Give My Liver to the Haruspex & Who’s Stealing the Car?

Sunday 12th April.

I’m not sure what time I woke but I was conscious of being awake and not moving. Eventually I couldn’t stand it any longer and I looked at the clock as I swung my legs out of bed. 4.38 am, not too bad at all. It was cold and I could hear the wind whistling outside, Roger Whittaker it was not. Totally tuneless but powerful enough to be giving my hefty wheelie bin a bad time of it. I wondered how many streets away it would be later on.

I paid my visit to the kingdom of Loo and came back to log onto the computer. Not too many left from last night, about twenty I think, but quite a few new ones. Not too many for the blog though so far.That didn’t worry me too much as I knew you’d all need sleep after slaving over a hot keyboard just to keep me going. No attempts to have me pull tarot cards  from a virtual deck or have me extract my liver so it could be read by the nearest Haruspex. Maybe not too many Etruscans read my blog.                       At 6.30 am I took a walk to the kitchen, it still seemed dark this morning.I turned the tank light on and was greeted by….no-one. Maybe the weather was affecting them. I opened the flap and sprinkled a little food in and Bonzo was there before any had sunk to the bottom. Positive the others hadn’t organised a new escape committee I scoured the tank looking for them. I eventually found all but Harold and if he’d squeezed himself behind the pump again I’d never see him from this angle. It waas easier to let them come and feed in their own time so I left them to it.

I got myself some milk and headed for my meds only to find I’d forgotten last night’s again. That’s three times this week. I shall have to set an alarm to go off. I took the morning stuff but didn’t bother with breakfast today knowing I could have tea.I was later to wish I had. I returned to my bedroom with a coffee and set to work on the mail. At the same time I was following a bid on ebay an while there found two of my books advertised for sale as new. Fame at last I thought. I’d considered being a slob today and not getting dressed but it’s not a state of mind I needed so I sent an email to Yvonne to see if they fancied lunch out somewhere.The eventual answer was yes but they wouldn’t be with me until about 2.00 pm. That’s why I regretted not having breakfast earlier. Anyhoo, I went and had a shower and got dressed so I’d be ready (4 hours early) for when they came. I also needed to dig out my laminator for Yvonne who’s blown hers up.

I continued working until about 1.45 pm when I heard my phone  let me know I had a text. I expected Yvonne to say they were at the top of the hill which is usually when  start to get my coat on. I got my coat on and then looked only to find she was telling me they’d only just set off. My stomach thought my throat had been cut at that point. I sat back down to work a little more but kept my eye on the time   and allowed half an hour. At 2.15 pm I was raring to go. The text warning went again while I was in the kitchen and then the phone started ringing. I’d left my phone on charge in here. I came back through. Text 1 said they were at the top of the hill. Then the phone had rung and it was Yvonne but I thought she was just making sure I was warned. I thought it quicker to wait outside. I waited, then I waited some more and some more. Finally I heard a clunking sound approach and they came into view. As they got close Ugo said they needed to pull up at the front and effect some repairs as part of his bumper had dropped and was obstructing a tyre. He asked for a tool. I went back inside to check and passed it to him via Yvonne. It was then I found another text to say they’d broken down at the top of the hill. Oops, I hadn’t taken my phone out.He managed to do the job and we set off. I’d brought chocolates as Yvonne had said the Ivy. It was approaching 3.00 pm before we got there and they closed at 4.00 pm.It was fantastic to see Tariq again and I got a huge hug as soon as he saw me. I also had one from Angie. She started making my drink and I sorted what everyone wanted and told her. They’d obviously been quite busy despite the weather or perhaps because of the weather, and both my usual seats were taken. That will have to change when Mike gets back. Lunch came and we ate and enjoyed except Reuben who for some reason was in siren mode again until he got a whiff of my bacon. I think he didn’t like being restricted to a high chair instead of having the freedom to roam at will. It was almost like old times as Tariq and I argued about the bill at the end and had to compromise very much in my favour though I didn’t want to. It was better than having the free meal he was trying for. One final hug and we left. It was 4.15 pm. I’m surprised he hadn’t thrown us out.

They dropped me at my home and left to travel on to Chester on the wrong side of the border. Once my coat and shoes were off I got straight down to work. Suffice it to say I had some catching up to do. I took a break at 8.00 pm for some tea and my second set of diabetic tablets and had a half hour of some rom-com on TV starring J-Lo. At 10.30 pm I remembered to take my evening meds and came back to start the blog. I won’t be going back to emails afterwards. Early morning out for bloods and a chest clinic tomorrow. I do hope the rain has stopped by then.

I’ve played this one before but it’s so worth a second play, not least because of the weather here.

Monday.

I turned my light out at 12.50 am at an appropriate place in my book. I settled down but for the life of me the only way I could have dropped off was by rolling too near the side of the bed. Sleep would not come and the bloody leg was itching so it became even more bloody. At 1.45 am I gave up and went through to my chair in the lounge. I had a cigarette and watched some of the local wildlife, though perhaps I shouldn’t call people that, going home from a party. I nodded off at last. It was 4.38 am when I woke again and since it was too early to tease the fish I went straight to my bedroom and turned the darned machine on.  Actually, you couldn’t see where the darn had been done, it was good work. I signed in and started on the rest of last night’s messages. That took me until 6.35 am so I broke off and headed towards the kitchen. I know this next piece should be entitled ‘Confessions of a Pet Lover’ but I didn’t even  look for them this morning. It was light on, food out, food in and close. For all I know the Famous Five could have been the Previous Posse. Heartless I am.

I put some bread in the toaster and flipped the switch. I took all the meds I needed to, ate my heavilly buttered cold toast, took more meds and made a coffee to take back with me. It was 7.00 am. Since I intended to be out of the house by 8.00 am and I was determined to do it alone, I got dressed. A little more work, shoes on , jacket on and I left. I was at the bus stop in time and even had two minutes breathing space not that I was doing much actual breathing with a hoard of Genghis Khan’s finest waiting for the school bus. My bus pulled up behind. It was obvious the driver was a fan of the Boomtown Rats  judging by his face and I barely had time to reach a seat before he was pulling away. Had I fallen I think I’d have needed help to extract my stick from where I’d have put it. Anyway, we reached town without an accident and the time was just 8.20 am. Since the first appointment wasn’t until 9.00 am, I had time to walk round the supermarket. Only when I got there I couldn’t so I stood and read the specials board outside and promised myself maybe some other  day. I walked to the hospital and was there for 8.35 am but it didn’t do much good, it was still almost 9.00 am before I was called. Lying beggar caught me with “It’ll just be a little scratch” again.

From there I walked over to my surgery. It was a very slow walk as I tried to smoke a cigarette as I walked. Every time I raised my arm to get the cigarette to my mouth up came the crutch and it must have looked like I was a crazy guy making threatening gestures. I put it out and went in. The box on the wall wasn’t being very good and wouldn’t let me complete my info. It said there may be a problem with the appointment and to go to reception. I joined the queue. Someone else went to the machine and I watched as it worked perfectly so I left  the queue and tried again. Doh! It still said the same thing and now the queue was longer. Mind you, when I got to the front it was piling up behind me as I tried to stutter out what I wanted. I’d have been better with sign language. We got there in the end and I went to sit down. Wow, all those sick people. Eventually I was called. Sister S is gorgeous, not just in figure but in personality too and as I know her reasonable well the stutter was on minimum power.  We did the usual BP and it was fine, oxygen levels in blood fine, breathing tests, WHAT!! I couldn’t even get to point 2 on the scale which was what she expected from someone my age and dashing good looks, health. She went over the charts with me but I just suggested it was maybe because I still have phlegm from the last bout of bronchitis (ongoing). She’s organised a chest x-ray for tomorrow.

In an attempt at distraction I asked about my leg and whether the swelling might be retained fluid. She agreed it was but wasn’t too chuffed about the state of the skin round my ankle and the ongoing heat.She wants me to see a doctor. “OK” I agreed “maybe next week when I come for the diabetic clinic?”  The smile said it all, “No, now”. She disappeared for a few  minutes so I got my cardigan and coat back on ready. If I waited the doctor would see me as soon as she was free. I took a seat outside her room away from the crowd. It was about 15 minutes before I was called and it turned out to be my own doctor who for some reason looked about as pleased as Sister S once she saw the leg. To be honest she didn’t even  have to say ” And you wanted to wait another week with THIS”, before I cringed. I came away with a pack of antibiotics and a pack of steroids to hold as an emergency for my chest and a pack of Super dooper strong antibiotics for my leg plus a cream plus a steroid ointment described as potent that I must use twice a day but for no longer than a week. I reckon after that my leg must get incredibly hairy or something. I must have said Thank you about twenty times as I backed out of the room with my balls intact.

I walked to the bus stop and saw a dinky little bus with Greenfield on the side. I asked if he allowed the use of passes and he did. He asked where I wanted and I said the shops and was told he stopped by them. Great., He didn’t say it went all round the houses first dropping off people who live on top of the surrounding hills and the bottom of the deepest valleys. Eventually we reached the shops by home. I was grateful they were still open. I took my prescription request to the chemist and handed over the sheaf of new prescriptions from this morning. I waited. The Post Mistress ( I still laugh at that) waved to me and mouthed she hoped I was OK. I waved back. My stuff came except the new cream which they said would be tonight or tomorrow. It didn’t come tonight. When I got home it was almost lunchtime.That meant another 4 hour backlog but it would have to wait until after lunch and another episode of Murder She Wrote.

I returned to my machine at 1.00 pm and sat crying, working without a break until 6.00 pm. I made a sandwich and watched a quiz on TV before going back. I took the steroid ointment with me as I reckon the two 7 o’clocks are the ideal time to use it. I started chipping away at the work again. At 7.00 pm I broke off to apply the ointment. It was miraculous, within moments the itching seemed to have stopped. Either that or I just couldn’t feel it between the stinging on this stuff on all the patches of broken skin. The air around me turned a definite shade of blue. Eventually it eased enough for me to stop skipping on the spot and I restarted work until 9.30 pm. I saw the last half of a very emotional DIY SOS then took my evening tablets and came back. At 10.30 I wasn’t too far from being caught up but I still broke off to do the blog. I may go back to the post later.

Reuben leads Pops to Sunday lunch.

I think Reuben is reluctant to let the chocolates in my other hand out of his sight. Made using the crutches very difficult.

I was told today I don’t play enough Dusty.So, here’s another gem from her. I hope you enjoy it.

Tuesday.

Another bad night. Light off by 1.00 am and tried to settle down. Unfortunately the effects of the ointment had worn off and the pain, the incessant itching and the twitching began. There was nowhere to put the leg that seemed comfortable, it generated heat both inside and outside the quilt. I gave up at 1.45 am, lit a cigarette and went through to the lounge. It didn’t seem much better but with my foot on the ground there was some improvement so that eventually I fell asleep. I woke at 6.20 am back in bed where I’d gone when I woke at 3.12 am with a great need to lie on my side and take the pressure off. It was so close to fish time that I just turned the computer on and walked to the kitchen. Bonzo, Pepper and Little Al were all in a corner looking like it was a meeting of the Red Fin Gang. I could see Big Al hanging back and keeping a weather eye on the food hatch. Just then Harold swam into view, The Gang’s all Here, Yay. I fed them and watched as their attention was suddenly focused food wise. I left them to it.

I decided against breakfast this morning. I didn’t want the x-ray to pick up a stray corner of undigested toast and wonder what it was. That made taking the meds a lot easier so I concentrated on that then took a coffee back to my room. First job was to check the bank to see if any money has gone in. I’m interested as I had a notice of a pending payment from Amazon. Not much but still nice to know people are looking at my books or in this case probably just the one, The Queen’s Envoy which I featured not too long ago. It wasn’t in yet so I was able to go straight to my emails. Amazing, only 4 left from last night. Such a pit that of the 4 one was to tell me my tax information wasn’t up to date, please use this link to update it, yeah right! And another was from someone making a fortune from working from the internet and was now ready to help me do the same. Very noble of them but I declined nonetheless. The other two were dispatched very quickly and I was able to start today’s work.                                                      At 8.00 am I stopped and got dressed and went out to catch the 8.45 am bus to town. No kids at the bus stop was great but though I was there first, four women and two men joined the queue and all just walked on the bus before me when it appeared. I could have sworn I’d left the cloak of invisibility at home today. However, my seat was free so no having to climb a step to find one. We were in town by 8.50 am and  a walk meant I was back at the hospital by 9.05 am. I handed my form in to the x-ray reception not really wanting to interrupt the conversation the two staff behind the desk were having. I was told to take a seat, I did. It must have been 15 minutes later when one of the two came round and told me to come through. it turned out she was the radiologist. Before I even go to the room she stopped me, thrust a garment at me and suggested I undress my top half and put this backless thing on. I did so but as I went through I had to ask her to remove my chain because my hands shake too much. She did so. The x-ray was taken and checked. It was OK and the results would be sent to the doctor in 5 days. I could walk it over the road in 5 minutes but hey………

Before getting dressed again I asked for some help to get my chain back on. The radiologist couldn’t do it and the receptionist with her talons couldn’t manage it either. They supplied an envelope for the chain and I took it away and got dressed again. I haven’t taken the chain off in about 5 years and felt naked without it but it did set me off thinking about Ju who bought it for me. There’s a little Welsh dragon on the chain made from Clogau gold which is the Welsh gold the Royal Wedding rings are always made out of. I was out of there by 9.35 am and on my way back to the bus stop. For some reason I avoided going into the Supermarket again and luckily there was a bus in. After a walk from the bus stop I was home again for 10.00 am. Everything had gone right and I was able to restart work on the emails including those sent while I was out. Between then and lunch time I did quite a few responses excluding  another one from the phony tax service asking me to update my details and a very disappointing one from Ghana where a young 32(?) lady had befriended me on Google + and seems to think we should spend our lives together and I should start by sending money to invest in property for our future- as she’s a very poor girl. Oops, quick block as spam and taken off Google +. I’m not vain enough to think a young girl could fall for my charms, or for that matter an old girl- I don’t have any charms, but is there anything wrong with friendship pure and simple? Must everything be about money? She’s not really looking for a husband, she wants a sugar daddy. My missing cream from yesterday was delivered just before lunch by my friend who seemed happy with the chocolates I had ready to say thanks.

I enjoyed my lunch today and was ready for it. I didn’t manage to enjoy all of   Murder She Wrote or the next programme which I woke up halfway through. I wonder if I was bitten by a Tsetse  fly again. I’m sure they were  swarming round the hospital. I managed to stay awake while I worked afterwards so no damage to my desk from my forehead. There was almost damage to the screen though when yet another con letter arrived from Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise Office to remind me they still need my updated information. I only wish the real  tax office were this prompt. I’m hoping to hear before mid June this year that I’ve got a tax rebate again. I knocked off at 4.30 pm to watch an antique sow as I’m having withdrawal symptoms. I didn’t return for 2 hours  having found a quiz to watch a well as a Big Bang Theory.  OK so maybe I lied, 2 and a half ours when I saw there was an antique related investigation programme on. It was during that I got emotional after events sent someone investigating a medal for bravery awarded by a Trades Union run Newspaper in the 20’s to the area where my father was born in the Rhymney Valley.They paid  a visit to a coal mine or  ‘pit’ where the act of bravery took place and which may have been where my grandfather worked and then had a Welsh choir singing Myfanwy. It was worth getting shouted at by you for taking too long.

I finally came back to work and started the big catch up again. At least there was noting terrible to deal with unless you count my having to hang my head low after reading an excellent post by Roughseasinthemed on https://cloudsmovingin.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/sexism-tips-feminism/ that proves I’m basically sexist having retained some of the things I was taught as a child, opening doors for ladies, calling ladies, ladies and addressing any woman by the epithet ‘Baby’ though I dispute the use of that one really. It is funny though that what was acceptable years ago by women no longer is. I’m happy to have worked for some women bosses but like the men, not all of them. I’m happy to see a woman doing the same job as me receive the same pay and have the same prospects for advancement. Heck, I’ll accept women can be the better man. One thing that might have some bile thrown at me though is maternity leave. We all want our children to be cared for at home after birth, but 26 weeks on full pay can put an awful strain on an employer if he/she has to hire someone to fill that place, or a major strain on other employees if he/she doesn’t.  I personally would prefer to see the woman leave work and open a position up for someone unemployed. And I know that’s not always a financial possibility but maybe having a baby could be delayed until it’s less of a financial strain. I know women who’ve returned to work only to use most of their wages on child care places.I don’t believe it’s the same as being at home and interacting with your child. My daughter knows this is not aimed at her as I have always believed this  and I don’t expect everyone to agree with me.                                        I was a bit late remembering the antibiotic (2 hours) an I missed the 11.00 am one. I did however remember to use the ointment on my leg and follow it up 10 mins later with some of the cream.

By 10.00 pm the backlog was caught up and I was just doing post as it came in. It was fairly easy then to stop the mail at 10.30 pm to concentrate on writing the blog. I may not need to go back to the mail afterwards but can just leave it till the morning and hope I don’t regret it. It’s 11.35 pm so I wish you goodnight.

Give us a twirl.

New Superhero Pigeon Boy !!

 Please avoid this if you’re very sensetive or don’t have a box of tissues handy. This includes Aberfan.

Short and not upsetting version 

Wednesday.

Light out last night at 12.30 am and  no itching or twitching leg. No, not an amputation, the leg is still here but this steroid ointment in combination with the cream seems to be doing a great job. I’m impressed. Perhaps I’m underestimating the effect of these antibiotics too, I don’t know. Anyhoo, it was 3.36 am when I got up so not too bad. My bladder was holding a conversation I didn’t want to hear which went along the lines of,” I need to go”, “I know I’m walking there now”, “Don’t walk, RUN”. When I came   back I booted up the PC and got ready to go. A quick and very disappointing look at the Euro lottery told me I was out of luck again. A look at  ebay told me I had nothing up today and finally I could avoid it no longer, my mail. Ah, not as bad as I feared, not as good as I wanted. I finished last night’s remnants by 5.15 am and started today’s stuff until 6.00 am when it was fish time. They were all present and correct when I turner their light on and Bonzo was obviously hungry the way he was hovering ready for hoovering under the hatch. When I dropped some food in his little tail almost whipped him to death. Everyone else moved in very cautiously. I laughed and left them to it, no trouble from Big Al today, magic.

I slipped some bread in the toaster and took a pre- food tablet. Sprays next then the rest of my meds leaving enough milk in the mug for my coffee.A quick cigarette to help time the gap between tablet and food and I was away.As soon as I’d eaten I took the post-food tablets with my coffee and returned to my room with the rest. I worked till 9.30 am when it was time to visit Pauline to restock my cigs, bread, TV mag and today I treated myself to a large Calippo (kind of an ice lolly in a tube that you eat by squeezing the bottom end so the top comes up) I couldn’t wait to get home to eat it but she insisted I paid first. It was fairly nice out this morning. Not a lot of sunshine but certainly not cool. When I got home I put my shopping away and opened the lolly. It was delish, so welcome from this feeling of constant dryness. Then I could no longer avoid the work and started again. Quite a lot more had come in. Fortunately not all of it was bad news. I’m afraid I had to  break my engagement to the  Ghanaian woman despite our great affection for each other, but she wasted no time in asking me to invest in property for our future together in Ghana. But, swings and roundabouts, I may have had a better offer.

Hello
I am happy to see you on line my name is Rita ,i am a single honest woman , i need a good honest man to spend rest of my life with, if you are interested this is my email address, (
ritapaull@yahoo.com   ), i will send you some of my photo when you reply,am not here for game either to waste any time my dream this year is to settle down with my soul mate that is why i send you this mail to found a honest man to start a good life together, mind you age, color,distance,religion is not barrier to relationship what most important is love that we will build together /////     ritapaull@yahoo.com
thanks and God blesss us
Ms Rita

It remains to be seen where I shall be moving to this time. I spent some time daydreaming about that but realised I haven’t responded to her before some other lucky man does, and find out where she is. Still, I can hear wedding bells in my future, or are those alarm bells? At 11.30 am I broke off to do my lunch, or at least to get things ready and to take my pre-food tablet. I sat own to eat at the start of Jessica Fletcher’s latest ( well, 20 years old at least) adventure. I didn’t reach the end. I took my tray through at one of the ad breaks, sat down and was gone, just like that. I didn’t wake up until almost 2.00 pm. I washed the pots and came back through again. The post was mounting higher by the minute. I got a grip on myself to stop me running out the door and started. It was very slow going even though I worked right up till 5.00  pm. I knew in advance Lee wouldn’t be joining us but I needed to get the TV on for the quiz and get the cups ready.

Dil and Matt arrived around 5.10 pm and I was prepared. I’d started making the drinks before they set foot over the threshold and we sat down together to see who could answer most questions, though using the word see and Dil in the same sentence is a bit inaccurate.A 32″ TV about 8 feet away and he can’t read the questions. At least if gives Matt and I the advantage. I keep wondering how he sees to drive here. Once the quiz was over I turned the TV off and Dil st the table up and brought out the Yahtzee and the cards. I’d like to skim over the Yahtzee, but when you do some smart Alec always asks so suffice it to say Dil won. I’m sure he cheats but I can’t work out how yet. When I do, I’ll copy him. After that we went back to cards as we always used to and I  drew up for Nomination Whist. For the 1o-1 section I was untouchable, a golden boy hardly missing a trick. My score was around the hundred mark. For the 1-10 section I won less as they concentrated on trying to force me into tricks I didn’t want. It was a skin of the teeth job but I hung on to my lead. As there as still a bit of time left we played Chase the Lady with all the venom of which we are able, except me of course who just played my own game. It didn’t work, I still got caught and ended up in the middle score wise while Matt won and poor Dil lost. Matt’s venom is considerable for a young man.

They left just after 9.30 pm laughing at the fact I had to tidy up. Well at least I didn’t have to drive with Mr Magoo. Once that was done and the pots had been washed I took  my tabs and came through. It has been four and a half hours so I shouldn’t be surprised to find over 100 more emails waiting. I hadn’t managed half before I had to break off at 10.30 pm to do the blog. I may get another 15 mind or so at the end before bed. But MuJo are due tomorrow so I’ll never catch up.

Posing.

Smelling more of the park

Percy Sledge R.I.P died 14.04.2015 aged 73.  Another legend lost.

Thursday.

I did n’t read for long so the light went off at  12.30 am and I went off soon after. I woke at 1.55 am quite sure that getting up wasn’t on the cards  but unable to find a reason for having woken. My bladder was content and it wasn’t because I’d wet the bed. A quick smoke and a sort drink and I went back to bed and buried myself. Time to get up was 3.36 am by which time my bladder was grumbling, I moved just to prevent it reaching scream mode again. Coming  back I booted up and logged on. There was a heck of a lot from last night but for some reason I wasn’t too worried. I managed a few before coming across one I flt needed a better comment than usual. After a little thought about my wording I’d started and was now almost at the end of what I wanted to say. Suddenly my screen started to shut down. Why, what had I done. Aaargghh. It reached the stage where it told me this was a Microsoft update but I’d not been warned or anything. I was peeved. Eventually it  brought me back to my sign in and once in it took me automatically to where I had been. Phew, it had saved the work. I quickly finished and saved it before something else happened.

I worked until 6.00 am and walked through to get breakfast. The tank light went on and a usual I could see 4 of them but I hoped No 5 would be within earshot when I told them they were going on holiday. Forever. I hate to admit it but I could do with the space and not have to clamber about to clean the tank, change filters etc. I know the tank could be moved but after having lost so many special fish recently I know I can’t go through building up again and perhaps losing more. The UK has a service called Freecycle which I’m sure other countries may have where people can advertise for things they need or get rid of things they have no longer needed. I saw an advert for someone who wanted a 40 gallon tank with as many extras as possible. I told him about the Famous Five’s Worldwide renown and said he cold have my tank if he took the fish. He was over the moon and is coming for it on Sunday morning. On the next blogpost you’ll know how that went and how I really feel about it. Anyway, back to today. When I got back from breakfast with my coffee I  restarted work and at 8.52 am I caught up. The timing was perfect as I was able to dress and go out to the Chemist and to Pauline’s. At the Chemist I was asking about my repeat prescription that I’d asked for on Monday. The girl looked puzzled and said it should have been delivered yesterday. After a good look round they found it, waiting for a missing item due today. I’ve asked them not to do that, but to send me what they have and follow on with anything that’s missing. It prevents problems like this where I have to walk to the shop. They don’t listen sometimes. From there I went to Pauline’s and got my lottery tickets before heading home again. I took my gloves off and heard a clunk but didn’t associate it with anything and saw nothing. It was only later I found I was missing a ring. I could not find it.

I worked until 10.30 am and then packed up before MuJo arrived which they did not long after. The day was so nice I knew it would be cold drinks so I had them ready on the table as they walked in and I was actually having a cigarette in the kitchen with the extractor fan on since neither of them smoke. After hellos we sat gassing about who’d seen or heard what this week , a competition I was bound to lose as I don’t watch the news these days nor read a newspaper. The fish don’t feed me titbits of gossip anymore either. John wanted to have a battery put in another watch and perhaps ind a leather strap so it was town again today.We left about 11.15 pm so I could pop into the bank, Muriel into the Post Office and John into his beloved charity shops. He bought a display plate today though I didn’t see it. In the chippy, as that was part of his cunning plan, I had a mince and mushrooms deal with peas and chips which I wasn’t quite able to finish. (Who was that asked if I was ill? How rude.)(and before anyone asks, YES , I remembered my tablets this week thank you). After lunch we drove to Flint and the Aldi supermarket for Muriel where I managed to pick p a couple of things including chocolates for Temptations if we go there ha,ha,ha. Guess where we went next. It was quite busy and I got little chance to speak to the girls though I did manage to say hello to Ceri and answer her question about when Mike was back. She thinks his time away has passed quickly. Said probably not for me though.

I had a cigarette outside while MuJo finished their drinks then we headed for Homies where I got a plug-in air freshener. Then down to a shop called Peacocks so Mu could have a look at some clothes and I got a big angina attack. Lucky for me all it did was slow me up a lot and they didn’t notice. One last shop very slowly then we headed back to the car picking up ice lollies to eat on the way. Though it was a bit breezy ( sorry, it’s the mushy peas) it was still warm in the sun. We had the lollies in the car  before coming home. John and I went indoors while Muriel went for her lottery tickets. While John had another drink of pop I had another quick scour of the floor in my bedroom and in the hall  for the missing ring. No dice. Mu came back and I gave her some chocolates and a frozen strawberry and rhubarb tart I’d bought. John decided to have a slice of tart there and then to take with his afternoon tablets. It wasn’t even defrosted. It didn’t flippin’ stop him though. They left a few minutes before five and I flew to the bedroom to start work again. There was tons of it but things seemed to be going OK if a little slow when I was hit by waves of tiredness. They were humongous and I’n sure at one point a couple of surfboards clipped my ear. I had to go through to the lounge. I fell asleep in my chair until 6.06  pm. ( I didn’t use the bed as there were things on it and it would have taken time to move them). I came back and started again, there were bigger tons now.

Disaster struck. I think this was a steel clad HMS Disaster surging up though those waves from earlier. I was dazed, or to be more accurate I was unconscious until just gone 7.00 pm. When I woke, came to there was a lot less in my main mailbox than there had been, including some I’d answered but saved for future reference. I’d say roughly 95%  less working on the premise I had about 100 before the ship hit me and about 5 now. I daren’t look in my sent box. Before this cataclysmic event I know I’d had four things open. My 2 mail addresses, my Barsetshire Diaries site (this blog)  and ebay. There was a huge sigh of relief when I found this sit hadn’t had anything added. Another sigh when I saw I hadn’t bought (and paid) for anything on ebay. With trepidation I opened my other mailbox and………………………………… DAMN they were all still there. So, I’ve spent the evening trying to clear the mail by legitimate methods, if anyone like my Darling Friend in Australia finds a rather odd message from me, please be understanding and don’t com back with WHA??????? in the subject box. I stopped just after 10.30 pm so I could do the blog but I must go back to do a tidy up of any strays before heading to my pit.

I got one foot bigger than the other

Marathon Man.

Friday.

It was a 1.00 am lights out and a 1.56 am lights on. I’m all set to blame a wonky bladder for that one as I managed to go back to sleep after a loo visit and a cigarette.        3.41 am saw me up and about without the need to visit the loo straight away  so I was able to log on and assess the damage. So far no complaints so I felt brave enough to       a) Visit my sent list to check and see what I’d done. And                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             b) Visit my trash to see if I’d disposed of anything important. In both cases the answer was looking pretty positive so I started on the rest of last night stuff. That kept me going till just before 5.00 am when I decided the time was close enough for me to take my antibiotic. That done I had to pay a visit to the loo because the sips I’d taken constituted a drink to my bladder’s mind. I came back and started today’s mail a little later than expected. I’d forgotten it was Friday so there was a huge pause at 6.00 am as I went through to then kitchen. As I turned the tank light on, those new bosom buddies Pepper and Bonzo  came over together to be fed. That means Pepper has in turn been very matey with Big Al, Little Al and now Bonzo who are all the same species if not all the same size. I’m beginning to wonder if there isn’t a lot of bonking going on and I’m not sure which one is the bonkee. Big Al and Little Al drifted over as the food went in and good old Harold waited to make a big entrance all on his own. Harold is really good natured but every time I see him and his funny moustache I’m reminded of  the villain in a silent movie who always rolls the ‘tash’ while giving an evil chuckle. There’s no doubt I am going to miss them.

After feeding the gang I thought feeding me was a good idea so I took my pre-food tablet and put some bread in the toaster. I had the sprays and the rest of my meds next before putting my mug in the machine ready to make a drink. The toast popped up and was left to cool. I lit a cigarette and started refilling my tablet tray for the next week.In some instances I had to get a new stock for the drawer from the prescription I picked up yesterday. The cigarette was done before I’d finished and my stomach was starting to growl from the effect of the pre-foodie I think. I picked up my pace a bit which wasn’t a good idea as I kept dropping tablets in the wrong compartments. I slowed down again and eventually finished. I returned the drawer, threw the empty packs away (except the recyclable cardboard of course) grabbed the butter from the fridge made sure I covered my hands with it as I usually manage, just to save time and started buttering my toast. I set the  machine going on my coffee at the same time just to show I can multi -task. I finished the toast, took my after food tabs and washed the pots. The coffee came back with me to my bedroom.

I started work again and just kept going till I finished at 9.08 am, refreshed and worked on until 9.38 am . Then as brave as I am , I dithered about opening my second mail box before doing so and starting again there. That was enough to keep me going until 10.47 am. Time for a little play on ebay then.That was a disappointing session with no inspiration at all. The postman called and I was really disappointed not to get a knock and be handed a parcel I was expecting today. The chemist called with the missing drug and I was a little cross because there was an ample supply in the bag, it was just enough tablets to complete the order I was missing. They could have been here on Wednesday.Still, not the fault of the person who delivered so I was gracious to a fault, and didn’t mention it. It was 11.20 am before I remembered my antibiotic which means I couldn’t eat until 12.20 then so I worked until 11.50 am then went through to butter some bread. I’d settled on a lamb hotpot today which I actually sat down with at 12.15 pm so I could see the start of bargain hunt.

After I’d washed the pot ( 1 bread plate, 1 butter knife and 1 spoon)   I decided I  needed an hour in my chair before going back into battle. Not too bad a guess but it was  minutes over the hour before I returned to work. The first damn thing I went for sent my computer into panic mode with a phishing alert asking me if I wanted to return to safety. I ask you, who is going to say “No Thanks” and carry on. Of course I want to return to safety you idiot, get me back there NOW!! I worked the rest of the afternoon without a break but at 5.00 pm it was down pens whether finished or not. I’d promised myself a break then an another at 8.30 pm for the Big Bang Theory if I could remember tonight. I had a text off Mike to let me know he’s back and had just walked into his flat. If he can be in Manchester for is father before midday tomorrow he may come here tomorrow night, if he can’t make his Dad’s, it may be next weekend before I see him. I don’t want to tell him I was hoping he’d be here on Sunday morning to be me. I might have to be myself after all. At 5.00 pm I downed tools and went through ready to enjoy the quiz. I’m afraid I stayed there until 7.00 pm as there was an investigative programme about a ring from the execution of Charles I. To be fair I did work hard when I got back i n case you said I couldn’t skive off again at 8.30 pm. As it happens I actually caught up on one address at 7.20 pm and thought it a good time to break off and have a sandwich. I turned TV on in readiness and was devastated to see the end of a Big Bang episode I  haven’t seen before. I’ll have to watch out for it now. I was in time to sit down to watch the new one though which had the usual moments of high comedy but also moments of real pathos. I was genuinely touched when Mrs Walowitz died. Even though I’ve never seen the actress who plays her appear on screen in the part, the character, or rather her voice, has been an integral part of the show. My shoulders were slumped as I returned to work for the final time.

I took my evening meds at 9.30 am so there’s just the antibiotic to go at 11.00 pm. I’ve managed to remember everything today. Not necessarily dead on time but not too bad. I stopped work at 10.30 pm tom do the blog and things seemed to be going great until I found a point at which the caps lock had come on one letter too late so the first letter was lower case and the rest of the paragraph in upper case. I invented some new swear words. I remembered to take that last capsule at 11.00 pm o now I just need to apply some cream to my leg as I go to bed. I may have just 15 minutes on either mail or maybe even ebay when I finish here. I t should be about 11.35 pm tonight.

Swinging with glee.

Spring Sunshine

Saturday.

I’m sure by now most of you could write the next bit on your own. Shall we go for bare bone? Light off ,slept, woke,wee’d,  smoked, slept again, woke at 3.52 am and wee’d yet again. There, that feels better doesn’t it ? So much more succinct. Sometimes it would be good if the whole day went like that.How much less boring if I wrote……….. Woke, ate, nodded off , woke, ate, slept. And you have my whole day done and dusted, ready to move on to, your next blog to read something interesting, social obligations fulfilled. Maybe in view of my unending  burbling some of you actually read the blog like that. Good for you, life is too short to have me waste it for you.

I returned from the loo visitation to boot up and log on. Last night’s message from Yvonne telling me Ugo and the little man would be here to take me shopping after they’d dropped her at work said that there was no argument.on the subject. I would remember to get dressed. Ugo may remember the trauma of having to take me shopping for years, it can’t be easy for him. I wonder if he plots his revenge as he walks round. At 5.00 am I took my first antibiotic of the day then as usual I worked till around 6.00 am having decided to have breakfast but the first stop was the fish tank. Pepper was waiting for me as I turned the light on. He must like being first at the breakfast table. Harold made his way over, his shyness seemingly at an end these days while the other three were having a little union meeting in a corner. The shop steward called a break to that the minute the food went in. They rushed over to make sure it was fair shares for all. Their behaviour can really make me smile.

I placed some bread in the toaster and took my pre-food tab before getting milk out to swallow the rest. I had a wander round the lounge to make sure I had everything I needed for the paper recycling then I took the waste food bag out and all then recycling bags too. I was wearing lounge pants covered in Animal from the Muppets, not really much chance of me ‘pulling a bird’ dressed like that.( Or any other way really, maybe I should have kept up the engagement this week?). Mind you, what chance was there at 6.30 am anyway? Disconsolate and blue I went back inside and ate my way into a further two inches on my waist, washed up, grabbed a drink and went back to work. I knew I had until about 9.30 am before Ugo arrived but I needed to get dressed so I set myself an 8.30 deadline. I creamed my leg ( I know I should rephrase that ) so that it would have soaked in before my clothes hit it and sat with my right lounge pant leg rolled up like a Mason ( assuming Masons wear lounge pants). I was actually making better progress than I’d hoped so the 8.30 am stop didn’t leave me panicking. I washed and dressed, got my shoes on and bags at the ready before picking up where I left off. At 9.20 am he caught me unawares with two honks on the car horn and I had to dash a bit.

I said good morning to them both but Reuben was enthralled with The Gruffalo on dvd, I don’t know why I don’t sit in the back and watch with him. I told Ugo I’d be happy just to go local and save him time but he wouldn’t hear of it and drove out to the supermarket he’d taken me to last week. I think it’s the thought of having afternoon tea for his breakfast makes him feel like a rebel. Yet again no money in the cash machine but I could cope. The shopping itself didn’t take too long as I didn’t want much but this week I bought two plants as well as some flowers for Ju. While Ugo had his afternoon tea someone slipped me a toasted bacon sandwich which I was enjoying until Reuben saw it. He tried pushing me off my chair first thinking I’f leave it behind but no way was that going to work. In the end he applied the extended bottom lip with a touch of quiver. I was aghast, using my own speciality against me . Under the gaze of all the blue rinsed grannies I didn’t dare refuse. I tore off a few little bits and swear I saw him smirk. When we left, I went to get a couple of plant pots from a nearby shop. I came back and started to get into the car much to the dismay of the woman about to drive it away. Ugo had moved his car closer tom where I was but hadn’t warned me he would. I had to apologise profusely (I’m not sure she believed me) and walk back the way I’d just come. We had another stop on the way at a cash machine for me.

Back at home Ugo was in a rush and dropped my bags inside the door for me.I said my goodbye’s but had to compete with the dvd again though I did get a little wave. I spent some time unpacking and storing everything before returning to my room. First job was to take the antibiotic I was due at 11.00 am, it was now 12.50 pm. Couldn’t be helped. At 2.00 pm I stopped for some lunch but things were going quite well and I was still calm. I had my lunch, a quick steak slice, and then after washing the plate decided to have a little nap. I hadn’t got as far as the first wink of 40 when Mike walked in. I wasn’t expecting him so early. Once I’d seen identification and was sure it was him, the urine sample wasn’t clear, we sat and talked about his holiday. He said he’d come early this afternoon 3.00 pm in case I needed any shopping. At first I refused but eventually after he’d asked a few times I agree I could use a couple of things I hadn’t been able to get this morning. Namely biscuits for Matt , tea pods for my machine and some ice lollies for me. It was just like old times again. We didn’t stay out too long though as Mike’s team were playing today and he wanted to see the match.

At home he settled in front of his tablet and I settled in front of the computer. It was almost time for the next antibiotic. I worked until 8.00 pm when I decided to go for a shower and the next treatment of my leg. The football being over my personal hairwasher came and helped. I went back through to the lounge afterwards to make something to eat but also to watch the episode of Big Bang theory that I realised I hadn’t seen before when I caught the end last night. It was absolutely hilarious, real laugh making. There was no avoiding coming back after that so I took my tablets and came through. It was only then I remembered to do my leg.  I saw to that ,then allowed myself until 10.30 pm to do the mail before coming on to do the blog. I want to get it out around midnight and don’t want to be late to bed if I can help it. The man is coming to collect the tank and the Famous Five tomorrow and I have to get back into the habit of getting Mike up.