– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – The first thing I recall on waking up was . Seconds later, I realised I was virtually shivering with cold. I knew something was wrong to feel this cold as I saw this morning’s sunshine blasting through my cotton-thin, tattered-edged curtains, their hooks missing from the balcony. I took off the nocturnal Catheter pouch, got a hold of and went over to investigate where the cold was coming from. Taking this snap of the view… through the wide open balcony door! No wonder I was shivering, I’d left the doors open and been sleeping in the nearby aged, grotty-looking, c1966-made, charity-shop-bought, horribly beige-coloured, £300, Harold’s Haemorrhoid-testing, non-operational, acne-giving, virus-breeding, rickety, easy-to-fall-out-of recliner. I closed the door and found that I had somehow lost one of my night socks. I needed to get warm, and, conveniently, the need for the Porcelain Throne arrived. I limped into the wet room and put the heater on. Got sat on the raised plastic seat, and wallowed in the warmth from the convector heater on the wall. It took mages to get the evacuation underway, but as I was warming up, I didn’t mind it at all today. I was convinced after ten minutes of urging and pushing, the Constipation Conrad would be in control. But, no! Although the first torpedo clunked into the bowl, immediately followed of a Trotsky Terence-like performance of splattering, stinking, watery mass flowed. The torpedo was dark brown; the follow-up was orangey-light brown. It cost me half of a new toilet roll, and an awfully long time to clean things up after the event.
I tried to get back to sleep by adding an extra-heavy quilt to the other one. But Ejaz rang the intercom to get admission. We did my Health Checks with the sphygmomanometer, blood tests with the Pulse oximeter, and measured the temperature. I think they were slightly better than the previous few days, but still in the High Category. Medications provided. Teeth were tinctured. Earholes olive oiled. Then Shuddering Shoulder Shirley was Salved. Harold’s bleeding Haemorrhoids were Germoloided, and Little Inches bleeding Fungal Lesion was anticepticated. That was the only one that tested my pain level. Arthur Itis and Cartilages Kloe and Carole were Pornapain-gelled.
The back, amazingly, did not need any medicating… that’s a first this year. Then, while I was brushing my teeth, Ejaz made me a mug of tea; he’s getting better at it lately. Supplying me with some bikkies to dunk in the mug. Going through this every day can get a bit wearying. But thanks to Jenny’s help, I have longer visits on some days, which stops my blogging, but it is of great assistance when Mizra or Ejaz does it. They know what is needed and do not ask me what I want all the time. They, I think. appreciate my neurological problems and how they affect me, memory-wise, stuttering, and loss of balance. The others even leave me to bend down. Which is a bit galling when they do that, while they are on their mobiles doing reports, I assume.
After bidding Ejaz Cheerio and Tara, I took a decent snap of the view from the kitchenette window. Then had to pay another visit to the . This was almost a copy of the first effort of the day. More time lost. Glad that I’m well stocked up with toilet paper! For a treat, I’m using an Andrex roll between each of the terribly thin, cheap rolls. I’d like to work out what’s happening with these dual activations of both Trotsky Terence and Conrad Consitpation-like evacuation on the same visit?
I hoovered the hallway and kitchen. Well, it’s not a Hoover, is it?
It is an Akitas cheapo version from Amazon. I can’t be accused of being high-class, educated, or a snob. Hehe!
Common as muck would be the best epitaph for me. When they bury my ashes or whatever they do, I’d like a plaque on the wall or put in the press. Perhaps something along the lines of:
“He came, He failed, and he went” Haha!
I think I saw some rain falling as I took this shot through the balcony windows. The door chime chimed, and in came Carer Ejaz, on his midday call. We checked the second Health Check figures were recorded correctly on the Excel log, and I was in so little pain, just took two Paracetamol. Good that!,
As Ejaz was getting ready for Porpain-Gelling Shaking- Shoulder-Shirley, he noticed that I must have been scratching away at the still showing scars on my lower left arm. He put some Cetreben cream on it. Advising me not to scratch at them again, or they will never clear up or disappear.
Google’s opening was still hit-or-miss. I just kept trying a different icon for the same action until one worked. A different one responded to being pressed each time. WordPress was not so jerky today, well, at 02:45hrs, anyway. This keyboard is getting harder and harder to see with its tiny letters on the keys, and faded off-white ones at that. I’m hoping for the best when the man calls to check the computer out, I think on Tuesday or Wednesday. Mizra made the arrangements for me when we went shopping on Saturday. I loved that, getting out to an actual shop and seeing what I was buying beforehand. I hope not to buy food online anymore. With all the mistakes I keep making, getting help shopping is invaluable now. I hope it continues weekly, please! Hehehe!
Cor blimey, the sun had dipped! Then the rain came again.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Past & Present Thoughts So many things I have not achieved, Things unknowingly that I’ve advocated, Things to which I have affiliated, Wrong understandings assumed… Opportunities that have been annulled, Politicians’ lies that I’ve absorbed! >>><<< So often I’ve been beguiled, I’ve also a record of being brabbled, I’ve been shot twice and bastinaded, PN made me often bloviated, Several times been mugged, & burgled, Several times a day, I get baffled! >>><<< I don’t want to be cryopreserved, Or have any part of me conserved, I’d like to have my cancer cured, And to painlessly pass a turd, I’d love to be less mentally tormented, I’ve no fears of being terminated! >>><<< In my youth, naughtily I malappropriated, From guilt, could I be manumitted? With a nurse that was matriculated, We twinned, merged, merrily mangled, Verily, this memory is now mullered, I loved it when we miscegenated! >>><<< I may have, at times, over-pontificated, Nowadays, I’m more likely to be perturbed, Many of my plans have been precipitated, Not one of them now, have prevailed, Far too often, I’ve been pasquinaded, I’m a proletariat, pseudo-sophisticated! >>><<< My life was challenging, fun, spirited… Worked its way to getting shemozzled, Little happened for which to be satisfied, How often do you think I was shanghaied? No opportunities to be a symposiast, Now mentally & physically subjugated! >>><<< Now, put mildly, I often feel depressed, Disregarded, unnoticed or uncontented, Always when Depression Duncan visited, Doreen Dementia’s confusion is unprecedented, Short term memory, to the ether, unremembered, Long term? That’s nowhere near as affected, >>><<< Thinking back to do this ode, I excogitated… It’s not really clear or well elucidated, But I was not very well educated, I considered having it expurgated… But that would entail it being expedited, Although it’s no worse than I expected, >>><<< – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Help with the laundry from Carer Ahram. Who also went through the paperwork with & for me.
Telephone calls from the Doctors’ Surgery.
The INR DVT Clinic, confirmation of the INR being too high and to make sure I’d got the new dosages sheet. Reminding me to check that the carers are giving me the correct dosage of Warfarin. The lady sounded a little concerned about this.
Matron Jackie telephones. She is going to try to get me help with the shopping. I will only need one trip to Sherwood a week, and it will only be for an hour each week. She also said she would see about getting me a wheelchair for the Caregiver to use to take me shopping. I explained this to Arham, a very helpful Caregiver. Thanks, mate.
I spent ages drying the returned laundry on the two airers. Ahram loaded them up for me. Photos below.
So I didn’t get this blog started until late Thursday morning. Gonna be a quickie again.
If we are not aware, it may be too late for aftercare, I speak to those with compassion in their agenda, Not as a knowledgeable man or an auger… To those who self-profit is not their main allure, Whose desire is to help others as an alleviator… Even if they fail on the alcoholometer! : : : : : Look what pure greed did to Tony Blair, Incompetency led Rishi into the political backwater, Now in charge, we’ve got bean-counter Starmer, A liar, ever-seeking self-wealth and a backhander, To pensioners & farmers, well, he’s a murderer, He comes across as a blind bullshitter! : : : : : Last week, I wished a slow death on the bloodshedder, I admit, he’s made my blood boil over, has Starmer, In 1968. Starmer became a barrister, In 1969 a Labour bencher; Until 1990, as a legal officer, 1990 onwards, in a Doughty Street Chamber, Then became the Labour Party Führer! : : : : : Starmer, the decency and honesty boycotter, The liar, caviar-loving, promise backstabber, The everyday growing creepier and dishonester, Untouchable for his fibs, he grows crueller, This epitome of a cheat and self-contradicter, This fork-tongued, backhander connoisseur! : : : : : I’d be happier if he turned into a cadaver, Should he do it painfully, I’d chanticleer! If he dies by assassination, I’d be that person’s idoliser, I’d put his ashes in a low-class cuspidor! Credit the git; he was an excellent prosecution circumventor! Shame he caught greed and cacodemonomania! : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – GREAT RESULTS! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
I’ve been very busy today, so this is only starting at 17:00 hrs. I estimate it will be finished in the morning. A shorter-than-usual rush job is needed. I’ve been down to the foyer three times to admit people visiting. TTFNski.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Up at 0540hrs: The night bag is sorted. NHS class 6
Despite a bit of a rush in the afternoon, the seizures were far fewer than they had been for several days. The freezing sensation coming up the legs continues occasionally. There were no electric shocks today!
Carer Richard made the first call.
I brewed a mug of Glengettie and got on the computer. But it did not go very well at first. and were obviously set on hassling me. And they did. For hours, I got nothing much achieved, yet somehow found mistakes that needed repair on what bit I had done. I had to give up, which frustrated me, yet I knew a late night was coming, and it’s here now!
As messy as it could be!
I had to go down to let in the nurse, who was due between 09:00 and 10:00 hrs. Thankfully, she arrived early, so I didn’t have time to get cold in the foyer. She asked if I could do the Anoxaparin injections myself. I explained that it was no problem, and no one told me why you were coming. I could have told them I would do them anyway if they had. The world… and my world is going mad!
From 12:00 to 1400, I was back in the lobby. I only had to wait for half an hour, and the person who forgot about the food order arrived. Somehow, he had already taken two bags up to the flat. I went with him to back up and get the food away. Bags out in the flat lobby. Started emptying them. I ordered the wrong things, and no others wanted them. Grrr! The fridge still had room in it!
Carer Kara arrived. (I’m rushing this, I hope I’ve got the chronologicals in order) Carer Joanne joined us, carrying out the weekly catheter bag change for me. ♥ Kara did a Q&A session. Nice to see her again.
Getting late now. Tsk!
Getting dark already.
Made an order for next week. I’ll have to check that I’ve not already done one with another shop.
I’d put this photo in the wrong place and missed it. I took it this morning to catch the seagulls as they searched for cats, little dogs, small birds or squirrels for breakfast.
Carer Promise arrived early. I’m about to get something to eat and hopefully get some shut-eye. (He says, hopefully). I’ll catch up in the morning. With any luck!
07:30hrs Saturday. I’m Back! Hehe! I prepped and served the meal, which took a long time because I was making another mega-feast for myself! Anyal Royal potatoes, Dutch tomatoes, red onions, and the last of the fresh garden peas (always a sad time for me, Hehe!) Palin cooked beetroots, some Morrisons smoked ham, two cheesy cobs with no-butter butter and a slice of German smoked cheese in each one. The Morrison’s ham was tough, and their red onions were disappointing and tasteless. The vegetarian lemon dessert was mega-good and tasty. I got seated in the aged, grotty-looking, c1966-made, charity-shop-bought, horribly beige-coloured, £300, Harold’s Haemorrhoid-testing, non-operational, acne-giving, virus-breeding, rickety, easy-to-fall-out-of recliner. The tray of food beneath my chin to catch any spillages or droppages. I turned on the TV to watch the football match whilst dining. I felt snug and contented as the game started. rang from the door chime, and Carer Promise arrived. He was not here for long; nothing to do other than ask if I needed any painkillers and the nocturnal catheter bag to be fitted to the day bag, which the lad sorted for me. All this did not stop my eating marathon. Hehehe! I finished it off and had one of the cream cakes. I gave the other to Promise in thanks for his help in not disturbing me. They were raspberry and cream turnovers. Although I had not tried them before, they were different and pleasant enough to the tongue.
The match continued as Promise left, but the question was whether I could stay awake long enough to watch it all? No was the answer! But I still need more sleep to catch up on all my sleepless nights with the Novovirus. Although it was a broken night, I managed another six hours in the land of Nod.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Grim: Ayeup, Inchy! Inchy: Gawd, yer you surprised me! Grim: That’s what I like about you, Inchy! Inchy: Wot? Grim: Yer always greet me affably, Inchy: Well, you are an essential part of my family! Grim: What family is that then? There’s none that I can see? Inchy: I mean my ailments family, like Peripheral Neuropathy, my catheter, Haemorrhoids, Glaucoma Gladys and FND, Dodgy ticker, each Whoopsiedangleploppery, primarily, Grim: Can yer explain all that to me? Inchy: It’d be my pleasure to do so certainly! Grim: Go on then, I ain’t got all day! Inchy: Well, I was found unsuitable for adoptability, At making friends, I lost the ability… Being flat-bound, & many a disability, Dementia, illusions, delusions affected me, Yet I get help & chinwags from Jenny… Deana, Lisa, the nurses, Warden Julie… So, despite everything, I feel lucky, I don’t deserve it; to me, life is a mystery… Grim: Your waffling is an abnormal absurdity! When I was a human, it scared the hell out of me! Inchy: Well, that’s it, Grim; you can still recognise ambiguosity, antipathy, and physical and mental agony! Grim: I’ve forgotten why I came now, sadly… Inchy: There’s no need for you to feel too badly… Grim: I find no fear in you for me, challengingly, Inchy: Yes, I suppose it must be a rarity? Next month, I am going to the hospital for surgery, Cephalometry, specifically craniometry, I go willingly and happily… Grim: Why happily & willingly? Inchy: My mind is already blanked and contemplatively ready, Grim: Have you not considered destructiveness, desperateness, despicableness, or feel any despiteousness? Inchy: No, no, no, my life has been deleterious, How have I lasted so long amidst life’s disputatiousness? Grim: Yes, yes, go on, I’m listening, Inchy: Well, I find life lonely, alienating… Grim: Tell me why, without any hesitating! Inchy: My Porcelain Throne visits are constantly alternating, one event watery, the next constipating… Grim: If that’s your excuse, then abluting… Inchy: ‘Excuse me’, I’m still talking! Cartilages Chloe then Carol collapsing, The stove blew up, so; no cooking, The intercom broke, so there was no communication… Visitors can get no access, can’t be allowed in, Down to the ground floor foyer, where it’s freezing, Someone sat on the wall heater, heater detaching! When a nurse, surgical or food delivery is coming… Spending up to 4-hours, sat down there waiting, While up in the flat, the telephone might be ringing, Someone may also be texting or emailing… Trying to tell me an appointment day is changing! The Catheter bag slowly filling… Back to the flat for emptying, Usually when the delivery will be arriving! Unaware, I go back to the foyer, hurrying, And Little Inchies Fungal Lesion starts bleeding! Back up again to the flat for lesion medicating, Then my grip on things starts deteriorating, Next, Sandra’s Seizures are starting, Dementia & PN, I start chastising, The computer requires defragging, But how to, I’m not remembering, Tasks at hand need detailing, after detangling, The flat’s hallway heater is just not heating… My mind turns to food and eating, The bread is wet from the bottles bursting, Soaked with a shandy flavouring, Cartilage Chloe gave way without warning, Lading on my knee, the catheter pouch bursting! And you wonder why I don’t mind dying? Grim: You should put that in your blog. It just might get you some help and sympathising. Haha!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 04:40hrs: I woke up coughing. But, after an amazingly long sleep of close to six hours! I removed the worryingly dark-coloured nocturnal catheter pouch attached to the day bag. I think it is a 7 on the NHS scale.
I emptied the laundry bag that Carer Promise brought back for me last night. The things were hung, and some were put on the towel warmer to dry off a little longer. All four socks had been returned this time.
I ventured into the kitchenette to take some morning shots of the dark sky on view. The lower first one came out reasonably well for once. The second, higher in the sky, should have shown three tiny planets. Which were obviously there to my eyes but didn’t make it onto the photo. Tsk!
I made a brew of Co-op 99 tea, took it to the computer and reset my ultra-modern c1970 clock/calendar. An oddly coloured hue to this one?
I got the computer on, and within a few minutes or so, had started off. Really, short ones, but far too many for me to concentrate on the job at hand.
So, this time, I made another mug of tea, Glengettie, and searched the sky for the planets still showing.
I started on today’s silly ode. And seemed to be grasping things better. So I returned to WordPressing, to copy my ode into it. No good. As soon as I started making mistakes, error-making began again. I reread the ode in case I’d made an earlier blunder. And had I? I had to spend an hour or more just correcting the mistakes in the Ode! Some whoppers were in it. One word I’d put in was ‘cragmatical’. Dramatical or pragmatical didn’t fit in with the content, so I changed several lines, some of which had lost their rhyme and others that didn’t come over as intended. Then, when I was putting some photos on from the camera, along came possibly the most prolonged seizure I’ve ever had. Totally undetectable, too; that was rare. I estimated it to have been for about half an hour. During which, when I came back to reality, I found even more errors I’d made with the photographs. There were so many, and I have no idea how I messed them up so much. I’d loaded the wrong pictures, so they were all out of sync and order.
I had to start all over from scratch.
Carer Richard made the first call.
The lad still struggles with his poor legs and uses a double walker. I would not ask him to put on my diabetic socks for me. I’m having a full scrub-up shave and shower later this afternoon, so I’d struggle to get the socks off anyway.
I got back onto blogging (and am struggling with it!).
Carer Sam did the midday call. I updated her on the Intercom failure and the JS food delivery farce.
I added some food and ready meals to next week’s Iceland order. I found some mini-fishcakes on the list this time. Only eight are in a pack, but only £1 a pack. I do like these. I hope they are not sort-listed, out-of-stock or substituted.
I did a bit more on this blog and decided to concentrate on getting the done.
I should be back in two hours. I’ll see how long it takes. It is now 13:35 hrs. TTFN.
Oh, some mail had arrived.
The Farmfoods leaflet offers some fantastic prices. However, the nearest one to me is in Carlton, which is a four-hour bus journey back and forth.
New dosages have arrived for Deep Vein Thrombosis, INR, Warfarin, and one I am about to open. Hang one, please. Well,
An increase in my pension! This £2 a month rise would have been more welcome if Starmer had not allowed myrent to go up, electricity costs to almost double, and stolen the £500 Cold Weather allowance from me. At the bottom, I found this: ‘Less Contracted-Out Deduction of £29.09’! I think I’m going to get even less than I thought!
I hope I never get in a position where I could help Starmer on his way to Valhalla; I couldn’t resist it!
I went to get the meal cooked. I had to take this unnatural shot of the misty sun setting, with creams/beiges, orange, browns, yellows and blacks on show?
Sister Jane called while I was making the fodder. She was in her laundry room, laundering. We had a natter, and I got told off for a few things. I’d missed that. Haha! She told me off the football cup matches being available on ITV. Tonight was the Liverpool v Spurs game. I thanked her and decided to watch the match later. Huh!
MEAL OF THE WEEK UP TO NOW! What an enormous feast! Natural pickled beetroot, pickled mushrooms, Sopoka bacon, a pickled egg, red onions, fresh garden peas and some Parmentier Potatoes with herbs & garlic butter. After taking this photo, I added some Dutch tomatoes. Got down on the c1966, £300 Oxfam charity shop-bought, wincingly grotty, beige-coloured, crumb-covered from my nocturnal nibblings, itch-making, uncomfortable, positively unhealthy, and dangerous, no longer operational, virus-breeding, easy-to-fall-out-of, Catheter-tube-trapping recliner. The tray under my chin so as not to spill or drop morsels on my vast belly. The result in the morning of this wonderful feast was the return with a vengeance of , like never before! Tsk! Turned on the TV, and the match was starting. This was going to be a super-fun meal… But, no! Carer Promise arrived as the match started. Not that anything stopped me from scoffing away while he was here. Hehe!
Inevitably, after the commercial break, I nodded off, waking up as the programme finished. I didn’t even know what the score was! However, notwithstanding, this meant that overnight, considering the early morning shooting awake and struggling to get back to sleep, I reckon I had six hours in the land of Nod! Great! I certainly didn’t want to get up when I woke up again. I was most reluctant and tried to get back to sleep! But, the need of the won the battle.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Welwn ni chi nes ymlaen!
See You Later – in Welsh!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – My ponderings are, at times, encyclopaedic, Though they rarely show any signs of being gnostic, Mostly, dizzy, ditzy, sceptic, and simplistic, You could say they’re Starmeristic? Though at birth, they can seem astronomic, In reality, they can be catastrophic… Regularly scatterbrained and nonspecific, They come and go like an epidemic, They all possess a degree of the unspecific, Mingled with thoughts, though microscopic, Seeming to others sort of verbally monolithic, With humour, fear, desires and the hyperbolic, Often resulting in being self-homiletic, Common sensical, yet psychedelic, Like life, ponders can be oneiric, But pondering is not all that terrific! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – VERY PLEASED WITH THIS WEEKS RETURNS!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I gave up the ghost of sleeping. I took off the nocturnal night pouch and meandered into the kitchen to take photos. None of which were up to par. Tsk! First, there is a chronically badly taken view from the kitchen window. Which is nothing like the view my eyes saw. One of my worst efforts! Followed by a wider shot, which produced an almost as bad a reproduction as the first disastrous effort. This lone camera will have to be studied. I can’t see the small print on the instructions nor determine the option buttons. I tried again an hour later and got this effort on the right, using the other camera. Better?
I’d been up late, so there was not a lot of catching up to do on yesterday’s blog. I titivated it and posted it to WP.
I felt terribly cold this morning, but my flu symptoms were no worse. My throat seemed easier than it had been yesterday.
Then, the morning summoning from the innards sent me scurrying off to the wet room for the daily Porcelain Throne evacuation. . Soft as things were that evacuated this morning, there was a worrying amount of pain & blood (not too much; it was Harold’s Haemmorhoids) that came with it.
I had a slow, steady washing and a painful medicationalisation session. Little Inchies Fungal lesion and, more rarely, Harold’s Haemmorhoids gave me the most hassle. The piles were bleeding far more than they usually do, but not too painful with it. It was stopping the flow that took the most time. After finishing and getting dressed, I returned to the computer. After about an hour or so, the sneezing started to kick off, but the throat was much more manageable. As usual, there were a few specs of blood from the nose. Blowing the nose, I realised how the tissue was getting cut up. I’d not had a shave! I shall go shaveless. And try not to shave at all. See how it goes, as Tim Price put it, ‘Going Caveman Style.’
Unknown Carer arrived at 09:45hrs. I worked on the daily ode. Carer Suen arrived at 11:15hrs. It was too short a break between calls for any painkillers to be issued.
Having done a bad job of this morning, Jenny loaned the camera. I tried the old Kodak Tim camera, hoping that by some miracle, the blotch on the photos would not show up this time.
Oh, dear, that didn’t work either. The blotch is more prominent than ever now. Shame. I put the lens cleaner on it, went over it with the soft cloth and spray, and tried again. Did my bestestest.
I’ll make some nosh then.
Very nice it was too! Chinese belly pork (very fatty, naughty… but nice!) & baked potatoes with No-butter butter and a blob of BBQ sauce.
Washed the pots and sat in the £300 second-hand shop-bought, c1966, moth-eaten, bedraggled, grotty, cringingly beige-coloured, much-dilapidated, crumb-containing from my nocturnal nibblings, bug-ridden, itch-inspiring, not-working recliner to watch two episodes of my favourite, ‘Heartbeat’.
AT LONG LAST… I fell asleep, Oh, the sheer Bliss! Five minutes later, Carer Precious arrived. Could I get back to sleep after? No!
Carer Precious did the last call and took off the diabetic socks. Meds were issued, and he fitted the catheter night pouch.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – For me, a gal must ooze pulchritudinous, It matters not if she is or isn’t punctilious… Precarious, precautious, or even predaceous! As long as she’s not pompous or pretentious, She can show practicalness or be pecunious, Be prosperous, silly, or pugnacious, Be pretentious, previous, or procacious, For one to attract me, she must be plumptious, No need for her to be clever or perspicacious I’m not after bodily prettiness, As long as she likes a laugh and is pervious, I pray she’ll not be disloyal or perfidious, A septuagenarian, & a smidge mischievous! I could buy us a couple of paragliders, Sorry if that sounded a smidge perverse,
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I had a bad fall when I reached this stage, so I called it Part One and posted it off. An hour or so later, the nurse called, tending to the burst bag and bleeding from the tumble. Bless Her♥. I’ve made a brew of Glengettie and am starting again from here. I doubt if I’ll get this finished before midnight… well, I won’t. I wanted to stay awake to take the celebration fireworks at midnight, but I fear it may be too much. I’m praying that the seizures leave me alone. Depression creeping in again! – – – I’ll press on – Seizures and if the catheter allows it. – – – I’ve had a couple of bad days. Tsk!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 06:30hrs: I grumblingly rose from the second-hand, c1968, eyesorely-horrendously grungy beige-coloured, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, microorganism-microbe producing, gungy, moth-eaten, beige-coloured, non-working, bacillus encouraging, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, c1968 recliner. Knowing that after yesterday’s farcicalness, I had a busy day ahead of me. The morning’s Carer, then the domestic Carer, the food delivery, the INR Warfarin Nurse Hristina, and the midday Carer, and I was so far behind with the blogging I didn’t think I’d get yesterday done, let alone start on today. (Just the usual bleak morning moan to myself, nowadays) Little did I know what I had in store, or I may not have bothered getting up! I wish I hadn’t got up now, but not then. I think I got that right?
I removed the nocturnal catheter pouch. This is one of them I had to buy cause of the mess up and lack of help with my ordering. Some do have a drainage clip that has no drainage tube. Took it to the WC and used scissors to cut and drain the pouch. Still, it was no bother and went okay. As I got to the kitchen to get the kettle on, the innards grumbled and rumbled; in response, I returned hastily to the Porcelain Throne. Trotsky Terence was now back in full control! The evacuated product funked awful. It took me ages to clean up the splatters from my clothes and the china.
I got the ablutions, a stand-up shave, teggies, body scrub, oiled the earholes, and drops in the eyes. Germoloided Harold’s Haemorrhoids, Barrier Creamed the Acne & Eczema. Then Porpain Gelled Arthur Itis’s and Cartilage Carol & Chloe’s knees, the underbelly lesions & underarms. I couldn’t reach Phorpain Gel Back Pain Brenda; I was going to ask someone, a Carer, when they came next. But of course, I forgot all about it, even when she was playing me up! I’m forgetting more each day! Into the kitchen. I tried to get some decent shots of the views on offer through the window. But the photos didn’t come out very well. Not up to even my low standards. The last one I took of the houses on Cavendish Avenue was one of my biggest photograph failers ever. No idea what I did wrong, but Surely I must have done something wrong to get this terrible result on the right?
I returned to the wet room to ensure I hadn’t left the taps running. As I came out, the intercom chirped at me. I could not see who it was, so I thought it might be the deliveryman with the oh-so-expensive night catheters I’d had to order. But no! It turned out that it was Friday’s (as I thought) JS order. Fancy me getting things wrong like that! The driver kindly put the food in carriers and my boxes and then carried them to the kitchen for me. Kind of him. Spent a lot of cash this time! Mushrooms for pickling later on. Jamaica patties, a lamb and a beef one. Pork Pie, no-butter butter, Cornish Pasties, tomatoes, cream cake treats, and some horrendously pricey garden peas from Nigeria. I love these! Marmite Rice cakes, cheesy-topped rolls, a bag of sea salt & cider crisps and Marmite crisps. A bottle of mulled wine. Reduced to clear after Christmas. A large bottle, cans of Sainsbury’s cider, and a bottle of washing-up liquid.
I took this snap of myself inside the main junk room, looking through the balcony doors and blowing my nose. Then took the photo below as the day slowly dawned, and turned brighter. I sorted the waste bags to make room near the doorway; no carer had taken them. So, I took them to the chute and found an empty box there, just like Christopher had taken away from the flat yesterday. I put the three bags down the chute and broke the box up, which also went in. I hobbled back to the flat foyer, and as I did, it gave way to me, and I walked into the foyer door frame. I believe I said, “Well, fancy that!”
Carer Chloe arrived as I was about to put the food away after the photography session. She gave me medications, and I was lucky—yes! Although I didn’t realise it, and Chloe didn’t notice it, I’d dropped a tablet while taking them. Chloe said she was doing the Domestic visit and would be back later. I walked her to the door. When I got back in, and at long last on the computer, I espied a tablet I’d dropped on the carpet. And a good job, too; it was a beta-blocker! Not one to miss.
It was a mental battle trying to sort out what was what and what needed doing with having yesterday’s to do yet.
Chloe returned to do the domestic run. I started to place an order for next week from Asda, but again, it would not let me get on the site. Grrr!
I struggled to communicate with Chloe, yet I always seemed to be waffling and losing track. Then, my beloved Nurse Hristina arrived while Chloe was hoovering the hallway for me. What a triple blessing it was that she came! When I told her about the farce of running out of night catheters and buying them, she found the number to ring, then called them for me on her mobile, too! ♥ I’d mentioned to her earlier that the cotton wool-looking material came through the tube from the bladder and got stuck, causing the uncomfortable flow back sensation. Hristina told whoever she was talking to, and they told her that it would be a bladder infection and that they would send a nurse to see me when they got back from the New Year Break and ordered the catheters straight away, wanting to know why the Carers had not contacted her. Hristina then showed me how to open the night bag to drain it! Worth her weight in gold she is! The most patient and understanding nurse I’ve ever known. 💛 She helped me today more than anyone else has in weeks. Hristina left, leaving a respectful and appreciative Inchy.
Carer Sam did the middle call. We laughed about things I was going through, which helped me cope.
Carer Joanne 💛, on her way home, called to see me. She collected the not machine-washable laundry. I insisted she pick up a bottle of her choice as a New Year’s treat. (I did the same with each Carer today) She said that her elderly neighbour had gone to the hospital, so she was late in collecting the washing. I can tell you that a woman who takes, hand washes, and returns my nightwear and brings it back for me is yet another angel I’ve acquired. My sort of gal, too.
I managed about five minutes on the blog, and the landline chimed up. The call was from Sister Jane. Not heard from her for a while. All the best for the new year sort of thing. But had a good chat. Jane & Pete are going to the pantomime shortly. She was sorting the food, and Pete the booze. Hehehe! The natter brought up memories to share between us, all good or neutral ones, though. Nowt unnice!
I tried to get some more done on the blog. The landline chirruped again. It was from the Doctor’s surgery receptionist. She advised me of this morning’s blood test result (Gawd, that was quick). Apparently, the INR level plummeted from 3.2 to 2.6, which is not good. The medication doses were also increased. I wrote the details on Google Calendar.
Then, back to have another go at this blog. Life seems like an awful slog! I waited for my brain to defog, Then I had an in-the-bog! I emptied the pouch, cleaned and flushed the WC, and turned to leave. As I went through the door, I accidentally shoulder-charged the door frame. Apart from triggering Shaking-Shoulder-Shirley, I let slip a few vulgar words that I shall not repeat here.
I returned to the computer again and finished about 15 minutes of work. The door chime chimed out! En route to the door, this time, Cartilage Carole gave way. I opened the door, and to my delight, the postman was working late and delivering my eBay-bought nocturnal catheters! We had a chinwag, as we both have catheters, but he has the latest ones, which look so painless to wear; I was jealous when he told me the other week about it. He is being sent supplies that have built up, and he has too many! Another twitch of jealousy crept in; Hahaha! He kindly told me that if I was ever running so low again, I was to put a note on the door, ‘Barry, I’m short on night catheters’. He even checked on my catheter to ensure the tubing was the same size. What a kind, thoughtful gentleman he is! I gathered the items needed to make the pickled mushrooms. got the mushroom in the slow cooker, on a high heat,
Hope it works okay.
Going to take a photo of the evening sky, this time it was who went on me. Most unfortunately, I clunked down onto the left knee with a sickening thud, and once again, I gave a clouting . The Catheter Day pouch took a good hit but surprisingly did not split open. Even more amazingly, as I was about to get back into the main junk room and the recliner to get back up again, I grabbed the sink side and got up; painfully, but I got up! Within a minute of getting down in the itch-creating, bruise-giving, catheter-tube-tugging, crumb-decorated from my nocturnal nibbling, God-awfully uncomfortable, cringingly grotty, no longer working, dirty beige, anti-sleep designed, c1966, second-hand bought for £300 ten years ago from the charity shop, recliner, to recover from the fall and Phorpain gell certain areas, knees, back and where I could reach of the shoulder.
And the doorbell sounded its version of ‘Oh, Susana’. It was a Community Nurse. She’s come in response to Nurse Hristina’s telephone call to look at my wedding tackle area regarding the cause of the bladder infections. I went into a deep seizure while we were talking. I thought she had Phorpain gelled my back and for me. I’m unsure what else occurred, but I was deeply out of it. But she seemed happy enough when she left, as I was returning to near normality. Well, that may be pushing it! Ah, she did give me a painkiller, I think… waylay that, now I’m writing this, I’m not so sure… something in my warped mind tells me she did. But, in the malaise of my muddled mind.
I sat still and quiet for a while. Then got back on the computer… Carer Chris arrived. No socks were taken off, and I was going to stay up to try to take some fireworks photos. He was given medications. I treated him to his bottle and cream cakes early, as he said he was not doing the late call. But no one made the late call. Well, it is nearly New Year’s Day.
It is now 5 minutes to midnight. I will hobble into the kitchen, camera around my neck, and await the hour.
It is now 0015hrs and the New Year! Photographs have been taken of the fireworks. Now, to see if I can get them on the computer. When I opened the window, the gusty winds blew in the just-starting rain! I’ve had to disrobe myself of the now wet bobcap and dressing gown! Humph! Hope the camera is okay!
Here Are NYD Firework Photos Taken
Art Decko?
Electric Art?
A bit of both?
Well, what can I say?
. I was getting wetter!
Ah, well, I did my best!
Ah, better get the mushrooms into the pickle jar. I would have a pastie, peas and chips for my morning meal. But I’m too worn out to bother now.
What a busy day again. I thought I retired 15 years ago?
0330hrs: Drained beyond belief. But hunger took a grip. Cooking is not easy when one is mentally and physically drained. Sometimes, one burns one’s vegetable pate, as seen below. Hehe! But I ate it all!
I went to get the pots and dishes washed. My eyes were almost closing as I did this. Then, as I had the light on and looked out of the window, I thought a final photo was called for to try and get a reflection shot of the kitchen, still seeing the relentless rain and me. But of course, you can’t photo wind. Hehe! I dragged myself into the junk room and deposited my tired, weary body and brain in the £300 second-hand shop purchased in 1966, which was a welt-causing, uncomfortable, not working, itch-inspirational, and crumb-containing recliner.
As no late Carer had arrived, I attached the nocturnal catheter pouch to the day pouch. Then, I ate a pot of jelly, put the TV on to catch the news, and planned to move into the hospital bed. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen. I’d nodded off into bliss within seconds of the TV adverts starting. Woke up with a jump later, turned off the TV, cleaned up raspberry jelly from my bulbous mountainous belly, and rejoined Sweet Morpheus. Where I stayed until 06:15hrs. Not a long kip, but it was much needed. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Despite the continuing Whoopsiedangleplops, Mishaps and Accifauxas of the last four days, today had some lovely touching moments that were well appreciated. The amazing Nurse Hristinas helping above and beyond. The kind postman’s offer over the night catheter bags. The community nurse called to check on me. Again, I won’t mention the many failings, irritations, and annoyances I suffered. I’m sick of hearing myself moan! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I’d like to relate a little anecdotage, I’m losing my grip on life in my dotage! My financial situation can be called in arrearage,
The medics can’t mend my wee wee appendage!
I have no willpower, respect or appanage, So, I consulted a Sherwood archaeologist… He dismissed me as being human sullage, He checked on my lineage, Suggested I go live in a hermitage, Although a wizard, he was more like a hucksterage, My nerve rash started getting blotchier, He said: I know what’s up with yer…, Like many old farts, you’re angry at Starmer! Yer blood’s boiling at Keir and your bank manager, There’s no one at home to give you a blether, And look at the state of the bloody weather! I can see yer at the end of your tether… Yer cookers’ broke, standing in yer corridor… Can’t cook or pissed, you’ve lost your composure, Problems with your heating & the computer, Cancer, Renauds, toothache & painful catheter, Starmer, Rachel Reeves, the HMG chancellor, Yer feelin’ sorry for yersen, yer silly old dodderer! Doreen Dementia depresses yer, The solution is available for you, For £500, I’ll reveal what it is, too! Go home and think it over, and come back Tuesday at two. So I went back all punctual, expecting a natter and brew… They told me he’d died last night on the loo! More dreams like this, & I don’t know what I’ll do! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -.
I was up at 04:00hrs to give myself plenty of time to shower, shave, and complete another visit to the Porcelain Throne in time for food delivery from Ocado. A Trotsky Terence controlled evacuation, and all over within 20 seconds of getting my tight little bottie settled on the plastic WC seat. Splush… all done! This ablution session took me over two hours, which was nothing unusual. I was all done abluting and started to get the medicationalisationings done. Unfortunately, after yesterday and the five nurses’ attempts to get the tube back in the bladder via poor little Inchie, He was very delicate this morning. So, ointmentating the fungal lesion was even more painful than ever. It brought tears to my eyes! But I got that done, and then I Phorpain gelled the cartilages of Chloe and Carole. Then, I did Arthur Itis’s left and right patellas with the same gel. Olive oiled the ears, put the Blepha gel in the left eye, and Chloramphenicol drops into the right eye. (Well, most of it ended up down my chest and on the floor!)
I got some Germolid ointment on my bottie to help soothe Harold’s Haemorrhoids. Always a pleasure doing that. Then, the Acne & Excema medications are under and on the arms, the flabby drooping belly, the head, and the neck. Yes, it’s spreading again! Next, congestion relief was sprayed onto the nasal area, and the Anti-Bleed swabbed when that cleared. The Nozohaem was kept handy, but it was not required. Then, a miracle occurred! I could not understand why it was so easy this morning, but I still felt smug when I put on the fresh Protection Pants, pulled them up, and adjusted them without catching the catheter netting or anything—in less time than it took me to take the old ones off! Brilliant! I still can’t believe it myself! Did I dream it or have a mini-seizure?
I cleaned up the wet room, took the waste bag and the used catheter bag to make up a larger one, and saw it was only 06:10 hrs! I’d done all that in just over two hours. But, being me, doubts lingered that I may have got the starting time or waking up time wrong. This took the edge off of my temporary period of almost glee and pride.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – COMPUTER NOT UP TO SCRATCH TODAY I took this snap just before going to the wet room. You can’t see the snow in this one, but it’s stubbornly time-melting.
Very sad about all the photos I took, I can tell you! Heartbreaking.
I’ve lost the compunction… is that the right word? I’ll look it up… No that’s the wrong word altogether. I’ve lost interest in even trying to get this blog done. It’s already gone 20:00hrs, and I’m only up to here with it. I keep trying to get the photos on, but it takes so long using the Ccleaner that my pride and heart are not in it. For the first time ever as well. Still, it’s been a busy day again, interruptions, mistakes and the damned mini-seizures. I had a lot of them today, two when one carer was here and another with a different carer. I’m fuddled.
There was a mammoth cock-up again with the food orders. I would have sworn that I made one order for today and another with a different shop for next Wednesday. First, the Ocado delivery arrived. Then, this evening, the Tesco order arrived! No photos can be saved again, yet it let me do these above, then died on me again.
The computer let me upload these tonight, and later it saved them. Huh!
I think technology, ill health, mental & physical are getting too much for me.
Half of what took place needn’t have bothered me. I know that I had a carer doing the financial checks today, but who it was and two mini-seizures during the visit have left me well-baffled.
I’ve just run my neighbour and Angel of Mercy Jenny. I ordered cream cakes next Wednesday, and I now have two boxes. Her hubby, my mate Frank, kindly came up to collect them, along with a few bits that I would never eat, and they were short-dated. So, at least they have not been wasted and got to where they were intended for. I’d be lost without Jenny & Frank.
Sorry, but I’ve had enough today.
I’ll see how things go in the morning.
Fingers crossed.
I’ll make something to eat. I might even photograph it… but will the computer allow me to file it, or even load them?
Feeling dejected, that was the word!
Hope to see you in the morning.
Well, it’s evening now on Thursday.
But I did get some photos saved.
The 2nd delivery
I am a fool!
Tomatoes, potatoes, chestnuts, and chestnuts, with two really-filled ham rolls, with no-butter butter, & a dab of Marmite.
The potatoes were not very good.
Evening all! The snow melting. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TTFN & Have a great day!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Just half a mile away from the flats. A lot has been happening around here lately. Two pensioners mugged at the bus stop in Sherwood. Three drug raids with sight from the kitchen window. The 13-year-old in Carrington with weapons. Carrington Co-op staff attacked by shoplifters. Care Home closed down after patients died overnight, and no one noticed until the morning wake-up call. Humph! No, sorry, that was in Nottinghamshire! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Yet another nodding off and waking up again every few minutes of the night.
Then, taking off the nocturnal catheter pouch, I felt pain from Little Inchy. I must remember some things; I wrote down some reminders and left them in the Carer’s folder. Some carers do all these jobs, but other non-regular ones mean I have to remember to ask them, and I forget too so often.: ① I must ask the Caregiver to replace the day catheter bag, and ② put the pouch sleeve back on. ③ I must get the full ablutions done early! (I’m sorry if I disturb any neighbours with the noise, but my lower regions will need medical attention to investigate why this morning’s terrible pains came on. Things are much easier to get at in the shower and easier to clean in the event of any bleeding.) ④ Remember to ask for the vitamin tablet. ⑤ Ask the Carer to take the laundry down for me. ⑥ And to put my diabetic socks back on for me. The last item on the memo was aimed at me only; ⑦ It is guaranteed that the computer will stop me from getting graphics and photos onto WordPress or any file (Sadly!). I must not get all het-up when this happens; I’ve been getting myself in a bit of a state with the frustration & depression it causes. Now, even if only protem, I have written down the actions needed to try and correct it, and it usually works, but it takes me over the day, hours!
Maybe I wanted to mention this as a cry for help. We’ll see if I can stay calmer today when it happens. Or I should say, each time it happens. Sad, innit?
On my way to the wet room, I went into the kitchen to check that the faucet doors and cooker had been left safely.
Just look at the foggy view I photographed from the kitchenette window! I noticed the kitchen clock—it was only 04:00 hrs! A smidge of guilt arose within me for having a shower so early in the day.
I got the bath towel from the airer, turned it off, ensured there was enough medical stuff to use, and started the proceedings. First, the Porcelain Throne. What a gooey, sticky mess. I think I used a full roll of toilet paper and tissues to clean myself up after the evacuation. The Dettol disinfectant was almost used up.
Then the teeth, and then I started shaving. I couldn’t understand why I had so many cuts and nicks. They were no bother whilst I was shaving. The back of the head, almost on the neck, suffered the most; there were too many to count, but none of them were any real bother. Another mystery is that being bald, I’ve never had to shave the neck for donkey years. Then, at the end of last year, the hairs started to grow there again. Last week, Carer Christopher said they were white. Haha!
Now, the pleasant bit, getting under the shower.
I had a leisurely but good session. I used the long brush to try and remove as much of the eczema as possible on the ankles, and I hosed the skin down the drain hole.
I sat in the shower chair to investigate the cause of Little Inchy’s pain. I was baffled! There were only a few specks of blood from the Fungal Lesion, far less than usual in the morning, yet while I was in the shower, no pain at all? I found out later that it came on mostly when I was seated throughout the day. I didn’t want to stop the showering; I enjoyed it so much. Little Inchy was not enjoying it. Because my taking off the bag cover pouch to have the shower meant, as I exited, the bag was swinging and pulling on Little Inchy. But I think I’d done well all the same in this session… Then, after drying myself off with the bath towel under the wall heater, I needed to get the medicationings done… Oh, dearie me! I did something I’ve never done ever since the cancer and lesion were treated. For years, I’ve left medicating the most painful, the lesion, until last – today, I started with that task. A few Oohs and the drop Arghs were expounded, with the odd Ouch thrown in. Perfectly normal!
Then, I went to get the Ketoconazole ointment. But they had sent a different one this time, Betamethasone cream. Carer Chloe told me earlier when it was delivered that the contents were exactly the same as the usual Clotrimazole ointment. I got the thin application sticks, ensured Little Inchy was 100% dry, and popped some on the end. I started to rub it in with the usual preparedness for pain. Why have I not been given this one before? I’m not saying it didn’t hurt, but it was far less painful than the regular one! I was pleasantly pleased!
Then, the hard-to-get-at job; well, not on the face, but the ankles. The cream. I put cream on a tissue or muslin strip and use the picker-upperer to get it on the ankles. No problem. The eczema on the arns was easy to reach. Then, the red rash was ointmentated. The ears were olive-oiled. Then, the not-cheap Blepha eye treatments were done. Thank heavens that the NHS has not stopped funding the cost of the Phorpain Gel for the knees, Arthur Itis, and Duloxetine Cartilages Carole & Chloe, and for Colin Cramps.
Finally, the ablutions were completed. It was a long, long session. After belatedly changing the date and day, I took this picture of the antiquated 1970s clock.
Jiminnee Cricket, the fog was even thicker now. Took this snap. I got the kettle on to brew tasty Thompson’s Punjana tea.
Carer Chris arrived while I was on the computer and coming out of a . The lad didn’t need asking; he got the diabetic socks on, the med pouch, and the Vit B12 tablets. I thought, by gum, he’s on form this morning. Then I remembered I’d left the note on his table. Hehehe!
I started blogging stuttering, and it only got stutterer as time passed. The cCleaner routine had to be activated and completed before I could get the third graphic on this post. It was not as successful as yesterday’s, and within an hour or so, the failure to save things started again!
I was about to begin it, and Carer Joanne arrived. She’d been to the hospital again and was not pleased with the lack of interest shown in her catheter problems and pain. I felt terrible for her. She would not have said anything unless I had asked how she was doing in that department. She’s the salt of the earth kind of lady, so I like her. I resisted telling her about the pain I was in with mine. I thought there was no need to make things damper. Bless her cotton socks.
She departed, and I again went through the albeit unguaranteed-to-work computer memory recovery program. I happened to note the time when I started this: 13:40 hrs. I got it done—I thought—at 15:35 hrs! But it lasted for only three photos to get on. I’m using some of those in the gallery, where they were suitable. I took a lot of photos as well.
I am now starting the third procedure but with little faith. At least, up to now, I’ve not sunk into silly thoughts with the depression. I’ll be back in a couple of hours, I imagine. And try to load the photos again. I can feel some emotion brewing, so I anticipate losing it. Back later.
Good Heavens, it worked! I hastily uploaded the photos to the gallery, but I fear I may have put them in the wrong order, so they may be from different times. Sorry.
The Iceland delivery arrived.
The driver kindly took the carrier bags to the kitchen for me. Thanks. At long last, there is food in the fridge. I felt guilty when Carer Chloe found all the food out of date the other day. Was it yesterday? Who knows, not me. Hehehe! The three bags of frozen food to the right in the photo on the left cost me just a pound! They were battered fishcakes, battered fish, and battered potatoes. Lovely! The fridge looked a little fuller now, and while putting things away, I decided to have lamburgers in wholemeal bread rolls, maybe with some tomatoes and potatoes, as well. Or Marmite rice cakes—I might like that. Slurp & Yummy!
I’ll get some time in on the WP Reader and then sort out the meal. I’m getting tired now, but I’ve kept calmer and more accepting of the situations.
I managed to get these snaps in here in the morning. Just before CorelDraw crashed again! Fed up? YES!
Kitchen window before the rain poured down.
I thought I’d remember from which of the different views I’d taken these from, but CorelDraw kept refusing to allow me to save the odd one and I go confused as to which was which.
I think this one on the left was taken higher in the sky.
Such beautiful clouds before the storm didn’t look like they were holding rain to drop on us. Hehe!
I’m sure this on on the right was take to my right, towards the North. Blue patches of sky coming through. You ca see part of the outer of the balcony in this shot. I got back onto the computer.
CORELDRAW SCARE! I saved the CorelDraw Graphics and pressed to turn off the programme. The screen darkened, and a message came up; Crucial CorelDraw Update – click to install.
So, I clicked “Turn off CorelDraw until the installation guide appears.” But the CorelDraw screen was shaded and unreachable!
The update started. Finished, and no Installation Guide.
I clicked the open CorelDraw 2024 button… Nothing happened.
So, I closed things down and pressed the restart computer option. The computer loaded. I clicked the CoralDraw button, and it started to load, but it crashed!
I tried again. It started to load, but it crashed!
In desperation, I turned off the computer. Gave it a few minutes before starting from scratch again.
I clicked the CoralDraw button, and it started to load. Then, a form to fill in and return appeared, telling me that CorelDraw had closed unexpectedly and asking me to fill it in and send an email to the… well, I assume there are some real people at CorelDraw or IT clones. Still, I’ve filled this block in dozens of times and never got a reply.
I don’t suppose I will this time either.
However, CorelDraw carried on loading this time before it crashed again.
After the trying day, I was in low spirits, so I just turned everything off and had the lamburgers.
We’ll see what happens with CorelDraw in the morning.
One feeling downtrodden, a failure, and with poor Little Inchies fungal lesion being caused pain via the Catheter Contraption stuck in him; My thoughts were not exactly of contentment, more resentment. I caught an accidental look in the wet room mirror as I washed, and Gawd, did I look pale or what! Tsk! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The sleep was lousy, maybe the worst ever for getting disturbed. This time, by . He’d given me a break for two nights, but he was back with a vengeance last night. I wish that & would ease off a little bit… if not go away altogether. Sorted the night pouch. The next task was the utilising of the Porcelain Throne. After a long slog, the first of the three tungsten steel-type sausages was released. The second one was not too keen to escape. Several Oohs and Arghs later, it was released. A moment later, I was getting on my feet to sort the after-the-release cleaning out. I had to hastily get myself down again, just in time, too. The final flurry produced a tough, tiny torpedo that hurt more than the first two put together! Hehe! My ankle ulcer looked much better, although the legs were a little bloated and misshaped, to say the least. Hehehe! Shaving and showering – yes, a lovely shower, were bloodless, which can’t be said for Little Incies Fungal Lesion.
I then got the late morning (I got up later today) morning views taken and realised something about each of the shots taken. Zoomed in shot of HMP Nottingham. Opened in 1890 as a city gaol but was reconstructed in 1912, and until 1997, served as a closed training establishment for adult males. In 1997, D wing and E wing were opened, and the prison became a category B local establishment serving local courts in Nottingham and Derby. Currently holding 1,200+ interned villains. 2 local and 7 illegal immigrant killers & Murderers, 5 attempted murderers, muggers, con artists, causing death by dangerous driving, con artist, child molesters, drug dealers, pick-pocket, rapists, and an ex-politician. Having just released a convicted murderer of three old age pensioners from his 20-year sentence after 6 years. No doubt he’ll kill more innocents again, thanks to the murderous Parole Boarder’s decision to free him. Within this shot towards the City Centre, there have been, in the last year, eight murders. The biggest drug raid done by the police in Nottingham was at these flats. They found drugs worth £1.2m in one flat. In which four immigrants were living free of all charges, awaiting a decision to be made. Only one was charged and is still waiting in the same flat for him to be deported back to Lithuania. Perhaps they will drop him by parachute? Home from Home. Nottingham City Hospital
Pod pea preparing – a nibble pot?
Afternoon view.
Early meal – Nice!
Afternoon shots of the sky.
Dizzy, double vision, I had to give up on the blog. TV,,, and nodded off for a few minutes – sprang awake… repeatedly until the Care arrived, who caught me nodding and woke me up. Hehe!
I fell asleep. The springing awake continued, so I got up to check the taps, cooker, etc., and apparently took this photo. What was supposed to be, I know not.
Ahem, I found it within 3 seconds! No, I’m not joking.
It’s darned slow work having to recreate all signs, as the Smug-Mode one each time I want to use one. Grumph!
Thursday is likely to be a heavy day with other things too. The snotty, superior, humourless SpecSavers chap is coming to find the new spectacles. Sister Jane & Pete might be calling. The nurse is due to take out and fit a new catheter set-up. The Ocado food delivery is due. The delivery of the present for someone is due. There’s something else as well, but I can’t remember what it was. Might it be a call coming in from the Diabetes Program chap? Or… well, summat else.
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Another frustrating, frabjous, fracas and fault-filled Friday. Fractionally more upsetting than last Friday was without the fun with Nurse Felicity. My mind was more fragmented, and Doreen Dementia’s logicality dissented when I attempted to glean a modicum of sense from the (fewer than yesterday, I admit) cock-ups of today. However, I did formulate a cunning plan to ensure that I could get the shower. (The first one in the five weeks of the diabetic latherings of bandages on my right leg). ①. I had to finish and post yesterday’s blog by midday. I was a little behind, but the wife used to like that. Hahaha! ② After the Carer sees me, I must get on with ablutions. Even if it takes me 3 hours again, I’ve no deliveries or nurses calling. So, you can get on with the ablutions and medication and get the PPs, the nightshirt, and slippers on. However, I’d forgotten about the foot lady calling to cut my toenails. She did them quickly. I paid up, her reminding me to. Ahem! I’ve gone all out of sync again, sorry. I’ll start again…
According to the bits I can read on the notepad, I got up at 05:10 hrs. The nocturnal catheter pouch was removed and photographed. This is another 6 on the NHS scale.
Off to the wet room Throne.
Opened the kitchen window and took this Kodak shot.
Rubbish sorted.
At this point, kicked off. She was so kind last night. I’m having totally unexpected pains from the left leg ulcer now. Then, the Mystery Rib Pain joined in when I sat down at the computer.
Carer Maryham arrived. She confirmed the colour of the not-yet-emptied catheter bag so she could do this for me. It was a level six on the NHS colour card. Maryham checked the cooler and taps for me and told me I’d left the window open. Medications were distributed, and a mini-natter and laugh were shared.
After the gal went, I made a fresh brew of Thompson’s Punjana tea. I then got on the computer and hurriedly made an error after mistake, as I wanted to keep to my plan of getting a shower, shave, and sh… in.
An email arrived from Iceland, telling us they had made changes to today’s order, which has happened in the last four deliveries from them. Humph! I went even faster on the blog, determined to finish it, but the delivery arrived, which at least came early despite shortages and unwanted substitutions. Treats for the nurses and Caregivers’ table had arrived. Carer Chris called today. The caramel bars won’t last long; he loves them! Hahaha! I refilled the big and small bowls of nibbles on their table. And I scattered some bikkies and crisps around so they may be tempted to try. Thanks. Unfortunately, the smoked ham offcuts tray was blown. I cut the wrappers to make sure they were safe… Boy, the stink! I’ll not get them again!
I got the little potatoes out to boil them and nibble later. On the left is a photo of the sprouts removed from the few that were cookable. The disputed potatoes that made it to the new saucepan were put on a low light. Well, that’s what I thought at the time! I was to find out I was wrong half an hour later when Carer Joanne arrived and checked the taps and cooker. In my usual airy-fairy way, I’d not turned it down to one but up to level three on the hob. The new pan as well! I thought at first that it was hundreds of eyes/sprouts that I’d taken off all of and that they had magically returned. Carer Joanne grasped the situation and asked me if I’d added any seasoning. I had, and that was what was floating about after being overcooked. I got mad, apparently called myself names, and swore a bit self-condemnatory. Told me off, saying (repeating a self-insult I muttered to myself at the time) You are not an idiot! Bless her. Off she went, and I felt better that someone understood my mental & physical problems. I was finishing up on the blog and ready to post it at last – no nurses to call or carers are due for three hours (Sadly). I began to think about the things needed and in which order to get the ablutions and medicationings done. After over five weeks of having the diabetic swathings on, they are removed. And the joy of damned good shower was with my grasp… When did a plan of mine ever work out? This one didn’t either! As I saved the work done on XL, Work, CorelDraw and WordPress for later, I got a telephone call. It was from the salon, telling me the gal was coming up to cut my toenails. So that threw out the timing of my plan straight away! I finished saving things, and the gal arrived. It didn’t take her long, and I put the computer to sleep as soon as the gal left. I removed my alert wristbands and wristwatch and struggled to remove the catheter pouch. Yes, that cost me a lot of time and not inconsiderable pain, but I did it! As I entered the wet room, the need for the Throne arose. The evacuating produce came and came; it felt like it was in rapid waves. So, I manually cleaned the rear end before doing the teeth, then tackled the potentially high-risk job of shaving. It went like a dream! Not a single cut! I forgot to mention that I asked the young lady cutting the toenail if she could move the shower curtain for me so I could help keep the spray from splashing around too much. It’s been that long since I’ve had a shower. But I forgot to ask her to put the retaining clip in the static loop. That was a painful mistake for me to make. I got into the shower and took a bowl of water with Dettol in it to soak my feet first thing. After washing the feet, I tried to lift the bowl to empty it in the sink – cause I remembered that the extractor drain on the floor only lets so much water down that matches whatever quantity the shower issues. All very technical, Hehe! So, having filled the bowl from the sink, I knew all the water would not drain away. I have to say, I remember this was a Smug-Mode-Moment! I lost my grip on the bowl, and the water joined the evacuating water from the shower, and almost immediately, I nearly had a flood situation on my hands! I’m confused, too! My big fear was in case it flooded down to Mary’s flat below like the last time I cocked it up! I got myself into level three-agony, trying to mop up enough water before it leaked through and emptying the bucket down the WC. I’m amazed the hanging catheter bag did not come out! It worked. But cost me about another hour wasted. I went back in the shower, turned on the flow, and found water shooting from the showerhead all over the place at a rapid rate of knots!
What next? I must find out if Nottingham City Homes will mend it or if I must pay for it? Then I realised the end hook had come off of the shower curtain! This required the use of stepladders. With a left tendon that hurts if I move my left foot higher than four inches, this could be interesting and even more painful! It was! The knee would only allow me to climb up one step, from which, luckily, after reattaching the hook, I fell backwards, hitting my arm on the door edge, but miraculously kept on my feet! I made up for this bit of luck when taking the step ladders back; I trapped my finger as it snapped shut. Int Life Good! Carer Christopher arrived. He selected himself some vittles and a cold drink, and we nattered as he issued the medications. Then he got a mobile call and said he had to rush away. Thanked & off he shot. No chance for me to ask him to fit the catheter pouch leg bag cover back on for me. So, I’m in pain, even more so now, cause the Foley Catheter Pouch, without any straps on it, was tugging away at poor Little Inchie, which I’ve just discovered is now bleeding. (1740hrs) Worra day! I’m having to hobble more carefully now until the 21:00hr Carer calls. It might be Chris, it might not. I carefully went to take this photo on the left of the gorgeous evening clouds on offer. Beautiful!
I pressed on with this blog. Until the eyes faded and double vision started coming on again. It’s too late to make a meal and eat it. As the Carer will be here by the time it’s cooked. I’m getting peckish, so I ate the earlier burnt potatoes.
It’s days like this that one can fully grasp and appreciate the complete frustrating futility of life. The moment I returned to the flat from the QMC Hospital A+E. Feeling Guilty for wasting their time.
I needed some nourishment, vittles, and hastily made a meal. Vegan mini-sausages, oven chips, two sourdough rolls crammed with salted sliced tomatoes and plenty of the gorgeous-tasting Flora, No-Butter butter. I enjoyed this.
Then, as I was stripping off to get my head down and seated in the c1968, tatty, scruffy, unkempt, uncomfortable, virus, microorganism, bug, bacterium, bacillus, germ, parasite producing, and disease-fermenting second-hand, eyesorely-horrendously grungy beige-coloured, £300, charity shop bought, crumb-retaining, moth-eaten, non-working, itch-encouraging, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, catheter tube yanking, filthy, repulsive recliner, I felt a fair outburst of pain kicking off from both of the then the joined in and for the rest of the night, one or the other was waking me up with their stinging. Another crap, kip!
Although today was no worse than any other day in many ways, I felt I’d reached a new standard of dépaysement. I was cheered up a smidge when Carer Chris did the last call. He got the diabetic socks off of my legs, gave me a painkiller, and said he’d collect the laundry in the morning as the bag was packed, which he did. Nibble treats in thanks, and off he trotted. Cheers!
The combination of the ankle ulcer’s stabs of pain and the odd issue of lightning shooting up the right leg ensured that sleep was minimal. Although, after each awakening; and so many, I had no trouble nodding off again… for a few minutes at most. I’m just glad that there weres no visitations from .
