Author: Mister Bump UK

Formerly Stroke Survivor UK. Designed/developed IT systems for banks, but had a stroke in 2016, aged 48. Returned to developing from home, plus do some voluntary work. Married, with a grown-up, left-home daughter.

Knackered

A continuation of yesterday’s story…

Shortly after 8pm, Paul awoke from his slumber to the sound of the X-Factor and to delicious smells coming from the kitchen. Opening his eyes, he saw Asha.

– Hello, sleepy.

– Oh, hi Asha. What’s this crap you’re watching?

Paul knew Asha just about well enough to tease her a little.

– This? Oh, god knows… There’s a film on in ten minutes, I’m just waiting for it.

It was true, she was already starting on a tub of Ben and Jerry’s. It’s funny how some people can eat whatever they like. Anna’s frame appeared from the kitchen.

– Mmm…that smells delicious, What you got cooking?

– I’m just cooking up some tofu with veggies and some oregano. Do you fancy that with some pasta in a tomato sauce?

– Wow…you sure know the way into a guy’s heart.

By the end of the meal, Paul at last felt more awake.

– Do you still want to go over to the Pinot Noir?

asked Anna. The Pinot Noir was a wine bar located just up Camden High Street and had become the pair’s favourite haunt since they had started seeing each other. Paul was still a little tired, but they had planned this before meeting up with Anna’s sister, so he did not want to back out now.

The mind was willing, but Paul’s forty-year-old body left a little to be desired. At the Pinot Noir, he just rested his eyes for a moment, then almost toppled from his stool. Looking at the Edifice watch upon his wrist, it was all of 10:30PM.

for Fandango’s One Word Challenge (FOWC) of 15 August 2020, edifice.

I had no idea until I started poking around for this prompt that Edifice is a brand of wrist watch. I’d never heard of it before, but Wikipedia says: Edifice are a brand of watches manufactured by the Japanese electronics company Casio. The Edifice watches are designed to attract buyers engaged in professional careers. The watches have multiple functions, ranging from multiple dials to world time and multiple alarms. And here is what one looks like. I imagine there must be many.

I’ve written a background to these characters, in the posts below.

The Picnic

Believe it or not I was working at 7AM this morning, just felt like writing this afternoon.

On the day of the seminar, Anna dragged Paul along, to meet her sister Zara, and brother-in-law Dan, at Victoria. Barely time to say “Hi”, before Zara and Dan scuttled down into the underground, leaving Anna with her two nephews, Lucas and William – plus all their “accessories”. They all planned to meet back at Anna’s house early evening.

Paul interrogated Anna.

– So, what’s this seminar all about, then?

– I’m not sure. I know it’s something about self-publishing. You know she likes making up stories for the boys? Well, I guess she’s looking to make it pay.

– But surely if anyone wants to self-publish, they’ll need some capital in the first place? Those two are always penniless.

– Dunno. We didn’t really get into that. Maybe they’ve been squirreling it away? I suppose if she can find a way, that’s got to be good. Those publishing houses are sharks, and I ‘spect she knows some people in Brighton who’ll stock her books. You know how trendy Brighton is. Come on, let’s grab a coffee before we head back.

Complete with double-pushchair, they manoeuvred their way onto the tube themselves. They only had to go a few stops, up to Warren Street, before they left the underground and headed, above ground, to Regent’s Park. Pushing that chair was a darned site easier outdoors!

The boys were too young to enjoy the zoo. At around six months, all William appreciated was his milk bottle, and while, at two years, Lucas might have appreciated the animals, for this brief afternoon out it would be enough to let him run amuck in the park. Lucas had already taken a shine to Paul.

They spent an hour playing, they found a play area, then Anna surprised Lucas by telling him about the picnic. It wasn’t much, she said. In fact, they had only had the idea the night before and had stopped off to pick up a few goodies on their way to meet Zara. But, hey, a picnic is a picnic! William was happy with his bottle, but tried his best to crawl around afterwards. This was fine until Anna tried to change his nappy…

A couple of hours later, they started to walk home along the canal. Poor old Paul had to carry Lucas on his shoulders – they were afraid that he would fall in, but Lucas was adamant that he did not want to sit in the chair. But they were in no hurry and they meandered toward Anna’s. When they finally got back onto the roadway, they were only five minutes away. In the safe confines of Anna’s lounge, it was Lucas’s turn to nap, and William’s to come to life. Just watch that he didn’t get too close to all those wires behind the tv!

At around five o’clock, Zara phoned to say that they were on their way, and at around six, there was a knock at the door.

– So how was it? You gonna be the next Stephen King?

– Well, I don’t know about that. It’s bloody complicated. I’m glad Dan came with me; I’d never have remembered it otherwise. How have the boys been?

– Good as gold, they’re both asleep. All we did was to walk through Regent’s Park then up here. If anything, Paul’s the one who should be tired, he ended up carrying Lucas all the way up the canal. Isn’t that right, Paul?

No answer from Paul, who by now was enjoying an afternoon nap of his own.

I’ve written a background to these characters, in the posts below.

More Thought Required (Fandango’s Friday Flashback)

Yay, it is Friday again, and Fandango has just published his Friday Flashback post. The idea is that he picks a post from this day in a previous year, to give newer readers a better insight into what does and doesn’t make him tick.

I have always liked that idea, so shall also post my own reminiscence. As much as anything, it reminds me of where I was, where I am now, and how far I have come. Hopefully, you will find it entertaining along the way.

Oh, and thank you to Jennifer at Paperkutzs for allowing me to use her image.

Hahaha, I read a post the other day by a (presumably British) blogger who was indignant that people criticised our NHS, so this flashback is quite à propos.

This is a something-and-nothing post, I was obviously peeved enough at the time to write about it, although can’t really remember the appointment.

But it is nevertheless part of the reason. The NHS will boast about the big things they get right, but often the trivial things are very slapdash. While they might be small individually, trivial things probably make up 99% of people’s overall “user experience”.

When people are basically saying, “your time is worthless”, I find that quite annoying.

From 2 years ago.

Mister Bump

My wife went for a hospital appointment yesterday, it was something respiratory so, before the appointment, she needed to get a chest x-ray. We got to the appointment and were immediately told to go to another department to get the x-ray.

When we got there, my wife was not on their list. Not even late, but non-existent! So there was a 30 minute wait while they tried to find out what was happening.

In the time we were waiting, three other patients arrived, all with the same story. All patients at this respiritory clinic, none of whom are known by X-Ray.

So I’d I’d guess my wife and I weren’t just unlucky. I’d guess that this fuckup happens at many clinic, many weeks.

Respiratory and X-Ray appointments normally run hand-in-hand. So, you’d think their IT system would allow then to easily book both appointments at once. Apparently not.

I’ve got…

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Fandango’s One Word Challenge (14 August 2020)

I figure pretty much anything I write will satisfy today’s prompt, so how about a small joke?

They say “always start at the bottom” if you want to learn something.

What about swimming?

Tommy Cooper

for Fandango’s One Word Challenge (FOWC), verbal.