Saturday 3rd November 2018

Lithuanian: 2018 m. Lapkričio 3 d., Šeštadienis

0005hrs: I stirred, feeling tired still. When the brain joined the body in semi-life-like mode (I’m not claiming any oomph, clarity or alertness at this stage, you understand), the usual for recent awakenings, started: The impenetrable nebulous malaise of erratic, illogical, fears, hopes and hesitant, vulnerable desires, all seemed to come at the same time. Thus, none of my problems got solved or even assessed. All I got from this stampede of mental emotions, was a headache. Tsk!

Yet again, like the previous two arousals, the innards came to my rescue, and I needed to get to the Porcelain Throne quickly. Which of course, was impossible with having to first, free my supererogatorily oversized torso from the £300 second-hand recliner!

Giving myself a superbly timed toe stub, that produced a Defcon 3 level of pain, en route, and started Hippy Hilda off! Schmuck!

I arrived in what I thought was plenty of time and got caught-out with how liquified the ten-second clear-out was. This evacuation convinced me to start to retake the Dia-Limit capsules again. I made my way to the kitchen to make a brew and get the Health Checks done, and the medications were taken.

At least the Sys, Dia, and Pulse had come down a smidge.

I remembered just after taking the medical doses, to take a Dia-Limit, in fact, I took two for the first time.

Hippy Hilda was calming down nice and quickly, Thank heavens for that!

I realised I’d seen a single evil ironclad Boll-Weevil black biting beetle. But of course, my mind had been on other things. So, I got the spray out and scattered some around the usual Weevil intrusion spots in the kitchen. All I found was about ten weevil carcasses, and I was pleased with that.

Into the Spare room next. Where one live beetle, a big one, mind, was spotted on the cabinet, and one live Weevil on the unwanted light and view destroying new window ledge, along with a few dead bodies. I wrestled with the big beetle and won in the end. Hehe!

Into the wet room, where I found only three evil ironclad Boll-Weevil black biting beetles, all deceased. Things were looking good in the illegal immigrant department. Back to the kitchen to clean up using the liquid soda, and make another mug of tea for the one I let get cold.

I found a massive evil ironclad Boll-Weevil black biting beetle, actually swimming in the bowl of soda and bleached water where the cleaning cloths were being soaked in!

I picked him or her out, and the thing shot off and away, never to be seen again.

Gawd blimey, these are tough little things! I hope he doesn’t come out again and charge at me, he was that big, he could have me over! Haha, only joking!

I made the second mug of tea and took a look outside.

It didn’t feel so cold compared to yesterday morning when I opened the unwanted new light and view-blocking window to struggle to take this photograph, having to use the old Sony camera, cause the battery needed a recharging session in the new Lumix. But it came out okay.

Got the Lumix on charging, and off for a wee-wee.

Doing the updating of the Friday post took me over four hours this time. The concentration was still not back to normal. Will it ever be, I ask myself. I reckon the spell-checker is doing a decent job. I certainly ain’t! Humph!

Made a start on this blog. Another three hours to get to here. Had a spell on TFZer Facebooking.

Set about doing the last of the Willmott-Dixon graphics and sent them to the Willmott-Dixon album on my Facebook page. Here they are:

Had a while on the WordPress Reader.

Terrible thirst on me this morning, can’t work out why though? Went to make another brew of tea. Ah, got it now, I’m letting every mug of tea go cold! Twit!

I took this photo of my beloved Tree Copse. Looking so sad now, but it is going to get worse I’m sure.

I checked on the mushroom in the slow-cooker.

I didn’t move the lid, though, just had a gander through the glass lid.

Then tried to take a panoramic shot with the old Sony camera. It would not have it. I must have tried eight times, all failures to record. So I just took this standard shot of the scene from the unwanted light and view-blocking new kitchen window.

Last Health Checks were tended to, and the nosh got ready at last.

The mushrooms removed from the crock-pot and put in with the saucepan of Borlotti beans and tomato passata. Porkpie sliced, bread and butter; followed by a lemon mousse.

Got the pots into the sink to soak, and settled down to watch “Death Wish 4” film on the DVD.

I had to give up, as I kept nodding off and having to rewind. I soon fell asleep.

Only to wake up four hours later with flashing lights and the distant sounds like that of thunder! I have to admit to a bit of a panic and semi-hysteria setting in at this stage!

I was sure that a fire alarm had activated, and believed it may well be a real one!

• Struggled to get out of £300 second-hand recliner, I almost rolled off of it!
• Into the hallway, checked the door handle for any heat with the back of my hand… all felt cool.
• No alarms sounding.
  
• To the unwanted light and view-blocking kitchen window, to see if any fire engines were outside… it was difficult to see with the new unwanted sticking out new ledge on the undesired light and view-blocking new window… I could see none.

Then things fell into place when I saw the fireworks on the horizon and all around beneath the flats. So I got the camera and took some shots of the Nottinghamians obsession and fascination with things that twinkle and go bang. I read that Fireworks were invented in China in c. 700 BC, to scare away evil spirits. Coloured fireworks were developed in Europe in the 1830s. But still, we are enthralled enough to buy or shoplift costly fireworks each year.

Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot: It’s the day we light bonfires and set off fireworks all across the UK. But bonfire night isn’t just about standing in awe at the bright lights. (Sad innit?) It may seem like a great chance to sip on hot chocolate, mug someone, burgle a house and eat hot dogs but there’s a historical reason why we set alight Guy Fawkes and let off fireworks. Today we even start celebrating days before the date of the event? (It’s only the 3rd Nov tonight)

So where did it all start? Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?: Guy Fawkes is best known for failing to blow up Westminster Palace. On November 5, 1605, Guy was foiled as he plotted to destroy the Houses of Parliament during state opening and kill all inside it – including the King – in what became known as the Gunpowder Plot.

Fawkes and others involved were tried on January 31st 1606 and then sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered in the Old Palace Yard in Westminster.
The Attorney General Sir Edward Coke told the court that each of the condemned would be drawn backwards to his death, by a horse, his head near the ground.
They were to be “put to death halfway between heaven and earth as unworthy of both”.
Their genitals would be cut off and burnt before their eyes, and their bowels and hearts removed.
They would then be decapitated, and the dismembered parts of their bodies displayed so that they might become “prey for the fowls of the air”.

But Guy escaped this horrific fate, as immediately before his execution he jumped from the scaffold where he was to be hanged and broke his neck, thus avoiding the agony of the mutilation.
He also did not have his body parts distributed to “the four corners of the kingdom”, to be displayed as a warning to other would-be traitors.
Despite being involved in what is basically a terrorist plot, Guy Fawkes was named the 30th Greatest Briton in a poll conducted by the BBC in 2002.
Today, straw effigies made of Guy Fawkes and thrown onto bonfires to remember the Gunpowder Plot were also known as “guys” and over time the meaning has blurred.

Oh, dearie me, I got carried away there, sorry.

I made a mug of tea, no point in trying to get back to sleep now, and its only 2100hrs yet!

I took some not too successful photographs of the sky and fireworks that seem to please so many of us. By Gawd, I’ve become a grumpy old man! Haha!

Got the computer on, and updated then finished this diary off.

Yawning a lot now… and the flipping stubbed toe is still hurting! Tsk!

Monday 29th October 2018

 Yiddish: 2מאָנטיק 29 אקטאבער 018

2345hrs: I stirred into imitation life and found myself a bit baffled at how well I was feeling emotional, after yesterday’s horrible afternoonmare of gloom, depression, and self-pity had taken such a hold over me. But I was glad the dysphoria had evanesced into the ether and was no longer making me feel dark and gloomy within. However, my self-malevolence had also departed, for which I am well-pleased.

The brains thoughts became prolix-like. Darting from one subject, brainwave or idea to the next in seconds, never finding or working out any resolutions or clarifications, no taking decisions or adopting or creating any plans.

The need for a wee-wee arrived. By the time I had disentangled my over-ample, clinically obese stomach and torso from the £300 second-hand recliner, a need for the Porcelain Throne had been added to my immediate requirements.

A surprisingly large amount of the evil ironclad Boll-Weevil black biting beetles was on the wet room floor. Tsk! Dang things!

The evacuation was almost enjoyable. No bleeding or pain emanated from Harold Haemorrhoid whatsoever. And, negative signs of Diahorrea Derek at work. Great!

As I washed my hands, it dawned on me that there was no hassle from Arthur Itis, Anne Gyna, Hippy Hilda, Reflux Roger, Hernia Harry, Back Ache Brenda or Duodenal Donald either! A rare but nervous-making concerning, situation, for someone with my luck… or lack of success usually. Hehehe!

When I do the bug spraying next in the wet room, I must get the floor mopped up well beforehand. The effect of the bug sprays is discolouring the place.

I felt a certain degree of alacrity creeping into my frame of mind.

Into the spare room, to find that the evil ironclad Boll-Weevil black biting beetle regiments in this room, had attacked with a Camisado-Camisade patrol. So many of them on the unwanted light and view-blocking new window ledge, but they were at least all dead ones.

The kitchen only had around ten corpses of weevils and two of LadyBugs.

As I took this picture out of the unwanted light and view-blocking new kitchen window.

 Then Reflux Roger started to give me some hassle. Sudden Big unforced breaths.

I got the Health Checks done. Then onto the computer to update the Excel graph record.

I’m off for a Warfarin blood test at 0900hrs in the morning. I must mention the high readings to the nurse. And, the blank spells and dizzies, too.

Another wee-wee, and back to the computer, and got the depressing Sunday diary finished and sent off to WordPress.

Made brew and made a start on this diary.

Then onto the WordPress Reader section. Next TFZer Facebooking. Then a mug of tea and a few (Honestly!) Scottish Shorties biscuits.

I took this photograph, supposed to be a panoramic shot, but it didn’t come out right. (Something that Mother said about me, that… Hahaha!) But it showed the frost and ice covered; landscape, houses, and roads on the high ground. I love it that you can see the footmarks across the bottom field where the out-very-early dogs had been walking their owners.

I got three small black bags of refuse made up to go to the to the waste chute, later when I get back. Too early to make the noise now. Then I made up a white bag of reusable rubbish, and put two glass jars in the shopping bag to go to the caretaker’s door on my way out.

Got the ablutions tended to. No shower this early in the day, of course, too much noise.

Did the medicationalisationing of the areas in need. Haha!

Hearing aids in, the right glasses on the head, picked up the new-to-me second-hand £2 wristwatch – Oh dear, it had stopped! I could see the battery-man in town later and get a new one; so I put the watch in the jacket pocket so as not to forget to take it with me…

I’m afraid to report that I put it in the wrong jacket pocket! Klutz! I set off down the lift with the bag and jars.

This map is of the mini-marathon walk/hobble that I took.

0730hrs: I dropped off the bag and glass, and set off along Chestnut Walk… the very icy slippery road and pavement in front of the apartments.

I hope the car windscreens thaw-out for the tenants before they get up and out. You’ll have noticed the parking on the double yellow lines I suppose? Rules have been removed for the period of the upgrading work with there being so few spaces available.

The sun kept trying to get through, not that it was warm enough yet to help with the thawing process.

This single leaf of the thousands laying frozen on the corner bit of grass at the corner of Winchester Street caught my eye. I cannot recall why I took this photograph. Something to do with nature, I suspect.

I plodded on down the hill. The sun got stronger. The ailments were not harmful to me at all at this stage, and I soon began to enjoy my perambulations.

Until I neared the traffic light junction with Mansfield Road. This ‘Herbert’ of a Nottinghamian Pavement Cyclist flew by me from behind at high speed, and close enough to startle me a bit.

My prayer that he slips on the ice then falls off and is mangled underneath the wheels of a pantechnicon lorry, were not answered. Tsk!

The traffic in Carrington was almost at a standstill on and off. I think at one stage I caught up with a static red cat in the queue!

It was getting warmer now, or rather, not so cold? Haha!

Starting to walk up the steep grade on Mansfield Road, then the next even steeper hill near the Rock Cemetry, created a lot of hassle and discomfort from Anne Gyna and Hippy Hilda for me.

As I passed by, I could see the moon still in the sky – amazing! So I took this picture.

As soon as I started on the downhill stretch to the flat Milton Street and beyond, the ailments gave me a welcome rest. Unfortunately, the plates-of-meat were beginning to sting something awful. Ah, well, you can’t win ’em all.

The plates and in particular the fibrous corn and callus on the left foot were up to at least Pain-Defcon-Three now. Haha!

The traffic was building up as I got into the City proper, onto Milton Street.

I did some window shopping for a while. Observing that for some reason the Nottinghamian Citizenry that came into view, looked to be far less troubled and depressed than they did on my last hobble to town… and with it being a Monday, this surprised me.

I called into the Tesco Metro store and bought a packet of wholemeal cobs. Paid at the self-serve till.

Did even more nosing around and window shopping.

Then made my way down King Street into the Slab Square.

Where they are constructing some amusements etc. for Halloween and or bonfire night, at least I assumed that is why.

Nowhere near open yet, the Ghost Train – Ghost Gator ride was massive!

Still, I kept seeing smiling faces on the Nottinghamians. Very disconcerting this was, I began to question my sanity.

I took a shot of the Debenhams Store and Long Row. Showing the scarcity of members of the Nottingham shoplifting, alcoholics, muggers and druggies, populace.

I made my way to the Fletch Gate branch of the Poundland shop. A certain lady is living in the flats who loves Pork Farm Pork Pies, and if Poundland has any, in I was going to treat her to one. Which, luckily they had in stock. Not so lucky perhaps, I came out with an overloaded bagful of other stuff as well! Most of an edacious nature! Yold! Chocolates, Social Hour Nibbles, cheese biscuits, Ritz, and a bag of Jelly Babies. But to be fair. 90% of them would be used as pressies for Christmas. Another £16 spent.

I paid at the Self-Serve till – and it was not until I had put them all through, that I realised it was a cash-only checkout. When I explained this to the lady assistant, she gave me a well-rehearsed, but welcome look that said: “Ah, poor old fool!” She cleared the till and took me to a Cash Card one, and even put the things through for me. Bless her Cotton Socks!

I thanked the woman sincerely, departed and went back to the Slab Square to take some more photographs.

It was a little dangerous around there now. Pavement Food Delivery Cyclists were starting to appear.

And the delivery lorries and vans and cash-in-transit wagons needed an eye keeping on them too!

A bloke came up to me and gave me a free newspaper.

Then a youth who reminded me of a drunken student in wearing posh clothes, and muttered some words that I could not understand. Not in a foreign language, I reckon he was drugged up or drunk. “Oblski darum owd un?” It sounded like a question. I replied: Oh no, but thanks!” He just walked away decidedly wobbly. No hassle at all.

I made my way up to Queen Street. The ever-changing lighting prompted me to take three photographs as I hobbled up the hill to the bus stop.

I caught a 40 bus back, cause I’d just missed the L9. Being early in the day still, the driver got me home to Winchester Street so quickly. With the now really-aching feet, I crossed the road and walked down to the Winwood Height Complex. (Sounds posh dunnit?)

I didn’t see a soul, worker or resident all the way down Chestnut Walk to the Woodthorpe Court. Not that this mattered, all I wanted now was a wee-wee. Got in the flat and Mo was sat in the foyer. We had a chinwag and laughed, and she picked a nibble from my bag.

When I got to the wet room, things had gotten into a pickle. I hadn’t managed to hold things in thoroughly. So after the belated wee-wee, a washing session and change of PP’s was needed. For once, I was not as embarrassed like I usually would be? Washed things and to the kitchen and did the Health Checks and medication taking.

Got some mushrooms in the saucepan, and the oven warming up for the bacon later.

Sister Jane rang, and we had a chinwag of an enjoyable nature. I can’t remember her telling me off about anything. Hahaha!

There was a break in the nattering session, cause I could not remember if I’d left the saucepan on high heat or not, and had to go and check. The pot was on a low light… but I’d left the tap running. I didn’t tell Jane. Hehe!

The drizzling began outside, and the sun took a rest. Compare this panoramic shot above of the one I made around 0700hrs this morning? The sun came out half an hour later again. Odd weather.

I caught up with the Facebook Photo Album updating.

Got the nosh served up.

Wholemeal bacon cobs, mushrooms, gherkins, and little tomatoes.

A 9.5/10 Taste Rating.

Went to clean the pots up, and the view of the fiery looking sky was grand.

So, I took a regular frame and then three zoomed in ones across the skyline.

It looked as if somewhere in Nottingham was getting a bit of localised rain. (Pic 3).

Settled onto the recliner to watch a Die Hard 4 DVD film and… Zzzz!

Sunday 28th October 2018

Maltese: Il-Ħadd 28 ta ‘Ottubru 2018

2345hrs: The body and mind activated in unison this morning. The need for a wee-wee was required. So, I parted company with the £300 second-hand rickety on-its-last-lags recliner.

As I stood up after dismounting the chair, some form of anaesthesia affected both ankles. I sort of kept my balance, but I don’t know how I did it. I wobbled and flailed a bit. Off to the wet room. Where insentience-ridden argle-bargle from the mind waffled on inside the brain, persistently for a couple of minutes. I learnt nothing from rampant fears, worries and mental inquisition whatsoever. The only thing I got from the confusing inner-prattlings, was a headache.

Washed and went to get the tea brewed, and do the Health Checks.

By Jiminy, the Sys was high.

Took the medications. Then, set off on an Evil ironclad Boll-Weevil black biting beetle patrol.

Back to the wet room, where I was pleased to see only five dead weevils!

The spare room had only three live ones, and five dead ones as far as I could see.

The front room was the worst affected this morning.

They were all near the doors to the new unwanted light and view-blocking windows and balcony, which the carpenter left dirty scratched and bowed after fitting them. All the weevils were dead.

I went around the multitude of areas with holes and gaps in every room with the ‘Rentokil Bug Killer’ spray.

Made another brew to replace the last one that went cold (this one went cold too!)

I took this photograph from the unwanted light and view-blocking new kitchen window. I thought at the time, blimey, there’s a lot of traffic about for this time in the morning.

A niceish shot though.

Got the Saturday Diary finished off, not much in it, cause not much happened. I hate the weekends! I miss my little natters and chinwags.

Out-of-the-blue, I decided (Did you note that? Me, making a decision! Hehe!) to get the paraphernalia ready to take the washing down and cleaned.

As I got down in the lobby, the electronic signboard indicated the time was 01:49 hrs.

My new-to-me, second-hand wristwatch, that I got from the charity shop for £2, told me it was 02:45hrs?

Ah… clocks back! So, I’ve lost another hour! Oh, no! I’ve made an hour! This might explain why I thought there was a lot of traffic in the picture taken earlier?

As I was about to wipe the washer drum out before putting in the clothes…

I spotted this Evil ironclad Boll-Weevil black biting beetle, on the outside of the drum! And they try to tell me, (insinuating they are my fault) that I am the only one with the infestation! Humph!

I loaded the washer and started it going, and nipped outside to take some pictures of the morning. Then popped back into the washing-room and took two shots of the newly erected scaffolding.

Back up to the apartment and changed the watch and all the clocks to the chronologically correctish time.

Made the third mug of tea: hopefully, I’ll get to drink this one. (I didn’t, it also went cold)

Back down to move the laundry from the washer to dryer. Took out the washing and wiped the drum and door.

Opened the dryer door, to find that the filter was rather full, and it had overflowed into the drum. So cleared out the fluff from screen and drum and got the clothes in and spinning.

I noticed on the way to the lift the sign for the Christmas nosh. Kind of them, but I will not be attending. There are only limited spaces, anyway.

The food will have traces of by beloved brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce and cakes. All now banned foods for me. Sprouts, cranberries barred due to the effect on the INR Warfarin Blood levels, and cakes, now a self-imposed ban, due to the weight of my short, belly-dominated, bald, bespectacled, hearing air wearing Warfarin filled body, shooting up. Sad innit?

The most substantial reason I have not to go to the celebration is, the ‘Bingo’!

When I got back up and into the kitchen, some Coccinellidae (Ladybugs – Ladybirds) one on the unwanted light and view-blocking kitchen window ledge, and one on the food counter. Oy Vey!

I set the timer to remind me of the washing. Carried on updating this blog.

Back down the last time for now to the machines. Emptied the dryer and folded the clothing. Cleaned the filter and drum. Wiped the sink area and picked up some fluff, that must have fallen out as I opened the machine. This action caused me no hassle from Hernia Harry, Anne Gyna, Arthur Itis or Hippy Hilda! Great!

Back up and put the togs away. Refilled the pod and freshener pot ready for the next visit.

Made a fourth, or is it a fifth, mug of tea. And… drank it before it went cold, most satisfyingly! While I got the morning’s picture uploaded and tweaked for this diary.

Got caught up to here with the blog. Then added some photos to the the Facebook album, and did some posts.

Made yet another mug of tea. (Determined to drink this one).

The fatigation and feebleness (CFS?) arrived so early in the day, even I found it hard to believe it was happening.

I was useless, drained and weary. Did nothing but sat there in the £300 second-hand recliners, making plans to get some sort of a meal prepared and nodding-off frequently. With the occasional trip for a wee-wee in between horrible dreams and some nibbling from the savoury biscuit box. No meal tonight, but I probably had sufficient nibbles anyway.

Terrible time. A mismash of nodding, waking, wee-weeing and worrying.

Yet, after I’d manage to nod-off properly for four hours, I awoke in fine-fettle? I hate weekends!

TTFN all.

Saturday 27th October 2018

Saterdag 27 Oktober 2018

0100hrs: Woke up with a bit of the Shaking Shaun bother going on. By the time they had stopped, the brain had joined in, and things could be assessed. Hippy Hilda was far much more relaxed this morning, only Little Inchies fungal lesion bleeding a tad, was of any concern. No Anne Gyna, Arthur Itis, Dizzy Dennis… physically I felt rather good.

I even disentangling my obesely potbellied short torso with its fluid filled legs and dangly arms from the £300 second-hand recliner was without toe-stubbings, or knocking anything off of the Ottoman! Smug-Mode Adopted! I went into Super-Smug-Mode when I noticed I had the cheese biscuit pot on the side, and I had only nibbled a couple of them!

The Super-Smug-Mode did not last long. Off to the wet room for a wee-wee, that turned out to be a Porcelain Throne session by the time I got there. Hehe! The evacuation went well, but I had to accinge my loins when sorting and medicating the haemorrhaging fungal lesion. A disagreeable and unsettling experience. Why so much bleeding this morning? Maybe the INR Warfarin level had got too high? With them now doing less frequent blood tests to save money, does concern me. This may explain the pallidity of my skin? Took me ages to clean up the splattered red liquid from me, the floor, sink and WC! Humph!  You can see why I permanently keep overstocked with kitchen towels. A good job my friend had kept me in a good supply of PP’s, too.

Ah, well, I pressed on to the kitchen to get the Health Checks done.

The sphygmomanometer took four tries to get it to operate.

Every test resulted in an increase. Syn, Dia, Pulse, Temperature and Weight! Grumble-clunk!

Took the medications from the drawer, and realised I had not taken last nights doses. So, I took them straight away and will take the morning ones later on. What a Shmo!

I carried out an Evil ironclad Boll-Weevil black biting beetles patrol, Sanex Killer spray to hand, of course. I started in the wet room. Where I came across many dead weevils, spread all over the floor, but they were only very tiny ones? Then into the spare room, and found just a few dead and live ones, on the unwanted light and view-blocking new window ledge, the carpet, the clothes rack and on the scales! These Weevils were bigger beetles. To the kitchen, again not many seen, but they were al tiny weevils and dead? I wonder what’s going on with them? I’ll get the carcases hoovered up later when the noise will not bother any neighbours.

Made a brew of English Breakfast Tea, and got the computer going. Started to finalise the Friday blog, and got it posted off to WordPress.

When it came to starting this post going, I realised I had not got any advance templates made-up! So I did this as I went along, getting up to here. Then began to create some templates for future use. A long, monotonous (and for me, a usually error-ridden) job, but so helpful later on to have them ready.

Three hours, two mugs of tea and three wee-wees later, I’d got caught up. Haha!

Weariness and fatigue arrived so early today.

I got the nosh prepped and served up.

As part of my ‘Lose-Weight-Inchock’ campaign, I cunningly used a smaller dish, so that hopefully the food would look more than it actually was. I don’t know if it was for this reason, but I didn’t eat it all?

Mushrooms smoked back bacon and tomato passata. Three slices of bread, but I only ate two of them.

Got the pots washed and sat down. I put the TV on and commenced watching some absolute rubbish, and still, I could not get to sleep! Although I did manage a lot of little nodding-offs. Later, as ‘Britains most Evil Killers’ came on Freeview channel eleven for me to take an interest in viewing… I fell asleep!