The Nottingham Lads True Tales of Woe

Sun 7.6.2015: Inchcock Today

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Sunday 7th June 2015

Woke at 0545hrs, mucho bleeding from the little Inch again.

On the WC – and couldn’t get off for 45 minutes! Oh dear… blood from the other end now. Tsk!

Cuppa and medication taken – pots cleaned and laptop on.

Did a graphic for Clivey Boy and emailed it to him. Coreldraw x7 crashed again! Grrr!

Then did the header for this diary – and started it off.

Early yobboes lurking up and down the street this morning?

Another cuppa, then finished me blogs for yesterday and got them posted – only took me four hours.

0701Had a good scrub-up and shave, in me togs and set off to town.

When I got towards the Victoria bus-station, I took a photo showing the old filled in railway lines and the supports that hold up the actual bus-station.

I bet that took some graft and  know-how to get built?

Caught the C single decker bus to Mansfield (another instant decision made to to Mansfield).

0702We went through Bulwell, Hucknall which I took the first photograpicalisation of me often visited GUM clinic as the bus went passed it like. Memories flooded back to me… eurgh!

Then through Newstead then Annesley where I tried to take a photo of some horses in the 0703fields as sped along, but this dark blue Transit van is all I got as he sped passed us!

Huh!

Just passed Annesley I managed to take a photo of some old colliers (miners) terraced houses. This set me thinking of all the Collieries we used to have in this area:

0705Gedling, Hucknall No1, Hucknall No2, Linby, Radford, Wollaton, Newstead, Bevercotes, Mansfield, Harworth, Kirkby, Ollerton, Bentinck, Pye Hill, Thoresby, Welbeck, Clipston, Rufford, Blidworth, Annesley, Moorgreen, Selston, Sutton, Silverhill, Teversal, Firbeck, Sherwood.
Lodge, Highpark, Manton, Warsop Main, Shireoaks, New Hucknall,
Steetley, Langton. Cossall, New Selston, and Oakwood Grange, and I’ve probably missed some off the list?

I went into deep contemplating mode for a while. The miners were extremely militant and their unions decision not to hold a strike ballet was one route cause of frustration within Nottingham colliers – but Maggie Thatcher already had plans for the destruction of the industry in the pipe-line before the strike it transpired. Whoever one chooses to blame the most – the suffering of the colliers families and the break up of communities was so very lamentable and sad.

0704The bus was at Kirby-in-Ashfield when I pulled myself out my moroseness.

As the bus passed the graveyard that has many American Airmen in it I thought I’d take a photo…

But an ambulance with it’s blues and twos belted passed from the opposite directed and frit me a bit Hehe.

0706That was two photographs ruined. Would I make me hat-trick I thought?

At Sutton bus-station I noticed that KFC had done there… er… food place up and made it look nice now – shame there was no one actually going in it for the time we were there waiting for the bus to move.

We drove on eventually getting in Mansfield bus station, and I made me way to the book shop to get half the money back I paid for em, when I got two more book and swapped em – if yer see worra mean like.

0708It had closed down – Huh!

So I poddled up to the B&M store and had a wonder around.

Got a packet of bacon that looked nice and was cheap.

Well!

0710Then I moved up to have a decker in the Pound-stretcher shop – they had some dried onions in, and jars of Red onion cooking sauce with Rosemarie, so I got one of each.

As you can see, the Pound-Stretcher shop was very busy by the photo on the left wot I took see. And this is just one of five aisles in the place – wonder how long they’ll last?

Then I trudged back to the bus-station and caught a Pronto bus back to Nottingham, that would drop me of in Carrington.

0712The house I photographed while we were driving passed it is the one just bought by a certain media mogul chappy with a beard. A bargain at £3.3m I’m sure.

Of course I was goiing to put in a bid missen like – but he beat me to it.

FibMode

0713The sky looked nice and bright as I got back into Carrington.

Made me way back to the bomb-site with aching feet – not the bomb site with aching feet like, it wer me with the aching feet!

Yobboes on the street, had to go through them to get in the house, luckily cars were going by at the time and all I got was dirty looks form them.

IMG_0076

WC’d and updated this diary.

Then had me bacon with me flavoured baked beans and bread thins.

And jolly nice it was too…

Evening all!

Sat 6 June 2015: Inchcock Today –

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Saturday 6th June 2015

IMG_0043Woke at 0400hrs, tried to get back to kip, but gave up and hauled missen painfully up made a cuppa and had a pot of porridge and medications for breakfast for a change.

While eating this some memories of the dreams I’d came came back to me – not a lot – but some.

I was serving in an old counter shop and the queues outside led for miles down the road? Somehow as I served fruit and veg and fresh fish to people, the stocks seemed to get replaced automatically. This seemed to go on for hours and hours, then suddenly I was in a tiny lift, with goblins attacking me, blood all over the place… then a lady came into the lift to complain about the noise and hit me over the head with her umbrella? That’s all I recall.

I got the laptop on and replied to some emails, then opened Coreldaw X7 and did the header for today’s diary. Then did a graphic for Danny Soz, then got carried away trying to sort out the options again on the screen.

Did a bit of Facebooking.

Then started to create me next ‘It’s A funny Old Life’ instalment. Took me hours to compile and get something like right, then I didn’t like it after all – so will do a new one later. I update an old one about the Royal Visit to Nottingham and got that posted instead.

The next few hours were spent between researching me ode facts, getting myself confused and doing graphics.

IMG_0044Decided to have a walk about – so went up and made missen presentable-ish and fed the pigeons as I left on me little walk around.

I thought how beautiful a day it was and took a photo of the trees and sky – that was when even I heard the crunch of one of the cars in the distance at the Pelican lights hitting the one in front!

IMG_0046I caught the bus into town and called in the Victoria Shopping Centre as I wobbled along on little walk around the City Centre.

I dropped into Tesco and had a stroll around and bought some bread thins and cheapo little swiss rolls – * Please note that at various point I put other stuff in me basket, and through sheer will-power and the desire to do the right thing – I returned the cream Horns and spreadable butter back to shelves where I got them from… I hope you are suitably impressed with this?

WPlie

Oh sod-it… alright, I’d not taken enough money with me! Tsk!

IMG_0047I considered going down Clumber Street to go in the Jessop Camera shop to ask for advice on why me photographs on me SSID card have started turning themselves around on their own.

But the crowds put me off and I thought I’d walk the long way around to IMG_0051the City Centre to take some photographs and then approach Clumber Street from the opposite direction.

It was busy in the City Centre too.

I noticed a wedding was taking place in the Council house building and they IMG_0049had hired the old Routemaster London Bus for the fans, family and spectators at the wedding.

I managed to climb up on a raised concrete seating to take the photo – Ha! you should have seen me struggle to get down again – Farcical it were!

Parked where it was seemed a bit IMG_0050potentially dangerous to me, as folk coming out of Exchange Walk had to go into the road to see if any trams or traffic was coming?


Some of the Nottinghamian citizens were full of their usual zest I noticed. It’s good ale they must be selling locally perhaps?

IMG_0052Made we way down Wheeler Gate and called in Marks & Spencers to see if I could find an interesting shot of something to take.


I did, I got two – one on the second floor ladies department.

I’m not sure what the display was supposed to be selling – stockings tights I imagine.

But it was bit different, so I tooketh a photograph of it for the TFZ gals on Facebook.

IMG_0053On the third floor I came across a display of Gents summer-wear I thought might interest the TFZ lads in, so took a shot of these here mannequins in the Gents department.

I wondered just why they had made them with twisted wooden arms, pale legs and a white mask in place of a face?

There must be a reason? But why?.

I left the store and as I did IMG_0051some of the crowd started arguing between them selves about something – and a melee come altercation ensued!

So I braved the crowds and went through them up Exchange Walk and through the Slab Square again on me way to Jessops Camera shop on Clumber Street.

IMG_0057I photographed some art-work the Council had put up in celebration of Nottingham being hailed the cleanest City Centre.

Made me way to Jessops, where luckily they were not too busy, and i asked a lady assistant (Clerk for our American friends) if she could offer me some IMG_0048advice about me photo’s changing orientation on their own on me SSID card.

She was terribly helpful and patient with me, and let me take her photo to put on here with my thanks to her after she’d sorted me out.

She even told me how to change the things again if it happened again bless her sympathetic socks.

Not many as kind and patiently understanding as this gal in the shops nowadays.

IMG_0059Really cheered e up she did.

When I got on the bus I looked in me bag for me book and thought – Oh no, me cream cakes had disappeared!

Of course I soon remembered I didn’t get any. Ahem…

Back into Carrington and lurking IMG_0060yobboes were around again, so I took the long route back to the flea-pit.

I noticed how the clouds were so attractive and took a photo of the sky.

They looked like an artist had arranged and coloured them.

Got in and attended the porcelain.

IMG_0061Updated this diary.

Made me nosh – Vegetable curry, seasoned potatoes, with bread thins and an iced blackcurrant iced lolly.

Not bad.

Took me evening medications with some spring water.

Nodded off around 0200hrs – well that’s the last time I remember taking note of the time like.

Inchcock Remembers the Royal Visit to Nottingham… (Sneer adopted)

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Inchcock’s Memories of the Royal Visit to Nottingham

Nottingham is preparing to give the Royal Family a warm welcome when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the city with the Queen.

Residents have spoken of their joy and surprise after Buckingham Palace announced Prince William and Princess Catherine will join the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on their trip to the city on June 13.

The Royals will greet crowds in the Old Market Square, before making an appearance on the balcony of the Council House.

They will then travel to Vernon Park, in Old Basford.

Iris Busley, 65, of Skylark Drive, Basford, was delighted at the news of the Royals’ trip to the area.

She said: “I’m really gobsmacked. We’ve never had anything like this in Basford before.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.”

Susan Davis, 59, of Corncrake Avenue, called for everyone in Basford to turn out for the occasion.

She said: “I just think it’s incredible. It’s just wonderful.”

Buckingham Palace announced the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will arrive by train at Nottingham Station, where they will be met by the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge.

The royal party will then be taken by car to the Old Market Square to greet the public, before going into the Council House to meet the Lord Lieutenants of Notts and Derbyshire and invited guests. Huh!

They are one of 16 couples in Notts given the honour in recognition of celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this year. Mr Starbuck, of Clarewood Grove, Clifton, said: “It’s all come as a bit of a shock. We’re thrilled they are all coming to Nottingham.

“We will be more than pleased to meet them and welcome them to the city.”

A spokeswoman for Sir Andrew Buchanan, Lord-Lieutenant for Notts, said: “We are thrilled with the visit. It’s unlikely a visit of this magnitude will happen again.

“It’s a one-off, and we are all very excited about it.”

The trip to Vernon Park will see the guests of honour treated to sporting and musical performances by children from schools and groups from Notts and Derbyshire.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will leave after this, but the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will remain at the park to watch more activities.

Nottingham City Council leader, Councillor Jon Collins, said: “As the capital of the East Midlands, it’s great Nottingham’s playing host to this royal visit.

My response was:

I’m so glad for them both. FibMode

It will be a reet-treat for them!

Being a long time resident of Nottingham, being made redundant three times, living for a month on a pension that’s less than they pay for a bottle of champagne, recovering from heart surgery, suffering with arthritis, impetigo, and angina, collapsed reflux valve, haemorrhoids, and knowing where to find the cheapest short date foods to buy, will no doubt fascinate them.

I offered to show then around the places they would not usually visit without their nine full time protection armed officers and an MI 5 helicopter hovering above.

Well, you’ve got to try and help the poor little Royal mites, bless them!

* I can show them the fourteen police station torched in the Summer riots – or rather the six that are still operating anyway.

* The burn marks on the Canning Circus station grab bars still visible as you climb the steps to go into it to report your being mugged again still brings back memories.

0402* I could take them home and show them my album of photographs of the local yobbery, with the one of the young gang who terrorise we old fold with mugging us, carry guns, breaking into our property, egging our windows, door knocking and general anti-social behaviour.

* I could show them the scenes where a party-goer was shot in the head with an air rifle, that’s only a few hundred yards to the south of my house.

* Then the pub where a youth was shot and killed, that’s just a few hundred yards north of my house.

* The spot where a man sat in a car was shot at by members of one of the  many drug gangs, that’s about half a mile from my abode, and on my weekly 90 minute walking route to the hospital for my INR Warfarin level blood tests.

0401* Take them on my 40 minute walk to town down Mansfield Road, and point out the variety of closed down retail businesses (46), where the 84 year old lady was mugged and hospitalised last June, while at the bus stop by two illegal immigrants one Sunday morning,  the now closed down shop where a lady of 67 years of age was gunned down in a raid and no one has ever been caught for it.

* Let them see the colourful Big Issue sellers as they sometimes get off their mobile phones to actually sell an issue.

* The newly opened outlets in the city centre – the Charity shops, the Bookmakers, the Coffee shops, Pawnbrokers and the ‘We buy your gold’ retailers.

* The constant traffic jams in the city, where they could increase their word knowledge I’m sure!

* Take them to the Arboretum, where sometimes you can find enough grass to sit on without having to move the used condoms, beer cans (Empty), pop and water bottles (Half-empty), half eaten take away foods, fag packets, phlegm, and sick, while they can listen to three or four other peoples music at the same time!

I haven’t had a reply to my offer yet!

I recall when I was in E19 Men’s surgical at the QMC a few years ago now, and Prince Charles was in a ward to himself above us, with two nurses and a sister in attendance full time – having his ‘tennis elbow fixed’!

I was having a hernia repair done, when they found I’d got cancer of the bladder, so attended to that for me at the same time… bless them.

0501* I might show them a photo of one of me nosh’s, to see how it matches with one of theirs? I bet they’d only be jealous though?

When Princess Diana arrived on a visit to Charles, with her armed protection officers, they were admitted through a fire door to avoid the awaiting press – someone shouted out in great admiration – “Oh… it’s Lady Di, and all the staff ran to the window to take look down at her… unfortunately for me, the auxiliary nurse was taking out my drainage tube from my penis at the time, and as she shot off to get a view of the royalty, she caught and dragged the tube with her foot, and I was covered in blood and in great pain!

I bet nothing like that happened to Charlie when he was having his tennis-elbow sorted?

Angry? Me?

Well….

Fri 5.6.15: Inchcock Today:

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Friday 5th June 2015 

Woke determined to get a load more shredding done… again!

WC’d and while suffering on the porcelain I got this idea for a poem, ode, rhyme whatever for me Inchcok site of WordPress. ‘Me life in prose’I’ll probably call it, ‘It’s Been a Funny Old Life’ or something like that – ideas ran through me head and everything else seemed to fade into the background?

I’d had some dreams I think, because the ‘Little Inch’ had been active and he was bleeding, but can remember none of the dreams now, so annoying that innit?

IMG_0029Went down and started the laptop, made a cuppa, took the bags out to the bin for the visit of the ‘Refuse operators’, and fed the pigeons as I did.

I chatted with a bloke on Facebook last night and he is in the same situation as wot I am with his Windows Lumia mobile-phone – lost and confused!

Made another cuppa and took me morning medications.

Then I got the header done for this page and set about creating me ‘Funny Life’ ode – I had this urge to get it done while some ideas from earlier were still in me head.

So I did. Took me hours.

Then I tried to master the new mobile and learn how to store numbers – huh!

0501Had a wash and shave and readied missen for me walk to town to see the Age Concern people.

It was warm and bright when I set off down Mansfield Road.

A couple of pavement cyclist en route but they were too quick for me to get a photo of them.

0502Up and over the hill, and on me way down on the opposite pavement a poor chap lay prostrate face-down, his carrier bag at his side?

The police officer didn’t touch him while I was there watching.

Annoying not knowing what had occurred innit?

0503I poddled on about 600 yards and heard the ambulance approaching the poor devil.

It was here I spotted the Nottingham Street Art in the side of the road – it must have been a recently completed bit of art, cause the vehicles had not yet crushed it. I named it “Unloved Fodder and the broken fork” Hehe!

I pressed on and called in the Age UK offices and spoke with the receptionist asking if she could identify Steve’s number on my phone. She could not help. But she emailed Steve asking him to call me.

0504I had a walk through Trinity Square, and the food arena actually had people eating al-fresco in it!

Folk near naked taking advantage of the excellent weather. (Mind you, it didn’t half change a few hours later I can tell yers – blimey, not half did it change!).

0505I managed to get a shot of some ‘Bling’ for the TFZ gals.

Quality stuff this time – or quality prices anyway!

£6000 (USD $9156.83 – CAN $11432.56 – AUD $12016.66 for a ring? Pretty yes, but even so that’s a lot of dosh!

0506As I walked around the Slab Square in the City Centre I saw these kiddywinks being led across it. At the time I took the photo I had an excellently suitable and witty quote in mind to use on here when I posted it – what happened to that excellently suitable and witty quote I had in mind I don’t know. It seems to have faded into the ether… Huh & Tsk!

Probably something about trainee shoplifters or similar. Hehe!

0507I wandered into Clumber Street and called in the EE shop to beg for assistance on how to store numbers on me new mobile.

A patient lass showed me how and made sure I’d got it before letting me leave the shop – bless her. We’ll see later when I try it after Steve calls.

Out and up the street towards the bus stop.

0508Where I experienced a rare sight indeed!

Nottingham pedestrians crossing the road with the pedestrian lights on green!

Yes, it’s true, I took this here photo to prove it! Haha!

0509Caught the bus, dropped off in Carrington and walked passed the chemist, over the pelican lights and up the hill to the GP surgery to see if me extra prescriptions were ready.

They were.

But it had been sent to the chemists!

0510Back to the chemists and collected them.

On me way, a Nottingham Pedestrian Cyclist nearly had me as he sped by – I called out questioning his parentage but he either didn’t hear me or ignored me.

The Git!

0511Avoided the ganglets mingling around.

The wind suddenly got stronger and the trees bowed it it as I got towards the fleas-pit and made a cuppa.

0512The sky suddenly went awfully dark… I mean really dark.

And the clouds started moving very quickly across the sky.

Steve from Age UK called, he is going to speak with Nottingham City Homes on Tuesday for me.

I then proceeded to store his number with his name afterwards – in me Lumia phone, Yaheeee!!!

IMG_0042Nosh tonight, thick bacon in chopped tomatoes in tomato juice with herbs, with brad thins.

I really enjoyed this nosh.

Fell asleep early – in one of those awkward positions – you know – where you wake up twisted and in agony, aching all over! Hehe!

Then woke up every half hour in a ratty mood with yourself, because your tired and only want rest?

It’s Been a Funny Old Life Part 1 – Prosed pathetically by Inchcock

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avote06

I was born in late August nineteen fourty-eight,

The midwife handed me to Mam, for us to interrelate,

Mam wasn’t to happy, she was in a right two-and-eight,

Her fag ash dropped on me, as she did state,

Something the midwife to me did later relate.

–

“I don’t want it, throw it in the Trent!”,

If I keep it, I’ll not afford the rent!

Later she said my birth was an accident,

And I was not exactly heaven sent,

She lyingly said she ‘took’ to me later to her amazement.

–

She left home when I was three, leaving me and Dad,

I can’t claim this made me really sad,

She left leaving debts, that made Dad not glad,

Her leaving home became a bit of a fad,

The longest spell was four years, I wasn’t mad,

Mad and sad when she returned I was, poor lad!

–

At school, a rough one I was bullied and quite thick,

Did the shopping and cleaning, no time to get sick,

When Mam returned, I’d be cut to the quick,

She’d moan and argue giving us some verbal stick,

Another crime, and she’d do another disappearing trick.

–

She returned when I started earning ready cash,

She dipped into me pockets, leaving me abash,

Nowhere was safe to hide me stash,

She flogged off me LPs, that made me teeth gnash,

At conning folk Mother had no match!

–

The last time she absconded and ran away,

She was on the Police’s wanted list that day,

Leaving a trail of victims every which way,

Will they ever catch her people would say,

Reports came in she was in San Francisco Bay?

Or Mablethorpe, Lincoln, France or Torbay?

For many months she eluded police, kept em at bay,

Eventually she had her day in court after much delay,

My Sister well remembers that infamous day!

–

The court packed with character referers would you believe?

Mother falsly crying upon her shoplifted sleeve,

They read out the charges, it was hard to concieve,

One hundred and nineteen, twas hard to preconceive,

A tangle web of conning and stealing they did weave.

–

The man who read out the charge got fatigued after a while,

The Magistrates even raised a sneaky smile,

Court spectators nodded-off for a while,

She charmed the officials in her own conning style,

It took several days to complete the trial.

–

Found guilty, what did the Mother suckered Magistrates give?

They gave her a furnished rent paid flat in which to live,

Increased Benefits to help her pay the fine, very allevative!

This suited Mother, her being so aquisitive…

–

More to follow…

Thu 4.6.2015: Inchcock Today – Medications Whoopsiedangleplops

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Thursday 4th June 2015

Medics

Woke after two hours kip at about 0500hrs.

Laid there and felt the new pains in me left rear rump and the angina giving me gip. This made me remember I need to sort out/refill me dosage pots.

Had a wash shave and deodorising session, then went down and made a cuppa.

Which to do first I thought, the shredding, the medications or the bins?

I began to sort the medication tubs out – then realised I had not got enough medications to fill them… oh dear, had I forgot to collect them or had I lost them? Couldn’t remember. Had a good search but found none. I’ll go when the chemist opens to find out and hope there are some for collecting, because I’m almost out of Warfarin and Beta-blockers – as I said earlier, oh dear!  

I started the laptop and this diary off and did the header with Coreldraw x7 not crashing yet.

Facebooked a while.

Made another cuppa and did some shredding while I waited for the chemist to be open and call on them.

IMG_0027Set off on a walk to the Chemists next to the launderette on MAnsfield Road

The wind had gone and the sunshine was out – worried it might bring out the local yobbery later.

Got to the pharmacy and e medications were waiting to be collected. (Glad about that).

IMG_0021Called in the launderette and had a natter with Mandy.

Then bravely back to Lidl again.

Bought soe baking potatoes, one tomatoe (Dutch) Lemon cheesecakes, bacon misshapes, tea bags and an Indian Aloo Saag – why I got the Aloo thing I’mm not sure. It must have been the picture on the box that looked nice?

The biggest ingedients are Onion, water, tomato, potato sunflower oill milk and spinach in tht order. It had cumin ginger and fenugreek in it – not sure if that indicates it might be a little hot for me tastes? Still, too late now. I suppose them advertising it as reduced from £1.99 to £1 might have tempted me too.

IMG_0023IMG_0022Got back to the bomb-site.

Put me bits away. away and made-up me new pots of medications. Had a whoopsiedangleplop as I did… I dropped the wrong medication into the pots of morning medications ad had to changed the with the midday ones and got IMG_0024myself into a muddle with them – but sorted it with a bit of bad language and patience. Hehe!

I thought with the IVR levels fluctuating so, I might not have enough Warfarin to get me through until next time.

So I had a poddle to the GP surgery to IMG_0026put in a request for extra Warfarin tablets.

The sun was even warmer now, and the local sum-bags were beginning to appear out on the streets.

I walked back to the dumo by the long route where there are not so many hide holes for them to lurk in.

IMG_0025As I got back I thought the sky had a certain picturesque quality in it, so I took a photograph of it.

Fed the pigeons en-route.

Got to the flea-pit and made a cuppa. Cleaned up me bleeding Inch, and then started the laptop/notebook to do some of this diary to date like.

Did a bit of sorting out and shredding until the ‘Dizzies’ came on, I hate these.

I’ll make some nosh early and get me head down, not feeling too good suddenly.

IMG_0028Hope to be back later. TTFN all.

Well, failed to get me head down again, but did some reading, even that failed to let me nod-off. Tsk!

Did some Facebooking, when it let me, had to open it three times before it loaded?

WordPressed fer a bit then finished this diary off like.

Hope to be back in the morning.

Wed 3 June 2015: Inchcock Today: Shredded!

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Wednesday 3rd June 2015 

Woke determined to get a load more shredding done – and, get some stuff sorted and taken to Nottingham Hospice Charity shop, at least the wind seems to have dropped a bit at last.

Up around 0600hrs, WC’d, took me medications with a cuppa and straight onto the laptop to get this diary started.

Did a bit of shredding first – blimey it takes ages and makes such a mess… a bit like me really. Hehe!

This new Coreldraw x7 is taking some getting used to. The old keyboard aligning don’t work and I have to go through a docker to do it now?

Back onto the shredding for an hour or so.

IMG_0013Then got the things collated and bagged for the Nottingham Hospice Charity shop and set of on a walk into Sherwood to deliver them.

Oh dear, the sun has broken through and the winds have started blowing again! Huh!

IMG_0014Had a wash and scrub up and readied the things for the hospice shop.

Set off feeding the pigeons on the corner as I proceeded on me hobble into Sherwood.

The sky looked a bit brighter, and the winds were not so bad as they have been.

As I got to the top of the first hill, a enormous tricycle passed me on the pavement – it were big and wide and I think it had an electric engine as it belted passed me – I got me IMG_0015camera out and it was gone?

Was I cracking up or what?

Steadily down the hill and up the next, crossed over the road and up to the Nottingham Hospice Charity shop. Where there was only one elderly lady on her own bless her cotton socks. We managed a little natter and I made me way back to Carrington on the opposite pavement I used to get into Sherwood.

I called into the Continental Food shop and got a small polish loaf.

IMG_0016Just over the hill and a Nottingham Pavement Cyclist took an interest in taking a photograph… Hehehe!

I pressed  and down to the Lidl store to see if they had any nice tomatoes in stock to have later with me planned bacon sandwiches.

The didn’t, they only had the bitter Spanish ones.

I did notice as I poddled around the store – they had a DVD of Expendables 3 at £4.99 so treated missen.

IMG_0017I noticed they had on sale some pulled pork in different sauces in the fridge. Hickory BBQ sauce, Bourbon BBQ sauce and Sweet apple sauce.

But they were expensive compared to those on sale at Fulton and Heron food stores, also they were smaller packs as well.

IMG_0018Got some ice lollies, relish, tin of chopped tomatoes and herbs, brown sugar and sliced potatoes as well.

Got to the checkout and when she charged me £14.99 I thought ‘Hello…’ Looked at the receipt to find she’d charged me twice for the DVD!

Being overcharged seems to happen far too often at Lidl. Along with the sneers and indifference of many of the staff I find it a shame that some other company doesn’t open a store nearby in opposition to these German fiddlers. Perhaps an Aldi, then we can surrender to the Hun fiddlers? Hehehe!

I eventually found a member of staff to tell about this, and the natural unconcerned way she just said “Yes, she’s charged you twice that’s all!” What? was a little hard to fathom. I guess this happens all the time there.

Hey-ho!

IMG_0019Staggered back to the decaying residence, WC’d and got me bacon and bread ready. I put some caramelised red onion relish on the bacon before cooking in microwave and made three sandwiches to nibble for nosh.

Got me things ready for shredding again in the morning.

Had me nosh while watching a Star Trek Next Generation film on DVD – but fell asleep part-way through, so did this diary instead.

The nosh was not bad at all.

Cooking the bacon in the microwave reveals no fat coming out of it at all, but a clear liquid that sticks to the side of the microwave dish and should not be wasted – but golly it’s tasty when you scrape it off with the crispy crust of yer Polish bread.

Bad trying to get to sleep tonight, the body said sleep but the mind said no!

Well gone midnight and still no kip… yet I feel so tired. Tsk!

Tue 2.6.2015: Inchcock Today – Very Windy, Withering day of Wistfulness

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Tuesday 2nd June 2015

Woke about 0550hrs recalling a bit of me dreams:

Something about being thrown out of a helicopter and landing in a massive swimming pool filled with rice pudding in a field with hundreds of booing spectators all dressed up like General De Gaul around the edges of the pool?

Painful visit to the porcelain. Thought about the days demands while suffering. The GP surgery nurse for INR Warfarin tests at 1030hrs, and arrange CHA Health check appointment – Visit the Council flats near Winchester Street – Clinic visit – and possible trip to try and get some Microwave sausages? – Shredding to get some done at leasts. Oh, and try to get things sorted and taken for the Nottingham Hospice Charity shop.

Still dark and drizzly this morning as I fed the pigeons.

Realised it is ten days to me skin cancer cut-outs session.

Took me medications with a good strong cuppa.

Mixed me curried beans ingredients and left them marinating to have later.

Put the water heater on for me bath before I go to GP surgery.

No launderette again today, I’ll try to get it in tomorrow.

Started this diary off and made the header on Coreldraw X7, which has now started crashing just like all the other versions I’ve had… Huh!

Did some shredding, then got missen polished for the trip to the GP surgery.

BJ rang as I was about to go out – he kindly said he’d pick me up after and take me to see the Winchester flat complex. He asked if I needed anything from his trip to Asda, and I asked him to get me two bottles of bleach. We agreed I’d call him after coming out of the doctors.

IMG_0003I set off on me poddle to the Sherringham Medical Practice surgery on Mansfield Road.

By gum it were windy this morning again.

The trees had all lost some branches and were a-blowing in the wind.

Got to the GP’s and remembered to book me CDH health check (Tue 23rd June @ 0900hrs).

The nurse called me straight in and took me blood sample for the INR test, and kindly listened to me moaning about me housing problems bless her.

She thinks the bleeding on me ankles might be where I was bitten last week on me walk in the country with brother-in-law Pete.

 I left the doctors and phoned BJ – he’s had some bad news about a death of someone he knew and I felt a bit bad bothering him. He asked where I was and I said “Walking up Mansfield Road on my way to your house, should be there in ten minutes or so”.

I made me way slowly to his house, and saw there was no car outside, so I waited in the wild wind for his arrival back from Asda.

After ten minutes BJ rang and asked where I was, I said “Outside your house mate.” He said he’s be there shortly.

Ten minutes later I rang him, and he was at my house – bit of confusion there in communications Tsk!

IMG_0005An irate BJ arrived and took his shopping into this house and lifted me to the Council Aided flats up Winchester Street.

We eventually found the Nottingham City Homes delegates and one of them took us round the first block of two near each other flats to have a look at the ‘single ones free’, IMG_0006there were several apparently.

Boy were they in a bad state! They all needed decorating, walls re-plastering electrics checking, door frame edges plastering redoing, and the smells that lingered… some unidentified ones and alcohol, tobacco and BO were present. Maybe that is why the rents were cheaper than elsewhere? The tiny lifts I’m sure would not take a bed or wardrobe in them, they shook too. The windows evidently were turnable for cleaning, I tried it and could not get them to turn enough so I could reach to clean them. Hey-ho… but the views from the top floors were great. I could hear noises from a neighbouring flat – the worst type for me, muffled and I did not know what was causing them or the exact origin of them. Not good.

I didn’t expect too much when I visited, but was taken aback by the damage and decorating that would need to be done if I did bid successfully for one of these flats.

A little dejected, BJ ran me to Mansfield Road so I could catch a bus to the Clinic. I thanked him and gave him some nibbles in appreciation.

I was soon seen to at the G.U.M. clinic, and told to keep on with the Clotrimazole cream.

I was out in half an hour and caught a number 17 bus on Hucknall Road into Bulwell.

I dropped off short of the centre and went into Tesco. Where I purchased a pot of Bay Leaves, tin of Baked beans, tin of garden peas and some milk.

IMG_0007Out of Tesco and a little walk into Bulwell and the Market Place.

So many pavement cyclists about i didn’t even think of photographing them.

As I wobbled down the pedestrian area to go to Fultons Foods store, IMG_0009I espied in a jewellery/Pawnbrokers store some watches for today’s TFZers ‘Bling’.

Some were incredibly cheap – perhaps too cheap?

But I liked the oval shaped one in particular, good clear non-fussy printing on it.

I popped in Fulton shop and had a look around, but no blackcurrant & vanilla ice-cream lollies or microwave sausages to be had Huh! – However, they did have some thick-cut Bacon Misshapes in the fridge, so I got a pack to treat myself and try and cheer up, because I was little down after seeing the state and smells of the flats earlier.

IMG_0008As I came out of the store I tried to split the things between me two bags – and the wind took one off me bags down the street at great speed – luckily a young chap chased after and retrieved it for me – restored my faith a tad that did. I thanked him profusely.

The Market stall-holder were having a battle with the wind too.

IMG_0010I made me way to B&M to see if they had any of the Irish Curried beans or jars of their sweet beetroots in stock – they didn’t.

I caught the bus back to Carrington, taking a photo through the window of the sky that had brightened a tad – but you could see the clouds belting across the horizon still.

IMG_0011Damnable wind nearly had me over when I got off the bus at the top of the hill on Hucknall Road in Carrington.

All down the street the trees had braches broken off or damaged.

Fed the pigeons.

WC’d (No blood) made a cuppa and put me bits away.

IMG_0012Started this diary off.

Then got me nosh ready.

Two thick bacon misshapes, mixed leaves, bread thins, an apple and my second attempt at home-made Curried beans. Today I added some caramelised red onion relish on top of the bacon steaks… I hope to return later to report on what it was like…

Later: Even better than the first effort – I’m proud as Punch! (Swagger, shakes head and trips over the shredding machine – Tut!). All I did different to the first one was add a bay leaf.

Nodded off eventually. Sprang awake half an hour later, not knowing why?

Mon 1st June 2015: Inchcock Today

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Monday 1st June 2015 

Sorry about the misleading header – I intended to get some stuff to the Nottingham Hospice Charity shop, but the weather prevented me… Tsk!

Up at 0500hrs – WC’d, and straight onto the laptop… er, notebook to get me posts done for the League of Mental Men site.

IMG_0126

Brooches from a Jewellers in Bulwell. Is the ‘S’ one a dollar sign maybe, perhaps?

First time I’ve done it on the new notebook – took me hours and hours to get right.

Cuppa and took me medications around 0700hrs then carried in with the posts.

Did a bit of Facebooking.

Got some stuff ready for the Nottingham Hospice shop and had a walk into Sherwood with as the rain is looking less likely now.

Over half the day gone now, blimey.

Up and got missen cleaned and brushed up.

KneesCame down to get me new razor from me shpping bag that I’d forgot to take up earlier in the week and…

Amazing how the wheather can change while yer having a wash innit?

Photo taken from me front door.

So, no going out after all. Although it ain’t started raining yet, odds are it will do soon – especially if I got out – now I’ve said that it wont rain I suppose.

Got a letter from the Doctors Surgery this afternoon. I’ve got to book an appointment for the CHD Health Checks with the Surgery Nurse. Being as (If I remember) I’ve got an appointment in the morning with her to have me INR Warfarin level tests done, I’ll do it then.

IMG_0002Feeling a bit peckish now, I’ll get me nosh ready methinks.

Well I enjoyed that folks.

Felt a bit… no very guilty for a having a stay-in do little day.

Took me medications and did this diary to the tune of many emergency vehicle klaxon’s and sirens outside.

Hell of job getting off to sleep Huh!

31.5.15: Inchcock Today: Raining, drab and depressed

/ Inchie / 4 Comments

Sunday 31st May 2015

IMG_0119

Oh dear what a view this morning!

Woke remembering bits of some dreams I’d had:

I was on a gigantic treadmill going towards some high-rise flats, and people kept pulling me off the machine, I managed several times to fight them off and get back on the escalator, but each time they would drag me off again? The Duke of Edinburgh appeared out of some trees with several MI5 looking wallahs and shot me in me left kneecap with his hunting rifle… He laughed, well guffawed. I tried to get back on the escalator but someone had covered it with cooking oil, for some reason I knew it was Mazola cooking oil and wanted to know why they had not used ‘Trex’ cooking fat?… Found myself in an animal sanctuary of some sort trying to get a nail out of a mallard duck when the gate opened and in came the Duke of Edinburgh, in a kilt this time and shot me again…?

IMG_0121

Family breakfast!

WC’d, a little blood from the haemorrhoids, and the blind boil was painful!

Made a cuppa and started the laptop and made me header for this blog.

Checked me emails. While doing this I noticed how dark dank and wet it was outside – then the pigeons came down for their breakfast.

IMG_0120

Dark, dank, wet and windy – Tsk!

As I opened the door the sight was dismal – the rain was falling the winds blowing hard and it was dark and dank!

I checked on Facebook for a bit, then started on shredding me documents for a couple of hours.

I received an email from Patti Bekert for making curried beans.

So I hope to get all the ingredients from Tesco in town and try it out today.

0403Upstairs and spruced myself up and set off to town, no walking today with this rain.

Got as far as he church, and it dawned on me I’d got me reading glasses on when I looked at the trees.

So, back to the hoppit and changed into me other goggles.

Arrived in town and straight to Tesco, who I discovered didn’t open until 1100 am Sundays.

IMG_0124So I had a walk though the shopping centre getting a photo of some ‘Bling’ en route for the TFZ gals.

Pricey stuff this time.

I had a look in the shop windows and at the peoples faces in the centre – they did not look happy, well most of them didn’t look happy.

The fresh fruit drink stall had three assistants but no customers yet.

I left the centre and was greeted by the usual IMG_0125sight of the Nottinghamians crossing the lights against the pedestrian red lights as is normal for them.

Not many folk around yet, but this soon changed later.

The drizzle continued.

I wandered around and called in the Primark store to see if they had any zip-up cardigans in.

They didn’t – summer you see?

However, they were selling some headphones at £6 – large ear pieces on them, but at this price I was tempted and bought a set, as the old ones I used on the laptop had stopped working (As the previous four I had used had also conked out?)

I got back to Tesco and wandered around in search of the ingredients that Patti had emailed me to make me curried beans. I managed to get: Two tins own label baked beans @ 24p each, Worcester sauce @ £1.19, Bacon crumbles @ £1.69, a tiny bag of unrefined Fair Trade brown sugar @ £1-79 (Expensive I thought), Cheapo bag of Sultanas @ 84p and onion crispies at £1.39 (Didn’t like that, I can get them from B&M stores for 69p – but needs must I just had to try making me curried beans today).

I wandered out and over through Trinity Square to the bus stop and caught one back to Carrington.

IMG_0128I dropped off a stop early and called in Lidl to get some bread.

They had some mini vegetable pizzas in the bakery section that looked delicious at 59p each so I got one, along with a cob and some South African apples.

As to why I got that pizza I’n a little confused myself – I don’t like pizzas?But these just looked so nice?

IMG_0129Got back to the flea-pit and got me ingredients ready.

I added some black pepper I already had and mixed the mixture into the beans in a microwave pot and left them to enthuse… is that the right word?, so that the taste should come through when I make em later.

I stored them all (Not the apples) in box together so I didn’t forget which ones to use next time in the event that I get it right this first time like. (I think).

Laptop on and started this dairy.

Tried to get on Facebook, but it wouldn’t load?

Did some sorting and tried again – aha… Facebook back on now. Tsk!

The wind is getting bad here now.

IMG_0130Gerry’s First Home Made Curried Beans!

I must offer my thanks to Patti (Bekert) for her recipe for these beans, I was so pleased with how they came out and tasted.

Thanks Patti pet, absolutely and definitely unquestionably, absolutely lip-licking Wunderbar!

Watched a DVD while noshing, fell asleep, woke up and got this diary finished.

Evening all!