The Jump Start Monday.

Monday.

Up just before three , no problems. A bladder satisfying wee, hands washed and on to take my tablets and sprays. I set the washing in play then put my toast on ready to see if the new chef has improved things. He hasn’t. There’s a distinct lack of imagination where my chefs are concerned, then I realise maybe they can’t get fired up because of me and my lack of Oomph. Therefore I shall speak to my hands tonight and inspire them.After breakfast it’s on to work on the mail with a break at six to take my washing out of the machine where the drier has had a go at them and put them on an airer by the radiator. Dressed at eight as I’m not sure what time the nurses will be here. By nine I’m done for a while but I can’t leave the house to get my prescription request in to the chemist. I have a minor kip for half an hour then return to work. At eleven I sit back in the lounge for the moment work free I’ll hang fire with lunch but I’ll still watch my Bargain Hunt. Naturally I fall asleep again somewhere around quarter to twelve. I hear a sound vaguely in the back of my mind but it has no meaning, it repeats but I still don’t attach any importance to it. Then all of a sudden a hand on my shoulder where no hand has a right to be and I leave my chair, jump started to at least 9 inches above the seat. It’s my nurses and one is saying how they tried to ring the bell twice. Shaken by not stirred I released my grip on the ceiling and we went to work. There’s still the need for antibiotics but she’ll phone the doctor. Otherwise they’re showing signs of getting a little drier. Just as well since the reservoir is overflowing. I need to have a good wash down in hot water, that’ll be a shock to the system, to try to loosen all bits of skin which belong to a previous Dynasty until there remains just that of this Dynasty of the Strange Winds.                                                    I know it hasn’t helped Lord Daud having settled on beans on toast for lunch again.           I worked most of the afternoon to bring the numbers down, I was hoping some antibiotics would have been delivered but it was not to be. Yvonne and Amelie are coming tomorrow so no doubt they’ll walk up  with my repeat prescription and may find some antibiotics waiting. I watched some of my evening TV shows starting with Antiques Road Trip but almost turned over when I saw one of the experts was Charles Hanson perhaps the only one I really can’t warm to. I was egging his opponent on but she didn’t win the day.                                                                                                                                               At 9.00 pm I came through to work and caught up with my mail for the day and my post.

Tuesday.

A terrible night’s sleep. I saw one o’clock come and go before I dropped off. Still woke at 3.24 am ready to do battle though. Those Weetabix put up a heck of a fight. I fumigated the house top to bottom ( it’s a bungalow) to take away any cigarette smoke. I had aired the lounge overnight too. I wanted no problems for Amelie’s chest when they got here. I kept abreast of the work at the same time. Yvonne arrived just after eleven and she’d managed to buy me a bowl on the way. She went off too the local shops in search of things I needed. It was almost noon when she got back and she’d been to the chippie for dinner for us.. The nurse arrived about 12.45 pm and set about christening the new bowl by washing my feet. She hadn’t seen them before but didn’t seem to mind them. She was sure I needed further antibiotics and Yvonne brought the news that the doctor would be nipping in to see us later about that very topic. The nurse finished up and left about 1.15 pm and the doctor arrived about 1.30 pm. I wasn’t very happy that she wanted to see my feet but couldn’t re-dress them afterwards. Yvonne showed her a photo of the feet as well. She thought they were worse than when she’d seen them last. In fact they looked gangrenous and she wanted me in hospital straight away. It’s fairly easy to ignore a doctor but much less so a daughter with an honours degree in parental control via The Chinese Water Torture with words. But. my own degree in Deafness by Degrees near family is quite handy and I won the day. The chemist didn’t have the appropriate antibiotics as he says he’s rarely asked for the new one. I know not what it is though, just that I’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning for it. The doctor departed just before two and Yvonne and Amelie just after  which meant I could have a cigarette…… or 3.                I worked till 4.30 pm then watched my antiques show. I had a banana during a quiz then sat through two hours of virtually nothing (dozing) until I finally came through to get up to date. Here’s hoping for a better night tonight.

Wednesday.

Well, I was later clearing my mail than I thought so I didn’t scramble into bed until 12.30 am. I saw one o’clock come and go again and it looked much as it had done the night before. I’ll be honest (for a change) and say the pain in my feet was terrible and restless leg syndrome took me on a route march for quite some time. I last looked at the clock at 1.50 am. I woke at 2.53 am and just hated to upset my feet by moving them. They must appreciate the fact I don’t move in bed. Can’t say I’m happy to admit that.                             I went through to the kitchen and took my sprays then my tablets, made toast and had that then took the diabetic tabs all with my feet on the floor so the pain had chance to return. I took coffee back to my room and swung both my legs onto the bed so they were elevated whilst trying to answer my mail side on to the computer. Heaven help my neck. The nurses came to wash and dress my feet at 10.30 am, it was funny as they didn’t have enough stockinette and so had to leave my toes on display. I’ll have to be careful as the big toe is the big mess in this fiasco.                                                                                                At midday I made myself some lunch and watched Bargain Hunt until 1.00 pm. Then I settled down for a short kip only to have it shorter than expected. About 1.20 pm Sharon my cleaner arrived and I’d forgotten the change of day for this week. As I was awake I went back to work. At 3.00 pm she left for the day and I sat in the lounge with Escape to the Country on, hoping it would help me nod off again. No chance. As it finished I darted (snail pace) back to play catch up then all of a sudden it was 4.30pm and Dil was there. I made his cup of tea though Later I wondered why I hadn’t just  thrown it at him as he came in. The first game of the night was a draw, the second and third he creamed me completely without mercy despite my legs being in a sling. I slammed the front door after him and slammed the budgie’s cage door because he refused to tell me what Dil was holding then I stomped off to my room saying Ouch with every footstep.

Nursery playmates.

Thursday.

Up at 3.10 am and I must have slept since about 12.30 am without anything disturbing me. Perhaps a nice cwtch I was sent kept me safe and warm. Meds and breakfast was soon dealt with and the horse pill sized antibiotic.  I came back to power up the computer , go online to check the bank and then start on email. There was quite a bit from overnight at 57. That took until almost 6.00 am when I decided to go put my feet up in the lounge. By 7.00 am  by some miracle I hadn’t nodded off so I came back through used the bed for my feet and worked sideways on.                                                                    About 9.00 am I got dressed ready for the nurses but thinking about it, my lounge pants would be better to slide up and down over the bandages. The nurse arrived about 11.00 am and was part way through bathing my feet when the doorbell went. She kindly went to answer it for me and it was a delivery from the chemist of things they were short of from Wednesday’s delivery. We reached the end of the process and I passed the lovely wee nurse her chocolates then walked her to the door as she told me to stay off my feet, rest myself and elevate the feet. I came back to the lounge and the doorbell went again, luckily it was my neighbour who’d offered to shop for me. She was great and didn’t take long at all.  I had my lunch.                                                                                                              After lunch I had an hour’s sleep in my chair then went back to work. Mike arrived about 5.30 pm and he tells me he didn’t have much time with me before he had to wake me for my meds, a quarter hour late. That done I went through to work only for him to follow me through for conversation. By the time he’d finished I was ages behind and didn’t hit bed until gone midnight.

Friday.

My light didn’t go out until 1.00 am last night and I wasn’t best pleased that my feet took a very long time to settle down into acceptable hurting. However it was still only 3.08 am when I got up. I followed my usual routine as in going to the kitchen to take my meds. Even doing that was uncomfortable, but then I had to fill my medicine pots with all the drugs for the next week and that took ages. I was really in pain before I’d finished that. Then I had my breakfast so I could take all the meds associated with that. When everything was done it was almost 4.00 am so I went and lay down on my bed and tried to read a few more chapters of my book. At about 5.00 am I decided to risk working and slung my legs on to the bed while I sat in my chair. Not easy but at least I got some done. Mike got up about 9.00 am so I went through to start his coffee. At some point I nodded off in my chair and he had to wake me to say goodbye. I wasn’t out for long.                       The nurse came just after 11.00 am and washed my legs and feet before putting cream on the legs to stop them cracking worse than they are. Then she redressed the legs  to the knees and left. I made my lunch at midday then after Bargain Hunt I came through to catch up. I was able to do so before Antiques Road Trip but I didn’t want to watch it.  Mike returned home at 7.30 pm so we watched Mastermind then he washed my hair for me, in return I wet his feet. I worked until 10.30 pm then decided I needed an early night so turned the computer off.

Saturday.

A strange night. I got to bed early and had a little read to relax as usual. I turned my light out at about 11.30 pm. I don’t know when I slept as to be honest I lay there waiting for the pain to subside and it took a while. I woke at 1.06 am I think but it was forgotten as on my way to the loo I found Mike still awake too and we decided to play some cards to make us sleepy. At just gone 2.00 am we decided trying for a kip sounded like a good idea. I just decided to start work as my breakfast time and drugs time was so near. But even with those out of the way I wasn’t ready to sleep so I carried on working.At about 5.45 am I decided to take the weight off my feet and just relax against my pillows for a moment.Big mistake. Next thing I know, Mike is leaning over me like a mad axeman telling me it’s half past six. Given all the stick I put him though on a Saturday morning I didn’t complain.                                                                                                                                    It was a faff transferring to and from the wheelchair but Mike was adamant he wasn’t taking me out without some cooperation. We were out all morning and I surprised myself behaving. We came back before lunchtime as the nurse had said she’d be here soon after lunch. I should have asked what day. It’s just gone 11.00 pm and I think she may not be coming today after all.

Sunday.

Amazing day. I woke at 1.55 am and it being too early for breakfast I just decided to start work. My inbox took me nicely to 2.55 am so I started for the kitchen trying to figure out if I was going to take my meds early since the change to BST had happened in the interim taking me right back to 1.55 am. I decided it was to difficult to contemplate so I refused to look at my watch or the bedroom clock. I took my meds but found it very painful standing around so decided to delay breakfast until later. I took my coffee back to my desk. There was a little more mail which I dealt with and at 5.00 am (or was it 4.00 am?) I just had to lie on my bed. Next thing I knew it was 10.30 am, though I’m now claiming it was only 9.30 am and I was waking up again. I’ve not slept this long for years. It was too late for breakfast so I have to readjust my meals a bit today and go for lunch and teatime for the diabetic meds. The nurse arrived at the ‘New’ 10.00 am and redresssed the legs. She seemed to think that maybe, considering we’ve missed a day. there was less leakage that expected, so maybe things are drying up a bit more.                                                          We went to lunch with me in the wheelchair. I wasn’t happy not having control of my own movement nor of being at navel height with most of the world, especially when some people spoke over my head to get Mike to answer something they could have asked me direct. Lunch was nice as usual but by the time we’d finished I was doing my best not to scream out loud, not that anyone would have noticed with all the Halloween decorations around. We came home and I put my feet up on a stool in the lounge till Mike went home. If I’d known it was so effective I’d have done it years ago. I did some catching up but couldn’t really concentrate so I watched a film with Joey until 9.00 pm then came through for the night. I’m trying to work side on to my screen and with legs up on the bed.

Have a Wonderful New Week full of Hugs and smiles.Share both if you can, you never know when someone’s in need.

Starting the week Windy

Monday.16.10.17

Well, I’ve been up since a quarter past two this morning and the wind just hasn’t died down. (I’ll have to give the beans a miss in future). It seems the tail end of a hurricane is with us and what a tail it must be as it’s now 11.00 pm. It was so dull this morning I couldn’t open Joey’s cage at 8.00 am, it was still bad at 9.00 am but I put the lounge light on for him before opening his door.                                                                                                                   The nurse came about 10.30 am and I was delighted that I knew this one. When I had the chest infection and breathing problems last year she was one of the team that came. She’s now changed teams and volunteered to come when she recognised my name today. I was pleased as she was very gentle. Still strapping those bandages high though. Had lunch at 12.15 pm and just didn’t enjoy it, in fact threw half away. But I did make up for it with two mince pies. After Bargain Hunt I slept till about 2.20 pm so had some catching up to do back at my desk. I still managed to fall asleep in my Antiques Road Trip programme and then again in Warehouse 13.                                                                                 I came back through at 9.00 pm ready to catch up for the evening and then go to bed and read. I’m heading for my bed now. 11.20 pm and all’s well.

Daisy Daisy give me your answer do……

Tuesday.

I didn’t get up until 2.40 am so by the time I’d faffed around getting to the kitchen and taking my meds I had to delay breakfast for an hour so it didn’t clash with the antibiotic. I took a coffee back to my room while I waited. I could still hear the wind outside. I went back at 4.00 am and got some toast to keep me going till lunchtime.                                       By 7.30 am I’d just caught up on the overnight stuff and decided to get dressed, making sure I chose a pair of jeans with wide legs as getting the slim ones off is a comedy in itself. It looked fairly light do I stuck my head outside the front door. I was missing a doormat and my waste food bin. The latter I found buried in a clump of dog roses. I forced a slipper on as far as it would go and went looking for my mat.Pauline in the shop told me the wind would be gone by 10.00am. She was right too. I found the mat rolled up behind the big bin and stuck it back where it should go,                                                            Remembered my 9.00 am antibiotic half an hour late but I forgave myself. I didn’t report it to Yvonne in case she didn’t. I had lunch of beef stew and 12.00 pm and didn’t finish it. Just disinterest I think. The nurse came soon after, not one I’ve met before, yes, it is possible, I’m not always ill. Honestly. She was very nice and gentle but still strapped up to my chin. Move over Rameses I need room.                                                                                       I slept until 2.45 pm then watched a programme on finding lost family, very good programme. Once over it was back to work until 4.30 pm and my Antiques Road Trip, I stayed awake. Back to my room at 9.00 pm ti catch up on mail and record this, It’s 11.33 pm now and I’m off for a read.

A Star posing.

Wednesday.

2.55 am rise and shine. By the time I’d forced a slipper on each foot and been to the kitchen for my meds some of the shine had worn off. I came back with coffee to work until I could have my breakfast. I had cleared things by 5.00 am including the break for breakfast, some very uninspiring toast. I could only eat a round and a half. Anyway, at 5.00 am I went to sit in the lounge and try for a nap. It just wasn’t working so by twenty past I was back out. In that short space of time there were over thirty sneaky messages in. I set too again. At 9.15 am I dressed so none of the nurses were dazzled by my Welsh Dragon lounge pants and Bazinga teeshirt. The nurse came just before 11.00 am and was making a good job of the dressing when a neighbour popped her head round the door. She’s been shopping and had picked up some boxes of chocolates for my dwindling stocks. The nurse set to dressing my other leg as it’s showing signs of starting up again. Maybe we’ll have scared it off by tomorrow. My neighbour left followed by the nurse with her box of chocolates.                                                                                                            Lunch was another ‘bing’ meal, braised steak and mash which I ate without enjoying it. I ate while Bargain Hunt was on then settled down for a kip. I woke at 2.35 pm and came back to work until 4.30 pm when Dil was due. I was just preparing his mug when he arrived. Overall tonight he won 2 games to my one but I’ve stopped swearing now. One last push to clear up and then a read I think before lights out at midnight.

Thursday.

2.55 am Saw me up and about. Perfect timing for my meds and an hour’s work before breakfast. That happened at 4.00 am and was my usual boring jam on toast. I’d sack the bloody unimaginative chef if I didn’t need the job so much.                                                 7.45 am saw me sneaking out with slippers tied to my feet as my feet wouldn’t go in them. It was ouch. ouch, ouch every step of the way but I needed essentials, Cigarettes to last me to Saturday, Bread and most important Lottery Tickets. I was back in the house by 8.00 am knowing the nurses hadn’t caught me.                                                                     The morning passed in work and for lunch I had one of my chips in curry sauce. No kip after lunch because Sharon was due. Typically she’d just started in the lounge when the nurses arrived. Both feet were still wet and needed dressing again but before it could be done my bloodthirsty little cleaner asked if she could take a look. Ugh, that’s horrible and “You poor thing” ( I think she meant me and not the nurse) were her responses. Once the nurses left Sharon told me to ring if I ever needed shopping and couldn’t get out which was amazing because she lives in a smaller village than mine which is a good way away and she has to take a bus. She got her box of chocolates to take home as the nurses had. I worked until 4.30 pm then started to nod off a bit. Mike arrived at 8.00 pm then at 9.00 pm it was back to work. It’s midnight now and time to finish.

That’s all folks….

Friday

12.00 am Bed                                                                                                                                            12.30 am finish reading lights off. Can’t sleep easily.                                                                      02.57 am up again. I must have swallowed an alarm clock but I swear I haven’t bitten off any Pirate hands EVER. It takes me a while to take my meds and then refill my tubs for the next week. Then, because I’ve finished the antibiotics I can have breakfast. I celebrate with Weetabix then make a coffee to take back to my room. Time to get some work done. I whizzed through the first forty or so until all that was left on the first pass was a single message that was going to take a couple of hours to answer. It was about 4.30 am I started on that. Many laughs, dirty chuckles and brilliant feelings of actually being someone, I finished my response and sent it off. Hoping I wasn’t coming across as a dirty old man.                                                                                                                                          I worked on and at about 8.00 am Mike got up so I took a break. I got dressed quickly as I had no idea what time the nurse would come. Mike left about 10.00 am (after getting dressed) and the nurse arrived about half an hour later. It’s bad news, the bandages are up to my knee on the other leg now. It looks like I’m wearing football socks.                        Margaret my neighbour brought me two more boxes of chocolates, the last on the shelves apparently. At noon I tied my slippers on and walked very tentatively up to the shops to get some sausage and chips. I know I could make then at home but it would mean a lot of standing. Anyway I got my lunch, all the time regretting I hadn’t just made a sandwich. Towards the end of the meal there was a knock at the door and another neighbour, Mavis had come to offer er services if I ever needed any shopping. I think she was 86 last week. Aren’t people beautiful.                                                                                Mike got home early, about 5.00pm and later on washed my hair for me. Not much chance of a shower at the moment so it was a strip wash. TV till 9.30 pm then back into battle with quite a lot waiting. 11.22 pm now so off to grab a small read in a minute.

Saturday.

Not sure where my head was this morning, probably up my ‘arris. I got up at 2.26 am and went straight through to the kitchen where I took all my meds and then ate my Weetabix. I was back at my desk with a fresh coffee 5 minutes before I was due to take my meds. For some reason I hadn’t stopped to turn on the computer ( by whispering sweet nothings in French down my speakers?) and start work until 3.00 am.When I did open the computer I was pleasantly surprised to find my overnight mail was only 21. I was able to whizz through that in no time at all not laying any emphasis on one from Mystic Mog who still knows the best time for me to try for my Lotto win. Considering I do all the Lotto days any win will come whether I pay her for the information or not. I think I’ll save the money for Lotto tickets. Anyway, another new friend from Camaroon wants to give me 10 million dollars to look after for him and I can keep 40% of it. It’s so exciting. Of course I’d love to get rid of the niggling doubt I have about him not knowing he perhaps lives in Cameroon or as I think, more likely Nigeria. Still maybe I can negotiate a bigger share?                                                                                                                                        Mike’s alarm went off at 6.00 am and 5 past, ten past and quarter past. I shouted that his coffee was on his table at the 6.00 am call then gave up until I actually heard him rouse. We left the house on our Saturday adventure at 7.00 am and reached the Supermarket not long after quarter past. Then we wasted time finding the security man with the desk keys so he could release the keys to one of the electric wheelchairs. Eventually I was away like the wind scaring all the early birds that I was going to run over their toes. I noticed Mike kept a wide berth. Somehow, despite my being jet propelled, we wasted time so that it was almost 9.00 am before we left. I backed the chair into position and noticed two people move from one side of the reception are to the other. Cheek! After Mike’s breakfast at our next port of call we took a ride over to Flint to get coffee at our favourite cafe. Naturally while we were out we had to visit shops.                                      After seeing our friends we found it was almost noon so we shot off for lunch. The Dragon’s Rest. Then we came home so I’d be in for the nurse. She thinks I need more antibiotics but we’ve decided to  wait until after it’s been dressed on Monday to see how it looks then. She’s made a friend of Mike without him seeing her as she’s coming in the morning which means I won’t wake him to go out. I worked for the rest of the afternoon, had a bit of TV early evening then came through to work at 9.00 pm.

Don’t step on a crack.

Sunday.

Was awake at 2.55 am, groped for my glasses and got up In the kitchen I felt a little discombobulated I knew I’s definitely taken one inhaler but couldn’t remember about the other. I took the second one and hoped I hadn’t just doubled up. Then I found myself pressing out two each of my diabetic control tablets and went straight in to making two pieces of toast. One round of toast I slathered with butter and then strawberry jam, I cut both ‘jammed’ and plain buttered pieces on half and started eating. It was at this point I realised I hadn’t taken my normal daily tablets yet and eight of those is just too much to miss, I finished half a round of toast and took my first two diabetic tabs, then I had the other half with jam and half plain, took the last two diabetic ones and finished the last half round of toast. That just left all the forgotten tabs to take which I can manage as 6+1+1 if I take my time. Then a coffee to take back to my room. For some reason I finished my first batch of mail by 5.00 am and started to look at Ebay. No more mail arrived until just after 6.00 am. I was dressed by 8.00 am and the nurse arrived at 9.30 am, she took her time cleaning and dressing the legs then left me at about 10.00 am The first thing I did was put the kettle on as I knew Mike was awake and would want a great big caffeine overdose. Once I’d made it I had to leave to continue with an email I’d left. The wind was atrocious again this morning so when we came to go out at 11.30 am ish, Margaret came out and offered a wheelchair. It was too good to miss as we’d be able to move much faster than I could on foot. We enjoyed a nice carvery then went to look for a specific type of jar he’d got before that he wanted for his sugar. We didn’t find it but we did find a large glass skull (as you do) that would fit nicely in his collection. I found a small plate as a start to my Christmas presents. We came home                                                 I watched a bit of TV till I nodded off. When I woke an hour later Mike was just preparing to go. I waved him off and went to work. By 5.30 pm I was clear again and went to sit with Joey, I stayed awake, honestly. By half eight I’d had enough and came back to start work again. I’ve been here ever since totin’ that barge and liftin’ that bale.

Have a wonderful new week. Remember to tell everyone that at some point the killing must stop so why not now? Keep sharing the smiles and Hugs for not everyone has one but everyone needs one.

❤   ❤   ❤

Starting the week right.

Monday.

Once I finished breakfast at 3.45 am ( 2 Weetabix) I took a coffee back to the office in my dressing gown. No I don’t have an office in my dressing gown but I just love the way some things read occasionally. Bureau for sale by Lady with big drawers. Marble top table for sale by man with wooden legs. I’d always picture a long John Silver type. The English language can be such fun though it wasn’t this morning as I struggled to get up to date before I got dressed and went out. In the end I decided to get ready at 6.00 am complete with shoes in case I had to leave quickly as time gets away from me sometimes. Well, time didn’t get away, I was on the ball and left at 7.00 am to catch the 7.15 am bus. Poor Joey was still in his cage as it was too dark to risk opening it without a light.               I caught my bus and had a good journey with my eyes closed to discourage conversation though not many people were aboard at that time. A few more by the time we pulled into Chester about 8.40 am.                                                                                                                           I was too late to catch Reuben before he went into school but I saw Yvonne and Amelie coming towards me across the playground. I got big smiles from both of them. We stopped for coffee and Ami came out of her buggy to give me a big hug. We did the usual round of a few shops to get Halloween stuff for the kids and just spent the morning nattering on. Ami helped me walk a few times by holding one of my crutches. It’s fun trying to keep the pace she wanted to set.                                                                                    Soon enough it was time to walk to the bus stop ready to come home. Big kisses all round and then waves as the bus drew out. My next hard job was not to fall asleep past the the bus stop at home. I managed fine, got in and let Joey out amidst a terrible telling off, had a quick lunch and started work. I nodded off between 8.00 and 9.00 pm when my favourite programme was on.

Halloween preparations

Tuesday.

Up at 2.22 am this morning and spent what felt like the next hour standing over the loo having one of the stop-start wee’s that come with age. It was probably no more than 5 minutes really but just feels like a huge waste of time, though to be fair, it does keep the floors dry. I went back to my room and powered up the computer to start the mail. I worked till just gone 3.00 am then went for my meds and my breakfast. Toast and jam for a change. I came back to work and was clear by about 6.10 am so I skived off and sat in my chair in the lounge. I woke at 7.20 am and it being still just before dawn Joey was not awake to disturb me. I gave him fresh water and seed then came through to start again.   There was not too much but one was along message I’d hoped to see. It took me until gone 9.00 am to finish that one and then longer to finish the others that had come. Because of that, and finally getting dressed I did not get to see the start of Homes Under the Hammer but I did get to see two of the three.                                                                       At 11.00 am I went back through and did what I could with the mail until almost midday. At that point I slammed my shoes on (no socks- I live on the edge) and went to the chippy arriving back just in time to eat with Bargain Hunt. When that ended I shut my eyes for two minutes that turned out to be 95 minutes and woke refreshed. Back to work. As usual I worked till 4.30 pm and then didn’t go near the computer again until 9.00 pm. There was plenty of work waiting when I did which took me until 11.00 pm when it was time to wrap up and go for a read.

Wednesday.

2.10 am this morning and I got up willingly enough, I thought I’d wet the bed. It appeared I’d had my knees bent so my feet were up around by bum. My big toe had been leaking quite a lot and I hadn’t had a dressing on so I didn’t make it sweat. It makes it look like I’ve been in a bath too long, all white and wrinkled. I struggled into my slippers and made my way to the loo. Coming  back I loaded the email and started work until 3.00 am when I went for breakfast. Jam on toast today but I got a little carried away so I ended up with jam on three quarters instead of just two. I brought coffee back and worked until 4.15 am. I placed a bid on some plasters due to finish today then went to my chair in the lounge. I nodded until about 6.40 am then went back to my room stubbing my toe on the way. Joey told me to stop screaming and let him get back to sleep.                                              There were a couple of times I ran out of work for a short period so I went to ebay and tried to get ideas for Christmas presents. Not easy this year I’m finding. The work kept filling up again and it was 11.45 am when I decided to go make my lunch and take a proper break. I sat down to watch Bargain Hunt and enjoy my food. I had chance to wash my pots before the goods went to auction so that when the programme was over I just turned the box off and snuggled down in my chair. I was away for an hour and a half. At 3.45 pm I’d reached the end so went through ready for Dil arriving around 4.30 pm. He was there in time to watch The Antique Road Trip which we both enjoy. We gamed afterwards and for a change it was my night two games to one, I must remember to swap the dice back again. Dil left at 9.00 pm so I wished Joey a goodnight and came through to work.

Thursday.

1.56 am and I’m pretty sure I didn’t want to get up but needs must and my eyes are wide open. My big toe is throbbing. I dressed it before getting into bed last night and the dressing has stayed on. It’s a little damp though. A visit to the loo and then an hour on emails until breakfast time. Back to look at my bank to see if I’m putting Christmas on hold this year or not then back to emails until 3.45 am and the last one is done. I went to Ancestry.com and added my new great nephew, his Pops (Dil) said he’s a beautiful baby. Another search on Ebay for birthday and Christmas ideas took me until 5.00 am and a break in my chair. Back to work at 6.20 am and somehow there was enough to keep me in business until 9.10 am when I hobbled to Pauline’s for my lottery and some bread. She told me she’s sold me the winning tickets this week. Hard luck the rest of you. At 10.00 am I watched Homes Under the Hammer before a last pre-lunch attack on the mail. After a very uncomfortable walk this morning my toe is still throbbing. Yvonne has arranged for the district nurse to come and re-dress it later. I had a bing meal for speed (any excuse) and though I longed for an hour in my chair, I couldn’t because Sharon was due to titillate me with her dusters. She arrived at 1.00 pm and left at 3.00 pm.                           It was a big shock to have the doctor turn up instead of the nurse but I wasn’t told off today. She’s put me back on strong antibiotics. She didn’t dress the foot though and said the nurse will be here tomorrow? Help me, my foot’s leaking.                                                   I saw my antique programme but some time after 5.00 pm I must have nodded off in my chair. When I woke it was 7.15 am and what was on screen was not what I’d have expected. I wonder if Joey’s making his own choices now. I took my meds at 9.00 pm, said goodnight to the gang and came through to work. 11.05 pm and it was time to have a read.

Friday 13th.

It’s been blowing a gale out there since I got up. That was 1.50 am today. I went through a little early to take my meds about 2.45 am so that once done I could immediately start doing my tablet trays for the next week as that takes a while. It was about 4.00 am when I went for breakfast knowing more than an hour had passed since the antibiotic. Hobbling back with my toe stuck to the inside of my slipper I cleared my regular mail and started on one very long one I receive. It takes forever but is well worth it in snark alone. By 7.45 am I’d dealt with that and cleared the rest of the incoming. I got dressed not knowing  when the nurse will be arriving and went to wait in the lounge surrounded by all the wildlife. By 8.30 am I was bored and went back to work. The nurses arrived at about 11.15 am. I felt like Royalty as my foot was given a little wash then stinging iodine dressings were applied and then no less than three bandages to pad it and ensure it stays clean. It cost me a box of chocolates to get her to stop below the knee. I was part mummified. After they’d gone it was getting on for midday so I struggled into my slipper and did myself some beans on toast. After lunch I came back to work until 3.00 pm then gave myself a break to see Escape to the Country. Not only did I not see the end of it but I didn’t wake until 4.10 pm.                                                                                                                  At 4.30 pm I got a message from Mike to say he was on his way so I guessed it would be about 6.00 pm before he arrived if the traffic was OK. At 7.00 pm I went for a shower with a plastic bag over the offending foot. I sat with Mike until 9.00 pm then carried on working until I was clear to have a read.

Saturday.

Up at 1.50 am so I cheated and had the antibiotic at 2.00 am so I could have my normal breakfast with my main meds as usual at 3.00am.  Mike’s alarm went off at 6.00 am and we left the house at 7.00 am. It seemed to take an hour to reach the car and then at least that to get into it. At the Supermarket I had to use an electric wheelchair to get round though Mike whinged it wasn’t the electric chair he had in mind. We delivered my present to my new great nephew and his Mum brought him out to the car to meet me. He’s beautiful. Apart from the difficulty of getting in and out I was a little afraid of going into the house where his brother can be a bit boisterous ( but lovely).                                  Back on the road again we went to collect something for lunch and went home. The nurses came this afternoon and no joke, the leg is now wrapped fully to the knee. One of them didn’t know her own strength or didn’t have her caring hat on because she really hurt me. ( sob). A lot of work to catch up on with my left leg up on the bed while I work next to the bed. Than a bit of TV with Mike and that’s another day over. Nice day for sunshine.

Sunday.

2.50 am this morning which for some reason left me in a panic. I went through and took my meds including the antibiotic then for some reason took the first two diabetic tabs even though I hadn’t eaten. I managed to stop myself from taking the other two until  4.00 am when I went back to eat. In the meantime a wraith in Red Dragon pyjamas passed beneath the gaslit lamp whose light pooled in the courtyard and delivered a birthday card to my neighbour. I then worked on mail until it was time to eat my Weetabix. Mumford and Sons were striking up merry tunes in my earhole while I worked. I know I saw 6.00 am come and go but the next thing I know it’s 7.30 am and Mike’s waking me up asking me if I want to stay asleep (he’s perverted). I told him no, I’ll get up.He left and the next thing it was 7.45 am and a case of deja vu. I got dressed but could only put one shoe on and then a slipper on my most recent bad foot. At 8.15 am he helped me out and we drove to the car boot. It was terrible and I was so glad it was small. The pain was bad and my crutches were being caught by the grass, I even had a man with a trolley run over my foot. I had to keep stopping  and then making myself go a little further. When it was time to stop to take my antibiotic we gave up. At least I had a few books.                                                                                                                                              We drove to Prestatyn and sat in the car for a while before going into The Cookhouse and grabbing a table (quite a surprise to the couple sitting there I think). We had our usual carvery and the beef was lovely. Normality returned. After lunch we came home as my leg was tired and sore and it needed elevating. Mike left early and I came through to my room to work before the nurse came. That was about 4.30 pm and she kept asking about me elevating the leg, I kept crossing my fingers and saying “Of course, all the time.” It’s even worse than it was yesterday and the dressings got thicker. I can’t even get the slipper on now. I guess I won’t be going out anywhere this week. I worked a while longer when she left then returned to the lounge to sit with Joey at about 6.15 am. I kept nodding off, waking and nodding off again. I couldn’t tell you the storyline of anything that was on TV. 9.00 pm it was tablet time plus the antibiotic, a quick goodnight to Joey and then time to work again.

Have a grand week. Share the smiles and hugs with anyone in need in case that anyone is you someday. Love you all.

 

Starting the week wrong.

Monday.

I woke at 4.15 am to news of the attack in Las Vegas. There are so many stories doing the rounds that it’s hard to know what the truth is…..if we ever will, though it does look like another case of home grown terrorism and not something that can be blamed on another minority group creating even more hate. It left me distracted all morning though I can’t blame it for what happened here. I must have nodded off during my programme and woken up during the next one which I carried on watching oblivious to the fact it had changed. When I realised and saw what time it was I jumped up ( well my imagination jumped, I rose with dignity) and put some bacon under the grill. I was standing there minutes later looking at the flames as a decoration to my meal. I’d had some polystyrene boxes on top of the grill to store the pods in for my coffee machine. They were melting and dripping down ( they missed the bacon- phew) and also burning. I actually achieved speed and that wasn’t dignified at all. I managed to get it out and save my bacon at the same time.(pun intended).                                                                                                                     During the afternoon I managed to avoid killing Joey or myself, not that he showed a lot of gratitude when emptying the husk from his seed onto the floor three days before Sharon comes to clean it. I suppose I’ll have to put my pinny on.

Tuesday. 

3.10 am this morning. I went through to the kitchen and took my meds then had my Weetabix before making a coffee to take back to my bedroom to work. There was plenty of mail as usual but a bit extra because of the post I’d done on my Buthidars blog about yesterday’s tragedy.                                                                                                                            By 7.30 am I was dressed and at 8.00 am I left the house and walked to the bus stop. It was very unnerving with so many schoolchildren waiting. Fortunately when the bus came, it stopped near me giving me the chance to queue jump and get a seat. 5 minutes later and I was in Holywell with plenty of time to walk to the surgery to get my flu jab. I was on my way again at 9.10 am having left them sweets for their tea break. I did leave confused though. Yesterday I’d had a letter with forms for some blood tests. I mentioned to Yvonne that I’d had one of them less than two weeks ago. She came back and texted that the Doctor wanted them repeated. Fine. The nurse who gave me the flu jab told me she was the one who’d spoken to Yvonne and that the tests were wanted even if I had them recently.As I left the surgery moments later my phone beeped. A text from Yvonne saying she’d just had a phone call. Blood tests weren’t needed and I could save the form to use in three months. Talk about confused. I took an executive decision, I’ll have them, By the time I’d got home they’d been arranged for early Friday morning so I can take an earlier bus and miss the hordes.                                                                                                        I decided not to set fire to the house today and just had baked beans on toast for lunch.

Wednesday.

3.24 am this morning when I got up, relieved my bladder ( in the toilet honest) then went for my drugs and breakfast. Two small pieces of toast today and I didn’t enjoy either, I wish it was the same with the food I like. I worked most of the morning on my emails but I did get one letter through the post too. It included a certificate for me as a supporter of IFAW. It’s a little annoying that they send these certificates out to people who have made a donation to them but include a request for more donations. I make a donation to a charity every month via direct debit, I generally support people collecting for good causes in the street and Mike invariably guides me towards them so I feel obliged. I also make payments from paypal for causes like these disasters from the hurricanes but I still feel guilty when I can’t cough up on a regular basis for all the ones who write to me. I wish Mystic Mog would tell me when my big lottery win is going to be. Maybe I could issue IOU’s then.                                                                                                                                     I slipped a bit and went to the chippy at lunchtime and followed that with an hour in my chair. Back to work until clear at 3.45 pm. Dil arrived at 4.10 pm which was nice but when it came to gaming the news is not good. I lost at Yahtzee, I lost at Nomination though I did win at cribbage. I couldn’t throw him out quick enough. There was a fair bit of work to get through again and then I checked the lottery to find Mystic Mog can’t have meant tonight either.

Thursday.

I had my breakfast out of the way by 3.30 am. I had Weetabix again and I was going to try and be brave and eat 3 like Amelie but knew I couldn’t (and shouldn’t with all that sugar). So, I put the two in a large bowl and made it look like I was eating a very small breakfast. It worked too until I opened my big mouth and told myself. I took a coffee back to my desk, checked out the bank then started on the emails. At 9.15 am I’d finished most so got dressed and went out to Pauline’s. I needed extra milk ( must have more toast for breakfast) and my lottery tickets for tomorrow and Saturday. It’s a record prize on the Eurolottery tomorrow night.                                                                                                       When I got back I had to miss my morning programme with Joey again as I was writing some personal mail. Joey wasn’t amused and told me off again. At lunchtime while I was in the kitchen I filled the bird-bath to clip to the front of Joey’s cage as he always starts chattering loudly when I run water, from the tap I mean. I never knew a budgie could make his bottom beak sulk like that. Even when I came back to work I didn’t hear a sound from him, especially the sound of him taking a bath. I didn’t expect him to sing arias though it might have been nice. I had to remove it when I gave up work and went through to him at 4.30 pm. While I was working my cleaner had been and because he hadn’t been near his seed the floor was still pristine. I might try it again.                           Michael (full name as he’s been teasing me) arrived at about 8.00 pm. He’s lucky I’m going to let him stay in bed in the morning while I go for my bloods.                                  One wonderful piece of news to share with you, the latest Great Nephew, Elliot , was born this morning at 4.45 am. He’s 8lb 6 oz. A wonderful addition to the family.

Friday.

I was up at 2.17 am and worked till 3.00 am before going to do my drugs for the week then have my breakfast. At 7.30 am I went to catch my bus to town and was in the hospital by 8.00 am. By 8.20 am they’d emptied an arm and I’d started off for town again with the floppy arm trying to control my crutch ( come on girls, try to keep it clean now). There was a bus in when I got there which had my home again by 8.45 am. Needless to say Mike was still in his bed asleep. I started work again.                                                           He got up unaided about 8.55 am and just reboiled the kettle and made his drink. He only realised something was different when he saw my shoes. He asked whether I was going out or had already been. I took my shoes off. Mike watched Homes Under the Hammer while I continues to work and then he left to go to Manchester at 11.00 am, I’d started one particular email at 10.00 am and was still on the same one at 11.30 am when I suddenly noticed no words were appearing on the page. Not only that but my cursor had St Vitus’ dance. I hadn’t been able to cure it by 11.45 am so I went off to start peeling sweet potatoes for my lunch.                                                                                                             At 1.00 pm I came back hoping it had cured itself as it did last week, the first time this had happened. It hadn’t, it didn’t. All afternoon I kept trying to see if it was ready, but no. Mike got back at almost 6.00 pm just as I was in my room turning the computer off in frustration. At 8.30 pm I came and turned it on again to see what would happen. Hallelujah, it came on AND (big inhalation of breath) gave me a message that I’d closed down incorrectly (like I didn’t know) and would I like to restore? Would I? Too right. When it did so the long email I’d been working on was still there. I spent ten minutes finishing that so I could get it off before finding and completing two short but important ones and then facing the other 102. It was a late night. You’re worth it.

Saturday.

3.18 am up and heading for the loo. Hands washed very quietly to make sure I didn’t wake Rip Van from his slumbers and then to the kitchen for breakfast. I took my coffee back to my room and started work on the mail. That took me to 5.45 ish of the am and as it was too soon to start making Mike’s coffee I took care of the old papers and carried the recycling out to beyond the flower beds and then took the wheelie bin and food waste bins down there too. By the time I’d done that it was rapidly approaching Alarm 1 so I put the kettle on (it still doesn’t suit me) and put the makings in his mug. It boiled nicely in time with the first alarm. I placed his cup on his table in the lounge and went through to tell him it was there. Now I just had to listen to two more alarms and hope he got up on the fourth one- he did.                                                                                                                  By 7.00 am we were on the road and I was so grateful his eyes were actually open. Sometimes it’s a near run thing. In the Supermarket at 7.15 am and out again at 8.30 am In the next one by 8.45 am when I even had a second breakfast to keep him company and so that I got his fried bread and he had my egg. Even after getting some shopping in we had still managed to get to Flint by 9.30 am and had the chance to go in a couple of favourite shops before going for our coffee in Temptations. We got so far ahead of time there was chance to go for some frozen food and take it home before thinking of lunch. We were at cross purposes for that trip and I thought we were going to one place and Mike thought I’d agreed to another where in actual fact all I’d said is that he hadn’t enjoyed the meal there last time. So naturally he turned the car for where he thought I wanted. No easy place to turn round so we ended up with a nice back country run.     Lunch was nice and I had something I haven’t had in years, a quarter pounder with chips and a side salad  ( for my health police, you know who you are). Mike had the same with cheese and no-one tells him off.                                                                                We came straight home afterwards so I could try and slowly catch up and apart from a break from 5-8 pm I’ve been chained here ever since.

Sunday.

Have you ever seen a Brian Rix farce? You know how the situations are funny but you know they couldn’t really happen like that? Well change you mind, I took part in a comedy of errors this morning. I was up soon after 3.00 am. Tabs and breakfast behind me I started work. I knew Mike had set his alarm for 7.00 am ( not that he’d get up then) and I having checked the weather outside can tell him to turn the alarm off and go back to sleep or announce his coffee was ready. Somehow I heard no alarm at 7.00 am and I must have relaxed. Mike allowed his clock to go off three times and then got up before he realised I hadn’t called him.                                                                                                                  In a panic that I’d died before rewriting my will in his favour he came through to my room where he swears I was sitting with my head folded back, mouth open, snoring as I tapped my keyboard in a demented fashion. I came too at 8.10 am realised I’d been asleep and went through to see if Mike was up or if I’d got away with it. As I passed his room, there he was happily sleeping the day away, sighs of relief…….until I reached the kitchen and saw he’d put coffee and sugar in his cup ready to make a coffee. I’d been caught. I just left him there as the weather was so bad there’s be no carboot sale.              A bit later when we went out we went to check when the indoor sales would be starting only to be told as there was building work where the traders usually unload they wouldn’t be starting. Please, don’t take my carboots away till next year, Nooooooo.         Lunch was a pleasant affair though we neither of us enjoyed the meat for the first time ever. Afterwards we took a trip to Rhyl to a very large shop we both like. I’m afraid Christmas shopping is becoming much more of a reality and ideas in short supply. We came home and Mike did the flowers for Ju while I started work. I put the grand prix on for him when he finished but he didn’t leave it long before deciding to be on his way. I packed his Red Cross parcel for him and waved him off. I worked until almost 6.30 pm when Joey called me through for a film, typical it had started ten minutes earlier.  Once 9.00 pm arrived it was time to concentrate on catching up, seeing to the blog and getting a read if I’m lucky.

Have a wonderful new week. Share the love, the hugs and the smiles as we never know if people have had to do without such things in their lives.

Progress Plus

Monday.

Up  at 4.10 am I risked the last of the two pints from Saturday in my coffee and on my Weetabix. Since it’s been coddled and wrapped in a bag of ice in a bucket of cold water since Saturday it was just about OK. When I went out to the chemist with a handwritten request for drugs (Hand some over or I shoot), I was starting with a cold so covered the lower half of my face to prevent infecting anyone, that would have made intelligible speech all but impossible. I called at Pauline’s for cigarettes and a new two pint of milk and some baby gift wrap as the new event is imminent a new great nephew and brother to Nathan.                                                                                                                                          The only other event of note was the great reveal. I took the plaster off my foot. It was beginning  to look a bit rough anyway from where I’d reached down with my backscratcher. It came off easily which if Mike’s reading this will disappoint him. No hairs lost in the process. There was still blood on the plaster but I’m not worried as the area is smaller than it was.

Tuesday.

Up at 3.12 am full of excitement at the delivery of the new fridge. They said between two and three o’clock so I hope I’ve not missed it already. I used milk to take my tablets and decided it felt warm so the Weetabix would get a miss. I put some toast on to cremate but remembered I’d adjusted the colour to a nice tan. While the bread toasted I went to the freezer and got out the butter Mike had put there on Saturday. The old butter resembles either cuckoo spit in yellow or maybe badly scrambled eggs. Out it went. I hadn’t given thought to the new stuff and had only just unwrapped it when the toaster threw out my toast. It was like trying to carve ice and the bits I did get off, the toast wasn’t hot enough to melt. It was nice when I had it though.                                                                                 There was a phone message at 12.30 pm after my lunch of sausage and chips (along with the news that the chippie was also waiting for a delivery of a washing machine from the same firm), the message said they hoped to be with me by  2.00 pm. If only they knew how close I am to the chippy. They got to me at 1.35 pm and it was unloaded and in the house before 1.40 pm. I gave them a tip and they left reminding me ‘That’s it for 4 hours now squire’. Damn, that means no shopping. I looked at the package and stopped breathing, that will never fir under my counter I thought. “Come on you plonker” said Mike’s voice inside my head, “it stands on polystyrene, it’ll be fine once you get it unpacked”. He’s right too.                                                                                                                 At 6.00 pm I pushed the fridge into place and turned it on ( lots of sweet nothings about how gorgeous it looked in white). It lit up so that’s half the battle. I turned it up a bit, put a few things in like the rest of the milk from yesterday and hoped for the best.

My Dog Brutus. Very quiet and easy to feed but burglars beware.

Bonzo. Still very much the puppy but he’s had Mike’s leg for hitting me with a remote.

Wednesday.

I survived the milk at breakfast with my tablets but couldn’t face cereal so instead it was toast with sloppy butter. As soon as 9.00 am came though I went over the road to the One Stop (I actually got dressed first though, my reputation wouldn’t survive another incident). I managed to get the last semi skimmed 4 pint of my multiple filtered milk which I can’t get from Pauline’s. I got bread and butter, paid and went home. It broke my heart to throw out my ham, my bacon and my yoghurts that all say had to be kept cold but I’m going to Pauline’s in the morning so I can get emergency supplies to last till Saturday.                                                                                                                                            The council came to collect the old fridge today free of charge.                                             Games night improved when I won the Yahtzee and the Nomination Whist tonight, I didn’t mind losing the cribbage then.

Thursday.

Since I got up at 2.40 am I was able to turn everything on before heading off for my 3.00 am breakfast and the coffee I bring back with me. There was a fair bit of post but I needed to check my bank first. Once that was done it was full steam ahead on the mail. I worked till 9.00 am then went to Pauline’s for some shopping and my lottery tickets. When I came back I fed Brutus and Bonzo to keep them on my side and gave Joey fresh seed and water. Back to the mail until 10.00 am when it was time for Homes Under the Hammer. Disappointed that I wasn’t buying one I returned to mail at 11.00 am.                All of a sudden, Disaster. Midway through answering an email  my keyboard no longer wrote, and my mouse was drunk and ungovernable. At 11.45 am I was frustrated (No dear, not sexually) and scared at the imagined expense, I had to leave it to go and start peeling some sweet potatoes for lunch. Once they were ready to cook I put on some sausages ( a well known Irish brand) and as soon as they were a quarter browned I put my potatoes on for 8 minutes.  As each section browned I turned the sausages then as my potatoes were ready I removed them , drained them, added butter and mashed them. As soon as that was done I stuck my baked beans in the micro for 2 minutes and plated up the mash. I added the sausages and then the beans as my timing was spot on. I ate it watching Bargain Hunt.                                                                                                                      At 1.00 pm I returned to the computer and drew a sigh of relief that it seemed to have sorted itself out. My cleaner arrived so I decided to stay out of her way and work. I was able to complete the email I’d had to stop at before. Sharon left at 3.00 pm and I broke off work for a while. Not for long though as I wanted to be finished by 4.30 pm.                       I  got a message about 6.00 pm the Mike was on his way. He arrived at 8.45 pm so I had time to make his  coffee before retreating to my room to finish my emails for the night. Guess what! Mystic Mog is back again, for a small fee and since she knows me so well she’ll be able to tell me all my lucky spots in the next couple of months so I know when to buy lottery tickets, She’s obviously never dealt with OCD before and doesn’t know I have a routine.

Friday.

Unhappy today as I was up at 1.50 am and nothing was going to convince my body I needed more sleep just then. I did emails till 3.00 am then went to take my tabs and refill the dishes with a new weeks supply. Breakfast next and I stuck to toast with some jam on one slice.Back to the emails and by 5.30 am my body decided to be tired so I sat in my chair in the lounge and dozed for hours and hours or until 6.10 am, whichever came first. Emails came and went until 6.55 am when I went to put the kettle on and at 7.00 am I called into Mike’s room that his coffee was ready and on his table.                                        At 8.00 am we were both ready to go out and Mike took me to Chester to meet Yvonne then stayed and had his breakfast with us. I was in awe of Yvonne (on her diet tut tut) tackling a breakfast of blueberry pancakes and maple syrup, there were 3 (large) plate sized thick pancakes. She just about made it to half way then Mike had a little go as he’s finished his bacon sandwich by then. I know certain people will be asking themselves the question but no, all I had was a latte.                                                                                                 Yvonne had a lot of bags by the time we finished and remarkably I had just one though I was helping to carry hers. She walked me to my bus stop to see me safely aboard where I wouldn’t be disturbed and we were off, me waving goodbye wildly. Her shaking bags in my direction. I got home, had a wee, made my lunch ( don’t ask) then started work again. I wasn’t able to move from my seat until 4.40 pm Mike arrived home soon after 6.30 pm I got him to watch The Antique Road Trip where one of the experts had bought a small box with a scientific instrument inside, it cost him £60. Bidding at the auction started at £1000 and ended with a new record of £20,000. Had a shower, watched Mastermind then came through to work.

Saturday.

Up for some reason at 1.38, sleep hadn’t even reached the interesting part. Not that I can usually remember anything interesting anyway. Medical opinion comes down firmly on the side of , We all dream. The period is recognisible from when REM starts. For me their music is welcome at any time but I wonder if all these doctors know how hard it is to check for REM when most of us sleep with the light off. Shining a torch in someone’s face tends to wake them up grumpy by the way.                                                                                     Michael got up at 6.20 am with the not so subtle tones of me yelling his coffee was ready and going cold. Somehow he’d managed to balls up his alarm again. We were out at 7.15 am and in full shop mode at 7.30 am. We were in our second supermarket and ordering his breakfast by 9.00 am. I even had a teasted toecake myself. Shopping took most of the morning which of course includes our stop at Temptations in Flint. From there we went for lunch at The Dragon’s Rest, I had some bacon while Mike tried some chicken and ham pie. Afterwards Mike needed something for his shoes so we stopped off in Holywell. At home after putting the shopping away, I left Mike to see if he could get his football while I worked.

Sunday.

Mike set his alarm for 7.00 am. Once I’d heard it ring I went through to wake him, tell him to turn it off and go back to sleep. I didn’t have to tell him twice. I’d checked outside the front door first and though it wasn’t raining then, it hadn’t long stopped. My phone said showers all day though the computer just said light cloud. I’d sooner believe my eyes. I just carried on working and getting up to date. He got up about 10.30 am and I was doing OK then. We left about 11.45 am to head for our carvery lunch. After lunch a visit to TK Maxx got Mike two storage jars with vacuum seals that looked really good.            Back at home it was Joey’s lucky day, his cage was due for a clean. After debating whether to do it with him in or out I said out was better but this time we closed the lounge door so we weren’t sending search parties after him. It went well and I sat with Mike until he did the weekly flowers for Ju and he was ready to go. As soon as I waved him off I flew into my room to start work again. Amazingly it didn’t take above an hour and a half then I was able to watch a very entertaining Jack the Giant Killer.                     9.00 pm my usual quit time I said goodnight to Joey and the dogs and came back through again.

Lets try and make it a little more sane this week. Kneel (if you can) to show support for colour equality. The shootings and the killings have to stop. It’s outrageous that no-one bats an eye when it happens to a black person( or hispanic) but there’s an outcry for a white person. All races living there are Americans and are deserving of the protection of the law and of fellow Americans.                                                                                                Share the Hugs and Smiles with everyone and have a great and rewarding week.