Friday, July 24, 2026
alexa
Some of the new security is a pain.
I have been trying to clear the existing round device of my settings so that I can give it to T. It has sent me on a wild goose chase.
It seems intent on installing a version of Alexa on every machine I have. So fine but it is not quite what I wanted to do.
Anyway I will continue.
M
Thursday, July 23, 2026
post office
I wonder how the small shop and post office will manage. Will find out posting Isabel's birthday card tomorrow.
M
bus service
The road by Tesco is shut for a bit. I saw no 7 on the a26 at the zebra crossing!
Not sure where bus stops will be, but I think there may be one before the zebra crossing. No idea going the other way. Maybe there will be temporary stops set up.
M
my guess
Low hedges as boundaries.
All current fencing removed
Heavy pruning of all existing bushes
Grass basically everywhere. Easy mowing layout.
Some large tubs with small covering plants.
Some sitting areas, front and back.
Pruning back neighbouring trees and hedges almost the the boundary.
No garden shed, contractors will bring in anything required
M
sept 1st
Allegedly when the sale / promotion of the flats starts. They will surely want the site looking more like a garden that is visible and has views.
Definitely watch this space as the question of the boundary fencing / hedging is quite a major issue, and will require a lot of work.
But good to increase the time pressure.
M
next door
Did not see J today. Maybe in care home. One of sons plus family came late evening maybe after visit. S may have been with them.
So basically only confirmation that it is slow change, but nothing about direction.
M
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
problem sorted
I was having difficulty publishing an item, which then was in some intermediate storage. You would go through the motions, but nothing moved.
But sometimes it did.
Answer is that if you have not recently published something successfully, it treats you as a potential threat, and won't do anything. However if you have successfully published something recently, it will be perfectly happy to do it many times.
So if you have problems, just first publish something new. You can always delete it when you have finished.
M
daily checkup?
Looks as if J goes daily to some medical centre, presumably for a routine check on his condition. Presumably if they are not happy he would be kept there overnight.
He apparently was not looking great when he came home this evening.
M
Met S
Only news was that J wants a knee replacement. No other medical info or comments.
It is plain to see that he has some other current issues. Even if I am guessing wrongly about them, she is hardly stating the whole truth.
It may represent a strategy to hide things, that J has enforced. Unpleasant.
He appears to be currently at home, but lying low. He may be exerting all his energy to show how well he is. But I am afraid it has the opposite effect. And getting S to hide things, just compounds it all.
Just take more care of yourself and particularly others.
M
rules for Waitrose
Obviously I can choose anything to buy at Waitrose. But somethings are better bought at Tesco's or Lydl.
Dairy is fine at Tesco's. The Greek style yogurt made in the UK seems fine, and is cheaper.
Sausages at Tesco's is good.
Most of the veg and fruit seem ok.
Soups and ready meals are better at Waitrose. This mostly a variety issue, rather than a quality. Ditto cheeses.
Chickens at Tesco are often the wrong size.
Panna cotta not a Tesco's
I feel happier at Waitrose for kitchen and loo rolls. Ditto biscuits, though Lydl are often ok.
Bread stuff much safer at W's, ditto chocolates,
Martin
Soaps not bothered.
sweet potato
Cooked in with the chicken, normal scrub before, was great success. Will find out how it is cold.
M
Monday, July 20, 2026
Parsnips
Just don't seem to be available in Tesco. Check Waitrose tomorrow.
M
Sunday, July 19, 2026
building works at the corner
It really is time that they start on the underground garage and the garden and boundaries.
All the current fencing with Jonathon's garden is owned by the builders. What they do with levels will make a profound difference to the looks and workings of J's garden. I would normally forsee a big argument, but J's health may rule him out.
I think that they need a fairly open boundary, giving some long distance views to the ground and first floor flats. This is the total opposite to the previous strategy, which cut off basically all views.
It will be fascinating what they do.
M
beans
At this time of year, it is either non-native fresh or frozen beans.
I am tending to think that it might be better to have fresh all the time, and avoid frozen veg.
A difficult decision.
M
spinach
Worked out a better arrangement for steaming. Basically fill half the bottom of the steamer, and the add all the rest. Makes the spinach shrink to a blob, that it the easy to divide. It does not get entangled.
M
visits
The couple in the top floor, looked as if they might have visited J this afternoon. Went without parents or son.
Of course a guess, which T hates. I think it helps to imagine what is happening. There are not enough facts to recreate reality.
If I was in their slightly precarious position, I would certainly judge this move as positive. Well done.
M
cooler
Saturday, July 18, 2026
shopping list
I found this very helpful in Tesco. The layout of the shop it so chaotic, that it is easy to loose track of what you intended to buy. Does not need to be detailed.
M
spinach bag
Just finished my first ever bag of spinach. It was far too big. I wonder how you get a smaller amount.
Try Waitrose perhaps.
Works very nicely in small quantities in the steamer.
M
a hawk moth
Pretty sure I saw a hawk moth outside the kitchen. Reasonably small. Only a very quick view before disappearing.
M
hobby
My first hobby seen from the house, flying into town, reasonably high up.
Very nice, but not telling us much. Is it breeding? Feeding?
M
Nextdoor's garden
I wonder if it will be handed over to the Ukrainians to maintain. I cannot imagine Sue being bothered with it, other than a few pots.
Might get a better front garden as a result, if they are given free reign.
M
things from car
I started unpacking thing from the car. Gosh there are a lot.
Obviously a lot could be chucked, but plenty are useful, and should not spend too much time dividing, when we have the space.
Some things might be fun tiny presents to family. For instance spare tools.
M
T does not like exercise in Somerville gardens
Admitted that she does not like the road for exercise, and prefers the house. I have no problem.
At some point a longer route will be needed, and something on the common may prove ok. A walk to a park bench and back. Something in the order of Mathew's distance and back.
M
status
Assume that he is back in some post-op home. Sue's car is not there.
He seemed in a bad way yesterday, with pain. I guess it will be a week or so before they think about how he will spend his days. And longer as to where he spends his nights.
Experience from old lodge, rather indicated that once things had got to the brain, time was running out. But who knows. I think he has had a brain issue for a number of years. Having anything in the guts does not sound good either, if they cannot do much in the brain.
I doubt if we will be seeing much of him at all.
His taking pictures of the house, seems to be an end game move to me.
M
I am assuming that i get a beep or something when somebody sends me something. Like a beep?
M
J
Back, and taking photos of the front of his house. My interpretation is he is preparing a slide show that he can see from his bed.
My scenario is that he has incurable cancer which has spread. His last op may have been optional in that many might opt for rather more peace, rather than treatment.
They may opt for him to be at home, rather than a care home. I think they might be wise to have him in a specialist care home, making the visits special. At least you can see people worse off than yourself.
Anyway we may find out one day what really is happening.
M
loo mending
Organised a plumber for the loo jobs. Interesting use of WhatsApp technology to arrange the job. My first time doing anything like it, and first serious use of WhatsApp.
Keep our fingers crossed.
M
when ill ...
It is funny how sometimes when people become ill, they become hyperactive, presumably thinking that the good work will save them somehow. I prefer the total opposite. God does not really want a slob in his heaven.
They may think that the illness is retribution for not working hard enough. Not praying hard enough?
I rather liked the regime that Alan had. Lots of alcohol on offer. It was deeply depressing to see his rapid decline, butI have no regrets.
I probably had more worries about his mother, but I think I was at the limit of my "goodness".
I was impressed by the spontaneous turnout by the troops.
M
T does not like walking along the road.
Probably the reason for delaying exercises.
Best to forget such walks. Just do it in the garden.
Better keep some paths a bit clearer.
M
Friday, July 17, 2026
japanese lady
At bus stop opposite library. Quick chat before a hospital bus came.
Got to ward at 10. So a later bus should have been fine.
M
