Good morning Michael and all GN's from a slowly lightening, still grey morning in North Yorkshire. Well physically I feel as though I have just done 10 rounds with Muhammed Ali, but mentally Boudicca is in fine form and ready for more battles!!
I had a tough day yesterday, despite doing the least possible, as I felt so shattered and wiped out from the saga of the previous day. However I was determined to get a few things done. So once I had very slowly got myself up and out (ignoring the tortoises rushing past me!) I set off on the beloved yellow peril, which I now appreciate even more, to the railway station. It was quite busy, and I politely let everyone needing tickets go before me , and then went in for the attack! I was perfectly polite of course, and commended the man I spoke to as he was the one who helped me the previous day. However, besides asking for a refund for my ticket, I then raised the point that there was no toilet on that platform and that I had not seen him come over as he said he would. He maintained that he did come over but had not seen me. Well I let that go but whilst accepting it was not the railways fault due to the theft of the wire, suggested that he might put in the idea of perhaps being able to change the make up slightly of the wire, as they were no doubt a big customer, so that when any was found, being able to analyse the make up of the wire would then put off thieves, and give them a way of identifying it. To which he replied it wasnt up to him to make any suggestions!!! I have resolved to contact them myself anyway.
However I did triumph in getting my money back. Well I will check on that, as I paid for it with a card and they will return the money to that account!! So at least that was something of a triumph, added to which the man had to come out of his cubby to me personally, because I was in such pain, I could only stay on the buggy, and as it was down to the railways, I did not see why I should put myself in more pain, and so he had to come round to get me to sign something etc. That was at least a successful start, and you may depend on me to continue and not give up just because I have received a refund. He said that I could try and get the taxi fare back , but I havent decided on whether to go on with that, as I have no proof to show them, at the time not thinking to ask for a receipt.
Well I then made my way along the wretched bumpy pavements and road into town. They had closed one road for something or other, so there was quite a lot of disruption and of course the diverted traffic was long, with very few courteous or polite drivers, who were obviously annoyed at their delays, and who were not prepared to stop to allow me to cross the street easily, where I only had a couple of places with dropped kerb that I could use. However I carried on and had decided that I should reward myself and get a bit of a rest by , of course, a visit to Cafe Nero. Arriving there with a keen appetite for a decent coffee, I was dismayed to see it closed with a notice up to say it would be reopening a bit later. Quelle disaster!!
However I spied the young woman nearby who is a new barista there, and found out that they were so short staffed that they had had to ask a manager to come from elsewhere and were waiting for him to arrive by train to allow them to open up. That it would be at least half an hour before they were open and set up, so that was a bit of a blow. However I decided that I would wait around, and went up to a charity shop to have a hobble round there - no great bargains but oh dear they have already started the C... displays. We havent even had bonfire night yet so I am not interested in too early displays! Then went along to have a look at another cafe that I had been told about, but only planned to just see what it looked like. Good job as that was also closed!!
I returned to Neros and thankfully it was open at last and busy, so I was quite happy to negotiate getting in and ensconced in a decent seat and let the queue die down before attempting to stand in the queue at the counter. Oh medal medal, I was just speaking to a very interesting lady I had met, when the lovely trainee arrived with my usual order , all set up and ready for me, and she knows that I will pay when I get up to go. Oh medal medal, as Dastardly and Muttley would have said. So that was lovely and improved the morning no end.
I eventually meandered my way home having got one or two bits, so as you can see I have been following your instructions to the letter. In the afternoon I was doing very little and still in quite a lot of pain. I had just made a coffee and decided to watch an old Antiques Road Show when there was a knock at my door. It was a neighbour, who was going to the tip with some rubbish in his trailer and I had said previously that there were still old radiators in the garage that I couldnt move myself. He had said that he had a mate who could take those, and so he was offering to take them for me and some cardboard boxes to the tip etc. I was very grateful for the offer, but was hobbling so much that I had to just get him to unlock the doors and get the stuff out. It certainly made me feel an old crock as he humped all the stuff around but he was fine and so hurrah, another bit of space freed up and I know that he will be dealing with things responsibly. I had thought of getting someone to come, but was unsure who I could trust as was in no way prepared to let someone dump my rubbish in the countryside. So yes a really rubbish day physically and followed by an equally rubbish night, but who cares?? I count it as a very good day mentally, dont know how much I can continue with today, but am already thinking of my next moves in various situations. Think of me as one of those chess maestros , who walk along playing several games at once making a move here and a move there whilst the mere mortals playing them struggle with their responses!
Game 1 . the railways - compose an email re ideas to improve situation re stolen metal
Game 2. the hospital - stir up their ludicrous appointments situation where people are receiving letters that sometimes dont even arrive until past the date of the appointment.
Game 3. I am determined to sharpen my swords up and at the same time have the image of that drip drip drip where things get petrified. Remember your Jerusalem - I shall not rest from mortal fight!! Well I am absolutely sick of nothing being done about the appalling roads and pavements and so I shall be not just making the odd contact, but am planning a campaign where in the end they will do something to get rid of me if nothing else. I shall be devising methods, letters to local papers, appearing at any occasion where they are perhaps opening something or having a photo opportunity with the paper and whatever it is about I shall be adding my nuiscance contribution. I had previously suggested to others that they took photos of the potholes near their homes. Well I think that I shall have to revive that idea and get a map of the town and then we can put red crosses to mark the spot for every problem area. Methinks there will be a sea of red crosses and we shall run out of red ink!!
Well it is time that I tried to hobble about and get myself at the ready for the day. I didnt even get to the games night last night as I felt in such pain and so exhausted that I dont think I would have done very well anyway. So today I am looking forward to my whist evening at a little village nearby. There are one or two things I need to set off on the yellow peril for, and then this afternoon it will be settling down to a start on the ironing with a play or radio 3 to keep me company, so no other great plans and hopefully I might feel a bit better tomorrow.
I hope they dont alter your buses Mick. It is a pity that the transport is not looked at in a different way, rather than the cost of individual routes etc. Good reliable public transport would then mean that people would be able to choose to use it so long a they could get to where they needed to. Many years ago Ken Livingstone put up the idea in london that buses and tubes should be free so that people would use them and not cause congestion with cars etc. I am sure that a good and reliable transport system that didnt stop at 3pm and allowed everyone to go to places at any time of the day, would pay dividends overall. The ability to get out and about reliably would mean less depression and anxiety - about getting to hospital appointments too! - opportunity to join things, lessen spending on fuel. That broader look at things and looking at the long term rather than the very short term,could improve travel and be a more sustainable method and ecologically much better. GrandMattie good news if someone will be able to give you a lift to your spanish lessons. It is a long time since I made any chutney, and am now reduced to offering up my good clean jam jars to other people for their efforts. I hope your meeting with Teflon man goes well! Late december you will see from above my success with the railfare.Hope you managed another little snooze
Time to get that kettle on and start the day. we are now getting a little rain, and I think more is promised for later, so hopefully the ground will get a bit of a soaking. Have seen the squirrel raising along the fence but no sign of any birds. Hope everyone has a good day, and more power to GN's arms sorting out miscreants such as Teflon man etc Grannypower to the fore today!!
