Woke up for WC usage and recalled some bits of dreams I’d had – made notes.
0315 hrs: Up WC – feeling a bit giddy, got up and had a dizzy (Oh, that almost rhymes). Not a portent for the day hope.
Started the laptop made a cuppa and started this diary.
The dream/s:
Note 1: At T-Junction traffic lights – me crossing the road and three lanes of waiting traffic, as I walked across the lanes of traffic went from three lanes into eight or nine?
Couldn’t get across as the distance increased, lights changes traffic crawling slowly toward me – the drivers had no faces.
Recognised vehicles, all old, Hillman Humber, Singer Gazelle, American Jeep, Austin ambulance and Austin A40?
These turned into giant Dinky toy models and they all stopped moving?
I was suddenly on Mansfield Road in Sherwood Nottingham, picking up dead meat flies in the middle of the road?
Note 2: Locked in a room – couldn’t get out, plastic forks? Giant hands trying to grab me from above as I ran around the room hiding behind a massive frozen chicken – gave up and grabbed a finger of one hand and it exploded? – Being told off by a woman who poked me in the eye with her finger?
Ah well.
WC’d: realised the haemorrhoids were bleeding. cleaned missen and applied me creams. Arthur Itis not as bad at the moment as it has been. Angina lingering a bit still. Pain gelled me knees.
Bad dizzy-spells came on, doddery on feet now… decided not to go out at all today.
Up at 0210hrs. Laid thinking about the dreams I’d had.
WC’d, started laptop went and made a cuppa.
Couldn’t recall too much of the dream just bits:
I was having for some reason I can’t remember to run between different shops and was panicking, rushing and feeling under great pressure. Some of the shops I remember as one’s that I’d worked at others were new to me? I had a pack of mezuzah’s with me and was attaching one to each door I entered? That’s all I recall of that dream.
In another, I was on an oil tanker at sea, and was running around (again) trying to sell everyone on board, and there were many more crew members than needed, in fact I think some were falling off the ship into the sea, but seemed happy to do so… to sell them each a packet of cooked chestnuts? I think I and everyone else were speaking in French? Not that I can speak French… but?
WC’d.
Stomach churning, chest congested and I was coughing again. Arthur Itis and angina lingering again. All in all, not feeling too good today. Even worse when I heard the wind banging the letter box flap and the rain belting down!
Then the Coreldraw9 or laptop stopped me from viewing anything before I imported it! Turned everything off and restarted but it wasn’t having it at all.
Depressed about that – but it was letting me watch YouTube again, so I did until it was time to get missen scrubbed-up and down ready for the Iceland delivery between 1100 > 1300 hrs.
WC.
Had a cuppa took me medications and read me book while I waited. As the possible delivery time neared I took me reading glasses up as I went to the WC so as not to leave the door in case the delivery came.
Continued reading me book until the Iceland van arrived – took it in and put the stuff way but was a tad confused (Not a rarity I know!), when found two packs of Chicken legs had been delivered. Don’t recall ordering them, but knowing me?…
Set off but not on a walk as originally planned due to the wind and rain, and caught a bus into Mansfield using me Pensioners Bus-pass of course.
Read some more of me book en-route. I was going to take some photos out of the bus window but they were were too muddied.
When I got into Mansfield bus-station I waddled down to the open Market. There was a police van parked on the market, no one it it and not many folk about either.
The rain was still coming and it was getting a little gloomy.
I poddled around and made my way up the hill to the B&M store and popped in, but they nowt I fancied or needed on show. But I saw some really cute kids booties on sale that I took a photo of on display.
I left empty-handed and limped up the road to the Pound Stretcher outlet and had a wander around in there. They had the Warburton bread-thins on sale at £1, and some cans of All Day Breakfast at 89p so I invested in one of each.
I took a photograph of the end of a gondola that was displaying clearance-reduced in price clocks.
Top shelve £1.99
Next shelf down £3.99
Next shelf down £6.99
Rather good value I thought.
I retreated and out of the store s the security guard approached me!
As I came out it was like deja-vu of the last time I took a photograph from that place and angle – depressing!.
There was even more outlets for sale or to rent than two months ago.
A female warden was taking photos of the cars parked in between the lines. Despite the wind and rain she had a smirky-smile on her face bless her! Nice to see someone enjoying their job innit?
Walked back to the bus station and caught one back to Carrington.
The journey would have been pleasant if I had a TV and watched Coronation Street. A lady with a loud piercing voice shouted at her friend sat next to her and just to my left all the time about Coronation Street! It didn’t bother me really… bless her.
I dropped off the bus and the rain abated.
I was going to go directly back to the hovel, but didn’t like the look of three yobs sat on the bench near the cut-though drinking plonk. So I went the long way past St John’s Church.
While taking this photo a burk-on-a-bike belted passed me on the pavement, and skidded at the end of the road near the corner and came off of his bike.
Made my day that did.
Got in the hovel feeling a bit more cheerful thanks to the git on the pavement falling off his bike.
WC – made a cuppa and started the laptop, searched for me reading glasses for ages. Eventually found them in the bathroom where I’d taken them so as not to lose them this morning. Tsk!
Took me medications and finished off this diary.
Did some work on a graphic to use later, and coreldraw was letting me preview now? Not complaining at all mind. not while the wonderful picture of the yob toppling of his bike remains in my mind…
Recalled one of the dreams, well a bit of it: On the upstairs of an old double decker bus, only a few seats – people sleeping some on seats some in sleeping backs – arguing between themselves. That’s all I can recall.
I remembered it was the bin collection day so went down put the kettle on and took out a bag and moved the bins to the collection spot.
Took a photo of the street but it was too dark really, the bins didn’t show up at all, but the lights gave an interesting David Bailey display I thought.
Back into the hovel and made me cuppa and returned to the laptop to start this dairy.
I set the reminder thingy on me mobile so as not to forget the Iceland delivery coming presumably between 1100 – 1300hrs today.
WC – found me haemorrhoids a-bleeding Tsk!.
The angina seemed a lot easier this morning, Arhtur Itis still not so good, but overall I think I might still just pass an M.O.T.? Oh, maybe not though. Heheh!
Did Facebooking and blogging for a while, taking me medication with yet another cuppa (Three this morning now, Note to self: Must resist this in future).
Got myself spruced up and well Phorpain-gelled-up-on-the knees, new shoes on and ready to set off to go to town.
The new shoes I chose due to their high quality and classy looks.
(Alright then, they were the cheapest in the Shoe Zone shop – Tsk!)
Then I remembered the Iceland delivery – Tsk!
So made up me medication pot’s while I was waiting.
The delivery came around midday. And they delivered for free! All the stuff was in stock and delivered.
They kitchen towels were light not much on the roll, but very soft and at 4 rolls for a quid good value too.
I’m not walking to town this morning, the rain was too heavy for my liking.
Going to the bank first to sort out why I had received a letter telling me my house insurance had not been renewed when I paid it Monday before last at the bank.
As I approached the bus-stop I could see a youth coming towards me on his bike on the pavement and I got out me camera – as he passed me by I took a photo and shouted out me usual message to the scrote “If yer too scared to ride on the road you shouldn’t be on a bike – can I change yer nappy for yer?”
But he’d got his head down and belting along so fast I don’t think he heard me – perhaps just as well anyway eh?
The bus arrived and was well packed with Senior Citizens using their free bus-passes, as was I of course. Hehe!
The bus dropped us off and I poddled to the bank and recognised the chap who rang for me and paid me Insurance last time I was in.
I explained and he remembered doing it and checked in his computer to find out it had been forwarded to the Insurance company. He could tell I was concerned and rang them for me. But it got busy with people waiting and after going through the ‘Press button so-and-so for…’ routine, he could get no answer from them.
I mentioned at this point that I had similar problems with the BT helpline: He grimaced and said: “Don’t mention them please all the hassle I’ve had with them…” Fancy that I thought, a dissatisfied BT customer…
He hung on the line for a while, but other people waiting were getting a bit agitated so I suggested I call again on Monday and he can try again then? He seemed happy with that, so I gave him a bar of Galaxy, thanked him and left.
Then I walked up to the opticians to inquire about the cost of a pair of Bifocals. She explained that they do not do them any more, only Varifocals because Bifocals had a line across on the lense.
I told her that is why I liked them, but never mind, how much would a pair cost me please? Because I’d bought two pairs recently with the second being half-price, she could do me a pair for 40% off!
So I agreed and she only charged me £70 all in. She was amazed at how I took only 20 seconds to pick the frames out. No fashion statements needed with my mush and age!
I walked back to the City Centre and caught a tram to Bulwell (Sneaking a few seeds to the pigeons as I waited).
When we got to the Tram depot we all had to get off and catch the one behind. No idea why, but it didn’t half set a lot of passenger moaning. Whatever the reason, these things happen in life.
When I dropped off at Bulwell the rain had lessened a bit and I made for the River Leen to feed the mallard ducks and pigeons from the bridge. The river level was twice its normal and the dirty water was flowing very rapidly passed the newly dumped Tesco shopping trolley in the river.
But there were no signs of the Mallards at all? (Sob)
I went to the freezer shop in the hopes of getting some blackcurrant/ice-cream lollies, but was out of luck, none to be found.
Bit of excitement at this point.
As I crossed the road to the market, well I say market, a sad imitation really today. Not many traders or customers about in the rain.
Three youths appeared out of an alley pursued by two police constables and off towards the housing estate.
Excitement over I checked out the other freezer shop for me lollies without success.
I limped to the bus station and caught a number 17 back to Carrington.
The rain was now coming on and off but again not as heavily as earlier.
I took a photo from through the bus window of the station. Not a bird in site.
Was it the rain and wind keeping them away? Weird this I thought.
Read a bit more of me book en-route back to the dump.
Even on my street there were no birds at all. Wish I knew why?
Got in the flea-pit and WC’d then made a cuppa.
Plan to have the potato-gratin later tonight with some sausages I think.
Started this Diary and did a bit of Facebooking.
I enjoyed the Asda Potato Gratin I must say, mind you I hope it doesn’t start the rumbling innards off again.
The pack claimed it serves 4? Well this one didn’t, it just served Inchcock along with a bit of chicken leg and much bread?
Last night I ate some sweetcorn I didn’t realise was in me BBQ bean mix wot I bought at great expense – I stopped eating them when I did realise… to late though. Boy did I suffer at the rear end last night!
I’m amazed I had time to have any dreams with all the waking up I did. But I did my usual and had them, not that I can recall much other than: I kept getting caught doing wrong and gangs of people, some I’m sure were passed colleagues were goading and mocking me relentlessly… I seemed to be in a garden shed of sorts that had all sorts of machinery in it. That’s all I can recall of them.
I was up at 0240hrs and tended as best I could to the haemorrhoid problem. (Sweetcorn?)
WC’d then started the laptop and made a cuppa, too early to take me medications yet.
The knees were not pleased with being used again after yesterday’s marathon hobble.
After doing some graphics and posting yesterday’s Diary I made another cuppa and took me medications, applied the Phorpain gel and creams, passed wind and just got to the porcelain in time. It was not pleasant. Hehe… what am I laughing at?
I’d like to go to the Nottingham Hospice Charity shop with some bits for em, then feed and photo the mallards today. Bit concerned about the arthritis in me knees and ankles at the moment, they’ve never been worse. Mind you, I can only blame myself for suffering the marathon hobble yesterday. Tsk!
I forced me unwilling knees into action and had a scrub-up and got ready to go on me walk. I thought it best to walk to Sherwood first to the Charity shop, then catch the bus unto town perhaps according to how my ailments were.
So I set off on me hike to Sherwood, only to find the shop closed – I didn’t think of that did I?
I was annoyed with myself, I turned round and walked all the way into town – painfully!
As I limped passed the Park Hotel I noted they had put up a new poster outside to advertise their gym. It said “Membership Sale 2 weeks free!” I saw a funny side to that and took a photo, but I can’t remember now what I saw funny in it? I know… sad!
I pressed on, and the wind was getting worse all the time – the weather wind I mean not me.
Hobbled to the top of the hill and as I walked down towards the City Centre a bus appeared, the first one in my up to that point 40 minute walk.
I walked through the Broad Marsh centre and out into Carrington Street and nipped in Sainsburys for a loaf for the mallards on the canal, I already had some seed and earth-worms in my bag for the pigeons.
I reckon the wind was even stronger now, not cold with it by I had to take care not to get blown into the canal!
some yobs were lurking further along the bank, so I turned the other way and walked under the first bridge to feed the birds. In the distance on the photo you can just make out the mallards paddling towards me.
They were soon joined by the seagulls and Canada geese, then the pigeons too.
It’s incredible how much pleasure I get out of feeding the ducks and pigeons.
I checked first to see if the sign had been replaced on the tree informing folk not to to feed the birds but it hadn’t been, so I did.
And none of them pooped on me today.
The youths were moving toward me and nearly under the bridge, so I poddled away under the second bridge and made me way up the path to road level, keeping an eye on them.
Two chaps were coming down the path onto the canal tow-path and the youths turned back the other way? since the last time I got mugged I’m very weary yer know.
I made me way into Broad Marsh shopping centre proper (limping well by now too) and foolishly called in Heron’s food store. I knew it would be bad for me legs carrying heavy bags again. Tsk! I got lollies, milk and disinfectant… oh and soap powder.
As I walked through to the other end I took photo’s of a ladies-wear shop for the TFZ gals that I hope to remember to post later today.
I got out into the wind again and walked up Wheeler Gate, there were a few folk about and most shops open.
The street performers were out in number.
As I passed Marks & Sparks the police were taking away a couple of young Nottingham shoplifters, I could tell they from Nottingham by the way they pronounced the swear words.
I was really struggling with the knees and feet now.
As I went passed I think it was the Dolcis shoe shop, I couldn’t believe my eyes. On display in the window were children’s shoes including the one I photographed here reduced from £28.00 down to £22.00! £22.00 ($34.00) for kids shoes and they were only about 5 inches long?
There were some in the sale at £35.50 ($55) crickey… do they know how to charge?
I walked on along Clinton Street and on to the bus-stop – I was very lucky one was in and due to leave in two minutes.
I struggled along and got in the flea-pit in time to visit the porcelain without any problems being caused.
I got the frozen food into the freezer and at that stage remembered I’d ordered a delivery for the morning from Iceland freezer centre – Oh what a clot I am!
Made a cuppa and started this diary of woes.
Lost BT internet connection – no really, honestly, hard for anyone to believe but there you are. Fancy that!
Dreams were rife but I cannot recall any part of them this morning – huh!
Got woke up at midnight of course with the fireworks and drunken sounds from all around the house – shook me a bit at first, I thought a war had started. Hehe.
Some of the Troll Free Zone gals bless em
Got up about 0230hrs and made a cuppa and set to work doing a graphic for the TFZers site.
It took me until 0715hrs to get it right and posted, in fact I’ll put it on here hang on…
Here it is.
Took me medications and did a bit of Facebooking.
I’m hoping that the ice has eased off it didn’t look anywhere near as bad as yesterday when I peeped out of the windows earlier, so maybe I can get a good walk into town and wander around getting some bread and long sleeved t-shirts? I’ll see later.
Had a look outside and was well pleased to see the ice had all but gone now.
Rather peaceful for my locality this morning
So I did myself up hygienically like and got me clean togs on and set off on a walk into town.
Took a photo of the sky at the end of the road… that doesn’t the sky was only at the end of the road it means I took the photo of the sky from the end of the road yer see?
It didn’t look too threatening at all and there were no threatening folk, cyclists. yobs or muggers about – heaven really!
One car and fewer pedestrians this morning
I wandered down to Mansfield Road. There were few people about and even less cars at this point.
In fact I tooketh a photo of the road for I’ve not seen it so barren of vehicles for along time – then it dawned on me what day it was. (I get there in the end… usually).
All still sozzled I expect.
I pressed on the arthritis not too bad at all. The angina fair. The haemorrhoids calm. The rumbling innards fairly good, all in all I felt good to be out in the fresh air and limping along nicely (This situation was to change drastically later!).
How do they make it pay?
40 minutes later when I arrived in Nottingham and was going into the Victoria Centre through the bus station something else dawned upon me. There were no buses! So I’d have to walk all the way back as well after I hobbled there and around town to get me shopping… oh dear never mind I’ve done it before so I can do it again. Huh!.
As I waddled through the centre I noticed the Juice stall below was again customer free and had two staff on duty. I wonder how they make it pay?
I walked through and out the other end over walk-way and along to Primark to see if they had any of the really warm long t-shirts in stock.
I plodded up tp the gents department and found them still at £6 each so bought five of them and a pair of lounge pants reduced to £3. I got the XL size in them al this time making sure I did after getting the L last time and it’s an Hell of a job getting into and out of them I can tell yer.
Pleased with myself but not with the knees and angina starting to play up, I limped along checking on the few food stores that were open, but none of them had fresh bread in.
Eventually I found some store made cobs at the Mini-Waitrose. They each cost more than a loaf of bread elsewhere, but hey-ho I’d got me bread of sorts to have with the other half of me Prok Farms pie. I also got a tiny pot BBQ mix beans. Had I realised they cost £2.80 I wouldn’t have bought them, but I was so pleased at getting the warm shirts I didn’t notice the price of the beans. Tsk!
As I came out of the shop the police were cordoning off a bus shelter. As I passed by I could see some crushed spectacles and blood on the floor. I thought about taking a photo but the look the officer gave me discouraged me from doing so.
Rare dancing shoes on sale
I started me walk back to Carrington up Mansfield Road.
I saw an independent shop had some children’s shoes for sale: Girls Cromwell Shoes £5, Scottish Dance Shoes £10, Boys Jig Shoes £5, Jazz Boots £10 and Girls PU Cuban heel Top Shoes on sale. The prices seemed reasonable to me. However I didn’t know what some of them were, all dancing shoes of some type I imagine though? Notice the straw hats? I liked them for some unknown reason.
As I struggled along with the bangs I had a dizzy spell. Not surprising in my condition with the blood being prevented from flowing and my hands were well red. (That’s not a typing error and meaning I had my fortune told be a gypsy like – I meant red the colour your see. Hehe! Forgive me, I feel so good getting me walk in)
As I crossed to the other side of the road I spotted three Police vehicles arriving at some business premises.
I took a photo from there and then one of the Scientific Support Vehicle when passed by it. The Nottingham burglars are not taking a day off for the New Year then I thought.
The New Year in Nottingham seems to have continued like the old one, muggings shoplifting burglaries etc?
A limped on, and I mean limped, the feet and knees were rather painful at this stage of me enforced longer walk, on up the hill and down passed the cemetery.
More Nottingham Street Art spotted
Noticing some more Nottingham Street Art in near an entrance gate to some student flats.
It was better than what I saw earlier, the blood and broken glasses in the City Centre anyway.
I plodded down the hill and three fire engines went by, blues and twos on. I hope all these emergency services activity are not a portent sign of things to come again this year in my beloved Nottingham. (Did I say that?)
The pigeons cheered me up
I was struggling walking now but got through the cutting and the pigeons came down and landed and looked up at me as if to say “Come on then, where’s the seed youth?”.
That cheered me up. I gave them some seed and earth-worm pellets and managed the last few hundred yards back to the dump.
A painful rush to the WC first thing demanded.
Took some extra painkillers, started the laptop and made a cuppa.
Started to finish if you know what I mean, this diary.
Well shattered physically, poor old twerp.
My nosh tonight consisted of Rustic cobs, pork pie, BBQ bean mix, crispy bacon rashes, Marmite crisps two lollies and a cup of strong tea, along with me medications of course.
An unhealthy choice and including some forbidden by the doctor foodstuffs. And the bean mix contained sweetcorn which is on my definitely-not-to-eat list. I ate many of them and enjoyed them before realised they were in the mix – bet I suffer from the rear-end after this… oh dear!
Laid for a while trying to recall the dreams I knew I’d had, but only bits came back to me this morning.
‘I think I was driving a steam train and ran out of coal and put walking sticks in place of coal into the boiler?’
‘Being chased or chasing someone up stair corridors etc.’
That’s all I can remember.
Eventually I rose started the laptop, WC’d and went down and made a cuppa, taking me camera with me I went outside to take the bin bags to the bins… the door had partly frozen to the frame and I had a devil of a job opening the frozen dustbin lid to put the bags into it. The ice on the pavement was deadlier than yesterday by far so.
Bit of scraping or de-icing required?
Took a photo of a car parked outside the hovel, the well frosted windscreen would need some attention before whoever owns it can move it safely this morning.
I decided that no going out today would be my daily motto – too risky!
Later the temperature on Google for Nottingham was showing -2ºc (38ºf), but it felt even lower to me.
I took me cuppa up, WC’d and finished yesterday’s diary and started this one.
Well fancy that… BT internet connection went down.
I am surprised (Lie mode adopted here).
Isn’t it about time someone let them know that we are fed-up with the service they do not provide despite their lying claims?.
Mind you, trying to understand anyone on their so called helpine even for someone without poor hearing is not an easy job at all. Tsk!
Went down and made a cuppa to take me medications with.
I watched a documentary on The Sinking of the Estonia on Youtube… sorry I did afterwards, depressed myself something awful, poor devils!
Turned off the computer, had missen a scrub-up shave, teggies done and clean(ish) clothes on and decided to risk a walk just to the shop nearby, a Lidl… well yer cant be picky in this weather can yer.
Flippin’ ice!. (Sorry about the bad language)
I think the pavements were a tad easier to walk on this morning, well afternoon now.
I had the greatest of pleasure that I’ve had in a long time when a cyclist actually on the pavement that was more iced up than the road skidded and came off his bike. tickled me pink that did. I don’t think he appreciated my laughing out loud at all. Hehehe! Wonderful! Marvellous! I was so overjoyed I had to take care not to slip over and do a ‘‘Whoopsiedangleplop’ myself.
I fed the pigeons near the cut-through and plodded on to the shop. Where I purchased a Pork Farms pork pie, two cheesey cobs and a lemon curd flavoured swiss roll. As Duncan from http://madhatters.me.uk/ said in a comment wot he left me yesterday another veritable feast compared to wot he lives on. I don’t believe him really. Well maybe I do.
The lady/girl on the till must have been new to the Lidl job she didn’t snarl or sneer at me at all?
I hope the ice clears enough in the morning for me to get a good walk in.
I set out to walk back to the flea-pit and noticed the traffic lights that fell off the overhead indicators at the pelican lights had been replaced. I wonder when they were done… no one tells me anything yer know. Tsk!
I waddled gingerly home on the ice and just made it to the WC on time. It was a close call.
The mail had been delivered when I got back, three items of which I am no going to open.
Les has helped me when I was down and poorly despite his being so busy.
Cheers Sir Les. The best of luck with Erskine and a brilliant new year Sir!
I will now open the second letter… hang on again please…
Awe.. this one is from Patti Bekert in America, a cyber-friend and blogger who has suffered a lot with medical problems and has supported me in my bit of bother so unceasingly I am ever in her debt. She’s witty, clever brave and caring.
A lovely card and painting for me. That is my only present this year, and more valued than anything could have been.
Thanks Patti – perfect!
Bless you Patti. Lots of love and thanks.
The third bit of mail I recognised straight away, it’s the INR level tests results, I’ll open it now…
Oh that’s good it’s the closest to the target figure that it’s ever been, INR 3.3, the trget is INR 3.5.
So three bits of good news.
I don’t think I’m confident with all this good news… something’s got to go wrong surely with my luck? Hehehe!
Got woken up at midnight of course by the fireworks and celebrating New Year neighbours. I thought the end of the world had come. Tsk!
Dream filled night again. Woke several times and the last time 0300hrs I made some notes of the dreams to aid my recording of the bits I could remember later.
WC.
Using me new glasses (spectacles) today, the reading ones don’t half pinch the bridge of me nose, when I move em or take em off its like taking off an Elastoplast!
Started the laptop and went to make a cup of char. Flipping cold again. Bravely opened the front door and took a photo quickly of the ice and frosted cars. This convinced me that going out to the laundry with two big bags of washing would not be a good idea today. I had enough problems getting about on the ice yesterday thank you.
Arthur Itis in the knees and ankles seemed in a good mood this morning, the rumbling grumbling innards and wind was back with a vengeance, the piles were sore, the angina was not bad at all at this stage and the ulcer was quiet too.
I returned to the laptop to start this Diary: first job to sort the notes of the dreams I’d made an hour or so earlier, but some of the things I’d written meant nothing to me?:
I was on Mansfield Road with two chaps and we sat on the pavement next to each other and were fishing on/in the road and talking?
At one time the corridors were there again with me running through them searching for something or someone, dark shadowy tunnels…
Then I was on some steps leading up into the clouds that seemed to open for me to enter… in my pyjamas I think and struggling to carrying a gigantic wheel-clamped car wheel?
Someone was hitting me on the head in an old telephone box, while I was trying to change the points in a Railway signal box seemingly at the same time with Elvis singing Rock-a-hula-baby in the background?
WC’d.
Made another cuppa and did some blogging and facebooking. I got a bit carried away with making graphics and neary forgot to take me medications. Tsk! Better a tad late than never eh.
-3º C (26º F) this morning.
I continued for hours making graphics for Facebook and posted em.
Read a few chapters of me book. It is heavy going smetimes but I’m enthralled with how the writers are getting through the ‘Who was blamed and how those who were actually responsible masterminded the cover-up’.
Then I forced myself to get ready to see how the pavements were and assess if I dare go out to get some bread. Tsk!
When changing me clothes I found blood on my hands… dang, dang, dang-dang! Hehe… I’d cut me neck shaving. Fancy that I thought.
Gingerly I left the hovel – to be greeted with pigeons wanting their daily seeds and fed em quickly before anyone noticed me.
It was still risky walking underfoot just like yesterday.
Got to the bus-stop looked for me reading glasses to view the timetable thingy and realised I’d left them at home. Fancy that I said(Again).
As the bus was going through the top estate a car came out of a driveway into the road without stopping and as near as damn it collided with another car. I assume either his brakes had failed or the car slid on the ice on the driveway? As the bus pulled up at a stop I had a birds eye view of the altercation that took place between the two drivers. I think it might have developed into fisticuffs but the bus pulled away and the windows were too dirty due to the weather for me to take a photo of it.
A few hundred yard up the road and a police car sped in their direction with its ‘Blue & Twos going, maybe things did develop angst-wise between them?.
I got off the bus in Arnold and went into Asda to try and get some of those mini-frankfurters that I found so tasty. After searching for a while, I asked an assistant who told they no onger stocked them as they only had them in for Christmas. “Oh,” said I, “I’ll come back in a year if I’m still alive then shall I?” “Yes” she said.
I noticed their Kiosk & Customer Service sign and laughed a little to myself after last weeks performance when I went to get help and customer service from them.
I got a ready made Potato Gratin meal I think the writing on the pack said microwavable, but without me reading spec’s? (It turned out later it was – phew!) and some Lemon Curd flavoured yoghurt.
Noticed two more shops on Front Street had closing down Sales on.
I went into Futlon Foods shop, but the queues were mighty long. Had a search for me blackcurrant lollies but they had none in stock so I meandered out and down the road to Iceland.
Much more luck there, although they didn’t have any of me Bread Thins in just like all the other shops I tried? Still I got some baking potatoes, french fries, Yorhshire teabags 50% free and on offer too, microwaveable pork sub-rolls and jam and cream doughnuts. By gosh I live well, I know I’ve said it before, but I reckon HRH would be jealous yer know. Oh, and I got a Shepherds for 89p too.
As I was walking back to the bus-stop a van turned left in to Front Street – the wrong way!. The crowds loved that and waved at him and shouted… he parked facing the wrong way naturally and I watched another verbal battle developing!
I pressed on and caught the bus back to Carrington.
When I got off the bus the sunlight was very strong, although it was not hot enough to melt any of the ice on the pavements.
St Johns church looked nice, and I took a picture of it from the other side of the road. Best I thought ’cause when I take one from the back or Church Drive I often catch someone letting their dog crap in the graveyard as they walk their pet through it, kids vandalising the gravestones, muggers lurking or druggies dealing.
I nearly went and did another ‘Whoopsiedangleplop’ on the ice, twisted me knee stopping myself and of course now Arthur Itis is annoyed about it and letting me now. Tsk!
Got in and put me fodder away.
Planned what to have for nosh tonight.
Shepherds pie methinks, with bread and followed by yoghurt, a lolly and a doughnut – not healthy but…
Oh… I didn’t get any bread – bother!
I enjoyed my shepherds pie, french fries lollies and yoghurt.
When I kept waking up before I actually got up – I recall telling myself several times to remember the dreams, but didn’t write anything down on me pad. So nothing at all is left of the dreams in my mind this morning.
Bother!
Went down and made a cuppa then returned to get the laptop going to do me posts for ‘The League of Mental Men’ and start this diary.
After a few hours when I was creating the Letter to LOMM post – the damned vacillating, fly-by-night, untrustworthy conning BT Internet went down again – lost the lot and had to redo it all.
May BT rot in hell and their top boss Chief executive Gavin Patterson who will be able to earn a maximum of £7m a year in the top job under a revamped pay policy at the telecoms company die a slow painful death with customers present and having a bloody good cheer and laugh! – Nothing personal like, just venting my frustration you see. I wouldn’t like to see the pompous silver-spoon fed chap die slowly over two days really… over five days perhaps! Bitter? Me? Gits!
Up and down resetting the hub repeatedly, closing internet down and opening, turning off and resetting the laptop for a second time seemed to get it back on. Grrrr!
Made another cuppa and created some very pretty tea stain patterns on the stair carpet and me dressing gown on me way back up em. My fingers were sticking a bit this morning, damnable Arthur Itis again.
Biggest fret bothering me now is if I’ll be able to get to the bus stop safely to get into town (Where I hope the ice on the pavements will have been treated) to get me glasses from the opticians and bus to the hospital for me INR Warfarin level tests.
WC.
Cuppa and took me medications. Angina not bad at all, piles hurting but not bleeding, Arthritis hands and knees I must say are not good, ulcer no bother and the turmoil for me innards seems to be easing nicely.
Got myself abluted – struggled a bit with taking the socks off and clean ones on, always thinking about the ice that I’ve got to walk on later.
WC’d. Stomach rumbling a bit…
Set out very gingerly into the Arctic looking street and perambulated my worn knees and overweight body along with the bags down to the end of the street. As I turned right that bit of road and pavement was worse than the one I’d just come off of!
Felt a right fool creeping along nervously trying to avoid the worst of the ice – took me yonks to get to the cut-through to Mansfield Road, and that was a bit dodgy as well.
Even Mansfield Road’s pavements were still dangerous to walk on for an old twit like wot I am.
I got to the bus-stop and as one pulled up I suddenly realised it might not be 0930hrs yet for me to use me bus-pass? The kind driver told me and the lady behind me were a little early, but we can take a seat if we swipe our bus-passes as we get off the bus. That was nice of him. Thank you Sir!
So we did.
Swiped the bus-pass and got off and went into Tesco in Victoria Centre… my weakness for their fresh cream French Horns had taken me over again. Tsk! Of course I got a four cake box mix for the nurses at the Haematology department and told myself that was why I went into Tesco.
Hardly any snow in the City Centre.
Then popped into the cheapo shop and got 4 more Lion bars at 4 for a quid. (Another weakness but hey-ho!).
Then off to catch the Y36 bus to the Queens Medical Centre for my INR blood tests. Another good chappy driver, a rarity for that bus company, very smooth ride. Thank him too!
When I got to the entrance of the hospital the ice again became a problem that needed careful thought and manoeuvring like. Not many people about.
I got in and took me ticket and joined the waiting queue.
Got me Operation Sea-Lion book out and read some of it.
As my number came closer to being called I thought I’d get me Anticoagulation form out and fill it in… but could I find it? I’d got me Opticians letter…
My number was called and I went in and told the nurse that I could not find me form but was sure I picked it up… A loud (probably the loudest I’ve ever heard) Tut, and I could see the look on her face meant she was not going to phone them up on the 4th floor for me – so I tended ‘I’ll go up the Anticoagulation and get a copy shall I?’ ‘You’d better!’
I gave them their nibbles and treats to make the bag lighter on me way up to get a copy of me record.
The lifts had massive queues so I walked up the stairs to the clinic (Painfully).
I think the lady on reception is getting used to my forgetting or losing me record card. She gave me a look of resignation along with her well perfected ‘Silly old sod’ stare and got me a copy straight away bless her.
I limped down back to the haematology and they took me blood and I was off back outside. In the hour and a half I was in the hospital, the snow had actually started to thaw… just a tad mind.
Caught a bus back into town and made me way to the opticians. Got me googles fitted and walked up to the NHS Audiology Centre on the Ropewalk for me hearing-aid batteries – it was closed.
So I walked down to Specsavers (All this walking carrying me bags should be getting me fit… or something) where I got some for £2.99 a pack two years ago when the same thing happened and the NHS clinic was closed. They are now £4.99 a pack!
I thought it best if I got some bread in to freeze in case the weather stops me awandering like. I called at the Pound shop but they didn’t have any in, well they did but it only had one day left on its sell-by date.
Then I walked through the slab suare on me way to Poundland to look for bread.
There’s a take-away stall I’d not noticed before next to the ice-rink. Busy it was too, and the chips customers were eating smelt and looked nice too. Having a will of steel like wot I have (Lie mode engaged) I was not tempted in the least to get any cause me GP told me not to eat em.
I got to the Poundland shop and they didn’t have any bread in at all.
As I came to the crossing near the Victoria centre mall again the pedestrians were not in the least bit interested in whatever the crossing lights were indicating. There’s been a few accidents if that’s the word on this corner in the past, I’ve seen two and the pedestrians were at fault each time, yet still they plod over the road using their mobile phones or ipods whatever against the lights. Tsk!
Luckily I only saw a few mobility scooters around today – perhaps the maniac drivers are still sozzled from Christmas?
I decided not to get any bread in town, but call at the Co-op in Carrington on the way back to the dump.
As I turned the corner towards the bus-stop, I thought how nice it was that they had kept the old Victoria train station clock and tower when they built the shopping centre.
They are making many hanges to modernise it now – I hope the clock and tower don’t get pulled down.
Got the bus and dropped off on Mansfield road, the pavements were not as bad as earlier, but not good either yet. I called in the Co-op and they had no bread.
Carefully once more to obviate any accidents I took me time nervously manoeuvring over the ice and got to the flea-pit – WC’d.
As I emptied the bag I found the INR record sheet that I’d used as a page marker in me book! Well blow me down with a feather duster, fancy me doing that!
Tsk! Nothing from the mail-man.
Made me sandwiches ready for later and did a bit of facebooking.
Prayed for Frankie in America who has had massive surgery. A grand chap and battler.
Patti Bekert a friend of both me and Frankie is not too well herself and she’s had surgery recently, but she is supporting Frankie… two great cyber pals.
Awoke 0300hrs. Found writing on note pad, presumably about dreams… a lot of writing – unfortunately most of it was illegible although some odd bits I could relate to bits of memories of the dreams. Wrote these connections down to record later on this diary.
WC.
Started laptop ten went down and made a hot cuppa – colder this morning -2c. Peeped out of the window and the pavements and road looked awfully dangerous to me… have to decide if I go out today or not soon.
My knees and hands were letting me know they do not want using too much today. The bum was still sore from me ‘Whoopsidangleplomp’ yesterday, the piles and little Inch were bothersome. Bit disappointed with the Little Inch starting to flare up again though. On the plus side, the angina seemed okay, and the stomach turmoil was far less than of recent days.
The laptop was telling me there’s no internet connection – but it was working?
I started to assemble the memories of the dreams with the help of the notes I could read – I couldn’t remember making the notes?
I was in the police. Tending wounded (unrecognised by me) persons laying on the road/street. – then in heaven I think, still a policeman… a great queue of people of all sorts including as I recall Native American, Russians, Scotsmen, Welsh, Irish, Arabs, Traffic wardens, American Policemen, and Indians were in the queue and they all seemed very patient as they waited to talk to me? The line went on for miles and a lady was going up and down the line in a mini van giving them cakes, a pencil, a suicide pill and a can of drink to each one?
Then I was back at the scene on the road tending the injured… then in a courtroom being prosecuted for failing to save the life of one of the injured.
Then I was in a brick cell picking at the mortar with a toothbrush?
Suddenly I was in a bed with a weird beast over it spitting lightning or flames at me face? Or that might have been in another dream? I found a graphic later on Google that suited this to perfection and used it as the header.
I’m sure there was much more in the nightmare but this is all I can recall a the moment.
Took my medications then did a bit of Facebooking.
WC’d. Unfortunately found out the ‘Woopsidangleplump’ I had yesterday started my pile a-bleeding. Cleaned up the mess.
Went down to make another cuppa and a pot of porridge for brekkers.
I bravely popped out of the front door to take a photo of the weather, there had been no more snow falling but the ice looked like it was set in and not going to defrost for a good while to me.
Trod gently on it and it was very solid and slippery!
Oh dear!
Took me brekkers up with me to the laptop and tucked into me porridge. then back on the internet.
Severe weather warning for today on the BBC site.
I copied the photo then added me on it and put it on here for a laugh. (Well laugh then!)
Now the rumbling stomach has joined in with the aching legs and back to keep me company.
Got me things ready for the morning – took a peep outside and the pavements are still well iced up… oh dear.
The only thing I did for rest of the day apart from praying a thaw might come in time for me morning outings was read me book and internetting… in between falling asleep.
Took me evening medications. (Missed me midday ones reading… Tsk!)
I must have woken up twenty times for no apparent reason last night, although felt bitterly cold each time, but soon nodded off again each time until 0430hrs when I did me springing awake routine once more. Somehow I managed to get some dreams in, although recalling any details of them is impossible. Just being chased was the theme of some of them I think.
I arose with trepidation about how the knees and feet stood up to yesterday’s forced march (All right enforced hobble). Getting up took a little more effort and pain than usual but once up I was pleased with the lack of agony that the knees gave me last night – stiffness and mild pain only from the knees, the feet weren’t so forgiving though and let me know it. All in all nowhere as bad as I anticipated they may be.
Even the angina was giving me a break this morning and the fingers seemed fine. So no complaints in those departments up to now.
My first view out from the upstairs windowTo the right of front doorTo the left of my front doorThe dreaded snow… hope I don’t slip on it if it turns to ice. Hehe.Middle of the road snow
WC’d
I remembered it was today the bins were to be emptied so carefully tackled the stairs – and shock! Out of the window the houses were covered with snow! Although in hte photograph I took through the window, it being so dark and me not a good photographer shows none of the snow at all?
I started the laptop. Fingers crossed… mind you they do that of their own accord nowadays.
So down I crept and half way down the stairs an urgent request for the use of the WC was sent to my brain from my innards… just in time I got there.
While in the bathroom I remembered to turn on the water heater.
Down again and put the kettle on then out to move the bins ready for the cheerful content nice Waste Management gentlemen to empty.
I had the camera in my dressing gown pocket so took some photographs from up and down the street. I didn’t take one of the spewed up take away meal and broken lager bottle as this might having given the impression that the neighbourhood was of a low quality nature like.
I scooped it up and put in a black bag and binned it.
Blooming cold now, I returned to the flea-pit and made me cuppa strong tea, back up and took me medications.
Started this diary and thought about if I could manage to get about in the snow, not being to steady on me feet in good weather like.
I wanted to get out and feed the mallard ducks, also to go to Asda to see if they had any of those cocktail frankfurters in stock?
Can’t decide if it’s worth the risk to go out or not – no good not using the legs after yesterday or they might stiffen and be more painful than if I had not gone out… if you see what I mean?
I did a bit of blogging and Facebooking.
Phone rang and it was Big John (Bill) asking if I still wanted to go with him to Papplewick Pumping Station even in the bad weather? Boink!… I’m forgotten about going… I apologised and said yes, he said he’s pick me up in an hour.
I hobbled around as quickly as me legs would let me – WC, shave teggies, over-wash and got downstairs ASAP and was ready in 45 min’s.
Took a photo of the street now it was lighter while waiting.
35 minutes later John arrived, he’s had a job clearing his car of snow and ice. And we set off for Papplewick Pumping Station’s ‘In Steam Day’ – not expecting many folks there today in this weather.
Had to take in steady but we got there, with difficulty beause it is out in the sticks like. The volunteers at the station car park even asked us if the car was front or rear wheel drive and after BJ told them front wheel, they dug the snow away from the front wheels in case we had difficulty getting out later. Really nice folk, all lovers and fans of steam.
I’d taken some fish food, but was informed that the low temperatures meant no feeding the fish. But a lone duck, part mallard-part something else black welcomed the earthworm pellets and gobbled them up for me.
I was fascinated by a tree near the pond and the areas where they had cut away the branches some time in the past. The remaining stumps looked odd, but no one knew what it was or why.I took a photo from the bottom of the original chimney used. Or rather BJ did for me, because I couldn’t get me head leant back high enough without severe pain – Tsk! (Poor old bugger I know!)
We then went into the steaming room and as usual I was gob-smacked at how they managed in 1856 to build such a thing, the intricate works and get them to run so smoothly, amazing and still they run on and on with loving care from the volunteers like naturally.
Just to think, this station supplied all the water for Nottinghamian’s then!
We spent a while talking to the folk, then walked through and down into the boiler room!
My favourite area to visit this is. The smells from the coal and boilers always remind me of my Dad’s railway days and the folk who work there are always friendly and ready for a chat to tell me of their passed workings with steam.
We moved out over the back where the staff park there cars and along to the Blacksmith’s forge to the left of the picture on the right.
I loved watching him making some rings and shoes that he would sell later to raise funds for the pumping station at £10 each.
We went in the cafe for a cuppa and bacon cob each, BJ would not let me pay and treated me bless him, that’s me first Christmas present this year.
By now, despite the weather there was many visitors on site but not too many that the workers could not find time for a chin-wag. And the Blacksmith was selling quiet a few items he’d made today.
A chap showed me an old Rolls Royce generator that used to supply power to the Reservoir underground and was now up for sale. 415 volts – 139 amps. Not that I was any the wiser about the details, but the history is what counts on these things I think.
He then took me to show off his other working Rolls Royce made generator water pump that he had assembled himself. Again the details he was telling me baffled me, but seeing this working on the day fascinated me. Nice chap, obviously in love with steam power as are all the volunteers there.
Time was getting on so we made our way to the exit and had a little natter with the staff on the door.
One lady was wearing a Happy Christmas hat that I thought was wonderful, and she was cheery in her nature too – a veritable Mother Christmas bless her.
We departed and with a little difficulty BJ got the car out onto the lane, and it was a hair-raising ride in parts onto the main road.
BJ said the outside temp gauge on his dashboard read -1.5c!
As we approached the traffic island where we turn right into Nottingham, the result of a nasty accident in the opposite lane became evident. A car had left the road and gone into the ditch and the recovery had stopped all traffic from moving.
BJ dropped me off outside the flea-pit and I thanked him and told him how much I appreciated the lift and had enjoyed myself.
As I walked to the house the inevitable happened, I slipped on the ice – whoops-a-daisy. I’ve now got a very sore bottom/butt to add to the pain from the knees and legs… and the angina has started playing up… Ah-well. Always seems the same dunnit? I’d spent a couple of hours walking in the snow and ice, up and don snow covered steps (Carefully) at the station then slip over about eight foot from me front door. Hehe… Sods law!
Got in and WC’d.
Started the laptop, put the kettle on, got into my jammies and sat down (Uncomfortably I might add) to update this diary.
Took me medications and did some blogging and Facebooking again.
At least the bruised bum took me mind of me arthritis – one must look on the bright side… Did I say that?
