Multiple Risings & Shall We Shelve That Idea?

Sunday. 4.31 am out of bed today, a couple of hours work and back on the bed at 6.30 am for half an hour. I was on time for feeding the fish so I incurred no wrath today but they were at the end of the tank nearest the kitchen clock so I had the feeling I was being tested. I took my meds and grabbed myself a coffee. Mike’s alarm hadn’t gone off even though he’s mentioned the possibility of a car boot this morning if it was still nice. It was still nice but you were much more likely to be stopped for directions by a passing Venusian than you were to see Mike getting up yet. I went back to the mail. Speaking ( metaphorically) with a friend about the people who have been placing author’s books on a site without permission and offering free downloads I decided to put out an extra blog-post about it with some information my friend had obtained about reporting intellectual property theft.

Mike’s alarm went off at 8.00 am . I was surprised but deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt I went to make him a coffee. I took it through but my voice didn’t penetrate whatever dream he’d descended into, I wish he didn’t have such a lascivious look on his face. I returned to work and already the new post was generating a lot of activity. Mike must have turned the clock off so at 8.30 am I went through and in my most skull penetrating voice asked him not to let his coffee go cold. I had to repeat it twice which in most animals would cause death. In him it elucidated a grunt. I thought about giving up but didn’t have to as one bleary eye opened. I departed again until he’d had chance to come round and rise if not shine. When he was settled in the lounge and lighting his first ciggie of the day I went through. He’d had quite a rough night after being told an unkind remark had been made about him. ( at this point I’m biting back the jokes about him having had 65 years to get used to them since his mother saw him) because I know exactly how he feels. Unwarranted or not, remarks can cut more viciously than any knife. You only have to take one look at my face to realise I can verify that statement. Mike has the reputation for being the hard man of stone but he can be quite sensitive. We talked so much there was no chance of a car boot sale but we did get dressed and make a decision to go out for a couple of items of shopping I couldn’t get yesterday.

We left the house just after 10.00 am and went on the Coast Road towards Prestatyn and a large Tesco Supermarket. It was a surprise in view of the sunshine and the fact we had the roof down to find the roads had some puddles and there were a couple of signs saying ‘Flood ‘ about. Neither of us had heard a fierce storm at any time during the night and it looks like between us we were awake for most of it. But it must have come down fast and hard to have created problems. Very little sign on any difficulties on this journey though. We reached the store and had a wander till we had what I wanted along with some things I didn’t know I did want. One thing was a packet of jam doughnuts and both of us started to eat one the minute we left the store. We carried on walking round to some other shops that occupy the same retail park like Next, M&S and a Poundland. We wandered into the latter just to see what it’s like and couldn’t believe some of the bargains. I got Mike 3 CD”s Elton John, Simply Red and M People all at £1 each. Amazing.

We headed back along the Coast Road and parked in The Ivy. The welcome was warm as always. I passed the chocolates over to Tariq with an admonition that they were to be shared and not hidden away. I got my hug. We ordered the drinks and our choice of meals while Mike complained that we’re treated as part of the furniture now, taken for granted etc etc. Tariq just agreed with him and refused to be wound up. I was though when they started suggesting putting a fake telephone line into the old phone booth inside the cafe so kids can call Father Christmas later in the year, and I can appear in front of them. Sarky beggars. I half got my own back when my lunch arrived without the bowl of chips I’d ordered and had to ask Tariq if he’d forgotten already- and he had. After lunch I placed the money on the counter as no-one was around and then waited by the door while Mike nipped to the loo. I was glad I’d waited inside as Angie came to give me a kiss and thanked me for the chocolates. Mike didn’t believe the kiss though when I told him.

When we reached home. Mike got his case together and said his goodbye’s as it was time to head for his Dad’s in Manchester before later driving home to the Midlands. I started on the mail that had accumulated since we’d been out. An awful lot of it since that extra post. I worked until almost 6.00 pm then broke off to have some strawberries and cream and a break in front of the TV. I could only afford to stay away an hour though. From 7.00 pm I worked hard to clear my inboxes until I finally decided I’d better do the blog or it would have to wait till tomorrow. Ah well, back to it.

 

Monday. I got up at 3.58 am today. Apart from a small journey to the local Post Office to send a package off to a friend and delivering chocs to my friends in the Post Office and the Chemist I’ve had a very uneventful day chained mainly to the computer. About all I’ve achieved so far is keeping pace with the mail but there are times you turn your back and 20 people decide to write and you’re racing to catch up again. I’ve cut this very short as I fully intend to be in bed before 11.00 pm  so I’m ready for my little outing tomorrow with Yvonne and Reuben.

Tuesday.I couldn’t manage better than 4.50 am today so I really had to scramble to get to grips with the mail. The fish were delighted when their light went on at 6.00 am as I took my tablets with one hand and made a coffee with the other. I needed to get washed and dressed so there was no chance of last minute delays and of missing my bus. Miracle of miracles, I managed it. Mind you, I hadn’t refreshed the mail just in case so it was only done up to 4.51 am. Anyway, I was out of the house at 7.30 am on the dot and caught my bus easily. I had taken a jacket today as the forecast said it will rain in Holywell at 2.00 pm. No backpack as all I had was a CD for Ugo, I wonder if Reuben will forgive me. I arrived in Chester about 8.35 m and Yvonne was at the stop waiting. I think I got one smile off Reuben before he turned into a very unhappy, screaming monster who rapidly turned his Mum and I into nervous wrecks. He’d thrown his dummy away and Yvonne needed to replace it….RAPIDLY! Unfortunately the first shop we were going to didn’t sell dummies though one certainly walked through the door with him trying to lighten his load of misery. A member of staff smiled at him and he shut up immediately and smiled like an angel but the minute she moved he was off again. We would have spent time just following her round if she’d agree to go via the departments we wanted. Soon we’d gathered enough outfits to keep him going till he reaches 21 and we fled for the counter, paid and left.

We bypassed the next shop on our list and went straight for one that sold dummies ( and strong coffee). We got a packet of two and broke it open before I’d reached the counter. Believe me the young lady understood since we could hear the screams from the other side of the store ( a VERY BIG store) as Yvonne went to wash the object before inserting it into a very receptive orifice. I suggest  superglue. Thereafter he was as good as gold as we went upstairs for a drink and he decided to fall asleep. Yvonne and I had our drinks and toast in the most beautiful peace and quiet. I never realised that teething hurt quite so many people. We took our time round the next couple of shops and I behaved well since a twinge of conscience hit me that accidentally a shirt had become wrapped up in Reuben’s stuff and it would have been rude to ask the girl to take it back.

The shop we’d missed earlier was next and of course Reuben woke up. Now it was mischief rather than screams. I really didn’t need the distraction as I was about to go into Battle of Wills with my daughter. We’d found some 90″ x 90″blackout curtains in silver that were perfect for Yvonne’s lounge and a great storage box with pirates on for Reuben’s stuff. Since she wouldn’t go upstairs and order a drink and I’d catch up ( because she doesn’t trust me????) I made sure we took them upstairs with us. We found a place to sit and put Reuben in a high chair.He had a terrible glint in his eyes. Yvonne ordered some lunch and a drink while I stared at Reuben and he stared at me. I had to drop my sight first. Yvonne tried to feed him, it went on the floor, his dummy went on the floor, his cup was banged to distract us before that followed everything else. At this rate we’d be asking for a mop and bucket before we could leave. As it happened I owed my lovely grandson a vote of thanks. As we finished and prepared to leave Yvonne had to get down and start clearing the mess. It gave me a perfect chance to bolt for the lift saying I was going out for a ciggie. If I did I’d be accused of shoplifting, unless of course I went via the till first, so I did. She arrived seconds too late. I scooted out and lit up.

After a brief fight I got her to accept the gift. YAY. Then it was time to make my way over to the bus stop. They came with me and waited. Reuben was back to being a bit subdued so maybe he was tired. It wasn’t pleasant to have to wave goodbye when I found my seat. Even worse knowing Yvonne had to get home and prepare for work. An hour later I was getting off the bus and it was raining as promised. Ten minutes later I was in and attacking the mail. It took from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm to clear most of it before I needed a break. I opened the fridge and there was half a BFG that had appeared just like magic ( the other half had disappeared the same way last night). Right, that was tea settled, with an episode of Law and Order that should be lovely. As usual I came back through here at 8.00 pm after having taken my night meds. I’ve had a good go at the mail but was determined to finish this first. Back to battle now.

 

Wednesday. A very lazy 5.33 am today. No plans except for Pauline at the corner shop so I could take my time. I slogged without seeming to make much headway until 7.00 am when it was time to feed the fish, preferably not by sinking in the sea with a concrete overcoat. They seemed content this morning but I didn’t hang about in case that changed. Instead I took my meds, made myself a toasted bap and took my coffee to the bedroom to see if I could break the back of the work before getting dressed. By 9.00 am there were real signs of progress. I got washed and dressed and went to pick up some ciggies. my TV mag, some bread and some microchips  which I thought I might have tomorrow instead of new potatoes. Back to work and I’ve been so distressed recently over an ongoing discussion with a Jewish friend over the Arab/Israeli conflict I finally decided to reopen the Buthidar movement which calls for peace through hugs. Respect, Tolerance and Love are needed in the world between peoples of all colours and creeds.I suggested that because the Israeli defence is so good it could afford to concentrate on defence rather than retaliation for a while which would mean many innocent lives saved on the Palestinian side. My friend took that to mean that I was happy for the Palestinians to carry on killing Jews. It isn’t what I mean at all. Fewer Jews by far are killed by the Palestinians because of the defence umbrella they maintain. The more children killed the more parents there are to hate Israel and join the extremist Hamas. Hamas fire their rockets from places like school and hospitals, trying to hide behind civilians. Most of whom are ordinary people, Arabs who do not hate Israel but want a home free of fear and rubble………………  Sorry,Rant Over.

I knocked off for my antique show and lunch at 11.30 am. I stayed in there until about 2.00 pm possibly taking some time to inspect the internal workings of my eyelids. When I go back I had to stay until 5.15 pm just to keep pace with you lot. I turned my quiz on and prepared cups for Dil and Matt. I found two messages on my phone. One from Lee to say he’s not able to get here and one from MuJo saying they’re coming tomorrow if I’m free. I’m Free ! The boys arrived just after 6.00 pm so they watched a little of the Commonwealth Games while I made drinks. Tea as always for Dil and coffee for Matt. We put the table up and I got the Yahtzee out to start us off. We had 3 games, 2 wins for Matt who can pull a yahtzee from thin air, and one for me even though I had a yahtzee in every game. Then it was Nomination Whist which we haven’t played in a while………nor will we again after Dil won by a country mile. Crazy 8’s was a different matter though, I trounced them despite suffering a big angina attack and was forced to get someone else to deal for me. We finished with just two lengths of the cribbage board and that was back to Dil again.He was doing the marking though.

After they left I quickly tidied up, washed the pots and took my evening meds. The mail was horrendous and I have about 30 more to do now the blog’s done. I don’t even have time to go to youtube tonight. Anyone interested in looking at the Buthidars should find it here.     lorddavidprosser1.wordpress.com/about/

Thursday. Abandonment of Pit 4.27 am. My bladder suggested I didn’t waste time looking for slippers, my brain suggested I better had since late last night I decided to perform an operation on my feet with a pair of nail clippers. It sounds like an advert for a new beer, Thick and Strong but crikey I spent the whole time ducking as they pinged across the room in ricochets smashing one window, a mirror and a vase of Ju’s flowers. There will be payment for that I can feel it in my water. Talking of which, why are you holding me up when I need to go, I found my slippers ages ago? Oooh, blessed relief. I managed to find a toenail in the bathroom and since the door was shut I can only assume it blasted it’s way through the steel plating. OK, it’ s only wood but that doesn’t grab the headlines.

The mail was quite heavy so I worked on it till 7.00 am. The fish will probably tell you that they were turned off late last night because I forgot them. That doesn’t mean I dare be late waking them up this morning. 1. Fish 2. Meds 3. Toast 4. Coffee, check, good I can get back to work. As I don’t know what time I’m being descended upon this morning I want to be as up to date as possible. The chances are it won’t be as early as 9.00 am ( Ha Ha Ha Ha) so I have a shave and get dressed at 9.30 am and tempt fate. John is not renowned for his early starts though. Just before 10.30 am I get up to date and post a quick piece to my new blog. I must be careful to stay as unemotionally involved as possible or I’ll scare everyone away. I close the screen down and ready myself to go through making sure as I do I spray the place liberally with Febreeze to mask the cigarette smoke.

10.45 am they arrive and I swiftly open the front door and then leg it to the kitchen to start on drinks. Muriel will have her J2O but I have to wait to see if John is in a hot or cold mood. Since it’s fairly warm out he’ll have a cold one thank you. One long swallow and it’s gone. We spent a little time catching up on what’s been going on in our lives since we last saw each other ( 3 weeks ago) before at 11.20 am Mu suggests we make a move towards lunch. This creates a three way conversation of people saying “I don’t mind” which wastes a few more minutes. I suggest they decide while I put a shirt on. No I wasn’t walking about bare chested, someone would have rested their drink on the ledge created by my stomach ( You can stop laughing Mike, yours is just as big- if not bigger. BTW, MuJo loved your picture). I was wearing a teeshirt and wanted to change. It seems the decision is as follows, If the first car park in town has a space, we’ll go to Kassidy’s, If it doesn’t but we can get in the second we’ll go to John’s favourite chippie. If neither, we’re stuffed! Despite it being market day and the school holidays we had no problem in the first and had a nice lunch in Kassidy’s. I didn’t actually see Si but I was able to shout my thanks over the counter as we left. Not much point shouting them under the counter I suppose.

In Flint MuJo wanted the small ASDA so I was able to nip in and get some chocolates for the girls in Temptations. I also found some great pens with big floral heads made from rubber so I bought one for Mu and one for Ceri. Mu really liked hers. We headed for Temptations where I ordered the drinks and a cream scone for John. Ceri was thrilled with her flower as much as she would have been by a bouquet I think and was grateful for the chocolates which they all love digging in to behind the counter. After the drinks we did a tour of the shops looking for Reuben’s birthday gift from  MuJo. We did manage to find something, and I was able to pick up a new Argos catalogue and find a nice bookcase I may get once I’ve re-measured the space. Foot sore we came hope and by change it just started to rain.

I rearranged some bags from between the chairs and found some beautiful  scrapbooks that had been done for my birthdays at 60 and 62. We sat looking at them and chatting until it was time for them to go, about 5.00 pm. The visit was lovely but I flew in here and started to check the mail, when the neighbours called about the screeching and crying, I said I had the radio on and would turn it down, Sorry. I worked until 7.00 pm and then needed a break for an hour so watched some of the Commonwealth Games.Great to see Oz doing so well with a ton of medals and poor little Wales even had 28 at the last count but our four golds were won by women so the men better pull their socks up in the boxing. I came back through at 8.00 pm and have been at it ever since except for when I found out at 10.30pm no-one had reminded me about the fish or about my meds. I’m beginning to wonder why I pay you lot. Night Night.

PS. If anyone knows the reason I can’t copy and paste from youtube anymore please let me know. I tested another place and it was fine.

Friday. There’s no point in me telling you what time I got up this morning ( to coin a phrase & wishful thinking) as it was half a dozen times from 1.15 am onwards. Nothing I tried, nowhere I tried seemed to make a difference. I tried rapping my head on my pillow 5 times but all that got me was a headache. I might have woken at 5.00 am but also at every hour on the hour in between. The last time was actually 4.17 am at which point I admitted defeat. I worked on emails until 6.30 am and because today is the day I organise my weekly tabs I went off to do that.  Probably not my best decision of the day so far as I was dropping them ( the tablets) all over the show. I struggled to decide which ones needed renewal and I couldn’t decide if they looked right but hey, they were in the boxes. I fed the fish who were looking like their gruntle had been dissed at not being fed first and I was now 15 minutes late. I was too tired to be scared so I faced them down.

Back on the computer with my coffee I was starting to nod off a bit but I needed to finish. I think I managed not to send out any nonsensical messages and coped until 9.00 am when I decided to get some fresh air by going for my lottery tickets. I washed and dressed with the exception of my socks. I was quite sure the little old lady ankles I could see would not appreciate the strangulation. Mike was nagging last week that I should give up some of that water to solve the drought problems in Egypt. I got my lottery tickets and reminded myself to tell him he doesn’t get a share if I win, I will however buy him a personalised bib to catch the dripping sarcasm on his chin.

I was thrilled to see a ceasefire has been declared in Gaza at last and if praying will do any good I’ll be down on my knees hoping it stays in place permanently. There’s been far too much killing. I was gutted to see how short a time it lasted. So many more dead today.

I had to call it quits at midday to see to lunch which was near liquid sweet potato and cremated sausages though the veg was quite nice. As soon as I finished I washed up and fell asleep in the chair. ( Does that sound like I washed up in the chair?) It only lasted an hour but what a difference it made. I was energised again and managed to bring the emails up to date a few times. Of course someone always spoiled it by sending another but for a few minutes I was clear. I called a break at 5.30 pm and went to watch half a quiz followed by Law and Order. It was time for a shower. I did my usual head between the legs to avoid raising my hands above my head and got my hair washed. Of course I was gasping suspiciously when Mike walked in. As I got out of the shower he rubbed my hair dry for me while telling me about his day. That was a conversation we continued as I came through to the lounge. We swapped stories which sometimes even contain a grain of truth though I’m not sure he believed my story about being kidnapped by the Crookback Campanologists of the Camargue on Wednesday though despite being fed a tale of my heroic escape.

I sat through 2 episodes of NCIS with him before saying I had to come through to do the post. BTW we’ve discovered the horror tune box I bought last week at the car boot actually plays Toccata, Fugue in D Minor by J.S.Bach. Time to finish up and head for my pit and a short read.

Saturday. I made it for 5.17 am today and had to go like a headless chicken to try and make some impact on the mail. There was a lot of it again. I just kept going and going until 6.45 am when I had to break off to see to my  jobs in the kitchen before making Mike a drink. The fish didn’t seem to notice I didn’t feed them which was good so I concentrated on getting my meds down and making my own coffee. At 7.00 pm I didn’t hear his alarm so I made his coffee and took it through. I got the usual Troglodyte grunt in response to my cheery “Coffee up Bro”. I retreated and came back to the mail intending to nudge him again at quarter past and say it had been an hour. All of a sudden I heard the shuffle of his feet going from bedroom to lounge and without any prompting from a clock. If I hadn’t been sitting down I’d have fallen.

Leaving the mail I went through to join him in the lounge to confess I’d ordered a tablet yesterday. Had it been handy that moment I think it would have been down my throat with the others. I’d expected another grunt but what I got was much worse- his undivided attention. “What make is it”? ……..”Not sure”……..”What, well what operating system”? ………”What the who, say what.”………”Show me”!………”Oh sh*t.” Which meant it was my fault we didn’t leave the house till gone 8.00 am. The journey to the supermarket was done in the rain and in silence. I wasn’t sure whether to pretend to be asleep or just listening intently to the DJ I really dislike. I knew I should have asked Mike’s advice first but it was spur of the moment and meant to stop Yvonne wasting her money on me as she threatened. The shopping didn’t take long as my appetite has suddenly taken a downturn. We didn’t stop for coffee on the way out. But in the car genius struck, Yvonne and Ugo want a smart TV and I want to get ti for them so Mike can at least advise me on that. We stopped at a shop in Flint and went through them. There was a nice 32″ smart TV at £200 which I thought might do the job but we had to play canny. Mike rang and left a message on voicemail asking Yvonne to ring asap which then gave her kittens thinking something was wrong ( revenge is lovely). When she did so he pretended I’d already bought the TV and was just checking th size was right. It turns out they’re after a 40″ one and have seen it in another shop. “Oh, I’ll get him to take this one back” he said. Now if only I can find which one they want in the shop I can get it. I know it’ll be battle royal with her again but it’ll kick start my heart if nothing else.We also looked for a new set of bookshelves and saw some at £229, that idea got shelved for today.

Mike kick started his heart with the usual banter with the delicious Ceri when we had coffee in Temptations. At one point he told her if her legs were as fast as her mouth she get through serving us much faster. All she said was “Well, he’s right you know.” She”s an absolute gem. Eventually I dragged him away, pulling his tongue with him and went to the frozen food shop for some dark choc ices then we went home to unpack. He allowed me an hour on the computer then it was time to go for lunch. The rain seemed a bit lighter on the way to The Ivy and the sun seemed to be fighting it’s way through. When we got there I think the last few spots were falling. Tariq came flying round the counter to hug us both and I had a lovely kiss and hug from Angie too. We enjoyed a lovely coffee, great meal and wonderful conversations before it was time to head home again. Mike relaxed for a while while I did the inevitable , but he stopped me jumping off the roof and made me work instead. As expected the emails had gathered until I saw no end in sight. The worst of it is my adventures  for the day are not over.

At 5.00 pm I had to start getting changed ( Mike suggested a human being might be a good start but I didn’t want to go to that much trouble). I chose a brown ensemble topping it off with my new tweed waistcoat and matching jacket a la Yvonne. What a prannock, at least 200 degrees outside now the rain has stopped and I’m wearing more wool than a sheep. I would have looked really smart had it not been for the waterfall running down my forehead. It”s well known I hate meeting strangers, don’t socialise and don’t go out in an evening but I love my nephew and this is for him. Take note David…never again!! I was ( sorry we were) on my way to meet my nephew’s daughter whom you may remember I’m dozy enough to have known nothing about until recently. At least I know I’m not alone in meeting her for the first time even though others actually knew of her existence. We arrived and took a plant in for Gina (David’s wife) and Marissa the Prodigal daughter who seems as nervous as me and is at least very pleasant. We hug then someone passes her a towel and I apologise. I remove my jacket and hug those who haven’t yet run off.

I’m given a nice ice cold drink by David and get to talk to his son Taylor ( a really nice lad) when my niece Joanne arrives. I think she sees my forehead and we air cuddle.    ( Not true, we did actually make contact, I love Joanne dearly). Something very strange is happening though as more people are pointed ouit to me but can’t get close now I’m in a safe corner. I’m realising just how old I am. I’m used to having a nephew in his late forties, I’m used to him having a son of nearly 18. Now I have a nephew, a great niece, and a great-grand nephew because Marissa has a son of 18 months and she herself is in her twenties. I’ve not been caught in the three generation gap until now. Hell, I’m ancient! I should mention Marissa’s partner James at this point who is a very friendly chap. They appear to be a lovely family group. David had cooked tonight and made a chilli which he called mild ( by his standards) and a David Special where you carry your own fire extinguisher. I understood it was time for Mike and I to leave when the queue for the bathroom was halfway down the stairs and most people seemed to be walking cross-legged. We actually had a lovely time and David and Gina are good hosts. Now I was a bit drier I had no problem getting hugged though it may be for one of two reasons. A. They were delighted I was finally going or B. They used the hug to wipe their own foreheads on my jacket before they ran for the loo.

We came home and I made a drink and some sandwiches before coming through to do the blog a little early so Marissa can perhaps see it before they return home to instruct her lawyer to sue me, and to carry on the vicious battle of the emails waging on my screen. I hope you’ve all had a nice week and have an even nicer one to come.

Sorry about not shaving, it’s whiskery kisses

 

https://www.youtube.co/watch?v=oMVe_HcyP9Y

The Unkind Heart & Africa Goes.

Sunday. I know I turned my light out last night a little after 12.15 am. I could hear the film Mike was watching until I drifted away. I woke up again at what I think was 3.00 am but The Sleepless One who Shall Not Be Named swears it was 3.15 am. What’s a quarter of an hour between friends. When I went to the loo not long after I swear someone was asleep though he swears not. I started on the mail and by 5.45 I was almost there and decided I could probably go back to bed for a while. I did nod off and enjoyed a few hours sleep only to find when I got up it was all of 6.21 am  and to add insult to injury that 30 minutes or so had collected me another 42 pieces of post. Still, it’s a Sunday, I have all the time in the world, why worry. I saw to the fish at 7.00 am, took my meds and made myself a coffee. I carried on working , commenting, liking, thanking, in my own little world when all of a sudden an apparition appeared at my door. No, not the ghost of Oscar but Himself. The man who can’t get out of bed without three calls from the alarm clock, a shout from me, a coffee and a bolt of lightning from Zeus himself. It’s 8.21 in the a.m. and he’s trying to give me a heart attack. you can tell he knows what he’s doing to me because this breathless wheeze escapes his mouth that makes him sound like Muttley.

I’m in such shock I let him make his own coffee. I’m thinking of having another mouthwash, purely for medicinal purposes you understand. He chooses that moment to dash off to the bathroom so I just carry on working. The forecast for today is quite good and Mike suggests a car boot. I like the idea but suggest not going to the big one as the ground will be sodden underfoot after yesterdays downpour. Instead there’s a smaller one fairly local which is on hardstanding so he agrees to that.We get out about 9.15 am and arrive about 9.40 am. There aren’t as many stalls as I’d hoped and the best bargains might have gone but there’s plenty left. We hit one stall and buy some books, 4 each from a young lady who said she didn’t think she was going to sell any of her books today. Mike said she just hadn’t had discerning readers up till that point as he chose 4 Stephen Donaldson’s, I chose 4 Terry Brooks. I picked up the obligatory picture frame as nowhere would be the same these days if I didn’t buy a frame. I think I’ve more frames than wall now. A couple more books and then something like a doorbell that plays a wicked tune and says Beware at the end because it reminds us of the Addams Family. Finally a computer/office chair which is leather and looks unused. We were done and decided we needed a coffee.

We headed for Flint and stopped at my favourite shop for chocolates on the way. Then a few minutes in a shop with SALE written across the windows of course. Finally we got to Temptations for a drink. He was very disappointed that Ceri wasn’t there to argue with. We enjoyed the drink anyway as it was awfully warm outside and with the chair in the boot we couldn’t have the roof down. So, we took the goodies home swapped chairs. unpacked the rest of the stuff locked up again and took the old chair to the skips. Once disposed of we headed off to the Ivy for lunch and to see if Tariq and the family had managed to get their holiday after all. Mike’s earlier attempt to kill me finally caught up with me in the car. They had managed to get away and we were both pleased. Despite the weather it was busy there and poor Angie was suffering, rushed off her feet and very warm. She refused all offers of help from us though. At least she had help in the kitchen. We got our drinks and lunch followed not long after. As usual we enjoyed it very much. Because things were so busy we decided not to hang around so expecting to get away without any argy bargy I went to pay. I hadn’t reckoned on Angie who was adamant I should pay the bill and nothing more who hadn’t reckoned on me who said I always leave a tip to show my appreciation and Suck It ! I won I’m glad to say. If they weren’t worthy of a tip I’d be a lot meaner.

We went home and Mike loaded the car with his suitcase in preparation for the next stage of his journey, to make his Dad suffer like he does me. He tried to persuade me to go to bed but it was a case of Talk to the Hand. I knew there would be a lot of mail. I waved him off and came back where I bumped into a neighbour and then came in and started work. 173 (Thanks a lot peeps) which kept me going until 5.45 pm when I needed a break. I took a tablet and had a piece of toast then turned on a film I’m sure they said was by Quentin Tarantino. A young orphan living in a Paris railway station winding the clocks unknown to anyone else. I’m afraid I was done by 6.45 and gave up. Back into battle. At 8.00 pm I went through to take my tabs and found I’d left the fish tank light on. They were out and didn’t seem to mind me seeing them. I turned it off with abject apologies and came through again for the night. I’ve kept apace with the messages so far but have broken off for this so I don’t knmnow how things are now. I’ll go and have one last effort.

We interrupt this broadcast with a Newsflash. Due to the pleading of the Lord Daud fan club, yes both of them The Snail and East Of Malaga I now have to shock some of you who have a delicate spirit. They require proof that I have indeed purchased and genuinely worn my Mr Men lounge pants. I am going to spare you as much as I can but it was necessary to take a selfie of just one leg. Look away now Ethel.

Stand near the fridge so you don’t overheat (laughing).

Monday. It was 5.12 am today. I consider it a lie-in and a treat.I know I’d been dreaming and as I went through to go to the loo I leaned in to the big bedroom to say something to Ju. It was deflating to see the bed empty and for a second or two I didn’t understand. I suppose it’s just as well Mike wasn’t there or I may have woken him burbling some nonsense or other. Going back to the bedroom and the new computer chair that also catches me out because I go to lean on the arm as I’m used to doing and it’s about 6 inches lower.I fall over. There was such a lot of mail today that when I went through at 7.00 am to see to the fish I had barely dented them. I went through the usual routine and took my coffee back to the bedroom. ( actually now I’m out of bed I should call it the office and make it sound grand).

I’d wrapped most of it up by 9.15 am and went to get washed and dressed so I could take my prescription to the chemist’s. It was really warm out and I was sorry not to have changed to sunglasses. The poor girl I saw in the shop was really warm. Taking a slow walk back was pleasant despite knowing more mail would be waiting. It was. Not a major problem though as today’s pace was going to be slow. At 11.00 am I knocked off for a break and went to see what was on the goggle-box. Sometimes there are interesting programmes on like Who Do You Think You Are. I’m not sure I got as far as turning it on before I nodded off. It was only for 35 minutes but was very welcome. I took my pre-lunch tablet and put some new potatoes on to boil. Cold meat, coleslaw, tomato and wonderful new potatoes. I even managed to stay awake for my antiques prog.

After that it was time to hit the mail again until 2.00 pm when I received a text from Yvonne to say my niece, Mike’s daughter was on her way. She’s over from Poland on a short visit and seeing everyone she can. I have a rough idea how long it takes for a car to get here from Chester so I went outside to meet the car when it was due. Lisa and her son Alex got out and I was amazed how much he’s grown since I last saw him. A quick hug and back inside for drinks and in Alex’s case, liquorice allsorts, chocolate biscuits and an ice lolly. Lisa and I had a good catch up on the rest of her family, especially her mother, and also on her pregnancy since she’s been for a scan. I now know the sex of the baby and can tease Mike since he doesn’t want to know. They stayed with me until almost 5.00 pm then headed off on their next visit. It was lovely to see them.

Next it was back to the dread machine again for an hour. I wanted a break for tea and a little TV so knocked off from 6.00 to 8.00 pm. Unusually for me I watched the news about what’s happening with the plane crash in the Ukraine. I’m devastated for the families of all those killed. I hope they release the bodies soon and treat them with some dignity. I also watched another Antiques Road Trip with two good participants so it was good. Finally at 8.00 pm I turned the box off, took my tablets and came through. I’ve been battling to get straight ever since. Time to have a last go at it before getting some sleep as I’m due out tomorrow to see Yvonne and Reuben.

Tuesday. A 3.50 am day. My pattern seems to have gone to heck just lately but at the end of the day I get up when I get up and that’s that. One day I’m going to surprise Mike and stay in bed longer than him. I started work on the mail and kept an eye on the clock, though I wish I’d taken it with me when I’d gone to the loo. One eye doesn’t improve your aim. At 6.00 am I went through (early) to see to the fish and one of the plecs was dashing about like a mad thing as though he had ants in his pants. At least he settled down to eating when I put the algae wafer in. The plecs are usually very laid back.My favourite fish of all,time (  sorry Olive) was Zippy who I had in a 6 foot tank. He was a rescue pangasius and grew to over 18 inches while I had him. He had to be rehomed with someone with a bigger tank still. He was a catfish and as you can tell from his name was rarely still. But he loved the timbre of my voice ( mahogany in case you want to know) and would come to the edge of the tank for me. So beautiful

Pangasius shark

Olive on the other hand was an oscar I had in a tank in my bedroom. She had a face only  a mother ( or me) could love with a big bottom lip like she was sulking.Very, very powerful musculature. She was about 8 inches long when one night I woke to a crash and she’d jumped, thrown the double lid off the tank and landed on the bed with me. She was actually bleeding from contact with the lid but she survived. If I was working and ignoring her she pick gravel from the bottom of the tank in her mouth and spit it at the glass until I paid attention. A few words, a stroke and she was fine again for a while. On the other hand Ju had Ollie, Olive’s nemesis in a tank in her room. They were hell if kept together. And he’d wait for Ju to put her hand in to clean the tank and he’d go for her. More than once he drew blood the little so and so, but Ju adored him.

Olive. Ollie was darker with black streaks.

Ju had 7 tanks in total with all sizes of fish from a 20 inch catfish to a half inch neon. Eventually her arthritis + caused so much trouble she couldn’t manage anymore and we rehomed the fish and the tanks bar the small 32 x 12 x 18 tank I have now with the last 5 fish.

Anyhoo, I fed the monsters, had a piece of toast, took my meds and brought a coffee through. It was now about 6.30 am so I washed and dressed. I shot through the rest of the post as quickly as possible so when 7.25 came I was almost there. I put ‘puter into a deep sleep, got my backpack on , grabbed the bag of things I couldn’t get in the backpack and headed off for the bus stop.  I was there in plenty of time as the bus was late. The usual driver wasn’t there but hearing someone chatting to this driver I found out he’s on a fortnights holiday in Sunny Scotland. The journey wasn’t bad in that we made up the lost time but that meant a very jerky Brands Hatch journey. Then when we reached Chester the man turned left instead of right and lost me completely. Eventually I got off in the main street by M & S and had to rush to meet Yvonne. At least she’d gone to the cafe when I said I was late and wasn’t waiting at the bus terminal. I was glad of my latte when I got there. Reuben was smiles all round at fist but a little tetchy later and it looks like apart from having been poorly his mouth is under assault from new teeth again. At least he was fine for me while Yvonne looked at all the new stuff I’d bought him. There were the usual moans to ignore of course.

We left there and went looking round H & M where for once I didn’t find anything for him. I didn’t in NEXT either though I did manage to get Ugo something, and stroppy madam bought herself something. We shopped for food, had a nice drink sitting outside a cafe, I had a milk shake. Eventually I did find something for Reuben and for Yvonne too and two more things for Ugo. Nothing for me today though. After the last shop I decided to go home while Yvonne went and got ready for work. She was swapping the care of Reuben with Ugo at the door of her work and Ugo was coming with him to me. When they arrived Ugo brought me the jacket that Yvonne had scored over me with. A match for last weeks waistcoat. Wonderful, but now I have to start plotting again. Ugo bought a chippie tea, I had sausage with mine, also gravy and mushy peas. I was very careful with the eating as it now looks as though I’ll have a mouth ulcer next. I think I’m run down even though I haven’t stood in front of Mike.

They left about 6.30 pm and I attacked the 184 messages and am still working on them without even a quiz tonight. Do I hear an Awww?

Wednesday. It was an amazing 6.05 am today, nearly 6 full hours with no middle of the night visits. It didn’t help clear the mail though. At 7.00 am I went through to th kitchen having barely made a dent in it. The cory and two of the plecs were waiting so I didn’t keep them waiting long.  I had some toast and my tabs then as usual took my coffee back to the bedroom. The coffee seemed to have the opposite effect to it’s reputation,  I was continually leaning forward and nodding off over the keyboard. It was so bad at 8.00 am I even went back to bed and did fall asleep. I was back up at 8.35 am though. Thst little boost didn’t do the job and I was still nodding so decided it was time for some fressh air and went to Pauline’s for my TV mag.  I did feel better when I came back but I was back dozing at the desk before 10.00 am. If a man falls asleep at his desk and there’s no-one around to hear him, does he really snore? Of course not.

The mail was roughly up to date by 10.55 am so I went and sat in my chair in the lounge. Big mistake, its hot today and the sun is streaming in. Within minutes I’m asleep again, When I finally come to it’s lunchtime and I turn on the TV for the antiques show while I eat. I wash the pots and sit down again.  There’s a very strange feeling in my chest like something about to happen but I’m not sure what. The pain isn’t like my angina and the tightness isn’t there. A quirt of my nitro doesn’t do much except give me a headache but by then I’m asleep yet again. It was gone 2.00 pm before I went back to the computer and Oh No, the inbox is full again. I had to stay there until 5.15pm before I got up to date. A few minutes after I’d finished Lee arrived.He’ working from home at the moment and really under pressure. Dil and Matt turned up about 5.30 pm so the crowd all here. I wait until the quiz on TV finished before I bring the card table out and crikey, that hurts. I can’t let Dil do it ass he’s hurt his back and he’d have to move if I got one of the boys to do it.

I decided we’re playing Yahtzee first and that turns out to be a big mistake as my brother who whinged about losing last week gets 3 yahtzees in the first game. While I score less than 200 points having lost my bonus up top, his score is over 600. We play four rounds of this with each of us starting in turn. I did manage one Yahtzee in total but no-one can catch Dil up. The game took quite a while and as we finished Dil suggested Cribbage in pairs. We managed 3 games with Dil and Matt taking 2 to Lee’s and my 1. So perhaps not my best night at games but at least there was some laughter when Lee obviously making allowances for the rate of inflation starts counting Sixteen for one, sixteen for two……. because he’s a novice at crib there was some hilarity when we came out with One for his knob and two for his ball and bat. From now on I think we’ll stick to plain counting. They all left at 9.30 pm and I tidied up and washed pots before coming through to do battle. It’s been hell. The pain is still there, the pain of losing never goes away and now I think I’ve got RSS in my wrists from typing. I hope you all had a nice Wednesday.

I don’t seem to be able to paste a video for you tonight, Sorry.

 

Thursday. I repeated the 6.05 am again this morning. This time there seemed to be less effort staying awake doing the mail even though there was another boring message from Burkina Faso  about my millions and a clever one purporting to be from MBNA on behalf of Virgin credit cards. It might have fooled me if I’d had an account with them. The fish seemed quite happy to see me at 7.00 am which is worrying, I know where I am when they’re angry with me- usually a long distance away. I had the usual toast and my tablets then took the coffee back to work. At some point I got dressed and went for fresh baps. Oh my, it’s like being in the middle of the Nevada Desert with the sun beating down unmercifully on my head and me crying out for a cooling drink, but the pubs aren’t open yet so I go home instead.

I wasn’t sure if someone from the chemist might call this morning so I didn’t hesitate much to open the front  door part way. It was a mistake. There were two people, an elderly gentleman and a very pretty lady who did the talking. She’s been before so bear this in mind. As always the conversation started pleasantly, as always I retreat into an utter wreck, shaking and stuttering for Britain. That I’m in difficulties and distress must be obvious. Trouble is I’m not impolite so even if I could have said “Get lost” I wouldn’t. I’m sure there Jehovah’s Witnesses are lovely people out of uniform but it seems once they don the jackboots everyone is fair game. At some stage I was asked some innocuous question to which I was able to answer “But I don’t believe in God” though you’ll have to add a lot more random D’s and B”s to that sentence to get the gist of how it sounded. She asked whether I was perhaps an evolutionist then to which I was able to nod though at this point I was more inclined to go for the Glasgow Kiss in which I’m sure Seumas can educate you. The , “We’ll go in a minute and let you get on” was followed by reading some passages from the bible which were meant to show God was responsible for building my bungalow and for the landscaping. After leaving me some booklets to look at they finally left and my doorstep was clear. I bet if someone was coming from the chemist they took one look, laughed and ran off. I’ve  known them for over 5 years and would have been able to talk yet these people tried to make me talk despite the obvious difficulties. I told you to bear in mind the woman had been here before. I managed to tell her last time how difficult it is for me to face new people, to talk to them. I hardly ever open the door to them s I’m beggared if that fella from Burkina Faso ever hand delivers my cash. Yet because this woman , this church, feels the need to invade people’s space they’ll come again and again. Little wonder that people can be rude to them. I swear I’m going to reopen the Buthidar church and go into competition with them. A ‘One Size Fits All’ anti-religion where tolerance, respect, equality, love and above all Hugs is the order of the day.

For lunch I had bangers, new potatoes and peas. I watched the first medal in the Commonwealth Games fall to a Brit (OK, she was English but there were no Welsh contestants). It was for the triathlon and she was magnificent. Then it was back to work to make up for my unscheduled stop. I did have an hours sleep to try and help me recover from the discomfort I’m in and perhaps it worked a bit. I worked again except for a gap to have some tea and a break from 5.15 pm to 7.20 pm but no, I wasn’t eating all that time. I came back through to try and keep abreast of the mail ( Oh, I shouldn’t use that word in my state of health- to keep up with the mail is better). I needed to make sure I could  get the post done before having a read. I also want to see if I can understand why youtube is not posting to here anymore.

 

Still having problems with youtube videos I’m afraid.

Friday. It was a 5.54 am day so the times are still hovering around the 6.00 am mark. Perhaps whoever does the book-keeping for the Gods realises they’ve been making an error for a long time and are trying to make it up to me before I go up and complain. As it happens this favour has put the pressure on a bit with mail but we’ll bypass that. The pain in my chest has receded even more it seems. There isn’t much tightness there either now. I still don’t feel like going out and the urge to dress is missing. I worked until 7.30 am before going through to feed the fish, I tell myself it isn’t because I got carried away and forgot but that they’ve had a couple of late nights since I got carried away and forgot.

Being Friday it was also time to do the weekly tablets ( yes, I’d forgotten that too) so I decided to save time by not having breakfast. I’ll just have to remember to eat tea. That took me until 8.30 am when I was able to go back to work with my coffee. I suddenly remembered that my nephew is coming this morning to collect my African art so I break off to go and take it off the shelves and replace it with all the board games that have taken up station next to the cupboard recently. I leave everything laid out neatly on the settee for him as I don’t know how he’ll want to pack it. I decide maybe I’d better get dressed after all but it can wait till I have my breath back so I sit at the computer with the mail for a few minutes that become half an hour. In fact I’ve not long been dressed before he arrives bringing his wife and little girl with him. I haven’t seen them in a while. Of course I’d covered up most of the available seating so we had to find bags to pack everything into. I offered drinks and they got to looking at the now famous photo wall. The photos made us touch on a couple of sore subjects which aren’t easily solved. I was also reminded that next Saturday I’m invited to a party to meet the Great Niece I didn’t know existed until recently.

They left before lunchtime and I had a further go at the mail before breaking off to make something to eat. A small beef joint and some new potatoes today but I couldn’t finish it all. I watched a little of the Commonwealth Games and then my antiques show before deciding to have a snooze. Oddly no text from Mike yet.That came at 1.30 pm and woke me up I’m glad to say. He’s on his way so I’d better make sure the mail is well under control before he gets there so I don’t have to love him and leave him. Given the usual 3 hours I expect him about 4.30 pm. After that time I start to panic but I don’t want to text and disturb his driving. I was in and out of the pit working a lot while waiting. In the end he arrived after 6.00 pm because of traffic problems. We gassed, put the world to rights and watched TV. Then it was time for the ritual hairwash and my shower. The pain was a little more prominent so Mike helped me dry off, at least he said that’s what he was doing when he kept flicking the towel at me. The worst of it was I’d had to sit down on the karsie by then ( lid down people).

I made us a sandwich which we followed up with dark choc ices and we carried on blethering until 9.00 pm when it was my cue to depart. I’ve made a good hole in the mail and managed to do the blog and it’s not yet midnight. Yay, I’m off for a read. Night all.

Saturday. Things must be getting back to normal since it was a 4.59 am day despite having read till well gone midnight last night. Mike was up even later than me watching something on TV . I didn’t even have any wanderings in the middle of the night so was more than ready to get out of bed when I woke. Because I’d finished a little early last night there was an accumulation of mail from yesterday to finish before I got to today’s.  Not that I was too worried as I felt OK at that stage. At about 6.45 am I went through to the kitchen to shine a light on my fishy friends and to take my tablets. I was on my way out to check I had enough tabs to take out in my little pillbox when Mike’s alarm went off. I turned on my heel and went back to make a drink for him.  Once done I followed the well trodden path of taking it through and a little louder than necessary, announcing it’s arrival.I checked the pillbox and went back to the kitchen to get my own drink and to empty the bins. Yeah, I nearly emptied the damned things all over the floor when I saw this apparition sitting in Mike’s chair, holding Mike’s coffee and having the cheek to light one of his cigarettes. Not even a second alarm. The little beggar even had the impudence to smirk at me. I almost changed my mind and emptied the rubbish over him except I didn’t fancy the job of cleaning up afterwards. Instead I asked him to put new bags in the bins while I took the full ones out. Then I put the recycling bags out , washed my hands and nipped back to my room to check the mail. Just 6 so I rattled them off and took my drink through to the lounge to keep Mike company ( If it was really him).

With a little gentle cajoling and some outright sarcasm I got him to get ready to go out and we beat our previous best by a few minutes arriving at the Supermarket by 8.05 am. After getting the jackpot on the ATM again we started shopping. There wasn’t a great deal to do but there was a lot of ground to cover so it took a while. We had a coffee afterwards and mine was one of those cold frappe ones with loads of ice so he sat watching me like a hawk hoping I’d get brain freeze. From there we headed to Flint as I’d heard one of our shops has a special on furniture at the moment and I was hoping to get a big brother for the micro bookshelves I bought recently. No joy I’m afraid but we both came out with some unnecessary clothing that was too good a bargain to miss. Then it was time to witness the sexual innuendo and affectionate banter between Mike and our Ceri in Temptations. I swear there are customers on a Saturday morning who just go in to listen to those two charge their horses at each other in joust. It’s almost like peeping through the nets at something naughty happening on the lawn only to find the nets are too thick so you end up having to imagine it. She’s an absolute dream though and so funny.

From there we went home to unpack. I was hoping to see to the mail before we went out again but somehow we ended up on Facebook trying to befriend Ceri and finding she doesn’t have a friend request box anywhere and believe me we looked. I’ll have to wait till we see her and ask her to befriend me instead. By the time we’d both given up in disgust it was time to go for lunch and we were looking forward to finding out if Tariq managed to get the family passports sorted in time to go on holiday. He appeared delighted to see us when we walked in and came round the counter to give us hugs. I still don’t know many men who aren’t afraid to do that. After that Shella came out and passed me a bag which contained some sticks of rock they’d brought back after I’d joked with Tariq about it. I didn’t expect they’d be able to get rock abroad and so was only teasing him. We all burst out laughing but I managed to get a hug and kiss from Shella. I put the chocolates on the counter for Angie, she’s done a great job while they were away. Tariq made our drinks and took the food order while Mike and I went outside into the beautiful sunshine for a cigarette. Lunch didn’t take very long when we were inside. Afetr we’d finished we had a long chat with Tariq and then Shella came to talk to us too. It’s like going to a friends house for lunch. Fortunately as it came time to leave I was able to give the money to Shella who doesn’t argue with me even though she passed it to Tariq I was OK as he was busy with someone else.

As we left I was expecting to head home to do my mail but Mike expressed a wish to go to Llandudno to see our friend. I could hardly refuse so Mike phoned him and turned left out of the gate. The journey was a little short of an hour and we got there to listen to the story of the woman upstairs who’s harassing him for having a dog when she has a cat.I used the term woman instead of lady as I’ve heard some of the language she uses which puts me to shame. We decided to go out for a drink instead of sitting inside in all the heat. That’s probably the last time today I’ll rub it in about our weather . We got to a parking space and walked round to a cafe where I ordered a milkshake it being to warm for coffee…I thought. The sun was shining down but this Queen of Resorts is famous for being a windy city and it’s reputation was well deserved today. The wind was colder than the milkshake, I held the cup to keep warm. When we finished and defrosted, moving back into the sunlit streets without wind it was glorious again. We dropped Brian off at home again and started our own journey so we arrived back at about 6.00 pm. I’ve been in here ever since apart from a ten minute break to wash some pots and to put Ju’s new flowers into vases for her. It’s now getting late.

At the Zoo

At the Zoo 2

 

Banana Boat Song Anyone?