Tuesday 5 October:

Something of a bizarre day…
Ru texted very first thing and she came round for early morning coffee – so lovely to see her (even though much of our time together related to how Iris+Rosa opt to opt out of everything… Ru - and especially Stu – feeling very frustrated.
Bristol Flooring emailed to say they could fit on 20 October.
We were due to receive an Asda order today (after the fiasco of last week’s non-show) – but Moira received a voicemail from Asda (which she accidently deleted without being able to listen to it). After frustrated attempts to contact Asda, I ended up walking to East Street Asda to find out more – only to be told that the van had broken down and so the order wouldn’t be delivered (again)! To make matters worse, we’d also been changed for last week’s non-delivery groceries!!
When I got home, I eventually managed to phone someone at Asda… and eventually managed to get our order re-scheduled for tomorrow (despite them insisting on charging us for the new delivery… even though it was THEIR van that broke down!)… and we’ve (hopefully) managed to get a re-fund on last week’s order.
To make matters worse, we had a delivery driver ring our bell (delivering my sketchbooks perhaps?), but then not wait for me to get down stairs before driving off without delivering any package.
Somewhat ironically, I’d finished the last page of my sketchbook and so ended up walking up Park Street to buy one from Bristol Fine Art.
Spent a little time in the afternoon sketching (based on a Gaudi mosaic).
Storysmith bookgroup gathering in the evening (‘The Hare With The Amber Eyes’): Another good discussion (people generally split on views).
Managed to call in to the pharmacy on the way home and collect my medication (sadly, the statins weren’t included!).
Image: another balcony dawn. 

Monday 4 October:

Moira and I decided to go to John Lewis to look at blinds etc and so there was no early morning walk (again!).
Spent the time immediately after breakfast stacking books on the second lot of shelves (just a few left over – perhaps a dozen?)(will we be able to squeeze them into bookcase no.3?).
Bussed off to Cribbs Causeway and it ‘sort of’ served its purpose (and we were able to select food caddy and undersink bin).
Back home by 1pm.
Popped into the library again immediately after lunch (returned some books and borrowed some more).
Moira and I placed some online orders at John Lewis (ironically, some of the info we picked up this morning was wrong!).
Spoke to Robin by phone (following my various emails about the management company etc)… useful conversation (and he DIDN’T try to change my mind!).
Moira and I ended up going out to Franco Branca for pizzas for early supper.
Evening telly (after some bedroom furniture shifting in M’s bedroom): ‘Only Connect’ and ‘Challenge’’
Image: more shelves in progress. 

Sunday 3 October:

A wet old day (although it did brighten up a little during the course of the afternoon).
Fetched the newspaper first thing.
Had considered going to the service at the cathedral (it’s a Holy Trinity week), but it appeared that we needed to have registered in order to attend (was that just if you wanted to take communion or what? website very unclear)… so we didn’t.
I ended up finishing off building (and decorating) the bookshelves… and then, towards the end of the afternoon, Moira and I went about trying to sort out the ‘non-Dave’ books.
We ended up filling the left-hand bookshelf completely – with A-L authors… I just hope there’s enough space left on the right-hand shelves for M-Z!
I was feeling a little anxious about the shelf fixings but, fingers firmly crossed, they seem to be ok (but the shorter right-hand shelf brackets have fewer fixings… so I’m still feeling nervous!).
Nevertheless, it makes a HUGE difference being able to get rid of a lot (maybe a dozen?) cardboard boxes off the living room floor!
Villa lost to Spurs away from home 1-2.
Evening telly: ‘Gone Fishing’ and ‘Midsommer Murders’.
Image: Shelves in progress.

Saturday 2 October:

Moira and I had flu jab appointments at 8.20/8.21am today, so it was a relatively early start (well, for Moira at least!)… we followed this with a very welcome visit to Hugo’s (opposite Asda) – to get some ‘real fruit and veg’! I later carried on to Wilko’s to buy pins and some wood glue.
Wet weather day from start to finish.
I spent the rest of the morning fixing the lipping to the MDF shelves and painting perhaps 50% of them (juggling space and avoiding painting the walls!). Hopefully, it’ll all be completed tomorrow (well, this part of the shelving at least)… and maybe we’ll be able to store some books too over the course of the next few days (with fingers firmly crossed that the wall fixings will be adequate).
Evening Netflix: ‘Miss Potter’ film.
Image: Quick scribble of a 1920’s house made while awaiting Thursday’s Asda non-delivery. 

Friday 1 October:

Another strange (and juggling) day…
I had an appointment with Dr Adamali at Southmead Hospital first thing (which involved pre-bus pass travel cost!). He was happy to ‘sign me off’ as far as lung fibrosis was concerned, but he was a little puzzled by my heart (“there’s a rustle”!) and decided to refer me to a cardiologist as a precaution, before seeing me (hopefully for the last time) in 8 months.
Travelled back to Han+Fee’s on the bus and then Fee very kindly drove me to Bishopston Hardware (who are brilliant) to collect my cut-to-size timber. It all worked out very well and the timber seems to be the correct size!
The lift was back working at Deanery Road (thankfully)… which helped with transporting stuff to number17.
Our re-scheduled Asda order failed to turn up again (but we think we might have missed out confirming online?)… we’ve cancelled and re-ordered for next Tuesday. Moira and I went shopping to the Co-op to top up supplies in the interim.
I’d been pondering whether or not I should offer to join the Board at Deanery Road over recent days… and have eventually decided that it’s perhaps a little premature (I’m very critical of BNS’s role and the likely workload put on to Board members). I’ve ended up deciding against it and have emailed Mark (Brough), Maggie and Kevin… and also Robin. Ultimately, I’ll respond to Mark Treasure and convey my misgivings.
Evening telly: another ‘Montalbano’ episode.
Image: Luke Jerram installation, College Green. 

Thursday 30 September:

Fire alarm went off at 10.15pm last night… and only silenced thanks to Mark’s knowledge of codes/past experience… but it means that the lift isn’t working today (Asda delivery day!!).
Attempted to shift kitchen waste/recycling locations first thing – managed to clear living room corner, but only with negative implications on other (less visible) storage areas.
Had a brief zoom session with Mark, Kevin and Maggie to discuss BNS etc.
Mary and Jennie came over from Bath (Jennie’s visiting Mary) mid-morning for coffee. Great to catch ‘in person’… and went for a walk around the harbour (before the rain came down).
Scheduled Asda delivery (supposedly at 1pm) didn’t show… so very frustrating.
Did a quick sketch while waiting… but clearly could have done a far more detailed drawing in Asda’s continued absence! In the end (5.30pm), Moira phoned Asda… and the delivery’s been re-scheduled for tomorrow 8-9am (when I won’t be here… and with the lift still not working!!). Hey ho!
Evening telly: ‘Bake Off’ and ‘Repair Shop’ (but struggling with sub-titles sync!)
Image: Mary’s photograph of Jennie, Moira and me (alongside Hannah’s old harbour artwork). 

Wednesday 29 September:

Bloke’s Prayer at The Society Café on a bright, sunny but VERY cold morning (Dru, Nick, Dave and Ed).
Went back to the café an hour later to have coffee with one of the other Board members (Kevin) and agreed to try to help out on balcony fire-related, roof maintenance and appropriate lighting (levels and fittings) in communal areas. What have I let myself in for?
Later bumped into another Board member (Mark from downstairs) – who’s clearly getting very cheesed off by BNS’s lack of input in maintenance stuff etc. He had also emailed Kevin and Maggie (and me) expressing his frustrations. Good subsequent emails from Maggie and Kevin… and I added my own thoughts too.
All very frustrating… zoom ‘chat’ tomorrow morning to continue the discussion (do I REALLY want to be involved?).
I put together some thoughts (incl. sketch) on proposed living room worktop and sent them off to Dave – asking if he fancied doing the work (but no probs if he didn’t).
Hung Moira’s textile piece in the living room (looks good).
Late afternoon/evening telly: watched the remainder of the ‘Last Mountain’ and ‘Endeavour’ (apparently the last episode ever??).
Image: St John’s Conduit (restored 1866).