Slaughterhouse Blue & Birthdays and Arrivals

Sunday 17th April.

I expected last night to be the usual but I was to be surprised. Bed at 12.10 am, read till 1.00 am then sleep. That part followed the usual plan. But I had a small period of wakefulness at 2.17 am then a longer on at 3.22 am when I visited the loo and decided to walk into a wall on the way back to my room. I brought a picture down which lodged partly behind a radiator with a heck of a clatter bringing me to my senses and waking Mike who called out to see if I was OK. Apart from dented pride I was. I still had to spend some time sitting on the side of the bed having a smoke and trying to decide what had happened. I went back to sleep at the time I’d normally be getting up. I slept until 7.04 am. I started work on the mail as soon as I’d taken my meds and brought a coffee through. I was in a panic as the normal deluge had started arriving by then.              I was startled to have Mike appear in my doorway. I looked at my watch and it was only 9.30 am so I was even more startled. I went through to make him a dink and stayed to let Joey out and try and sort out what we were doing today. I left 74 pieces of post in my inbox at that time.

We decided it would be a good idea to head for Flint to see if Argos had the electric screwdriver he wanted and they were showing in their catalogue so at about 11.00 am we left. Flint didn’t have one but they checked and found Mold did and kindly reserved one for him. We had a quick coffee in Temptations ( a chance for him to drool over Sian) and then headed off for Mold about 15 minutes away. Once we’d parked up I showed him the way to Argos and he got what was needed. We were leaving the store when a loo became a necessity, the shop advised him there were no public loos open today (?) so I guided him to the nearest cafe I knew so he could go. We ended up having sandwiches for lunch but as he pointed out, we couldn’t complain as we’d had our Sunday lunch yesterday.                                                                                                                                                                After lunch we walked round a couple of shops looking for some gift wrap and I picked up about half a dozen sheets. I’ve got a little time before the next batch of (unwrapped) birthdays hammers on my door. April, May and November are the worst months for birthdays for me but at least this month’s are wrapped now.

Coming back it was fun with the sat-nag on listening to the way he wanted us to go while Mike and I had decided on the pretty route over the tops. The poor fella in the sat-nag must have been going frantic looking up all the roads to try and adjust to our route.He did pretty well. We were home for 2.00 pm and did Ju’s flowers before sitting down to try and watch a not very good film. I fought bravely to keep my eyes open. About 3.30 pm Mike asked if I was going to sleep and I told him I’d better go and start work. He decided that would be a good time to start for home. I turned the TV off. After making sure he left and running a metal detector over his luggage, I locked the door and returned to the computer. The figure now could almost have been a historical date  like 1066 it was so high but I don’t know any events from 213 AD except I think the Romans were still slaughtering the Brits at that point. I worked until 6.10 pm and then went for some tea. I think I started watching something like NCIS but it wasn’t long before I was undergoing eyelid inspection from the inside again. I didn’t wake up until the closing music of one episode at 7.55 pm.

I scorched the carpet moving fast enough to get back here. It took me till 10.35 pm to clear the mailbox and that was with cutting corners. I’m (fingers crossed) gong to be greased up and in bed about 11.30 pm.

Looking Hopeful.

Blatant Advert placement.

Monday 18th April.

I was in bed fully basted by 11.45 pm. I read my book until 12.45 am then it was lights off and settle down. At some stage during the night I got up to go to the Piddle Palace but no accidents  and no ciggie on the side of the bed either, just back to sleep. I woke this morning at…wait for it…….6.32 am. Am I becoming human again and starting to enjoy a proper sleep cycle or is it just Somnos on holiday? I woke with a terrible headache but that seems a small price to pay.   After the usual visit to the loo I went straight to the kitchen and took my meds then made a coffee to bring back with me. No breakfast today. I signed into the mail and found 56 messages overnight. It was 6.50 am so the next batch wouldn’t be too long in coming.

The next batch arrived late but just as I was finishing the overnight lot. Oddly enough, it seemed to come in fits and starts today rather than en masse. I just had to keep going. I was clear at 9.37 am and was exhausted. I knew more would come but decided that what I needed just then was rest and my chair beckoned. I just lay there with my eyes closed wanting sleep. Joey had a singing squawking session but I couldn’t move.  Somehow I managed to turn the TV on in time for HUtH .  The feeling that I needed to sleep wouldn’t go away though I did manage to stay awake for the whole programme. When it finished I came back to work but after twenty minutes the bell rang. It was the warden and she came in for half an hour to chat about things and see how I am. When she left there was no time to come back and finish off, I needed to get on with lunch. Braised steak and mash today.

Lunch and Bargain Hunt out of the way I returned to where I’d left off to try and get myself into a good position again. I sat there going through the motions (no missus not THOSE motions, stay with the script and stop writing your own lines) until I was clear a few minutes before 3.00 pm. I was sure if I went to my chair I’d get my power nap and feel OK again but the Zzzz’s wouldn’t come. I watched Escape to the Country which I have often missed thanks to the Zzzz’s filing an inappropriate flight plan. At 3.45 pm when it finished I came back to see what else had arrived and to clear it up. I even managed a little look at Ebay. Lots of birthdays next month too. At 4.30 pm I went to watch PYMWYMI (see Blog Cast List) and then since my Cold Case appears to have finished, to watch a quiz. At 6.00 pm Without a Trace came on and I had to use matchsticks to keep my eyes open as I was going to watch The Antiques Road Trip next. I managed it. Then it was time to watch Sanctuary before coming back to work. I turned over and didn’t even get to see the start before I was asleep. I didn’t wake till 9.30 pm either which meant I was late. I closed Joey’s door and wished him goodnight, took my meds and came through. Clearing the post took until 10.50 pm so starting the blog was late. I’m aiming for 11.45 pm and given that it’s only fifteen minutes away and all I have to do is sort the photographs and choose my music I’m sure of making.

Far away thoughts.

Ready for anything.

Tuesday 19th April.

I was safely in bed by 11.50 pm after dealing with an extra message that came in. I read my book until thee were just white pages left and felt cheated that the author hadn’t at least put a few doodles on them. My light went out at 12.40 am and I settled quite quickly.   I had no problem getting up this morning and was going to go straight into getting dressed until I realised a) it was still quite dark without the light on, and     b)  doing that might mean a damp carpet as I hadn’t been for a wee yet and wanted one. I resolved that straight away and turned the light on as I left the room. It was 4.10 am so I guessed the last couple of days were flukes.                                                                                                       Coming back from the Pee Parlour I logged onto the computer and my mail box. Just 31 to deal with seemed OK .That took me until 5.54 am  when I shuffled down the passage to the kitchen and the waiting drugs and breakfast. I put the washing machine on while I was there. After breakfast I returned to my nest with a cup of coffee. More mail was waiting. A friend I was worried about recently had the love of her life, a much younger man who didn’t know of her feelings break his friendship with her. It was childish and petulant. She was angry and I thought that was good. The problem was she didn’t stay angry but after 3 days got in touch and ended up declaring her true feelings for him. Now he’s responded and also declared his love for her. At this point I should be pleased for her and wish her much happiness, and I do. But I’m worried about the effect the next time he has a tantrum and unfriends her on Facebook again.

I finished the main batch of mail at 8.45 am. Today the people are coming to see if I have asbestos in my kitchen ceiling before they do the kitchen and bathrooms. They could only give a time of between 9.00 am and noon so I wanted to slip out to Pauline’s just before 9.00 am so I’d be in. I was back in the house by 9.05 am having been to Pauline’s and to the sandwich shop to get myself a ham SALAD bap for lunch. I’m pretty sure I’m covered for my 5 a day for the next month now.                                                           I checked ebay and found I needed to pay for something I’d won which was great as I’ll have it well in time for when needed now. At 10.00 am I watched HUtH with Joey though his vocal support almost frowned out the programme. After that I returned to work but had only managed a few messages when the man came to check me out for asbestos. Well, not me personally but you know what I mean. That was about 11.15 am and he was doing so much more than I expected, taking samples from all the rooms for a start. He’d said it would take about an hour when he came and yet I was surprised when he said his goodbyes at 11.45 am. He said he wasn’t leaving me in a deathtrap but I had to ask him to repeat himself as the voice was a little muffled by his mask and the hand he held over his mouth.

I took my pre-foodies and put my ham salad bap on a plate, picked up a yoghurt and went to my chair. I turned the TV on ready for Bargain Hunt and after 15 minutes started eating. The bap made a really nice change though I don’t want you to start equating the words salad and nice together in my mind. When 1.00 pm came I went back to work. There seemed to have been a breech in the dam and heavy leakage in my direction (it’s my age I think). It took a while to clear up but I was back in there for 3.00 pm to see Escape to the Country. Again I returned to work at 3.45 pm and had a little session of ebay too.  At 4.30 pm my serious viewing started with PYMWYMI followed by Pointless which was in turn followed by Road Trip and Sanctuary during which I stayed awake.  That made it easy to take my meds and to say goodnight to Joey with no rush. I ambled through then feeling that wasn’t enough, I went back and came through with my now infamous Quasimodo walk. I was disappointed to find I didn’t have a belltower to climb and beams to scamper along as I made the bells talk to me. I made do with the mail instead. And this time there were 72 waiting, cruel, very cruel.                                       I was clear by 11.05 pm but only because I ignored most of the messages by a multiple poster who writes quite a bit on a subject that doesn’t interest me.I do respond when the subject does.

I think I shall still be in bed before the witching hour makes me become human again.

Prepared for rain

Liquid eyes
to hypnotise.

Wednesday 20th April.

In bed at 11.56 pm and because the new book I ordered hadn’t arrived I had to re-read a pamphlet on poltergeists. I didn’t want to start on a full book and have to leave the new one alone if it arrived today. I am really anxious to continue with the Uhtred story. My light went out at 12.27 am as I headed towards sleep.                                                     I’m pretty sure I had been lying in bed awake and thinking of my mother for a while before swinging my legs out this morning. It’s possible I was dreaming though as I hadn’t looked at the clock until I moved. When I did it was 3.34 am. I thought it was later. After a visit to the Palace of Piddle I returned to my room and signed in. I worked on my mail until I finished one at 4.44 am and decided that was a good time to break for breakfast and my meds.  Rice Krispies and toast this morning since I couldn’t decide between the two. I’ll be the size of a barn shortly. (Whaddye mean I already am, and no,I didn’t call you shorty). After eating I washed the pots and brought a cup of coffee back with me.

The overnight and early morning mail kept me occupied until 7.11 am. I had time to get dressed before the deluge hit. When it came it was in fits and starts again so for a while the figures didn’t look too bad and they refilled only when I got low. At 9.15 am I broke off to go to Pauline’s for tomatoes and cucumber to make sandwiches at lunch time, I didn’t bother with a lettuce because of the waste, I’d probably throw it straight in the bin. When I got back I checked my phone for messages from Jade, nada, and then carried on with the mail until 9.55 am when my TV session with Joey called. HUtH. It was good today.                                                                                                                                       At 11.00 am I came back to work and carried on with the messages until the box was clear at 11.55 am. For lunch I made two beef and partial salad baps which I ate while Bargain Hunt was on. I kept trying to tempt Joey to come and eat with me but I think he prefers manners. I was going to catch a quick forty winks at 1.00 pm but I’d no sooner shut my eyes than I got a text. Jade asked whether she could come tomorrow instead. I replied that I didn’t know if I was having visitors tomorrow or Friday and I’d have to let her know.

I went back to work until 3.45 pm. I dealt with mail and also with some things on ebay. I was doing searches and sending some of the results to Yvonne in the hopes she’d let me buy something for them. I don’t know where that child got such an obstreperous nature from. She seems to forget that I reign supreme and that my word is law. In fact I’d go so far as to say she deliberately thwarts me every chance she gets. I don’t know where I went wrong but I’m paying for it now. I bet she’s not like this with her husband, unless of course it’s he that has usurped my authority. But no, she was like this pre-Ugo.                                                                                                                                                                            At 3.45 pm I at in my chair and closed my eyes, even Joey wasn’t going to stop me. I Zzzzz’d until 4.26 pm which couldn’t have been better since PYMWYMI started at 4.30 pm. I was surprised not to find Dil there grinning at me but tonight it was almost 5.00 pm before he arrived. I made him a cup of tea and we had a little natter before Pointless. Ae 6.00 pm the TV went off and the games came out. In the Yahtzee he won three straight games and then surprisingly so did I. On the second sheet it went 4-2 in my favour. In trivia he had four pieces of pie before I’d got my first but I fought back and managed to reach the sixth. When I got to the centre he asked a kind question I was able to answer and it was all over bar my dancing on the table shouting “Ha, ha, I won, I beat you! Could you help me up off the floor carefully please.” We did have time for one game of cribbage and he took a great lead which he maintained most of the way round. At the critical juncture though I pulled the pair of 5’s from my sleeve and gathered enough points to win. I led him out of the house to say goodbye so he couldn’t slam all the doors as he went. This was the Slaughter House and he was blue.

After washing the pots, taking my meds and saying goodnight to Joey I came through to see how bad things were, I hadn’t been here in 6 hours. It was bad, but not in a Let me out I’m leaving home kind of way, more a Heck, I’d hoped to get some sleep tonight kind of way. I was knocked for six though when I opened a message from my friend Hugh to say that Victoria Wood had died. This is a great loss to entertainment as she was a superlative performer. A real talent with her comic routines and a very talented writer of both comedy and serious material.Then I had  message from Yvonne with the same news saying “Bloody cancer again.” Because she was ill such a short time I wonder if it was pancreatic cancer that took her do quickly.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          I finished the mail at 11.15 pm and went straight on to the blog. It will be midnight.

Bite size

You spin me right round baby…..

Thursday 21st April.

Bed was actually 12.15 am and reading took until 1.20 am before I realised I was only halfway through a long chapter and had to put my book down anyway. I marked the place carefully, nipped to the loo (and back) and turned the light out. I saw it was 1.27 am. Sleep wasn’t long in coming. It was an awful dream filled night so I was glad to see 5.32 as I woke, and about four hours isn’t bad.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 First job of the morning was another visit to the loo then back to log on. Firstly to the bank to check my pension was in- it was, then straight to the mail. I worked until 6.30 am then went to take my meds and get a coffee to bring back. Once back I cranked up the output to try and finish what I had before anyone flung new stuff at me. I didn’t make it so was at my desk without a break until 9.35 am.

You’d have been proud of me with the speed I decided what to wear and how quickly I put it on. So ,  what if I wasn’t exactly colour co-ordinated and had put my lounge pants on in error. I changed and looking a little more subdued went to Pauline’s to get my lottery. I accidentally bought a Twix as well which I accidentally ate when I got back. There were just a few extra messages to clear and I just had time before going in to change Joey’s seed and water and putting HUtH on for us.                                                                 MuJo arrived about 10.30 am which was a pleasant surprise. I saw to drinks then passed John his birthday gifts to open or not as the mood took him. He said he’d rather wait until we got back from wherever we were going.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      There were a lot of questions raised about where t go for lunch, all of them raised by John because we just reminded him it was his birthday, his choice. In the end it was decided we’d go to the Bells of St Mary’s. We left the house very early at 11.20 am even though they don’t start serving until 12.00 pm, I think it’s a case of once a decision is made you act on it before it gets changed. We arrived about 11.40 am and I got the carvery tickets and the drinks while John found a seat. Then he and I took our pre-food tablets so we were ready for the kick off. Noon found us lining up to be served, the first in the queue.

I had my usual roast beef dinner but here they serve onion gravy with huge chunks of onion in and the mashed potato is really nice.We all seemed to enjoy what we had. From there we went into Prestatyn to look at a couple of shops. I managed to get a toy each for Nathan and Reuben to make up for an outfit I’d got last week for Amelie. I’ll be able to dish them out on Sunday when we go to Jo’d birthday meal. I also picked up an extra head, this one in black and a Buddha. John seemed to be the fittest I’ve seen him in ages walking round shops. I had to stop. About 3.15 pm we set off home with a detour to John’s mother’s house. She’s well into her 90’s and he wanted to check she was OK. We got home about 4.00 pm and John started on his gifts. He laughed at the Dalek and at the motion sensor whistling parrot. He adored the hip flask designed by my friend Sarah of First Night Design  http://firstnightdesign.wordpress.com  , she’s a fantastic artist as well as a lovely lady. He liked his fleece but I think he was impressed with my choice of his porcelain soldier figures as he didn’t have any of them and on was of the green jacket rifles like Sharpe in the books by Bernard Cornwell.                            I’d just put the antiques programme on when the doorbell rang and it was Bert with a parcel. We were having quite a long chat on the step when  Mike arrived like a bolt of lightning. The speed his little legs were moving told me he was due  an urgent visit to the Piddle Palace. Bert said goodbye and I went in.

MuJo were on the point of leaving having seen Mike arrive so we said our goodbyes and they promised to come again next week. I came back through and watched to the end of the show with Mike then excused myself to catch up,promising I’d be back in by 7.00 pm no matter what. I juggled as much as I could then kept my promise. Only when I was back in did I find they’d cancelled the Antiques Road Trip to show a programme about Victoria Wood. So many funny clips.                                                                                            When it was over I came back through to work and Mike said he fancies an early night too. Now I know this one is an alien.                                                                                                      I caught up about 10.45 pm so might be in bed by 11.30 pm tonight.

Muriel and John aka MuJo

If she tells me to ‘Say Cheese’ just one more time when I’m lactose intolerant……….

Friday 22nd April.

I slithered into bed at 11.45 pm last night and took to my book. I read until 1.00 am ans only stopped because I feared reading until the end of a chapter which was many pages away. I need to pace myself too as I don’t have the next book in the series which Muriel says she’ll bring with her next time.                                                                                          It was strange when I got up. I wanted to go to the loo which as ever wasn’t a problem, but on my return I couldn’t find my glasses. Quite seriously I must have spent ten minutes looking for them. I looked beside my bed in case they’d fallen, in the bathroom in case I’d put them on the windowsill, in my dressing gown pockets and in the lounge in case I’d been in there and put them on my table. I don’t think Joey appreciated the light going on. I checked the kitchen too. It was at least he full ten minutes before I realised I was using them to look for them. At no point had I checked my boat-race.                                                                                                                                                                                        Worse still, I came back to my bedroom after having apologised to Joey and putting the light out to start getting dressed. It suddenly occurred to me how dark it was. I glanced at the clock and it was just 2.35 am. I hadn’t even slept for an hour and a half and here I was preparing myself for a new day when my compost was most definitely not mental.

I signed into my mail and started working on the messages. By 4.00 am I was up to date and took a chance on a lie down, it worked, I lay until 4.50 am. Getting up I checked on new messages and there were none at that point. I decamped ( love that word, I feel like Baden-Powell) for the kitchen where I took my meds then prepared the boxes for the next week. I brought a coffee with me when I returned at 5.40 am and found more messages had arrived. All in all I stayed with my face glued t the screen until almost 9.30 am when Mike got up. I left the last few messages and went to make him a drink. Joey was delighted to have us both in the room. I put HUtH on at 10.00 am bu fell asleep in the chair for part of it. When I woke, the postman had been. The last picture I’d ordered, a shame it hadn’t come yesterday.                                                                                   At 11.00 am I got up to start peeling my sweet potatoes and Mike went to get dressed and then came through to say goodbye. By the time I’d finished I just went ahead and started the cooking and took my pre-food tabs. I ate at noon.  I waited until Bargain Hunt was over at 1.00 pm before washing the pots and then going to face the computer. There were 121 pieces waiting for me and odd bits more coming in. I wasn’t able to move from my seat until 4.22 pm, and believe me, my seat was feeling it. I took a break for my antiques show then worked 5.15 pm to 5.45 pm and took another break when Mike sent a text to say he was on his way.

At 6.00 pm I has Without a Trace on and held back my scream when Mike arrived back and I missed the important conclusion where one missing person dies and one survives and I’ve no idea how or which. I made a coffee for him and left it in the cup honestly. At 7.00 pm I went for a shower and Mike washed my hair for me as usual. He mentioned something about a haircut/beard trim again but luckily I was deafened by water in my ears and didn’t hear a thing, especially as the forecast is for a very cold weekend with snow possible. Question of Sport was on when I came out,my team lost. I watched Sanctuary and then Have I got News for You. At 9.30 pm I closed Joey’s door, went to take my meds and wished Mike goodnight as I was coming through to work. As I was working on the mail he kept popping in and out until finally at 10.30 pm he announced he too was going to bed. I finished the mail not long after at 10.40 pm and was able to start the blog. Hopefully I’ll be done by 11.30 pm (ish) and can get back to the half chapter I left last night.

Horticultural Guy

The groupies follow him everywhere

Saturday 23rd April.

I finished reading with the end of the half chapter and turned the light off at 12.27 am.  Sleep was almost instant. When I woke I felt as though I’d been aboard a ship all night and didn’t have my sea legs. That didn’t make going to the loo easy. ( “Vertigo?” Mike asked later,”No” I replied “it was only about 4 metres/yards.”) You can imagine the fun trying to keep my aim true, a drunk with palsied hands. Still, at least I managed not to walk into any walls this week. It was 2.07 am and if I’d been dreaming about Vikings after last night’s reading I couldn’t remember where I’d buried my hoard this morning.I suppose I’d have had a problem being a Viking though being neither a Dane nor a Saxon but a Briton that both sides fought after they’d invaded my Country and pushed us further and further back until the border between us and them made getting to us difficult. Wales held the original inhabitants of the whole Country just then and I don’t mean 2.07 am this morning.

After ‘loo time’ I did emails until 5.00 pm then went through to the kitchen to take my meds and have some toast for breakfast. I brought my coffee through and carried on until 5.45 am. At that point my box was clear. I was just relaxing onto the keyboard when I was startled into wakefulness by Mike’s alarm going off. It was 6.00 am. I headed for the kitchen to make him a drink and the alarm was still going. It honestly occurred to me that maybe he’s popped his clogs in the night. Suddenly it came to an abrupt halt. Had it run out or been turned off? I put the kettle on and then stuck my head round his door. He was still with us as I could see he’s changed position. I made a drink and took it through. When I said “Coffee up”, I got a reasoned response with minimal foul language.                                                                                                                                                            He was actually in the lounge with his coffee at about 6.15 am. Amazing. He ‘s going to bed early, going to sleep early and now getting up early. Not understanding the change that’s come over him I carried on and dealt with the  recycling stuff, getting it outside ready for collection.By 7.15 am he was dressed and ready to go. Even claiming to  be awake at that point. We left Joey at the window looking sad at our departure.

Things went well at the Supermarket as in I got what I wanted and even what I needed to a degree. Of prime importance were flowers for Ju and we picked three nice bunched including some Iris’s Mike found. We zipped round and found the till that our friend who insults Mike and receives as good as she gets was in charge of. Once he’d had a good session with her we were ready to go. By pure coincidence today Mike remembered he wanted some lights for his fish tank so we decided to forego the coffee in McDonald’s and go to see if they had any elsewhere. Well, we had to try The Range first. They didn’t have quite what he wanted so we had to have a drink and a bacon bap to console ourselves him. We tried a big pet shop close by and then the pet shop in Flint. That meant a drink in Temptations and another round of female- Mike banter. I suggested a couple of places that may well have the lights he needed and we set off for Rhyl. One shop had almost exactly what he wanted, just not long enough. We made a note of the make to try later on the net. We went for lunch.

After lunch we had a little wander round the shops in Rhyl and I found something I hoped would appeal to both Karen and Jo. As I’m seeing them tomorrow I’ll find out if I’m right. We headed home. Once the shopping was unpacked and away I was able to come and check the mail. I worked from 2.30 pm to 5.45 pm getting it down before feeling I could take a break. Mike was watching his beloved Manchester United play a game on the TV. Not literally on the TV, the programme was on TV. At 6.00 pm when it was halftime he went through to his bedroom and TV  so I could watch a film in the lounge. I made him a coffee and some tea as a thank you.                                                                  Ugo was coming to put something in the garage later so I was ready to help. We got it done very quickly so that just after 9.30 pm I was able to start the rest of the mail and the blog. The mail was done by 11.15 pm.

Can you see the reflection in the eye?

Can you see a little flying saucer just above his head?

 

Jigsaw Gift &The Return of the Prodigal

Sunday 10th April

I put my book down at 1.15 am and lights out. It was a while before I slept and when I did it wasn’t for long as I was awake again at 1.47 am. I don’t think it was for too long. The day began again at 5.24 am. I went straight to the kitchen for my meds but couldn’t face breakfast this morning though I bet it might have been different had bacon been on offer. Maybe I should go and see if Pauline has a small pack this morning. I’d finished with the meds and made my coffee by 4.45 am so I put the washing machine on and brought the coffee back to my room. Once I started with the mail time just ran away with me and I only remembered about the washer at 7.00 am so I had to go and put the drying cycle on. That was going to take three hours. I’d have to see if I could remember it at 10.00 am. I finished the first wave of mail at 9.35 am and took a break to change Joey’s seed and water. I stayed there for a while in the hopes of nodding off but I suppose the thought of Jade turning up and me missing the doorbell put the mockers on that idea. At 10.00 am I watched a programme asking if Shakespeare was ahead by touting equality for women in his characters, black guys can be good and not slaves and other forward thinking in his plays. This was compared to the bible and whether it promoted the same or whether all the characters in the bible are one sided and uninteresting. Not my usual fare but some good points were raised. At 11.00 am I came back to work in case more mail had come (it had). I worked until 11.50 am then went to see to lunch. Today a pre-done roast beef dinner from Tescos. Not bad but maybe ASDA have the edge on meat quantity.

At 1.00 pm I returned to work again. I was still living in hopes of Jade coming and giving me a hand with the bed at that stage. There was plenty of work coming through but as Jade hadn’t come ( and my will to live was rapidly disappearing) I decided I wanted to see a film at 2.30 pm. The film finished at 4.20 am and I’d been so distracted I hadn’t noticed the deadline for Jade had come and gone. A surprise is no phone call of apology for letting me down or of hampering any plans I wanted to make. I wonder if I’m just accepting girls who are too young, who don’t yet have a work ethic, but then again they’re the only ones who seem to be advertising. I wonder if she’ll text about coming this week? I am paying over the odds so she may not want to lose the money and to be fair she isn’t overworked here. Anyway, I came through after the film ended and worked on post until 5.15 pm. Then it was time for tea. I had a corned beef and pickled beetroot bap and some chineapple punks to follow. That’s part f my five a month taken care of.      I want to say that I sat there watching TV until 9.00 pm. I want to but I can’t. I watched something unmemorable (Rango??) early on until about 6.30 pm then turned over to watch Snow White and the Huntsman. I don’t know why as I missed about an hour of it when the Zzzz’s were flying overhead. When I woke it was quite dark (poor Joey) but at least we hadn’t had the final battle scenes. I put the light on and watched the rest including the killing of the Queen and the new coronation of Snow White. It’s lucky I knew the storyline.

I turned the TV off and went to take my meds. As I came back through Joey had gone into his cage so I was able to wish him goodnight and turn the light off again even though I felt I owed him some light time. My work was awaiting me, and what a lot there was. That took me until 10.45 pm and before I started the blog I got undressed. I don’t have any mirrors in here in case I catch a glimpse and know I need an iron. Before I got into my night attire I tried the trousers and waistcoat I bought last Tuesday. What? Of course you remember, the Prince of Wales check I told you about. I thought to wear them tomorrow to show Yvonne if it isn’t pouring down. They fitted fine so I spent two hours removing labels and unstitching the waistcoat pockets. Then at last I was able to start the blog. It will be done by 11.30 pm or at least before I’m due out in the morning.

The Happy Reader

Pops’s little Beauty.

This is for all my Australian friends with thanks for the great music

Monday 11th April.

You should never tempt fate in case one of the small gods is listening, and if they are it might be Somnos. He has less a sense of humour than a sense of spite. I;m never sure what the lesson is I’m supposed to have learned at the end of it and it’s no use asking because he hasn’t either.                                                                                                                                  I was in bed at 11.40 pm with one greased leg outside the covers for a while. I stopped reading and put my light out at 12.29 am. I couldn’t sleep and my mind was racing with thoughts of Ju and Yvonne. I turned the light back on at 1.48 am and had a cigarette to calm myself. The light went off again at 1.57 am. I saw 2.02 am roll past and must have slept…….until 4.01 am when I got up. I knew then I was looking forward to the bus journey when I might nod off again.                                                                                                               After my usual Olympic Triple Jump I signed onto me post box and started on the mail. I was doing quite well when I stopped at 5.00 am to take my meds and have some breakfast which today was a toasted bap. It was while I was leaning on the food counter eating that I looked at the kitchen windowsill and realised I hadn’t done Ju’s flowers from the new ones I’d bought on Friday. I brought her vase in so I wouldn’t forget. Once breakfast was over I put all the old flowers in the sink and sorted the dead from the live. Then I snipped all the old ones and put them back in the vase. I had two bunches of new ones, one of which was the same carnations that I already had in the vase so I just opened those out into a vase on the kitchen windowsill. The bunch of mixed flowers I arranged among the old ones until it looked artistic enough. Fresh water and some flower food then I put them back where they belong in the lounge.

I took my coffee and returned to work. I was done with the mail by 6.30 am apart from odd ones coming in. I wouldn’t touch the flood as I’d be almost ready to leave for the bus stop then. I’d be wearing my jeans after all as it was bucketing down outside. I got dressed. As time went on I left the house and half way to the bust stop the rain ceased. How typical is that. The bus was a few minutes early so I put my cigarette out and got aboard. The bus sat there for five minutes before moving off again. I can see a pattern emerging for today. The journey was at least restful.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     In Chester we were a couple of minutes early and there was no sign of Yvonne so I lit a cigarette and walked to meet them, hiding behind a column when I saw them coming so I  could say ‘BOO’ to Roobs. It was good he reacted with a smile. Things looked up for me a bit when I was successful at finding a gift for my great nephew’s birthday and was able to get a tee-shirt for Roobs and a little dress and cardie for Amelie from the same place. No arguments from Yvonne. Wow!! We went over to our usual shop for coffee an I was able to hold Amelie. Poor little lamb is still coughing though the doctor says she’s OK. She hasn’t slept well either but it doesn’t seem to have changed her happy nature. While Yvonne fed her I had a little look round and picked up a couple of nice cushions, a single bed set and then some shoes for Ami that Yvonne found and I snatched off her. I know it’s rude to snatch but it’s the only way to win an argument with her.

A Wander down the street because Yvonne wanted some things for the changes she’s having in her kitchen. Washing up bowl,plate drainer, cutlery holder etc and Roobs wanted a toy crocodile. I managed to hand cash over to the young assistant while she saw me confiscate Yvonne’s credit card. Winner again.YES!!  I shut my ears and started to hum then. Amelie was coughing again and I agreed it was worrying so Yvonne spoke to the doctor and made an appointment for this afternoon. We visited a last shop when I managed to find a leather belt in the sale and a pair of braces (suspenders) and I think another tee-shirt for Roobs. Then it was time to walk to the bus stop again. I had a nice journey home but didn’t sleep, probably the excitement at being so successful this morning. I managed to call in on Pauline on the way home then went home to have some lunch.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             After lunch I had to walk to the chemist’s to hand in my repeat prescription request and on the way back I saw Bert by his door. He indicated a parcel had arrived for me. When I got it home I opened it to find the gift I’d chosen for Jo’s birthday in a million pieces so had to start trying to get hold of the seller . I took photographs to send and that meant messing about with batteries in two cameras before I managed it, then having to connect a multi usb port to the computer so I could link a card reader to that. I did that and linked a report. Later on they responded they’d try to get another to me. It looks like I don’t have to post the pieces back to them as it wasn’t insured anyway. I hope they’re able to do it as I think it’s the perfect gift for her.

Finally I was able to start on the mail. It was about 2.00 pm. I had to work through until 5.00 pm to break the back of it and I’m ashamed to say there were ones I just deleted today rather than deal with them. I had a message from Yvonne that the doctor had sent them to the pediatrician who is keeping Ami in overnight. They say she has brochiolitis (which I’ve never heard of) with a reflux problem. I hope they manage to fix things quickly and it doesn’t lead to asthma later like her Dad.                                                At 5.00 pm I broke off to watch my Cold Case. I was there till 9.30 pm tonight as I fell asleep at the start of Sanctuary. Joey kindly woke me up nattering, probably to tell me it was his bedtime and I was snoring or something. I took my meds and came through. It was 10.51 pm when I finished the mail. Or at least what had come through till then. There may be more by now. It’s 11.40 pm and I’ve nearly done here so should I go to bed or check to see id there’s more mail to do? Hmmm, quandry.

Feeding squiggles

I shouldn’t watch horror stories before bed.

Tuesday 12th April.

12.05 am into bed after dealing with a little more mail. I read until almost 1.00 am and turned the light out. Sleep wasn’t far away. I woke this morning convinced it was 6.05 am but I was either telling a lie or living in Hope. Since Hope is a village in Wrexham and the saying goes, Live in Hope , Die in Caergwrle  which is the village next door, I preferred the lie. Ir was actually 3.26 am. I  started on the mail and had a couple from Yvonne to show she’d not getting much sleep in hospital with Amelie. Am has had 2 coughing fits and one big reflux vomit which have all been missed because she isn’t hooked up to any monitors. Here’s hoping they do something right and get to the bottom of this.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 At 4.30 am I went through to take my meds and have breakfast. VEGETARIANS PLEASE LOOK AWAY NOW AND KEEP THINKING CORNFLAKES.  It’s been on my mind so much lately and I’ve seen so many cruel blogs mention it, that yesterday I bought a packet of bacon. Knowing I had it made the need much greater and this morning I had two bacon baps for breakfast. An even worse confession……..I wasn’t even enjoying them and almost gave up after one, but the last few mouthfulls did it, they restored my faith, well that and tomato sauce. I returned to work, complete with smirk at 5.01 am. I was done with the first batch by 5.55 am. I went to sit in the lounge for a while.

When I returned at 7.00 am there were just a baker’s dozen to be done. By 7.15 am that was up by 100. I made the scream as silent as possible though I know my right hand neighbour is currently in hospital, I didn’t want Bert to wake up and be jealous I had a girl in here. I got stuck in. Poor Joey , I’d opened his cage but not stayed with him and he was creating decibels of grumbling. Still, I carried on and worked until 9.56 am then left the rest and went through. He shut up for all of 30 seconds when I arrived then started with the recriminations about giving him time. I put HUtH on and thought that might soothe him. Not one iota. He went on and on and on right up until I left the room again at 11.00 am and that finally shut him up because he hadn’t finished. I finished the work that I’d left and most if the new mail before I put my shoes on at 11.40 am for the second part of the promise to myself. The Chippy for some curry sauce.                                                                                                                                                                                              Disaster struck. I took my pre-foodies and dashed to the chippy.Sausage, chips, mushy peas and curry sauce all safe in my bag. Another dash home before the 15 minutes is up where I have to eat. I just about made it. Chips out on plate, add sausages, add mushy peas, add cur….What! This is gravy Gahhh. Don’t get me wrong I like gravy but if I wanted that I could do it at home. It wasn’t a very happy meal with me chunnering away on one side of the room and Joey chunnering away on the other. To add insult to injury, Bargain Hunt was presented by the one so called expert I really can’t warm too. He’s annoying to the N’th degree and I haven’t met a fan yet. I wasn’t keen but I really went off him when he broke something in someone’s shop on The Road Trip and tried to hide it……..in front of millions of watchers!!

Before 1.00 pm I’d had enough of my lunch and of the presented so I went to put the rest of my chips in the food recycling bin and then washed up. I took my two post-food tabs and came back through to my room until 2.15 pm when I’ll either see the Dr Blake mystery or sleep through it. I made it in time for Dr Blake though it’s one I’ve seen before and I didn’t sleep through it. Nor did I sleep through the Indian Doctor. At 3.45 pm I was back on another catch up mission till 5.00 pm and found out that they might let Amelie out of hospital this evening as the x-ray is clear and the blood tests aren’t conclusive as they keep coagulating. Now it seems though that they think she has whooping cough which is news to me as there’s none of the distinctive sound at all, and she’s been innoculated against it. Anyway I disappeared at 5.00 pm for my usual shows…and I slept through none of them…… and came back to my emails to find that they’ve released her from hospital and told Yvonne to carry on with what she’s doing and that if there’s still reflux and no weight gain she’ll have to wean her. They’re to go back in 6-8 weeks for a check to see if her weight has gained (Amelie’s not Yvonne’s). I can’t really tell how happy Yvonne is (except to be home again) but I know it leaves me a little confused

Back to the plot.For some reason there was a lot of mail at 9.00 pm and it’s not like I’ve ignored any worse than usual. I ignore all equally. It was 10.47 before I was straight again. Then on to the blog with the bad news that I’ve run out of photographs and Yvonne hasn’t had chance to take more yet. Make this one last.

Almost fluorescent.

This is special

This is your Music.

Wednesday 13th April.

Bed 11.45 pm.Light out 12.30 am as I thought I was ready for sleep. When I slept there was a minor hiccup at 2.18 am which was over quickly. I slept until 3.36 am without another problem. A quick hop to the loo and I was back in my chair ready to do battle with the mail like I’dd never been away. At 4.40 am  I’d dealt with the 22 that were there and decided it was time for meds and breakfast.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    When I came back after my cornflakes there was fresh mail waiting which took me till 6.25 am so I nipped to my chair in the lounge and got my head down while I’d a chance. Like an infernal alarm clock Joey woke me at 7.30 am so I let him out and came back to work. The floodgates had opened. I worked till 10.00 pm when I’d almost done and went to watch HUtH. I had a text from Jade to say she’d be here at 12.30 pm.                                                                                                                                                                                                    I returned to the labour at 11.00 pm and worked until 11.45 pm when I went to feed myself on a minced beef hotpot with a buttered bap and a Rolo pudding for afters. It took a while to do after I’d taken the pre-foodies but I was still in time to see Bargain Hunt from the start. Annoyingly I was still there to see Bargain Hunt at the end too.

I came back to work. About 1.15 pm though Jade arrived with her young stepson in tow. First she helped me make the bed I’d been fretting about then I left her to carry on with the lounge while I occupied myself with the thoughts of all my friends. All I can say is, Stop thinking so much will you, or at least stop writing it down. If you must write it down, write slower as I can’t read very fast. I could hear Jade getting on with the cleaning in the background, the hum of the hoover and the swish of the mop on the kitchen floor. Heavens, such descriptiveness, I should write a novel. When she’d finished I still had a few messages to do but nothing to worry about. I went through to pay her and also to give him a little something for his help. I know he carried polish and dusters for her. As soon as they left I was settled in my chair to watch The Indian Doctor. I was there until 4.00 pm which hopefully gave me enough time to finish whatever messages there were before Dil’s arrival. I just about made it for 4.30 pm and got through  to the kitchen just as he arrived. I was making his tea as he entered the lounge.                                                                                                                                                                                                   We nattered a while about our weekends and he told me his fitness regime had now lost him a stone and 5 pounds. He has a watch on his wrist that counts his steps- he has to do 10,000 a day Tells him how many calories he’s burned off so he can be sure to eat less that that amount during the day. It can tell him how many sets of stairs he’s climbed. It’s really quite amazing, but it can’t wash the pots. Anyhoo, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is appears to have replaced one programme and I didn’t realise it until I turned on for our quiz. I must be sure to try and see that tomorrow.

After the quiz was over the TV went off and the Yahtzee came out. That bit of lead I poured into the dice last week is working, the bandages didn’t get in the way too much. The first set finished 3-3 but the second set was 4-2 in my favour. I forgot the weighted dice would work for him as well. That went away and we both made a bolt for the loo, I don’t know why as the key works perfectly well. Out came the Trivial Pursuits. What a chase. Dil landed on the segment questions and got 3 in short order. I could answer questions but not get on the important ones. Before too long I caught up and then took the lead to 4-3, 5-3, 5-4 and 6-4. While Dil struggled to get his last two pieces I struggled to reach the middle. If I needed a 2 I got a 3 always I went straight over the middle. I actually got there when Dil had earned his last two pieces. Naturally he asked me a sports question which I wasn’t going to get. Dil worked his way round trying to get to the middle and he actually got there before I managed my second visit. He didn’t get the question right though and had to leave with a curse. I didn’t get my second question in the middle right either. He had a horrible smug grin on his face as he landed there again. Time was getting on so I didn’t go for the worst question on the card. He answered it and won. Reasonably honours even again.

After I’d said Good riddance bye and Dil had gone, I tidied up, washed the pots and closed Joey’s cage. Wishing him goodnight I came through to start work again. The mail took me to 10.40 pm then I was able to start the blog. It’s going to be about an hour in total so I can get some sleep before MuJo tomorrow.

Ambition.

Terrible miming but a fantastic song and a film everyone should be made to watch.

Thursday 14th April.

In bed by 11.45 pm and light off at 12.30 am. I stopped reading when I realised I was happily reading the same paragraphs more than once. Sleep wasn’t too long in coming once the light went off and I turned on my side. Up time was 3.58 am so quite a reasonable night. There were a few false starts at the Triple Jump Olympic pee trials this morning so it was a few hours minutes before I got to log on. While the mail was loading I went to my bank and checked the pension had gone in. Next week I shall be checking on my private pension and seeing if that’s increased so I can notify the housing benefit people again and the Council Tax. I think all benefits will probably end from then. It’s strange that so often the only way I know  about an increase in my private pension is when I get it  rather than be notified in advance. That always means when I notify the relevant bodies and the increase is processed it creates an overpayment. Whereas if I knew in advance, I could get the notifications in before an overpayment happens and just adjust my payments. Some years there have been no increases so there’s no problem.

Once I’d finished with my banking I signed out and started work on the morning mail. At 5.00 am I broke off to take my meds and have breakfast. I was also able to set the washing machine going with yesterday’s bedding. I’m so glad I don’t I*on ( I can’t bring myself to swear) it as that pile is getting ever higher. I may have to raise the roof soon. There was a fair bit of mail, a lot of which had links to other blogs I needed to check out but I didn’t feel under pressure and in fact had caught up by 6.15 am. I tried laying on the bed and seeing if I could manage a little more sleep. It worked, I was there till 7.05 am. Then as I was working on the post some fool opened the floodgates and I was stuck at my desk until 9.32 am before I could go empty the washing machine. Once I’d emptied the machine I flitted up to the chemist and asked of they could deliver my drugs last thing because I’d be out with my visitors. They know which side of their chocolates are buttered and said No Problem. I had my lottery done at Pauline’s and was still home before HUtH. I only got half way through it today before MuJo arrived.

I went to see to drinks while Joey told them off for talking while he was interrupting. We had a good natter about what’s been happening in the fortnight since we’ve seen each other. Muriel loved her books but John really loved the canvas I’d had done of him in his black robe, he looks positively sinister and he loves it. We went out at 11.30 am and headed to Holywell so Muriel could go to the Post Office, it gave John the chance to visit the three charity shops he likes so much and as usual he came out with a couple of things. We went into the chippy which was pretty empty for a market day but it meant quick service and I finally got my curry sauce. Muriel managed to snaffle the bill this time by colluding with the waitress. After lunch we headed off to Flint. We hit two places for Mu to do some shopping before going to the retail park and having a coffee at Temptations. At least I got to pay there. I handed over the chocolates to Ceri and Sian and Ceri asked when Mike would be back. I had a text to say he was home and would see me tomorrow night after he’d been to Manchester to see his Dad. Ceri isn’t usually in on a Saturday morning these days so won’t see him anyway.                                                  We went off to B&M where John got some plastic flowers he wanted and I found a blue poppy design throw which I want to try on my settee with the two beautiful blue cushions I bought in Chester on Monday last. What, you’ve forgotten already?

It was gone 4.00 pm before we headed home and I was a bit worried about my drugs but it was OK, Pete came about 4.45 pm which was perfect. I’d found a note through the door to say a delivery had been left next door so I went to ask Bert about it and left MuJo being told off again by Joey. Bert didn’t seem to be in, but as I closed the door at home the bell rang and there he was. They were two small parcels and both for John’s birthday so not the replacement head (intact) I’d been hoping for. MuJo left me about 5.00 pm. I made a sandwich then watched the last few minutes of PYMWYMI before going to my Cold Case, (awake) Without a Trace (awake) and SG1 (I saw the first 15 minutes). When I woke it was 10 minutes into Sanctuary so I just turned off knowing there was a lot of work waiting for me after my outing. It took me from 8.20 pm after my meds until 10.50 pm to reach any semblance of order so that I could start the blog. I’ll either carry on with mail afterwards or finish it tomorrow morning. The worst news in my post is that Amelie is back in hospital again having spent last night throwing up again. This time she’s being fed on a drip to give her some nutrients to stop weight loss and to prevent dehydration. I think they’re treating it more seriously this time. I feel sorry for Yvonne if it’s another overnight stay as there’s no sleep to be had on a ward like that unless you’re a baby.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         To cheer myself up here are two pics Yvonne sent me of when she was OK. I just love this face.

Gorgeous.

Gorgeous at play.

For Fun…..

Music….

Friday 15th April. The Prodigal’s return.

Well, nice and easy last night. I stopped work at midnight regardless of what post there was and went straight to bed. I read until 1.05 am so I could finish a third chapter. My brain wasn’t too unkind and I managed to sleep right through to 4.29 am. I must have been really tired. I started on the mail as soon as I’d been to the Piddle Palace then broke off at 5.15 am so I could take my meds and prepare next weeks lot in the empty boxes. I also had some breakfast then returned to my room ready to carry on at 6.00 am. From about 6.30 am I spent time cropping a photograph that was taken some years ago on a good camera that didn’t have a lot of megapixels going for it. It’s a very rare thing to have a photo of MuJo together so I was using the old one but trying to get rid of so much background to concentrate on them. I was worried that two crops would mean they couldn’t do a canvas so I’ve submitted the end result to them to find out before placing an order. I’ve been pleased with what I’ve had from this firm so far. I’ll wait and see what they have to say.

The new mail started coming in as I was working so even though I suddenly felt like a kip I carried on until clear at 9.18 am. I ran from the room to make sure Joey was OK and thought I’d stay a while in case he needed me. cough. I actually stayed until HUtH was finished at 11.00 am before running through towards my room. I didn’t get further than the front door because at that moment the bell rang and I could see the postman’s coat. Yay, a parcel. And that was it, a parcel singular, not what I’d expected or hoped for today. I thanked him and came through to open it, I knew it wasn’t the replacement head which was just as well because I could hear movement. It was a window washer and all was well. Feeling a bit uninspired I sat at the computer preparing to beat out my masterpiece of such biting wit when the doorbell went again. This time it was the postman from the post van , not the foot soldier and I knew he had in his arms just what I wanted. I shook it gently but heard and felt nothing so signed my name and brought it in to open. It’s a bugger trying to use scissors with your fingers crossed. It was in one piece so I packed it away safely until I can wrap it.                                                        It was now almost 11.30 am and I’d done nothing. I started work but had to finish at 11.55 am to go and start peeling my potatoes for lunch. Bangers, mash and beans today and I just managed to finish preparing them before the goods went to the auction on Bargain Hunt. The first thing I see when I turn on is Charles Hanson, I swear he’s haunting me now, on so many shows, and presenting it again today. I’ll have to start giving it a miss.

At 1.00 pm I returned to work and just managed to bring myself up to date by 2.25 pm. Relieved I took a break and found The Indian Doctor was on, a double bill  so I enjoyed myself. Between 4.00 pm and 5.00 pm I got my head down and finished the fresh mail so I was free for the evening and the promised return of the prodigal. The message came at 5.40 pm ‘On my way Bro’. I thought it would take him till about 6.30 pm if the Friday night traffic wasn’t too bad. At 6.30 pm during the adverts in Without a Trace I put sugar and coffee in his mug an set the kettle to boil. SG1 had started at 7.00 pm before he finally arrived wearing his striped blazer like he was on holiday or something, in our climate too. Naturally he was talking ten to the dozen. Worse than Joey he was. At 8.00 pm we watched Celebrity Mastermind before I went for a shower. But he came to wash my hair like old times before I washed which made my life so much easier. Much less chance of an angina attack.                                                                                  After the shower I went back through to the lounge and watched Have I Got News For You with him before coming through to work. Plenty of emails waiting for me then. It was 11.15 pm before I was clear. Fast typing gibberish on the keyboard means bed will be about midnight with luck. I think I’m on target for that if I can find a good song tonight.

No photos of the kids today as Yvonne and Amelie were in hospital again last night and a good bit of today. But they let her out this afternoon again as she must be breathing a bit easier. Yvonne has been told though not to hesitate to go back if she feels things aren’t any better. I hope that’s not going to happen.                                                                         So, I’m going to share a picture with you of Julia an the day she was a very excited Mummy at our daughter’s wedding.

The embodiment of pride and excitement.

Saturday 16th April.

Bed 12.05 am, lights out 12.55 am Zzzzzz to 3.56 am. Is the condensed version, but I’m happy with that. A swift skip to the loo and at 4.05 am U was signing into the mail. Makes you wonder what life would be like if I actually lived it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   I worked until 5.00 am then broke off for breakfast and meds .When I returned about 5.30 am there had only been another 6 delivered so with what was there I was free at 6.15 am to do the food bin and the recycling bags. Easy-peasy lemon squeezy.                                                                                                                                                                                                   Before Mike had gone to bed last night he’d asked me what time he was to get up. To be fair, I’ve never specified a time, he just knows I like to shop early away from the crowds. This time I just answered “When you get up” because  I’ve no idea what jet lag does to a body. This could be dangerous as you can tell from what time he often rises on a Sunday, heck, it could even be Sunday before he gets up. All I can do is prepare his mug and take a coffee through as and when his alarm rings.

Mike dragged himself out of bed at 6.30 am and with a bit of effort was ready to leave at 7.10 am. I’d done all the rubbish by then and was raring to go. When we arrived it was just like we’d been there before, him trolley, me cash machine. I picked flowers for Ju and then we had a look at the sale where I picked up a sweet little outfit for Amelie. Roobs wasn’t so lucky this time. After w e’d finished there Mike put the shopping in the car. He’d mentioned last night needing a set of shelving, freestanding and solid as his wall wouldn’t take the weight of shelves attached to it. I asked whether he’s checked Argos and he said yes but he didn’t like what they had. He had a specific type in mind. So, leaving there we headed for the new store The Range, no joy. The same at B&M and then Charlies. Mike suggested a second hand place close by and on our way to Temptations. No joy there either. When we reached Flint I suggested we have a look in a Trade place for builders etc but nothing doing. We went to Temptations so he could let them know he was back and use that as an excuse for a quick grope. I don’t know how he gets away with it…..but he does. Ceri was amazed I didn’t order a teasted toecake for him but little did she know he’d had a huge breakfast bap in The Range.

Coming out I just checked again whether he’d been to Argos and he admitted he hadn’t but thought they wouldn’t have it. I marched him there Toot Sweet ( what a linguist) and we checked the catalogue. I found what I thought he wanted and it was. And the price wasn’t bad either. Even better when we typed the number to see if they had one in stock it was a third off ( No missus, all the shelves were there, I meant the price) a full £13 off. No hesitation he bought it. Feeling greatly relieved we went to lunch at the CookHouse in Prestatyn. The sun was shining and there was a little warmth in it so quite a few people were eating in the garden, most managed to ignore the little tinge of blue to their skin. Mike and I sat inside to make sure the food didn’t run away before we got ours. The meal was lovely and the meat as tender as usual. When we came out Mike commented I should now get rid of the red cushions (my contrast) from the settee now the throw is blue and there are two dark blue cushions. Being close to a shop I’ve used before I begrudgingly bought four lighter blue ones, two for the settee and one each for the armchairs. Now he says he doesn’t like the feel of the cushion behind him. When I suggested another place for it he moved out of reach.

We came home and once the shopping was away and Bert had been with my parcels (more canvases) I was able to come and work. I did from 2.00 pm to 5.30 pm then went and joined Mike for a break. I had another little stint between 8.00 pm – 9.00 pm when there was nothing within the range of my patience on TV. I know some very funny naturally funny people ( Mike is one) and many write blogs. Chris, the story reading ape is one and like me, many of my friends follow him. But fairly recently I cam across a gem of a man with impeccable timing. Some of you will know him and follow him but for anyone who doesn’t please allow me to introduce you to Bun Karyudo                             on https://bunkaryudo.wordpress.com/2016/04/16/pockets-hugs-and-the-onset-of-spring/    enjoy!                                                                                                                                                When I went back to the lounge at 9.00 pm Mike had put a film on which looked interesting enough for me to stay around so I did . When it finished at 10.00 pm I shut Joey’s cage, took my meds and came through for the rest of the night. Mike stayed put until 11.00 pm then came through to say goodnight.It was about that time I started the blog and I’m fast approaching the end of it now. I’ll be in bed around midnight I think.

Poorly Granddaughter

Sympathetic Grandson

Chasing Keyboards & In Memory Of.

Sunday 27th March.

I made bed just on midnight and read until I finished my book at 12.40 am. I struggled to get to sleep and at 1.02 am had to get up and put cream on my legs before I took the skin off. This morning I slept until 4.22 am, actually 5.22 am since we lost the hour during the night. I opened gmail and started work, there were a lot of messages from last night for some reason. I managed the last one at 5.30 am just before going to take my meds and then deciding to do Ju’s flowers. I doubt I’ll be winning any competitions for ikebana any time soon.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 I returned to work at 6.25 am ready for battle. I was shocked to find just 56 in my box. I’d cleared that many before going to the kitchen and unleashing my feminine side. This time though was evil. I got down to 51, started on the next one and it was up to 57. I didn’t get beyond 49 until gone 9.00 pm and it was 10.35 am before I actually finished that first rush. I got dressed and went through to see Joey. I sat with him through an episode of 8 Simple Rules then returned to my room.

I worked on and off till lunchtime, or what I thought would be lunchtime. I was convinced Yvonne had said they’d pick me up at noon so about 5 minutes beforehand I decided to check since they usually text to say they’re on the way. It was a while before I got a reply and that was to say disaster had struck. Amelie had thrown up in the car and they had to return home to get her changed. Then she demanded food so the time went from 12.00 pm to 12.30 pm to 1.00 pm which meant her calling the CookHouse to explain and also those that were waiting for us. We got there before 1.30 pm.                                                                                                                                                                                              We said hello to Lee and Jen with Nathan and to Karen and Jo. When I tried to get them to write down what they wanted for lunch I was thwarted as they’d already ordered. That was a blow, a host who doesn’t provide the meal. I found out what Ugo and Yvonne wanted and went to the bar with the order, seeing the lady that Mike and I usually see, at least she didn’t make Mike’s coffee by mistake. Ugo came with me to help carry the drinks. As we got back to the table the other meals had arrives so I took my tablets then Yvonne and I went to get our carvery and Ugo looked after Amelie. By the time I’d found someone strong enough to carry my plate Ugo’s meal had arrived so we did all manage to eat together. I saw Jade there though I don’t think she saw me. I’m glad she believed me enough to try it, now I just have to hope she enjoyed it.

My meat was fantastic as usual, just falling apart. The rest was incidental though I made sure there were enough incidentals on the plate.When we finished I was at least able to order a few puddings. Lee, Jen and Nathan had to leave not long after as they were meeting someone else. Eventually we had to pack up and leave too as the table was booked again from 3.00 pm. It was a quarter to. Hugs and kisses in the car park with my girls who liked their Easter Eggs as did Lee and Jen and then we were on our way again. I was home before 3.15 pm. It was pouring down as I waved them off . I said hello to Joey and put the light on to relieve the gloom. Then I came to work. To be fair it wasn’t as bad as feared and I was free just before 6.00 pm. I had some tea with a small trifle and then for some reason started watching some of The Devil Rides Out. When it finished at 8.30 pm I thought I’d try for an early night.As long as I don’t see blue eyes hovering above me like Charles Grey’s I should be OK. I worked on emails until 10.40 pm then started the blog so I think no later than 11.30 pm and everything is going to plan so far.

Teddy waits for lunch.

My ‘Bright as a Button’ girl doesn’t understand the shirt.

Monday 28th March.

11.28 pm found me sitting on the edge of the bed trying an aloe vera cream recommended to ease itching. By 11.35 pm I slid into bed easily. I started the new book , Those In Peril by Wilbur Smith. I need to restock as it’s my last book too. I put my light out at almost bang on 12.30 am  I took the hint and put the book away.                                                Getting to sleep was difficult as the itching was still pretty bad. I must have fallen asleep but was awake again at 1.27 am no eyes hovering above the bed though. I had a cigarette and tried again. That was fine and I slept until 4.02 am this morning.                                                                                                                                                                                                 After a visit to the loo I opened my mail and enjoyed working until I went for breakfast at 5.45 am. Even though I expected a full mailbox again on my return I spent a few minutes reading reports on yesterday’s atrocity in Pakistan. So much more evil, so many  more innocent deaths. I know they were mainly Christian and that was the object but the people who did this don’t care much more for the non-Christian deaths. They don’t believe in playing for hearts and minds do they, much preferring fear.. It makes you wonder how they manage to recruit from the West even among the disenfranchised and disillusioned. I can only imagine they play the Religion card and yet I don’t think by any stretch of the imagination you can really call these people religious as they don’t even follow the tenets of their own faith. Put bluntly, ISIL are just killers.                         I also prepared an e–card to send and checked to see if there was anywhere I could get a new keyboard if I went out today. The weather is so foul I probably won’t though.

The biggest surprise after I’d finished my other little jobs was returning to my mailbox at 6.25 am and finding just 11 pieces of post there. Where is the deluge? I waited until 7.10 am to see if it forgot the hour from yesterday. No, that made no difference. Could it possibly be that people are taking the holiday off? I hoped so. At 7.15 am I went through to release Joey and replenish his millet that he loves so much. I stayed with him until 9.00 am and then came back to check. Yes, the deluge had come but at the strangest of times, 8.17 am. I worked on it until 9.45 am and then left to watch HUtH which was on a bit earlier today. I didn’t hold out much hope but did wonder if the Warden might not call. She was off last Monday so maybe not this one? She didn’t call.

For lunch I had a cottage pie and it seems to have been a while since I had one so it went down well. A lovely rhubarb yoghurt to follow. I didn’t watch Bargain Hunt for a change as there was something more appealing on another channel later so I went back to work for a while. There’s been a conscious decision to take off much of the day off as possible because it’s a bank holiday. At 1.30 pm I went to watch the film The Fall of Rome with Sir Alec Guinness. I love these kind of spectaculars with all the chariot races etc. Seeing the Presidency Caesarship sold off to the highest bidder at the end reminded me of something, just can’t put my finger on it. It lasted about three hours so I felt I’d better check the post before starting anything else. There were quite a few to do but I still managed to get back in time for my tea ( chocolate cake and a strawberry mousse) and my episode of Cold Case. I also saw Without a Trace which was the second half of one from Friday but though I saw the first half of SG1 I nodded off for the rest and also the start of Sanctuary. It’s very strange seeing Tilk on trial for his life one moment and see a humongous squid fighting an odd looking giant scorpion the next.

At 9.00 pm I turned the TV off despite being tempted by a Marvel Superheroes film. Joey just sat on his mirror reluctant for the day to end. I went to take my meds and coming back he hadn’t moved. I turned a lamp on and the overhead light off and left him to it. After half an hour on the computer I went back and he’d gone in so I was able to close the cage and wish him goodnight. No reply.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      So, back to work again and pestering Yvonne for some photo’s from yesterday. She’d complained that somehow I’d managed to stay out of a lot of them. He He. The mail took until 10.43 and I was able to kickstart the blog. I’m doing well and reckon 11.45 ish tonight.

Square dance

Denim Trendsetter

Tuesday 29th March.

I made it to bed at 11.50 pm so I wasn’t far off. I stayed on top of the covers in case the warmth fried my legs in the cream I had on. I read for an hour then turned the light out. I expected to go to sleep quickly but my power nap of yesterday evening must have blunted the need. I know I did drop off eventually or I’d be complaining I never woke up this morning which could lead to some misunderstandings. Anyhoo, I did wake up at 4.29 am only I didn’t move until 4.31 am because the dream I was having seemed to carry on a bit and came to an abrupt halt when it realised it was being viewed in the real world. So, because of the two minute delay I had to move my little (actually long and slim) legs a bit faster to get to the loo. I came back and signed on to the computer and opened the mail. This morning it took until 5.56 to clear the box and I was able to go for my meds and some breakfast.

I returned to work at 6.32 am and there was just one message in my mail. I can’t understand what’s going on. I dealt with that and a couple more that came through, took my mug to the kitchen and washed it and came back via the bathroom to get dressed. The mail finally decided to appear at just gone 7.30 am. I think that’s taking the Easter break just a little too far.I broke off at 9.00 am to take my prescription request to the chemist. By getting it in early I stand a chance of getting it back the next day. I also dropped into Pauline’s. Back at home I carried on working until I was finally clear at 9.50 am. Time just to check  ebay. I’m hoping there was a nice picture from Sunday I can use for a new canvas so I’m checking out the best deals. Believe me, if you want a photo on canvas there are fantastic deals on ebay and I haven’t been disappointed in quality yet. Now all I need are the pictures which Yvonne says she’ll send today.                                                                                                                                                                                                             I went through and watched HUtH with Joey who seems chatty enough today. Then things went a little awry. I nodded off before the end and didn’t wake until 11.30 am. Then I had mail to clear which included a lot of pictures from Yvonne. By the time I’d done it was 12.05 pm and I had to go get my lunch. I took my pre-tabs then spent time buttering bread before putting my beef stew and dumplings in the micro. I started watching Bargain Hunt while it was cooking. By the time I sat down to eat and then had a sweet Bargain Hunt was over and the news came on. A man hijacked an Egyptian plane claiming he had a suicide bomb strapped to himself. The plane was forced to land at Cyprus. The man was arrested and it turned out he wanted to see his ex-wife or something.  Some people laugh and say how ridiculous that he either got through Egyptian security or they allowed a lie to win. I personally think this man is almost as bad as a terrorist. Planes rarely carry extra fuel because of the weight so he risked the plane going down with 60+ passengers before they reached Cyprus. Also the fear of the people who he told he was a suicide bomber. They don’t expect to survive the journey. That terror must be awful, to fear not seeing those special people in your life anymore.

At 1.30 I returned to my bedroom and started work again on the mail. I’m not sure when I finished but I started sorting through all the pictures Yvonne had sent me. I didn’t think there was one of Sunday good enough to do canvases for everyone who’d been these but I’m having one. I did choose a nice picture to do for them though and the presentation was really nice. As I was doing that I kept pace with mail coming through so that at 4.45 pm with nothing in the box I could disappear. Not like the invisible man or I’d be out trying to get a Christmas bonus off the bankers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     I had a piece of cake for my tea and a pickled onion crisp sandwich.  I watched Cold Case and Without a Trace without an incident. I got most of the way through SG1 before I found it necessary to inspect the insides of my eyelids and unfortunately it was such a thorough inspection, it took me till half way though Sanctuary. I got thoroughly confused when I found one of the leads from SG1 was playing in Sanctuary and I wasn’t sure what nightmare world I was inhabiting. It was the nice lad who wears the glasses, in this he’d been a bit of a rogue smuggling things through a  flap in his stomach. Funny really as back on SG1 the same flap would be where they housed one of the alien  Goa-uld.          

At 9.00 pm  I closed Joey’s cage door, went through to take my meds, wished Joey goodnight and came through to attack the mail. One was upsetting when I heard that Yvonne thought they had a home for the two cats, which they have to rehome because of allergies that both Ugo and Reuben share. It seems the new home was with someone who’d had pets removed previously by he RSPCA, so no way could they be left there. Yvonne has been missing a lot of sleep recently. That and the fact that Thursday is the anniversary of Ju passing is making her very emotional. She had a long walk this morning to get to the doctors for Amelie’s  jabs only to find she had a temperature and they wouldn’t do it. Another hour and a half back home. I didn’t go today because of the appointment. I was going to make myself go out to find a keyboard but used the weather as an excuse not to. Anyway, I cleared the mail at 11.01 pm and started the blog. It’s going to be a midnight finish at least after I’ve chosen tonight’s pictures and music.

Ugo, Jo, Yvonne, Karen Lee, Jen & Nathan, Guess who with Amelie. Reuben in hiding.

Ami and Nate, cousins

Wedsnesday 30th March

Bed 1.05 am because I had to play grease monkey again. After reading until 12.50 am the lights went out and I probably went out like a light. Awake and up at exactly 4.00 am this morning. I found myself whistling ‘Skip to  the loo’ as I did just that and decapitated a figure on the console table with the rope. So much for healthy exercise, it’s dangerous. Coming back from the loo sans rope and at a normal walking pace and wondering where I get all this energy from, I flopped down in my chair and turned the computer on. Right, that’s enough exercise for today, no more jumping to conclusions or anything else.                                                                                                                                             My inbox was empty by 5.15 am and I went to take my meds and have some breakfast which today was a toasted bap, a very yeasty bap at that.By the time I returned about 5.45 am there were more messages to deal with and more comments to write. On one I know I was a bit bumptious but I’m blaming the yeast for that. At this point it was only trickling in so at 6.10 am I went to ebay and ordered a card reader in place of the one I ordered two weeks ago that never came despite the sellers promise that if I (was stupid enough) would end the case I opened on ebay he’d send out a duplicate. I did, he didn’t. It’s not much money but I hate being duped by someone who has no intention of either refunding me or supplying the goods ordered.And of course, I can’t reopen a case with ebay or paypal for a refund now the case is closed. Colour me naive.

By 7.00 am the mail had started to arrive but not in the usual flood. I got 38 in the first batch which is often nearer the 100. I just started work and kept on working. The post kept on coming but not in quantity. By 8.00 am I’d been able to get dressed and go through to open Joey’s cage. At 8.45 am I donned shoes and coat and headed for the bus stop. The bus came at 9.00 m and even as I got on I had no idea where I was going. But when we reached Holywell at the top of the hill I thought maybe I’d have more chance in Flint so I stayed on. When I got  off and crossed the road to where the trading estate is I detoured slightly and called into the small ASDA thinking as I’d forgotten the keyboard when I was in the large store maybe the little store would help. I was out of luck, no keyboard and miracle that it was, I restrained myself from buying anything else. Next port of call was Sainsbury’s where I know they’ve sold them before. I detoured up a couple of other aisles that looked interesting and almost collected a picture frame (you never know when you might need one) but I was to be disappointed again with the keyboard so the frame stayed. I did however buy some chocolates (Ferrero Rocher) and some bread. The Outlet let me down, but Steve reminded me that Argos sell them and what do we have round the corner? Yes, an Argos store ( that was easy wasn’t it). I went down the aisles in B&M as I was passing anyway then went to Argos and bought one of the two in stock.

Having got my prize now dangling from the handle of my crutch (come on, keep it clean now) and clanging as I walked. Still, better that than the chocolates which I handed over two minutes later as I ordered my Latte in Temptations. They were looked at lavisciously by Trudy who announced “The diet starts tomorrow.’ I sat and enjoyed my drink and the little saucer biscuit that Mike normally has then after saying goodbye I headed over to Home Bargains where I did in fact get a dew bargains before heading off for the bus stop.The direction I took meant having to climb over a gate then jump off a wall. I hadn’t even hit the ground when the bus came. That bright idea about having a cigarette while I waited was thrown in the bin. I got my usual solo seat and propped my eyes open with two lighters as I had no matchsticks handy. I didn’t want to miss my stop and end up in Rhyl, Jade is due about noon.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I got back safely and unpacked my bag before folding it up and slipping it in the back pocket of my jeans ready for the next outing. I started back on my mail after a brief word with Joey. The brief word was ‘Later’. I was clear just before midday so went through to take my pre-food tabs and make a sandwich to have when waiting time was up. I had it in my room as I worked and too a yoghurt as well. I hadn’t started that at 12.30 pm when Jade arrived. We had a little chat and I said I’d seen her on Sunday but she hadn’t seen me. As she went off to start on the bathroom today I went back to eat my yoghurt of the strawberry persuasion. Very nice it was too.

In between the odd email I was on ebay looking at their prices for usb keyboards thinking maybe to have a spare in. If I ever need to get on the other computer the keyboard with that is rubbish with one key that sticks all the time. To be honest I was just filling in time anyway until I could get to my chair and have a power nap before Dil gets here, though that could be anytime these days.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            At 2.00 pm I reminded Jade she needed to think about her next appointment so she finished what she was at and put the stuff away. I paid her and gave her some chocolates as a treat then said goodbye to her. I did some more mail then headed for my chair about 2.45 pm. I couldn’t nod off and that was partly because my chair is now haunted and tried to eject me. I was just nicely settled and it suddenly started rising. I was scrabbling about trying to get my arm down between the chair and the canterbury to find the remote, I just managed it in time and got the chair back down again but I was wide awake. I was resigned to not sleeping until tonight. I saw a homes in the country programme than at 3.45 pm went back to see what was waiting. I was halfway through sealing with something from Pinterest when the door opened. 3.50 pm and Dil was here. I couldn’t help but laugh so followed him through to the lounge then made him a cuppa.                                                                                                                                                                 We watched one of our usual programmes while we chatted about the weekend then when it finished I was rude and nodded off. I came to after about 15 minutes and found we were on the wrong side for out usual quiz. There was no way I could explain this one away, he couldn’t help but notice.

Once the quiz was over at 6.00 pm battle commenced. The first Yahtzee was keenly fought and came out at three games each. The second , I think he cheated when I wasn’t looking since he won five-one. Luckily I was on form for trivia and beat him at that. I always knew memorising the cards made sense. Finally cribbage, lets just say I took no prisoners ( mainly because it’s too expensive to feed them and I’m renowned for being tight). We only had time for one game but it was a whitewash. Dil left at 9.30 pm as usual heading home for his dinner. It’s a very long day for him. I had a quick tidy, washed the pots and took my meds. I said goodnight to Joey and came through to my room to work. It took until 11.10 pm to get the mailbox cleared so I could start the blog. I’m not taking bets on midnight tonight.

Easter treats

Easter morning

Thursday 31st March.

I managed to be in bed for 12.15 am and as usual read my book. The light went off at  1.20 am and that was the last thing I knew until 6.50 am. So glad I went to the loo before going to sleep. Today is slightly different so I don’t intend to blog in my normal way you’ll be pleased to hear no doubt. I’m going to spend the day with my own thoughts and not deal at all with mail unless it’s urgent.

I know that Yvonne will be suffering somewhat today as she remembers her bright as a button mother who never let a day go by without announcing ‘I Love You’ somewhere. Amazingly Ju stayed that was until the end though the end for us really came 12 hours or so before she passed away when she went into unconsciousness. My own memories are pretty much the same. Ju and I were great friends as well as life partners. We did lots of things together and it was no detriment to out marriage that we spent so much time in each other’s company. So really that the kind of thought I’d like to leave with you today. I hear so much about couples who marry but still want to have their own lives or ‘own space’. I think marriage is about togetherness, not that I expect couples to be joined at the hip or anything but going out should be together as the couple you chose to be. Yep, an old fashioned fart.

Ju on her 50th in 2006

I kept to my intention mainly today. Very little mail dealt with and only the urgent things at that. I sent an email this morning to the chemist to see if my drug mule would be arriving today and was assured I’d get my stuff before the day was out. I didn’t expect to be hungry even though I hadn’t eaten breakfast but force of habit had me making my bangers and sweet potato mash at lunch time.   During the course of the morning I’d looked at lots of photographs of Julia. Not in a maudlin way but just because of the memories they evoked.  And a s she watches me from various pictures all day wherever I am ( don’t worry, not the bathroom) I was able to glance up and give her a smile wherever I am. I love the fact that my favourite picture of the two of us is the background on the computer.  I nodded off in the afternoon and the chemist came then naturally and I heard nothing. I had to walk to the shop and arrange a second drop off. It came later.                                                                                                                                                 Ju probably loved animals as much if not more than she loved people in general though she was possibly the kindest person I know. We’ve opened out home to more than one waif and stray in our lifetime from battered women to the homeless, people were drawn to her. That’s not to say I wouldn’t help, just that I’m perhaps ready to be in the background more. At least my wallet was never closed. Even when I became ill I gave many thousands to good causes ( all my savings) and a fair few to causes Ju thought were less so but I wasn’t really able to tell the difference at that point. Still she didn’t murder me and we stuck together as we’d promised at out wedding.

It was a very unexpected blow when Ju became ill. It was a while before we knew what it was ( Pancreatic Cancer) by which time it was already too late. She never complained and said “Why me?” She just got on and did what she could. We were lucky enough to find a specialist, one of only four in the country, who could perform a special operation which cut some nerves near the site of the cancer. It wouldn’t stop the cancer but for a while, until it grew larger, it could take away the worst of the pain. Ju never complained about the chemo either though we did have to have a friend drive us to and from the appointments.  As time went on Ju carried on as best she could and even fund raised for the stables she used which wanted to start a riding for the disabled school. She didn’t stop riding and we actually went on the Tuesday before she was taken very ill. That was a Friday night and even though we live close to the coast the snow had come. Living on a very steep hill didn’t help either as it was very difficult for the Marie Curie nurses to get here and even worse for the ambulance later. They had a lot of help from (I think) the coastguard. Ju was taken to our local cottage hospital where Yvonne, Ugo and Myself slept in chairs to be near her. The following night we slept there again but with the addition of our two nieces Karen and Jo and the same on Sunday night but we used the staff lounge and enjoyed a Chinese meal.

On the Monday morning Ju was transferred to the hospice (St. Kentigern’s at St Asaph). She was conscious and as bright as she could be. Everyone transferred with her and even though most had to work during the day they were there at night. I can’t remember what happened to Easter that year as I’ve no memory of giving eggs and gifts out. We knew by the weekend that things were bad and she became unconscious and heavily sedated with opiates on the Easter Sunday 31.03.2013 and died very late that night with all of us around her. We were allowed to go and sit with her again until morning came after the staff had seen to her.

After riding 19th March 2013.

I just want to say I loved Ju and nothing has changed. I was very lucky to have met her and luckier still to be loved by her as I’m lucky today to be loved by our beautiful daughter Yvonne who shares so many of her traits, not least the kindness and generosity.

Here you are Ju. Just for you.

Also R.I.P Ronnie Corbett comedian. Died today.

Friday 1st April. Uh oh, All Fool’s Day. I”m staying in.

I wasn’t anxious to return to the fray today.  Last night I was listening to hard rock ( which is usually about as far from me as it’s possible to get) until late and then when I did get to bed I read until 1.20 am. It was hard to get to sleep and I know I saw 2.09 slip by me. I must have slept then because I woke at 3.22 am and lay there clock watching but not ready to move. I remember 3.58 am then I woke up at 4.37 am maybe a 2.5 hour night in total? I knew it was time to move, not just because I needed another skip to the loo (my darling) but being Friday, once I’d had my meds I needed to replenish the drug tray for another week. I brought a coffee back to my room about 5.15 am ready to start the mail.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                I was finished about 7.20 am and had time to go and see to Joey with water and millet. I’d been surprised no huge bunch of mail at 6.10 am or even at 7.10 am because they haven’t adjusted for Summertime but I was horrified to come back about 7.35 am and watch it piling up. Even though I know MuJo are coming today and said they’d set off early I knew I had time to work without any pressure. Having said that, I did get myself dressed first.

There were still a few left at 10.00 pm but I decided to take the risk and went to watch HUtH with Joey as I’d be out a fair bit later. They arrived at 10.50 am so I got them drinks and the little gifts I’d got them for Easter. We had a good old chinwag and I was not surprised to hear Ju’s brother had died, I was really shocked to find out it was just for 5 minutes. He was still unconscious when it happened and he had been for 2 weeks at that point and he was lying there with a tracheotomy. Three times they were called and told to get there and after the ‘death’ they were told even if he did recover ( which he wouldn’t) he would likely be brain damaged. It seems he wasn’t listening. When he woke this week after 4 weeks he mouthed the swear words he couldn’t vocalise  and claimed there was an attempt to kill him. No change there then.                            We left the house to go to town at 11.30 am and after we’d parked up John wanted to head to  a charity shop first where he bought a couple of things. They took them back to the car then joined me in the street where we headed for the chippy. It was great fun fighting for the bill again and even better when I won. After lunch it was another charity shop and then we headed for Flint. We went to my fave Homies first so I could get chocolates for Temptations then to another good shop for the kind of things you don’t know you need until you see them. Finally we headed for Temptations where both the Ceri’s were on duty. I only managed a short word or two though.

After coffee we managed another couple of shops. I think the weather has been so bad in the sticks that they were desperate to get out today with cabin fever. Finally at  4.00 pm they brought me home. John had his afternoon tabs while Mu and I had a look for some books she wanted. At 4.30 pm they left for home. It’s only an hour away but a different world away from the coastal area. I apologised to Joey that I was going to do half an hour’s work before joining him in the lounge. Sure enough at 5.00 pm I was there turning on Cold Case. I followed as always with Without a Trace then SG1 but then afraid of the work waiting I turned off before Sanctuary.                                    Because of the bin men coming so early last week I decided to take the food waste out tonight and also to empty the paper/card into it’s bag ready. As I was out of my seat I decided to check Ju’s flowers and put some new ones I bought today in the vase with last week’s survivors. I’m not sure I’ll need any tomorrow now. As I’m hoping to change my bed in the afternoon I went looking for a sheet of the right colour, I may have to buy one. I took my meds and with a final goodnight to Joey I came back through to work. No more skiving. It took till just gone 10.30 pm to finish and start the blog which at 11.25 pm is almost done.

Another branch of the family?

Happy Face.

Saturday 2nd April.

I finished the blog and a few extra pieces of mail by 11.35 am, a very quick lube job and I was in bed.  My light went out at 12.20 for a change. It was probably no more than a few minutes before I went to sleep though it seemed longer. Up again at 2.54 am, I felt cheated. Two and a half hours was not enough after only having the same the night before and then missing out on my extra snooze. I signed into the computer and started to make inroads into the mail. Taking it quite slowly I was done and dusted by 5.55 am even though odd ones still arrived, I went off to take my meds in the kitchen. When I brought my coffee back I got dressed and took the food rubbish and the recycling stuff outside. Not cold, but not a pleasant morning with the rain. Coming back I caught up again then brought my bedding through for a change later on.

At 7.30 am Joey started  shouting he wanted out so I walked through and had a chat to him after I’d opened his door. My normal daily post was coming in by now so I had to make a fresh start there. At 8.30 am I had a text from Yvonne that she wouldn’t be joining me today as she needed bulk shopping and there wouldn’t be enough room for us all AND the shopping in the car. If she thinks I’m fat why doesn’t she just say so. Sob.                                                                                                                                                                  Ugo was apparently just having breakfast with Reuben and then he’d come but she’d be sure to text me and let me know when he’d left. Ha, my son in law is an eating machine and might never leave there if he’s having a full breakfast. In fact he arrived at 9.45 am and gave me a shock as I hadn’t received the promised warning. She must have whispered. I rushed to put shoes on ( no socks), coat, gloves, grab crutches, bags and keys. I got in the car and we were travelling up the road when some little disembodies voice said blah, blah, blah, Pops. I nearly jumped out of my skin as I’d no idea Roobs was in the back seat.

We reached the Supermarket and each started our shop. We made a good start pretty much in tandem. Ugo grabbed veg while I sorted some flowers for Ju just to top up. We moved along to nappies and I hit the bedding for a sheet. From there o in we seemed to get further and further apart, It may have been he wanted more than me or perhaps just that his list was better organised so he hit shelves in a better order. I personally think it was just because he concentrated on cleaning products while my priority was chocolate. Eventually we did catch up again until he remembered bibs and had to walk back to the start. I went to the till. I was loading onto the conveyor belt and went to the trolley to put Ju’s flowers on last as I always do it. I couldn’t find them and was looking round to see if I’d knocked them off with my elbow. All of a sudden there was a burst of laughter. I looked in the direction it had come from and a member of staff that Mike and I generally tease on a Saturday morning has pinched them. They’re a saucy lot in ASDA. I went through the till and paid, astonishingly it was less than £50, I don’t know how Mike will take the news.

I stood and waited for Ugo to got through a till and we went for a drink. I ‘m not sure what happened but Roobs was in happy slappy mood then threw a wobbly where he screamed in growls so we couldn’t really understand what he was saying…..or anyone else either since he was so loud. It was a while before Ugo got him calmed down. It was pure tantrum as the tears weren’t real and the growling stayed throughout. Still burst a few eardrums though. After coffee Ugo took him to be changed but it seems the 6 month guarantee was already gone so we have to stick with him. He didn’t actually need changing so we caught up and went to the car. Withing ifve minutes there was a buzz saw coming from the back seat so maybe the tantrum was related to tiredness  though to be fair I never scream like that. I never got to nod off in the car all the way home. Out of kindness to Reuben we didn’t stop at any more shops.

I was home for about 1.30 pm and my first job was to take two pre-foodies before unpacking and putting away the shopping. Then I had something to eat, a warm sausage roll from ASDA which I thought was awful so I was glad of the baps  I was eating. Having given Joey some attention I moved to the bedroom to first make the bed and then start on the mail. I didn’t finish until 5.05 pm. Joey then got the pleasure of my company whether he liked it or not. He seemed to like it flying through the air and trailing his feet through my carefully coiffured hair. How he manages to reverse his feet so the toenails leave gouges I don’t know. I got my revenge though by having strawberries and cream without sharing. I went for  a shower at 7.00 pm and stood there wishing I had a bath, no horrible jets of cold water coming out of the side of the shower head and soaking me and the floor, no nasty shower curtain creeping up behind me and sticking icily to my back.                                                                                                                                 Once I’d finished I went back to the lounge to watch Perry Mason . It was good to see him again. I started another one at 8.00 pm and saw the usual killing, arrest of the wrong person and the stalled investigation before I nodded off. When I woke up it was still on but hang on, wasn’t it a different victim before and someone else arrested? Yep, it was 9.15 pm and I’d slept into the start of the next episode. I gave up.

It was time to turn everything off and shut Joey’s cage. I went to take my meds then shouting goodnight to Joey, I came through to check out the post. There was plenty of it and I didn’t clear it until 10.52 pm. Time to get a move on with the blog. We know it won’t be a midnight bed but maybe I’ll get a lie in tomorrow.

The hand is quicker than the eye.

Got a crush on you. Reuben and ‘Auntie’ Jo.

Have a wonderful New Week with Hugs Galore.

 

MuJo returns & Scratch the Verbal Abuse.

Sunday 31st Jan.
well I read until 1.00 am as usual buy as I turned my light out I found I wasn’t as tired as I thought I was. It took a while to get off to sleep. I woke at 3.30 am and was convinced I was fully awake. After visiting the loo I signed on and made a start on the mail. It must have been about 5.30 am I thought of going for my tabs but I suddenly found myself coming awake at the screen fifteen minutes after that. I was back at my desk for 6.00 am and started on a message. Suddenly the message wasn’t on my screen and it was now 6.15 am. And so it went on with me having little ‘blackouts’ at the keyboard. Sometimes the same message would be there to finish (yay) and sometimes it would be gone ( possible Oops). It went on like that until about 9.30 am. I really don’t know how I made any progress (  IF I actually made any progress) but after that I heard Mike try to Die by Coughing and get himself up. I went through to make a coffee.

I don’t think either of us was at our best and I’m sure we got by on part conversations and part telepathy ( spelled pathetically). We ascertained I wouldn’t mind a couple of extra birthday presents as I didn’t think my choices yesterday were very inspired. Struggling to stay awake we went off to get dressed. When he came out of his room later it smelled like a Burmese Bordello I wondered who he intended to meet today. About 11.00 am we went out and drove over to The Tweed Mill that I’ve mentioned before. It’s like an outlet village under one roof. I found a couple of things for Dil’s wife Lynn and put them behind the counter then we went in search of some lunch. We both settled on steak and mushroom pie with roast potatoes and veg. Mike had an egg custard pudding and I had a strawberry tart and cream. Afterwards we went outide and had a cigarette, the woman on the main tills must have thought I was running out on my purchases.

When we went back in I concentrated on something for Dil. It didn’t take too long to find, and Mike took it over to add to the other saves while we carried on looking in general. I had meant to get a ladies scarf but totally forgot so I may look on Tuesday. We looked upstairs at the leather jackets and outdoors stuff plus my favourite Brakeburn shoes but as Mike refused a coffee (gasp) we went back downstairs (via the lift) I paid for my goods and we left.                                                                                                    I knew things would be fairly bad when we got home but even so, I couldn’t just leave Mike in the lounge and disappear to work so I stayed with him and fell asleep instead. While I slept he did the flowers and was bringing them in when I woke. He sat down and fall asleep himself. I suppose I couldn’t complain. I turned the Simpson’s on instead to entertain me. When Mike woke we watched half a film before he decided about 4.00 pm it was time to go. Once I’d seen him off I was able to go to work.                                  The was Beowulf on at 7.00 pm so I intended working just until that time and then making myself some tea to have my second food tablets of the day. As it happened I was finished by 6.40 pm so I stuck TV on and went to the kitchen to do tea.

When I took my tea through there was a film on that had already started. It was called John Carter. I have seen it before but quite a while ago so I decided to stick with it instead of Beowulf. I can’t say how much I enjoyed it. I suppose it’s CGI but the aliens look thoroughly real and I love his interaction with them, Martians all. I was really entertained. I had another hour of TV until 9.00 pm then came through. I was working well on the mail when John got in touch via skype so I was with him and Muriel for ages seeing how they are. It was 11.30 pm before I was able to break away to do the blog. It will be late to bed but maybe I can have a lie in tomorrow.

Keeping watch

Seeing the joke.

Monday 1st Feb.

Well, it wasn’t too late to bed at 12.20 am. I still read to just 1.00 am though and then settled to sleep. It wasn’t too long in coming. Nor did it stay long as I woke first at 2.00 am and refused to budge. After getting back to sleep I was expecting ructions from the small gods and some spite by allowing my just half an hour. Instead I was in bed till 4.30 am. I didn’t mind moving too much then.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 After signing in I worked on my mail till 5.30 am then went to take my meds and grab some breakfast. Two rounds of toast slathered in butter was plenty. When I returned I couldn’t seem to make any headway and it took me a while to realise it was because every time I did one, more came in on the flood tide. I’d passed the 6.10 am marker. At 6.30 am I was so desperate for a cigarette I got dressed and went for a packet then came back and carried on.

At 9.00 am I went to the chemist to hand in my prescription request. I was lucky to keep my feet the wind was gusting so strongly. I was glad I had no further plans for going out. Once back I started again and by 9.55 am I was down to the last half dozen. They could wait as I packed up and went through to see Homes Under the Hammer. When I say see I use it figuratively since after the first 15 minutes I fell asleep until the last 5 minutes. When I woke I didn’t know where I was or even what day it was. I was sure someone was here with me and quickly picked up the things on the couch I’d dumped last night for wrapping. Realisation took a while this time, but at least the settee was tidier. I’d decided not to wrap today in case I managed to find a scarf tomorrow in Chester.  I returned to work.                                                                                                                      At 11.50 am I went back through to the kitchen to make some lunch. A cottage pie today which I ate with Bargain Hunt on the box.

When Bargain Hunt ended I returned to my room and any waiting work. I was chuffed to find it didn’t occupy me past 2.05 pm because I really felt like getting my head down. I retreated to my chair and did just that. It was 3.20 pm before I raised my head again. It was good to get it out of the way before my 4.30 pm Road Trip. I upset Joey by sweeping up around his cage, he plays the martyr by flying round the room as though he can’t land on his mirror yet I’ve passed closer without disturbing him. Anyway it’s his own fault for being a messy eater.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           I did a little tidying and then went to make sure any incoming was cleared before my programme.  I was there ready for the start. The show was excellent  as was Pointless which followed. Unusually then I didn’t have my second quiz but turned over for ‘Missing’ followed by ‘Bones’ and then a programme about pyramid cities in the Mississippi Delta. Then I had to call a halt and return to work or it would be a late night.

I was left feeling very introspective after a friend Judith B of New Zealand posted on her blog about telling people you love them. She mentioned when her husband who she refers to as the Architect was in a hospice and she relied on hearing being the last of the senses to go. It brought back so much about Julia’s time there too where our family gathered to say goodbye.

Tonight I thought I’d offer something different in the way of music. The first is not one I can claim to remember from the 60’s and as it’s classical music may not be to everyone’s taste. For those who prefer something a little later I offer a second option which I think is from  70’s and may suit better. Oddly enough it tells the same story.

https://archive.org/details/UnVelDiVedremomadameButterfly

Tuesday 2nd Feb

I read till only 12.30 am and out went the light. Sleep wasn’t easy but it came. Some humorist thought getting me up again at 1.30 am would be very funny but other than a trip to the loo I resisted. After a cigarette while sitting on the edge of my bed, I climbed back in and settled. My next time up was 4.34 am. None too shabby really I suppose. At 5.30 am I went for breakfast and the morning meds and brought a coffee back. I got dressed so I wasn’t struggling for time after. By the time I’d finished the amount of mail I had left was being multiplied by the 6.10 am rush. I was able to plough into them until 7.15 am when I had to get my coat on and set off.                                       There was a bit of a mathematical problem this morning. As I walked up the hill at 2 mph I was met with a gift of wind from the US (Thanks America) at 70 mph. What time did I get home? And yes, the answer should be, before I left. It was a real struggle but I made it to the bus stop. I did wonder if the bus might make it or not since the firm that runs them uses cast offs from some African nation that haven’t been worked on for years.

The bus came and got me to Chester a little early so I had a cigarette before I found out Yvonne was late anyway. We had a bit of a session trying to text each other till she left me a voice mail. I was listening to it through one ear as she was shouting into the other one that she’d arrived. We picked up a couple of things for baby from the chemist and then went to our favourite Chester store for coffee and breakfast (whether you want it or not). I had Amelie on my lap as I drank my coffee and she was as good as gold- fast asleep. I bought the kids a few things there then a pair of jeans for myself before going down to get the scarves that were the whole point of going  to that particular shop.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               We were on our second shop when Amelie showed signs of waking. There were a few subtle roars of hunger and a denunciation of her mother for not walking round with her boobs out and at the ready. We quickly hid our faces and scuttled out, well OK, I quickly hid my face and scuttled out. I suggested we go to a cafe over the road (appropriate yes) where they can settle down and where Yvonne and I can have a drink too. It’s very clever. They have like a rather large bib that drapes over Yvonne from the neck down and Amelie is hidden behind it. Yvonne just looks rather deformed and people do glance sideways at us when they hear her chest slurp and burp. The feed had just finished when I realised how close we were to bus time. We had a very quick walk down the sale rails and then straight out to my bus which was already at the stop.

I nodded off for some of the journey home but I was checking constantly that we weren’t pushed into any temporal time zones by the wind. I didn’t want to get back to a time before chips and curry sauce were invented. When I got off the bus I called into Pauline’s for some bread, cigs and my TV mag before hurrying to let an unhappy Joey out of his cage. Having had breakfast twice today I was in no rush to have lunch so I concentrated on work. It took me from 1.10 pm to 4.30 pm without a break to put most of the work away. I watched my usual Road Trip though didn’t hear most of it thanks to Joey complaining. I made myself some tea and took the appropriate tablets then settled to my quiz which I confess I fell asleep in. I woke up ten minutes into the news and Joey was still going ten to the dozen, he really doesn’t like his own company much. I found that Missing was on again as was Bones which until tonight I didn’t realise was a young Temperance Brennan who without looking is I think Kathy Reich’s heroine. I was a little surprised they played so much humour into it because I don’t remember the adult books that way.

Anyhoo, I turned the TV off at 8.30 am and locked Joey up again. I came through to start work. There was a lot of mail and the blog needed to be done too but I think it’s going to be an 11.00 pm night tonight. Aw heck, if only there was a woman here to occupy all this free time.

In repose.

I may be asleep Pops but you’re going nowhere.

Wednesday 3rd Feb.

I actually made the 11.00 pm deadline last night and was in bed as it came round. I opened my book to read and carried on until 12.02 am when the light went out. My gyrating mechanism must have been fixed as it worked very well in trying to settle until I must have been exhausted enough to sleep. 1.24 am was the first time I rose. A ciggie on the side of my bed seemed to settle me enough to try again.The next time and my up time was a fun 3.33 am.                                                                                                             A visit to the loo was in order before I came back and signed into my gmail account. Oddly enough I had 33 messages at that time. They were done and dusted at 4.56 am at which time my eyes started leaking copious amounts of water as I yawned, and boy did I yawn. If it was an Olympic sport I’d be winning for Wales.  There was a temptation to lie on the bed and sleep again but I decided to have breakfast and take my meds so I’d be awake for the daily deluge. Rice Krispies did the job of filling me today before I brought  coffee back to my room.

I finished the few messages that had come through since before breakfast and then signed into Facebook for the things apparently waiting for me which were said to include two messages. I dealt with everything that was there but could not find the messages which I’m quite sure I must have done before. I couldn’t put off the inevitable any more and went back to the deluge. Ouch, it hurt. If you think Joey was mad yesterday you should have seen him at lunchtime because thanks to you lot it was 11.35 am before I left my room this morning  and got to say good morning to him. OK, I’ll admit that maybe once or twice I might have nodded off over my keyboard but mainly it’s down to you. The post is usually only this bad after I post the blog.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      I sat in the lounge for 15 minutes telling Joey you’re not all that bad and you didn’t mean to deprive him. After that I had to give some thought to lunch and went to take my pre-foodies. I ate while watching Bargain Hunt which even Joey admits I’d be better at than some of the numpties they have buying things. Mind you, to be fair the premise of the show which is buying antiques at either antique fairs or antique shops to sell at auction is a little spurious considering that’s almost buying high and selling low as is so often proved.

At 1.00 pm I returned to clear up any outstanding ,ail and then at 1.35 pm allowed myself a sleep in my chair. I came to at 2.05 pm but stayed for Father Brown. I came back to work again at 3.00 pm until 4.20 when I wanted to be ready for Dil’s arrival. I put stuff in his mug ready and then watched the start of the Road Trip. Dil turned up 5 minutes later and I almost had his drink ready for him. After Road Trip we watched our usual quiz but I nodded off part way through and only came to at the end for the final. I felt awful about it. Dil was understanding though.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            As the TV went off out came the table and the first box, the Yahtzee. I had to dash off to quickly run some more score sheets off. First sheet of six was 3 games all but as usual we carried on for another sheet which I won 4-2 despite some people having more jam than Hartley’s where Yahtzees are concerned. We turned to Trivia. Though I was answering questions it just wan’t when I was on the square that gave me a piece of pizza. Dil on the other hand answered everywhere he landed. We both had all six slices but he got to the centre first and answered the question I asked with ease. Rats!! There was time for cribbage and though I made him suffer by beating him by a big margin in the first game he came back in the second game with a 20 score and two 16”s as well as a 12. He sailed round the board and was safely at home a full street ahead of me. The evening was a draw though I felt trounced.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Dil left and I set to tidying up and washing pots. I locked Joey in, took my meds and went through to my room where I’ve been catching up ever since. It will be midnight tonight. Tomorrow I think it’s MuJo at last. He seems better.

Yay, the winner !

It was this big, honest.

Thursday 4th Feb

I didn’t read for long last night and the light went out at about 12.30 am. Someone tried teasing me with a 2.28 am get up but I was in refuse mode today so I just visited the loo then climbed back into bed and turned over. Next thing I know it’s 5.03 am. That’s anything up to four and a half hours, wonderful. I went straight to the kitchen,had breakfast and took my meds. Coming back here I ploughed into the remnants of last night’s mail and everything till the time I got up. I was trying to have nil in my box before the flood started. I almost made it. But, when the flood came it could be handled. I had the time and the determination today.                                                                 Because I needed to visit Pauline’s before MuJo arrive, I worked on finishing before then. I managed it for 9.02 am, got dressed and went out. I hurried back as a priority was cleaning Joey’s cage out today. That involved new sandpaper at the bottom, new millet, seed and water  and I needed him out of the cage for some of that.

I was nipping between my bedroom office and the lounge, doing a message then trying to coax him out of the cage. He showed absolutely no signs of moving. At 10.00 am though when the mail was up to date I turned the TV on for Homes Under the Hammer and the little rogue came out. I was able to get everything done I wanted to even at the expense of missing my programme while he watched it. I’m sure he’s checking out auction prices before he moves. I only just finished doing everything before MuJo arrived at about 10.40 am. They came bearing gifts for my birthday and I had great pleasure in bringing all their Christmas gifts out for them. They wouldn’t open any though.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 We caught up on how everyone was, in particular John who has been ill since before Christmas hence the reason for no visits. I plied them with drinks and at 11.10 am Muriel asked if we minded going early as she needed the Post Office in town . That meant John and I would visit the first two of his charity shops before we met up and went to lunch. It was the chippy naturally. I had mince and mushrooms with chips and peas but couldn’t finish it all. (I left a chip). John had fish and chips and Mu had a piece of chicken (the breast) and peas. We all had mugs of tea. It was a nice meal right up until the delivery of the bill. I didn’t see it coming and Mu all but snatched the poor girls arm off to get it. As we left the place she was still cowering in a corner saying “Do you want gravy with that madam?”

We made our way back to the car. Next stop Flint. We called at ALDI first so Mu could pick up some shopping and I picked up chocolates for Temptations. That was our next stop and we even had another battle at the counter when Muriel got her money over the counter first in contravention to the rools, he who pays for lunch, t’other pays for coffee and cake. I should have bought stake for her black eye, and don’t bother telling me I’ve mis-spelt that, I know what I mean.                                                                              We had a short wander afterwards as John still can’t do distances but eventually he and I went to sit in the car while Mu went to get some clothes for Amelie. We drove home again and took our shopping in. Muriel brought the bag in with Amelie’s clothes and there as also a black fleece of MYOB size which wouldn’t fit her till she’s 80. Another birthday gift for me or some terrible idea of how a baby dresses these days. They left at 4.00 pm while Muriel still had sight in one eye.

I had half an hour to get as much work done as possible before my Road Trip started and I hadn’t even packed a case yet. I made a start and promised myself I’d give up the quiz and do some more. At 5.15 pm I duly reappeared and did some more till 6.00 pm then disappeared till 8.00 pm. ‘Missing’ and ‘Bones’ were calling out to me. I enjoyed both shows and then to keep my word I turned the TV off and came through. I left the light on for Joey as Mike would be along later and would drink his coffee in there. It was 9.58 pm when Mike arrived so I went to the kitchen and made his drink. I sat with him till 11.00 pm to learn about his week and he mine ( It’s been fine is what he learned from me). At that time though I needed to come and finish what I’d started and get the blog done. Midnight bed probably but no surgery in the morning.

I’m keeping an eye on you.

First trip to the dentist. Where’s the FEAR?

Friday 5th Feb.

I read until 1.00 am though Mike maintains I only look at the pictures and risk going blind. I took a chance on one eye. I’m not sure how long exactly it took to go to sleep but I was still awake at half past. As I was trying to sleep on my stomach around then it was difficult to look at the clock. I contemplated getting up gain and having a cigarette but it was too much effort. When I woke up I was on my back again and it was 4.57 am.                                                                                                                                                           It was loo time then signing onto the computer and getting gmail up.I decided to work until 5.30 am and then go and take my drugs followed by preparing my drugs for the next week. My first management decision of the day was not to have breakfast as I’d either have to time the taking of my pre-foodies for sometime during the tablet sorting or after that which meant I’d be in the kitchen at least a further half  hour. I did what I had to do and made myself a coffee to bring back.

I checked my mail again and I just had a few to finish from earlier. Part way through them the deluge started. I was still sitting there at 9.50 am when Mike’s phone went off. I headed for the kitchen to put the kettle on and I opened Joey’s cage at the same time. He just sat and sulked. I took Mike  coffee through to the lounge as I heard him up and about, then turned the TV on to Homes Under the Hammer. When that was over I returned to work and Mike prepared to go off to see his father. He said goodbye about 11.15 am.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                It was about 11.40 am when I finally managed to get up to date after which I had to go straight to the kitchen to start peeling sweet potatoes. I had my bangers and mash day today and made myself onion gravy to go with it, and it was definitely more onion than gravy. I ate while watching Bargain Hunt with it’s third or fourth different presenter this week. Reluctantly at 1.00 pm I went back t check on work. A miracle occurred as there wasn’t too much so at 1.50 pm I decided I needed to nod off. I took to my chair. It was a success, I nodded until nearly 3.00 pm. I watched the last  one of What’s it Worth then checked my mail again. This time it caught me unprepared but I would only work till 4.30 pm anyway. Mike had said he was calling in on friends in Manchester and didn’t know when he’d be back so I knew he wouldn’t join me for Road Trip. I started watching it and hoping Charlie was going to catch up and win but I didn’t fancy his chances.                                                                                                                                       Ach, I’m a disgrace, I never saw the end of it. I fell asleep again. The next thing I know is I’m waking up and Pointless is on then a voice from beside me said “Oh hello”. He’d forgotten his friends are abroad this week and had come home early. Damn, caught out! I can’t say how hard I’ve been working all day now.

At 6.30 pm I went for my shower and a verbal abuse session from Mike while he washed my hair about scratching. Once I’d recovered from the hurtful shock, I made myself something to eat for my second set of tablets then watched an episode of MASH with Mike before Question of Sport then Mastermind. The next programme was a comparison between three differently priced items like food processors to see which gave best value for money. Finally we got to the latest serial to grip us which is Shetland. It’s really good though sometimes we need a translation from the Scottish accents to the English. They might as well be speaking Gaelic.                                                   Finally at 10.00 pm, to my great delight -of course- I was able to return to my much missed post and blog. Hmmm, do I detect a faint whiff of sarcasm round here?

I like the joke…….

….but I love the punchline!

Saturday 6th Feb.

1.00 pm book down, lights out, wriggle and wriggle and wriggle. Sleep overcame me at some point. Have you ever had a night where you just can’t get comfy in bed? It’s a pain. I woke at 2.10 am and was tempted to stay up rather than go through the wriggling again but after a cigarette sitting on the edge of the bed I thought I’d be OK. I was. Next time I woke was 4.50 am and this time I didn’t mind staying up.                                                                                                                                                                                                                After a visit to the loo I signed into the computer and headed for my gmail. First I encountered a message to say I won’t be receiving updates any more as my version of Windows won’t be supported. In gmail I was pleasantly surprised by how few emails had built up while  was asleep….or at least away from the computer. I was clear by 6.00 am which gave me chance to get my meds, have breakfast and make a coffee all before Mike’s alarm goes off.

I was just leaving the kitchen with my coffee when I heard his alarm. I made a drink  and took it through getting the usual grunt when I told him it was there. After that I was safe to take my drink back to my room and start work. There would be at least 4 repetitions of the alarm before he moved. It was 4, and I’d finished my drink and washed my cup out by then. And yet he can move like a well oiled machine when he wants, well perhaps more half cut than well oiled. His coffee finished, dressed and ready to go by 7.15 am despite having only got up at 6.50 am. We were at the supermarket for 7.40 am.                                                                                                                                          Unfortunately there was a sale on children’s clothes again which delayed me a while but at least it kept me from some other shelves and away from the gent’s department too ha ha, of course it didn’t but there was nothing to interest either of us. By the time we actually hit the food part of the store I could literally sail round. We know those aisles like the back of our hands. Soon we were through the checkout and into the cafe. While Mike got the drinks I bought some cigarettes. He didn’t enjoy the first couple of sips of his drink and said he was leaving the rest so naturally I carried on with mine and enjoyed every mouthful.

Leaving there we went to another store where Mike was still looking for a specific shopping bag for his sister, he found it in this one and we were able to continue our journey to Flint. Because of the disaster with his last coffee he wanted to go to Temptations first. I agreed just to get him to stop crying. Kyle was in the process of making the drinks before we reached the counter and Ceri had put a teasted toecake in for  him. We sat and enjoyed the drink then took a walk round the shops including Argos for a change where I picked up something I think Roobs will like given his fascination with penguins currently. Mike specifically wanted some innersoles in leather and we were able to get those.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Eventually time started running away from us and we decided we had to go for lunch. It took another twenty minutes to decide where and given that we selected The Dragon’s Rest again which still may not be open, we had to have a list of contingencies. It was open. I rejoiced in the fact no more discussion was needed. We both had a roast lamb dinner though I was very indecisive at first as bacon was on the menu. Still, we got a cloth and wiped it. The meal was nice and after it settled a bit we decided to have pudding. I selected rhubarb crumble and custard and Mike said treacle sponge and custard. Ten seconds later they came out to say they had no rhubarb crumble  but they had rhubarb and apple. I had treacle sponge and custard.

Eventually we were able to leave our seats and stagger to the car. We were home in 20 minutes. The car was unpacked and the shopping put away. I took my courage in both hands and let Joey loose. He was very subdued for a change. At 2.00 pm I started work leaving Mike in the lounge with the TV and the bird. About 3.00 pm he came and said he wasn’t feeling well and was going back to bed to lie down. He was asleep in no time at all. I worked till just before 6.00 pm when I finally got up to date. I joined Joey in the lounge and put the light on so he could fly about again. I was watching a quiz when Mike came back through. He thinks he should see a doctor next week which I’ve said he should do this last two weekends. Finally he’s put batteries in his hearing aids.                                                                                                                                                                        I stayed there until 10.10 pm before taking my meds and coming through to attack the mail again and the blog.

Fluorescent

Sleepsuit.

Wishing you all a fantastic new week full of dreams come true and Hugs Galore.

 

Brass Monkey Bus Stop & Bitten by the tsetse fly.

Sunday 22nd Nov.
I made it to bed early, had time for a read and turned out the light at 12.30 am. It was still a bit of a shock to be perfectly awake again at 2.55 am.                                                       After a flying visit to the loo I came back and logged on. In amongst the variety of mail it was lovely to see so many likes for  last night’s blog and of course the wonderful comments. I always get some pleasure answering those. I finished what mail there was by 4.50 am and suddenly felt tired again. Rather than go through to my chair, I turned the light out and gave sleep another chance. Sleep accepted and the next time I woke it was 7.09 am. Dn Dn Dn. When was the last time 7.00 am and bed were in the same sentence without Mike’s name being mentioned? (Rhetorical question).                                                                                                                                                                                                  I went through to the kitchen and took my meds, made a coffee to bring back and prepared to go into battle.I grided my lions ( whatever it was they didn’t like it )and dove in.It was no fun.I got to 76, did ten and checked again and it was now 78. I’d do another dozen or so and check, now it was 93. This is not the way it was meant to go.

By 9.00 pm I was on 93 and five minutes later on a resuscitator when Mike walked in. Unbelievable, not even one battle. I went through to join him in the lounge leaving the post to self combust in my absence. Mike may have been up but nothing told me he was awake. I had to catch him at the right moment. I waited until his eyes closed and each time they did I spoke as though I hadn’t noticed. The eyes opened again. When he was ‘compost mental’ I suggested that as he wanted to visit a place for his fish foods which was beyond where we usually ate, why not stop on the way through and have breakfast instead of lunch. I think he agreed. I could taste the bacon already.                       I went to get dressed and carry on with a bit of work while he tried to open the roller blinds on his eyes. I heard him go through to his room a few minutes later.

At 10.15 am we were on our way. We needed to be there before 11.15 am as they stop serving breakfast at the Bells of St Mary’s then. We got there at 10.35 am and paid for our plates. I just had to wait for my tea so I could take a tablet. Once that was done I hoped no-one would get in my way. 3 rashers of bacon, 2 sausages, 3 pieces of fried bread, i fried egg, 1 spoon of scrambled egg, 1 plum tomato and a few beans. Mike had an extra sausage and an extra fried egg but no scrambled egg or tomato. We didn’t make any toast just then. All that bacon on display and I was so restrained.                                                                                                                                                                                                      It was really nice as a change. I had two slices of toast and Mike just 1 afterwards but I got plenty of butter for it and Mike had strawberry jam on his. I finished my cuppa and as Mike went to the loo I stood outside to enjoy an after meal cigarette. I don’t know how Mike’s willpower holds so well. He’s been stopped for 4 weeks now and says he doesn’t mind. I hope I cope that well when my turn comes.

We drove to Criminal Bay and Mike picked up the fish food he needed then as we walked round he chose a couple of Christmas presents. They were really nice. It was quite funny really as Mike often says he doesn’t ‘do’ Christmas and he often says it about birthdays too, yet here he was shopping.                                                                                                 We left there and drove into Rhyl to visit Homies as there was something else he needed, which we got, and then went to Matalan for a look round but neither of us bought anything there. Finally we drove home. I struggled to keep my eyes open on the return journey but it was that or be mocked.                                                                                              We arrived back about 3.00 pm. I made Mike a coffee while he did the flowers from yesterday. Then I went to do a little work. I was up at 166 but couldn’t stay there as Joey had been without company most of the day. As I went back to the lounge Mike was trying to  put the new baize on the card table. I helped and was able to talk to Joey at the same time. That job was finished about 4.00 pm and I had to come back through. Mike got his stuff together and headed home.

I stayed glued to my office chair until 7.30 pm then went for  some tea to take my second lot of tabs. Joey started coming out a bit as I put the TV on so when I came back though at 8.00 pm I left it on for him. There was a film on at 9.00 pm so I had to make a concerted effort to get the numbers down. I managed it but I knew there would be more later. I have to have bloods done at the hospital in the morning so I need to rest a bit better tonight. Of course tomorrow’s work  will pile up while I’m out. It’s the nature of the beast. I went through to watch the film. Damn, I wish I’d learned to read. I thought it finished at 11.10 pm but instead it was 11.45 pm. It was a gallop to come back and complete the blog. We’re looking at 1.00 am bed without touching the mail.

Monday 23rd Nov.

I made it to bed for 1.00 am. I only had about ten minutes with my book before trying to settle. It wasn’t easy but eventually I dropped off. I dropped on again at 3.09 am and was wide awake. There was a sudden need to pass water ( thus proving I’m no witch…….warlock , well there’s no need to be rude).                                                                             Back in my room again I logged on and checked my gmail. Heck there were loads of emails from Yvonne with pictures of Reuben.  It was like she’d been sending them all night. Still as it was only 3.15 am that was a distinct possibility. I was clearing messages until 5.15 am when I went too take my morning meds and scoff some cold toast. I wanted to do the washing but realised I’d have to leave the drier on when I went out and I won’t do that. It’s going to have to wait till Wednesday as I have the hospital this morning and then MuJo are visiting. Tomorrow is my visit to see Yvonne and young toe cruncher.( My toes).

I left the house at 8.10 am and walked to the bust stop which was still chock a’block with the pimplies. It wasn’t long before a school bus came and I saw my bus pull in behind. The driver must have been there for a count of three and I must have been in clear sight in his rear view mirrors hopping up the road with sparks flying from my crutches. He pulled out and beggared off when I was withing 20 feet of his ‘I hope your wheels fall off” bus. Did I mention it was piggin’ freezing this morning? No, then let me mention it now, it  was brass monkey weather,so bad my sheepskin coat was shivering. (OK, poetic licence there, I don’t have a sheepskin). The next bus to arrive did so at 8.35 am. I had to borrow a blowtorch to release my shoes from the pavement. The latest people to arrive at the stop thought I was a statue which is probably why he chap next to me hung his brolly from my arm while he read his paper. Someone carried me aboard the bus.                                                                                                                                   We were in town within 5 minutes and since my appointment wasn’t until 9.00 am I had 20 minutes to get to the hospital. It’s one of those places I have to stop regularly on the journey to remind myself to breathe. Still I got there with 5 minutes to spare and only one person was called before me.

Once released, and I knew I wouldn’t bleed for long as the blood was already frozen in my veins. I could hear it crystalise as I walked back into town. There was a temptation to stop and go round LIDL but I decided as I needed to go to m chemist to get home quickly. This time I only had a 5 minute wait for the bus and I was soon back in Greenfield. I dropped my prescription request off and came home.No need to get chips and curry sauce from Pauline’s as I know I’ll be eating out today and I can call in there tomorrow on my way home providing I’ve been to the loo before getting on the bus.                                                                                                                                                          Since it was barely 9.30 am I had chance to do some work when I got in. No before spending a few minutes talking to Joey though who definitely wasn’t talking to me in return. About 10.30 am I had to break off to go and brush up the seed husk Joey happily scatters about. I didn’t know what time MuJo would appear. It urned out to be about 11.05 am.

I did drinks, passed them  gifts and we chatted for a while before it was time to move off into town.Mu went to the bank and Post Office while I accompanied John on his regular visit to two charity shops. Then the cold was biting so much we took refuge in the chippy where it was wonderfully warm. The cold had hit my kidneys and I needed a wee so I headed for the loo to be presented with an ‘Out of Order’ sign on the gents. Oh how I wish I was wearing my kilt….wait a minute, it’s bloody freezing out there, no I don’t. The ladies wasn’t occupied so I went in there and locked the door…firmly.When I came out I checked my skirt wasn’t caught in my panties and went to our table. Mu joined us pretty quickly.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  After eating we took a walk down to the third charity shop.While MuJo were inside I spotted a game of Trivial Pursuit in the window. It was a special edition which I thought might have more questions. MuJo came out as I was finishing a cigarette so I said I was going back in to look at the game. Instead, they went in and bought it and another different one. They refused to let me pay.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Leaving there we headed back up town towards the car. I needed to call in a shop to see if they had any farm animals, but before we got there we called into a hardware shop that sells decorations. John wanted a couple of birds ( don’t we all?) for his tree. They also saw an LED plant that radiated colour in waves, it was nice. While they looked for the birds I paid for the plant. I got the lady to give it to them as a prize before they left to save arguments but it turns out they really aren’t as green as they’re cabbage looking.(Damn). I managed to get the farm animals and we went to the car.

Next stop Flint. Mu wanted ALDI so I bought chocolates for Temptations there. Once she had what she wanted we drove over to Temptations and went in. Mu ordered the drinks and I said hello to Ceri, Sian and Kyle and handed the chocs over. We enjoyed the warmth though it certainly wasn’t as cold in Flint.                                                                  From there we paid a visit to Homies and to BuM where we all picked up a little something. It wasn’t catching though so you’re all safe.                                                                            We drove home again. John had some cake to take with his tablets and we chatted a while before they left to visit his mother who’s well into her nineties now. That was about 3.30 pm. I waved them off at the door and it had just started raining. John said “You know the photo of Ju in the ‘Love’ frame?” I told him I did. All the time he was walking away up the path. “Well when you get back in, you’ll find a £20 note for the flower. We’re not having you pay that out as well as everything else.”                                     They were too far away for me to argue but I have the memory of an elephant and you can believe it doesn’t stop here !!

I started work on the piled up mail, taking a break from 5.15 pm to 6.30 pm. Then I came back and caught up so at 8.00 pm I was free for DIY SOS The Big Build. I was a wreck as the second story was a man who lost his wife to cancer much as I lost Ju only he had 6 young children all in a 2 bedroom house. The finished product was amazing as it was now a 6 bedroom house, a fantastic open plan downstairs with a great kitchen and a wonderful garden with playhouses and sheds for the children as well as a football pitch. Seeing people cry affects me so I was almost blubbering as I came back to my room at 10.00 pm to put the finishing touches to my day. I need windscreen wipers on these glasses.

Cold Day in Colwyn Bay.

Just before the explorer fell in the sea. Man Overboard!

Tuesday 24th Nov.

I son’t know whether there were remnants of last night’s DIY SOS in my brain or whether I dreamed while asleep but I was convinced Julia was in the other room in bed when I woke. That was at 2.49 am. It’s  3.18 am now and it’s taken until now to realise it’s not true. I don’t know whether I’m more grateful to the period where I believed she was back or now when I know the truth. Either way, there’s a huge void inside me and it’s Ju shaped. She’d have been so excited we’re seeing Yvonne and Reuben today and excited at the thought of maybe more Christmas shopping.She loved this time of the year and buying presents. She was the kindest of people, always thinking of others. Photographs of her surround me and I daren’t  look up yet.

I signed into gmail while all this thinking was going on. Despite what’s thought men can multi task (cough) and I was answering or generally dealing with mail. By 3.40 am I’d temporarily cleared gmail and was working on Talktalk stuff which still comes in despite nothing going out from there to friends now. That only took ten minutes and I signed into ebay. I knew I had time for a few fun searches. I needed them. At 4.00 am though I went to take my meds and make a coffee.                                                                       By 4.30 am I was back complete with coffee, ready to do battle if necessary. It was actually fairly steady going until the dread hour 6.10 am when the floodgates opened.     I worked hard to hold the flood back but when I had to stop at 7.15 am there were more than I had started with. I started to get my coat on and get the bag of gifts for the new baby I was taking with me. With candles in jars in there I had to watch the bag didn’t swing into my shins while I walked.                                                                                               Shouting goodbye to Joey I locked up and started out towards the bus stop. I was lucky not to make itall the way there before the bus pulled in beside me at the kerb. Howard saving me from the rain.

I nodded for most of the journey which was good as the journey goes much quicker. In Chester Yvonne and Reuben weren’t waiting fir me so I started walking in the direction they were coming from and having a cigarette as I did so. I met up with them soon enough.  Unsurprisingly enough for a man with a bladder the size of a pea, I wanted to pee. We went into a Cafe Nero for our morning drink as our usual shop wasn’t open for another ten minutes and Yvonne didn’t think the current rain was enough for me to decorate the pavement and no-one would understand if I walked round with a look of sheer bliss on my face. So, I went to the loo in the cafe and then refilled straight away with a pot of tea.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 When we came out our shop was open so we went in to buy some things for Yvonne’s hospital bag. I was carrying the stuff and was heartened to hear from Yvonne that we weren’t going to have an argument about paying for these items today. I was pleased right up until the moment we argued. She said she meant we weren’t going to argue because SHE was paying !!! I can’t help it if I didn’t understand. I thought her statement lacked clarity. I took the easy way out by pushing her over, pinching her debit card and paying myself. Much easier than arguing. I did buy some slippers as part of  a stocking prezzie. In another shop I got a couple of silly gifts to go into a stocking too. There are times the stocking is much more fun than the main gift.

Time ran out and I had to go to the bus stop. Reuben helped by holding onto my crutch, trouble was he was lifting and moving it in direct opposition to the rhythm of my walk and I was all over the place. I didn’t have time to visit the loo before departing either so I’d be relying on willpower. I wasn’t feeling very well and was looking forward to nodding off on the bus.I managed that fine.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  At the other end I had to decide how urgently I needed a pee. It was too urgent for the chippie but not quite so urgent that I couldn’t call in at Pauline’s quickly. The trouble was, when I’d got what I wanted a small queue had formed at the counter.  By the time I’d got out we were going into Def Com 3 and the need was more urgent. By the time I got home I was hopping up and down on the step trying to get my key in the lock, and the hopping didn’t help. As the door opened I flew, dropping shopping around me and leaving the door ajar with keys in. Anyone hearing the cries of relief would have wondered just what was happening. I came back,  took my keys out of the lock and closed the door. I picked up the shopping and put away in the freezer some things I had bought. I took my coat off and carried the rest of the shopping to the kitchen.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Joey was my next priority. I opened his cage door, talking to him all the time. Being ignored as usual but at least he didn’t fly off in fear. His seed and water were changed and then I could go and see to me lunch. When I walked into the kitchen he started talking but when I leaned through to talk back he shut up again. When my lunch was ready I took it through and sat with the TV on low. He flew out of the cage and parted my hair but as usual he wouldn’t land. He did start talking to me though.                          After lunch at about 1.30 pm I came to work on the mail. 142 pieces (Thanks folks) and stayed until 5.00 pm then took a break till 6.30 pm. When I came back I caught up onm the rest pretty quickly so at 9.00 pm I could watch an historical programme on Prince Arthur and his murder by or at the behest of King John. I’m so sorry I watched it. Experts talking on the likelihood of who did it and how it was done. Different historians and their opinions, forensic psychologist to talk about John’s ability to do such a thing ( they were joking-right?). You might have well as said, Arthur was killed. No body was found but it was in John’s interest for it to happen since Arthur had a better claim to the throne. Only he didn’t….Richard on his deathbed declared John his heir and since Arthur had never visited England and spoke only French the English didn’t want him. Case closed.

I had time to work on the blog and will be able to finish the rest of the mail afterwards. Some better sleep tonight I hope.

In the doghouse?

Keep rockin’ or the polar bear gets it.

LYRICS:

Oh What will you give me?
Say the sad bells of Rhymney
Is there hope for the future?
Say the brown bells of Merthyr
Who made the mine owner?
Say the black bells of Rhondda
And who killed the miner?
Say the grim bells of Blaina
Put the vandals in court
Say the bells of Newport
All would be well if, if, if, if
Say the green bells of Cardiff
Why so worried sisters? Why?
Sang the silver bells of Wye
And what will you give me?
Say the sad bells of Rhymney
Oh What will you give me?
Say the sad bells of Rhymney
Is there hope for the future?
Say the brown bells of Merthyr
Who made the mine owner?
Say the black bells of Rhondda
And who killed the miner?
Say the grim bells of Blaina

Wednesday 25th Nov

Well, the light went out at midnight after just a short read. I think I was bitten by the tsetse fly again yesterday and the sleeping sickness was upon me. It’s not like I didn’t take advantage of the bus ride to sleep.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                It was 3.49 am when I woke this morning so I was quite pleased. That’s getting on for 4 hours continuous.  I put my dressing gown on, turned on the light, powered up the computer, cleared my chair…..and nipped to the loo. When I got back, everything was ready for me. I started on the mail and when that was cleared at 5.11 am I went through to the kitchen and took my meds. I had my usual cold toast , put the washing machine on (it was heavy so I took it off again) and brought my coffee back to work. I just had time to clear what was there before the day’s deluge started.                                                                                                                                                                                                                    And boy did it start. I worked through till 10.00 am and still had 54 to go.  I watched Homes Under the Hammer with Joey who was obviously excited about some of them then came back to work some more only to find I was up to 77 now.

I was going to start again when there was a knock at the door. It was a pretty young lady from the gas board come to read the meters. The one outside was no problem but the gas meter inside had to be unburied. I’m supposed to be on the list for a smart meter but I dread to think how long the list is.                                                                                            At 11.20 am  I’d finished with her and made an attempt to clear some of the post. Then the post man turned up with a parcel for me and as I had to go through to the kitchen to open it I stayed for lunch. Lamb’s liver and onions with baby boiled potatoes.                                                                                                                                                                           At 1.00 am I returned to work and found myself back up near 100. I worked solidly till 3.25 pm and was finally- though temporarily- clear. Yay. My timing was perfect as the doorbell rang and my drug mule was there. I swapped the drugs for a box of chocs and went to put them away.                                                                                                                       There was no point in going back to work as I needed to have a general tidy up before Dil arrived. He did so at 4.20 pm. I made a cuppa for him and we watched Flog It as we chatted and then our quiz, Pointless. With our memories it seems like it might be .

When 6.00 pm arrived off went the TV, out came the table with it’s new baize covering and we started gaming. The first game of Yahtzee Dil won 4-2. I don’t know whether he wanted a second game to thrash me again but I’m going to be generous and say it was to give me a chance. Well, I took it and I won 4-2 this time. We settled on the draw. We opened the 20th Anniversary edition of Trivial Pursuits which was one of the two MuJo had bought me on Monday. It was much more difficult to play than the original which is where our memories reside. But, there were two highlights to the game when I answered a sports question to get my orange segment and then when I answered a second one to win the game and Dil’s jaw dropped as he was sure I wouldn’t know it.                                                                                                                                                                                    This game had taken a lot longer to play than usual so it wasn’t worth starting another game. Instead Dil left about 10 minutes early. I don’t blame him of course as he comes here straight from work and hasn’t eaten. He must be tired and tonight his leg was giving him some gyp too so I’m sure he’d be glad to rest it. Anyway, it just meant I could do my victory dance a bit earlier.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I tidied up, washed the pots and tucked Joey in for the night then came through to work. Plenty of mail waiting again which I did first tonight. I started the blog at 11.00 pm and think I’ll make it to bed for midnight.

A take out lunch.

Look Mum,I’m a statue.

Thursday 26th Nov.

I don’t remember going to sleep last night. It may have been I was out for the count before my head hit the pillow. I’d put the light out at 12.10 am as I couldn’t concentrate to read. This morning it was a memorable time when I woke, 3.33 am. I paid a swift visit to the Piddle Palace and came back to log on. I had post enough to keep me going until 4.10 am so I chose that time to take my meds, have some breakfast and make my coffee. When I returned about 4.40 am there was more. OK, I could live with that. It held me until 6.00 am.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   At that point I decided to make the best of my break and take a cruise snooze. Fat chance!! It’s pitch black and Joey chirped at the vital moment and looking at the screen I see someone left the tap running. I dived in but still the level rose. I was still at it at 8.30 am when I had to stop to get dressed. I needed to go to Pauline’s for bread and my lottery tickets.I admit I’ve considered throwing my hand in if they keep ignoring my numbers like this. It’s getting to feel personal.

I got back at 9.20 am and took the bread to the kitchen. It was light enough now to let Joey out. I opened his door and he hopped up to the next bar and tucked himself quietly into a corner. I stood talking to him but got no  response so I moved away to the kitchen door and tried again. Still nothing. I’ll have to hope that maybe the TV going on at 10.00 am will bring him to life. It did. Bring him to life that is. I was fading away ready to doze and he was full of the joys of spring.                                                               After our programme I went back to work for a while as more stuff had com in the hour I was away. It took me till 11.45 am to do it and then I had to run and peel my sweet potatoes for lunch. Today I was especially thankful for bangers and mash. Joey on the other hand seemed to disapprove as he gave me a right roasting when I went to eat it. Of course he could have been complaining that I’d made him miss the start of Bargain Hunt.                                                                                                                                                 I was close to missing the end of it as my eyes seemed to want to close. I fought back and went to my room to see if more messages had come through. They had, so I didn’t  let them mount up. I kept making things worse for myself though by looking at all the Black Friday offers I’d been sent. In the end I ordered something from ebay that wasn’t in the Black Friday offers but I hoped would make a good Christmas gift.

By 3.00 pm the mail boxes were clear again and I could feel my eyelids going ready for internal inspection. I went through and sat in my chair,said hello to Joey and zonked. I was only out for 40 minutes but I felt so refreshed. There was a residual headache though but I think that was down to the disapproving one continually having a very loud conversation with the bird in the mirror who annoys him dreadfully.                                                                                                                                                                                                I cleared a few more messages before 5.15 pm and quiz time arrived. It was at half past six when the second quiz was over when I found out my organisational skills were lacking. I checked what time I was due back in the lounge (if at all) for another programme. I found I had just half an hour to work and then things to watch from 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm. First The Antiques Road Trip for an hour then One about a lawyer ( Garrow’s Law I think?) and then the next episode of The Last Kingdom. It’s like tasking a holiday only as we know holidays have to be paid for.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   I came back at 10.00 pm to start work on the blog and to clear the newest emails. Then at 10.45 pm Mike arrived and my plans took a nose dive rapidly. We both wanted to hear the news of the other and Mike’s week has been very active. I finally packed him off to have a coffee but there’s now no chance of bed before midnight. If I’m very lucky it might be half past the witching hour.

Friday 27th  Nov

I made it to bed for 12.30 am- just. Reading was limited to just half an hour before the light went off though.  I was up again at 2.20 am while my pea sized bladder did it’s work and for the time it took me to convince my body I wasn’t quite done with sleeping as it thought I should be.  At least I had time for a cigarette during the debate. I returned to bed and lay staring at the wall in defiance, determined that Somnos was not to win. I fell asleep again. I got up at 3.44 am and this time there was no going back.

Friday mornings being what they are I went to the kitchen as soon as the bladder had made it’s presence known again. I took my meds and sprays then prepared my cup for coffee and brought my drug drawer through. I added the new drugs that had come on Wednesday and then sorted the next week’s drugs out in the meds tray. At about 4.30 am I returned to the bedroom and powered up and logged on.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 There were quite a few messages in my gmail but there was time enough to deal with them before the deluge. I made a start. One of the odd things I noticed was a lack of Black Friday offers considering this was the day. Still, there was time, no doubt they’d arrive at 6.10 am. Only at 6.10 am just one message arrived in gmail and two on my Talktalk. I  dealt with them and sat twiddling my thumbs. At 6.15 am they were there. 104 for starters. It took until 9.50 to get clear enough to say good morning to Joey and take Mike a coffee. They both ignored me.

At 10.00 am I turned Homes Under the Hammer on and naturally Mike chose that moment to come in. Yawning, twitching and one hand seemingly doing a count of the body parts he deems important…..and I don’t mean his eyes. At the end of the hour he still hadn’t finished his first coffee. I had to return to my room and Mike had to get ready to go out. The work was still coming in .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mike left about 11.15 am to go to Manchester . I decided if I had a rare chips and curry sauce (cough) I could afford to stay here until midday, so that’s what I did. Joey and I watched Bargain Hunt and I finally think I have it figured, he loves the theme music to my shows and the exit music but can’t stand the bits in between.  Once it was over my eyes were on autopilot and closed. An hour and five minutes I was out so I had to dash back to work yet again and play catch up.                                                                                 In between bits of work  I wrote some more Christmas cards ready for those to go abroad. The nearer Yvonne gets to having the baby the more likely I am to forget. I now know that the baby is breech too which is a tiny worry. If it can’t be turned beforehand they’ll have to do a caesarian between Christmas and the New Year. At least someone is still making sure I get my Capricorn.

At 5.00 pm I went back to the lounge and readied myself for the quiz, so I had some tea and settled down in my chair. Joey was dive bombing me then going back to his cage and saying “Joey Joey” in a very self congratulatory way. I missed a few questions that way.                                                                                                                                                      After the show was over I knew my other quiz wouldn’t be on as they extend The Dancing Show to an hour on a Friday. I went back to work until 7.00 am. I had a text from Mike at just gone 6.00 pm to say he was on his way so maybe he’d be here to share the Antiques Road Trip with me.                                                                                                          During my messaging I had a reply from a lovely friend to say she didn’t know I was in Wales and that her church had sent a couple of missionaries over here some weeks ago. They were still here. I didn’t think anything of it at the time but all of a sudden I burst out laughing. It hit me…….Missionaries here, do they think we’re not civilised yet? I can imagine them hacking their way through the bush of someone’s ornamental pampas grass or bamboo only to be captured by the natives and eaten, or at least forced to eat pysgod a sglodian ( fish and chips) or bara brith. In fact, maybe that’s why they’re still here. I wish I’d thought of it while  I was answering her.

I went to the lounge at 7.00 pm and was horrified that the programmes had been changed and my Antiques Road Trip wasn’t on, instead they’d put the dancing show on later. I was still sulking at 7.20 pm when Mike arrived back. I made his coffee and we chatted a few minuted before Question of Sport came on. This was followed by Mastermind and at 8.30 pm I went for a shower.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           At 9.00 pm I had Have I got News For You for  a bit of light relief. It was very funny tonight. After it was over it was a case of locking the bird in his cage to a sound bollocking and telling Mike I’d be back later for my tabs. Off back to the slave labour then. At least I’ll be able to get an early night.

I’m checking where I’ve been not where I’m going.

Yes, you hold on tight Daddy, I’ll keep you safe.

Saturday 28th Nov

I got my early night and was in bed by 11.35 pm after doing my legs. I read until 12.45 am and then settled for sleep. I didn’t wake until 4.39 am this morning, with no overnight trips to the loo. That’s great.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Saturdays being what they are- busy- I turned the computer on, went through to the loo, washed my face and hands then headed straight for the kitchen to take my meds and have breakfast. At the same time I ran over my shopping list to see if I’d missed anything. I brought a coffee back to the bedroom and did as much as I could for half an hour before taking time out to get dressed. By the time I’d done that, my outstanding post had gone from 17 to 93 and was gaining ground. I was able to do a few more before Mike’s alarm went off and it was time to head back to the kitchen to make him a drink.                                                                                                                                                                When I took the coffee in I woke him and let him know it was there just before his alarm went off for the second time. Panic had caused me to return to work. At 7.00 am Mike’s alarm went off for the fourth time and I had no choice but to remind him not to forget his drink and to tell him the time. I couldn’t return to work as I needed to get the food waste and the recycling bags out, making sure a good cold draught hit Mike’s bedroom. He went through to the lounge. I allowed myself another quarter hour of work before being prepared with my coat and bags. Mike was getting dressed in his room and after my prompting I didn’t want him being ready first. His morning score was A-4 C-2.

We made it out for 7.30 am by some miracle then Stirling Moss had us at the Supermarket by 7.50 am. As usual he got the trolley while I got my cash. First think was a new supply of sweet potatoes then it was time to choose the flowers. We needed a full change this week so got 3 bunches of mixed to display together. I picked up some teeshirts for Reuben but the rest of the shop wasn’t important really.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  After coffee we visited a LIDL not too far away to get some of their bread rolls then rolled on into Flint as usual. I picked up a few items from my fave shops then we took  the chocolates to Temptations and had our drinks and Mike’s teasted toecake. After there we went to another shop where Mike did some of his Christmas shopping and bought himself a pair of shoes. That necessitated three more shops on the look out for some innersoles he needed. For some reason I wasn’t feeling too grand this morning . We drove over to Prestatyn for lunch and we were quite a bit later than usual which didn’t help me much, but it was a nice lunch anyway.

It wasn’t too much longer before we were able to set off home. Joey was a bit disgruntled at being left captive so long but he did forgive us eventually. Once the shopping was away I came through to work. It was 3.00 pm. Mail up to  187 by then I did what I could. I still wasn’t feeling good but I think I discovered why. I was tired. So tired that I nodded off over the keyboard ( please Somnos don’t let me have sent out any idiot mil again). What was worse was waking up at 4.45 pm and thinking it was in the morning. I heard Mike go to the loo and I went to check on him and heard the TV going in the lounge. When he returned I asked if he hadn’t been to bed yet. He was looking very smug as he’d been through and seen me asleep (and snoring according to him). Luckily I couldn’t have been out above half an hour, but half an hour wasted.  I was due in the lounge at 5.20 pm to see Mastermind and give Mike some company so I didn’t manage miracles with the mail. I stayed there until 6.40 pm then was allowed back to work until 8.00 pm.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Then it was time for the Murdoch Mysteries and Murder in Paradise which took me until 10.20 pm when I was free to come and attack the blog post and anytime I have left I’m free to work on the outstanding 93 messages.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 The weather here is still cool, windy and wet. I don’t know if there’s any improvement on the cards. I hope so.

Wishing you all a Wonderful New Week with dreams come true and Hugs galore.

Flying Feathered Fiend & The Bus stops for a Loo Break

Saturday 31st October 2015

I am the slave of a brutal master. As a blog I publish every week to enlighten the world about his doings and comings and goings. I publish on a Saturday night at midnight. That is, unless my ‘master’ suffers a brainstorm and allows one of his digits to publish a day early upsetting my routine and confusing all my followers. Well, I shan’t stand for it anymore and if he doesn’t extract his (wayward) digit, I shall go it alone.                                                                                                                                                                                               In tribute to you, my faithful friends, I shall not just recount the new week from Saturday  but shall tell you the rest of his doings that you missed from yesterday. He didn’t even get dressed….all day. At 9.30 am due to problems accessing Talktalk he went through to release that feathered fiend from his cage , turned on the TV to watch Frasier and then Homes Under the Hammer and promptly fell asleep. He stirred only when the other one of his kind went through to the lounge. However he didn’t stir for long and was in and out of sleep up to 10.45 am.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         At 11.00 am he came back to work and sat moaning each time he tried to log on to Talktalk without success. He found a parcel by the door which meant he hadn’t seen the postie man, or heard him. The other one came through to say goodbye and left my master alone to keep trying. Eventually he managed to sign in and do some work. But at midday he was off again. Food this time.

The other one returned at 7.00 pm and my Master was up to date so I allowed him a break. He took advantage by not returning until 10.00 pm.

Since that’s an end to the day when I inadvertently pushed the Publish button, I feel I owe you a song. This one may test a few memories.

I was in bed reading before midnight but only read until 12.30 am. The new day started at 2.26 am and I couldn’t get back to sleep in either bed or chair. I started to clear my mail once I’d paid my usual visit. That went quite quickly after I’d cleared a few new malware threats that had arrived via Talktalk. By 3.55 am I was clear and the inevitable happened. I woke up at 5.06 am with a sore neck. One good thing is I hadn’t carried on typing while I snored.                                                                                                           I took my meds and had a piece of toast for breakfast. At 6.30 am I took a coffee through to wake Mike up. It was a 2 Call, 4 Alarm day today as he struggled out of bed at 7.00 am. He said he hadn’t slept well last night.

We did the shopping and visited all the usual places during the morning. Then we came back to Holywell to look in  LIDL for the weekly specials then a trip to the local Home Bargains for some Christmas odds and ends. We picked up some braised steak meals from Maggie’s Kitchen ( the best Chippy in Holywell) and came home to eat them so Mike could be here to try for a ring on ebay. He was kicking himself for falling asleep while the auction was on and he missed it at less than half he was willing to pay. On the other hand I was kicking myself for not falling asleep and losing one that went for twice what I’d expected. Don’t any of you say Swings and Roundabouts on pain of an excruciating ‘Crutch on the Foot’.

I worked most of the afternoon and only went through to my chair when sleep was calling.  In the evening I was in the lounge for Murdoch Mysteries and Death in Paradise. Then it was straight back to work to keep up. Since I changed instant notifications to daily ones I’m inundated with mail. At least there was no pressure to get the post ready to publish tonight.

A Monster comes

Monster at the Gate

Halloween at 2 months, at 14 months and at 26 months

Sunday 1st November.

I read until 1.00 am this morning before turning the light out and snuggling down. I slept well I think but when I woke at 3.16 am decided it wasn’t enough. I gave myself a good talking to ( saved the budgie a job ) whilst having a cigarette. A visit to the loo and I tried settling again. It took a while to find the right position which made it possible to sleep again, but I found it. New wake up time was 5.21 am and that was much more acceptable.                                                                                                                                                         No doubt you’re anxious to know whether such a short  space of time necessitated another Piddle Parlour trip, well don’t be daft, of course it did. After that I was able to sign in (although Talktalk took so long I wasn’t sure it was working ) and start work on the mail. At 6.15 am I took a break for my meds and some toast.                                          After that it was hard labour all the way until 9.30 am when Mike got up. For once my being up to date and his rising coincided.  It didn’t mean he stayed awake when we got to the lounge though. I did at least get a conversation with Joey though he seemed very subdued this morning, sort of like I was expecting myself to be as today was my anniversary.

I went to take another look at the mail at 10.00 am and to get dressed. After a while I heard Mike go through and get dressed and pack his bag ready for going home. I needed a few more things to make Muriel’s birthday bag a little more special so we left the hose at 1.30 am and Mike ran me into town, he said if I was good, he’s let me actually get in the car on the way back. So generous, that’s the downhill stretch. I wanted to find a fleece and there’s nowhere in Holywell for that so we gave it some consideration and decided to lunch in Prestatyn and then we have the choice of two or three possible shops there.                                                                                                                      It was a wonderful lunch. My beef was so tender it just fell apart. Afterwards we went into Marks & Spencer and found a fleece. I took out a mortgage and bought one but to be fair it is a blue one and they’re always expensive aren’t they? No, it’s thermal so it should be good for her. Afterwards we went to the new Sports Direct that has opened and I also found one there. It’s unisex and a hoodie but should be fine for her gardening. AND it was in the sale too !

The crowds were getting bad so we went to Costa for a coffee. I was promised double points if I ordered a No 9 blend Old something or other. We both had one. Then we came home and I tried to catch up on some post while Mike watched ebay for a few rings he was thinking of buying one of. I did sit with him as much as possible until he left at about 8.00 pm. Then I apologised to Joey and left him alone for an hour. At 9.00 pm I gave him the last hour of my evening until I took my meds and came through to deal with the blog and the rest of the mail.

Monday 2nd Nov.

Bed at midnight and then I read until almost 1.00 am when I felt tired enough to fall asleep. With light off I had a problem settling into a comfortable position and went straight to my chair. Sleep followed quickly. It was 3.16 am before I woke. I tried to go back to sleep but couldn’t. I even tried the bed again but since it proved impossible and I’d run out of options, I just signed into the computer and started on mail. It was done by 4.45 am. I tried the chair again and managed another hour. A trip to Tinkle City followed by a trip to the kitchen to take my meds and make a coffee and I was soon back at hard labour.                                                                                                                                 At 8.00 am I was able to go through and sweep around Joey’s cage before letting him out. I did have to encourage him out in order to be able to get my hand in the cage to replace his millet spray. That done I was able to go and get washed and dressed. At 9.00 am I was on my way to the Post Office to send a birthday card to  Germany and get a couple of other cards out.

I was soon back home again checking out the mail. I was clear withing about thirty minutes and went to make sure Joey was OK. He seemed fine. I sat in my chair and must have closed my eyes for a minute. It didn’t take long to open them again when I felt a rush of air and found Joey had flown close enough to make my hair stand up. He was in the mood for some low level flying yet still won’t land anywhere except his mirror.                                                                                                                                                                                 I watched Homes Under the Hammer and every time my eyes closed he was back. I hate efficient alarm clocks. Out of the corner of my eye I saw two postmen. It looked like a new one was being shown the ropes. One seemed to be carrying a package but when I got to the door all I had was mail. A letter to arrange a blood test and there was  an appointment with the diabetic clinic.I sent Yvonne a text to phone for the appointment and she got me a great one later in the month.

Programme over I came back through to work. Just as well as the post was mounting again. I worked until lunchtime then went through to take a pre-foodie tablet and put a corned beef hash in the microwave. I fully intended to come back to work as soon as Bargain Hunt was over but decided it was a good time to inspect my inner eyelids. That took till 02.05 pm when I slunk back here feeling guilty especially when Nanny Cool was talking about not going out in the sunshine because of her NaNoWriMo commitments. I worked to make up  for it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        My Antiques Road Trip doesn’t seem to be on this week but as I went through at 4.30 am I thought for the sake of giving Joey some company , ahem, I could put up with Flog It which is also antiques based. As usual I stayed until 6.30 pm then worked until 8.00 pm. At that time it was History, the seeking of the real place for the battle of Agincourt since mass burials of the dead haven’t been found and then the Reign of Henry VII and the founding of the Tudor Dynasty. At last it was rime to tuck Joey in for the night and come through to battle with my keyboard before retiring to read for the night.                                                                                                                                                                  Chester in the morning.

Portrait of a Young boy with no taste in Rugby shirts.

Tuesday 3rd Nov.

Since my book went down and light went off at 12.30 am I’m pleased that I didn’t wake this morning until 3.31 am. It’s a shame I can’t say the same for either Talktalk or gmail this morning. Even though I signed into both as soon as I returned from my visit to the loo, neither actually loaded until gone 4 am. Talktalk loaded first at about 4.15 but gmail wasn’t until 5.05 am when I returned from taking my meds and eating breakfast. Luckily there was nothing before those times to cause pressure. I was nicely up to date by 5.50 am and took a break to get dressed after which I spent a while searching ebay and then Ikea for dining chairs for Yvonne.

At 7.30 am I left the house and started my walk. I hadn’t made it to the bust stop when the bus drew up alongside me to let me clamber aboard. I thanked Howard and asked if he’d had a nice holiday. “Yes” he said “but it was too short”. My journey was peaceful and I nodded off a few times. When I arrived In Chester Yvonne was a bit late so I went into the chemist to see if I could find the cooling non-itch version of my cream with menthol. They stocked the other varieties but not that one. I’ll have to buy it online I think. As I was leaving, Yvonne and Reuben were just coming in. We went to our usual shop for a coffee but more importantly….the loo.  After coffee I bought a Christmas present for someone and then because Yvonne is too fat currently to give chase I bought her a prezzie for looking after me.  Reuben helped me walk by gripping one of my crutches so hard I could hardly move it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       I needed a few things today if we had time so we set about getting them. Some more Santa sacks, and though I bought the last 5 I still need at least 4 more, then a shade for my bedroom light. I remember seeing a metal one I liked in a shop but had no idea how much it was. I’d checked some out on the net and found I could pay as little as £9.99 plus postage then there didn’t seem to be an upper limit. When I checked the shop, I still liked them a lot and they were just £7.99 so I didn’t hesitate.

It was time to be walking back to the bus stop. I joked with Yvonne that if I didn’t get to the loo I’d have to walk past Pauline’s again today. But, as we arrived at the bust stop, so did the bus. I hugged goodbye and got aboard, not even my usual seat as a comfort. We pulled away and went to the main bus station where it looked like we might be there a couple of minutes. I asked Howard and he said I’d be fine so I scampered as quickly as I could to the House of Relief. Aaahhh, I’d be able to call into Pauline’s. Like the inward journey I managed to nod off and wasn’t having to cross my legs in discomfort. I called in at Pauline’s and bought what I needed plus a chips with curry sauce (now my signature dish) which I had once I’d unpacked my bags and let Joey out.                                                                                                                                                                            Once lunch was done I had no choice but to come through to work. It was 1.45 pm. It took me until 5.00 pm to get clear enough to take a break and watch my quiz. On my way I noticed a note through the door to say the postie had left a parcel in my cupboard. I don’t know how I missed it earlier. It was Yvonne’s birthday gift and I was pleased it had arrived.

I worked again from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm then watched an historical documentary on the Stuarts, in particular Bonnie Prince Charlie. It made excellent viewing. So many deaths from the dynastic rivalries between his followers and those of George I of Hanover. After that I came back through for a last push at the post and to do the blog.

Wednesday 4th Nov.

I changed the dressings on my leg before bed last night and then applied cream to the rest. It was just midnight as I got into bed to read and it was 12.55 am when the light went off. I woke up on the dot of 3.00 am ready and raring to go. Only after a visit to the Piddle Palace of course. I powered up and signed in. This morning there was no problem with the sign in to Talktalk or gmail so I was able to attack the post straight away.                                                                                                                                                                       I finished the first round at 5.25 am and went to take my meds and have breakfast. I returned at 6.00 am and started again.At 8.30 am I paused to get dressed then after emptying my mail bags at 9.10 am I went to release Joey. Any more post will have to wait now until all visitors have gone.

MuJo came and Muriel was persuaded to open her birthday presents a day early to please me. I didn’t mind really but nit was nice to see them so well received. It was decided that instead of the chip shop we’d have something to eat at Temptations so we avoided a trip into Holywell altogether. Poor John must have missed his charity shops as well as his favourite meal. So, we went to ALDI so Mu could shop and I picked up some things including chocolates for the girls. Temptations only had two flavours of Panini when we got there neither of which appealed to me or it seems to Muriel. John had a pulled pork one while Mu and I just had ordinary sandwiches. Mine were egg mayo.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 We had a waltz round the shops after lunch picking up odds and ends but Muriel wouldn’t let me keep them in case they were married. We soon headed home. Because we hadn’t been to Holywell we were much earlier than usual. They left me about 4.00 pm to go to John’s Mum who is in her 90’s. That gave me half an hour with the post before Dil arrived. I made him a cuppa and passed him his anniversary gifts before we settled to our usual viewing. At 6.00 pm battle commenced. In the first 6 rounds of Yahtzee I couldn’t do anything right and lost 4-2. In the second round it seemed I could do no wrong and won 4-2. With honours even we started on the Trivia. We weren’t far apart at getting the six segments filled after which it was a case of who could answer a question chosen by the other when we reached the centre. As it happened after three false starts it was me. Dil asked all 6 questions on the card to see if he could have caught me on another question but I answered them all. I even surprised myself.

There was still some time left so to the accompaniment of Joey trying to dislodge his cuttlefish from the side of his cage we got the cribbage board out. I was behind most of the way but towards the end of the second stretch I was catching up. Dil had first call and fell two short of winning. I on  the other hand galloped past him and won. There were threats. such grim and dark ones but Hey, that’s life, I won overall and I was smug.                                                                                                                                                                              At 9.30 pm Dil left to go home reminding me of the time we were meeting on Saturday night. I said I’d be there with bells on. I tidied up and washed the pots, some of which I’d just dirtied making myself a sandwich. Then it was into my room to face the mail ans do the blog.

Reuben copying how Pops walks……

How Pops should walk complete with swagger stick.

Thursday 5th Nov.

At midnight I removed the dressings from my leg and applied cream all round on both legs. There doesn’t seem to be a leak anywhere today so I left the dressings off. I swung my legs into bed and tried to get comfortable as I read. There was a tickle under the skin that didn’t respond to scratching that kept coming like a sexual surge and my legs kept jumping. I gave up reading and turned the light off just after 12.30 am. Somehow, somewhen I got to sleep. At least until 3.53 am this morning when the day started anew.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   For some reason I didn’t turn my light on straight away but headed off for the loo banging my toe on one of my crutches as I went. I imagined a few choice words and carried on. When I came back I turned my light on and moved the offending crutch then signed into the computer. Bank first. all was OK there and the manager reckons it’ll be even better if I put some money in. Then I turned to the post.

Ah the post. How cleverly it leads me on then sucks me in and spits me out. Talktalk wasn’t too bad with post just in the early 30’s though it still took some time to do. Gmail had less but took longer. I was clear for 6.00 am and went through to the kitchen. Just meds and a coffee today as my moustache is still butter saturated from yesterday. I took the coffee back with me and both mail boxes bit. Talktalk now does it in pages of 12 messages and showed 5 pages. I did page 5 and clicked on page 4 to start there but more had come in so the bottom half of page 4 now formed the top of a new page 5. I got it down to page 3 and clicked to start and found a new page 4 had appeared. One step forward one step back. I was at it until 8.10 am and then had to try and rush gmail in case more came in. At 9.15 am I went to Pauline’s to do the lotttery and get bread. When I reached the counter I found I’d forgotten to bring the lottery card out. I brought the bread home and went out again. Still, as Paulimne pointed out, it didn’t sound as much just getting the lottery as it would have the whole lot together.

I need to get a battery put in a watch but can’t face going to town alone so will have to wait until Mike’s here at the weekend. Instead, Joey can have my scintillating company unless I nod off. I can at least peel my sweet potatoes ready for lunch time. I behaved and didn’t nod off. After chatting to Joey with no response for a while I went to Mike’s room , filled his bed with hessian Santa sacks and started putting the appropriate gifts in the right bags. The bed was soon full and I hadn’t emptied all  the bags from the floor not placed all the jewellery and watches in boxes. I did note that I didn’t seem to have a jumper I should have though and after a thorough search decided I mustn’t have ordered it. I raced back to ebay to correct that mistake.                                                                                                                                                                                             At lunchtime I had my sausage and sweet potato mash, watched Bargain Hunt and then returned to work assuming (correctly) I’d be assaulted in my absence. I was part way through that task when someone knocked on the door. Dwr Cymru (Welsh Water) wanted permission to come and take some water samples and run some tests. Anxious to be sure there’s nothing in my water that shouldn’t be, I let them in. Twenty minutes later they were done and stood there admiring the effect of my library doors. I might have been less than subtle when I explained I needed to return to work. With stutters that took a further fifteen minutes. They left, I worked.

I gave up work at 5.15 pm to watch my quizzes until 6.30 pm. I needed to come back to catch up on work then as I intended taking from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm off for the new series of The Big Bang Theory and then the series from Bernard Cornwell’s books about Uhtred of Bebbanberg, currently serving with King Alfred in Wessex. I did so and managed to stay awake the whole time. Then it was back  here to do the blog and have a final catch up with the mail before bed and a read of Terry Pratchett.

I have a giraffe growing in my hand…..

It’s getting bigger…..

Friday 6th Nov.

I read until 12.45 am and turned the light out. Caught a glance of something in my peripheral vision. Fell asleep. Woke again ready to get up and found it was just 1.21 am. Somnos was sitting at the end of my bed and suggested I’d slept enough yesterday to warrant a shorter night. I could use the extra time to glorify his name on the web. I treated him to a lesson in Olde English that included a few words I must look up later. Most of them ended in …..Off. I went through to my chair in the lounge where after a cigarette I slept until 3.52 am. I think Joey must have declared the lounge- his room- a god free zone as I wasn’t bothered again.

After a visit to the Piddle Palace I came back to my room and signed into the computer. I did the post until 5.00 am then went through to the kitchen to take my meds and also to do my meds for the next week in the appropriate trays. I had some toast for breakfast then at 5.50 am returned to work. Since the majority of the blogs I follow are now notified to me on a daily basis they come in en masse at about 6.00 am there were tons today.                                                                                                                                                      I went through to the lounge at 10.00 am to watch Homes Under the Hammer as usual and I still hadn’t quite finished the mail. Just as the programme started I saw the postie go past and he was carrying a parcel. I met him at the door. He had two. One was the jumper I’d ordered yesterday- great service, and the other was the Aveeno cream with menthol to stop itching. It’s supposed to work for 24 hours so I’ll cover my legs after my shower this evening. I’ll remember to save the box to show the doctor for repeat prescriptions. After the programme I worked for three quarters of an hour thn made my lunch which I ate while watching Bargain Hunt.

1.00 pm and I returned to Mike’s bedroom for the last stages of my battle there. Getting the gifts into the appropriate Santa Sacks prior to wrapping. This serves two purposes.1) It allows me to gauge whether I think there’s enough in the bag and see what’s missing. In some instances I know it was just selection boxes. and 2) It lt me see where I have spare gifts . The biggest disaster of the day was trying to get the watches I bought into the boxes I bought. Uh oh, no way Jose. That means I now have 12 boxes for bracelets of which I only have 3 and no watch boxes at all which I had to go online to order straight away.                                                                                                                  That little job whiled away most of my afternoon and at 4.30 pm when I would normally be watching an antiques programme I was actually clearing the bed and stacking the bags so Mike would have somewhere to sleep tonight. Then I had to come through here to deal with the afternoon post. I got back to my TV at 5.30 pm part way through my quiz.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Just after I arrived back Mike sent a text to say he was on his way. I figured he’d be there a little after 6.30 pm. I hoped he’d have his keys handy as I’d be in the shower then so the door would be locked. I wanted to be out for 7.00 pm to watch Mastermind.

No sign of Mike when I got out of the shower and I watched Mastermind right up to the last contestant before he arrived. There had been bad crashes on the motorway and he’d stopped near home to pick up some food. I made him coffee while he got stuck into his meal then watched as he opened his birthday presents. He was very pleased with the wolf duvet set from Yvonne and he seemed to like his little pork pie hat that I’d got him. The good news, it seemed to fit.                                                                                       We watched a couple of American NCIS and Law and Order programmes before I departed at 10.00 pm to come and work. I left him watching a programme about a football team owned by stars of the team he supports worships.

Climbing aboard.

Ready for Take-Off.

Saturday 7th Nov

Light off 1.00 am and up again 2.19 am. Didn’t seem fair and my legs weren’t even itching. I went through to the lounge and sat in the dark listening to the budgie snore. I had a cigarette  and he didn’t wake to complain. Eventually I nodded off in the chair and woke to the sounds of Mike’s first alarm at 6.30 am I can’t remember the last time I did that. ( slept so late I mean).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Being so close to the kitchen I put the kettle on and started taking my sprays and meds. When the kettle boiled I took Mike a drink through and woke him. It coincided with his second alarm. I finished with my meds and made a coffee to take back to my room while I got dressed. It was pouring down outside so I wasn’t venturing out in my dressing gown with all the rubbish.

Mike got up with his next alarm.  C-1 A-3 seems to be the set pattern at the moment. He plonked himself in his chair and slept for a few more minutes. I left him to it as I was getting dressed. As soon as I was done I took the food waste bin out then the paper and the plastic collections and finally the wheelie bin with the main rubbish. The glass and tin bags will be OK for a couple of weeks yet.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 I finished my coffee and took my cup through to the kitchen. Mike was finishing his coffee and also went to get dressed. We managed to leave the house at 7.25 am.                 Mike got the trolley as I held up the cash machine. For some reason it didn’t take long to fly round this morning though Mike said it was perhaps that I forgot to put food in the basket again, I can’t understand why he won’t count chocolate as food. Even though we had a coffee we were still out of there before 9.00 am.                                                     We had a detour in mind before Flint. I wanted the Morrison’s store for some selection boxes though we managed to pick up sausage rolls and rhubarb tarts somehow too. I smoked a cigarette as we packed the boot and then as we walked to the Home Bargains store which is also a little different to the one in Flint. I didn’t buy too much in that one.

When we finally arrived in Flint I sent Mike off to Argos to collect a package sent there for him from ebay. I went into Temptations to order coffee. Young Sian was on the gift counter and smiled beautifully for me. On the coffee counter was Kyle with Ceri, back at work after an operation. Wonderful to see her again and I told her so. She was kind enough to say it was good to see me too. Mike arrived, shot straight past for the loo then came back and drooled all over her. When we finished we did one more shop together then headed for home.

After unpacking and putting away the shopping I came through to start work on what I knew would be horrendous amounts of post. With going out to the Silver Wedding Celebrations tonight I can’t afford a big build up. I left Mike with the TV. Partway through I had a break and wouldn’t you know he found a Katie Hepburn film to put on. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner also has Spencer Tracy and Sidney Poitier my two favourite male actors. He’s a cruel, cruel man. I had to watch for a while but I also had to drag myself away or get nothing else done. By 5.30 pm I was up to date temporarily. Time for a breather before getting dressed to go out.

At 6.30 pm it was time to dress. I decided to stick to the same jumper but put on slacks instead of jeans. I was able to wear my grey suede comfy shoes. At 6.50 pm , the time we were due to leave, I was standing in the hallway with my coat on waiting for Mike to decide what to wear. And they say women are bad!! We made it out before 7.00 pm and reached the restaurant in Colwyn Bay for 7.30 pm. As I stood outside to have a cigarette Dil and Lynne arrived with Matt. We said hello and they went in. We followed not long afterwards. It was very warm in there but it turned out stripping was frowned on. Who knew? We said hello to those we knew which included Karen and Jo as well as Lee, Jen and baby Nathan. Moments later young Jess arrived with her partner Paul and her son Rylan. Lynne’s sister and husband arrived with their young son and her mother Renee who amazingly recognised me( even without the mask) and gave me a lovely hug. I haven’t seen her in more than 20 years .  Lynne’s son from her first marriage, Dean, was there and he’s still a pleasant young man.                                                                                                                                                                                                                 The atmosphere was lovely with very attentive staff and the meals were very enjoyable even if I don’t speak Portugese. One of my greatest joys was seeing my brother look so happy. One of my least favourite things was asking for an oxygen mask to help me get up the stair to the loo, yes I know a stairlift would have been even more helpful but you can’t have everything.

It was a wonderful evening but at 10.00 pm I had to ask if Mike was about ready to  leave. Lee, Jen and Nathan were going as were Jess, Paul and Rylan. I wasn’t going to be put to bed, but I did need to put the blog to bed. See what I did there eh? I paid another visit to the loo and then with the last of my breath said my goodbyes, making sure I left some cigarettes for Matt and retrieving my lighter off him so I could smoke. We drove home and Mike was able to watch his football on TV while I worked on the blog. I have time to check a few emails as well now.

Oops !

The family dinosaur seats 4.

The fantastic Seekers with the glorious Judith Durham.

May you all have a Fantastic week full of Dreams Come True & Hugs.

 

The Malware Bites & In a Flap About The Letterbox.

Sunday Oct 25th.

1.15 am One last visit to the loo and to check that the dirty laugh I just heard is the result of Mike having a mucky dream rather than him having smuggled a woman in through his bedroom window. It was the former. I went to bed. It get’s confusing now. I got up at 2.21 am, but because of the end of BST is that really 1.21 am and I’ve been in bed for 5 minutes? Ten minutes earlier and I’d have woken up before I’d even got to bed. I needed to pee again, have I been drinking in my sleep or just having dreams of waves crashing on a shore? I went to my chair to try and sleep there. It worked and I got up at 5.35 am though back to the confusion again, it was really 4.35 am even though I hadn’t altered my watch. Am I in some kind of alternate dimension here?

The mail is horrendous again now I have so many blogs I follow on a daily notification. Most things seem to be coming through properly including those I left on Instant notification. The mail is so like it used to be that this last couple of months seems like a holiday. I concentrated on the mail until 9.17 am ( correct time) before going round the house altering clocks though maybe if I’d left them long enough, Mike would have got up to a shout of Good Afternoon from me. As it was, that’s when he chose to get up and it looked much earlier than it was.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            I had quite a lazy time seeing to Joey’s water and seed then getting him a new millet sprig and a new fruit bar.  Once that was out of the way I was able to go and get dressed. By 10.30 am Mike was dressed too and we decided to have a stroll around Prestatyn before going to the CookHouse there. I wasn’t feeling quite myself this morning and I wasn’t sure whether to put it down to tiredness or stupidity. When I’d undressed last night I’d sat down on the edge of the bed to remove my trousers and my legs had been itching furiously at that point. Almost without thinking I’d scratched, and when I scratch, I really do. I couldn’t stop myself and quickly drew blood. They were sore all night and inflamed this morning. No point in worrying Mike  so we went out.                                                                                                                                                                                                  You can tell I wasn’t well when I say I bought nothing. But we had a nice lunch though I couldn’t finish ( don’t be daft, of course I didn’t leave any beef). After lunch we drove back the old road and stopped of at Jackson’s Nursery to see if they’ve set up for Christmas yet. Not as good as in years past but they’ve not done too badly. We had a drink there in their new cafe before coming home.

At home, Mike stuck football on while I came through and started answering mail. It’s coming through in truckloads now and I can see is going to keep me occupied. I had to use the loo in a hurry then returned to work. Football over Mike came through to show me some rings on ebay and offered to put some cream on my legs before going home, this week he wasn’t going to Manchester again. He may be back sooner this week as the kids are on half term and he isn’t looking after them. If he’s got enough clean clothes he’shave stayed but he needed to go back and do the laundry. My turn in the morning. He did my legs and I thought I’d pass out the damn things stung so much when the cream went on.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Mike left and I returned to work. I took a short break from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm then wished Joey goodnight and galloped to  the loo again. Again at about 9.00 pm and yet again by 9.30 pm. I was sore and uncomfortable. I wonder if yesterday’s meal upset me or if this is as a result of the legs which must be infected again. I decided to finish the post and just go straight to the blog. I’ll cross my fingers I’ve done for the night and get an early night.

Monday 26th.

Early night maybe. Rough night definitely. Between the threat of yet another ‘visit’ to further discombobulate me there was also the real pain from my legs. I tried sleeping in bed unsuccessfully and then in my chair but I know it was gone 2.00 am before I dropped off.  I woke at 4.57 am and hobbled off to the Piddle Palace unsure of what my stomach wanted to  do. As it happened the answer was nothing which was great. I took my meds and put just one piece of bread in the toaster so I could line my stomach. I set the washing machine going and then made myself a drink. After taking my post breakfast tabs, I applied carpet fresh to the rug in the lounge and the hall carpet ready to give them a stiff brushing later.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                I’m having a visit from MuJo today but will have plenty of time to tidy before they arrive. I noticed Mike hadn’t done the flowers before he left so started those. I couldn’t see anything worth saving from last week so I started from scratch. I’ll be needing more flowers today while I’m out. I just hope I’ll be OK with my stomach and walking. For sure I won’t be having the usual chippie meal if that’s where we go. Maybe they’ll want panninis in Temptations but as it’s my turn to pay I won’t dictate what they have, just what I eat.

It was almost 6.00 am before I got through to turn the computer on and start the mail. Surprisingly it wasn’t too bad at that time though there were a couple of long responses to comments on the blog. By 7.30 I was up to date and able to concentrate on the house. Since I’m extending last week’s ‘rest’ I’ll leave it there for now.                     It was a nice day but a long day and the legs are weeping so I’m resting them tomorrow.

Who is this muscle man I see?

I’ll puzzle my way out of here.

Tuesday 27th

I found out last night my Talktalk mail account has been compromised and is sending out spam. I went to Talktalk to find out the best way to stop this and was advised to sit tight and wait for the spammers to get bored and move on. I don’t know if that’s the best way of dealing with the problem but it seems a poor way.  I wonder if closing the account would solve the problem, but I can’t see a way of doing that even. I’ll keep trying to find a solution. I ran a full scan overnight and found four potential threats. When I asked it to clear them it couldn’t find two which seemed strange.  One of my wonderful friends suggested a program called Malware Bytes  to check for malware. It’s Free and I ran a test and it found a few potential problems. It’s worth a try if you don’t already run a malware program.                                                                                                     Anyway, not a bad night. Read till 1.00 am, was awake till 2.00 am checking the scan progress before giving up and settling to sleep. Got up at 5.26 am.Started on mail until 6.15 am when I went to take meds. My legs are still sore so I’m not going out today but going to rest the legs and see if I can apply a dressing with antiseptic cream. Will hopefully manage to keep pace with mail.

Had to go out when cream was missing from my prescription. I went to the chemist where they phoned the doctor’s for me. The new scrip will be here tomorrow. I picked up some dressings and covered the worst parts of the leg in antiseptic.

Told you he existed.

I am the voice of Gruffalo

Wednesday 28th

Light out 12.30 am after a read of the Bernard Cornwell Muriel left for me on Monday. Warriors of the Storm, an exciting Saxon vs Norsemen book in a series. I was relaxed and ready to sleep if I could find a comfortable spot for my left leg. I did. I woke at 2.18 am ready to work.                                                                                                             First I checked my bank for unauthorised withdrawals after the Talktalk debacle of last week, then I started on the mail. Both lots kept me going until 4.42 am when I settled in my chair for forty winks ( I hoped) but couldn’t quite manage it. It was far too early to start the hoovering so I picked up my book again.

9.00 am and I was able to hoover and also mop the laminate floors. The postie came and delivered a new parcel and it wasn’t even for me. Mike had something delivered here. At about 11.00 am someone came to replace the broken letterbox. He did both sides of the door and was gone within ten minutes. No more draughts. No more need for me to flap . Mind you Darren may have something to say next time he delivers something and feels the spring on this one. I could be counting fingers my side of the door.

I had an entertaining evening with Dil. I won the Yahtzee, Dil won the Trivia, I won the cribbage. The night was mine and to prove it I did a flamenco round the room.

This is a funny TV set.

I’m taking my men to the top of the hill.

Thursday 29th

Light off at 1.05 am and settled down in bed.  I think I went to sleep quite quickly. I was disappointed Mike hadn’t come back last night but he said he’s unwell. I wonder if I’ll see him today. I woke at 4.30 am and made my way to the WC for bladder relief before coming back and powering up. First job of the day, check my bank is still OK. It seemed to be except for the million pounds I’d hoped to find there.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Not too much post in either Talktalk or gmail and was clear by 5.40 am.A good time to get some breakfast and take my meds. At about 6.30 am I took my coffee through to the lounge and sat talking to Joey. I left the light off and so it was dark until about 7.30 am. He didn’t respond to me until it became light and I’m sure that was just to complain that I’d kept him awake.

Later in the morning I took a walk to Pauline’s to renew my lottery. She assures me I’ve got the winning ticket this time. That’ll be handy, maybe I should start booking things today?  My exotic cruise, a culture vulture’s tour of Europe with a stop to visit friends in Spain and  trips to Australia and America too.                                                              When I returned from there the mail was here in earnest and I had to forget Joey and plough in. I didn’t finish before I broke to see Homes Under the Hammer but I had to make up for it when I got back, spending the next two hours trying to reshape my nose with a grindstone. I had my cream delivered for my legs ( this doctor is mean and only prescribed 100ml tube. I gave Ferrero Rocher to my friend who delivered it. He was back again later with some tablets I missed but I didn’t issue a second grant of chocs.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Lunch was a quick affair with my chips and curry sauce while I watched Bargain Hunt.                                                                                                                                                                              The afternoon was blah, blah, blah until The Antiques Road Trip which didn’t disappoint. Mike arrived about 7.30 pm but we didn’t talk much because he brought food, yes, chips with curry sauce AND sausages. At 8.00 pm Garrow’s Law came on which he hadn’t seen before then at 9.00 pm two, yes TWO new episodes of Big Bang Theory. It was like a dream come true except not as good as the one where I marry Katie Hepburn. I left him with football after that and retired to work. I’ll be in bed by 11.00 pm.

Bad Weather

Some days you’re up….

And now for a magic voice……

Friday 30th.

Well I was finished by 11.00 pm and Mike kindly came through to dress my leg and to apply cream to the both. That gave us both chance of a conversation about how things are with his Dad. Mike’s been asked t take more clothes in but it doesn’t look as though much effort has been put into finding the shirts and trousers which have gone missing. That conversation over, I went back to his room to look at some rings on his tablet and also a ring enlarger he wants to get. Quite a few of the rings he fancies have been a half size too small as the UK doesn’t do half sizes generally. He’s hoping the enlarger will allow him more choice knowing he can increase it if too small. I showed him a machine which both increases and decreases the size which left us both wondering how that would work but at a price neither of us wanted to pay to find out. I returned to my room about 12.15 am for a read.

The light went off about 1.00 pm and I settled down but was up again at 2.25 am for the loo. I could see Mike was still on his tablet so I dropped in for another chat to see what his plans were for later today. He’s off back to Manchester to hand in the keys on the new flat his Dad’s never going to move into. I went back to bed around 2 40 am and managed to fall asleep again only to wake up properly at 3.38 am. I dealt with the mail until 5.00 am then went to the kitchen to take my meds and fill up the medicine trays for another week.

So sorry, I published too early this week but I’ll include tomorrow in the start of next week’s efforts.

Light Fittings Found.

Sunday 18th October 2015.

It was a late night and gone 1.00 am before the light went out. It was a struggle to sleep at first but relaxation came and wallop, I was away. This morning I had the pleasant surprise of waking at 6.32 am. Wonderful, fully rested for a change. After a visit to the loo and a trip to the kitchen for meds and to make a coffee I came back to see how bad the overnight mail had been. Talktalk said it was never ending and gmail just screamed for help but with perseverance and the judicial use of the delete button I was eventually clear at 9.35 am. To celebrate I took a coffee in to Mike thinking he should be awake to celebrate with me or perhaps just that he should be awake.                             It was 10.00 am before he actually got up and took his drink to the lounge. There must have been something soporific in Joey’s singing as Mike just slumped on the edge of the chair asleep.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Joey wasn’t impressed and stating his preference for an attentive audience, he went full volume. Even my eyes went wider at that. Mike’s flew open and he started drinking his coffee. A beautiful friend of mine says Joey amuses her and she thinks I may be exaggerating the noise a tiny bird can make. I’m sure some of you can put her right as to how penetrating their top notes can be and how loud the sound can boom out from those tiny lungs.When Mike gets out of his car on a Thursday night he can tell whether Joey is awake or not right away. Those dulcet tones carry a great distance.

We got dressed and left the house at 11.15 pm. I was under the impression we were going in one direction to pick up fish food but Mike decided there was no rush. We ended up in Rhyl looking for some light fittings. We found them after some effort and went off to have lunch. Our usual cafe was closed but we easily found another one that did a good selection. Mike had a lamb dinner while I had a ham one. It was while we were at lunch that Mike got a phone call and I heard him expressing disbelief. His father was on the way to the A & E department again. That’s yet another Sunday he’s been called back. His sister has gone to the hospital with him, not a fall this time,just a bout of non-cooperation and non verbalising they’re worried about. Mike refused to go straight away as he knows no-one would get round to seeing his father for a least a couple of hours by which time the bout of intransigence may well be over.                                                                                                                                                                                                         We carried on with lunch and then a visit to another shop where I managed to find a light adaptor I needed.Then we came home. I made Mike a drink while he did Ju’s flowers then about 4.00 pm he left. He promised t text when he got back to Rugby but I had an awful feeling he could have a long evening/night ahead of him at the hospital. I hope I’m wrong.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         After Mike left I came through to the bedroom to work. There was as always a lot of catching up to do. I was here until  7.00 pm when I went through to sit with Joey and to have some rhubarb and strawberry tart that I’ll have to eat all alone since Mike had to go.  It was a pure accident that it wasn’t in sight until he’d gone. I wwatched TV until 9.00 pm and came back through until bedtime. I’m going to read in here then try and go to sleep in the chair. Not for too long though as I’m being MuJo’d in the morning and need to tidy up and if possible get my washing done.

Monday 19th.

Last night’s experiment worked well. I read until 12.30 am then went to sleep in my chair. Joey didn’t object to my company. I only slept until 3.14 am though. At least I got an early start on the washing and all my mail before having breakfast at 4.30 am. After that it was a case of staying awake until MuJo arrived.                                                     I gave John his lights and let him have the adaptor I bought yesterday as his hadn’t arrived.

A long day and a lot of mail this evening but it’s been fine.

That’s funny looking pastry Reuben.

Perhaps I won’t have a piece of pie thanks….

Tuesday 20th.

A successful experiment. I read in bed until almost 1.00 am then went straight to my chair. I slept until 5.23 am which is really good.                                                                               Out of the house at 7.30 am to catch my bus. Joey not amused at being left in his cage. He didn’t hesitate to let me know the minute he heard my key in the door.                       I had mail. The light adaptors arrived so I have replaced mine and saved John’s second one until I see them again. John left me a message on Skype that the lights were fantastic, he seems to really like the effect.

Sunhat

Rat Hat?

Wednesday 21st.

An unsuccessful night this time. I lay in bed after lights out at 1.00 am and had still not fallen asleep at 3.15 am. I got up and distracted myself with work for a while. At 4.00 am I tried again and managed to nod off but only until 4.55 am. It wasn’t worth trying too hard again as I needed to be up by 6.00 am anyway. I had to be out at 7.30 am for my bus.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  I dressed, had my breakfast and meds then cleared my post boxes until it was time to go out. I shall have to find the opportunity of a nap during the day, perhaps my bus journeys, so I’m compost mental for my games night.

I may not be here but I am thinking of you all.

 

 

 

Happy Clown

Sanity Claus.

Thursday 22nd.

I read until 12.45 am then turned the light off and tried to sleep. I don’t think it was too long coming. Neither was wakefulness though. When I woke at 3.02 am I found I was already sitting on the edge of the bed with my feet in my slippers. Since there was no way I was going back to sleep again (yet) I visited Looville and then came back to the mail. Talktalk was not available (again) due to technical difficulties the team was working on. I went straight to gmail. There was quite  bit but it soon became obvious that many of the blogs I have followed for a long time just weren’t there. I didn’t have time to try logging into  them separately so I turned to my WordPress reader and going through them one by one changed each Instant notification to a Daily one. Fingers crossed I  start getting posts again.

At 5.45 am I went through to the kitchen and took my meds and also had breakfast. For some reason today my stomach thinks my throat has been cut. For some reason today I wish it had.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        I saw my wife, I saw Julia and I started to follow her but it wasn’t she.

Seatgrabber, Saving this for my mummy.

Stepping Up.

Friday 23rd

Mike arrived at some time after 11.00 pm last night. I made him a coffee while he told me all about the latest things in his week. It appears that the hospital have released his father back to the home again despite saying they wouldn’t do so until they’d found somewhere that could offer suitable care. The home itself have taken him  but said they don’t have the staff to stay with him when he goes into a fugue state as he has been doing with some frequency recently.                                                                                              Mike goes there today to try and get some answers and to set in process the giving up of both the new flat and the old one, now knowing his Dad’s onset of dementia is becoming quite rapid.

My light went out about 1.00 am and I had trouble getting to sleep. I was up again at 3.56 am catching up on mail from Talktalk which is now live again. I was not clear on both addresses until 6.50 am when I was able to get my meds and do the week’s meds before going out. Not out quite as early today as Mike will drop me off.

Trying the Pops Frown.

Saturday 24th.

Light off 1.00 am after a read. Woke up at 2.02 am but after a cigarette and a good talking too, decided to try again. It worked. Woke up at 4.09 am. but a good talking too didn’t work as I think my ears were going la, la ,la ,la while I tried. I got up, and while in an upright position decided to visit the Piddle Palace then come back to work.            Talktalk was live this morning though still holding it’s head in shame at recent revelations. It’s ridiculous that a firm this size, that holds the banking details of so many of it’s customers can be hacked 4 times because they don’t use encryption software. That is NOT putting the customer first and I would imagine will not only cost them future custom but will also lose them many existing customers who aren’t tied in by contract. I wonder in fact if people will be able to end their contract early because of Talktalk’s negligence.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    I know they talk of the hacking skills of those from the Deep Web but that’s also where the skills to encrypt and defend from hackers is found. It’s fairly simple to imagine that if you refuse to pay for these skills then someone is going to hack just to show how easy it is. Shape up Talktalk!

It was shopping this morning. That of course starts with getting Mike out of bed. I know he didn’t go to sleep before 12.30 am because I was talking to him at that time and he was using his tablet to look for a ring. I’m pretty sure he carried on after I left to pick up my book.So, at 6.00 am I went through to the kitchen to take my meds and have breakfast. At 6.30 am I took a coffee through as soon as I heard his first alarm, and called him.                                                                                                                                                    No response at 6.40 alarm, 6.50 alarm or 7.00 am alarm but my prompt at 7.00 am about cold coffee did the trick. Final score C2 A4. It later turned out I hadn’t heard his first alarm, only his nearest. In error he’s set it for 6.00 am so had in fact ignored 3 more which would have made his final A’s 7 which even for him would be incredible so I won’t count them. With a concerted effort we were still out of the house at 7.30 am though I think he was still getting dressed as he hopped to the car. We were at the Supermarket around 7.45 am and after I’d checked I could get money on my card ( I was worried about the hacking of Talktalk) we went into battle.

First off this morning were Ju’s flowers. A pretty bunch of mixed colours. Then a fairly long loop round the store until we came to the food section. That was quickly done  as I needed to buy pop and sweets so would be eating bread and scrape (dripping) all week. By the time we’d got milk and just about reached the end of the buying I was still on the £50 mark. We went for coffee, or rather Mike did while I went for cigarettes. When I got back he’d glared at two members of staff until they realised they were sitting at our table and vacated.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                From there we went straight to Flint. A sweep of our usual shops left no casualties in his wake so we went for a drink at Temptations. Kyle served us without having to ask what we wanted. He was having quite a busy time of it. I finished my drink and went to the other end of the shop to buy some silver wedding gift wrap and a bag.                        We’d had a conversation over coffee about our jaunt last weekend and some baskets we’d seen that came with packing to turn into gift baskets. Yes, I know I should have bought them at the time but I wasn’t sure who I’d use them for back then. Now of course I had two ideal people whose gifts would fit the baskets nicely but could we think of where we’d seen them, could we heck.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             We racked our brains about where we’d been and tried to narrow it down. I was pretty sure it was the big Homies but Mike wasn’t sure. However he agreed we should retrace our steps. What a waste of time that was though we did find something smaller that might do the job. Anyone got some shredded paper?

We came home about 3.00 pm and unpacked the shopping. Once it was put away Mike reverted to football on his tablet and I came through to clear my mail. It kept me going until 5.45 pm when I went through and found Mike snoring. I woke him and made some tea after which I quite happily dozed off myself. We did watch some TV together, did talk to each other and to the budgie but at 10.00 pm I had to come back to work. Mike went through to his room to fall asleep in bed watching more football. It’s been a strange week and I may have to carry it on a little longer but don’t take that as an indication that I’ve lost interest in my friends or stopped caring.

Reuben on safari

Elephant boy rides again.

Bank Holiday Brush Off & Kicked Out Of Bed.

Sunday 30th Aug 2015.

I turned my light off early last night, foregoing any reading in favour of sleep. That’s despite the couple of house I got during the evening. So, light out at 12.15 am and I decided to pay a trip to the loo in the hopes of a peaceful night. But, as I came out of the loo Mike called me to sit on his bed while he showed me ring after ring on the net. The current idea is to buy a heavy Victorian/Edwardian ring with something like garnet in which can be removed and replaced by a topaz. The big drawback I can see to this idea is that an old fashioned heavy ring may cost about £150. Then the jeweller charges £10-£20 per claw to put the new stone in plus no doubt a fee for doing the work. You may end up spending more than the value of he ring if it has say 10 claws. Eventually I crawled away to bed and tried to sleep.

I woke this morning at 3.42 am and though I knew I was still tired, I was awake and needing some painkillers. By 4.00 am I’d had some and by 5.00 am had topped up with the chewable Disprin Direct I’d got. I was making progress with my mail too except I kept nodding off and having to remember what I was doing before I did. We’re only talking 5 minute power naps here but it doesn’t take much to throw me off my stride. However the mail was still going down and was still coming in too. I went through at 6.30 am to  take my daily meds and Joey was bouncing about his cage having short arguments with all his bells. I thought maybe he was becoming institutionalised and decided to grant him early parole. I opened the large door in the cage and out he came like a speeding bullet straight for my chest. Luckily for me he swerved at the last minute and flew to the mirror where he had a major disagreement with himself.

I woke Mike at 9.15 am with a coffee because he’s off to Manchester for lunch today (I was invited). I came through to the computer and lost myself in mail and then another power nap. Mike got up at 10.00 am to a cold coffee. By 11.00 am he was on his way saying he’d see me next Thursday. It’s a big family lunch with father, sister and his sister and brother in law from Canada. It’ll  probably be  hoot but I bet it’s also loud. I worked until 11.50 am and then made myself some new potatoes, some mixed veg and a lamb hock. Very tender meat it was very nice but took longer than usual as I tried to eat on one side of the mouth. I made sure to have my before and after tablets too. I took a short look at a programme where people buy left luggage and one based in the UK where they sell those self storage units when the holder is in arrears. I thought the U.S. one was bad but I hate the image the UK one sends out. Despite Joey’s best efforts I managed to sleep for nearly two hours after which conscience dictated I get off my fat bum and do some work. There was a lot of post waiting.

At 6.15 pm I decided to have tea. I took my pre-foodie without planning what to eat so that was responsible for the rushed decision to eat two strawberry trifles and two chocolate eclairs. If Mike had eaten them I wouldn’t have had to. I watched an episode of a Canadian Crime Thriller called Murdoch which Mike introduced me too then seeing that the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was on later I decided to watch that so came back to work for now. The film was excellent second time round. I look forward to seeing the next one sometime.

Reuben and his cousin Jude.

Poseur.

Monday 31 st .

Light’s out 12.30 am. No late night visits to the loo and a waking up time of 6.13 am. Could the day get any better? Fair enough, it was a pretty drug fueled night but then every night is that to some degree. Now if only I could do it and stay awake just think how I could  part-ay. I can just imagine the videos of that going viral on youtube. I concentrated on trying to get my gmail down to a workable degree, last night appears to have been a very busy one for many of you. By 6.30 am I’d had my morning meds and brought a coffee through to work, the next time I looked it was almost 7.00 am and I needed the pain killer top-up.I wandered through to the lounge where my disprin direct are and was reminded by Joey that he’s there and currently trapped in his cage. I had to promise I’d be back. I finishedthe gmail and went to talktalk and deleted all duplicate mail then  dealt with what was left. By 8.40 am I was able to go and see to Joey. I stayed with him a while before returning to work then came back when Homes Under The Hammer was on only to find I’d missed quarter of an hour due to time changes with the programmes. Still, we got three quarters of an hour of me repeating the same phrases and him chunnering at me. At least one of us is talking.

At 10.45 I came back to the bedroom and found a little flurry of mail waiting for me. It was fun dealing with it and sometimes making comments which I hoped were funny. I was greatly  cheered when one prolific author I count as friend tells me he’s coming to North Wales soon to test the beach and walk the dogs. With luck I’ll be able to find out when and waylay him somewhere near a cafe unless he elects to visit here for a drink.I seem to know  plenty of authors who live in mid to South Wales but the ones in the North are careful to keep themselves hidden away. Perhaps they heard I was looking for a collaboration to finish my half done book and get me back writing. Cowards! I worked until 12.00 pm then went to find lunch. During the morning I’d sent a text to Yvonne to see if they were free for lunch  But I suspect they thought they’d have to pay for a 4 course meal so claimed other commitments. Typical. Actually I was going to treat them.

After lunch I came back through to work, telling myself no break until the mail is at zero. It took longer than I thought and was almost 4.30 pm before I went back to the lounge. For some reason I didn’t watch my normal quiz but was glued to the screen to 6.00 pm watching DIY SOS Big Builds. Fascinating. It’s great to see people from an area rallying round to help one of their own in need and seeing the job that’s done to help them. Some of these are seriously big builds and managed in just 9 days. At 6.00 pm I watched Eggheads and then tempted though I was to stay, came back through to work. Judging by the waiting mail it’s just as well I did. It was 8.35 am before I got another break and went to turn a light on for Joey.I noticed they were showing Jason Bourne at 9.00 pm and as it’s some years since I saw that, I watched it. It ended at 11.15 pm so my flight back here was jet propelled to do the blog. The mail will have to wait.

Posing in the Park.

Slip Slidin’ Away.

Tuesday 1st September.

I had a hard time getting to sleep last night. I don’t know if my brain was overactive or I just couldn’t get comfy. I did eventually drop off only to be awakened at something stupid o’clock by a pair of knees in my back pushing me out of bed. Since it’s a single bed, the journey was very short. I’m not sure who was there with me but by the time I returned from the loo they were gone. I resumed sleep until 4.24 am. I woke up then to the feeling I wasn’t alone in the place ( discounting Joey III) and had to go check the double bed just to make sure. I hope the push wasn’t someone’s way of saying I kneed you! It’s funny the tricks our minds play on us sometimes.

I powered up the computer and signed into my gmail. Before starting though, I went to take my morning meds because I needed the painkillers and then made a coffee to bring back with me. An interesting batch of mail today which took me until 6.58 am to clear so I could start on the talktalk batch. That didn’t take long so by 7.15 am I was raring to go. No need to leave the house until 7.30 am for the bus though so I went and opened Joey’s cage so he had the same freedom I’m having. He fluttered in panic as I approached the cage so I assumed it still wasn’t quite light enough for him to make things out properly. It’s either that or I just make him panic in general. That might explain why he doesn’t use me as a perch, a resting place or a launch pad when he’s out and about. I always found budgies to be inquisitive rather than scaredy -cat. At 7.30 am I stepped outside into what was shaping up to be a nice morning. The rain had stopped, the sun was shining and all seemed peaceful. I caught thre bus with no bother and settled in my seat. I was the only one aboard at that point. Away we went and picked up a few passengers in Holywell. Time to close my eyes and doze. In Chester I had a text from Yvonne to say they were on their way but a little delayed as Reuben studied a pigeon taking a bath in a puddle. I forgave the delay as it was in pursuit of such a noble science project.

I walked towards them and received another text about changing our cafe this morning to one we’d promised to try many times. We met up at the door. I was allowed to kiss Reuben’s head and gently kissed Yvonne’s cheek as she almost screamed at the size of my face. I assured her it was under control and wouldn’t stop me eating. We both had breakfast and a drink while Reuben had his own drink and some toast. At least he would have had toast had he not been so busy eating his mother’s and my bacon. I eventually revenged myself on him with a slice of toast. He didn’t even notice. We left there and went to our usual store where I got Roobs some new clothes, some new bedding for Yvonne and even managed to get Karen some of those soft fleece settee covers she wanted. I know there will be arguments on the horizon over that. After a good look round there we left to go find some soft grip socks for me and get another drink as we were both thirsty. We were successful in both things. We tried a new cafe with a big collection of drinks including some very different milkshakes.  I had an iced coffee. The place was expensive but fun.

It was time to walk back towards the bus stop now and we all dragged our feet a bit. Partly because the bags on the pram were threatening to tip it over. Everyone says it’s always worse when they’re with me. I’m not sure what that means except maybe they take the opportunity to shop when someone else can look after Reuben? The bus was a little late in coming and was quite full. I wasn’t too impressed by the young teens who occupied the disabled seats  so they could face each other and talk but rudeness and lack of thought doesn’t surprise me anymore. I found another seat and sat back with my eyes closed. When we reached home I was able to visit Pauline’s because I’d been to the loo in the new cafe before we left. I came home, unpacked and said hello to Joey who didn’t budge an inch from his cage. Then I came through to suffer whatever punishment awaited me for going out. I came in the room at 1.15 pm and didn’t leave again until 4.40 pm. It was at that time I took a break and decided to have a late lunch/early tea. A quite tasty beef hot-pot hit the spot. I ate alone again as despite an invitation  Joey chickened out. I went through the usual quizzes and then returned to work at 6.30 am. I had a mad session catching up and decided to take my leisure at 8.00 pm but no late films like last night this time. I found instead the first episode of a police serial called The Last Detective starring Peter Davison as Dangerous Davies. I’d heard about it before but not seen it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was able to walk away and let Joey go to bed in peace at 10.00 pm. It also meant I was able to get to the blog a little earlier. I need some sleep and I have MuJo tomorrow.

Pops and Grandson

Pops is funny Mummy.At least he smells it.

Wednesday 2nd.

I did manage to get my light off by 12.30 am but it took a while to settle.I’d been in that state before sleep when things take on a dream quality. There was a quiz in my head and I just answered a question when there was a hand on the back of my neck. It was like an electric shock and galvanised me into wakefulness again. My hair was on end and I could still feel where the hand had been.  Eventually I managed to relax and sleep. Surprisingly it was 2.52 am when I woke and knew sleep was over, at least for then. Moaning to myself ( as no-one else would listen) I headed for the loo just for the pleasure of seeing it flush bloo. I came back and fired up the computer. Straight to my emails and I put my best foot forward and finished all the gmail account at 4.52 am. I heard Joey tweet so before doing anything else went through to see him. I couldn’t. It was just too dark so I guessed he was just having a bad dream. My chair looked inviting though so I hunkered down without turning the light on and lost myself to reverie and just possibly a few snores.I was back in the saddle again by 6.10 am but instead of going straight back to work I went to the kitchen and took my morning drugs. I also took a pre foodie ready to have some breakfast in case the opportunity for tea didn’t appear. If it’s anything like last week it’ll be  supper anyway. Once breakfast was done and dusted I returned to my mail straight away.At 8.30 am I interrupted myself for long enough to refill Joey’s food and water and to see to getting dressed myself. I was unsure at that point whether MuJo would still visit due to the weather. Since I got up the rain has been pouring down, bouncing off the ground. In truth I wasn’t sure how Muriel would cope with driving in such foul weather though I couldn’t imagine a way for her to have avoided it in the past. By 9.30 am there had been no message so I assumed they were still coming. Maybe things are due to improve, I know they watch the forecasts carefully.

I was forced into unusual household activity like dusting  the surfaces and hoovering up Joey’s husks from the floor. I don’t mind being a slob but don’t want people to witness it firsthand. Quiet Mike please. There was time for a few more messages before I went to prepare to do drinks as they arrived. They turned up just after 11.00 am by which time Joey had been forced to talk (or listen) to me for a while. Of course when they got here, he couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Actually John hushed Muriel to let her hear Joey speaking his name, declaring it hasn’t taken him long to learn while I’m thinking he should be holding conversations by now. We left at about 11.40 a to go for lunch. It was the chippy in Holywell again but the rain was coming sown so hard I was thinking you’d need an ark to get around up there. I didn’t realise they’d moved the end of the world up so much. After lunch we took a slowboat down the hill and along the coast road to Flint. A quick(ish) nip into Aldi saw me with a couple of things like a strawberry and rhubarb tart and a loaf of bread. From there we went to Temptations. I asked MuJo to go in while I went to get chocolates for the girls, when I got back my coffee was on the table waiting. We looked round a couple of shops after Tempies then came home again. They stayed long enough for John to take his afternoon tabs then said they’d head for home  themselves. I was carrying something out to the car, ready to wave them off at 4.40 pm when we met Dil just getting out of his car.

When they’d gone I came in to make Dil a cuppa. We sat and watched an antiques show then our usual quiz before the games started. It was a fierce competition on the Yahtzee. Dil won three games and when I complained he suggested I had a chance of winning the next three. He regretted that straight afterwards as that’s just what I did. As we were even, we set too playing another 6 games, Dil won 2 I won one, then I won 2 and Dil won 1. So even stevens again. We left it as a draw at that point and got the trivia out. Despite Dil getting more segments than me at first I did catch up then took over. Soon we had 6 apiece and both wanted to get back to the centre. Dil came off better at the end when I asked him a question he was able to answer. So, he won the laurels for the evening and I must seethe until I can revenge myself next week. Once Dil left at 9.30 pm I had a quick tidy then washed up. I had a piece of my tart which was delish thanks and then came through to face the music. Over 200 emails on gmail but wouldn’t you know it, talktalk is down for maintenance so I have no idea how many there are there and couldn’t touch them anyway. If I had hair I’d be tearing it out. I worked until 11.00 pm then did the blog and am going back to mail straight afterwards. Wish me luck.

A post earlier in the week I really enjoyed ( maybe because I love Balderdash) has some wonderful words. You might like them.

Thursday 3rd.

It was 3.41 am this morning. There had been an earlier call but that was for a loo trip and getting back to sleep afterwards no problem. I’d managed to finish my gmail post last night by 12.20 am and had only read till 1.00 am before turning out the light and trying to sleep, it seemed to come OK. So, this morning I opened and dealt with the gmail first before even checking to see if TalkTalk was back up. It was 5.43 am when gmailwas up to scratch and before doing anything further I took time to go take my morning meds and make myself a coffee.I couldn’t be bothered with breakfast so wasn’t away from my desk for too long. At 6.00 am I checked and found TalkTalk to be back up so nervously opened it up. There were loads of messages. At one time (BC-Before Cock-up) the mail list was one long continuous scrolling list. I much preferred that to the new existing list that shows of about 4 that can be increased to 10 . I used t be able to scroll through and clear the obvious chaff from what may be the wheat. Not any more. Now it’s clear some and then open a new page, increase it and start again. It took a long time. Then it was a case of checking which were duplicates of those I’d dealt with on gmail and deleting those before finally getting down to the nitty gritty of answering what was left. It was almost 8.30 am before I was done. I got dressed and went through to release Joey so I could clean his cage.

The cage didn’t get cleaned because Joey decided not to vacate. I didn’t want to stick my hand inside to scare him out and then find he’s  never going to come to a hand. Though it’s possible that ship already sailed. Instead I put my socks and shoes on and walked up to Pauline’s to renew my lottery tickets. Once I came home I decided to move some things off the coffee table and make it look a bit tidier. I really do need to do something drastic in that room though to be fair, I did start yesterday by giving John the two metal flamingos/storks for his garden. That freed up a little floor space. Once I’d done that and had a dust I fed my leather jacket which was showing signs of salt after being out in the rain yesterday. When 10.00 am arrived so did the postman. I was delighted to see something I’d ordered from Hong Kong last week  had arrived and I liked it. I started watching Homes Under the Hammer but nodded off after the first property and only woke up when the next programme started. I thought I’d better get back to the mail which was mounting up. Correction- had mounted up. I worked to just midday then left the rest until I’d eaten. I had a quick bing meal of chips with curry sauce while Bargain Hunt was on. Sorry, no curried face, I stayed awake.

After the programme I returned to work and started on the stuff I’d left earlier. That took me until 3.02 pm because of new mail being added all the time. I decided to take a break and see if Mike had texted me to say when he was coming. Nope, nothing. But while I was in the lounge Joey shot out of his cage like a scalded cat and did a circuit of the room with a dive bomb approach as he reached my head. There was no attempt at landing though he was maybe trying to clear a path for a landing  field across my scalp. He ended up perched on the mirror as his favourite place. I couldn’t miss the opportunity so grabbed my sponge and started cleaning the ladders, perches and the base of the cage down. Then I put new sandpaper down , changed the millet and gave him clean seed and water. Obviously unhappy, the minute I moved away from the cage he went back in and sat muttering on one of his perches. I don’t know whether he thinks I’ve taken something away or not but he doesn’t approve of me touching his cage at all. As it was almost 5.00 pm I decided to stay and watch my quiz but first I’d have some tea. I had my pre-foodie then made some toast. I added a slice of my strawberry and rhubarb tart to my plate ( before Mike got here) and sat down to see how many answers I  knew. It sometimes surprises me just how few people do know sometimes. I don’t mean sport and things like that, but the history of our country for instance.

After I’d finished eating I offered Joey a little of the crust from the tart. He didn’t flutter away in panic as I got close but I could see he wanted to. We’re really not building a relationship yet. I washed up and watched the end of the quiz before coming through to see how things were going. There was some mail to catch up on but I was on top of it., or so I thought. It was about 7.15 am I got a text from Mike to say he was on the way. At 8.00 pm I thought I’d take a break but just before I could a whole stack of messages suddenly appeared. I think they must be ones that transferred over from TalkTalk which I haven’t been to for a while because it signed me out again. Maybe it wasn’t working again but now is. I signed into Talk Talk to see what there was and gasped….but hopefully many of them will have been dealt with on transfer. Such proved to be the case and I finished there quickly. Catching up on gmail again took some time and it was only 9.15 pm I was able to go through. Mike arrived at 9.30 pm and I was able to hand him a coffee from a pre-boiled kettle. We watched Who Do You Think You Are of Jerry Hall while he told me about his week and asked if I was in trouble with Yvonne for avoiding the doctor’s. I told him it’s not avoidance, it’s an early cure I’ve had. After Law and Order, Special Victim’s Unit I called it a night and came through to do the blog. My jacket is looking much better but I think I’ll feed it again before going out in the rain.

Friday 4th.

I was so close to the end of my book that I found I couldn’t put it down at 1.00 am as I usually would. Instead I hung on to the bitter end at 1.25 am. It had gone half past by the time I’d finished my last cigarette and been to the loo. Maybe it did some good as it was 5.37 am before I woke this morning. I still had to visit the loo. Remarkable, I empty the bladder last thing and yet it refills itself overnight.It doesn’t happen with my Pepsi bottles worse luck. I came back and booted up the computer but it was close enough to 6.00 am not to bother. Instead I went to the kitchen and took my morning meds. Once done I readied my cup for coffee and went to get my drug drawer. I was able to do next weeks boxes with one exception and that I’d ordered on the prescription I put in on Tuesday after the Bank Holiday.I expected a delivery yesterday but it didn’t materialise. I’ll have to be more vigilant today since they’ll be closed until Monday otherwise and I need the missing one starting tonight. I have my chocolates at the ready. As it was quite dark the kitchen light was on but when I went to the lounge the light didn’t hit Joey. As I approached my drug drawer I talked to him all the time so he wouldn’t be scared when I pulled the drawer out. Not a flicker from him. I came and went without acknowledgement.

I brought my coffee through and opened Gmail. There were 49 messages, enough to fit on one page they took quite a while to do as for some people Friday is a day for main posts. I like to read and comment where possible. It was 8.12 am before I’d done and was able to open TalkTalk mail. I was sent my new gas and electric bills. I wish they were clearer. On the electric it showed a credit balance of £164.00 yet when I went in to it, it now showed a credit balance of £24.00 and a transaction  of a miscellaneous adjustment of £140.00. That tells me nothing ass it’snot showing a credit to me of that amount nor telling me where it’s from. I’ll leave it until next time as they’re supposed to refund any credits of £100 or over. It would be handy for Christmas. Anyway, by 8.40 am I was clear there too and so went through to Joey to set him free and also to get Mike’s coffee ready for 9.00 am. As 9.00 am came I set the coffee down on the bedside table, made sure he could hear me and then left him to it. It was time to dress and get my shoes on. Before I left I went back through to Mike and he was just coming round so I said I’d left the TV on for him. By the time I got back from Pauline’s, he was up and sitting in the lounge.

By some miracle Mike left the house at just gone 10.00 am to go to Manchester. Hurrah, I wouldn’t get the blame for him being late and I was able to watch my Homes Under the Hammer in peace. After that it was back to work to catch up on mail. I had to stop at 11.45 am to go peal a couple of sweet potatoes. I put thisck Irish Pork Sausages under the grill, turned the micro on my potatoes, remembered I should have taken a pre-foodie which I then did and went to natter to or at Joey for s few minutes. Onced the sausages started to spit I soaked up the fat with some kitchen roll and found out surprise, surprise that it becomes very hot to hold. Ouch! Once the potatoes were ready I mashed them and put some baked beans in the micro to do. It was a lovely meal which I enjoyed with Bargain Hunt on in the background. I say the background because in the foreground were my eyelids and I was checking the inside of them again. It only lasted for 30 mins or so though before I was back in motion. After doing the pots it was back to the emails again.  I worked till 3.00 pm then took a break when I heard the doorbell. It was the chemist with my latest supplies. I was able to add the missing tablets to my  boxes for tonight and for the next week. While up an about I had half an hour in front of the box, oddly enough not watching what I intended as I was gripped by what came on.

At just after 3.30 pm I returned to work  with the express intention of not returning to the lounge until my mail boxes were clear. Brcause of that I only caught the last ten minutes of my quiz. I watched Eggheads at 6.00 pm then at 6.30 pm went for a shower. I managed not to fall or have an angina attack and got out in one piece, then I promptly tripped over the floor mat and fell. I dressed and returned to the lounge to watch an episode of Mash ( and got a text from Mike to say he was on the way back) then I watched a special on the plight of the refugees and was delighted to see the Germans are showing some humanity by taking 800,000 this year. An example to all European countries. Then it was Mastermind and we were less than halfway in when Mike came home so I made him a coffee. His day had gone quite well which I was pleased about after last week. We watched Would I Lie To You together then an episode of Ripper Street. Joey who is normally dormant on a perch at this time kept coming out and flying around as though he was going to land somewhere different. He didn’t end up being brave enough. At 10.00 pm I closed his cage door, took my meds and headed for the bedroom to do the blog and the rest of my mail. I’m wondering if Mike and Yvonne are in cahoots as she won’t accept my legs are OK and is asking me to wear loose legged trousers on Tuesday so she can see for herself. I shall be in bed for midnight. YAY.

Saturday 5th.

I turned my light off early last night at 12.30 am. It was no use, I could not get to sleep. Then my legs started to itch and I’d already treated them ( granted it was only a pie and a pint but hey, beggars can’t be choosers).At 1.22 am I got up and went through to the lounge. At least when I went past Mike’s room he was asleep instead of gaming. I did fall asleep in my chair and woke up this morning at 4.27 am. With just a slight detour via the room of perpetual fountains I headed for my bedroom and fired up  the computer.( It’s lucky I keep the  furnace going). I logged into gmail and started my daily battle with words, other people’s. At 6.00 am I paused to go take my meds, have some breakfast and make a coffee. I also got Mike’s mug ready for 6.30 am and his first shout of the day. While waiting I went and got dressed. I pre-empted the alarm and called Mike as I took his drink through and woke him. I knew he’s go straight back to sleep but his alarm would wake him again, which it did a minute later. That round made no impression but I only had to wait ten minutes, during which time I dealt with the rubbish,before the alarm went off again. I confess I was as pleased as punch when he ignored it yet again as it gave me the chance to do my Sgt Major act from the doorway and remind him the coffee was there. This time he got up but today’s score was    C-2, A-2. ( Calls and alarms).

We were on our way out at 7.30 am which I think surprised both of us. He got very confused while driving and though the miles per hour showing were actually kilometres per hour. So when he saw 80 miles  per hour on the clock he thought they were kilometres which translated to 50 mph…..or that’s his excuse and he’s sticking to it. It didn’t take us long to go round the supermarket this morning despite me having food on the menu again. We just have the whole experience to a fine art. He was unhappy I got away with a smaller bill than usual and threatened to boycott the place if they don’t make more of an effort to upset me. I paid and we went for a drink. Mike had a coffee while I opted for a cold drink which was a strawberry lemonade.To Mike’s delight it made me scrunch my face up, Mike loved it thinking it was brain freeze and was not happy when I just said it was sour. We left and headed for Flint. I had to get a few things first before we could go to Temptations as I had no chocolates yet. I picked some up at Homies but Mike reckoned I should pay for them, so I did. We went for coffee and flippin’eck there was no-one we knew.

As we came out of Temptations we were both asking the other what we wanted to do with the rest of the day. I said I’d be happy to go home and was told that wasn’t happening. The point was to keep me away from my desk as long as possible. I made a few suggestions and it was decided that Ellesmere Port and then Cheshire Oaks Outlet Village were the ones. Because of Mike’s continued search for this particular ring he wants I had to recall every jeweller I knew in both places. When we arrived at and parked up in Ellesmere Port I told Mike we’d go to the market first as I remembered a jeweller there. Blow me if he didn’t find a ring he wanted. Wrong stone but the existing one could (we hope) be replaced by what he wants if we can find the right shape and size stone to buy. He’s making progress at last and the OCD can take a day off now. It was gone midday and I needed food. There’s a large ASDA store there with a good cafe inside so we headed there and had steak and ale pie with chips and peas. It was very good. I was able to take my tablets and then we left.

We headed for Cheshire Oaks next and I really wished I’d got a disability scooter when we arrived. I hated it, the place was heaving. We didn’t even go in any of the shops which were very expensive. We did walk round though and then totally knackered, Mike drove me home. I had problems staying awake in the car. We got back about 3.15 pm and once we’d unpacked the shopping I was free to start work as Mike had football on the TV. I hadn’t finished when I took a break at 6.00 pm but I thought our usual quiz was on. It turned out there was still half an hour yet. I promptly fell asleep in my chair. When I woke up we were in the dying minutes of the quiz so I’d been asleep an hour.I stayed with Mike till 10.00 pm when I knew he wouldn’t complain about me coming back  through. He caught me forgetting my evening meds though and enjoyed sending me back to take them. I managed to get the mail numbers right down before I had to stop and concentrate on the blog.

I wish you all a Wonderful new week full of Hugs and dreams come true.

 

Itty Bitty Spider & Somnambulism.

Sunday 16th August.

A late night deserves a late morning and that’s what I got today. It was 5.04 am before I opened my eyes. I swung my legs out of bed to head to the bathroom forgetting just how bad they are and almost fell over. Though I can stand on the right one, the left had decided it was on strike for better conditions. I managed to lollop my way down the passage to the bathroom, wincing all the way. On the plus side, it’s not itching. Coming back I turned the computer on and opened my first mail box.
I caught up ( temporarily) with that one at 9.08 am and went to open the second one.Today just had to be the day that TalkTalk had implemented changes to ‘improve’ their service to me. A new mail service totally with a pretty new display that so far does absolutely nothing. I tell a lie, it displays the messages piecemeal instead of in a continuous list, it takes an age to delete anything and an age to change pages. I gave up trying at 9.30 am and went to make a coffee for Mike. I was determined he was getting up before lunchtime. It took a while but eventually he trotted through to the lounge.

We left the house at 11.00 am and headed for The Tweed Mill to see if they’d had further deliveries of these fantastic Brakeburn shoes which are the most comfortable for me to wear. It’s like wearing nothing at all except your feet don’t get dirty or wet. Mike bought a pair two years ago when I did and has never regretted it. I was out of luck in my size but we did get to have a nice coffee ( actually I slurped a milk shake) before having a good look round. Then we decided to stay for lunch there and go on elsewhere afterwards. We both had a Sunday roast. The quantity was pretty generous I thought. Before we left I bought two pairs of Brakeburns for Yvonne thinking they might be comfortable for her during the pregnancy. That done, we headed for Butterflies at Kinmel Bay. Not for the cafe but for the fish place so Mike could get some special food ( for the fish) and some sponges for his air pumps. When Ju was alive we used to buy a lot of fish from there. Friendly knowledgeable staff and a great choice. She’d be very disappointed to see it now. So many tanks closed down. Still, they stock the food Mike wanted so it was worth the visit. Next stop Prestatyn which was on the way home. I needed some cotton balls from the £ shop to apply the calamine lotion. We found out last night that tissues aren’t very good. I spent £13 in there and I haven’t got the foggiest idea on what. Time to get home after that and we made it for 4.00 pm.

Mike went to work on Ju’s flowers so I made him a coffee then came through to make a start on the mail. At 4.30 pm I had to stop to say goodbye to Mike as he was heading home again though he says he’ll be back on Tuesday. I’d just had a message on skype that MuJo are visiting that day too since I’m not seeing Yvonne then. My day with her this week is Monday again. That’s good as I’ll be able to take the shoes through for her. Once Mike had gone I sat in front of the box for an hour skiving and eating some BFG. Then I came through and worked until 8.00 pm when I had an hour of MASH before calling it a night and apologising to Joey for the lack of company today. I’m pretty sure he misses us when we go out. I managed to get up to date on the mail and get the blog done before the witching hour so there’ll be time for a short read before sleep.

Monday 17th.

There was an early wake-up at 2.05 am but I declined that invitation and after a painful trip to the loo I managed to get back to sleep. At 4.24 am when I woke again, getting up seemed a much more reasonable proposition. I didn’t need the loo that time so only had to hop over to the computer and fire up. I was done with the first battle by 6.00 am and opened my other mail box to work. Miraculously it did work this morning and by 6.30 am I was clear there too. Maybe only temporarily but it gave me the opportunity to grab my sticks and go through to take the morning meds. I was going to get those out of the way then get dressed ready to visit Yvonne. It was only then I remembered I couldn’t see her today. They’ve both taken two weeks off to be with Reuben and have planned outings every day. It’s Reuben’s birthday on Friday but I won’t see him until Sunday when we have a little party for him. Lucky for me his main present, the rocking donkey, is already at their house. So, once I’d had the meds I made a coffee to bring back to my room.As I went to the sink to wash my spoon I found a tarantula waiting for me. It’s legs were stretched to either side of the sink. I had to find a container big enough to catch it in and a pack horse strong enough to carry it to the front door while I released it. I looked on the net to see what it was and was surprised to see it called House Spider. In all my years I’ve never seen one like that in my house and I wonder if they meant as big as one? For the first time ever, no more mail came while I was out of the room. If only every day was so kind. I shall still have to get dressed later to take my prescription request to the chemist.

I took my coffee back to the lounge and sat with Joey while I enjoyed it. After a while and it was bright enough I opened the cage door. Joey came out and circled the room a couple of times. His flight dipped as he passed me almost as if he was going to land but then common sense got the better of him and he headed for his mirror and the first of many self arguments of the day. I even managed to nod off a bit while he was chunnering. At 9.00 am I hobbled my way to the chemist and dropped my prescription off then came home and started work again. While there I checked ebay again and found a ‘Second Chance ‘offer. For those of you who haven’t had one, that’s where the winner of an item hasn’t paid and the vendor offers it to the second best bidder at the price they offered. I was amazed since I’d missed the winning bid by a country mile and I doubted my bid even reached the gold value. I accepted like a shot. Later in the morning, after watching Homes Under the Hammer I’d just restarted work when the new doorbell rang. It was the warden. She came in to chat and to wish Joey a good morning. She was pleased to see him come out of the cage even though he ignored her.At 11.30 she took her chocolates and left. I thought about preparing for lunch but received a text on my mobile which was charging up in the kitchen. It was Lis to see if I was in. As soon as I verified it she texted she’d be here soon. And just about midday, in she came.

It was lovely to see her again and it must have been quite a while as she knew nothing about Joey. We spent some time catching up until she left about 1.00 pm and I was able to make my lunch. Steak in Ale with mashed potatoes. Not bad at all really. Since I’d missed Bargain Hunt I didn’t watch TV. I just listened to Joey giving me a bollocking for something he imagined I’d done. Then I returned to work for a while, knocking off at 4.00 pm because I’m idle. Dammit, I fell asleep again in the sun coming through my window. I missed the programme I wanted to see and woke only during the first of the quizzes, Pointless, yeh that’s just how I felt. When the quizzes ended at 7.00 pm I came back through to catch up and then I went onto ebay to see how things were in my watchlist. There are still a couple of tempting items though I’ve held back from bidding so as not to encourage anyone else at this point. Nearer the time we’ll see how I feel. Of course there are things I look at on there that I don’t buy too, which perhaps seems like a waste of time but I get good ideas for future presents like that. Since I got my first Christmas catalogue last week Christmas must be on it’s way.

At 8.00 pm I broke off to watch a history programme that fascinated me about the prospect of King Arthur having really existed. It seems we know more about the period when he was supposed to be about than we ever did and that the Kings or Warlords did have huge fortifications ( they’re OK as long as you use the cream) and did trade abroad for things like wine and oil so will have traded in much more than that. I suspect they may have been quite sophisticated people rather than the savages they were once depicted after the Romans left. Of course I had to come back when it was over so Joey could get some sleep. I caught up on emails again then started on the blog. I’ll be in bed reading well before midnight.

On the Gruffalo Trail

Gruffalo found.

Tuesday 18th.

There was a very unwelcome period at 1.28 am where I had to go to the loo. As I swung my left leg to the ground the pain became intense. It was like granules running down the inside of my leg and gathering at the ankle. So difficult to walk yet when I did , it soon settled to a throb. I wonder if I have gout in that leg rather than the cellulitis of the other? The swelling and condition of the skin are so alike though. I came back and couldn’t sleep so I had a cigarette and told myself I was not getting up yet. I did fall asleep again and didn’t wake until 5.26 am. That was a treat, over 4 and a half hours sleep. I got up and hobbled to the bathroom again. Coming back I turned the computer on and signed into  gmail. I started work. There are still nice comments on the weekend blog which is great. At 6.00 am I broke off to have some breakfast and to take the morning meds. It wasn’t too bright at that time so no response when I wished Joey good morning. He stayed huddled on his perch. While in the kitchen I put some washing in on a fast wash cycle. By the time I’d had a cigarette and then eaten my toast the wash cycle was over and I set it to dry as I took my coffee through to my room to start work again. By 8.00 am both gmail and my talktalk mailboxes were empty. I went back through to let Joey out and to clean his cage.

Absolutely typical Joey decided not to come out just then but sat there playing with his bells ( I’m not even going to imagine what some of you make of that). No enticement would get him out. It took ages before I could move him and that was just by getting too close to the cage. Still, I was able to give him some more millet which he loves. After Joey I went back to the drier and put the clothes on the airer. Time to go and get dressed. It took forever as I couldn’t get my socks on and then pulling my jeans on was no fun either and they weren’t even the skinny ones. I was ready and able for MuJo when they arrived about 10.45 am I made drinks or rather poured them as they don’t have the hot drinks. We chatted for a while and then left about 11.15 am. Mu wanted the Post Office in town so John and I amused ourselves in a charity shop. When Mu joined us we had a quick look in another one then went for lunch. After we’d been served I managed to grab the bill before Mu so no fighting today.

We drove to Flint where Mu shopped at ALDI then went to park up outside Temptations while e went to get chocolates for the girls. That done we went for a drink. I saw Ceri and told her how much we missed her on Saturday mornings. A couple more shops afterwards and I got a text from Mike to say he was on his way. That was 2.45 pm.  Not long after we headed home where I found I’d missed my drug mule. Muriel was going for her lottery tickets and said she’d go  into the chemist’s for me. When she came back I checked the items and the spray I’d asked for an extra one of had been missed out entirely. My current one ran out yesterday and I was quite cross. The surgery make too  many mistakes like that. Mike arrived at that point. We had a chat for a while then MuJo left. Mike ran me round to the chemist to request the spray again but I’ll have to wait until Thursday now. When we got in I left Mike with the quiz and came through to start catching up. I had to take a break at 7.00 pm and give Mike some company so I made tea as well and we ate watching the box. At 9.00 pm I came back through and buckled down. At 11.00 pm Mike gave up and came through to plaster my legs with calamine lotion. Here’s hoping for an itch free night.

Voyage of Discovery

Meeting the Little People

Wednesday 19th.

Allow me a little Woo-Hoo here please. I’m wondering if I’ve entered a new phase sleeping pattern. Today is my fourth post 5 am start recently. It was 5.28 am today, that’s about four and a half hours again. I haven’t slept so much in ages….OK, discounting the afternoon naps that is. When I woke this morning I reached out for my glasses as usual. They weren’t there. My fingers scrabbling around like an agitated spider told me that. I was gently checking the floor with my toes so there was no chance I’d stand on them. I held my bedside lamp over the side of the bed to see if they’d slipped down between the bed and the chest the lamp occupies. I cast my hands over all my quilt cover to see if I’d taken them off there during the night. Still nothing. All I could think of was that I’d been to my desk, to the bathroom or the lounge during the night and taken them off there. Nothing for it but to go take a look. I leaned forward and placed my hand on the back of my office chair….and there they were. Perilously poised to drop at any time.How or why I came to rest them there is anyone’s guess as I know they went on the bedside chest as usual when I gave up reading at 1.00 am this morning. The older I get the stranger life becomes.

Glasses firmly on my nose I headed for the loo. It wasn’t a comfortable walk this morning. Having relieved myself of a river I returned to my room and turned on the computer. Naturally I went straight to gmail as the talktalk issues are still not resolved. I’ve never known an ‘improvement’ cause me so many problems. At just gone 6.00 am I broke off and went through to take my drugs. I decided on breakfast so took a pre-foodie tablet and put two slices of bread in the toaster. I took all my other drugs then lit a cigarette and sat in the lounge for a while. Joey was asleep on his swing just waiting for it to get brighter so his day would begin. Cigarette finished I went through and buttered my toast. While I was eating it I washed the grill pan to get rid of the traces of last night’s bacon sandwiches. All done I came back through and picked up where I’d left off.

At 9.00 am I made a coffee and woke Mike up. After about 15 minutes I went back to tell him not to let the coffee grow cold and he agreed he wouldn’t. I let him know I was going out to the shops, strained to get my shoes on then took a slow walk to Pauline’s for milk and bread as well as my TV magazine. It took me a little while but when I got back at 9.30 am guess where he was. Mind you, e must have heard me because within minutes he was up and in the lounge. I know this is my fault but I went to keep him company and turned he TV to Frasier. Mike didn’t make a move towards dressing. At 10.00 am I turned to Homes Under the Hammer expecting him to dress and go to his dads. Nope, he sat and watched that too. So, it was 11.00 am before he got dressed and fifteen minutes later before he left. It’ll be lunchtime before he gets to his Dad’s. I hoped he’d remember to eat as I couldn’t cook for him tonight with Dil here. As soon as he’d gone I returned to work .  I worked until midday then went to make lunch. I was in the mood for quick and easy today so had a curry and chips with bread and butter. Mmmmm. Both teams on Bargain Hunt went home with a profit, one of them getting a profit on all three items and one team making over £200 on just one item. I tell you this so you know I didn’t fall asleep. I know, you’re amazed aren’t you. I returned to work until 4.00 pm and then gave up for the day. Dil arrived at 4.30 pm and had a machine and tubes attached to him . I was quite worried until I remembered he was due to have a day where his BP was taken at intervals through the day. It’s been tremendously high for a few years, often over 200/120 and they needed to check to see if he has white coat syndrome where it rises when he has to attend the surgery.

Mike sent a text to say he was on his way at about 4.40 pm but he didn’t actually make it until almost 6.30 pm. The traffic and the weather were both bad. Dil seemed happy to give up the game of Yahtzee we were playing when Mike arrived as he said it was just a trial run anyway. Since he was losing 5-o at that point I didn’t blame him. The three of us started a new game which ended up with me winning 3, Dil winning 2 and Mike just 1. Next we got the Trivial Pursuit out and after a long game Dil had to leave. We declared him the winner as he had one more slice of pie than we did. He left happy. Mike filled me in with all his news of the day, he’d achieved quite a bit. I had to come through and start the big catch up then. It took me quite a while to get going but at 10.50 pm I was able to start the blog. I’m aiming to be in bed before midnight.

Musical Interlude

A wringing of hands for Little Boy Lost

Thursday 20th.

I read till 12.30 am last night and then went through to the loo. I noticed Mike was still gaming so I went into his room. We chatted for a while about various things, not least of which was where to go today since he’s still looking for the ring, London Blue Topaz and nothing less will do. I suggested Chester, he suggested Llandudno. When I finally went back to bed I was awake again so decided to have a cigarette and another chapter of my book. I read three chapters and finished it. I got up at 5.12 am today and after visiting Piddle City I logged onto the computer. I attacked the mail and it attacked me back. At 6.00 am I went to the kitchen for my meds and stayed to have breakfast. Joey was awake and it wasn’t too dark so I opened his cage in case he wanted to come join me for breakfast. He didn’t, playing havoc with his bells was much more fun. I ate alone. When my mouth wasn’t full I spoke to him but apart from occasionally cocking his head to one side he paid me no attention. I came back to work. It kept me occupied and out of trouble for a while .  At 9.00 am I stopped and made Mike a drink which I took through to him and tried to wake him up. He wants to go to Chester this morning so I thought an early start would be good. It was nearly 9.30 am before he made the move to the lounge. Joey and I were watching Frasier.

So much for an early start. I dressed at 10.00 am but my subtlety didn’t work. It was actually gone 11.30 am before we even left the house. It was gone midday before we parked in Chester but at least because I have the disability card we were able to park on the main street. We headed for British Home Stores for lunch and were surprised to see a notice on the counter saying they’d changed suppliers and were very limited with stocks. Strange, you’d think a new supplier would keep them stocked up. Our choices were very limited and had to have sausage, bacon and chips to which they added an egg because they’d run out of peas and beans. Still, we were able to have our tablets. Then we started the round of all the jewellers I could think of. He came across plenty of women’s rings with the right stone but no men’s. His heart is set on London Blue Topaz but they haven’t really done many with that stone since the Victorian days. Once his ODC kicks in there’s no swerving his mind away from it.This could take years. We had a drink in a Costa before coming home but didn’t leave until almost 4.00 pm and arrive home until 4.20 pm. I’d hoped to get some work in before my evening viewing. I had to watch the antique programme then come through for the first of the quizzes. Then back again for the next two quizzes, an episode of MASH and one of Campion. Finally I was able to come through to stay at 9.00 pm while Mike watch Who Do You Think You Are on Actress Jane Seymour. I  nipped back to take my tabs but otherwise was very good at focusing on my mail. At 10.40 I was able to start on the blog so will be in bed before the Witching Hour tonight.

Friday 21st.

My light went out at about 1.00 am this morning having read three chapters of my new book. Sleep came fairly easily once I found a comfortable position but I was still up at 2.30 am for the loo. I couldn’t settle again so I had a cigarette on the side of the bed and tried again. I didn’t wake until 6.18 am. An amazing lie-in. Of course it’s the one day of the week I could have done without. I got up, paid a visit to the loo and then went immediately to the kitchen to take my meds and then to start filling the boxes with the drugs for the next week. That kept me going until 7.00 am. I replaced the drug drawer, said good morning to Joey then made my coffee to take back to my room. After powering up ( the computer not me) I signed into gmail. Wow, just 8 pieces of post awaited me. I hadn’t even finished congratulating myself before it suddenly shot up to 22. That kept me on the go until almost 8.30 am. When I tried to sign into talktalk I got a message that it was down for planned maintenance.  I got dressed and decided I’d try to get Mike up a bit earlier today in the hopes I’d get him to leave for his dad’s on time today. I took his coffee through and asked him to do me a favour and listen for my delivery man while I went to Pauline’s. On my return at 9.45 am he was up and in the lounge. He was asleep in the chair, but he was up. I checked my mail and found the delivery will be between 2.30 – 3.30 pm and will be brought by Alan.

Mike was dressed by 10.0 pm but was about to settle down with Homes Under the Hammer until I mentioned he needed to go. He left at 10.15 am after making sure he said goodbye to Joey or risk a bollocking. I watched the rest of the programme until 11.00 am then came back through to catch up again before lunch. T 11.50 am I went through to do lunch. It’s stupid but I’d chosen the time so I could take my pre-foodie tablet then make lunch in time for my antiques programme. On the walk between my room and the kitchen I forgot the tablet altogether and lunch was about ready to plate up before I remembered. I took it and carried on. I enjoyed my bangers and sweet potato mash and took my plate through and came back in time for the auction. I could feel my eyes going before we reached that point and didn’t see a thing. I woke at 1.30 pm and went to do the pots. Next was back through here to catch up again. At 4.00 pm I attempted to enter the TalkTalk email system still without luck. I kept getting the same message after signing in, that it couldn’t access the email server. I finally went through the help desk and followed the questions there but all I got was wait 15 mins and try again as the problem is solved. Let me tell you TalkTalk that the problem isn’t solved, and that having a phone help system in place isn’t good for some people, especially if that phone call goes out of the country and subjects us to accents we can’t understand. That statement is not racist. An email system would help for problems as at least I could access you via another server. At 4.30 pm I gave up trying and went through to watch my antique programme. Once finished I came back to see how many emails had landed. I was able to catch up on gmail but TalkTalk was still not live. I didn’t mind missing one quiz but I was back in the lounge at 6.00 pm for the next two. At 6.45 Mike sent a text to sat he was on his way back. That’s good as it meant I could go to my room until he returned and then give him some company when he’s back. The plan worked great.

At 7.40 pm I went back to the lounge and then to put the kettle on. Mike walked in about 7.45 pm so a coffee was quickly done and we watched the last of Question of Sport together. Glancing at the TV mag I found I’d missed the last twp Persons of Interest last night so Mike put the last one on for us. Once we’d seen that come to an unsatisfactory ending we watched an episode of Ripper Street until 10.00 pm when I felt able to desert him and come to work. Not too much post so I was able to start the blog at 10.35 pm and I’m almost done at 11.20 pm. Just add the song and I can go to bed ready for shopping tomorrow. I may have to race round the supermarket on an electric chair again but no way I’m letting Mike fiddle with the electrics as he threatens. Before Mike went to bed he came through and slathered my legs in calamine lotion. Maybe if it stops the itching it will mean he doesn’t have to rap my knuckles with a pen if I scratch. On the other hand, maybe he just enjoys it.

Saturday 22nd.

When I finished reading last night at 1.00 am I went through to the loo and since I could see Mike was still gaming I called in on him to see why he wasn’t asleep.He said his tablets hadn’t kicked in yet. Here’s to be hoped it wasn’t to long after that his tablets did. He was at least not gaming and was sleeping when I got up this morning at 3.43 am. I came back from the loo and signed into gmail and started work. Along with the normal mail there were a few causes today. One calling for the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith from his position in charge of the DWP after they admitted that the cases they identified as people benefiting from the benefit sanctions were ‘illustrative only’ or in other words a total fabrication. Since deaths have occurred fro people who have been sanctioned it’s surely time for a rethink and to look at real life cases of what the sanctions do. There was also an appeal to the Prime Minister to accept more genuine refugees into the country. So many are leaving war torn places like Libya and Eritrea, many losing their lives on the way that they deserve safe havens to be found by the countries of Europe. OK, off the soapbox now. It was 5.25 when I was caught up with mail and able to go take my morning drugs.

I was settled back at my computer at 5.40 am when I heard a scuttling sound. I went to check and Mike had gone to the bathroom. I said, ” A miracle, hardly seems worth going back to bed after this does it?” There was no response as he was asleep. He went back to bed. The moment 6.30 am arrived I stuck a coffee under his nose before his alarm had chance to ring. That was 1 C . Moments later the fist alarm came into play but was soon turned off. 1 A . There was no movement. After ten minutes the second aslarm went and it beat me so I didn’t call Mike. This time he moved to the lounge. 1 C & 2 A morning. But when I went through to the lounge, there he was asleep in his chair, until I scratched his head anyway. I’m not sure if that should count as another call, and when I returned from trying my new shoes on he was again asleep until I spoke to him. If I count that it could be a 3 C & 2 A day.

Mike got dressed and we were out of the house before 7.30 am and on our way to ASDA. I didn’t want much and we fairl whizzed round but it was still 9.30 am before we were out. We bumped into John and Vivienne who were kind enough to take me to a concert last year at Llangollen’s Eistedfodd. We got in the car and drove to Flint where I picked a few things up from one shop  even though we visited a few. We had a drink at Temptations and in Mike’s case he had a teasted toecake. Time was getting on a bit  when we came out and we decided to head home but bumped into our friend Tariq and chatted to him for a while. His news wasn’t good but there was nothing we could do to help but offer a shoulder. Since we’d be missing our Sunday roast tomorrow courtesy of Reuben’s party we decided to have a carvery at the Bells. It was pleasant enough but by the end we’d both decided to concentrate on the Cookhouse in Prestatyn in future. We came home and unpacked the shopping. With heads hung low in shame we accepted the telling off from Joey for leaving him in the cage this morning even though it was done only to make sure he’d be OK when we got back and doors may be left open. I came through to catch up on mail and left Mike with his football. Once the game was over and I was caught up I joined him and we both ended up asleep. It must have been for a good hour as I woke up part way into the celebrity edition of a quiz and Mike woke up not long after. Once that was done I came back here to assess the damage and do what I could. I rejoined Mike at 7.00 pm for a couple of programmes and retired here at 9.00 pm for the big push. Mike was watching Rebus at that point, a gritty detective series where you need a phrase book for the Scottish accents. I did so well I was able to have another half hour through there before doing the blog. I’ll be abed before the witching hour.

Have a Great New Week filled with Huge Hugs .