Nature has it's way and I dream of Robots
Week Beginning 6th May 2025
Monday
Another Bank Holiday. Yeahhh….I think. Bank Holidays increasingly don’t mean that much too me. If they mean anything, it isn’t on the positive side in my life as they are very peoply and full of queuing traffic. However, after last week’s tirade, you will be pleased to know that this next seven days was relatively peaceful. No stress, no anger. Weeelllll, only a little bit.
In fact today, I sat around a fair bit, talked to folk and then we decided to move on to another campsite rather than go home. All good then. And breathe.
Back in ‘Pretty Derbyshire’.
Tuesday
I caught up again with my diary and I made a decision about some stuff that I will only share with subscribers going forwards. This is will be ‘stuff’ that will be sometimes quite hard for me to share, hence me not wanting it to be just out there, but I hope will give others who really need it, the information that would be beneficial for their own life. These pieces will be in depth.
Back to diary stuff. We hobbled, very slowly, up to the cafe at Whitworth Park. If you are ever heading into the really pretty bit of Pretty Derbyshire along the A6 to Bakewell, I would encourage you to stop off at this delightful park and take some tea (or coffee) at the cafe. It is also possible to have cake, although I ended up wearing most of my lemon drizzle. What is not to like?
Wednesday
Such is the stress of my day, I have to find a way to go to the local shop to get milk. I think the best way for me to go is to send ‘Im Indoors instead.
Update on the milk situation; I did send ‘Im Indoors but there was no milk or cream in the Coop (nearest shop). It turns out that the cyber attack on them, about ten days ago is stopping them ordering dairy products. I love technology but it ain’t working for the Coop. My local shop, in Ugly Derbyshire, stocks Coop own brand stuff and they had cream in stock. Why can’t the Coop order stuff from itself if it is available for others? Doesn’t make any sense to me.
Pain levels are pretty bad today. It was one for just pottering about around the ‘van. Pain is so draining, so debilitating. I know, moan, moan, moan.
More incompetence from my ‘medical team’ (GP Practice). I had yet another text conversation with a GP. They use a texting system at my surgery which is clearly made up a template messages. Bold statement coming….I think it would work better if AI was doing the analysis of my tests, as I am sure it would give me more nuanced advice. In this case, the doctor (a real one) who was pressing the buttons on the stock text messages had manage to miss that I was already on a particular medication. As a result, I was getting messages about considering using medication for my condition or perhaps I would like to consider lifestyle choices to solve my blood pressure issue (primarily triggered by this type of interaction with doctors).
I texted back - I know, I am a rebel - saying that I was confused as I am already on medication. I then got an un-templated response (which is how I identified that an actual human was behind this conversation) which admitted that she hadn’t checked my records. This prompted her to actually read my notes, and then she replied, that as I was already on some medication, I could either have a bigger dose or not and she would check on my condition in 12 months. It seems I am borderline. I am not sure what border I am sitting on, but I took the easy way out. I replied indicating that I will stick with what I have and blissfully have no contact with her for 12 months. Perhaps by then Robbie the Robot will have replaced her.
Thursday
The camp site we were lurking on closed so we made our way home. It is just over two weeks until we are heading off again. I have so many jobs to do around here that I am a little relieved to have some time to get into them. Not that it will be very interesting reading or viewing, if you are watching me, but I am determined to get this final edit of The Mandrake Murders done. Can you just sit there quietly whilst I think and write. All good then.
Friday
I went swimming. No pool rage, you will be pleased to know. In fact, there were children in pool with their parents and all were incredibly well behaved. It proves to me that we can all get along if we just stick to a bit of swim etiquette.
The bliss I feel in the water is immense. When I put my head into the pool as I begin that first length, I love the way that the water dapples in the sunlight, peace wraps around me and I can move without the same level of pain I have out of the water. In this watery world, I don’t want to distract myself from my thoughts. It gives me time to think and/ or just be.
I treated myself to M&S Pizza for dinner. When I say treated, it is from the perspective that I didn’t have the prospect of trying to prepare a meal from scratch when I arrived home. Contradiction approaching…..I love cooking and preparing food but my various conditions make it more difficult now for me to have enjoyment from this anymore. I have to sit down to prepare things, my grip is shocking on things like knives and if I am already exhausted from the day, cooking properly is not an option.
Saturday
I have picked out my trees for the front garden. I use the term garden loosely as it is mostly parking and patio. The trees will be in big pots and give some privacy from the road. I just have to work out how to get these things home as they are way bigger than The FLE.
Sunday
‘Im Indoors went out for the whole day. It meant that I couldn’t avoid a serious editing session. I hope you enjoyed watching me type and think and type. I am not sure if I am making things worse or better. This thing will be out for public consumption in mid to late June, so you can be the judge. And don’t worry, I will tell you where you can get y’paws on it nearer the time (and when I have worked out exactly where it is going to be).
After a long day at the typewriter (OK so it is MacBook not an old fashioned thingy), I was tempted for an evening drink with my neighbours. We raised a glass to their very dear Rosie (German Shepherd), who had made the journey over the rainbow bridge earlier in the week. We then discussed roses for Rosie and just roses. They say nature has the answers and I am sure it does, even when we don’t always understand it’s language.