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
Thursday, July 16, 2026
problem sites
For this new way of handling passwords by machine, the companies trying include
Amazon
NHS
Tesco's , I think
M
passwords
It looks as if everyone is moving to more security. In principle they are doing this by individual machine. The starting position may be inherited from a non machine dependent basis.
So trying to use an existing password on a new machine is very likely to fail, and you will have to go through some slog to do it. This may be application dependent.
Probably best to do some initial work on an existing machine just to check the basics out, before attempting it on a new machine.
Good luck
M
dry
The garden is getting very dry. There is no dew or rain. Best to just leave alone.
Though it might help to do some pruning of plants to reduce evaporation.
M
609
The dreaded phone that the NHS keep wanting to connect to. Probably a few other internet shops as well.
I have the chip itself, which is unlikely to fit or work with any modern phone.
NHS has or seems to have deleted the record that showed that it was my mobile and should be used.
Some thought that there might be other systems that still had this record, but I now think that was erroneous or wishful thinking.
So in principle the NHS only has the BT number.
M
very small gauge screwdrivers
I don't seem able to find my set. Must be somewhere, maybe in the car things still.
M
Drying machine
Have moved this to the garage, where it can work as normal.
Improves the playroom no end. T approves.
M
honda
Sorted somethings out, that should be sold with the car. It is now empty of things I want to keep.
Not sure where the charger is. Maybe under the bonnet. This needs to be added to the car.
M
operation
The previous operation seemed to be more than skin deep, hence it being visible beyond a couple of days. Maybe they have decided on some. further actions, with the first one being.largely exploratory. This would possibly keep him in for a week or two at least.
I am personally doubtful, as most of the investigation inside the skull could be done non-invasively, yet they appeared to go inside.
So I doubt a further operation theory, and prefer the special care theory, which could include determining the right drugs and dosages, before returning home, or some other care solution.
Given the potentially long growth period, I am uncertain about his quality of life expectations, after their previous decision to open up the skull.
I am somewhat surprised that Sue has never come back to me after dismissing my earlier worries as unfounded. Maybe I was in hospital myself at that stage, and now worries about telling me things so closely related to my own issues.
M
There is another possibility. The surgeon may have found something that was not visible on the scan, and basically called for extra time or needed some decision about proceeding. So this is indicating poor or incomplete pre-op information which presumably can happen.
Whatever they were going to do was abandoned and they then needed either extra information, or different authorities to proceed at a later date. This scenario is probably bad news, and the decisions quality of life ones.
I feel J should be optimistic, and choose a risky route, chancing his luck.
The op does not need to take long, and he may already have had it. The outcome may be quite a few days to be apparent. And even then unclear as to its success.
I would overall rate his chance of full recovery as small, mostly because I see the problem having been significant at least 10 years ago, and went largely untreated. Chance of coming home soon is small, if they decide to do anything.
M
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
power cables are clever
I find it amazing that power can be distributed nicely amongst machines without giving them any directions. Some are providing power some are using power. Just plug them all in and it should work.
I guess you could say the same thing about the internet. But there may be particular nodes that are needed to get going.
M
no fives tonight
Pity, but the first time in ages.
That or they forgot to pick me up?
M
publishing delays
I think these are machine specific, in that if you start writing on one machine, then it can only be finished on that machine.
It gets visible on other machines and may well be editable on other machines. But the original machine is needed to create it in the final database.
I have not really tested out what is happening, and it might be a bit tedious to check everything. Just my best guess.
I think the terminology is that once an article has been started it is called scheduled, and will be visible as a schedule everywhere until it is actually published. It can only be published on the original machine. I don't think you can know which machine can actually publish. You obviously can test an individual machine by trying to publish it. But it is a slog to go through all possible machines. Do it in order of likelihood.
M
where is J?
Perhaps yesterday's family gathering was a decision point for his health. It is totally my speculation that he may be cared for overnight at some 'home' to relieve pressure on S.
There was some confusion with an almost identical car parked in the road, so without some sightings it impossible to say what is happening.
I am sure people must be watching what is happening after the first op, and it is possible that they have simply decided to do a bit more surgical work on the abnormality. It could be major or totally minor. The family gathering rather supports the former.
That his behaviour in the local village council might indicate that the issue may have been progressing for quite a while, prior to the first op.
Anyway I have rather more sympathy now, but alongside a niggling concern that I might have been a lone voice about his mental health. And dismissed.
Get better, J, asap.
M
m&S food
This has the same problem as my normal Tesco. Not big enough, but very ambitious, leading to too many products in too small a space.
The staff struggled to know or find panna cotta. The Tonbridge Waitrose is much bigger and more relaxed. Products that sell more have more space.
I don't think I will bother with them again. Tesco is just as good, if not better.
M
scheduling
I don't understand why some of my notes get stuck in 'scheduled'. Eventually they get accepted, but I don't get the reasoning.
M
hodu
Got through easily. 10.30 wednesday, ie tomorrow
They are always delayed so will take first bus after 9.30.
M
out shopping
S was walking back from food shopping at m and s. She did not hear my hello from other side of the road.
First time for seeing her out food shopping. I assume J previously did most of it by car or internet. Also assume J is having some treatment or rest away from home at the moment.
I am guessing the condition goes back beyond the village council incident, say ten years or more from the present.
The choices for treatment may be very tough, for all concerned. Obviously given his attitude to T's sensitivities I would concentrate on the healthy rather than the ill, and hope he cannot do further damage to anyone other than himself.
M
Monday, July 13, 2026
Google assistant
Thought I had better try this out. Wow.
I really was not expecting anything so complete.
M
