Winter Crick 2015 16 6

Friday 12^th February to Friday February 26th

 Saturday 13^th February

 I received an email from Northampton General Hospital regarding my next check-up. It suggested that I was already aware of an appointment for 24^th of this month, which I most certainly wasn’t. It also suggested a follow up appointment with the surgeon for the 9^th of March. I’ve asked for the time of that first appointment, which I expect by return email pretty soon.

 I am in the process of creating a family Cartoon Portrait for Wendy, Sarah’s sister, who also works at the local club. This is taking considerable longer that the one I did for Sarah, simply because I’m fitting in herself, partner and two kids. Not only that, she’s suggested a scene on a beach. So I’ve had to find a decent sized beach scene in which to fit them all. Good fun, but not leaving me much time for anything else first thing in the morning, which is when I do most of my cartoon stuff.

 Monday 15^th February

 Today in an effort to rid myself of diabetes; yes, indeed, a tall order; I start my 8-week low calorie diet. Now although I’ve bought the book by Dr Michael Mosley, I’m not using his recipes which, quite frankly, suck! Instead we’re using the two Hairy Dieters books and will use the recipes in those, but always sticking to the 800 calories per day. 

 Tuesday 16^th February

 At last I have finished all the cartoon features for Wendy’s Cartoon Portrait. Now, all I have to do is fit them all into a template, along with figures and faces.

 In the past I have only created these portraits for individuals, so it should be interesting to see how a family one turns out. When it’s done I’ll post it on this blog, but I’m still a few days away from that yet.

 Yesterday’s first day of dieting went very well and we stayed within our 800 calories, apart from the last of our hot cross buns, that went with our late cuppa. From today it will be just a couple of biscuits instead of cake.

 Wednesday 17^th February

 It’s day three of our diet and all is going well so far. We’re also taking more walks, which should help things along. Breakfast today will consist of giant crumpets with dry fried fruit and plain yoghurt with honey drizzled on top.

 Just for a change I’ll be popping down to Harlow this Saturday. While I’m there I’ll be paying a visit to B&Q or Wickes for some decking, which I’ll get Alan to cut up in the right lengths to make a new top-box. I’m afraid our current one; which is about nine years old now; is showing signs of age.

 Monday 22^nd February

 I took a trip down to Harlow on Saturday, where Alan and I paid a visit to Wick’s for some timber. We bought four lengths of decking, which we had them cut to lengths, along with a length of beading for the corner posts of the top box. This was cut to lengths on Alan’s circular saw. For the base of the box Alan used some exterior ply, which he also cut for me.

 Later in the afternoon we called in at the White Admiral and had a good old chinwag. All in all a very pleasant day but, what really rounded the day off well was the new wristwatch Alan had bought for me. Thanks Bruv, much appreciated.

 Wednesday 24^th February

 The weekend went well and, despite the drink on Saturday evening and Sunday lunchtime, I had lost 4lb by Monday morning.

 This morning I’m off to Northampton General Hospital for a check up on my bladder. This will be followed by a chat with the specialist on 9^th March.

 Thursday 25^th February

 My appointment at Northampton General Hospital was for 09.30 yesterday morning. We were advised that they were running about 40 minutes late and I was eventually admitted at 10.20, so not bad for a stretched NHS.

 Having laid me out on a bench the surgeon then proceeded to question me about two missed appointments, which I strongly denied, advising him that I could hardly be at fault when the appointment was for June of last year and we were already out cruising. I also pointed out that I had been telephoned three times about the one appointment and that the person at the other end of the line was simply not following through.

 Now, having checked my bladder and finding it clear of problems, the surgeon then though I should return in three months for further checks. I had to point out that we would then be obliged to sit in Crick Marina for the best part of the Summer. However, since my bladder was clear of problems, and had been so for over a year, he decided that perhaps an annual check would be OK. Hallelujah!!

 My eight-week diet is going well and I can feel the loss of weight now. On Monday morning I weighed in at 14 stone 5lb. which is a loss of 4lb in the first week. It’s not hard going either and I can see no reason at all for not continuing for the whole eight weeks. Which means that I’ll be done by the time we leave for our annual cruise.

 On Tuesday evening we drove over to Daventry to have my annual Retinal Screening, at which time I asked what I should do about my cataract removal. I was told that I should follow up the Boot’s Optician recommendation and make a booking. This I intended to do yesterday morning, but I was beaten to it when the Optician’s at NGH actually called me. I now have an assessment appointment for next Monday morning.

 There’s a lot of activity in Crick village these days. One of the bus stops is being relocated and they are taking the hump out of the bridge over the canal. Apparently there are some new wind turbines coming this way and, if the bridge is left as is the low-loaders carrying them will most likely get stuck on the bridge. This is causing utter traffic chaos, but makes it much easier for us when crossing the road outside the marina. All we have to do is wait until the traffic stops at the lights and make our way across. Also, some local rich person has donated £50,000 for the building of a footbridge besides the existing road bridge. At the moment walkers take their lives in their hands, because the pavement width on the bridge is very narrow and it can be pretty dodgy walking that pathway with lorries thundering by.

 Friday 26^th February

 Yesterday afternoon, as is our wont, we took a walk but, instead of the usual round-the-village-tour, we took a stroll along the towpath and dropped some books off to Peter, on his boat Veloce. After that we carried on along the towpath, to the next bridge where we took the path into the fields and let Alex off his lead for a good run around. We then made our way through a couple more fields and ended up at the nearby roundabout. From where it was just a short walk back to the marina. All in all, about an hour long walk.

 This morning we’re taking the bus into Rugby. I need some more fine-tip pens and an A3 pad of Watercolour Paper. I’ve no doubt we’ll visit a few charity shops and the coffee shop, before catching the next bus back.

 Now, as the weekend is almost upon us and this blog is now four pages long, I might as well post it.

 All the best folks and have a great weekend.

 Dave, Sheila and Alex.

 

 

 

 

 

Winter Crick 2015 16 5

Monday 18^th January to Friday 12^th February

 Wednesday 20^th January

 Yesterday was a fun day, if you can call the following fun. After doing our shopping at Sainsbury’s, we came home and had a cup of coffee.

 Later in the morning we had a cup of tea and I noticed that the galley sink was blocked. This is not uncommon, but in this instance no amount of plunging would remove the obstruction. So, since I am unable to get down on my hands and knees, without some difficulty, it was down to Wifey to remove the pipework. But first we had to remove some stored items from the shelf under there.

 Fortunately, it was only the top pipe that needed cleaning out; the rest of that pipework is pretty haphazard. Equally fortunate is the fact that we have a length of 3 core cable in amongst our tools, so I was able to free up some of the gunge in the pipe. We already had the Immersion heater running, so it was then a simple matter of running the hot tap in the shower room, through the pipe and alternately the cold tap. You would not believe the amount of gunge that finally dropped out of that pipe.

 After lunch we walked over to the rubbish bins to dispose of our junk and recycling stuff and followed this up with a walk to the office for our mail. And, lo and behold, I had a letter from the hospital for an appointment with that nasty man who rummaged around in my bladder last year.

 Now, we have booked our boat in to have its bottom blacked. This takes a few days and so we also booked a short break in a cottage in Rutland Water. Believe it or not, the hospital has booked me in for the first day of that short break. So, once again I am obliged to cancel a hospital appointment. They weren’t too happy about my last cancellation; and nor was my GP, for that matter; so they won’t be best pleased this time. And, if they try to make an appointment for much later that April 1^st, that too will be cancelled.

 Such is life and all its praise, when you die, you’ve had it!!

 Thursday 21^st January

 I have a programme called Mediaface 4, which is a label design programme. When I bought the Acer I installed this, but an error message popped up, suggesting that it didn’t install correctly. So, I contacted the makers of the programme and they suggested I uninstall version 4 and download and install version 5. Unfortunately, the programme wouldn’t uninstall, so I returned to the makers and asked their advice. Their reply suggested I insert the CD and go through the install procedure but, when it gives me the choice, I should click on Remove. Once again, unfortunately, such a message did not appear, so I’ve emailed them again for more advice.

 Meanwhile I have found and downloaded Incredimail, a programme that allows the insertion of emoticons into emails. Whoopee!!

 Friday 22^nd January

 I am absolutely furious at myself! I downloaded and installed Incredimail, hoping to add some comical smileys to my emails and, guess what, it took over my emails. So much so that, when I opened Outlook, I didn’t receive any emails at all, they were all in Incredimail. In effect it replaced Outlook altogether. Well, I couldn’t have that, now could I? So, I uninstalled the programme, which led to further problems. After uninstalling the programme, I accessed my Internet account at Absolute Email and found that Incredimail had not only downloaded my emails, it had wiped them from the site. So, I now have no idea what emails were there.

 There was one email there, which came from the label makers, Neato and, it’s just as well I read that because I would now have no idea what to do with that programme either.

 Monday 25^th January

 As usual, we spent an hour at the club at lunchtime. As usual, we spent £2.00 on the meat raffle and, once again, we won a prize, this time it was the steak. That makes seven wins since we returned to Crick last October. Love it!!

 Tuesday 26^th January

 Sunday evening, we thought we might take the boat out for a few days from Monday morning. Unfortunately, after watching Country File and discovering we were about to be inundated with rain and high winds, we decided against such a stupid idea. As expected, the high winds came along yesterday, and the rain has now started, so we probably made the right decision.

 Wednesday 27^th January

 Wednesdays are usually ‘crumpet’ days. By which I mean, we have crumpets for breakfast. But, since we forgot to get crumpets the last time we went shopping, we’ll have to settle for toast.

 Now, when I bought the Acer, I assumed that the ‘ping’ I heard when booting up, was a normal thing with this laptop. However, when I played a music track the other day, I could hear that ‘ping’ in the background. That, I think, is not normal.

 So, I emailed Acer on Monday and back came their reply this morning. It seems I have a software issue and, if I would like to call their technical people, they would be happy to assist, but; yeah, there’s always a but; it will probably cost me, which means I’ll have to contact the person I bought it from and see what he has to say. Either that, or I get our local computer buff to have a look. Whichever way I go I can see this costing me.

 Saturday 30^th January

 Here we go again, more trouble with the car! I really am getting rather fed up with taking the darned thing to the garage. Only a few weeks back it was a problem with the exhaust, primarily the joint between the two catalytic converters. That job took Chris about four hours to complete. This time around it’s the exhaust again. I asked Malcolm to check it out yesterday afternoon, and he confirmed it is blowing, so in it goes again this morning. Hopefully it just needs tightening up at the aforementioned joint, but I’m not holding my breath. The trouble is, what with all this medical stuff; eye appointments and hospital appointments; I really do need a car. I guess I’ll just have to save a few more pennies and trade the Alfa in, for what, I don’t know yet!!

 Thursday 4^th February

 Well, almost another week has flashed past and I’ve been up to my neck creating a cartoon portrait for Wendy at the club. Ordinarily this wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but she has asked me to include her partner, Dean, and her two children, Ethan and Madison. So, I’m working of four photos, only the two of the kids being clear enough to work with.

So, what’s happened this week so far? Well, we’ve had high winds and lots of rain. We’ve also had some light frost. Other than that, well, Life Goes On, as they say.

 Another minor disaster was the zip breaking on my waterproof jacked, but since it’s as old as Methusalah, I’m now looking for a new one. That’s the lightweight one. My heavy, winter jacket has become very uncomfortable, especially when the weather is just cold enough for a heavy jacket, but not warm enough to wear a light jacket. So, I soon find myself sweating; especially on my arms; which sees me draping the sleeves over Wifey’s chair, in order to dry them out before wearing it again.

 More money has also been spent on the car, the exhaust again. Soon after that connecting part had been fitted between the two catalytic converters the darn thing started blowing again. Chris had done his best with that part of the job, but Malcolm decided it needed a couple of new bolts fitted; thus another £42.00. It’s only money!!!

 Today we popped into town in order to buy me one of my new jackets, but what we found were either too short or had those double zips in them. By double zips I mean those two slots at the bottom of the zip, the ones I have so much trouble lining up and fitting together with the toggle. Grrrr!! Damn things.

 Tomorrow we will be popping along to the huge Garden Centre that lies a little way outside Rugby. If I can’t get a decent waterproof jacket there, then I don’t know where I can.

 Friday 12^th February

 …..and there goes another week, during which time we’ve spent some time in Rugby; both looking for a new waterproof for me and taking my existing one in for a new zip.

 A couple of weeks ago I read about Dr. Michael Mosley and his Eight Week Diet, which is supposed to go some way towards improving one’s diabetes blood sugar levels, if not actually eliminating the problem itself. After reading about the types of food he recommended for his menus, I decided against it.

 However, last week sometime, I took a look on Amazon and found his book in paperback and costing only £3.75, so I took a gamble and bought it. Having read through about ¾ of it I have to say I’m pretty impressed. So much so that, after downloading a food calorie counter – and aiming to download a Glycaemic Index list – I am going to give it a try, once I’ve read through the rest of the book that is.

 Now, yet another weekend is almost upon us, so I guess I’d better post this blog.

 Take care and have a great weekend.

 Dave, Sheila and Alex.