Another day when I am all behind.

A Nice Sunday lie in today

Well here we are "LATE" again, sorry about this, it seems to becoming a bit of a habit just lately, anyway I had a decent nights sleep last night, and woke up about 7.30 this morning and seeing as it is one or=f the only two days in the week when I do not have a carer, I decided to have a lie in so eventually got out of bed at 9.30.

A grand job Gordon

Once out of bed I get myself some gluten free Cereal for breakfast and then text Pauline to let her know all is Ok with me. Pauline phones back about 10.00 to say she is taking misty out for her morning walk and Gordon is going to start painting the bedroom today, that is a large job as Pauline,s flat has really big rooms.

Anyway once breakfast is finished I get the washing u done and then settle down with the laptop to check out my emails and also facebook to see who is around and also to play a few games of words with friends,
It is a nice day today very sunny and bright but still a chill breeze if you are in the shade but nice and bright just right to take a walk round to the paper shop to get the daily paper.

On the way to the paper shop half way there now

Anyway once I have got the paper I make my way back home and watch a couple of the politic shows on the TV.  at 12.00 Gervase phones to say that he will be round about 1.00 pm so that we can go shopping up at Sainsburys in Farlington as they have a large Gluten free section their, so I need to get my finger out and get myself Shaved and dressed ready for when Gervase arrives.

At last a shirt that I can wear a tie with.

Well at least out of all my shirts I have found one that I can wear a tie with, I do like wearing a tie but that has not been possible since I have been on Prednisolone, it was not to bad after I first got diagnosed in May 2011 as I had lost 5½ Stone but over the last 18 months I have put almost 4 stone back on and my shirts will not do up round my Neck as all my collar sizes are 15½ and I now need a 16½ inch collar, " Darn the Prednisolone"

This is me at my Nephew Arron,s wedding to Sarah shortly after I came out of hospital in May 2011 

As you can see my clothes just hung on me then and that shirt I am wearing there will not even fit across my chest now.

Anyway I have got dressed and ready just as Gervase arrives at 1.10. so into the car I get and off we go up to Sainsburys an Farlington

Sainsburys at Farlington, Portsmouth.

We have left the wheelchair at home today as they supply a good range of wheelchairs for customers at this store but I decide to walk pushing a trolley and Gervase can get a wheelchair if I need one. anyway we go and get the grocery shopping and I get some fresh sea bass fillets and also some fresh lamb cutlets, so that will give me main meals for Today, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we also have a look at the Gluten free range and I get some items from there as well, as you can see below.

Apple Pies

Korma Cooking Sauce

Cookies

Whole grain Rice

So there we are, a successful shopping trip so now we get the shopping in the car and head of down to PC world to have a look around,before heading Home.

On the way back home via PC World.

once at PC world we have a look at the ipads and then we head back home to get the shopping indoors, once home Gervase gets the shopping in for me and then I make a coffee, it is getting on for 4.00 pm when gervase leaves to make his way back home to Leanne, so I make another coffee and then settle down to get this Journal written and Posted. Well it is now a;most 6.30 and I am going to get this Journal Posted and then get dinner started as I am feeling Peckish, so dinner will be ready at 7.00 and then a relaxing evening with the TV and Facebook. So until tomorrow I will say Cheerio............

The First 2013 Shopping Day

 Freedom at Last.

Yes, Yes, Yes, It is shopping day today with Pauline down at the City centre and then Morrisons. We have not been down to Portsmouth city centre since last Thursday, so looking forward to the trip out today and spending a couple of hours away from the Flat.

Todays Breakfast

It was a decent nights sleep last night, got of to bed about 10.30 was awake until about 11.30 listening to radio solent before turning the radio off and getting to sleep by midnight, woke about 3.30 for the bathroom and then back to sleep until 6.45 when I was awake, made a coffee and took back to bed and listened to the radio until 8.00 when I made my way into the lounge to catch up on the Breakfast news on the BBC1 until Carol my carer arrives at 8.45. She has a busy day ahead of her today, so we have a chat and then she gets me groomed ready for the day ahead, and then she is on her way to her next client, and I get myself some Gluten free cornflakes for breakfast.

Once I have finished Breakfast, I text Pauline and then settle to watch an episode of Wanted Down Under on BBC 1. this is a series of documentary programs where a family from england spend a week in either Australia or New Zealand to see if moving there from the UK is something they want to do. It is a different family each week, and today it was a family of 5 from Yorkshire spending a week in New Zealand.

Wanted Down under on BBC1 this morning at 09.15

Wakey, Wakey Gordon.

 Well Pauline phones back and Gordon has decided not to go into work today as He still feels a bit drowsy after taking his sleeping tablet last night, Pauline said he went to bed about 10.30 and slept solidly until 7.30 this morning got up back is now back in bed fast asleep and it is now 9.30 in fact Gordon ended up sleeping through until about mid day so he obviously needed the sleep, anyway as his doctor said he should not take a tablet if he is working the next day so he won,t be taking one tonight as he needs to catch up with work tomorrow.

Getting Ready for when
Pauline arrives with Taxi.

Before pauline goes to take misty for her morning walk she said that she will book a taxi for 11.15 to come and collect me and we can then go down to Portsmouth City centre to get the bits and pieces done and then over to Morrisons to get the food shopping. so I get out the laptop and check out emails and Facebook until 10.45 when it is time to have a shave and get dressed ready for when pauline gets here about 11.30, as she is going to the doctors surgery on the way to pick up my Prescription for Methotrexate and Lansoprazole, so we can get it made up at Boots the chemist when we are down town.

Pauline arrives at about 11.35 so we get the wheelchair into the taxi and off we go down to commercial road precinct in the city centre. we get the taxi to drop us of at the back of boots in Paradise street, and while Pauline takes my prescription in to Boots Pharmacy to be made up I go with the wheelchair down to the Nationwide to sort out a few bits and Pieces.

The Back of Boots the Chemist and Pharmacy with nationwide at the far end

Pauline meets me in the Nationwide and we take a slow walk down the precinct to Barclays, and while I go in there to sort out some things Pauline goes over to Wilkinsons to get some items for Misty the labrador  and Charlie the cat. Once I have completed my Business in Barclays I go outside and wait in the wheelchair by the Jubilee Fountain for Pauline, While I am waiting I have a coffee from the mobile Coffee Bar. nearby.

Jubilee Fountain Today 2013

And in 1964 

Once Pauline comes back from wilkinsons we make our way to Boots to collect my Medication and then Pauline pushes me in the wheelchair over to Morrisons at the Victory retail park at the end of the city centre.

Morrisons at the Victory retail Park.

Once we get their we decide to have a snack before doing the shopping so we get a coffee each and Pauline has a sandwich and I have a small Sausage, Chips and Beans, and I really enjoyed that, it was only a child,s portion but just right for me and it means I can just have a light snack for dinner tonight and also a light supper. so very pleased with myself.

Anyway once we finish lunch we go round and get the food shopping and then once we have paid and got outside I phone City wide for a taxi to take us home. Once home I make us both a coffee and get the shopping put away, pauline then helps to take the christmas tree down and then I phone for a taxi to take her home. Once Pauline has gone It is 4.00 so I make a coffee and then settle down to get this journal written and posted before getting a snack at 6.00. 

It is now 5.40 so I am going to get this journal posted and just to say It has been a good day today, nice to be out in the fresh air and although cloudy it was mild and dry and we were out for a good 3.5 hours so I will say goodbye until tomorrow when I also have a dental appointment to have 2 extractions, not looking forward to that but it has to be done as the medication has really done a number on my teeth.

And it is another wednesday

The Last Daily Journal until Monday 20th August

Good day to one and all and so we go into the penultimate day as the move takes place tomorrow.

Pauline and the Dishes

So here we go then the time is drawing near and we are just about ready for the move tomorrow. Pauline has been here all day today from 10.30 until 3.30, Gordon arrived at 2.00 and helped me check the inventory for the flat, Pauline had spent most of the day in the kitchen washing everything that is going over with me and sorting out the items that will need to be dumped.

As I said earlier Pauline came down about 10.30 and again brought Misty with her, I do not think that Misty is to impressed with traveling in a Taxi, but as usual when she arrived she came bounding in for her tummy rubbing and her doggy treat before settling down on her blanket.

Misty in the Taxi.

Misty is very quiet today, I think it is because it is very humid today with heavy rain and thunder storms rumbling around the edge of Portsmouth although she perked up a bit when we walked her round to Tesco to get something for lunch, and also to stock up on Coffee, tea and milk to keep the troops refreshed tomorrow.

As the day went on the weather started to improve, this morning at about 11.30 it was very wet, humid and windy

Portsmouth at 11.00 am today

 but by 3.00 the weather started to get brighter and by 5.00 it is quite pleasant here with some blue sky and sunshine breaking through.

Portsmouth at 5.00 pm Today

 It has been a very busy and tiring day today and it will be even busier tomorrow, so I am going to have a lie down for an hour before I think about getting dinner for tonight, I will try to update on facebook tomorrow and over the weekend as and when I can get access to the internet but I will be back with my broadband in the new flat on Monday so will have lots for Mondays daily Journal. so until Monday I will say "Tatty Bye".

The summer Solstice

I woke up from a good nights sleep

The rain I did not see

I slept right through, I did not wake

Not even for a Pee.

So there you go, the start of summer as today is "Midsummers Day" and true to form for the british weather it "Rains", Not so much here in Portsmouth but there are parts of the  country that have some really heavy downpours and it is set to last until after the weekend. Here is a Photograph taken from the live webcam at 10.00 am this morning showing the grey rain clouds over Portsmouth. 

Portsmouth Harbour on a miserable Thursday at 10.00 am.

Well here we are then Up and in the lounge waiting for Jo the carer to arrive, Jo arrives at 8.30 and soon has me washed and groomed and ready for another busy day ahead. Once Jo is on her way I get some porridge for breakfast and then send the text to Pauline and also send a text to Leanne as it s her Birthday today.

Body shop

Pauline Phones back about 9.45 She has been up to the doctors this morning for blood tests and then at 11.00 she has to be up at the Car repair company for an estimate for the repair for her car bodywork, after another car damaged it while it was parked outside her house. The person that hit her car let her know so it is a simple insurance claim so that is OK, it is not a lot of damage so should not take long, just waiting for the Insurance company to give the go ahead.
Gordon and Pauline take the car up to Farlington to the Body shop and then Gordon Drops Pauline off here on the way home at about 11.30. Gordon and Pauline come in for a coffee and then he will drop me and Pauline off at Asda in Fratton so I can get my shopping.

Amanda is back next week

While we are sat having a coffee there is a knock at the door and Surprise, Surprise it is Amanda my carer from the Previous care agency. She is starting with the care Agency I am now with in a weeks time and she will be returning as my Carer. That is good news as I got on well with Amanda and she was my carer for almost a year so that will be nice to have her back again.

Asda at Fratton

Amanda stayed chatting to me, gordon and Pauline for about 30 min,s and then she is on her way and Gordon then runs me and Pauline + the wheelchair down to Asda at Fratton so that we can get the shopping done, I am starting to dislike shopping at Asda. While in Asda I see one of checkout Girls (Angie)  that I used to work with at B&Q. she is shopping in Asda with her daughter, we have a chat and then carry on getting the bits that Pauline and I need. Once we have what we want we go and pay at the Checkout and then Phone for a Taxi to take us home.

Todays Lunch.

Once we are home I make a coffee and we have a coffee and some Corned Beef and Crispbread for lunch. it was very tasty, once we have finished I phone for a Taxi to take Pauline home and then once Pauline has left I make another coffee and settle down with the Laptop to catch up on the emails and facebook, and then to get this Journal written.

The time is Pushing on now and we are getting rain showers and sunny periods so not to bad seeing as I am not going out in it, at least it stayed dry when we went shopping at Asda. anyway the time in now 3.40 and I am going to check to see how the Olympic torch Relay is progressing today.
The Relay is on day 34 today and is going from Dumfries to Bowness-on-Windermere in the lake district. The Photograph shows the Olympic torch making its way through Dumfries watched by a very large crowd

So there we go then that is about as exciting as my day has got today, it will soon be time to think about preparing dinner, tonight I am having a nice slow cooked Pork loin steak with New Potato,s, Cauliflower and Sprouts and Gravy, this will be followed by Mango in Custard and a nice cup of Tea. now I feel hungry so must go and eat a mars bar LOL. anyway time for my afternoon lie down so I will say Tatty bye until tomorrow and the dreaded Methotrexate and leave you with todays "Day in History" that has a Canadian flavour  about it.

The Day after.

Must eat less at Lunch.

Well what a day yesterday was, Out to lunch with Gervase, leanne and Elaine and then the evening watching the live Jubilee Concert on BBC 1 from 7.30 until 10.45 and then the highlights of the lighting of the beacons across the UK. anyway got to bed about 11.30 and had a bit of a restless night as I ate to much at Lunch yesterday and suffered all night but anyway it is back to normal this morning so will eat easy today.

One of the highlights of the Jubilee concert last night was the Queen on stage with all the performers and the Band when they played and sang the "National Anthem" the crowd were absolutely fantastic.

The National Anthem last night.

Pauline and Gordon on the
way to Weymouth

Well I got up this morning about 7.45 and went into the lounge with my morning coffee to await Jo the Carer, who arrives at 8.40. She has not got a very busy day today so we have a chat and then she gets me washed and groomed ready for the day ahead. Once Jo has gone I have some wheatabix for breakfast and then text Pauline. Pauline phones me back to say they are on there way to Weymouth, and are just the other side of Southampton. Then Gervase phones to say he will be round about 11.00 ish to take me down to Morrisons to get the shopping, so I need to make sure I am ready for when he gets here.

As I mentioned earlier, There was over 2000 Beacons lit across the UK last night in Portsmouth there was one lit on top of Southsea Castle and one lit on the top of Portsdown hill. I have added the photo of the one being lit on top of the hill as it shows Portsmouth all lit up at night.

The beacon being lit on top of Portsdown hill overlooking the city of Portsmouth.

Well The weather today is very dull and grey, with lots of cloud and the threat of rain, at 8.00 O'Clock this morning I got the photo from the live webcam at Portsmouth Harbour.

Portsmouth harbour at 8.00 this morning.

Well true to form Gervase is late ad arrives at 11.20, not to bad really, anyway we get the wheelchair into the car and off we go to Morrisons down by the City Centre to do a bit of shopping, as we are driving down it starts to rain, so that looks like it is in for the day.

Morrisons at Portsmouth Victory Retail Park.

We are in Morrisons about 45 minutes, get what we want and then head back home along the sea front, there are very few people around today it is more like winter here than summer and most of the sea front stalls and cafes are shut so looks like the traders here have cut there losses and gone home.

The time is now approaching 3.00 pm and it is still raining quite hard and I am in front of the TV with the computer watching this afternoons Jubilee event and also checking on the progress of the Olympic Torch Relay in Norther Ireland. Toady is day 18 and the Torch is traveling from Londonderry to Newry. The following picture shows the Schoolchildren cheering the torch as it passes through Omagh.

Cheering the torch through Omagh.

Well the Queen has had her lunch and has made her way by open carriage to Buckingham palace where we are waiting for her to come out on the Balcony and ready for the Flypast.

The Royal Procession approaching Buckingham Palace.

So now we wait for the queen to come out on the Balcony to greet the Crowds who have gathered in their Thousands to support the Queen and the Monarchy.

The crowds Gathering in front of the Palace.

Well it looks like the rain has now set in up in london so it is not going to be a great view for the flypast, so I will go for a lie down for an hour so I will leave you with the "Day in History" for Today which is from 1883,and will be back to a nearly normal journal tomorrow. so until then Tatty Bye.

Is It summer Yet ?

Chilly Today

And a very good Morning to you all, well it is the 4th of June today and I thought it was supposed to be Summertime, perhaps my Calendar has been misprinted as the temperature and the weather is certainly not what you would expect this time of the year, it is more like Autumn.

Portsmouth Harbour this morning.

This is how Portsmouth is looking at 8.30 this morning, very cold and dull although it is not raining so that is a plus.

Morning Coffee

Had a decent nights sleep and woke about 7.15. got up at 7.30 and into the lounge with the morning coffee and Breakfast News on TV. Jo the carer arrives at 8.30 and soon has me washed and groomed ready for the day ahead, and then once she is gone I get some "Alpen Porridge" for breakfast and then Text Pauline.
Pauline phones back to say that all is OK, and they may pop in and see me later on but they will let me know for certain later on during the day.

Once Pauline has spoken to me I get on to Facebook and check who is about and then check emails, I then start the Daily Journal as I am Going out with Gervase, Leanne, and Leanne,s mum Elaine for Lunch later today so will be a bit short of time. As far as I know we will be going to the Goose at the V&A, in Albert Road, Southsea,

The Goose at the V&A at Albert Road.

Todays Olympic Torch Relay is from "Carrick-a-Rede" Rope Bridge to "Londonderry" and today is Day number 17 out of 70 so only 53 days to go. The torch visits Portsmouth on day 58. however the Torch leaves this Morning from the Rope Bridge and then travel to the "Giants Causeway"

Carrick-a-Rede Rope bridge.

I have just had a Phone call from Gervase and he is collecting me for lunch at 12.45 so as it is now 11.30 I will have to go and start getting sorted out so that I am all ready by 12.30. I have just checked the local news website and found this Photo of the Crowd of People who attended the "Big Lunch" street party organised by Portsmouth city Council in the Guildhall Square yesterday, an they also showed the live coverage of the "Thame,s Pageant" on a big screen.

Part of the crowd at the Guildhall Jubilee party yesterday.

 Well Gervase arrives to collect me at 1.30 (late again Gervase) and he drives me down to the "Goose at the V&A" once we get there Leanne and Elaine have just arrived. anyhow it was a nice three hours sat there chatting and having a spot of Lunch and then he takes me back home via the sea front and we arrive back home about 4.45. He drops me off and then is off to collect Leanne from Elaine,s.

Back to the Daily Journal and here is the Olympic Torch on The Giants Causeway in County Antrim.

The Olympic torch at the Giants Causeway

The Picture below now shows the Olympic torch in a eight man coxed Rowing boat on the River Bann in coleraine, being cheered on by the crowds thronging the old bridge

in a Rowing boat at the old bridge across the River Bann

Australia and New Zealand light their Beacons.

So the time is now pressing on and I need to get this Journal posted and get ready for the Jubilee Concert from "Buckingham Palace" which is being shown live on BBC1 at 7.30 tonight it is going to be a late night tonight as it does not finish until 10.45. and also we have the countrywide lighting of the Beacons.  the Beacons have already started to be lit across the commonwealth with Australia and New Zealand being the fist to light their beacons.

There has been a Picnic in the Grounds of Buckingham Palace for ticket holders of tonight,s Concert. The tickets were issued by a national ballot. 

The Ticket Holders at Buckingham Palace earlier today.

The Stage itself is set outside the gates of Buckingham Palace at the Head of the Mall, and already there are thousands of people waiting in the Mall to watch the concert on the stage and also on the Giant screens set up along the Mall.

The Diamond Stage

The diamond stage for the Diamond Jubilee. It has just been announced that the "Duke of Edinburgh will not be at the Jubilee Concert as he has been admitted to Hospital for observations  with a Bladder infection. although The Queen and other royals will still be at the concert.

Well that is about it for today. it is now 5.50 so time to put up todays "Day in History" for the 4th of June 1940 and to get this journal Posted and have a nap for an Hour before the Concert Starts , so until tomorrow I will say Bye Bye.

Day in History 4th June 1940 "Dunkirk"