– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I don’t want anyone to think I’m jealous of their wealth & power. Or that could gladly assassinate the pensioner-killer Starmer for his heartless crippling and murdering pensioners by taking away their winter fuel allowance. Or his lying by omission to get elected. Or, his taking back-handers worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. His bland, conceited, self-wealth improving, voter-contempt, but I am.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
After yet another night of jumping awake, at 05:00, I gave up trying for the elusive sleep, and I gingerly removed the nocturnal catheter pouch, grabbed a hold of and off to the kitchen for safety checks and got the kettle on. The taps, cooker and fridge looked okay, and I had what must have been one of the longest-ever bubbly-sounding passings of wind that I can ever remember. It was pongy and two-tone at times! I diverted to the wet room without any delay.
I got seated, but nothing more than wind came out for ages. Once the motion began, I thought that would never end!
It was like wet mud to look at in the bowl. This time, it was three-coloured: black spots with light and dark brown.
Cleaning it up took me years. I managed to knock over, and he fell against the floor cabinet. I then had one less bottle of the Glaucoma Latanoprost eye drops; the cap shot off.
MAYHEM – POWER CUTS At this stage of writing this, I had a power cut! I lost all my notes and reminders, but I did get some photos, and such mayhem and panic have not hit me so badly in ages.
I was stuck in total darkness; it was late evening then.
The notes from earlier in the day were found, but not the late ones that were on Word, which got lost in a total of four Poer-Cuts suffered over a three-hour period.
Obviously, I could not do any blogging or emailing anything on the computer until Thursday morning. (Now)
POWER-CUT DISASTER STORIES
1️⃣ I was cooking the meal. Sudden darkness, absolute darkness. Panic gripped me. I searched for the mobile and wind-up torch. At that time, I could not find the torch. So, had to use the light of the mobile to get around. My intention was to make sure the cooker had been turned off. Then I realised that things were worse than I thought. The battery on the mobile was weakening, and I needed it to call for help because the Alarm Alert line & landlines were not working. I rang the preciously kind Jenny to ask for advice on getting help. I didn’t know the numbers to ring. Jenny, being Jenny, bless her, said she would come up to have a look. She’d just got out of the shower. I felt embarrassed.
2️⃣ Jenny came in; I didn’t hear her, and she did something on the power box, and the power came back on. I told her what I was doing, and she spoke with someone on the back-on-line emergency alert line again. She turned off the cooker at the box. Told me not to use it until it’s been checked over. She
said, ‘I’m was to ring her in ten minutes to update her on the situation’. I’d be lost without Jenny.
3️⃣ Ten minutes later, the power went off again. This time, I was again in the kitchen, and as it was dark, I turned to get the stick, tripped on something, and fell, hitting my face on the radiator. Jenny returned again. She reset the power and asked if I’d used the cooker, which I hadn’t. The power was now restored by Jenny, and the telephones & alarm came back on. Jenny spoke with them again. Jenny reminded me not to use the cooker, but I could use the microwave.
4️⃣ I started to sort out a different meal that could be cooked in the microwave, and the Power died again! Jenny came to the rescue once more! She restored the power supply yet again and told me she would report things to the authorities for me in the morning. If it does go off again, I was to ring her. Reminding me not to use the kettle or cooker.
Thankfully, the power stayed on, and I finished the oddly cooked beef in black bean sauce. Cleaned up the kitchen and settled to eat the meal, watching ‘Heartbeat’ on the TV. Thinking about how things would have gone without Jenny’s help. Precious, inestimable, & helpful. ♥
The following may be out of order, with part of the reminders lost in the power cuts, but these things did occur. I think.
Carers Shaquille, Israel & Kimberly called. Kimberly helped me get an appointment with the doctor and the Chemist for the flu jab sorted for me. Flu Tuesday 5th Nov, and the RSC at the surgery Monday 11th Nov, in Carrington.
Yesterday, during the power failures, I lost every photograph I had previously taken and saved to file. Arghh!
And also, I can’t use my cooker or kettle,
I still can’t manually pittle,
Electric shocks up my leg, still tingle,
The catheter tube is so painful!
My lack of sleep is diabolical,
My memory gets more fragmental,
Waiting for Glaucoma lasering at the Hospital,
Life is no longer worth being experimental,
The hot tap runs at barely a trickle,
Plans, wants & needs are theoretical,
Thoughts, hopes are unphilosophical,
Like this ode, there are unpoetical,
I’m verging on becoming pathetical,
My dreams are all sarcophagal,
Getting on my rear-end a carbuncle!
My concentration, once congenital,
It is now non-existent, gone, choplogical,
Depressions, fears, worries, self-inimical,
Mentally, life is a scramble, a scrattle…
With myself, every day, I battle,
I once socialised, now I feel extrinsical.
Life’s become eristical & demagogical!
Now, with cock-up, & outages electrical,
No kettle or stove, it ruins things gastronomical, I need someone clever, kind, & intellectual… A Doctor who deals with things lunatical? To read this Poesy or Limerick, About me being physically & mentally sick, Use their skills of the neuropsychologic, They may advise summat neuroradiologic? Issue medications that may do the trick, With mayhap periwinkle & phenobarbital, Or operate on my sincipital? If it was all a film, it would be tragicomical, But, primarily pointless and illogical!.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
A CRAGKNAGLING DAY Lots of things I do are not conventional,
Many of them are entirely unintentional,
Like passing wind, leaking catheter bag, as well…
Walking into things, dropping the kettle,
Using aftershave instead of Dettol,
Dementia Doreen ensures I stay mental,
Peripheral Neuropathy affects me physically,
Dizzy Dennis, Backpain Brenda, Toothache Tiffany,
Diabetical Glaucoma Gladys affects me visually,
Problems with my short-term memory,
So, I don’t think I can ever act conventionally,
… … … … …. … … … … …
Somehow, I’ll fear things consequentially.
I used to love a coddle and cuddle,
And cunningly escaped from many a muddle!
Things domestic, dramatical, & dynamical,
Nowadays I have too many a whoopsies & debacle,
Like this morning, I sat doing things clerical…
It took me ages, which for me is normal, usual…
Arithmophobia; I struggle with owt mathematical,
Also, at anything diagnostical, I’m diabolical,
I felt down my leg, warm liquid trickling…
I cursed when I found the Catheter was leaking,
For all that time, my slipper had been filling…
The urine had been constantly leaking!
… … … … …. … … … … …
Then CorelDraw stopped working,
I turned it all off and on again,
It really was a frustrating pain…
Nothing was copyable or duplicable!
I was in anger-making trouble,
Bad luck had again burst my bubble!
Depression came; it was not deflectable,
No resolution, will-power detectable…
An emotional paralysis, yet demonical…
A revenge-wanting rage got my disapproval,
The solutions tried were only hypothetical,
Terminated my plans photographical…
… … … … …. … … … … …
My computer problems looked to be critical,
The carer said I looked pathetic!
My problem-solving was to me unfixable,
I was offered any, but I felt unconsolable,
I was at the end of my tether, it’s undeniable,
My problems are confusing and unfathomable,
I’ve had days that were more pleasurable,
Even if they are now unrecallable,
Am I or the computer more unreliable?
No help can be found; is it unrepairable?
Getting photos on seemed unachievable,
One option left to try, unbelievable,
It may work, but it sounds unconceivable…
… … … … …. … … … … …
I put my plan into action…
Can’t save owt, here goes, no option…
Closed it and got a reaction warning,
Need saving in programmes your closing,
Excel, CorelDraw, Word, and Norton…
I sat here without much of a notion…
A taste came to my throat; absinthian!
I pulled the plug… abnormalisation!
I spent a few minutes in contemplation,
A bag of nerves, idiot, not absolute, an alien,
… … … … …. … … … … …
Will it work? How will it be affected?
My heartbeat beat and accelerated…
Rebooted it, nervously admitted,
The Windows screen eventually appeared,
I opened CorelDraw, now almost scared,
The screen went blank and disappeared!
… … … … …. … … … … …,
Tired once more,
I’m not too sure,
Tried to save a photo,
A graphic of plain azure,
But it didn’t save, no go! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I spent hours trying to get the photographs and graphics to appear here. Only the first few went on, Huh! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Wee.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 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! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Greeted me as I finally woke up after a lengthy sleep of two hours! A smidgeon of . I was not in the bed. Well, I was, but I got out again. Back-Pain-Brenda did not like it at all. So I moved to the c1966, £300, second-hand charity-shop bought, crumb-containing, odour-retaining, Harold’s Haemorrhoid-testing, nauseatingly beige-coloured, non-working, virus-breeding recliner. Brenda was happier there, painful still, but not by so much. Then, I removed the night bag from the catheter contraption. What an odd mixed colour it was? I went off to get the kettle on, and I took this snap of the view out there. This one was oddly coloured as well. To my eyes, there were no clouds at all. I may have taken it in the wrong mode, I think. To the wetroom next, to visit the . Boy, was it painful! Bloody as well, my poor rear-end’s got grounded and burst by the cement like evacuating product. I was pleased at first that there was no splattering to clean up. But blood had dribbled down the legs. No winning for me. Trotsky or Conrad, one or the other extreme to cope with. It’s never an ordinary session nowadays.
I went to sort out the waste bins and took these two shots from the kitchenette window. The top one shows the shadow of the block of flats as the sun rose from the left. The bottom one is taken to the left and higher up. This shows what, to me, are incredible cloud formations. I spotted some figures in the clouds. The human face is high on the left with his big nose, and he points his finger to the right? Also, a long-beaked bird. Can you see any?
I was about to turn on the kettle when the intercom chime chimed out. It was the J Sainsbury order. I’ve already made an order for food from Asda for next week. Huh! Read on. Got the goods in boxes, and the catheter needed gallons of water in the hallway. Carried the boxes into the kitchen and unloaded them to put away, taking some snaps as I did so.
The first box I emptied out contained Milk Roll Bread, Cornish pasties, lamb patties, and Lemon yoghourts. Oh, and a free can of Coke! The second box, which I emptied, contained Luxurious Limoncello desserts, beef slices, tomatoes, Bartlett potatoes, soft Flora spread, and bleach. Then, I tackled the third one of the boxes. Energy drinks were not for me; they are on my ‘Forbidden Foods List’, along with so many other foods: Cranberries, pineapple, grapefruit. Barred foods: broccoli, spinach, kale, collard greens, cauliflower, sprouts, asparagus, cabbage, lettuce, chard, mustard greens, turnip greens, parsley, chickpeas, liver, egg yolks, mature cheese, blue cheese, avocado, beef liver, green tea, and Alcohol. St. John’s wort. Tuna fish in oil, as well as peanuts and peas, might cause problems. Certain vegetable oils have high amounts of vitamin K. Foods that are low in vitamin K include roots, bulbs, tubers, & some fruits.
The type of clotting factor that Warfarin interferes with is called the vitamin K-dependent clotting factor. Warfarin works by decreasing the amount of vitamin K in your body. Without enough vitamin K to use, the vitamin K-dependent clotting factor can’t help your blood to clot like it should.
Avoid: Antibiotics ciprofloxacin or fluconazole. Seizure drugs, Ibuprofen, Fluoxetine, Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Hepain, Gingko Biloba, garlic, Co-enzyme Q10, TIPS:
Some serious side effects of warfarin can include excessive bleeding from wounds and death of skin tissue. This is caused by small blood clots blocking oxygen flow to your skin. Toe pain can be a symptom of skin death.
Pain, swelling, and redness in your legs. Difficulty breathing, Chest pain, Trouble moving your limbs, Trouble seeing, walking, or speaking.(Well, I’ve all of them!)
Check your toes often, especially if you feel discomfort, and contact your doctor as soon as possible if you experience pain. Hahaha! If? Hehehe!
I lost the plot there, sorry!
I finished making the waste bags and putting them near the flat’s door, then returned to the computer to ensure that things would work. I hope!
Within minutes, the intercom buzzed again. I thought the Asda driver had forgotten something, or maybe the Social Lady was visiting… I hoped! But it was neither. It was the Asda order for next week that had arrived! WHAT A PLONKER! I’ve done it again—I ordered two food deliveries in the same week, and even worse, I ordered them for the same day and time! Depression Derek Dawned!
The driver put the goods into boxes and bags for me. He had to shoot off; he was miles behind with his schedule of deliveries. Poor chap. He left the boxes in the hallway for me. And I sorted them out in the kitchenette – with a definite feeling of de-ja-vu! Marmite cheese, beef slices, lemon fool, and lemon curd desserts are on view. Three ready-made meals, Cumberland pie, Shepherds pie and a Lamb Hot Pot. A BBQ pork pie, a reasonable price that, a third off the regular price! Lamb pattie, and half-price imitation chicken, cooked chicken pieces. Getting them into the already full fridge was a work of art. As you can see from the photo on the left, I took a picture of the fridge’s contents. I hope I can read the sell-by dates without dropping something as I manoeuvre them around to read them. Two Carers had been by the time I started this blog well into the afternoon.
I had already used Ccleaner twice and dared not use it again when a Memory-Shortage warning appeared on the screen. This depressed me more than it had before, and I gave up on the computer and made a meal. I took a terrible photo of it. Nice though! I walked into the doorframe as I took the things to wash in the kitchen. Then, 2 I dropped the plastic plate, and it cracked. Instant fatigue and brain fog came on as I sat down in the c1966, £300 pound, second-hand charity-shop-bought, crumb-containing, odour-retaining, Harold’s Haemorrhoid-testing, nauseatingly beige-coloured, non-working, virus-breeding recliner, to watch some TV. I felt sure I was going to drift off into a deep sleep. But, No! I sat there, unaware of anything I was doing, and going off into… I don’t know the word for this. I was going into deep thoughts of the past and imagining the future. It was weird, and I knew it was, but I went along with it, hoping that sleep would arrive. But Sweet Morpheus didn’t come, despite my seemingly feeling even more tired and in need of it. After an hour or so, Carer Chris arrived. I did not move from the recliner for his visit, and I don’t know what we discussed.
I continued with the long-gone and future thoughts. Occasionally, while trying to watch TV, I had several quick nod-offs, but not many.
I assumed another hour had gone when Chris arrived for his last call, five hours later!
I recall him saying, “You’ve not moved out of this chair since my last visit, have you?” I agreed, asking him how he knew.
“Your legs are in the same position on the chair as when I left you!” I still have not moved from the recliner. He took off my socks as I lay there with my feet up on the chair.
After Chris departed, I thought I’d better get up and do something, despite having a sleepless five or six hours doing sod-all apart from having fears of the past and fantasies for the future… I then swiftly fell asleep. I woke up with a jump, thinking I’d only just nodded off, only to find it was 06:00 hrs in the morning. I made notes to remind myself of events and rose up to remove the catheter pouch. After that long stay in one position, Cartilage Chloe pained me like never before! Chloe gave way, and I collapsed to the floor.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Well, apart from Dizzy Dennis, Electric Shock Sherida, Loss-of-Balance-Brenda, and the new ailment of ‘Ice Cold Tingling Titianna’, who caught me out several times as she gave me momentary bursts of tingles that felt like ice cold water, and those on the legs making me think there was a leak in the catheter. As far as I can remember, not a single Peripheral Neuropathy Pete leg dance! Duodenal Donald, Earache Erasmus, Back-Pain-Belinda, and even Haemorrhoid Harold were of little bother! The mixed-up head & brain were the most prominent antagonists. That would be Doreen Dementia & Incognitive Impairment Iris. Oh, I forgot, the Mini-Seizures started on the afternoon, they blanked out much of whatever took place for a few hours. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Another waking to find that the nocturnal pouch was too dark again. But at least the bag was a little fuller anyway. I can’t win them all, but little things like this are good. Cartilage Choe gave way as I turned to deal with the pouch, and I banged it on the ‘fall out of bed’ stopper bar. I laughed it off! I dealt with emptying the pouch and sealed it for disposal. Then, off to the wet room, I trotted. Well, I limped with For the third time on the trot, a nuclear bomb-sized clump evacuated. Karki coloured. It was solid and so painfully slow to pass into the bowl. I cleaned up, had a stand-up wash and shave, got the medications done for various areas, put on the dressing gown, and returned to the main room. That’s the one with 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, bacillus encouraging, incommodious, Haemorrhoid Harold testing, recliner, the ex-hospital bed in it, and entry to the balcony doors in it. I spotted its state: unkempt, scruffy, untidy. I had a twinge of guilt come over me. I was determined to find the time to sort the mess out sometime today. Cause it didn’t get done! My warped mind sent me off to do other things. I can’t recall any of them getting done, though. Tsk! I went onto the balcony, initially when I saw it raining and thought the mudslide at the end car park might be worth a shot. There was hardly any muddy water there. Then I spotted someone behind one of the vans. The Inchy But it got nowhere, as I felt the pouch tugging on Little Inchie. So I emptied that instead. Then, my mini-seizures kicked off. Mostly short by frequent ones. All bar, the last one in this series, was a cracker. I came back, as if to put it, and found I’d been on CorelDraw and made some quizzes. I found a mug of tea made and gone cold in the kitchen, and the worrying bit was that I’d left the hot water tap (faucet) running again! In the morning, I found these dated shots of the mist and rain on the camera’s SD card. According to the details on each picture, these three are in chronological order as they were taken. I assume they were taken at different times because of their different shapes: the more square ones were taken on the cheap stand-by cameras, and the wider ones on the Kodak. So, I assume we had some more rain, but I missed it through a seizure, falling asleep, or Doreen’s Dementia. Hehe! Obviously, a late-night shot was taken at some point. And not a very good one either. I think it might be bad enough to get into the Tate Gallery? Tasty battered onion rings, crispy oven-baked potato chips, wholemeal bread rolls, a giant spring onion, and lemon mousse to follow. I enjoyed this one. I washed up and got the nocturnal catheter pouch attached.
Gone midnight again, and I soon fell asleep in the c1968, non-operational, tatty, scruffy, unkempt, uncomfortable, germ-breeding, Harold Haemorrhoid-Testing, sickenly dirty beige-coloured recliner. ruined another night. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – TTFNski!
THE COMPUTER IS IN NEED OF FIRST AID.
At minimum, a corrective operation.
Maybe it’s due for a cremation.
BSOD Blue screen of death often comes on,
This helps the rhyming motion,
Lost files, at least a hundred and one.
They disappeared, they have gone…
Carer Kara is to telephone…
For computer doctor to pop along,
But no time to today. My fears are at Defcon!
Four times today, it’s frozen…
I worry, expecting the computer’s extinction.
I can’t get help or information…
I feel I’m existing in isolation.
Sinking into depression and frustration!
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – I turned off the computer on the fifth BSOD. I tried every trick I knew to find out what the problem was, but I failed. I think the messages telling me the computer is low on free memory are indicative and possibly the art of the issue. Tried again but nothing after the intro would move. On the third try, I got to add this to the blog. I hope it works for posting in the morning. I dare not use up any more memory.
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I missed the sun & cloud? Gorrit, this time. I used the ready-made mini pot of gravy for the meal. It saved a lot of time in preparing real gravy. Shake the pot rigorously, then microwave for one minute, wait 30 seconds and heat for another minute. What could be easier?
I’ll tell yer… making proper gravy! It took me that long to clean the splattered inside of the microwave; it would have been better to have made it from scratch! Hehehe!
Still, it tasted fine.
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– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 04:00hrs: I woke reluctantly, stirred back into imitation, pretended life, passed wind, and got an electric shock up my leg from the ankle ulcer via, checked on the time, and swiftly fell back to sleep again. Nice move! I removed the nocturnal pouch from the catheter contraption. In doing so, I tugged at the tube. I’d like to say I did not shout out in pain, causing the bleeding to pour out all over the PPs, down my leg and all over the new nightshirt. But if I did, I’d be fibbing. I went off to the wet room, convinced I was going to have an evacuation this time. Fair enough, there were no rumbling and grumblings, but I did feel movement from the innards. I was wrong, of course. I did some hoovering—I need to do it every day. Bits of foil from the tablets and mystery bits of what look like giant tea leaves magically appear. Haha! As I went to the kitchen, I took a shot of the morning view. Then, I spotted a red light on one of the streets. So I zoomed Kodak 2 into it and took this effort on the left. I cleaned and nearly almost tidied up the kitchenette, and the car with its lights on was still there. See the streets in Nottingham, my American friends? Talk about narrow. Pavement parking is the only option for anyone with two cars.
Thanks to Jenny’s tip in getting a baby monitor and Deana and Julie putting it together for me, I heard the intercom chime! Great! Thanks to all three of them again! It was the Asda delivery. Possibly the worst one ever. It’s not the driver’s fault, I think. He packed most of the goods from his trays into boxes and bags for me. Then I got the bags in the hallway and carried them one at a time into the kitchen and junk room. There didn’t seem many items as I slowly got them put away into the various places as needed. The fridge didn’t look anywhere near full? I donned my Sherlock Holmes Cap and went on the internet to find out what was wrong with this order. I soon found out. Look at the items that were not available on this list from their Email. Five items were unattainable last week, but they went a step further this week. There were some things missing: 3 Asda thick bleach citrus 750ml, Ben Shaws shandy 1×6, and 4 Asda Bi-carb! I was pretty pissed off at being charged for these. Then, a genuine rumble from the innards, I limped to the wet room. 30 minutes of crosswording, whistling and counting the cracks on the ceiling (24) again, and no signs of any movement. Plenty of wind, though. Talk about trapped wind, but it kept coming out almost two-tone musically at times. I gave up, I eventually made a start on yesterday’s blog.
I remember using the new Kodak camera to take these shots of the clouds below.
But so many, a flood of Dizzy Spells and Seizures ravaged me. I’ve no idea who came or didn’t. Yet I found these pictures which at the time amazed me… I’d ordered another food order earlier via Amazon from Morrisons. I need help with these mind blanks. I shall see if Kara can get me a lift to the Doctor’s sorted out ASAP, then see if the Dr can see me on that day and time. Or the other way around.
As Carer Cris arrived, I came back to as near to normality as I’d ever get. I think I was responsive; no, I was! And I can recall much of this visit. But the seizures continued, but it seemed for only a minute or two at a time. Again, during one of them, I took more shots of the amazing clouds, this time with the new Kodak.
Then I had a bit of luck!
More sky shots with the spare old camera.
Last call from Carer Chris. He wanted to get home, bless him. I gave him some treats. He’s a good lad. Another fairly long seizure or mind-blank. I found two more photos taken on the SD card. I’m afraid I missed getting full pleasure from these shots.
Better get this on before I risk making a midnight feast.
Hope to be back in the morning… Hehe, it is morning now. Back later, he says confidently. I’m back… I consumed a hell of a lot of bothers and bleeding to make a meal… Tsk!
After recovering from the monster-inside evacuation, the ablutions went okay, almost to the point of being practically decent! There was just one tiny weeny cut shaving. However, drying off, I hit my shoulder on the edge of the door. Which set off , so I did a bit of cleaning up with one hand while waiting for her to cease. Then, the always risky job of getting the PPs on. To my utter amazement, it took me only about four minutes to get them on! At that time, , Cartilages Carol and Chloe didn’t give me any trouble at all! Is this a turning point? Is this going to be a half-decent day? Is luck about to change for the better? As I was finishing of in the wet room, I heard the door chime ring! It was Carer Richard arriving. He sorted this morning’s medications and checked the stocks in the medical drawer for me. I insisted he took a cold drink and some nibbles in appreciation.
Then, the silly thoughts I had earlier about my luck changing for the better were discarded. As kicked of, the shocks we not overly frequent but were far more energetic for today. As for the I’ve never had so many in a single day before. It’s a blessing that they were for a very short time (up to now, anyway 18:00hrs).
I got the Sunday updating of the blog done pretty sharpish. When the second Carers Joanne and Fauziyya arrived, I was just out of a short mind-blank. And pretty sharp-minded. I had them laughing with my funny tales. I love getting laughs from folks. I found that Fauziyya could see and read the instructions on the tooth painkiller spray. No one else could read it, even using the spyglass. Amazing vision!
Thinking about how well I had done on blogging up to now, I got myself entangled in trying to get all the Notebook files in one place. It takes me ages to get to different places, and I find it hard to recall which file is which. I have taken very few photos up to now. So I took some while it was light. I went into the balcony. I cut my finger opening the window and took this shot showing the backs of some of the houses in view. Next, I was to the left and high up, capturing the horison in the photo. Over again, the clouds looked as they have for the last two days, shape, thickness and colour-wise. These beautiful yellow flowers deserved a good picturing. The brass looked like it needed some rain to revive.
I drifted off for about an hour, but when I returned to awareness, I found I’d been busy. I moved some things out of one cupboard into another, started to wash some saucepans, and stopped partway through the job. Luckily, I’d not left the tap running. When I got back to the commuter after putting things back and cleaning, I found this photo on a current CorelDraw page. I’d written against it, it had been grouped and made a bitmap. I think now, I may have been ‘out-of-it’ for longer than I first thought. I recognised the van, and am sure I took the photo, but, maybe not after all. Why I took it, and put the wring on it, I’ve no idea. I think it was a shot I’d taken to support a story I had started last year sometime. But I just can’t find the funny story to go with it. Mixing all the files and folders up, then making a mess of reordering them, is costing me now in time and sheer frustration at my stupidity. Still, one has to do what one does best, don’t they. Hehe!
Off to the kitchenette see what I have later for nosh. I opted for Lamburgers on Milk Roll bread and some BBQ beans. As I was taking some more photos, Carer Christopher and his trainee arrived. The photo of the meal seems to have gone off into the ether? Is this going to happen with all my future cameras? No, I think it must be my error or cock-up somewhere. Tsk!
Letter about a new ailment they think I’ve added to the list of them; it is called Paroxysmal Disorder. The explanation…
Paroxysmal disorders are conditions that can occur suddenly and unpredictably and can include dizziness, swaying, and seizures. They got that right; that’s exactly what’s happening to me now!
These disorders can lead to falls and injuries, and treatment depends on the specific condition. Some treatments include:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) This common inner ear disorder causes a sudden feeling of spinning or swaying and can also cause nausea and vomiting. It occurs when calcium crystals in the ear move to the wrong place, causing the inner ear to signal to the brain that movement is occurring when it’s not. A doctor can guide a series of head movements to help put the crystals back in place. BPPV can also subside over time, but early treatment is important to prevent falls and injuries.
Epileptic seizures (NES)These paroxysmal events mimic epileptic seizures but don’t include irregular neuronal discharges. Other symptoms include shaking, loss of consciousness, and bladder control.
But will they do anything about it? I’m having nothing done to address my Peripheral Neuropathy they diagnosed many years ago. I was just told that they can do nothing to mend dying neurotransmitters (Nerve ends). Then I had the stroke; one of the tablets I’m on now was prescribed to thin the blood, and Beta-blockers and Warfarin after the heart operation. But I’ll not go on about it; I’m more concerned with , and at the moment… no, I take that back. I’ve just had give one up the right leg from the ankle. My computer screenwriting and icons all have a shadow of themselves. I’ll give up and try to catch up later.
I’m back, and, with a changed priority over which to worry about. . The already-dried blood from earlier leaks was pulled off as the tube moved as I stood up. Frustrated and harassed, I decided to have my third mug of Glengettie tea of the day. I know I’m only allowed two, but sod it, I’m fed up with back teeth. (And there are only one and a half of them left in there, Hahaha!) This gave me a chance to take some shots of the night’s wonderful scenes. On this one, I can see the head of a snake-like beast, its eyes, snout, chin, and fangs coming from the top left? The second one is even more revealing, with a fantastic optical illusion. The snake-like head changes into an arm and hand, then back to a hen’s face! Can you see it? Each time you look away and then view it again, it seems to change.
Or is that just me?
Well, I got one within 10 seconds. Ahem! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Just like yesterday, we had an early light rainfall that dried up in about 10 minutes, and no more again. I think I’ve put the wrong photo on here? Sorry.
I got the hoover with the headlights out and did a bit of cleaning up. Not much mind. Sunday again, 10:00hrs and no 07:00hrs Carer arrived to sort the medications for me. No surprise, this is almost usual recently at the weekends. I can understand the problems that can arise from my experiences as a Security Controller.
It was slow progress again with the blog updating. At 11:15hrs, Carer Fazziyya arrived. I got the medications from her, and we managed a little natter and let her pick her nibble and drinkie. She still had two more calls to do before she could go home, bless her. Nice gal.
I had a prolonged Seizure. Came back to as near to reality as possible and went to make a brew. Carer Helen arrived. She could not issue any medications, which meant I suffered a little longer with . The gap was not long enough to cover the 4 hours gap limit on painkillers. So, I put an effervescent Nurofen tablet in the spring water.
I made a meal of soft foods. Well, the potatoes I burned were painful, so I had to leave some. I washed the pots and intended to sit down briefly to clear my head before tackling the blog again, but… Zzz’s! Two hours later, I woke up and got back on the computer. I seem to have lost a lot of wasted time today?
Then Carer Sushaman arrived. was already here, he’s been with me all day. Hehehe! . He sorted the big medication issues out for me. He noticed I was scratching at my arm all the time, so we examined the offending limb. , Aha, a further outbreak of Acne or Eczema? Well, fancy that, another ailment for me.
I carried on blogging, not getting very far cause I kept mind-wandering off to other things.
I meandered out onto the balcony and took some shots of the slowly getting lower sun, with the awesome pattern of clouds highlighted, it seemed for me personally, with my Pareidolia’s Delight. I bet you can see some of the things I did in the sky. Go on, see what you can find. The ghost? The dolphin? Or maybe it’s my new spectacles that will help me see them? Hahaha!
I’ll have a go on the WP reader, before the next Carer is due. Some great poems and photography on WP tonight. Doug’s cats, Andy and Tim, were exceptional.
21:00hrs I turned off the computer, having managed a little work on the blog, at last, and awaited the arrival of the last Carer of the day’s call. 21:55 hrs: Carer Richard arrived. He did not sound too happy. I got him a cold drink, and he took care of the medications.
After he’d gone, I had some hunger pangs despite my already having eaten a little meal. I took a night view shot while prepping the meal. Potato waffles, veggie sausages, some Milk Roll sliced bread, and a very tasty lemon and lime-flavoured vegan dessert.
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Everywhere there is cheating competition,
Humankind is at fault, the causation…
The world breeds an immoral civilianisation,
Each proletariat morphs into a curmudgeon,
World leaders get greedy & cantankerous,
Who can supply the counter-aggression?
From driving over a chevron…
to militarily, daily killing of a million,
Is this God’s & Allah’s dominium?
I have yet to make my decision!
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It is now 10:00hrs on Sunday. Just about to start updating this blog from here. No ankle shocks as yet. But Cartilage Carole is still inflamed from the tumble. Sparse details on the notepad. Is this blog in a Whoopsiedangleplop-Noi mode? Hehe! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Gotten Himmel!
Struggled out of the bed, and tidied it up a bit.
Cleaning up took ages! The ankles looked so much better.
The first-morning shot of the day.
The computer is on. I made a start on this blog, but not much. arrived with . The nibbles were attacked with some relish, and Chris took his drinkie treat. As they left, unobligingly kicked off.
. I espied that the drizzle was falling, and went in the balcony to take this shot through the glass. The rain stopped within about ten minutes, not to be seen again.
They kept visiting me for varying amounts of time, ranging from a few seconds to ten minutes or so. I’m fed up with these!
kicked in. I needed some pain relief. I doused the mouth and teeth with the Pain-relief-Spray several times throughout the day. Probably a little too often. I also added a 20g Nurofen Meltlet to each bottle of the spring water that I have to drink each day to keep the urine flowing onto the catheter. I’m fed up with this, too!
The Memory Blanks kept coming. remained a permanent, perpetually pestering, penalising, paralysing, spirit-pulverising, problematising, sanity-purging, perduring, pillorying, and punishing persistent all-day partner that I could well have done without! I’m well pissed of with him, too!
was in the right mood with me. So, I added one dissolvable tablet into two of the spring water bottles, which I have to drink each day to encourage the damaged bladder to pass the urine pouch on my leg to ease the pain. I’m really, really pissed off with this!
The hazy morning tempted me to try the new Kodak camera to take a couple of shots from the kitchenette windows. I don’t think the first one of the houses came out too well. It was a little blurry, but the whole scene to the keys was a smidge hazy, as was the sky. But it was gorgeous to me.
Inchy got them, but not within the 10 seconds.
From this point, the seizures came on rapidly. I recall coming in with new. I feel we had a discussion and laughed about things, but I am not certain of what it was about. I can recall getting my words mixed up and forgetting the words needed. Finally, I finished the Friday blog and posted it to WordPress.
What happened the following two hours is anyone’s guess.
and new , arrived. It was confusing, too. All the usual signs of a seizure; hard to find words, I was, I think, rabbiting on, verbose. I fear I may not have been understandable to them or them to me.
I think I fell asleep. When I woke up, I took these shots of the sunset as it disappeared over the horizon.
Started to prep a meal that was easy on the teeth to eat. Taking these shots a little later while in the kitchen.
I sprayed some of the pain relief on my teeth, then carefully, slowly, almost delicately, ate the snack. Nice!
I went into the kitchen to wash the tray and cutlery and…
I had a stroke of bad luck – (As if I needed to say that!) gave way, and at the exact same time, I got a high-voltage shock from the right ankle via . Resulting in my going down on one knee and hitting my head en route to the floor. The waking stick fell first, and the knee on top of it! It all happened in a split second, and by the time I’d recovered enough to try to get back up again, I noticed I’d left the hot water tap running. How did I know this? The flood-water alarm went off! I had to rush getting up to reply to the alarm box voice, wanting to know what had happened and if I needed help! I got near enough so they could hear my cringing apology and tell them everything was okay. Thank you. By now, the pains had increased from , , , and the lump on my head. (I’ve no idea what I hit with it, but the radiator is the most likely suspect, I think) And , joined in with taking overall control of the situation! A bit dodgy in my balance, I made my way to the computer chair and settled for a few minutes. I’m not sure if it was a signing in again or signing out sign, but send me what I hoped would be a final electric shock up the leg that reached up as far as my kneecap! Feeling mildly out-of-sorts, I just sat quietly for a while. Which proved to be ten seconds. Hehe! As and new , and came in. After Chris stopped laughing at the slight scratch on my head, he took a photo of it. As to be expected, I cannot recall the whole visit, but think we had a natter about something. I can remember Chris taking a can of plonk and some nibbles as they shot off home. No offer of diabetic socks being put on or a night pouch was attached. That is not blame offering; most likely, in the state I was in, I did not ask them to do so, either. In the morning, I found these late-night shots taken obviously through the kitchen windows. It seems I got the wobbles on while taking the first one, and I probably realised it and took the second one. This is all supposition, of course. I can’t recall when, or taking them at all. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
