How the Mighty Are Fallen & We Have Lift Off

Sunday 20th March.

It was about 12.15 am before I got into bed and I think I was past the point of tiredness just then. I read 2 chapters of the current book and turned the light out at 1.10 am. It was a short while before sleep came thanks to the legs.
I woke at 2.36 am and using the landing lights, took a stroll to the loo. On my return I sat on the edge of the bed with a cigarette, it was pretty good company until it’s light went out. I shuffled back into bed and waited for sleep again. I woke the second time at 4.54 am and knew that was it for now. I didn’t mind too much as there was always mail waiting. I didn’t know how much. Apart from a minor hiatus at 6.00 am when I had breakfast I sat at the computer until 10.38 am. I think Joey hates me now. I can’t remember another Sunday with this much mail coming in.

I stayed in the lounge until after lunch time- which was a microwave Roast Beef Dinner- then returned to the computer. First in Mike’s room where I had another go at raising anyone via the skype. Nada. Then on my bedroom one and I went to Facebook where John came through on what he said was Messenger, which I don’t know. I could see him but not vice versa as my camera is on the other computer. We didn’t manage many words before it started cutting out and breaking up. I don’t know if that’s the fault of my headphones or of Messenger itself which I’m not signed up for. So, I still haven’t managed to get any news. I carried on answering mail,reading blog posts and retweeting. I gave up the ghost on messaging and at 5.00 pm when the mail box was empty I retired to the lounge.

I had a generous bowl of trifle for my tea, it does have fruit in after all. I sat watching a film until 7.00 pm then watched the last episode of Beowulf. It came to a very bloody end as expected but the goodies won (I think). I wasn’t ready to come back through at that point so watched an NCIS episode. I stood up from my chair after turning the TV off and tripped over my own feet or to be more accurate (It wasn’t me) over the cord from my slipper. I was going forward and was about to wear the TV round my neck. I even had time to be glad it was off. I had one chance and that was to twist sideways and sort of fold. I made it though as I landed I understand there were reports of an earthquake. I had the breath knocked from my body. I was quite worried Joey would be scared, not a bit of it. He came to the edge of his cage, hopped onto the door where the seed tray is and started eating. Just to add insult to injury the husk from the seed was going on my face and in my hair. As I slowly came to my knees and then stood he moved back into the cage until he was in his corner. I said Goodnight and shut the door. Feeling very sorry for myself I limped back to my bedroom sans slipper.

After tying the lace again in my slipper and putting it back on I had a couple of painkillers and started on the mail again. It was slow going. At 9.15 pm I went through to the kitchen for my spray and evening meds. By 9.53 pm I’d cleared all the mail that was there and started today’s blog which is much shorter than usual since Mike isn’t here to insult. I’ve been through to turn off the other computer but only after checking Skype. I can’t understand why John hasn’t received the two requests from me. I’ve also looked at this Messenger and can’t see how to do anything so maybe I need to get a new headset and try again though it works for me when I’m doing Youtube. Anyway, I shall be done by 11.15 pm tonight and soon with my book.

Trip out

Startled !

Monday 21st March.

It was closer to 11.30 am when I got to my bed in the end. I was a greased monkey except for my hands so that I didn’t stain my book. I read until 12.45 am then settled down to sleep. I didn’t move between going to sleep until  3.42 am this morning when I woke. I reckoned I’d done well and had I not needed the loo I’m sure I would have slept longer. However the journey woke me as I was still wincing from my fall, or as some youngster might have said, from enjoying my trip. By 3.50 am I was sitting at my desk signing in to my gmail box ready for an early start. At 5.20 am I took a break for my meds and some breakfast so I’d be back before the flood started. When I returned there was an email waiting from my friend and superb author SJ Sprague offering me some great advice which has given me plenty to mull over.

A Presence in Russell County. The Organisation Book 1.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Presence-Russell-County-Organization-Book-ebook/dp/B009QFC5GW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458537931&sr=8-1&keywords=SJ+Sprague This is the first book in a series with book 2 ( Mulberry ) already out and book 3 being written. A fantastic read. You’ll never look at small town policing the same way again.

I was back before the flood, remarkably sound considering I’d just tried to juggle with the bread knife and only just avoided amputating my right leg. I knew I should have completed the Online Ninja Training Course, I could have snatched that knife out of the air without squealing. It was lucky I’d already cut the bap for my toast in case it got covered with blood. Once I’d eaten and filled all the gouges in the floor with plastic wood I made myself a coffee to take back with me. I sat working again from 6.00 am as a trickle became a flood. At 9.20 am I had a text from Jade about working today which was fine, but I couldn’t have her 3-5.00 pm as suggested so we settled on 11.00 am to midday then 3 – 4.00 pm.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       At 9.40 am I went out to Pauline’s to ensure I had enough money to pay Jade. When I returned I worked a little longer then stopped to watch HUtH with Joey who was again determined to be a barber and part my hair for me. I’m sure he must have been a Hedgehopper in WW1. As the programme ended i returned to work yet again. Despite having worked from 3.50 am I still have 54 to go.

The doorbell went about 11.10 am and there was Jade straight from her work as a carer and in between appointments. I asked her to get stuck into the lounge because of today’s visitor. She did a good job though after she’d gone I noted she’d used my new squeegee mop but not emptied the bucket of dirty water or replaced the top of the bucket or the ordinary mop. Hardly a great problem. I did those and moved on to lunch. After taking my tablets I rammed a beef hot-pot in the micro and turned the TV on for Bargain Hunt. I can shout at the screen and give them the benefit of my nil expertise and more upset stomach than gut feeling. At 1.00 pm I turned the TV off which shut Joey up straight away as he wondered what was going on. I came back through and tried to get the upper hand on the mail. By 1.45 pm I was fading fast and needed my power nap. I went back through to the lounge, sat in my chair. I zonked until 2.26 pm.

Coonscience ( yes I have got one somewhere, or I did earlier on) got the better of me so I returned to work again. I’m not sure which of the small gods I’ve upset but I reckon he’s recycling other people’s mail through my address. Somewhere are a lot of people with smug grins on their faces because they finished early again today. Mine seems never ending. It was 3.20 pm when I was disturbed from my reverie by the doorbell. It was Jade back for her 3.00 pm shift? She attacked the bathroom with such gusto I began to think it as dirty though I knew it couldn’t be. She also hoovered in the hall. It was 3.50 pm when the doorbell went again and woke disturbed me. It was my expected visitor from the Office of National Statistics. I directed him through to the lounge while I finished an email and Jade finished what she was doing, which it’s just as well wasn’t me given the circumstances. Sigh. I logged off, paid Jade and she left……..left me to clear the mucky cloth and sponge from a bowl of dirty water in the sink.        I moved to sit in the lounge.

It’s quite strange and a little unreal to spend an hour or so answering questions about your finances for the Government. The thought has to flash through your mind that maybe they’re asking this to find ways of taking some back. All kinds of questions came like whether I own property, do I have savings, how much, do I have ISA’s and again how much. What is my income and how often paid, state pension, private pension(s), disability living allowances, housing benefits and the same from Council tax and how many bank accounts. Certainly there were times my mouth didn’t really want to answer but I’d agreed. Can I manage on my income, do I have credit and /or storecards. Very thorough I must admit. The purpose supposedly to see whether people are managing their money well and whether they can manage on their current incomes. It was 5.10 pm when he left. A very pleasant man but I was relieved. There was no point going back to work now so I turned into Cold Case followed by my usual programmes except I fell asleep again in SG1 and missed most of it. The smiles at the end of the show don’t really tell you about the crises that went before.

At 9.00 pm I turned off the TV and shut Joey’s cage. I took my meds and came through. The mail was up again and took me until 11.15 to finish so it looks like this is going to be a late night.

Art class

Artwork

Tuesday 22nd March

The age of miracles is not past. It was almost 12.30 am before I got to bed and took up my book. I got a little carried away and read until the end of a third chapter ( that’s upset the OCD a bit) so lights out was around 1.50 am. But, I didn’t wake his morning until 6.33 am. Taking my meds was the first priority and I felt it a little late for breakfast so I’ll have to remember to take some meds at tea time……and actually have a tea time. The only other drawback to getting up at this time is that I didn’t have chance to deal with last night’s mail before today’s started to come in. So, when I went back through with a coffee and signed on, I was faced with 86 already.                              Head down and into it I went, answer one, receive two seemed t be the formula until I shouted at the screen, “That’s a bloody nuff,” and it worked.

By 9.30 am I decided I needed a break, so with just 28 left to go I got dressed. With Joey squawking “Don’t forget me” I went to Pauline’s where I got Joey a copy of next week’s TV programmes while I got my bread and some cigarettes. The talk in there was of bombings in Brussels. On my return I turned the TV on and told Joey his HUtH wasn’t on today. The news was bad with 13 dead and 30+ serious injuries. It seems to be i response to the capture of someone involved in the Paris bombings just a few days ago. It seems they can react very quickly. There was mention of a possible suicide bomber and of shots fired and Arabic shouting at the airport. The second bomb was at the Metro. If the intent was to shut the City down it worked, if it was to scare the West it didn’t. I’m not about to say the West haven’t provoked these kinds of reactions with our interference in other countries for the sake of oil supplies but what the world needs to understand now is that no-one wants a world ruled by these fanatics and governed in such a way that women are disregarded as individuals and not worthy of education, not allowed to drive a car and unable to dress in fashionable clothes. A totally patriarchal society. Most of the Arab world don’t want it either so they must help the West crush ISIS  at every opportunity. It’s no use Saudi Arabia funding them and hoping to be left alone to rule as it won’t happen. If they get strong enough the ruling houses will topple under a headman’s axe and Sharia law will prevail.

I detest war and killing. I’m not proud of some things my country has done as in their creativity as an excuse to invade Iraq. But this is different as it’s not about oil for a change. ISIS are fanatics bent on changing the world to bend to it’s will. It’s evil and needs no excuse for it’s cruelty, though with so many beheadings recently Saudi Arabia also has a claim to that. There’s no democracy where you can’t criticise your Government without fear of imprisonment or death, where the Government will  brook no opposition to it’s rule. I don’t object if that’s the way a country wants to be but there are no countries who don’t have opposition to that kind of rule.                                                So for the first and hopefully the last time ever, I’m asking ALL Governments and ALL peoples who want some kind of democracy and those who believe that women have an equal right to the things men take for granted, to join together and stop ISIS in their tracks. Help the Kurds who are fighting them and ask Russia to stop bombing those who oppose President Assad in Syria. If he has committed atrocities against his own people because they oppose him then he has lost his right to rule.                                            Make the world a safer place, bring about peace and then stay within your own shores to protect your borders instead of invading someone else’s.

I’m a parent and a grandparent. I have seen death take so many of our children and ravage so many generations. We need leaders who are going to protect those who could grow to be the new Einstein or Rupert Brooke ,who may solve the energy crisis, find a way to repair Gaia or feed the World so that we can leave a legacy for generations to come. I don’t want my children or grandchildren to face the uncertainties of war or the death of their planet. Let’s learn to live as one and grow as we were meant to.

I worked until 11.50 am and then realised that lunchtome loomed, sorry, lunchtime, the other is a book you read while you eat. I went for speed so had a beef joint that can be done in the micro with some micro chips and mixed veg. The vinegar from the chips goes so well with the gravy. I watched a few minutes more of the news and obviously the death toll has gone up. The wilful disregard for life is sickening and these people don’t care at all whether it’s someone of their own religion who dies. However, I watched Bargain Hunt right through to the end before I allowed myself to Zzzzzz but I enjoyed about 45 minutes afterwards. Then as always I returned to the battle in the demented hope nothing more had come through. I was to be disappointed but it was my own fault as I’d posted the piece starting from 9.30 am today to my Buthidar’s site and it was bound to draw a reaction. I worked until the folder was empty again about 3.15 pm then went to look at Homes in The Country. I was destined to be jealous again but three quarters of a million isn’t in any of my piggy banks. I enjoyed the viewings though and what my imagination could do. I’m especially fond of the mystery house at the end.

At 3.45 pm I decided to try Messenger that John had mentioned to me. It took me straight there as though I’m already registered so it has to be through Facebook. Then as it happened while I was checking a few messages I had on Facebook, John rang me. He turned his camera on so I’d have the privilege of seeing ‘my leader’ and for a moment I was grateful my camera is attached to the other computer still or he’d have seem my face too. The disappointment in my smile. He says they’re back to visiting again next week. It’s been about 5 or 6 weeks now since I’ve seen them and it’s quite worrying. He sounds OK so I guess they’ve just been busy. If they were a bus ride away I’d try to get to them but they’re buried in the country.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               At 4.45 pm I excused myself and went to get some tea which I had while my Cold Case was on. Then Without a Trace which I find myself less fond of every day. This was of course followed by SG1 and Sanctuary which was almost a comedy show tonight. 9.00 pm and it was time to lock Joey in and wish him goodnight, not all jailers do that you know. I took my meds and came through to start work again. It had mounted up quite a lot but I had some time teasing Yvonne because she thought it was Wednesday today so that helped take the edge off things for me. I worked till 11.05 pm on the mail then started the blog. I will be in bed before midnight, a matter of seconds only perhaps but before midnight.

Pals at Play

Father and son portrait

Wednesday 23rd March.

I made the midnight deadline but I’m not saying how close the call was. I did the cream on one leg then rubbed them together to save time. I had to stop  when the sparks and smoke came though. I’m not sure I’m covered for arson around. I sneaked in three chapters and decided I had to have a fourth to satisfy the OCD need for balance. I lit a cigarette in readiness and started and for the first time ever turned the page to find the chapter ended halfway down the second page. What should have given at least half an hour’s pleasure lasted a minute or less. I couldn’t help but laugh. It served me right.The light went out at 1.06 am. It went back on at the end of my night which was 4.32 am which proves I spoke too soon (tongue in cheek) yesterday about the age of miracles. Hey ho, at least I had an undisturbed night.(No sarcasm intended O’great and mighty Somnos).

I did my mail until 5.55 am when I cleared the mailbox. I knew it would fill again while I was away having breakfast but I couldn’t feel guilty at not having done it as it hadn’t yet arrived. I had thick toast from an unsliced loaf I’d got from Pauline’s yesterday. I ate it fresh instead of letting it go cold for a change. Once finished it was 6.33 am before I took a coffee back to my desk. What is it they say, “I’m never wrong but I’m right again.” There was so much mail I couldn’t even see the postie behind the sacks. How can we all have so much to say? To be honest I was so engrossed in great poems and fine art that I lost track of the time. It was 9.20 am before I looked up and decided I should get dressed. Once I was decent again I took a walk over the road to the One Stop shop, I rarely use this as Pauline’s is handy and has most things I need. I think it must have been Jade who told me that the One Stop had flowers and it really looked as though I should have got some on Saturday. Anyway I went and they didn’t have any flowers left. They did however have a pot plant so I bought that. Now my record with pot plants is not good. Jade pointed out to me on Monday that I’m cultivating a stick on the kitchen windowsill. Once home I put the plant in a more attractive container and watered it. I have to try and make sure it lives until I get flowers on Saturday.

I watched TV at 10.00 am with Joey who’s doing a lot of chunnering under his breath this morning with the occasional exclamation mark thrown in as though he’s berating someone. For once it doesn’t seem to be me. But, as I turned the TV off at 11.00 am he went quiet with it. I carried on with mail until 11.45 am then went to see to my lunch. It wasn’t bad but I really wasn’t in the mood for it. I watched Bargain Hunt  then noticed two ladies walk past the front window, You can tell when they have a sense of determination and are coming to your door. They were. I opened it and there was Jade asking whether I got a text. I had to admit I didn’t have my phone in the lounge with me ( I usually do). Anyway she’d brought someone to meet me who either works with her or for her and who might cover for Jade sometimes if I don’t mind. I’m happy if someone cleans no matter who. They left in time for me to catch the auction part of the programme. Both teams made a loss.

I returned to the computer to leave some ebay feedback and to catch up on mail again. At 3.15 pm I was done and took a break until 3.45 pm. I’d come back and answered 2 emails when I heard the door open quietly. It was Dil who’d been on an outside job so I broke off and made him a cuppa cha. We had a good natter and watched our usual shows until 6.00 pm when war broke out. As always it was Yahtzee first and I was devastated to lose 4-2 on the first game. I couldn’t throw a Yahtzee to save my life while I had to check the soles of his shoes he threw that many. The second game eventually went 4-2 in my favour and I had to check the soles of my slippers too.                                    The Trivia started well and I got 3 pieces of pie in short order and was on my 4th before Dil won one. He soon bucked up and as I got my 6th he was just one behind. I managed t get to the middle 3 times and was thwarted by his choice of question twice, answering correctly on the last one. That game was mine. The cribbage also ended up one game all so the honours were fairly evenly spread except of course I WON.

Dil left at 9.30 pm and after I’d escorted him off the premises and locked up I had a quick tidy up in the lounge, renewed Joey’s millet and then made myself a sarnie. I’d just washed up and taken my drugs when I was left in the dark. It seemed only the kitchen and lounge were out so I had to grab the ladders and go outside to check the fuse box. I found just the one had tripped so flipped it back again and came in to check. The kitchen was back on but it looked as though the bulb had blown in the lounge. I decided that could wait until daylight. I came through to have a go at the mail which kept me going until 11.10 pm.  I’ve fought hard with the blog and don’t feel inclined to let it beat me so I predict bed at midnight.

King of the Castle

A proper girly-girl

This must have taken some organising………

Thursday 24th March.

My prediction was off by 5 minutes but on the plus side. I read for an hour then put the candle out in my Wee Willie Winkie holder ( in case the lights go again ) so by just gone 1.00 pm I’d settled down to just listening to every noise and wondering if the burglars were back. I slept until 5.32 am which is really good going. No broken toes from middle of the night wanderings so it was a win win night. I made a start on the mail but had to stop at 6.00 am to get my meds and my cup of coffee. When I returned the floodgates had opened.I turned everything off, went to Mike’s room and disconnected the new computer bringing the base back with me. Virtually lying on the floor with a torch I disconnected my original base part by part and putting them on the new base as I did so until the old one was free.I turned the new one on and We Have Lift Off.  I worked again until 9.15 am then made the effort to get dressed, no point in going out in my dressing gown as it was persisting down out there and I’d catch a chill coming back. I had to go to Pauline’s for the lottery before I forgot and I was due out tomorrow. I came back and took up the work  again until 10.10 am when done and I could treat Joey to an edition of my his HUtH.

Once our programme was over I did come back to work. I caught up on the mail and then checked on the times of the buses for tomorrow. My normal bus is the T1 which is on Sunday service tomorrow. Clever as it doesn’t run on a Sunday. The other option is the No 11 which goes a different way and takes longer. It’s also on a Sunday service which means 2 hourly so I’d have to stay in Chester an extra hour before getting home for my lunch. I sent a text to Yvonne to apologise. She came back with the idea of coming shopping with me on Saturday which would be great ( especially as she’s found a new shop she wants to go to) and then I’ll see her Sunday too.                                               At 11.45 am I went off to peel my sweet potatoes ready for lunch. That done I put my sausages under the grill for the first quarter browning then put the potatoes in the microwave as the sausages got their first turn. I had peas and carrots with it and some thick chip shop style gravy. Luscious.

After Bargain Hunt was over I settles for a power nap but a knock on the front door disturbed that after just ten minutes. By the time I realised what it was and opened the door whoever it was had gone. So, I came back to work and as it happens you’d all been busy while I was away. I also spent a little time with photographs ready to be used on the blog and then at 3.00 pm I broke off for Escape to the Country. Today it was a couple wanting to buy their first house together in Sussex. One was a lovely property from 14th C, absolutely beautiful. Globules of green jealousy were dropping off me and ruining the leather of my couch. I’m not sure how as I was sitting in a chair. I returned to work at 3.45 am and found a message from Yvonne that says it’s OK to miss tomorrow as she’ll come shopping with me on Saturday. That’s good news as she’s less restrained even than I am. I’ll get away with anything.

At 4.55 pm no matter what I abandoned my post (literally) and went through for some tea and my evening’s viewing starting of course with Cold Case. I was still awake for Without a Trace, I risked one eye for SG1 (it was a silly storyline) and then enjoyed Sanctuary with both eyes again. I don’t know whether Joey enjoyed them but he was in and out of his cage a lot while they were one. Problem was when he came out to his usual perch on the mirror ( the bottom of which is now missing all it’s gold leaf) his fiendish foe always seemed to be waiting for him. I was therefore treated so a session of headbut morse code against the glass. I don’t know why he either just doesn’t ignore him or at least takes the high road and befriend him. Probably too mean to share his seed. He’s not touching the honey seed stick despite there being no fruit in it. I think he just likes the shape of the bell version.

At 9.00 pm I turned off, then turned the TV off too and locked Joey’s cage. I had my meds and came through to tackle the mail which took until 10.35 pm. I’m doing wellwith the blog and expect to be in bed by 11.30 pm unless more mail has arrived by then.

Protective Big Brother.

You going ? Me sad.

Friday 25th March.

It was nearer 11.45 pm last night as more mail came in while I did the blog. No problemo. It was close to 1.00 am when I finished reading and put the light out and I don’t think sleep was long in coming. Unfortunately neither was waking which happened at 3.44 am. I say unfortunately because I was dreaming and it was an inopportune moment to wake. No-one can say Somnos doesn’t have a sense of humour ( I can…..and do) because he woke me as I was about to make love to a beautiful woman. Maybe he did me a favour to save me from causing disappointment or just from  trying to remember what to do. These days I’d probably have to feel my way round a woman by braille over the various lumps and bumps to remember what they are. It might have been Ju as I never quite got to see but I’m sure that after 5 years she wouldn’t have objected. She was taken from us 3 years next week and I’m dreading the day.

After a visit to Pee Paradise I came back ad worked on my mail till 5.40 am when I broke off to take my meds and have breakfast. Since it’s Friday and that means there’s not much Good about it, I also had to refill my pots with next week’s drugs, and prepare a prescription request of the drugs I’m low on. That can’t go in till Tuesday next week so It’s as well I won’t be going to Chester then. So, back to the mail then, lots of it having passed deluge time. I got dressed at 8.30 am and went out at 9.30 am. Pauline had my baps in but not my brand of cigarettes so I’ve changed brand for the day. They’re getting cheekier, there are just 17 in the packet now. Going home I did a little more mail before Joey insisted I spend some time with him so I turned HUtH on  and hoped he was in the mood. (No, not THAT mood you mucky devils).                                                              Once again when it was over I returned to work on the mail. I kept going until 11.45 am. It was time then for lunch.

I had bought a bag of Welsh potatoes to be used as baked spuds. There was a great instruction on the packet about how long to put them in the oven for but no similar destructions for the microwave so this would be a trial and error lunch. I chose two potatoes though I had no idea if I’d finish them, it just didn’t look a lot. In they went 7 minutes. Bing Out they cam to be tested, still a bit hard in places. I thought another two minutes should do the job so back in they went. I opened a tin of beans to have with them once ready. Bing Another test and they seem much better. In go the beans for 2 minutes while I do a deeper cruciform cut on the top to open them a bit and drop in a load of butter. Bing. The beans are ready and get poured over the top. I add a small strawberry yoghurt to the tray and go into the lounge. I turn the TV on and start to eat. Mmmm, not bad at all. OK, baked potatoes can go back on the menu but from now on just the one I think. The yoghurt was good. I washed my pots while the contestants in Bargain Hunt were still walking round the shop and was back in my seat well before the auction. Both teams made a loss again.

At 1.00 pm I returned to work but I’d promised as today was a bank holiday to work less so this little energetic burst only lasted until 2.00 pm. I went back to the lounge at 2.00 pm ans started watching one of the Dr. Blake Mysteries. A nurse is found dead on the floor and a patient sitting by her with the knife says he can’t remember. OK, it becomes obvious he’s had ECT treatment to wipe the memory and we know he doesn’t touch knives. Blakey is on the trail of who really dunnit when dammit I fell asleep. Somnos mocks me by letting me wake up just after the programme has finished. The next one is a new quiz so I stayed for that too.At 3.00 pm I had to return to my screen though as I don’t want to leave a mess behind me when I go through for the evening. I caught up and kept on top until 4.45 pm when I decided to have some tea. Then I watched Cold Case and Without a trace till 7.00 pm before I went for a shower. I do wish I had a bathtub instead. When I was a clean boy ( sorry, there’s nothing I can do with my mind) I went to watch SG1 and hadn’t missed too much. I’m not going to say I fully followed the plot but maybe I’m just going Mutt n’ Jeff. Sanctuary was last and If I don’t stop doing this silly Quasimodo impression and using a heavy lisp I’m really going to kick myself in the Esmereldas. Once it was over I locked Joey in and went to take my meds, then said goodnight to Joey as I headed for my room.

Lots of post to catch up on but not to bad I was done by 10.40 pm. When I’ve finished the blog it will be another pre-midnight bedtime, though I do need to do the legs tonight.

Excited face.going to watch Beauty and the Beast.

Tired baby. Not too excited.

Saturday 26th March.

Bed at 11.50 pm and read until 1.00 pm, slept pretty much straight away asking myself how it’s possible after my power naps during the day. I was awake at 2.18 am  knowing I’d want to sleep again later, just not sure when.  I hoped it would be soon. By 3.25 am I’d dealt with all the mail and decided to  try lying on the bed for a while. That stretched to 5.00 am. There weren’t many emails in when I woke again and I was able to enjoy Episode 1 of my friend Teagan’s new weekly serial with as usual, 3 things donated by the readers that she has to include. http://teagansbooks.com/2016/03/26/guitar-mancer-episode-1-luci/  . It’s always great fun if you want to join in and maybe even donate the three items one week.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 I had breakfast at 5.30 am then returned with a cup of coffee to work. I was in time for the start of the deluge which always starts with a minor trickle then throws the worst at you while you’re answering someone so you don’t notice.

I continued to work even when I heard the strangest sound outside. I thought it was Bert taking my bin down as it was 7.35 am and I’ve normally done it by now. I went and checked out of the window so I could say thank you but was shocked to see it was actually the bin men themselves. They were half a day earlier than usual and they’d come and collected my bin off the step for emptying it instead of ignoring it as they had last time. They even delivered the empty bin back to the step. The only trouble was they had the food bin collection too and I hadn’t emptied mine. Luckily there wasn’t very much and it will do next week. As they were disappearing in the distance I took out the paper, plastic and tin bags ready for the recycling collection whenever that might be.                                                                                                                                                                                      I ploughed on with the mail to get as much out of the way as I could before I’m picked up. I had an email at 8.30 am to say Yvonne, Ugo and Amelie were ready and willing but Reuben was still snoring. Considering the nights recently he hasn’t slept but kept them awake it’s just as well he’s sleeping now, just not very convenient. I said to bring his asleep and he can breakfast out but was joking.

At just gone 9.30 am I had a text to say they were on their way. I had all my begs handy ready to go and a full jar of copper to go into the machine if I could carry it that far. The post man arrived with letters about my council tax, yet another change in the amount I’ll pay next year (from April) and naturally it’s more. Still it has to be paid so the direct debit is in place. I’m getting closer to that date and I still don’t know what direct debits have been (or will be) set up for me to pay on the rent for the house or the garage. It’s very difficult to work out my monthly costs without that information. He also brought me some more jewellery for my stocks. I worked on my messages up to 9.55 am then put my coat on, braced my back and went outside to wait. I’d only been there a couple of minutes when they arrived.                                                                                        Off we went to ASDA.When we arrived Ugo dropped us at the door so he could go off for petrol. First he helped Yvonne get baby in a papoose pouch and Reuben into the trolley. I went to play the cash machine and try for the jackpot.

Inside, I had Yvonne pour the change into the machine and wait for a ticket. I went to get my sweet potatoes. The ticket came to just over £26 so of course we had the usual row when I told her to keep it and use it against today’s purchases. You might not believe this but I won. We were both picking things up as we were going round and we hadn’t even reached the food yet. I got flowers for Ju. I also picked up a couple of fun costume type things for Reuben and Yvonne got bibs for Amelie. I managed to pick up a couple of small gifts I wanted for tomorrow.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      As always happens, eventually we hit the food. Then it was a case of seeing who could fill my trolley faster. I went for bulk and at least got more space. Ugo came and took Roobs away to visit the loo while Yvonne and I headed for the tills. I must really be on form today. I let her stuff go through first. Ad the register showed the amount owed Yvonne handed over the voucher from the machine and while she or Ugo who had rejoined us went to pull cards out to pay the extra £12 I just handed over £20 to the cashier with a smile. Yvonne tried to stop us but I said “Too late, it’s been put on the till now.” Hola, another win! Mine went through and I laid it in the bags I’d set out in the trolley, such organisation. We went for a drink but certain surly people wouldn’t let me pay.

From there we went to look at The Range, a new store that had only opened yesterday. 16 different departments and 65,000 different products. It was great. Really nice stuff but I’d need much longer to look round properly and to stop for a drink while I thought. A weekday would be best when hopefully a lot quieter. There were too many people for me today. Time was really running away from us today and so we came home. It was about 2.15 pm when I got here. I made sure they took the chocolate and biscuits from last week with them then waved them off. I spent an age putting the shopping away and put Ju’s flowers in a vase out of the way till later. I made myself a late lunch and sat with a very excitable Joey while I ate it. Once done, I apologised to him and came through to start work. It wasn’t as bad as feared since I’d done so well with the morning’s post before going out. It still took until 5.30 pm though to get clear. It’s not worth say I watched TV during the evening as I seem to have been more asleep than awake and very sluggish and sneezy ( no missus, not the dwarf).

At 9.10 pm I shut Joey in and went through to take my meds.  Ju’s flowers were looking a bit worse for wear and I thought maybe I should have put water in those vases really.I did so and decided to let them soak a bit. I’d do the flowers properly in the morning. I came through and started work. The mail I got through by 10.40 pm and I started the blog though I tried to keep up with any more mail coming through. I know I don’t usually publish this until midnight but I shall be a little early tonight as I want my bed. Perhaps 11.50 tops.

Wishing you all a Great Easter Sunday, a wonderful Bank Holiday Monday and a Fabulous new week ahead full of dreams come true. xxx Hugs Galore xxx

The ‘Butter wouldn’t melt’ look

And the crockledile took two of Pop’s fingers Ami.

 

Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder.

Easter Sunday. Look, just put the thumb screws away, I’m ready to admit I had a lie in. What?, They’re not thumbscrews, just two clothespegs and you don’t really care? Well, nice way to be interested I must say.

So, it was 5.50 am before I woke. I know it doesn’t matter as I don’t have immediate plans at that time of the day but it’s worth noting because it’s unusual. Must you argue?, Because I think it’s worth noting that’s who ! I put the computer on to warm up as I left the room, it probably could have done with an overcoat this morning as it was really nippy here. Anyway, I had a wee, washed my paws and came back. Have you lot got noting better to do on a Saturday night but write to me?( Thank heavens). There was a lot of post, 84 on this first outing.  I worked till 7.00 am then went to do the early routines so that I could take the antibiotic I need to have breakfast with. I don’t know who does the shopping round here but I’m getting mighty tired of cornflakes. No dilly dallying, back to work. It actually kept me going until almost 11.00 am and I only stopped at 9.00 am for a couple of minutes to get dressed. I wen though to the lounge to wish my nieces a Happy Easter, no they weren’t in the lounge, I texted them. I also texted Yvonne to wish her the same and to see why time my visit was to be today so I knew whether I had time for lunch. No answer so I guess they’ve gone to Church.

I had a bit of brisket and some new potatoes for lunch. No pudding to follow. I sat in the lounge for half an hour and returned to the pit to see to more mail. A text from Yvonne said they were walking home would have a cuppa and come. She wouldn’t be coming because of space issues in the car. A text from Ugo said Leaving at One, eta 1.40. Heavens how I laughed. I shall be an hour late at his funeral and still get there before him. At 1.25 I got another message from Yvonne to say they’d left. That meant I was safe till 2.00 pm. I actually finished just before then and wandered back through to the lounge and saw Ugo walking past the window with the others in tow. At the front door I asked what had happened to his ETA. He said it was Yvonne’s fault. He went through and was followed by his nephew Jude. A really nice young lad, then Del his mother’s partner and Christina herself holding the light of my chiropractors bank balance, Reuben. I’d had he heating on so didn’t feel guilty about divesting them of coats. I was sensible enough to take them out of the room before checking the pockets for stray gold bars etc. I took Reuben while Ugo made drinks for everyone- except me by the way though in all fairness he did ask. He had coffee and a can of traditional cloudy lemonade to make up for it. I was touched ( Who said that, come on own up. I have NOT always been touched) when Ugo handed me  doorstep sized box of maltesers for Easter. It was nice of them to think of my figure. Then Christina opened her handbag….. PAUSE.  Who remembers the Handbag of Mary Poppins? Well hers was smaller. Out came a three piece bath suite in a pretty peacock blue, a side table,  a rocking chair complete with Grandma Moses and finally, a big box of chocolates for me. How thoughtful. I handed out my selection making sure Reuben didn’t set eyes on his before his dinner. We managed to slip Jude a few small chocs so he didn’t open his chocolate rabbit till later. I had given him some cash to pick something he wanted for himself though.

There was a bit off chatter for an hour or so then the time approached where they’d have to leave to eat. Reuben was getting a bit crochety and was eating Ugo’s arm anyway. Del was saying it would be nice if I paid a visit to them in London or perhaps to the house in Birmingham. I think Ugo had already explained I don’t travel much though. Del being a builder is making improvements to the house in Birmingham by boarding the loft.I’m not sure if that’s where they’d put me.  Out came the cameras for a couple of posed shots.

Del, Jude, Reuben and Christina.

 

Del, Squashed Jude, Reuben, Christina and Querulous Bloke

Beware that very querulous bloke on the right. I think he may have been a lumberjack and from the looks of him everything is not alright. BTW, I didn’t take that one. Despite the shake, I took the first ( and better ) one. I returned their coats to them, watched Ugo steal all the cakes and biscuits and walked them out to the car. I didn’t carry Reuben this time as I’d never have walked or breathed again. I waved them off and returned to the house. After I’d sent a text to Yvonne to say they’d left and hadn’t had a single row I returned to my battle with your posts. The only thing on TV worth watching was a film from 1951, The Man in the White Suit which was on at 7.00 pm. I cleared the backlog, had some tea which included some of my lovely strawberry and rhubarb flan from Aldi then settled down to watch it. I think (Sir) Alec Guinness is one of the finest actors this Country ever produced. So talented. At 8.30 I decided to call a halt to the TV and concentrate on some personal mail, some comments on posts and of course today’s blog.

Tonight three songs in quick succession. All fantastic talent.     

 

Monday. A night with not too much sleep and yet another late rise. It was almost 6.00 am again and I feel like I’ve now sunk into the decadent lifestyle of a Roman Emperor, if I could just get someone to peel the grapes. There was a first batch of 91 messages this morning, I’d have been better staying on the computer overnight, but I felt under no real pressure as I have no public appearances due today and can work at my own pace. I am however not going to practice working in the nude ever again just because it’s warm. It’s quite embarrassing taking the nets down for a wash and you’re in the lounge. You’d think people had never seen an un-ironed suit before. Huh, they should check my laundry basket ! Because I’m having to eat in the morning to take the antibiotics at the moment, I went through to the kitchen at 7.00 am. The fish can’t believe their luck, an extra hours light and early feed. I could barely believe my luck this morning either as I spotted one of my two assassins. He was on his own against the glass at the back of the tank. Unfortunately it wasn’t surrounded by the unoccupied shells of  escargot dined upon. It will be just my luck to have bought a vegetarian.

I ate breakfast, dealt with all the meds and took my coffee back to the bedroom with the intention of dressing. But, as there was no rush I stayed in my dressing gown a while. There was lots of interest to comment on and lots to retweet. There were also lots of retweets of mine to say thank you for and more humorous comments on this weeks blog. People are very kind. I consider myself most fortunate in some of the wonderful relationships I’ve formed since doing the blog. I know some of them are with medical staff trying to cure me, but the rest in the main are just as barmy as me. Fortunately last time I saw a psych I got a form to show I’m cured so it’s puts me ahead of most of you if we ever get a right wing government in over here.  I’ve noticed that many people post a lot more often than me and one or two wonder why I don’t up the pace and push the books more. I suppose the best answer is that I used to blog much more often on my other site and found I had to cut back. Since I’m not writing these days I’d only be pushing my older books and I don’t want to do that all the time. I think once a week, with the occasional extra thrown in midweek suits me.

At 10.15 am I finally got dressed and as it’s a bank holiday went for the colouful look. The sun was shining even though tomorrow looks bleak ( No love, not the second sight, the weather forecast. Honestly, some people. One loaf short of a picnic). So, mauve jeans, purple desert boots, a shirt borrowed from the lumberjack and then a green cord jacket to set it off , I’m nothing if not stylish, and I nipped to Pauline’s for ciggies. It’s no surprise I attract so many looks. It was only a quick saunter and today was actually warm so no heating needed. A bad sign, sure to end soon. I managed to clear the mail by 10.50 am and retired to the lounge. I was giving lunch some thought when I promptly dozed off. I was out for almost an hour so I pulled myself together and headed for the kitchen.  I took my ’15 minute before’ tablet and then checked to see what I had still in date. A lamb hotpot seemed favorite today, two lovely baps and a slice of my rhubarb and strawberry tart to follow.

I washed the pots then headed back to the bedroom. Another 42 messages to go at. I remained there trying to stay awake until  3.30 when with just half a dozen to go I admitted defeat. Back to the lounge, turn Ben Hur on and straight back to sleep. Zzzzzzzz. Another hour nearly but at least the film is still on. I stayed with it till the end. There’s a particular section of the film where he’s in the desert looking at the horses of an Arab Sheikh. I can’t help but laugh as the Arab is played by a Welsh actor who has quite an accent. He does play an excellent rogue though.

Hugh Griffith … Sheik Ilderim

I decided to watch a couple of programmes on TV tonight for a break. One was 7 – 8 pm and the other 9 -10 pm so I made an effort with mail in between the two and then left the blog until after the last one. It would have worked better if some of you had taken a rest when I did so there were none waiting when I got back. But, that’s life. I hope to be out tomorrow so the mail will be a rush job before and after. Yvonne sent me a message tonight to say Reuben has now learned how to stand up using the rails on his cot. She sent me two pictures….

I”ll eat my way out then.

I’m innocent, I want my lawyer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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And tonight’s tunes    

Tuesday. Not a great night’s sleep so not much enthusiasm to be ‘Up and at ’em this morning’. I was tempted to text Yvonne and ask her to put the day on hold while I went back to bed. As a dedicated ( read addicted) shopper ( unlike me) I knew she’d be disappointed so I decided to carry on. Some of you will remember a few weeks ago me taking the wrong bus into Chester that had fortunate circumstances because of the route it took. Not to be confused with the wrong bus after going to the doctors that left me with a long walk to town. Swings and roundabouts eh? Well today I was to take that bus. But first, I got up, did some messages until 7.00 am, underwent the new routine with breakfast because of the antibiotics ( last day tomorrow), took my coffee back to the bedroom and got dressed. Some of you will have noticed an omission of which I only became aware this evening. I forgot the bloody fish again. Oops.

I checked the weather forecast for my postcode so I could see what coat to wear for my bus at 8.40 am. The BBC forecast insisted it was raining outside- it wasn’t. The second insisted it would rain at about noon- it rained at 8.30 when I went out and at noon in Chester I was sweltering inside a long waxed coat. I was taking this bus for two reasons. a) It’s quicker. and b) Yvonne and I were meeting at Dunelm Mill, an excellent homewear shop which has recently moved to new premises and acquired a cafe. Blah, Blah, Blah journey, I nodded off for much of it. I was five minutes late arriving but so was Yvonne so that was OK. We had a good look round and went to visit the cafe which she swore was good. It scored highly. the cakes/food was god value and good portion sizes, especially cakes she was pleased to see. I had a cold frappe which was so thick I had jaw ache trying to extract fluid. Good score there too. They were also helpful in supplying hot water to heat Reuben’s breakfast. Pity he didn’t get it as Yvonne added the wrong mixture to the wrong fluid and came up with gunk. Luckily he seemed happy with toast.

I was very lucky on a last peep downstairs to find toilet seats. I wanted a new one only it had to be blue. I’d seen some possibles on ebay but here was a blue one an a bit cheaper. From there we went to check another Supermarket, one of the Tesco Homestores where Yvonne was able to get a new bowl and drainer in the color of her kitchen. In the Costa cafe upstairs I had an ice cold lemonade made with crushed ice that was glorious. We hit a couple more shops then having been out nearly 6 hours started the long trek back into town. As this involved hills it also meant stops for me.  When we actually made it we ended up going to yet another Costa where Yvonne found out the reverse of Reuben’s morning formula didn’t work an she had to buy a ready made milk for him. I had a pot of tea and Yvonne a latte….plus a cake which Reuben shared. As soon as she averted her head he also shared her plate….right onto the floor so there were actually two pieces to give back. She says she’ll make him do voluntary service there when he’s old enough. After which we ran and made our way back to her home.

We were only there an hour before Ugo came home from work and got changed preparatory to taking me home. We loaded up the car and set off. I was flagging a bit and almost nodded off a few times. I woke up with a start when we found my chippie was closed (again) and we had to go back into town to my favourite one. Ugo dashed of to get his meal from a different one as they don’t do what he wants but Yvonne went and got me liver and onions with chips while she had fish and chips. Back home again to eat them and Reuben was not impressed with his own meal in comparison to ours. By 7.45 pm they were on their way to put Reuben to bed and I was on my way to deal with the 162 emails amassed during my absence. I’d done 79 before I left. I wanted to get this done before the night was over as I’m prepared to leave some mail if I have to.

Let me say goodnight and leave you with two records to revive your memories.

Wednesday.  Before we start Wednesday proper I want to ask if you’ll give a couple of minutes of your time to the case of Asufat Saliu

This is a copy of the transcript on Change.Org

My friend, Afusat Saliu, faces being returned to Nigeria. She has removal directions for 25th April. If she goes back, there is a real risk of forcible FGM on her daughters. She fled to the UK when her step-mother expressed a wish to have her daughter Bassy cut. Bassy will be four in May; two year old Rashidat was born in London – Afusat fled while she was heavily pregnant.

In Afusat’s village, FGM is usually performed on babies, which is when Afusat herself was cut. If she is made to return and her family catch up with her, it is likely that she will be powerless to protect them from being mutilated. Afusat is also in danger as she escaped a forced marriage to a man 40 years her senior to whom her family is indebted.

I met Afusat in January. She hadn’t had much support, so I assisted her with finding a solicitor and working with him to prepare fresh evidence. This fresh evidence and recent case law was not referred to in the Home Office response letter. We ask that her case is reviewed as it does not seem to have been given due consideration.

Afusat came to England to protect her daughters. She helps out at their school and volunteers with the Refugee Council and other organisations to support women in a similar position, despite her own mental health issues. Afusat is a real asset to our society. Her daughters are little Leeds lasses and have a spirit and character that I worry will be knocked out of them if they taken away.

Our law says that Every Child Matters. I’m not willing to gamble on the risk of them being cut – a 13 year old died just this Sunday as a result of FGM gone wrong. It’s too late for Afusat – nobody could protect her, but we do have a chance to save her girls. Please sign the petition. If you want to read more about their journey, visit anjhanda.wordpress.com.

My Request to Home Office:

– Review new evidence, which was presented, but appears to have been overlooked

– Consider Case Law precedent, where a materially similar application for asylum was upheld

– Ensure the safety and well-being of her two small daughters who are now well settled in Leeds (including the youngest, who was born in London), but who are likely to be subject to FGM should they return to Nigeria

– Pay due regard to the imminent danger involved to her and her family should she be returned to Nigeria, given the latest information that Nigeria is unlikely to be able to provide sufficient protection for herself and her family

– Take note of the community contribution already made by Afusat

If you have some sympathy with this case you can sign the petition at , http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/uk-border-agency-please-review-the-fresh-evidence-submitted-for-afusat-saliu-s-asylum-case-properly?share_id=nxAWsfyQdP&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

Please….. In the UK we don’t have female circumcision ( unless a medical necessity). This operation which is carried out without medical supervision can KILL. It’s wrong of the UK Government to subject young children to the pain, disfigurement and possibly death of an operation we don’t condone. Added to which are the strong possibility of reprisals at the hands of the stepmother of Afusat herself and the likelihood of a forced and unwanted marriage to a much older man. We have tolerated allowing illegal aliens here, we have kept Imams who promote a holy war between Islam and the followers of other faiths. Surely we can spare enough to help a genuine refugee? Thank you.

So, the night was long. It was probably about 1.00 am before I got anywhere near sleep and I was back up and working before 3.00 am. That’s not to say I wasn’t tired but for a while I thought I was dying. My brain was in stupid mode perhaps because my chest was playing up a lot. My head was leaning towards using the keyboard to write it’s own mail, probably without the delicate touch of my fingers. Having said that, I’ve written in my sleep before now in such a complicated language it would take an alien race to decipher it. At 6.00 am I felt I could probably sleep a bit so I took a final blast of  the awful cough linctus and went back to bed. I slept until 7.500 am.  It was a dash then to get to the kitchen and see to the fish in the hopes of forgiveness for yesterday. I’m a bad parent. They seemed a little indifferent to me this morning, not attacking the food as usual and no greetings so I must be in their bad books again. I took the last of the steroids today, had breakfast to take the penultimate antibiotic then had my other meds for pudding and took my coffee to the bedroom.

I worked on mail until 9.15 am then got dressed. I needed to get to the chemist as they’d left a note yesterday to say I wasn’t in when they tried to deliver some drugs. I don’t know why they wrote to me as I already knew I wasn’t in. Anyway, I wandered up there and collected the bag. I was sure something was wrong but had to wait until I got home before I opened it and checked it. Dalmations, there was a spray missing and no repeat prescription either. Back I went. Zaq told me the other spray would be in at 11.00 am and they’d drop it in. I asked yet again if it’s possible to mark any shortfall on the bag as it would save me having to come out again and they printed me off a repeat prescription while I waited. I called in at Pauline’s on the way home for some baps. By he time I got in I was a bit short of breath and I could have kicked myself senseless to find I needed milk. After a short break I made the third trip out and back. Incidentally, I’ve been in all day since then and the missing spray hasn’t been delivered.

As usual I worked until the post was cleared just before lunchtime. I took a pre-food tablet, turned the TV on and did myself a cottage pie which I had with two fresh baps. About 1.00 pm I checked and cleared the mail again then returned to my chair to nod off. I had more than an hour and woke up when someone did one of those long snores that comes after they’ve held their breath, oh right, that was me. Wanting to be prepared for my visitors I made sure the mail box was empty, had a tin of pineapple pieces then got the cups ready while I fixed my ‘I won’t cry if I lose’ face. It was just about 6.00 pm when they arrived. I made drinks, cut out the small talk and went into battle over the Scrabble board. I won the first game after scoring an extra 50 points for Carotid leaving Matt in second place and Dil in third. Battle the second didn’t go the same way. Dil won, Matt second and me third. I dried the tears, stopped sobbing and dove into the cards. Oh what a whitewash, from a lame start I just took the hurdles and led all the way. Not so the cribbage though where Matt started slow and gathered speed  to show us both the way home. Outclassed by an amateur, I’ll never live it down. Mind you, he’s very lucky I tripped trying to jump the table to throttle him. There have been some real sniggers from his direction tonight whenever he’s managed to ruin my play. As usual they left about 9.30 pm and I tidied up and saw to the pots. Straight back through here and I’ve been here ever since nose to the grindstone.

Two songs tonight should stir some memories with luck. I hope you enjoy them.

Thursday. Today I shall astound you with my brevity. I got up at 6.50 am -Shock and immediately went into  my kitchen routine before remembering I’d finished the antibiotics and didn’t need to have breakfast. Did my tablets for the week instead. Took my coffee through to work on mail that kept me occupied all morning except for a nip to Pauline’s for my lottery tickets and putting the new loo seat on, great match. Still not received the spray missing from my prescription.

Had lunch. Kipped for an hour or so ( nothing new there then) Worked until 5.30, had tea and then instead of watching Law and Order I watched a Star Trek. Decided to watch the new Big Bang Theory episode (Hilarious, thanks guys ) before coming back through to try and finish everything before 10.00 pm when a new episode of Person of Interest is on.

I’ve mentioned Kitty’s blog before for the number of items of interest thrown up. Some of those items are also of horror and reading that Governments are preparing people for a war using old pictures of WW1 is bad enough but now I see that kindness is taking a walk out of our lives in an official way. Just see this….                                       http://dearkitty1.wordpress.com/2014/04/24/italian-racist-mayor-bans-feeding-homeless-people/

You’ll forgive me then for laughing at this I was sent. I’m known to be one of those who had great hopes about President Obama and the Obamacare package (when first presented). I honestly thought maybe the US would adopt a free health care system for all ( I know it’s not free, it’s paid via taxation) where private insurance companies had no say in the treatment of a patient.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZbFrAAV3-o&feature=youtu.be   You have to  be able to appreciate an obese surgeon general and a care package proposed by a Prez who smokes.

Lastly tonight- Who Cheered then ?  Our records of the day. Just relax and let the memories was all over you.

Friday. Thanks to curnblog.com for reminding me about a fantastic song this morning. It’s from the film Goldiggers of 1933 and today when the spectre of war is around yet again, and some are going out of their way to make war sound like something we should glory in, this is a stark reminder of the reality of the post war era,            

And just before any bright spark asks, NO I wasn’t around for the original but I used to love the old b & w films.

The day started normally. 4.50 am and parts of me were raring to go, but having been I came back and turned the computer on. Lots of mail, but it never seems so bad when I have plenty of time. Among all the other mail was a post by Curnblog on Musicals. The fantastic song I’ve added had completely escaped my memory so I’m happy to bring it out for a dust down. Also in the posts were a few things from dearkitty1 who has been managing to upset me so much with her posts recently. She covers a huge variety of subjects which are usually full of information. Today was no exception. This evening for instance she posted a video of a nazi thug in the Ukraine assaulting someone in front of cameras during an interview. It was bullying at it’s worst. The trouble is, the nazi thug is legitimately attached to the current Government, a Government it looks like the West may have created by helping with the downfall of the legitimate Government…… using paramilitary units under this nazi to cause death and destruction. Since the incident he’s taken to wearing a suit instead of a uniform to stand for election. Heaven help Hungary if he gets in. Heaven help Hungary if this current Government is voted in and the West are still pushing for a confrontation with Russia. Is it worth all this aggro to have Hungary in the EU and NATO? Yet another right wing Government in power.

At 7.30 am I saw to the fish and found one of my super Assassin snails in plain sight. Still not standing on a bed of empty shells though unfortunately. I decided to have breakfast again thinking if I take my diabetic meds then and lunch time, means I don’t have to eat a tea if I don’t feel like it. I had the other meds, made a cuppa char for a change and went back to the bedroom. I finished the mail by 9.15 an and got dressed. Since I still hadn’t got the missing spray I decided to walk to the chemist. The young lady who undertook a search for me said it hadn’t come in either Wednesday or Thursday but may be in today’s delivers which was 12 boxes worth right in front of her. I said I’d cross my fingers and wait until they checked later or I’d have been there for ages. When I got back I receive a text from Lis asking if I was at home. I said yes and she responded she’d be there around 10.30 am. Normally I’d have settled for just saying “Great” but today I had an itch and Lis could scratch it for me ……..( you lot have got some very dirty minds). She has a car and is passing a supermarket. I asked if she could get me some ice lollies. Maybe I’m pregnant but I seem to be fancying them all the time at the moment. She arrived at about 10.30 am and I all but snatched her hand off. Of course I had to put them in the freezer till she’d gone. We had a great visit with loads of chat. It’s been a good few weeks since we last met up. She left about midday and I took my pre-meal tab then made a couple of ham/crisp/picallili baps for my lunch. As soon as I’d wolfed them down and taken the after food tabs I grabbed an ice lolly and had a really good suck. I think it’s the cold I’m craving more than anything. Two birds with one stone though, there are fruit juice and count as part of my five-a-day.

I had a kip in the afternoon and ended up going through later than usual to catch up. I was leaving the bedroom about 5.20 pm when there was a knock on the door. There was my pal Dawn from the chemist with my missing spray. I went to the lounge and watched my usual quiz then turned over for Law and Order. It was a fairly recent repeat so I went for my bi-annual shower. It was a chance to admire the loo seat which was a perfect colour choice. I remained in the lounge afterwards until 9.00 pm then came through to catch up again and do the blog.I have a little more mail to manage so I’ll go back to that now, after just leaving you with tonight’s music selection.

Saturday. T’was an early start this morning, as I crawled out from my bed. On the roof I heard the bounce of rain, and then inside my head.                                                                                    There’s no avoiding circumstance, I had to have a wee. Diverting the return journey I made a cup of tea.                                                                                                                                      Oh woe is me. oh woe indeed, I suffered a great cough. And in that moment the handle of my mug detached itself right off.                                                                                                 No slippers on my feet had I and puddle on the floor. I slipped and ended up you see wet bottomed by the door.

Serves me right I suppose. I should have put the lights on, should have ( as usual) worn slippers and most importantly, should have made coffee. Still I was awake and it forced me to do some housework so I now know what colour the floor is in the hall. Rather than sit in wet clothes I hosed myself down in the shower and dressed ( not in the shower). Just as well I was using Mike’s mug as I was able to go and make a coffee in mine to bring back to the computer. I’ll get another one while he’s away, he’ll never know he didn’t have a badger instead of a fox before.  Since I was dressed it seemed a good idea to think about going out shopping this morning since the last expedition had worked so well. Still, at only 5.30 am I had some thinking time. I piled into the work. As usual there was plenty of it but I felt no pressure. I hadn’t quite finished by 7.15 am when I needed to make my final decision. The rain had stopped and luckily my rubbish was ready to go in it’s bags so what to do???? Right, I’m going.

I left the house at 7.25 am after donning my jacket and super-duper cycling gloves to hold the crutches, and toting 2 large bags struggled uphill to the bus stop. The bus was early of course and passed me half way. This driver wasn’t as generous as some and didn’t pull up beside me but at least he waited at the stop so I know he’d seen me. I took my seat and tried to pull some air back into my lungs. I had a coughing fit that had everyone else pull scarves over their faces, even if they didn’t have scarves. Eventually we set off on the ten minute journey to town. As I stepped off the bus with a smile at the driver I almost came a cropper as he hadn’t lowered the step and it was like falling from Cader Idris. I stood for a moment, lit a cigarette and started down the Supermarket path. It started to rain again as I pulled at a trolley and walked over to the cash machine. I never worry about getting robbed as there’s no one else stupid sensible enough to be out at this time. Cash safely in my wallet I put the cigarette out in my little pouch and head into the store. Ooh, Ooh, first thing I see looks like bags of doughnuts but a major disappointment, it wasn’t. It was those cakes you used to make as a child with your mother, some chocolate and a box of cornflakes.( Your mother was not an ingredient).

Moving on, I’m reminded that a dear friend tells me I should eat more fruit so I buy one of the super economy size punnets of strawberries. Suitable for a family of 24. I then move towards my bread and get two packets of baps, some crumpets and a malt loaf. For cakes, as somehow I find myself in that vicinity, I buy some egg custards showing my usual restraint. Well, not much point in buying strawberry tarts is there. I buy my milk and coincidentally there is cream there. Such a shame that the single and double cream have such short dates on so I have to buy extra thick. There are three appealing micro meals on the same aisle and some yoghurts. OK to be fair you can’t really call them yoghurts as they’re made by Cadbury’s and have Flake in them but the pots are like yoghurt pots. As I reach the end of the aisle I move over to the flowers and buy some roses and some carnations just so I can brighten up the vases for Ju. She loved roses. Off again I pick up some tomato sauce ( for Yvonne) and some sweet picalilli for me. Then it’s off to the pop aisle to see if there’s a special on my Pepsi max but end up getting Fanta Orange and Lemon instead, both zero sugar of course. Last and most important is ice lollies. Three boxes of 3 should be OK for a few days. Right, through the tills. Not my usual happy girl but this one doesn’t seem inclined to chat anyway. Ignoring the fact I’m on crutches, she started swiping items through before I finished unpacking. I had to rush the trolley to the end, open the bags into it and start trying to catch up with her manic pace. No chance, she could have had a tea break while I was trying. I paid and held out the loyalty card which was studiously ignored too. I ended up having to go to Customer Services to have them added by my friend. Then I was able to get her to call a taxi. I didn’t have much of a wait outside when a large mpv taxi drew up. “David?” he asked and as I nodded grabbed my bags like they were featherweights. I carried the flowers myself. Within minutes I was home and he’s deposited the bags on the step for me. It wasn’t even 8.30 am.

I unpacked and put away the shopping including some bacon that must have accidentally fallen in there. Then I took any dead flowers out of the vases, changed the water, trimmed the ends and placed the new ones in after trimming those too. While it wasn’t raining I walked to Pauline’s for cigarettes then came back and locked myself away with the mail till lunchtime. It was actually 11.15 when I cleared the last one and went through. having a little time to spare I sat in my chair and just zonked. It was 12.30 pm before I came to. Lunch .. I did a pizza and micro chips which I had with two of my baps, it’s glorious when the chips make the butter melt. Being on my best behaviour I had no pudding. The afternoon was well split three ways, mail, TV and dozing.  I kept well on top of things until there was actually something on I wanted to watch. The afternoon’s fare had been Liam Neesom in Les Miserables. But I found in the evening I couldn’t really be bothered and was channel hopping. By 8.30 pm I’d had enough. I was bored by my own company and came through to enjoy yours.

A couple of songs to end the week with and a few pictures to brighten your day.

Bright as a Button

 

 

The Plan of Escape

Now you see it……Now you don’t