of course, remembering what she said, might be more difficult. Hahaha!

Now, cheered up considerably by seeing Cyndy, I pressed on up the hill, feeling happier and revivified.

I stopped near the garages close to the top of the road for a breather. Oh dearie me! I’d left the bottle of Lucozade back on Mansfield Road when I emptied the bag to find the hearing aid batteries.

What a Grade ‘A’ Klutz! Too tired to go back to fetch it now, not that it would still be there, of course, it has probably been drunk by a Nottinghamian already, with this heat. Derp! 

These and Accifauxpas don’t bother too much, though. I’m lucky suffering from Whoopsiedangleplopilisations so regularly. I become anticipatory of such events, and when they come, they are greeted as a fundamental part of my life. Did I say that? Hehe!

To the top of Winchester Street, the seeds and leaves from the blackberry bushes (I think), had laid a carpet of welcome all the way up to the top of the road.

Turned left onto Chestnut Walk and the flats, old and soon to be new.

Hobbled along to the end block, my beloved Woodthorpe Court. The heat and humidity seem to be getting worse, or stronger whichever way one looks at it.

No signs of any residents lurking about.

The Willmott Dixon lads were still grafting away.

Got in the flats. As I got out of the lift, Obergruppenfurhress Warden Deana appeared through the fire escape door and gave me a hello, which I returned. I actually felt sorry for the gal. She is just back after a fortnight’s holiday (vacation). I assumed with it being the start of the month, she has to check that the monthly wristlet fire-alarm battery checks have been made. I don’t envy her job, with Obersturmführeress Warden Julie away for two weeks, now. All the building works going on, and the tenants irritable and flaking out in the heat. Haha!

I made a battery test call myself later one. But, the stutters came over me while I was doing it. I don’t think it impressed the controller. Tsk!

Put the nibbles away and got on with updating this diary.

Went to the wet room for a wee-wee and found a dozen or two of the little beetles all over the floor, and the room smelt more musty that it did this morning. This reminded me of the sink plug I’d bought still needed fitting.

Nae bother, for an experienced, razor sharp, young, fit, capable, ace DIYer like wot I am, surely? Exasperated sigh!

Of course, I could not find the pliers, despite a good ten-minute searching around for them.

I somewhat unthinkingly thought I could bend the wires with a metal cutter thingy.
I put the facecloths in the sink, and part-filled it with hot water, to test the plug. The water slowly drained away as I stood looking at it. Ah, well!

Went to get a drink from the fridge and noticed the thermometer read 35c, about 95f that is. No wonder our gang of old foggies aren’t out and about is it?

I did the Health Checks and took the medications.

Herbert was offering me the odd bang or clunk now and then. But of course, I am not complaining, just mentioning it. No point in my risking getting another telling off from the Nottingham City Homes for complaining about the noise. As the Management, told me; He is doing nothing wrong, just following his hobby of model making, and I’ll just have to live with it. I don’t want to lose my home. Sorry about that, I’ll cross it off.

The weather was getting hotter and hotter, now.

I feel for the lads working outside in this heat. I think they may have given them a break though because the big hoists have not been in use today.

Getting late for me. 1620hrs. But being as I have had trouble getting to sleep lately, I’ll work on. Oh, I am a hero. Hahaha! Got up to here with the updating, had a dizzy, a wee-wee and went on Facebooking.

Caught up with the WordPress Reader section.

1815hrs: Totally shattered now, got the nosh in the oven.

The evening sky was well red and picturesque.

Mary from Australia gave me some tips on making some roast chopped spuds, and I tried it out in this meal.

Not sure if the rich seasoning will affect the innards or not yet, might find out in the morning? Oh, dear!

However, it tasted so good, I enjoyed it very much.

I watched the Japan v Belgium World Cup Match. Being so late, I fell asleep several times and missed the Belgian goals. Humph! So no comments on the match, other than what I did see, had no histrionics from the brave Japanese players.

I can only remember the penalties clearly. And nothing much after the game. It was hours before I drifted off to sleep.

TTFN.

Sunday 1st July 2018

Icelandic: Sunnudagur 1. Júlí 2018

0505hrs: I wish I could recall anything about the dream I knew I’d been having, but no facts, storylines or notions of what they were about was retained. Humph!
I tried to get back to sleep in hopes of recontacting with the nightmare, but no, once awake, that’s it for me, I just have to get up. Or at least lay there while the muddled brain sorts itself out so I can remove my bulky but flabby-flobby body from the £300 second-hand recliner.

The agony; and this description is a fair one, from Harold’s Haemorrhoids was terrible! But, on the plus-side, Duodenal Donald was content not to bother me at all.

After disentangling myself from the chair, I visited the Porcelain Throne for an overdue evacuation. Not a messy one this time. Cleaned, dried and medicated the piles and had a quick wash.

To the kitchen to get the dosage pots made-up for the coming week. Even I find it hard to believe that the following sequences of Whoopsiedangleplops took place, I was here suffering them, and getting well wee’d-off, irked, exasperated and choleric with myself, as they seemed to go on neverendlingly!

And I woke in such a reasonable frame of mind as well.

I dropped the evening tray of half-sorted pots, and of course, the lids were open at the time and spent what seemed like a couple of days on my knees searching for and retrieving most of them. Then seemingly another hour in my getting back up on my feet! Huh!

Health checks about to be done, not without a bit of a kerfuffle come-bother later. Firstly, the flipping hemadynamometer failed to work for about four attempts. On the fifth try, it worked without any trouble.

Then I dropped the hypodermic and broke it. At least I knew why I did this, Dizzy Dennis and Shaking Steven hit me without any warning.

Eventually, I got the medications resorted and back in the drawer with the other trays. Not comfortable with the shakes. But they didn’t last long this time.

The three photographs on the left here were intended to show a ginormous bee. As I was getting the camera out of the tiny gap in the window, it appeared and buzzed around showing a lot of interest in my fingers and the Lumix.  I did not want the bee to come in through the opening, but I wanted to get a photograph of some sort of it. The result being these three bumblebee-free shots above. He was very quick. Haha!

Back to the Health Checks again.

On to the computer and updated the Excel HC figures.

I cleaned the potatoes and podded the fresh garden peas, and got them in the slow-cooker on a low light.

For a so-called slow-cooker, the sides warmed up quickly this morning. Burnt the end of two digits Haha!

On the computer and began to finish off yesterday’s Inchcock Today post.

I then had a series of Whoopsiedangleplops in quick succession.

• Dizzy Dennis gave me another visit.
• Herbert started his scrapping/dragging something, tip-tap noises
• I apprehended that blood from the fungal lesion was seeping through the PPs.
  
• I began a sneezing session that I was so glad finally ended.
• Then within seconds, a very urgent and unexpected call to Porcelain Throne arrived.

A tad bewildered with the onslaught of the sudden ailments, but I knew the need for the Porcelain Throne was the first and foremost that needed time in actioning.

I think you would have liked to had a good laugh if you had seen my antics in responding to the Throne usage needs.

  As I hurried to the wetroom; I knocked over the waste bin next to the computer chair.

Stubbed my toe on the Ottoman.

The lingering dizzies caused me to bang my shoulder on the door frame when I entered the Throne Room!

The evacuation made a right mess of me, the porcelain and the floor! Had to clean and medicate the lesion and haemorrhoids yet again! Took me ages, but I felt a lot better afterwards.

I’ve never used so much Daktacort miconazole anti-fungal cream in one day like this before. Or got through so much Germoloid cream, or used so many Protection Pants up in such a short time either. Thank heavens for Michaels help in that department.

I made a resolution to try and remain Whoopsiedangleplopless for the rest of today.

Started this post going up to here. Made a brew. And got the Morrison order made and sent off.

Many hours spent on blogging.

Did the next Health Checks and got the nosh on the go early so I could watch the (As I now know, Fiddled, crooked, Mother Russia bribed refereed); World Cup Match, Putin’s Thugs v the Danish Dilitants.

The meal was prepared, and with a lot of burnt fingers, dirty pots pans and cutlery and niggling kerfuffle as well.

I did not get the seasoning anywhere near to how I’d intended it to turn out.

But, it was passable and just about deserved its taste-rating of 7.5/10.

The Russian Mafia… football team, played to a plan and stuck with it. Assisted by the crooked referee who was brilliantly talented, in applying his skills and intent on Russia winning.

As the BBC put it later: Hosts Russia pulled off the biggest shock of the 2018 World Cup so far as they beat 2010 winners Spain in the first penalty shootout of the tournament to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 48 years.

I found it difficult at first after the game, to understand how the Russians got away with fouling and manhandling the Danish players in the box so often, on the corners, without a mention from the bent referee, or the dishonest VAR monitor’s employed by Mother Russia, who ignored the Russian wrestlers’ antics. No doubt they were feeling threatened or backhanded to do so. Let’s face it, it is FIFA we are talking about, here.

Recent threats from Putin, include:

• 1st March: Putin threatened the West with a new generation of nuclear weapons Thursday, including what he described as an “invincible” intercontinental cruise missile and an atomic torpedo that could outsmart all American defences.
• 2nd March: Putin threatened America with his invincible nuke!
• 5th April: Putin Tells Britain; You’ll be sorry at UN meeting.
• 7th June: Putin threatened: If anyone attacks Russia, World War Three will end the civilised world. Although, how civilised was the chosen word to use, I don’t know!
  

It looks like Russia might win the world cup after all? Hahaha!

Did the last Health Checks and medicationing.

As I settled down in the £300 second-hand recliner, all interest, resolution and willpower failed, frighteningly quickly.

The unwanted fatigue overshadowed me. No nodding-offs arrived. I sat there with the brain closed-down, heedlessly, vacuously staring at some rubbish on the box, without any willpower to concentrate or to turn off the TV for ages. Semiconscious of my own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc. The lowest part of the day for me this was, I felt out of control, phlegmatic, emotionless, lethargic and aimlessly acceptant of my failings.

I must have nodded off because I woke up with a start! Hehehe! Herbert was knocking away, at least I think it was him.

A thirst came over me, and I went off to get a drink of milk.

What a fantastic skyline greeted me when I got to the refrigerator.

So late at night, too.

I got the milk and returned to the recliner. Much more interested in life again now.

But, the brain started coming out of its hibernation and began going off on its meanderings, fretting, self-hatred and fearing everything again. Sleep was impossible. I think it must have been well into the early hours of the morning before I got off into the land of Nod. Still, I got there eventually. I hate weekends! Tsk!

Wednesday 27th June 2018

Sweden: Onsdagen den 27 Juni 2018

0125hrs: I woke, I think, in the middle of a marvellous dream. I was living in a big mansion, with servants, cooks, bottle-washers, cleaner uppers, computer experts, a butler and a full time slightly plump, attractive hairy nurse in attendance. I spent most of my time in the Clinic room during this ecstatically euphoric ailment-defeating astonishingly lifelike and undisputedly believable (At the time) dream. Needless to say, this nocturnal vision’s cessation and my realisation that was not true brought about a feeling of despondency. With despair and desolation. I got the pencil and scribbled some notes on the pad. I soon got back to sleep, harbouring futile hopes of returning to the dream. Humph!

0355hrs: Woke-up with a start, no idea why, but I was wide-awake almost instantly. I waited for the body to engage with the brain, then started to work out what’s what for today. With the Surgery messing my blood test appointments around, there is none today, so I must remember the swine have made me one for tomorrow at the same time as the Winwood Social Hour. Grumph! I suddenly felt the cold. Blimey, it was nippy this morning.

Forced me out of the £300 second-hand recliner and off to the kitchen. The cold hit me as soon as I entered. With the previous two nights being so humid and warm, I’d left both windows open as far as they would go. Brr!

A bit of a mist lingering outside this morning.

I got the Health Checks tended to. Very little change compared to yesterday’s readings. All looked fair enough to me.

Took the medications, and off to the Porcelain Throne for a Trotsky Terence affected evacuation. Then got on with what proved to be a long slow job of updating the Tuesday Diary.

I eventually got it finished and went to post it off. I came across some news about the Saddleworth Moorland Fire. Here are some photographs of it.

The fire brigade has asked for military assistance in fighting these fires.

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I went to the comments then reader section of WordPress, and this didn’t take long. One comment and only a few new posts on there.

I relaxed a little when I got the post sent off. And the ailments came to mind. Or rather, the lack of hindrance or hassle from most of them. Of the many to choose from, only Duodenal Donald was any real pain, and that was not as bad as it could have been.

I went on Facebook to get caught up. Fingers crossed that it will let me.

No problems today, got loads done.

Getting late on int day now. I’d better get the ablutions done. Then take rubbish bags to the chute and get some bread from the sops on the front. I’ll go to Aldi, but I can’t rely on me, not overspending. No, best I have a trip on the bus down to Sherwood. Hehehe!

Enjoyed the cleaning up session today.

Bagged up the waste, and off out, dropping the bag down the chute on the way.

Really hot out here now.

I took this shot of the new build and Winchester Court on my way to the bus stop at the end of the road.

Met, Roy, Keith, Tony, and Frank while waiting. The queue grew.

And a few of us old uns got on the Bestwood bound L9 electric powered bus, off down Winchester Street into Sherwood.

I went into the Co-op store and came out with more than I had planned. There are reasons for this (Coy mode adopted). They had some Regina towels on offer price, so I got a packet. They had some Oven-bottom-muffins in stock, decided to buy one and freeze them. They also had some fresh pod peas in on the shelves. So I bought two packs. Also, they had some Hoisin sauce on sale. Which I thought would go well with the Hoisin pork ribs when I eat them? No, I don’t believe it either, Haha!

As I made my way to the Wilko shop to get some liquid soap and some AirWick Aero Spray, I thought how American the view was of up Mansfield Road.

I went into the cake shop and bought two fresh cream raspberry jam doughnuts. I felt terribly guilty afterwards.

Much to my surprise, I came out of Wilko with just the two items I had gone in for!

A touch à la France outside the expensive cafe further up the hill. With it’s Al Fresco £4 a cup of coffee seating area for the rich Nottinghamian’s to show off and block the pedestrians. Not as busy as I thought it might be, but then again the missing affluent Nottinghamian’s may well be on holiday. But, of course, this does not bother me, that I have no one to go with on holiday, couldn’t afford it anyway; and the medications and ailment problems also prevent this. Hehehe!

I got to the bus stop and, Roy’s better half got on at the same time. We had a laugh and natter en route.

We got to the lobby, and they all sat down. I sneaked one of the cream cakes out of the box and gave  Roy’s better-half the container with the other one in it. Should cheer the gal up, cause Roy was not feeling very well. I said I would be up later with my hearing aid tools to sort out his blocked tubes. But, he said, “No need, I’ve had the audio clinic do them. “Huh,” I said smilingly, “I know when I’m not wanted, I’m going to go home and sulk, now!”

Bade them farewell as I got off of the elevator. Into the flat. As I opened the door, the tremendous heat hit me! I went through and opened the only windows I could, as far as the security locks would allow me.

The workmen were drilling close-by. Headache Warning Received, Haha!

Beautiful view from the kitchen window. After I mangled my fingers to get the camera out through narrow gap permitted. Huh!

I checked the potatoes in the crock-pot. Shelled some pod peas and got the oven heating up ready for the Mashed steak in porter gravy (Whatever that is). Opened the ready-meal, put a bit of hoisin sauce on it and added much strong grated cheddar cheese to it.

Got the rest of the food put away, and did the Health Checks. (I ought to dead I think, the Sys was down to 118 and the pulse down to 71?) Although they perked up a bit on the final checks.

Updated this diary.

While awaiting the cooking I had half-an-hour to go on Facebook and post today’s photo’s to the TFZer site.

Watched the Korea v Germany match while eating the nosh.

This meal was superb! New potatoes, seasoned potatoes cube and cooked with pulled pork with BBQ and basil seasoning, sliced tomatoes and gherkins, freshly podded peas and a sliced apple. Taste-Rating = 9.46/10!

Ate the nosh-up and did the pots. Got down in the £300 second-hand recliner and started to switch between the two boring, mind-numbing World Cup matches on offer at the same time on different channels. I kept drifting off into Nodland, but only for a few minutes each time. Blissfully, I went all the way off to sleep after the matches ended.

The phone rang, t’was Sister Jane. I’m afraid, my being in a state of just being roused into imitation-life, I am not sure now, what was said. I shall have to ring Jane tomorrow, in case I missed something important.

It was near-impossible for me to get back to sleep, with the brain chattering away to itself about my wanting to retrieve what Jane had told me, ( I had a feeling I’d either done wrong, or not done something I ought to have? Hehe!) and the body refusing to get up out of the chair.

So, I put the TV back on, that did the trick!

Ten-minutes or so, and I was off into the land-of-nod!