Bob's Blog Page 56
You are reading Page 56 of Bob's Blog/diary/dream/story/journey/novelistic memoir.
He is 85 years old and counting.
He is also very much aware that this blog is of no significance whatsoever -
at the time of writing!
Saturday 16th November 2024. (1st Person, that's me)
The most exciting thing that's happening at the moment, apart from the checking of my monthly bank statement that is, is
designing and making brackets to hold a curtain pole for the front door curtain. It's getting a touch chilly don't you think? Yesterday the new curtains arrived from Chums, I thought I'd ordered one 90" x 90" curtain but a pair turned up, both 90" x 90" so hopefully that'll be OK. I've already got an old 50mm diameter wooden pole kicking about in the shed, can't remember where it came from, probably from somebody's skip! Anyway, I'll have to saw a bit off the pole because it's too long. I'm good at measuring! The curtains are 'Terracotta Thermal Lined Blackout Curtains called Maria', they have a lovely silky lining, not bad for £79 minus your Welcome 20% off.
I've also got the curtain rings but the metal eyelets have gone a bit rusty so I'll have to find some new ones, they are the same as you use to hang your pictures with so if you have any to spare let me know. I'll be happy to collect them, we could have a coffee and chat about old times at the same time. I like a drop of scotch in my coffee!
Sunday 17th November 2024.
This story sounds like it's written by an eight year old rather than an eighty plus year old so perhaps that tells you something. I've now been fitted with a red button round my neck in case I fall off the ladder putting the curtains up. It connects to your nearest and dearest rather than any faceless person and they're cheap as chips so if you want one let me know.
Needless to say the curtain pole was cut to the exact length required and the brackets are still in the Drawing Office. I spent countless years in the Drawing Office drawing pipe brackets which I found exceedingly therapeutic, others found them exceedingly boring, it takes liquorice allsorts don't you think? What's exceedingly frustrating is, is that I've been unable to come up with a design for a bracket to support those with afflictions but I'm working on it.
You may look forward to a picture of the front door curtains when I've finished, that's if I don't have to press the red button first!
Monday 18th November 2024.
Lovely to see Neil and Anne over from Long Island, New York yesterday. Neil's Dad was my old mate Don the Greengrocer who I met in the early 60's. Don's window display in Bookham was a piece of artwork admired for miles around. His tickets appear on Page 2 of my 'Art Gallery' along with some other amazing works of art! With any luck Neil will be able to solve my Dynamic Pages problem, no pressure Neil!
Talking about artwork, every time I see an aircraft in the sky I see a beautiful piece of artwork turning energy into movement. Every time I see a vessel on the ocean I see a beautiful piece of artwork turning movement into energy. Still dreaming!
I know they need ironing but I don't do ironing, any offers!
Tuesday 19th November 2024.
Sorry to mention this again but looking at Panorama last night it needs repeating.
If you were an alien approaching The Earth
You'd notice The Moon pumping water
If the natives can't see the power of the sea
Then they surely should bleeping well oughta
Wednesday 20th November 2024.
Lots of things didn't happen yesterday but two things did happen. I've been invited again to talk to the children in Year 6 at The Royal Kent School Oxshott about my experiences in the war. My war experiences, as regular readers will know, are pretty boring (or was it bombing!) so, if you had any interesting war experiences please let me know. You will of course have to be over 80 to qualify.
The other thing that happened was that I went for a walk-in flue jab and walked out again, no problem.
One of the things that didn't happen yesterday was that I didn't get a reply to my emails containing the above poem to the Panorama team. I wonder why?
Thursday 21st November 2024.
Bit of a shame but I've decided I'm incapable of changing the world, incapable of caring (so I'm told but I wouldn't disagree), incapable of shopping, taking notice of sell-by dates or blogging. I'm quite good at washing up, hanging out the washing, sweeping up leaves, organising, porridge and poached eggs. Sorry about that. A month today it will be winter solstice so something to look forward to?
Friday 22nd November 2024.
I was very moved yesterday (and not by Movicol I hasten to add) by a comment from a regular reader from Kingsbridge who encouraged me to 'Carry on Blogging'. Thanks Paul, I hope you will not be disappointed in what's to come. I received the following interesting comment yesterday from The Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Association, so you are not alone.
'This idea looks the sort of thing that Innovate UK will and should support you on'.
Needless to say 'the idea' is Horizontal Gravity. 'The idea' seems to be gaining traction and not before time in my view.
97 year old spotted recently in Edinburgh being instructed on Horizontal Gravity and the latest Apple Tech'. Respect.
Saturday 23rd November 2024.
Today, we can expect Storm Bert to wreak havoc with the leaves. Storm Gert, Daisy and Storm Norm' are yet to come. Not funny if you get caught up in it. My problem is whether or not to stay in my pyjamas all day, saves a lot of hassle and money if you have to pay a carer to help you in and out of your pyjamas. It happens!
Sunday 24th November 2024.
I don't suppose anybody would notice if I was in my pyjamas in Waitrose, they're all too busy stocking up for Christmas.
My problem today is whether or not to book us both into a care home as I've decided I'm incapable of wheelbarrowing old ladies hither and thither. I used to look like Charles Atlas but now I don't. Although that could be a matter of opinion?
Monday 25th November 2024.
Another delivery of wheels, aids and associated contraptions including a bath lift for upstairs living arrived today and all on the NHS. Amazing. Anticipate happiness and happiness is yours, anticipate success and success is yours.
Tuesday 26th November 2024.
So, in order to be happy I hired our favourite carer Diana for an extra half hour evening visit to help us into our pyjamas. She arrives on her electric bike glowing and flashing in the dark like a Christmas tree. And in order to be a success I listen to our relaxing recording of our favourite hypnotherapist telling us in a soft voice how to be 'more and more' relaxed, the only problem is that I become 'more and more' incapable.
Wednesday 27th November 2024.
I could write a 'War and Peace' about what happened today but in a nutshell Eva came and jumped into my bath. Frantic efforts were made to tidy up upstairs as Nannie nervously rode the Acorn Rocket to great heights and immediately issued orders to tidy up. Thwarted a smartarse scam from Monica trying to sell me something or other. Practised my lecture to the children next Monday about my war experiences, changed into my pyjamas at 3pm but most importantly finished my design for this years Christmas Card.
Thursday 28th November 2024.
Before you get the wrong idea, I hasten to add that Eva is our Occupational Therapist, she was fully clothed, there was no water in the bath, she was merely checking out the clever, scissor action, battery driven bath lift.
But you can always dream, can't you?
Now then, I am fully aware that my regular reader(s) is/are heartily cheesed off with hearing about Horizontal Gravity but consider this:-
'The proposals you have put forward look fascinating and truly innovative. We are very interested in hearing how the project with Innovate UK develops.' Senior Climate Change Officer, East Riding Council.
Friday 29th November 2024.
Back in 1955 when I was starting out on my aimless career (that's before I learnt to dance the quickstep G) I learnt all about 4 stroke engines, 2 stroke engines and double acting steam engines. As we all know a 4 stroke engine means there is one power stroke every 4 strokes of the piston or what we used to call suck, squeeze, bang, blow. A 2 stroke engine means that there is one power stroke every 2 strokes of the piston (suck/squeeze, bang/blow) and a double acting steam engine means that there is a power stoke on every stroke of the piston (bang, bang).
Are you paying attention Jones minor?
Now, in order to understand Horizontal Gravity you must imagine a time lapse video of the drifting vessel. It would look like a double acting steam engine. Is that clear? Good, now bugger off and make it , I can die happy now.
WANTED: Old black Labrador for company.
Saturday 30th November 2024.
For some unknown reason I've decided to read this book again. Might be sent from one of my Angels?
Bob's Blog Page 56
You are reading Page 56 of Bob's Blog/diary/dream/story/journey/novelistic memoir.
He is 85 years old and counting.
He is also very much aware that this blog is of no significance whatsoever -
at the time of writing!