Saturday 16th December 2017
0117hrs: I woke and activated, amazingly at the same time as my brain this morning. The thoughts were belting around a little tolutiloquently to start with but soon settled into some semblance of logicality. I knew I had had some dreams, but could recall nothing about them at all. This is so annoying because some days I can remember bits to record, others, blanks like today.
I liberated my flabby body and aching limbs from the clutches of the oh, so comfortable and warm £300 second-hand recliner, and off to the Porcelain Throne. Where, nothing but wind escaped, despite my being patient and sorting out the problems with Brexit and pondered on the future for Britain in my mind, as I sat there in my failed missions of passing something other than wind and sorting out Brexit. Haha!
I accepted defeat in the evacuation stakes and left the wet room.
Going into the front room, I noticed that the parcel of the winter boots delivered yesterday had fallen onto the floor.
How did I see this, I hear you ask? I tripped over the blooming thing!
The landing with the right hand outstretched and bending the hand inwards started Arthur Itis off, and I believe I said something like, “Well fancy that!” I thought of Doug in America after doing this, we seem to both share the Whoopsiedangleplopitis. Hehehe!
I opened the parcel to take a look at the boots. The paperwork gumpf in the bag with it weighed as much as the footwear did! The cardboard stuck in the boot s to stop them collapsing was thicker than the boot linings!
I put some of the Phorpain Gel on the wrist and hand, as I took the medications and did the Health Checks.
Got the computer on, and updated the Friday post, sent it off. Then, Windows informed me of updates coming in giving the option of restarting now or later. Being as the innards were requesting I make another visit to the Porcelain Throne, I pressed reset now and limped to the wet room. This time, the Lenigrad book got a couple of chapters read as I failed to pass anything substantial, just more wind. Then Reflux Roger started giving me some grief.
I got back to the computer and found the Windows updating had finished, I clicked to see what was in the updates and got this:
Plainly, I had gotten confused somewhere along the line and pressed something wrong, for there were no updates for today on the list? I’m not a confident person, and things like this, or unnecessary criticism don’t do my spirits a lot of good. Humph!
I emptied the computer Recycle Bin. That made a bit of room.
Made a start on this post. During which I consulted my scribbled scrawl on the dedicated notepad. I bet you all wondered how this old fart remembered what to write? So, my secrets out now. Haha!
The thing is, I could not make out what I wrote here in the circle? Whatever it was, I did this next. Sad innit?
Went to make another mug of tea and took this photographicalisation from the kitchen window. To the North (My right) this time, the light on the right coming from my other room in this leaking windows luxurious flat. (Touch of sarcasm sneaked in there I see.)
Then, stabbing pains in the stomach and a third summoning to the Porcelain Throne. Sure, this time of success, I hobbled to the wet room and deposited my increasingly obese bulk on the strained plastic seat and waited… Nothing happened until I was into the second chapter of the book, then; Spurt plop. One tiny bit, no bleeding. I washed up and decided to risk taking another Senna tablet.
Made yet another mug of tea, took the Senna and went on to the WordPress Reader.
Did some prep-work on the next graphic. Blimey, I finished it all! Took about four hours, but as funny graphics go, I was reasonably pleased with the result. (Swank Mode Adopted) Hehehe!
Ablutions all done. I decided to have long hobble into Arnold to Asda get some curried baked beans (5), Stilton Mini-Cheese biscuits (3) (They had none in again), Piccolo tomatoes.
I took this photo just before evacuating the flat. ? Because I thought it looked beautiful.
As an after-thought, I washed out the Bates Motel hand towel and hung it up in the shower room to dry a bit.
I made sure I’d got the card, glasses, umbrella, hearing aids in and started my walk to the lift. Where I turned around and went back to the apartment to collect the camera and mobile phone. (I know, sad!)
Set off again. Down the shuddering noisy elevator, out over the road and up the gravel hill to the top, and stopped to take a photograph of the sparse, leafless trees in the copse, getting the flats in the picture looking back at them.
Plenty of dogs taking their owners for walks and refusing to fetch the balls. (Hehe!) The lovely lady with the old greyhound was coming the other way on the downward on the path to Mansfield Road. She was kind enough to have a chinwag with me and allow me to make a heck of a fuss over her dog, a retired Greyhound she had taken on and was now living with her and her own greyhound. She only takes them for walks individually. I was in no rush, I’d cunningly timed it to allow myself an hour and a half to walk to Arnold and the Asda store, which should leave me time to call in the Arnot Hill Park to feed the mallards with time to spare.
Said my farewells to the lady and dog, and got some (For me), some severe forced hobbling in to make the time up.
By gum was cold this morning, so glad I had the hat, extra jumper and gloves on.
I all but did a Whoopsiedangleplop on the 
ice near the lights.
Further along, I came to the United Carpet shop, I used when I first moved into the Woodthorpe Court flats a few years ago.
Approaching Daybrook, my mind reflected on the Carpet Right store there, and I stopped opposite and stewed for a moment or two before taking these photographs.
The bitterness still lingered after all this time, at the way I was treated so shabbily.
The sign that fooled me into thinking that the Fitting was Free was still there – with the minuscule lettering at the bottom: “When you buy the equivalent of Airstrip or Treadmore underlay – Stair surcharge applies”. Swines! I also had to pay the carpet fitters in cash – and they broke my Virgin box connection off of the wall and denied it! The van they came in was rusty, no tax disc and the two youths had rings in their noses and ears, not that I could see them clearly with all the tattoos, and they frit me to death almost, and I was scared into not complaining overly firmly. (Coward!)
Just a word or two of warning there, for any other sucker looking to buy and have carpet fitted by this company and their franchisees, like.
I hypothetically spat out memories and moved on. (Well I think I did, once I work out what hypothetically means, like, Hehe!)
Arrived at the Arno Hill Park and made my way to the pond and fed the birds.
It was frozen over. Many birds in the trees suffered attacks from the seagulls while I was there. They even swooped at a little Yorkie dog as I was going out of the gate at the other end.
I got the fodder as mentioned earlier, from Asda, by now it was questionable if I could make it in time for the L9 bus. I used the self-serve tills as the others had long queues at them. All went well this time, and I left and went to the bus stop. Being a Saturday, if I 
missed this one, it would mean a two-hour wait for the next and last one.
I got to the bus stop with six minutes to spare and hoped that it had not gone early. Twenty minutes later it had not arrived. I took a photograph of the new Asda filling station that used to be a police station across from the bus stop.
Then the girl (About 40 actually) from the Briarwood 24 hour care home on Chestnut Walk up from the flats, arrived. Just as the L9 bus came. Good timing gal! We had a chinwag or two all the way back to the apartments. She told me last week that it was her birthday early January and I got her a box of chocolates. I told her this, and when we got back to Sherwood, she waited while I nipped up to the flat and returned with them for her.
Back up afterwards, the feet stinging, and very cold, but other ailments all being fair to me. Inside the apartment, I swear it was as cold as outside, despite the heat coming from the radiators. I ended up leaving the jumper on and putting the dressing gown on as well. Brrr!
Got the fodder out ready and put the new bits away. I flavoured the beans with some Vegemite and Maple Syrup. Blown if I can find the mustard?
Updated this blog. A bit concerned about the lack of Porcelain Throne success today.
Made a map of the hobble route. But missed off the last bit. Tsk!
The git upstairs is making noise again.
Every weekend the same. Hey-ho!
Getting very tired now after the early start again.
I went for a wee-wee, and guess what happened? Go on, guess. Hehe!
I got a face full of wet towel, I’d forgot about washing and hanging up the Bates Motel towel earlier. You’ve got to laugh! Hahaha! Clot!
Then, as I was getting it down, the hook came detached from the hanger. Fancy that happening to me.
Got the beans warming up slowly and kept nipping in to stir them.
Then I heard the letterbox snap. Or at least I thought I did. Went to the door and nowt was sticking in the box or laying on the floor?
Could the Aliens or Goblins have returned?
Went to check and stir the beans later. And it became apparent what the noise had been caused by the brush falling off of the pans handle. A lot of mysterious things happening today. The shoes falling off of the Ottoman as well earlier?
Turned off the computer and got the nosh served up.
The noise from the bloke upstairs was terrible again.
Still no signs of any need for the Porcelain Throne.
Did the Health Checks and took the medications, leaving off the extra Senna just in case.
So tired now, but not feeling any effects from the mini-marathon hobble, apart from a little ache in the thighs.
Put the TV on, Police Interceptors was on, but I didn’t get to the first commercial break before I was off and gone. Only to be woken by the ‘Herbert’ upstairs making noise again.
I looked out of the window, it was drizzling just a bit, I could hear the emergency services alarms and klaxons in the distance.
Got the nosh prepared.
A rinse and wipe around, and to the kitchen to do the Health Checks and take the medications.
Dropped off on Lower Parliament Street and over and up Glasshouse Street. With its abandoned shops, empty offices and the Victoria Shopping (Mall) Centre, and the flats above and car park below.
Hippy Hilda were telling me not to, so I didn’t. I went into Tesco. Where I purchased a small Polish Pork Knuckle, potato chips, a massive chunk of Stilton cheese, lemon curd yoghourts and some bacon. Out of the centre onto Milton Street, passing the closed down eateries on my left and right.
Sad!
Across the road, was New York’s American & Italiano, Frankie & Benny’s eatery. Where the sign outside informed the Nottinghamians that they could get a breakfast: Eggs on Toast, for the bargain price of only £5.95 – Three eggs cooked just how you like them! Choose from poached, scrambled or fried. Served with button mushrooms, tomato and brown toast 
with butter.
While waiting for the late arrival of the bus, I took this semi-moody photographicalisation of the Little John Dome on the Council House.
cks and took the medications. Kept putting the timer on for 30 minutes and checking the slow-cooker as I settled to watch some TV.
The rain stopped, and the wind got up somewhat.
The nosh was stone-cold by the time I got it on the tray. But I had little interest in it by then. Yes, I was not in a bon viveur mode. Haha!
I was definitely feeling a lot better.
As I closed the window, the rain started again.
I’d got some extra Scottish Plain Bread to freeze and keep over the holiday period.
Served the nosh-up and ate it all, every scrap and morsel.
full of memories about the dream I’d been having. I searched for the pencil and pad to record them.
Assembled the laundry stuff, gathered the clothes and down to the launderette, to get the laundry started and have a look at the road conditions. Got the washing machine going, and nipped out into the cold to peruse Chestnut Walk. 
The timer chirped into life, and I went down to investigate if the clothes had dried enough. No.2 lift was still noisy.
Had a sweep up of the bits of soap powder and things dropped on the floor. Not by me, of course!
Booked me in with the receptionist and got seated and the crossword book out. Amazingly, I started one that I’d got just two answers in before and got all but one clue filled in. A possible victory I thought… but maybe not, I do not have the slightest idea what Garlic Mayonnaise is? A_O_I?
Off the bus and into the Victoria Shopping Centre (Mall), where I forgot all about the security guards stopping me taking photos last month, Ahem!
Out into the bright but cold sunlight.
Up Queen Street and I was the sole passenger to get on the L9 bus when it arrived.
The short foot journey from the bus stop to the end of Chestnut Walk was not as hazardous as it was earlier, but much of the compacted snow and ice remained, and care had to be taken en route to the Woodthorpe Court flats and home.
Accifauxpa but avoided going over when I slipped.
Got in the flat and had a wee-wee. Got the purchases sorted. The fantastic Pork knuckles, only two of the three, were put in the fridge, the other one on a plate ready to become part of tonights, nosh.
could win a £100 HMV gift card.
Then noticed the beloved Copse outside. It still looked beautiful, but sad at the same time, perhaps?
The Polish Pork Knuckle was great! In fact, I enjoyed everything and gobbled it up slowly in the hope that I might not eat it all and lose weight. No chance!
I removed the tape from the arm vein, and I did the pots and settled to watch some more ‘Boon’ DVD episodes.
0155hrs: Woke up with the mind still a little nebulous, vague and inchoate, from last nights funny turn. No, not the right word, perhaps troubling is a better term to use. I felt as if I had had no sleep much at all.
Got the Health Checks, and medicating needs attended to.
Pleased with these figures, I proceeded to get the next week medication pots sorted out and have another cup of tea.
Then I opened the kitchen window to take the other ones.
I tried to take some photographicalisations from different angles.
I think this is going to prove bothersome for the workmen in the morning if it does not clear-away. I imagine the hoist cages will be in a right state of wetness. And the balconies they were working on are well covered in snow, and up here I think it will freeze harder and become another hassle for the men?
There was only, as far as I could see, one owner being taken for a walk by his two dogs. They seemed to be enjoying the weather, tails wagging fiercely! Hehehe!
Put the kettle on and noticed a family with their youngster with a plastic sledge having fun in the bottom field. I enjoyed watching them so much.
A quick bash on Facebook, and then got the nosh ready.
Dropped off in Arnold and went straight to the Chambers Meat shop. Got some of their Home-Cooked Belly pork that was a lot less fatty than what they had on off yesterday… no, on Thursday.
Went to Fulton’s, no knuckles. Called in Asda, no pork knuckles. That leaves Tesco to try on Monday – snow permitting.
In Sherwood, Welsh Bill got on. Another chinwag session was enjoyed. At the flats, Welsh Bill and I got in the elevator and William pointed out the temperature was still the same now at -1°c.
No Porcelain Throne visit demands, that was a good sign, too.
coming from outside.
both appeared content with their lot.
Got the nosh prepared.
Watched all three episodes and then fell asleep. I dreamt of when the wetroom was being installed for some reason?
Then, when I went to get the morning medications out, 
I’d missed yesterdays morning dosages. I checked the evening ones, and I’d not taken them either!
The cramps in the fingers were playing-up, and I dropped the tablets as I took the morning’s out to take. Unsure of what would be best to do with the evening ones though. So I decided just one Warfarin blood thinner and one Trental 
Cooked pork knuckle in jelly. I wish I could remember where I got this from, cause it was absolutely delicious. Sliced mini-tomatoes with balsamic vinegarette, and ready prepared Potato Gratin with masses of extra-mature cheese added. An apple and two slices of Irish Batch bread dabbled with Vegemite.
Washed the pots and did the Helth Checks and took the medications.
Oh, dearie me.
I added an ADRC capsule to the morning medication pots, so I didn’t forget to take it.
I collected together the second load of washing that I could not get in the machine yesterday, and went down and got them in the washer. Popped out of the foyer door to take this picture.
To the laundry room to collect the things. Not a lot, just two dressing gowns, one shirt, one underpants and a pair of socks, oh, and the two towels.
Cleaned the filters and drums, packed the bag and off to the elevator.
I took this photograph to show off the Bates Motel towel than Sister Jane got me last year. When it came to putting it on here, it looked like some insects were in evacuation-mode near the left door? Hehe! If I go down later, I’ll have another look. It can’t be ants this time of year… or can it? Maybe the eggs or whatever they are were deposited by the well-known Woodthorpe Court Aliens? Just look at the pattern on those underpants! Haha!
To the Throne once again, and different still. Back to near normal – not that it usually is, very often. Only a tiny bit of bleeding.
Then caught the bus into Arnold to get the shopping bits in.
sarnies with trimmings.
Then I weakened as I passed by the fresh cream cake fridge.
To the bus stop. When I got on, I realised I had not been to the Doctors surgery! What a Plonka!
In Sherwood, Roy got on the bus and more banters ensued. Up to the flats and we still were laughing about something as we arrived at the foyer.
Did the Health Checks and made a brew. Then got the nosh prepared, no bother cause there was no cooking involved. A lot of crumbs to be located, though.
As the darkness fell, the rain came with it. The winds still howling up here.