We’ve been hornswoggled by the Brexit farce!
Thursday 6th February 2020
Afrikaans: Donderdag 6 Februarie 2020
01:55hrs: Cripes, the Hum is intrusive this morning! When I woke and heard the noise, I was confident that something was amiss, surely this can’t be the Hum? I extracted my bulbous, wobbly, stomach-ladened body from the £300 second-hand recliner, and checked around the flat, only to find that the driving-me-mad Hum was indeed causing the noise! Humph!
Still, I’m glad I got up, cause the sudden urgent need for the Porcelain Throne arrived, so off to the wet room I poddled. Taking care to leave the four-pronged stick well away from where I might trip over it, I got seated. This time things were different, back to the half-way and suffer mode of evacuation.
Which gave me time to have a mind-wander. But it wasn’t a pleasant experience, all my faults, worries and problems stormed into the brain, rattled about almost mocking me, and then as the evacuation got a bit more movement and agony replaced the pain, the thoughts left me, thank heavens. Hell of struggle, but I rid myself of the products, a little bleeding, but not messy.
At least Little Inchies fungal lesion was only trickling a few drops. The legs had got more colour and veins showing than yesterday. Arthur Itis’s knees were tight, a sign of suffering to come that is. I got cleaned-up, medicated plenty of the Phorpain gel rubbed into the joints. I’m not sure it actually does any good, but the Doctor says the massaging it in can do no harm.
Then, off to the kitchen. Where I got the kettle on, took the medications, made the tea and took a photographicalisation of the morning view, with the moon on show. Not a bad result, I took it in Night Landscape mode. I’ve put it on large here, not too bad an effort. (He says smugly. Haha!)
To the computer, and set to updating the Wednesday post. Nicodemus Neurotransmitters were not playing up much at all. That was a pleasant divergence from the norm, which I took advantage of, and had got the whole thing finished of (not many photos) in record time before they kicked off again. Also, I struggled to read my own writing. Fleeting Satisfied Mode!
The mist was clearing now. Sent off the blog, then went on the Emails to see what was what. One from the Haemostasis, TV (Thread Vein) and DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) Warfarin Anticoagulation Clinic at the Nottingham City Hospital (I do like that mouthful of a title!). From the lady who rang me last night. Her name is Debby. So now, I have the address to use to update her about the Doctors visit. There was no reply to my earlier request for an appointment or any INR results?
So I sent another email and request. Then I checked the progress of the saucepans I’ve got coming today (another day stuck indoor!) on the tracker system.
Not arrived at the distribution area yet, so I don’t know when to expect them to arrive, latish I should think. I hope the Falls-Team lady comes early, then at least I can get some stuff to the waste-chute and down to the recycling bin.
On to the TFZer Facebooking next.
Virgin Down completely now. (I’ve typed this so often, the fingers did it on their own! – Chuckle!) Today is the upgrading session, mark day 2 for Global-Liberty (Lousy) Virgin Media Internet workers. So, I half-expected things to go down.
–
The Stand-up Ablutions were tackled:
Dropsies were galore! Too many. Then, Shaking-Shoulder-Shirley, went into turbo-drive for a few minutes, just when I was shaving. I must say, had the farce been filmed, it may well have been an award winner at the British Comedy Awards! Even I would have laughed out loud at it; just imagining it brings a smile to my face!
The razor flew to my left, falling in the tray of cleaning stuff, I grabbed at it when it landed and knocked the shaving foam from the tray. I bent down to retrieve it, razor still in hand, it (the foam) was then propelled by Shaking-Shoulder-Shirley in the other direction, where it hit the ground cupboard top, removing various, nay, nearly all of the medical tubes down the back of the cupboard! Savlon, Daktacort, Haemorrhoid cream and my emergency supply of Co-Codamols! All bar the haemorrhoid cream, which was needed for use, the others are still down there somewhere, I’ll get them later. Harrumph!
Somehow, I’d cut the back of my hand as well! Only the tiniest of cuts, but it took some stopping, I used the aftershave, that did it; it stung a bit, mind! Then, after cleaning things up, the farce of the disappearing razor?
I’ll have another search when I go to pick up the things behind the 
floor-cupboard. Sigh!
I had a ring of Josie’s door chimes on the way out with the rubbish bags. No answer. So, in the elevator and down with the giant-bag of rubbish. Left it near Stew’s door. Then took a photo of the Information Panel, and nipped in the lobby area, to take some pictures.
Back up to the apartment. Tried Josie’s door again, no answer. Got in and got the kettle on. I tried the Liberty-Global Virgin Media Internet, but no go, still down. So, I don’t know if I’ve had any reply from the surgery about the appointment, or the Warfarin INR level, and cannot check on the saucepans progress. Hey-Ho!
Sob!
– I thought I’d take the picker-upperer with me to get the knocked over things from the wet room… Huh! I had an involuntary (on my part!), Neuropathic Schuhplattler dance from the affected right leg, I managed to prevent myself going over, but unfortunately, it was so quick, I thought I’d got the stick with me, and used the picker to stop myself falling – it broke in half! Thankfully, I only fell against the £300 second-hand, c1968 recliner! So, another picker-upperer bites the dust! RIP. Grangle-Grumps!
I really am back to enduring my usual luck again! Thanks mainly to the Peripheral Neuropathy Pete, and Stroke Stuart! At least the dance only lasted a few seconds this time.
It’s such a shame that I didn’t realise that today was when Liberty-Global was going to fail again to improve their pitiable, wretched, internet service. Then, I would have not ordered the saucepans for today. There lie’s more reasons and proof that my systematic, massive misfortunes having returned to torture, annoy, bother and piss-me-off again!
I went to try Josie’s door again, Aha! She answered! I showed her the tin of Tuna flakes with Coronation dressing, and she fancied on her Sunday lunch. So, it shall be! I hobbled to the fridge to get a can of Daniels and coke and took it for her. Well, it’s a treat, although no doubt she’d prefer the Daniels neat. Hahaha!
The Internet was still down. I wrote things down on Word, to use later. Took me a while to get it written, and as I got up to here, my door chimes rang out, to my chosen tune of Dusty Springfield’s ♫ I only want to be with you ♫, it was the Amazon delivery with the saucepans.
I checked them to see if they were made-up, or I’d have to get some help if they need assembling.
They were all made-up. so that was nice! I put the new frying pan in the trolley-guide bag, I’d decided to give it to the volunteers at the Social Kitchen to use. Got wrapped up warmly, and ventured out. Down in the elevator, through the link-passage, into Winwood Court, I met Angie and Roy at the foyer door, they were buying some stuff early from the bread and veg man, then catching a taxi.
Then into the big social lounge, where some residents were finishing off their Friday breakfasts. I was in a bit of a rush in case the bus came early, so I went straight to the kitchen opening window, cause they do not like my three-wheeler near the food, a lady came behind me and told me not to stand there, cause she’s trying to serve people! Fair enough, I shoved the brand new pan in her hand and told her “Here, you can have this!” The good feeling of my doing something to help, drained from me. I walked out through the Winwood foyer door and made my way to the bus shelter.
Feeling a tad miffed, but more hurt, after the pain, effort and cost, I thought I was doing something worthwhile and helpful, and the idea made me feel good. I can understand really. But as I get older, I seem to get hurt easier. No more freebies or help for them then in future. I was just trying to help out at the new kitchen volunteers, for the third time. In my current state of mind, and struggling to do everyday things, but still trying to help others, I can do without being depreciated. But bless them all for volunteering, I hope they can get some enjoyment from it.
I’m sorry Jenny was not in and wish the ILC’s had been in the office now, they could have been offered the brand-new just delivered frying pan.
I brought my spirits up a tad, by taking some photographs of Winwood Heights from the L9 bus shelter.
I got on the bus, and out came the crossword book. I did well en route to town on the puzzles today. Swank-Mode-Adopted.
In town, I called into the Poundland Shop. Got some bits: A cheap kitchen roll, cause I’d forgotten to put one in the bag for nose-blowing use. Lavender Dettol disinfectant. Orange Kit-Kat, and some nuts.
I had a walk around, Parliament Street, Clumber Street, Long Row, Slab Square and on to Queen Street for the bus home. I’ll not put all the photographicalisation I took on here, cause there was fair lot them, I’ll do a Trip to Nottingham Special in another post with them all on.
I caught the bus back, and Bill (William on Sundays) got on further along the route. With us both being hard-of-hearing, the conversation was strained. Haha!
Shaking-Shoulder-Shirley was going at it on and off, and it made me feel like others were keeping an eye on the old man in the side-saddle seat. Hahaha!
I like Bill, a grand chap. Back at the flats, Bill held the door open for me to Winchester Court. We parted wishing each other all the bestest, and a smile. The only person I spoke to, was Herbert (Big John), doing his jigsaw puzzle in the big lounge, he’s good at them. I threw him a “Good Afternoon, you all right?” as I passed. But saw no one else, although there were a few folks about, I was not conversant with them. (Didn’t know them!)
I got up in the flat, no wee-weeing needed! I moved the mushrooms into a saucepan from the slow-cooker with the garden peas and got the new big pan filled with water for the boil-in-the-bag beef and gravy later.
I got on the computer, and Hey Presto! it was back on! Ooh, that did please me!
I go on with updating this blog, and befo
re I knew it, the time was gone 17:00hrs!
It was getting misty outside.
I got on with creating the visit to Nottingham post. By the time I got it made and posted, I’d been up for over 18hrs! I think I’ll get the nosh done and head 
down next. I turned off the computer, and in a state of ultra-weariness, battled to keep my concentration as I prepared the stew.
18:55hrs: I took this snap of the evening sky, the horizon looked rather nice to me.
The new casserole saucepan was used to heat up the beef and gravy with onions. Despite my being too drained and over-ready for a kip, I ate it all with some milk bread to soak up the gravy. Hmm! Flavour Rating; 8.2/10 tonight.
I got the pots in the washing-up bowl to soak. Took another shot of the evening sky, and had a wee-wee. Settled in the £300, second-hand, near-dilapidated, gungy-beige coloured, c1968, sometimes working, uncomfortable, rickety, rinky-dinked, rattling, rusty, resurrected, reconditioned, recalcitrant, recidivating and rotting-away recliner.
Surprisingly, it took a while for sleep to come.
01:15hrs: I woke with the mind doing ut own thing again, and I genuinely feared the worst. Yet, within a few minutes, I was battling out of the £300 second-hand recliner, had urged and forced my misshaped, wobbly mass of a body onto its feet, and did few moves, bends and wriggles to test out the ailments, and was in recent form, I thought, anyway. 
The evacuation almost had me cheering! It was that good! Not too big, 
I made some tea and took the medications. Then got the updating of the blog done. The saving was failing a few times, but this time, I thought it might be a WordPress problem? The updating took ages, mostly through having to keep stopping for Saccases-Sandra to clear. Many hours after starting, I got it finished. Phew! 
I turned everything off and got the ablutions tended to. I called on Josie again first, while I’d got clothes on. No answer again. 
The ablutions produced many dropsies. No proper Whoopsies, though. Another call on Josie, no luck. 
Back to the stone-cold meal, not that there was much to harm. Only the mushrooms, garden peas and potatoes were heated anyway. 
Feeling much better now, life was returning to the brain, and physically I was doing well. Mmm, apart from the Neurotransmitters failing a few times, I was lucky not to drop the tea-caddy, then the kettle. This is going to be a problem when I start typing on the computer. But no complaints, qualms or expostulations from me. After yesterdays horrendous events, I just appreciated being here, and the absence of so many ‘usual’ ailments. Yee-ha! 
I went to move the tomato-slicer from the tea-brewing area, and soon found how bad Nicodemus-neurotransmitter was today, and the slicer slipped from my grasp. I automatically and foolishly made a grasp for it to stop it hitting the deck. I caught it. The serrated edges of the blades drew blood. A good job I have a stock of plasters in the medical drawer, Tsk! Klutz!
I added some bits to Pinterest, then spend an age on the TFZer Facebooking. But I enjoyed it. Mr Fries Virgin Media started and stayed playing up again. Spitworthy-Splurging-Sparrowhawks! Then went to make another brew of tea, gingerly, carefully and cautiously I might add. (Ha-ha!) 
Phlebotomy nurse vampire, the super-beautiful and highly desirable Christina arrived, a little earlier than expected. So, I might be able to catch the 10:30hrs bus to go and get some saucepans to replace those I’ve burned! Haha! She took the blood in her usual professional way, no bleeding from the vein, as usual (Oh she is good, and pulchritudinously, alluring, angelic, appealing, beauteous, charming, bewitching, and gorgeously pretty with it). She warned me of the oh, so cold weather outside. If only I was fifty-odd years younger, fitter, had hair, no ailments… Dream on Inchcock! Hahaha! Christina departed, sadly in her usual rush, bless her.
Caught the bus with about twelve other tenants, who all got off in Sherwood. I decided in route, to go to Sainsbury’s in Daybrook to look for saucepans and get some nosh in. As I got off of the bus, Dizzy Dennis came on, but not badly, but it slowed me up and did my concentration no good. A few hazy bits in my memory of the visit. I do remember getting a cling-film wrapped set of three saucepans, all ready-made up (handles and lids not loose). Which was glad-making for me. It was the last on the shelves, too! I recall struggling to get around carrying it and coping with the walker-guide and getting things off of the shelves to buy.
I spent £18.60 in total, paid at the self-serve tills. Then, as I was going for the bus home, it dawned on me, I had not got the saucepans! I stopped near the exit doors and checked the receipt… no, I hadn’t paid for them anyway! What I had done with them remains a mystery. 
Over the next few hours, I took these pictures on the right of the page, of the sky from the unwanted, unneeded, unpopular, light and view-blocking, unable to get at to clean, photographers nightmare kitchen window.
The things that sometimes permeate through and hassle my brain; I don’t mean the usual brain-storms, but these odd moments of pointless reflections, can be entertaining, but not until after they’ve been tackled or considered.
The nosh was prepared and served up. Chicken and vine tomato Dagwood-Style sarnies, new potatoes, mushrooms, garden peas and beetroot. A lemon curd yoghourt and drink of orange cordial flavoured spring water for afters. I ate the whole lot of it! Not a scrap left on the plate! 
02:20hrs: As I came back to artificial life, from my nightmare filled sleep, I could clearly hear what I thought was a steam press. Somehow I thought I was still out of it and dreaming, cause the dream was about me being stuck in a giant steam press, with people fighting over who should activate the controls? But it soon became apparent that the noise was the World of Science baffling, ‘Hum’! 
I got the medications sorted, and returned to the main room and got the computer going. The tea had gone cold, so I went to make another, and decided to open the window again, to take a picture of the housing on view outside. Many lights were on in the dwelling, that caught me out for a second. I didn’t realise the time had flown so fast. I went back to the front room, forgetting to make a mug of tea!
But no more toe-stubbing at least! It’s been that long since I needed them, I had to think which of the tubes and tubs were for what ailment. Hahaha! The legs were looking somewhat paler than for a long time, but the Clopodogrel lumps and blotches were still absent, so my full-rate of bad luck hasn’t all come back yet. 
I got the nosh prepped. I’ve still not fully returned to my usual vacuous, yet tortured unrelenting state of mind. It feels all odd not fretting and panicking about anything. The return of Whoopsiedangleplopalising seems to have helped, in a distorted sort of way. 
During this, I had a go at the crossword book. And dropped it when the neurotransmitters failed in the finger-ends. I used the picker-upper to retrieve the book. I creased the pages in doing so. When I got it in my hand, a page with some of my scribble on it was on top. I’d written something about my xyrophobia-suffering Brother-in-Law Pete; I think I wrote it when I was in the Acorn home, recovering from the stroke, so out of interest, I read it. It related to Pete visiting me there. And suddenly it dawned… I’d missed his birthday! Well, I can expect him to raid the flat again now! Hehe! He might even arm one of his drones and send it over! I must apologise to the lad. Sorry, Pete, me old mate, catch you later, I hope, Sir. I do feel a right schlemiel! I blame my doing that housework yesterday. (Red-face and shame growing!)
I got the ablutions sorted out. The legs looked mighty fine! Dropsies that I can remember; Shaving Razors (4) Shaving cream. Teeth; toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash bottle. Showering: Showerhead, soap (3), sponge, and back-brush. Then another toe-stubbing against seat raiser. The sock-glide battle; that I had been mastering of late. Left me with a piece of the nail removed on the thumb, and a bruise on the knuckles. Also, I clouted my elbow on the sink edge, getting my trousers on! Now that’s more like me! 
I tended to the handwashing next. A few bits needed doing, and I made a right mess of the kitchen in doing so. I was a smidge irked by having to clean the flipping floor again after doing it yesterday. A few quiet mutterings of a curseful nature were uttered. But overall, I remained in a decent enough mood with myself and the world. 
When I’d got the clothes done, rung and hung, then the beep-beep hook on the coathanger with the jammie-bottoms hanging on it suddenly detached itself! And again water found its way onto the floor I’d just cleaned again! More foul language was silently-voiced, with one word coming out aloud, beginning with F! 
the view from the unwanted, unliked, light & view-blocking new kitchen windows. It looked like some rain is on the way. Pretty in a way, though. No, that’s not the word to describe it! More like, erm… I don’t know now, the name just departed my brain and off into the ether? Humph!
Down and along the link-passage to the ILC’s (Independent Living Coordinators), Wardens to us, Holding Cell office. A quick nip in and handed the nibbles out. All done in thirty-seconds, and off into the Winwood Court Social Lounge. Only one person in there, a Nottingham City Homes agent. There was a lot of them arrived today. Including the Nottingham City Homes Generalfeldmarschalless Housing Patch Manager/Catwalk Model, Angela Gould. 
Cox’s apples, not cheap, but they looked okay, a bag of small potatoes, a wholemeal bread thins, and some mushrooms. 
Office in it, to get some Puff Pastry fingers. 
As I took this photo, a young Nottinghamian Pavement Cyclist came by, and gave the evil eye and said something, but I could not hear what it was he said. Then casually plodded on up the hill, with his hands in his pockets, not on the handlebars. 
got to Abdul’s and got a packet of the fingers and a pack of jam tarts, £1 each. I met Welsh William at the check out ahead of me. He held the door open for me as I followed him out. We had a chat on my way to the bus stop, and he diverted into the bookies. That’s William in the light blue jacket shooting off for a flutter on the gee-gees, I imagine. 
I carried on to the bus shelter, just as the rain came down heavier. Good timing! Some tenants of the flats, unknown to me by name and I had a chinwag for a while, as the bus came a little late today. But it wasn’t cold with it like it has been these last couple of days. The rain seems to have scattered the local populace.
Back at the flats, I was off the bus last as usual, to avoid banging into anyone or getting hit about. One of them waited to hold the door open for me, bless the gentleman! I did my best to catch up with them for a natter, but they were already at the end of the passage near the swipe door, by the time I entered the corridor. William was leading the charge. 
I got the few things purchased put away and began to formulate what to have for today’s nosh with the new potatoes. Which incidentally were ready to go now, in the crock-pot. So I moved them in with the garden peas in the saucepan. 
However, I still ate the potatoes, not the black bits, mind. 
I got the black bags made-up and taken to the waste chute at the other end of the floor’s lift lobby. Coming back out of the cubby-hole, Dizzy Dennis attacked! A bad one, I had to wait for ten minutes or so, before I dare walk back to the flat. I realised later that I was looking down the chute just before Dennis visited? I was feeling a lot better as I got through the flat door.
I got the ablutionalisationing done. A few dropsies, a couple of little tiny cuts shaving, but the worst, was a painful left foot big toe stubbing! The legs were a tad rougher again, no walking you see!
00:25hrs: The first thing that broke into my muddled-chaotic mind this morning was that ever-present humming, drowning wind-like noise that surrounds the entire block of flats, and how extremely noisier it was! Grr! 
for several minutes until things started moving of their own accord – then the pain level rose, but there was no controlling the action. Gritted my teeth, grimaced a bit, and finally a splash-causing ‘Kerplonk-Thunk’, and blessed relief! Phew! Then the cleansing and sanitising and medicating had to be done, off course. Bleeding from Little Ichies fungal lesion, and Harold’s Haemorrhoids! No matter how far I get behind with things today, nor how bad the weather will be, and having to struggle with two-hourly buses, I will have to get out today, and get some more Haemorrhoid cream! We’ll see? 
The damned annoying whining, droning noise from outside seemed to be getting even louder now! I went to make another brew. And the imitation Neuropathic Schuhplattler dance was most involuntarily performed, and the Polyneuropathy caused me to drop the walking stick and mug of just made tea! It went over the floor and the tall brush & dustpan, so cleaned up and returned after making another mug of brew, to the computer to make a start on this post. 
The ablutions went phenomenally well! One, I say One cut shaving, no damage doing the teggies, a few dropsies as is to be expected with the myasthenia gravis problem being so much worse this morning, no sock-glide injuries and just the one belting of the elbow on the door frame. (I’m getting a little too regular with doing this lately) Smug-Mode-Temprarilty-Adopted!
hope the food comes in time for me to get the L9 bus at 10:32hrs. If not, then so be it, I’ll stay in, or walk down to Sherwood just for the haemorrhoid cream. 
Mostly Christmas treats for others. And nibbles for me, including seedless red grapes, savoury bites, chocolate nuts and crisps. 
I made a brew of tea, took a picture on the view outside, and updated this post a bit. 
I dropped off at the bottom of Hockley and went to the Asian Food store. It’s always best to go there first, cause their aisles are filled with goods and very narrow, I had to keep collapsing the trolley to get through to have a nosey around. Coming out with some crispy seaweed snacks, and what I went there for in the first place, a bottle of the delicious fire-brand strong tasty Marca Pina cooking vinegar. Very nice when added to mushroom, don’t you know.
I paid up, and out onto Upper Parliament Street, where I took this photograph, to the left along the road. Showing the street musician, who attends this spot every weekend it seems, not that it was producing much interest from the passing Nottinghamian shoplifters, yet. 
As I turned into Long Row, the first signs of the Christmas Fayre appeared. The famous little helter-skelter, not exciting enough for kids nowadays, was not doing much in the way of trade again. 
AT the bottom of King and Queen Streets, the Ice Mountian Slide was busy.
I poddled up Queen Street and onto Parliament Street, and took this picture of the sensibly well-wrapped up Nottinghamian’s going miserably about there Saturday ventures. 
The meal turned out superbly. For me anyway, others might not have appreciated it as much as like-wot-I-did. For I had overcooked it a tad, but I caught it in time before anything got burnt, just extremely well done, which was perfect! A taste-rating of 9.2/10 was given! Yummy!