Wild

I had arranged several days ago to go to Grantham so this morning I went although it was a wild and windy morning. I set off around 7.30am. We had heavy overnight rain and there were several large areas of surface water.
 As I progressed I noticed that there were a couple of Flood signs, this didn't surprise me at all. To be honest I had expected warnings of snow in some areas as it was cold.
 I arrived in Grantham without much trouble, the good news being that it was School Half Term so there was little traffic and I had a smooth trip to Morrison's. I still think this Supermarket is very competitive, the only disappointment was that they had no Lamb's liver, still I did manage to get a herring which was nice and red round the eye, a sure way to tell that they are fresh. Incidentally it was very nice, pity it had no roe.
 I then went to ASDA to fill up with fuel. Morrison's have no Filling Station. This was built 31 years ago. You may ask how I know, this was because I saw one of the staff on the till and asked where this other Lady was and if she had retired. She told me I was correct and that she was one of the remaining staff that had been there since it opened 31 yeas ago. So that is how I know.
 After filling up with fuel I went to see my Sister, my elder Sister couldn't be there as she had someone coming to see her. It is her Birthday on Thursday.
 Incidentally it is lashing down with rain hail and sleet. This is the 3rd short heavy shower we have had since I returned home, they last about 5 to 10 minutes then we have sunshine again for a while, still with gale force winds though. AS you can guess it is very cold for the last day of March.
 At my Sister's we had a viewing of photos of my Brother-in-Law's visit to Australia. His wife, my Sister didn't go as it is too much for her. By the sounds of it I doubt if her Husband will go again. He told me it was a traumatic experience, to add his luggage was mislaid, thank goodness it was on the return journey.
 The photos were good but in all honesty, they didn't interest me at all but of course I didn't say anything. I spent about an hour there then set off home going via Mablethorpe to call at LIDL. I must be getting forgetful for the main thing, besides skimmed milk was to get a watering can which I completely forgot.
 Now I will recuperate as it seems to take it out of me more and more as I get older. It is a round trip of around 120 miles. More soon.

Testing the new surface

On Tuesday I went in to Mablethorpe, really to go to a place where the fellow I know was asking about my health a couple of weeks ago and as I told him I was struggling somewhat I thought I had better see him and inform him that although not fully recovered, at least I think I am getting a little better.
 Off I went and when I hit the road that had been closed for 5 days I was at first somewhat disappointed, there had been patchwork of repairs. However travelling further I did notice that much more patchwork had been done and to be honest the road was nice and smooth. I am not sure though that it will last the test of time. I will admit that the 5 days were well used and guessing I would say the cost would be in excess of £500.000.
 Anyway I went and saw the man and he told me that he thought there had been a great improvement with the roads. I certainly couldn't disagree with him.
 Yesterday my Best Pal called to see me, the first time this year. Part of the conversation was about my mate and him telling me about Home Bargains. I told my Pal about how good the place was and also how the goods were great value for money.
 He then asked me whereabouts this place was in Skegness and I told him where to find it.
 I guess he will be calling soon to see for himself how good it is.
 I am having trouble with the site so will finish for now. More soon.

Eclipse

Last Friday morning I once again went to pick my mate up because he still hasn't got the full use of his arm. He severely broke his elbow around the end of November last year and he hasn't been able to use his arm properly since. However I did notice an improvement in his use although he still can't bend his arm sufficiently to put a utensil to his mouth. He manages quite well though. I try to give him a decent meal as his Partner is a sort of Vegetarian, but doesn't eat most vegetables so he doesn't get any protein such  as fresh meat. His Partner doesn't like handling such stuff. To be candid I can understand the reason.
 Anyway I went to pick him up around 8.45am. We went shopping then came back to mine where I put a joint of Pork to cook. Incidentally while we were out we did notice the odd person viewing the partial eclipse of the sun. We got back to mine before 10.00am. and my mate informed me that you could see about 1/3 of the moon covering the sun. It was however very hazy and not a clear blue sky.
 It bought back to mind that the last time was in 1999 and I was at my Mothers. I think the partial eclipse was then around 11.30am. The weather then was not as sunny but the view was perfect as the cloud was light and varied. I asked my Mother if she wished to see the spectacle, she told me she had seen it all before and wasn't interested.
 This is just how I felt this time, I couldn't be bothered. I guess it is because I am getting old.
 My mate fixed the T.V. so that I can view my photos on the T.V. also I found that I could view a video that I downloaded from my American friend. It was just a video of him driving on the roads in Florida. I find those very interesting.
 Mt mate couldn't fix my camera though so I guess the problems are terminal, still 50% is satisfactory.
 On Saturday it was bitter cold once more and I had 3 visitors, well I say visitors, what I should say is that the door bell rang 3 times. I also had a phone call from my mate thanking me for the nice time he had. I assured him that it was mutual as I too had a thoroughly lovely day. I did suffer somewhat though as for the next 2 days I was shattered. Definite signs of ageing. More soon.

A Scenic Route

Yesterday morning I had a Dental Appointment in Mablethorpe at 11.20am.
 I decided to leave a little later than I normally do as I hate waiting too long.
 I certainly needn't have worried about being too early for as I travelled the A52 to my local Town(a glorified village)there was a sign stating that the road to Mablethorpe was closed and the diversion showed that I would go to the next Town Alford then travel to Mablethorpe. This would have taken me far too long to get to have my Dental Appointment in time.
 I did take the route but only for about 50 yards and then turned my car round. I had noticed that the odd vehicle was travelling on that road so I took my chance.
 I did begin to worry a little because there were 2 vehicles in front. The first turned off soon after I started to follow them, the second soon after. I had some idea as to where I wanted to go and luckily enough a few yards after I wished to turn and go down this road which led eventually to the crossroads just outside of Mablethorpe the road was closed completely, only for access.
 Anyway when I reached the crossroads there was a sign on the right where I intended to turn stating that the road was closed.
 I ignored the sign and travelled about 600 yards when I could see that I would be able to turn right to the Medical Centre where the Dental Surgeon practised.
 To be honest I just made it in time and I only had to wait about 5 minutes for my appointment.
 I guess I was in the Dental Surgery less than 5 minutes. He informed me to make a further appointment in 6 months time.
 I then went to Reception and paid up nearly £20.
  I often wonder why the NHS is so much in debt? I certainly help with the cost of Dental work. Still I must appreciate that I did not need any treatment once again. More soon.

Back on line

What a week I have had.
 As to my health, I am still struggling a little but not half as much as I have struggled with the Internet.
 My mate fitted it so that my new T.V. is connected to the Internet. Well on last Monday evening around 9.pp. pm. the info bar gave me a message saying that my internet had been disconnected. I didn't take much notice but on Tuesday morning I went to check my mail. I guess this was around 11.30am. Although the internet signal showed that I had connection when I tried to access my mailbox it stated it was not possible. There was a box stating to fix the problem so I clicked it. After what seemed an age the results came up that I had no connection. It was confirmed when I noticed that I no longer had any Internet connection.
 I did the usual things like disconnecting the apparatus and turning my router off. Giving it several minutes but no joy.
  Giving it an hour or so I decided to try once more. At the same time the young Man from next door came and asked if I wanted any help. As he wanted to get started in the garden we spent about an hour sorting things out and I let him set some shallots. Also he set a few seeds in trays.
 Around 3.00pm. I told him that he must go as I wished to get my Internet working.
 I contacted my ISP. and informed him what had happened. I also told him that I had on my screen a Webgate which had on it a place to type my username and password. I tried several times with no joy. The guy on the    other end was very helpful, immediately telling me that the site wasn't very clear and that the username was not my username and the password was also not mine. It transpired that the username was so different that in a thousand years of guessing I would not have guessed correctly. The password was the router password. He gave me both the username and password. Incidentally I made sure of the password that I wrote it down. Thank goodness I did.
 Anyway when I entered the relevant details he told me to click the connect button. The page went blank then up it came again with a message stating that no internet was getting to the router.
 He then told me he would have to do a line check which takes several minutes. About half was through he informed me that he had found a fault and it was more their end than mine. I was relieved. He then told me that Open Reach part of B.T would have to do a line check but that would take 72 hours.
 Just before 5.30pm. he called me again stating that a slot was possible for the next afternoon from 1.00pm. to 6.00pm. I readily agreed to this but then he told me there was a snag. He couldn't find the fault and it was obviously an intermittent fault but would check with a colleague. I was put on hold for about 5 minutes, when he came back he told me the sad news that it was back to the 72 hours for Open Reach to come and check the line.
 On Thursday I had another short phone call stating that Open Reach would contact me either Friday morning or Saturday morning between 9.00am. and 1.00pm. So I had to wait
 Nothing on Friday so I thought Saturday would also be a blank. I was correct, nobody came. However I was fortunate because around 12.15pm. I suddenly thought back several years ago O had s similar situation, that time it was a filter that failed. I went and luckily found a spare unused filter, swapped over the filter and went online only to find that Webgate page. This time though after I had entered the username and password(good job I saved it) clicked the connect and sure enough it confirmed that I had connection.
 I checked my mail and found a couple of messages from my ISP. How they expected me to read them without any connection I have no idea but there was a job number. I took that down then contacted my ISWP. Unfortunately I had to wait about 15 minutes before I spoke to someone from technical Services. He was surprised that I informed him that I had changed my filter and all was well so they could cancel a visit from Open Reach. I did inform him that they never showed up at all. Eh told me he would check to see that my connection was fine, he concurred that it was and he would leave a note on my page.
 Let us hope that all is well from now. Incidentally I will have to ask my mate where we can get a spare filter. More soon.

Not 100%

Recently I have not felt 100% but am managing to carry on.
 Anyway last week I had to go and make an appointment for my 3 monthly Blood Test. I also ask for a B.P. check because I am on a high dosage to try to control my B.P.
 The receptionist informed me that this was not possible at all. I asked her why this was so and she just said that this was the new rule and if I wished to have a B.P. check I must make another appointment. I remarked that this was costly and surely it saved money to have both done at the same time. She then asked me who had requested this B.P. I then informed her that I had this checked every 3 months because of my high dosage and that I had trouble controlling it.
 With that her assistant shouted that the Chemist would do a B.P. check. I just walked out thinking that the NHS is really struggling.
  This morning I went to have my Blood Test at the appointed time. It was exactly 11.10am. when the Nurse, well I think it was an assistant who called me in. I mentioned to her what had happened when I ordered my Blood Test. It transpired that all the Nurses and Health Assistants now have only 5 minutes to do routine things like Blood tests and Blood Pressure checks. This has been reduced, well to be honest from next week this starts. She told me that they must do twice the amount of work because the time allowed was 10 minutes but is now just 5. She then told me that she would check my B.P. but from now on it would not be possible to do both at the same time.
 She also remarked on my Blood Test. She looked at the monitor and informed me that each time the test was somewhat different. I told her that the forms I provided were the forms that my Consultant Doctor had provided me with. Anyway she was satisfied with my explanation, wrote on the specimen phials and then took my B.P. Incidentally it was the best it had been in ages. Funny, as I don't feel in the greatest of shapes but will survive.
 She did remark on how my veins were prominent and that some patients had veins that were hard to find.
 All in all she was a very nice Health Assistant and at least I now know what is happening, they are trying to save money by reducing the allotted time allowed for each patient.
 I wonder if the G.P.s will do the same? More hopefully before too long.