No going back now.......................

[FLYING BANANA]

…………………… and 6 years later I’m still here. As it was on this day in 2018 that I made up my mind to move from Barkingside to Saltash. The flat went on the market on the 14th.

Absolutely no regrets in making that decision to move. There is nothing in this world that will entice me back. I will travel up in that direction at some point this year as I still have some family, although not blood related, that I want to see. But alas at the moment that idea of travelling is on hold whilst I’m still in plaster.

A lot has happened since I made the move, quite a few close friends have passed away through various issues including Covid.. people whom I grew up with where it be neighbours or just good friends.
But I’m still here, how I don’t know but I’m aiming to be around for a lot longer yet.

My first priority is to get back on my feet, then get the house sorted out. First job starts on the 22nd of this month when a new boiler is in installed to replace the troublesome one fitted. It’s been in for a few years but it keeps breaking down and most of the spares are now obsolete.

I need a new bathroom to start with by converting the downstairs dining room into a purpose built bathroom with shower and loo. Then I need to get a structural engineer in to see if I do have subsidence. Although the builder has made good the repairs on the crack, costing £270, I feel I need to get it checked out correctly. I still think that the road has caused the issue and might get an independent specialist in to see.

That will do for a start, then we will go from there.

[planenut]

Happy anniversary Bob, clearly it has been a good thing for you. I really hope that your recovery continues well
Fred (planenut)

[FLYING BANANA]

What a grand start to the New Year.

I have a badly fractured ankle and will be in plaster till, as it turned out, 24th January. The fracture was looking better so they put me into a Stormtrooper AirBoot. I have this till the 6th March. Then if the fracture is looking healed then the boot can stay off. If not then I will have to have the operation.

So far this year I spent out on a new boiler plus labour. £2k plus
My shower tray in the bathroom is leaking, so a new shower booth is on order. £4k plus.
A new electric powered bed plus mattress plus headboard. £1500. But no VAT paid as it is for a medical reasons.
Car insurance for Banana. £300.
Banana’s MOT plus a few jobs. £400.

I have not been able to get back upstairs since 19th December 2023. So I’m still living downstairs, I can get up, and down, the stairs. But I don’t want to lose my Adult Social Services. As I still need the ladies to come in to help me with a few issues I have. I can use the upstairs loo but getting there in a hurry is not possible so I still need to use the commode. I still get embarrassed if I’m on the loo and someone comes in. Neighbours knock before coming in but the HomeFirst ladies don’t always knock. I know there is nothing to see as I keep myself covered up.

[FLYING BANANA]

So here we are in March 2024. I have an AirBoot fitted and the plan is to walk outside on my own. The goal is 1000 steps. It has taken time but I managed that today. Was a bit tiring. But done it ok. The AirBoot weighs in at nearly 3lbs. So a fair bit of weight to move.

Anyway I just got indoors from my walk and after taking my coat off time for a coffee. With that made I went upstairs for a wee. And the doorbell rings. Had my wee, washed my hands and the doorbell rang again. And someone rattled the door. I got downstairs and opened the door to find a lady standing there.
“I have ringing the bell, you knew I was coming round as I messaged you”. Said this very irate woman.

I looked at her and replied, “I haven’t messaged you or anyone else. Walking with this boot on is not easy. I was upstairs in the bathroom so I got down here as quick as I could. Do you have the right address?”.
“Is this no.15?” She asked. Yes I replied but she wanted no.15 the Green which is off of my road.
No apologies as she walked away. How rude I thought.
But she is not the first, and not the last to knock at the wrong address. I wouldn’t mind but the Green is clearly marked up with 3 different road signs.

We have news from Portugal. It seems that Elizabeth is getting engaged to the new man in her life. Tim’s parents seem to be ok with the new fella.

Michael has finally started to get his house tidied up. He started in the loft and shifted so much stuff he is on first name terms with the staff up at the tip.
I phoned him up and he said on the phone, “ I didn’t realise how much rubbish I had accumulated over the years”.
So the loft and two of the bedrooms have been cleared.

I’m still in touch with my two cousins although it will be a long time before we meet up again. We keep in contact via email. Cousin Christine’s son works for the Bomberdier railway company and is based at Bounds Green North London but is currently out on strike. Seems like he is a bit of a rebel.
Cousin Keith has just bought his 4th car. Another Ford Focus.

Lost all contact with neighbours and friends from Barkingside, even my old neighbour Jan no longer keeps in contact. I have tried to stay in contact but people just seem to drift away. No longer in contact with Emma and Kevin. But I’m still in contact with my god daughter who now has a mobile phone. So we WhatsApp one and other. She now plays football and is in the first team for the girls. Her brother is doing well at school and apparently is a “gifted” student. Not sure what that means but I guess it means he is brainy.

Still hoping Matt will come and collect Banana, she hasn’t moved for 6 weeks now. And the Fiesta hasn’t moved for 4 weeks. Will get Allen to drive her when we go shopping next.

Just keeping my fingers crossed for some good news this Wednesday when I have my hospital appointment.

[FLYING BANANA]

My brother in law Michael phoned me this morning. He wanted to know about shopping around for car insurance. Michael doesn’t buy anything online, he prefers to talk to people or go through a broker. Michael has a 52 plate Ford Focus, a basic model. He is currently insured with LV through the AA. Last years quote was £465, this years quote is £1650. According to the lady on the phone, a call centre, said the price hike was due to Michael’s age, he is 73.

I gave him a few numbers to ring around. He said he knew of an insurance broker in Finchley North London. They were shut today but he was going there on Monday. When his daughter and future son in law borrow the car they arrange their own insurance and put Michael on it as a named driver. Michael lives in Totteridge North London and is an expensive area. Laura and Ollie live in East Finchley North London and is not so expensive to live.

On next Monday I have the bathroom fitters coming in to fit me a new shower cubicle. They will be here anytime after 08.30. So I asked Marion to get me some milk and a couple of packets of biscuits. Best keep the troops happy. I have already paid 50% and today I paid a further 35% of the price. The balance gets paid on completion of the job.
I’ve not had a shower since 15/12/2023, and it will be a few weeks before I can get in there to have one.

[FLYING BANANA]

Well, the bathroom makeover is nearly finished and I love it. I now have a flush fitting shower tray, no stepping up to get in. Grab rails to steady me instead of stealing myself by leaning on the wall. The workmanship is fantastic. Tom the plumber is very thoughtful by not leaving tools or rubbish in the way if for any reason I need to get upstairs.

When he packs up for the day the bathroom is clean and tidy. I’ve let him use the spare bedroom as a storage area. It’s full of tools and bags of rubbish. He has already said that once he clears up I will never know he has been here. I now have a new floor covering, looks like dark grey slate. New marble effect wall panels in light grey.

So whilst Tom is working upstairs I’m downstairs building my 203rd Pocher Lamborghini. I have been keeping Tom supplied with coffee and biscuits. So this lunch time, he normally sits in his van to eat his sandwiches. But he wanted to ask me a few questions so I said if you want to sit in here and eat your sandwiches and have a cuppa you are more than welcome.

So Tom had his lunch in my kitchen. So I said, “go on then what do you want to know then?”
Tom said, “ I don’t wish to pry but I see that you are wearing a wedding ring but you live on your own. Why?”. So I told him a shortened version of how I come to lose my Val. Afterwards he looked as if he was going to cry. Maybe it’s how I described it.

And the next question was, “I’ve been here for 3 days and not once you have used the loo. Do you have a secret?”.
I replied, “I have a bucket in the other room so I can wee into that to save disturbing you. After you have gone I can empty the contents down the loo”.
“But what if you want to do a poop? Surely you don’t do that in the bucket”. Tom asked.
“No not in the bucket. By the time you get here in the morning I have already had at least one. I might have had to get up in the night to go or maybe in the evening.” I answered.
Ah! That answers my questions Bob.

And with that he went back to work whilst I washed the cups and plates up. Dried them and tidied up.
He has worked hard and the bathroom is looking the business. Should be finished tomorrow. Then on Saturday I can have a shower, my first since 14/12/2023. Looking forward to that.

[Gate Keeper]

Originally Posted by FLYING BANANA

Well, the bathroom makeover is nearly finished and I love it. I now have a flush fitting shower tray, no stepping up to get in. Grab rails to steady me instead of stealing myself by leaning on the wall. The workmanship is fantastic. Tom the plumber is very thoughtful by not leaving tools or rubbish in the way if for any reason I need to get upstairs.

When he packs up for the day the bathroom is clean and tidy. I’ve let him use the spare bedroom as a storage area. It’s full of tools and bags of rubbish. He has already said that once he clears up I will never know he has been here. I now have a new floor covering, looks like dark grey slate. New marble effect wall panels in light grey.

So whilst Tom is working upstairs I’m downstairs building my 203rd Pocher Lamborghini. I have been keeping Tom supplied with coffee and biscuits. So this lunch time, he normally sits in his van to eat his sandwiches. But he wanted to ask me a few questions so I said if you want to sit in here and eat your sandwiches and have a cuppa you are more than welcome.

So Tom had his lunch in my kitchen. So I said, “go on then what do you want to know then?”
Tom said, “ I don’t wish to pry but I see that you are wearing a wedding ring but you live on your own. Why?”. So I told him a shortened version of how I come to lose my Val. Afterwards he looked as if he was going to cry. Maybe it’s how I described it.

And the next question was, “I’ve been here for 3 days and not once you have used the loo. Do you have a secret?”.
I replied, “I have a bucket in the other room so I can wee into that to save disturbing you. After you have gone I can empty the contents down the loo”.
“But what if you want to do a poop? Surely you don’t do that in the bucket”. Tom asked.
“No not in the bucket. By the time you get here in the morning I have already had at least one. I might have had to get up in the night to go or maybe in the evening.” I answered.
Ah! That answers my questions Bob.

And with that he went back to work whilst I washed the cups and plates up. Dried them and tidied up.
He has worked hard and the bathroom is looking the business. Should be finished tomorrow. Then on Saturday I can have a shower, my first since 14/12/2023. Looking forward to that.

Good morning Bob

If you come out to Kenya and go camping with us, for your morning ablution we would give you a shovel so you could dig a hole somewhere private away from the tent and cover the dig-in with soil. You would be wise to check for any wildlife nearby who could be attracted by your scent.

As we like photos, don’t forget to post up photos of the new bathroom, congratulations in getting it finished.

Hopefully you are feeling better in your mental state and looking forward to the shower.

Onwards and upwards, do keep us posted

[stevestrat]

Originally Posted by Gate Keeper

Good morning Bob

If you come out to Kenya and go camping with us, for your morning ablution we would give you a shovel so you could dig a hole somewhere private away from the tent and cover the dig-in with soil. You would be wise to check for any wildlife nearby who could be attracted by your scent.

Err . . . . you're not really selling it as a holiday option Phil.

[FLYING BANANA]

The bathroom is finished and my first shower of 2024 will be on this Saturday, need to give the sealant time to dry out. Looking forward to the shower. I told a neighbour and she came round to have a look. Yes it met with her approval. As she left she gave me a business card for Dyn-a-Rod. Oi! I’m not that dirty. Cheeky mare.

Had a lovely phone call from my good friend z John, who lives up in Suffolk. The was going to come and stay with me at the last New Year but they cancelled owing to my accident. They said that it wouldn’t be fair on me having a house of visitors whilst I was in plaster. I agreed.

But I’m hoping to see them in July when I attend, hopefully, the East Kirkby meet.
But John also had a bit of sad news, his aunt Pat is 82 but has lung cancer caused by asbestos, she has never smoked. She was a nurse working at what used to be called the Joyce Green Hospital in Dartford Kent. And the place was full of asbestos, that was the reason it was demolished. But the damage was done to all the staff and patients.

Pat was in the process of suing the NHS/Goverment but that’s now on hold. And Pat’s brother won’t speak to her because Pat decided to support John in Suffolk. There is a terrible family feud that has dragged on since 2013. I even got dragged into the fuel. But I’m still friends with Pat and her daughters, Sara and Emma. I too won’t have anything to do with Pat’s brother or his wife. Although they were good friends with my Val.

But that’s another story which left a bad taste in my mouth. I was accused of doing something which is totally untrue. I threatened to sue for slander. So that ended our friendship.

So roll on Saturday for my shower. And tomorrow, the 15th, will be 3 months since my fall.

[Gate Keeper]

Originally Posted by FLYING BANANA

The bathroom is finished and my first shower of 2024 will be on this Saturday, need to give the sealant time to dry out. Looking forward to the shower. I told a neighbour and she came round to have a look. Yes it met with her approval. As she left she gave me a business card for Dyn-a-Rod. Oi! I’m not that dirty. Cheeky mare.

Had a lovely phone call from my good friend z John, who lives up in Suffolk. The was going to come and stay with me at the last New Year but they cancelled owing to my accident. They said that it wouldn’t be fair on me having a house of visitors whilst I was in plaster. I agreed.

But I’m hoping to see them in July when I attend, hopefully, the East Kirkby meet.
But John also had a bit of sad news, his aunt Pat is 82 but has lung cancer caused by asbestos, she has never smoked. She was a nurse working at what used to be called the Joyce Green Hospital in Dartford Kent. And the place was full of asbestos, that was the reason it was demolished. But the damage was done to all the staff and patients.

Pat was in the process of suing the NHS/Goverment but that’s now on hold. And Pat’s brother won’t speak to her because Pat decided to support John in Suffolk. There is a terrible family feud that has dragged on since 2013. I even got dragged into the fuel. But I’m still friends with Pat and her daughters, Sara and Emma. I too won’t have anything to do with Pat’s brother or his wife. Although they were good friends with my Val.

But that’s another story which left a bad taste in my mouth. I was accused of doing something which is totally untrue. I threatened to sue for slander. So that ended our friendship.

So roll on Saturday for my shower. And tomorrow, the 15th, will be 3 months since my fall.

Good morning Bob

A mixed post of HI’s and Low’s. What sad news from John and Pat, which is difficult for them and for you. How sad about the disagreements, sometimes things and people are beyond repair.

It’s a rotten deal to be accused of something you didn’t do. If you can manage it, cut yourself off from it completely so it doesn’t make you ill. I write from personal experience. You’re a man of integrity who deserves better.