Miaow from the catnapper

Sunday night I was able to turn my light off after a read at about 12.30 am. Sleep came fairly quickly but I think with some intervention by Somnos, so did wakefulness. That was at 2.06 am. I got up and paid a visit to the loo then came back and logged on. There would be time for work before breakfast. This time I was allowed to make good progress before going for breakfast and went off in good humour. My routine remained the same, sprays, tabs, toast, tabs,toast tabs and coffee to bring back to work. On the way back I put the drink down on the console table and nipped into the loo to save me coming back later. It was 3.45 am approximately when I started work again. There were 47 pieces of post left. I know I managed a couple of pieces but I could hear the distant sounds of piping and wondered which of my neighbours were listening to the radio. It seemed none were for moments later I was sitting on a hillside facing Porcinus.                            “He’s not happy with you” he said “you don’t seem to have done any promoting for him for a long while”. “But I did as he asked last time and I thought he had someone else now” I replied. “Get on with it” I seemed to hear as I drifted back again. Next thing I know it’s 6.10 am and I’m sitting at my desk looking at a file of pictures I’ve opened for some reason. There’s still the last email I dealt with on screen and fortunately I haven’t been writing further on it or adding pictures. It just needs sending. I can do that.The mail is up in the 70’s now and I manage to get it down to 62 before I need to  nip to the loo again. There on the console table is my now very cold coffee, and maybe a chocolate biscuit that happened to follow me. I determined to drink it anyway. My return sees the numbers have gone up again so I need to knuckle down. It’s about a quarter past seven now. It’s about a quarter past eight and I’m still sitting here hands poised, the numbers have gone up not down and I haven’t moved for an hours catnap. I had to work through HUtH this morning to catch up and it’s 11.38 am before I can breathe a sigh of relief, Oh, and then another one as I visit the loo again.                                                                                                                  I had a meal of chips with curry sauce, my favourite Monday choice at midday and sat eating it while watching Bargain Hunt. I chose an appropriate moment to go in and wash my pots before the auction took place. I’m really proud of the fact that I saw the entire auction before turning off and going to catnap in my chair. I woke at 2.08 pm and went through to work on my mail again. Once done I returned to the lounge and what was left of Escape to the Country. I stayed awake to return to work again until 5.15 pm when PYMWYMI was on. Thereafter neither Joey nor I moved again until 9.00 pm. Except for food of course, I had half a trifle to demolish, and believe me, I worked hard at it. I hate to give up. At 9.00 pm Joey wished me goodnight as I came through for my regular battle.

Tuesday. Light off early at 12.15 am but no matter how quickly I went to sleep it only lasted until 1.41 am. The fight was on not to nod off before catching that bus. I have to leave the house about 6.55 am then fall asleep on the bus. I must make every effort to wake at strategic points so I don’t miss my stop. I don’t want another poor driver approaching me as we near the terminus thinking I’m dead. It comes to a shock to both of us for me to wake with someone practically shouting in my face. I started work on the emails then at 3.00 am went through to have my breakfast (Weetabix and toast) before bringing my coffee back. I got dressed and started on the rest of the mail . Eventually I had to stop so I could slip my shoes and coat on.I checked the weather before deciding which coat. It was raining ( bet you didn’t guess that) so I wore one of my leathers. I left on time and was at the bus stop a few minutes before it turned up. I got a good seat and started nodding off. Sometimes the bus stopping will wake you but I don’t mind that. The journey goes more quickly asleep but too much sleep and you sail past your stop. I got there and got off at the right stop but we were a bit late so I went straight to the Supermarket as arranged, Yvonne and Amelie weren’t far behind me luckily or maybe the coffee house would have called the police to get me out as I’d not bought anything. You just never know these days. We had our drinks then set off round the store to get me fresh bread, a TV magazine and some cigarettes. Yvonne needed stuff too so once we’d both finished we started our mooch. I bought a Welsh Rugby teeshirt and that was it for the morning. Yvonne was asking if I was OK and looking for more bags.                             At lunchtime they saw me to my bus stop and watched me as I boarded. I think they were there to make sure I wasn’t punctured by an arrow by someone recognising a Welshman inside the town walls. I made it safely and after waving concentrated on nodding most of the way. At my end, I was sure I could just about cope with calling in the chippie before having to rush for the loo. There was a queue I wasn’t expecting so I had to get home faster than anticipated. I open the door throwing my bags and my crutches to the floor as I dashed to spend a penny. The relief was palpable as I retrieved my bags and plated up my now heavily leaking lunchbag. After lunch I went to work until        5.00 pm.  When I can back at 9.00 pm there were 182 new pieces of mail. 12.12 am and I was just finishing for the night.

Hava Nagila.                                                                           Wednesday. I had gone to bed late yet determined to read a couple of chapters so it was about 1.00 am when the light went out. I woke at 3.59 am on my clock but it rolled over to 4.00 am as I was halfway up, so I’m not really sure what time I got up. 3.59.5 maybe? Heck, what’s a second between friends. After breakfast I brought my coffee back to my desk and started work. It was coming in slowly at that point but had gathered 77 so far so I had to catch up a bit. By 8.45 am things were looking pretty good so I edged my way to the lounge and opened Joey’s door.I did his seed and water and decided I might be better dressed at this time. I left my socks off as I do every freedom day when I’m determined not to leave the house. I did a couple more emails that had come in then went back to the lounge to watch HUtH. It must have been 10.30 am because I’d seen the second property but not the third and then I was gone snooze mode…………right till 11.40 am. I only managed a quick twenty minutes at work then thought I’d better consider lunch. It had actually been quite a miserable morning, some rain and clouds making things look darker and ominous. For a change I thought I’d have some cheering soup, thick pea and ham. It was delicious with some bread and butter to dip. But the further down the bowl I got, the hotter I got as the sun started streaming through my lounge window. It looked like the promised Spring warmth had arrived. Glorious. I returned to work enlivened and was doing really well at catching up. At 3.00 pm so close to the end I took a break to watch TV but right towards the end of the programme about 3.45 pm I was hit by the sleep bug and I woke again at 4.45 pm and was shocked to find Dil sitting there smiling. I knew there was a reason I usually kept the door locked. If he’s been forced to ring the bell he’s never have know I was asleep. I apologised but he brushed it off which made me feel even more guilty. Already the gamesmanship had started. When we actually started playing I tried to check the dice and the deck to see if he’d been fiddling. But it seems obvious to me that he must have since I lost 2-1 yet again. This week it was the Nomination Whist I won at. I’m being slaughtered like a rabbit in the headlights. At 9.05 pm he went home with a spring in his step leaving me behind simmering slowly. I cam back to work. 11.35 pm and I’m all but finished.

Thursday. Despite reading till 12.30 am I still didn’t get any further than 2.06 am in the sleep stakes. It wasn’t a problem then of course as I could start the mail and hopefully have the numbers down before breakfast. It worked out that way too, I was left with about 20 when I went to eat. These were the ones that required responses other than grunts. I ate breakfast after my meds but only so that I could take more meds for something else. I’m a car wreck. I brought my coffee back with me and started in on the rest of the mail plus the little extra that crept in while I was away. I managed to finish that batch by 4.30 am. I went through to Mike’s bedroom to search for the gift I’d shown him on Sunday then promptly lost. The replacement had come yesterday though not exactly the same in case the first one turns up. I picked up the envelope and showed him the contents before putting the envelope back where I got it from. Grilling him about it by text I found he agreed with the way things had happened and exactly where I’d put the envelope. It’s not there, it’s vanished, it’s made itself scarce. There is no sign of either envelope or contents anywhere I’ve looked. I can’t bother him again in case the stewardess gets annoyed as he flew off for Canadia at about 3.00 am this morning. While I was in there I thought it prudent to wrap a few gifts as it’s Joanne’s birthday on Sunday and John’s on Tuesday. I’ve got a month before Karen’s thank heavens and I must shop for Lee’s too. At 6.00 am I’d had enough and returned to the mail.                                          At 9.00 am I stuck a little sign on the door to say I was at the shops and would be about 5 minutes, that was just in case they came to repair the front door while I was out. Pauline had my cigs and somehow a Twix magicked it’s way into my hand, but still no good news on her lottery terminal. So as soon as I left Pauline’s I crossed the road and did my lottery at the ‘One Stop’. All fixed up I went home but no-one had called. I wasn’t in long before the postman came with a letter from the doctor’s requesting blood tests for my diabetes. Why the heck couldn’t they have arranged to have enough blood pulled last week to cover this as well. And then they want to see me in the surgery in two weeks for  review. I hate that. Sitting in the waiting room with all those strangers and this time having to go and meet another stranger. Why don’t they leave me alone. I know where they are if I need them. I wrapped another present then watched my HUtH until 11.00 am then I worked on mail again until lunchtime. Bing beef dinner today. It was quite pleasant and certainly quick. I watched Bargain Hunt then washed up. I put the kettle on for Sharon though she always says it doesn’t suit me. Replacing it I went to change my bed and Sharon arrived. I asked her to wash my hair for me once she’d had a cuppa tea and she agreed. I just finished the bed change when she shouted she was ready. I got down on my knees, a position I’ve found myself in so often before with a woman. This one was at least kind enough to drown me in warm water. Hair washed I returned to my mail and Sharon to her cleaning. When it was time for her to go at 3.00 pm I gave her a box of chocolates with her pay. I had another 15 minutes of mail then left for the lounge.               My chair looked so inviting that I edged nonchalantly over and sat down. Within a short space of time I’d nodded off, shock, horror. It was almost 5.15 pm before I came too which was nicely timed for PYMWYMI. I entertained myself by eating during the evening then returned to work at 9.00 pm. A 12.10 am finish tonight.

Friday. I turned my light off at 12.45 am this morning but was dragged back to reality at 2.29 am. Not having had any contact with Somnos himself I’m beginning to doubt Monday’s meeting with Porcinus and consider it a dream, a bad dream. After all, I did meet my half of the bargain and get Somnos some new followers but he appears to have let himself down regarding a working blog to touch base with them all. I can’t do his blog as well as my own, heck half the time I can’t even manage my own. If he’s you’re reading this Somnos, get yourself a paid manager a high priest or something and leave me alone. I went through at 2.50 am and took my meds so the medicine trays were now empty. Time to fill them for another week and prepare a list of things I need next week for the Friday refills. Lucky me that after losing my repeat prescription form last week they printed me a copy of their own list of my drugs to tick boxes. I worked till 9.40 then took a present wrapping break. I’m up to date with John’s until the rest of his stuff arrives bit even though it ‘s early, I want to get Karen’s wrapped and I can concentrate on getting Lee’s bought.                                                                                                                                  There was a thud on the doormat as two more of John’s gifts arrived. It’s funny, they were due Monday or Tuesday next week but what was due today didn’t arrive. Then very strangely I got a text from John to say they’re coming on Monday as his plans for next week have changed. I got wrapping again quickly. I must have drifted through to the lounge as that’s where I woke up at 11.45 am. I had to apply my mind to some lunch but decided as I won’t be here on Monday for my chips and curry sauce I might as well have them today. That’s those gone now. After lunch and Bargain Hunt I went back to work and my oh my hadn’t it mounted up. My bad. I was occupied and out of trouble until about 4.20 pm when I went to see my antiques show, it started at half past but somehow nap time descended upon me again and I didn’t come round until 5.40 pm having then missed most of my second antiques shows. I had a bag of cheese and onion crisps to compensate me.                                                                                                                                 My return to work was at 9.00 pm as usual and I was hard at it until 11.25 pm I’ll be going for my long nap soon I hope.

Two young men who live locally to me whom I got to know before this. They’re taking on the world. Richard and Adam, both really nice lads and full of talent. You’ll find them on Youtube or can get their CD’s from Amazon.

Saturday morning was a 2.37 am wake. At least I hadn’t read very long last night and must have surrendered to sleep soon after 12.15 am when my light went out. I managed to do a couple of messages before it was time for filling my face. It was only toast again but today I didn’t let it go cold. Oh no you di’nt. I’m afraid so, I ate it warm though there was still plenty of butter on it.                                                                                                            I found out last night that Yvonne is poorly with some kind of virus so I may not see her today at the lunchtime meal for my niece’s birthday. She’s been threatening me all week with a shopping expedition after lunch with Mike being away. I can’t tell you how many horrors that holds so I intend to slip out into Holywell this morning and get my basics then perhaps this afternoon we can just spend a couple of minutes buying the heavy stuff like my Pepsi Max though I could buy a bottle a day locally till I have what I need. I know it will be dearer but I’m prepared for that. With luck I’ll be out about 7.30 am for my bus and back at 8.30 am before the world has finished it’s breakfast. I’m not at all good with crowds especially without a bodyguard between me and them. Of course my bodyguard is now living it up in Canada without a care in the world ( he hasn’t been to Vegas yet). I was back home at 8.20 am thanks to a very pretty taxi driver. Once I’d put the shopping away I returned to ‘catch up time’. I was under no pressure as my lift wasn’t coming until about 12.30 pm. They arrived at 12.45 pm leaving us 15 mins for a half hour journey. I threw my stuff in the car saying a quick prayer that none of the presents got broken. We didn’t do too badly but the girls were waiting for us outside as we arrived. We went in and got our table and had the usual spats about who was paying for the meals once we’d chosen. Karen and Jo were adamant they would pay for their own, I must have offended them. Yvonne was just as adamant but I have longer arms than her and friends behind the bar who’d just received this weeks sweetie ration. Yvonne chose a carvery like me so we had to wait a while to give them chance to cook and deliver the other choices. We all had a nice time and Reuben and Amelie had fun in the play area in the glorious sunshine.                                                                                                                           After lunch we said goodbye to the girls and piled Jo’s gifts into the boot of their car ready for her birthday tomorrow. Then before taking me home Yvonne and Ugo took me to a local supermarket to collect the heavy stuff I couldn’t manage in the morning (Pepsi) and Yvonne did a little shopping alongside me. When they dropped me at home I put my stuff away then immediately started on the mail. I worked till 6.00 pm then decided to treat myself to some Big Bang Theory. I saw one and a half episodes then nodded off before I could turn over at 8.00 pm. Instead I woke at 8.50 pm to the latter half of an episode and called it a night. I took my meds and came through. 11.44 pm and I’m almost through for the night.

Sunday lights out 12.30 am up again 2.32 am along with the bladderspeak message ‘Move it’. So I did. I bladderspoke a sigh of relief in turn. I came back and turned the system on and did mail until it was time for breakfast. When I took my coffee back after breakfast I had a wonderful surprise. My book which was translated for the Chinese Market has gone on sale in a leading Taiwan publisher’s. Below is the link if anyone wants to take a look.                                                                                            http://www.pubu.com.tw/ebook/121818                                                                                           I think this is an ebook for now but who knows, maybe when it goes to the Mainland it will be the paperback. For me this is very exciting and I own massive thanks to Ethan Lo who took the time and trouble to translate but also understand what he was translating by getting the idiom right. I worked on mail right up to lunch time. Well OK, if you’re going to be so pedantic, I might possibly have nipped into Ebay a couple of times or three but not for long. After lunch I nodded off in my chair (Sunday afternoons were made for this) and dreamed about the trifle in the fridge for teatime. I can hear you saying “What a gannet ” even now. I woke just before 3.00 pm and came back for a catch up. I noticed the sun was shining down like yesterday but when I checked it was raining and the sun was reflecting from the wet ground. Still it’s much nicer than expected. I had a couple of hours on the post again then went through to indulge myself on trifle. Half tonight, half tomorrow. I’d love to know who decides they’ll serve four people. I watched Lewis which was the follow on to Morse. A good story as always. Tonight I came through at 8.00 pm to be sure of getting the mail finished. I seem to have done OK.

Have a wonderful new week. Smile and Hug where you can, you never know when someone needs one. Hope for peace in the world, a day without killing, a day without dying. Work for tolerance and a lack of hate. Work towards less weapon for those who have no tolerance and who love to hate, the world belongs to you not them.                   Huge Hugs