Mon 220221 Cat brought a dead mouse into the bedroom...!

00.05 AM STILL STUDYING AT DUOLINGO.COM/LEADERBOARD POSITION: 1ST

- https://www.duolingo.com

So far to date, and, for each of the last 14 days, I've maintained my topmost position on the studying leader board of 1st place.

NOTE: I had signed up for a FREE 14 day trial of Duolingo; and, today, that FREE trial period ends; so, that means they are about to charge my card £12.00 monthly; so, I'm going to have to make sure that there are sufficient funds in my a/c. to cover that.

02:30 AM CAT BROUGHT A DEAD RAT INTO THE BEDROOM

I forgot to close the backgarden door; and, then, all of a sudden, my cat came up to the side of the bed; but, I really wasn't too sure what it was she was trying to tell me; so, I simply 'ignored' her...; and, continued studying French at Duolingo web site...using my iPad.

It was only, later on, when I got up somewhere around 6 AM...that I looked down to see the cat had brought in a 'gift' of a dead mouse straight up to my bedside!

Quickly, I wrapped the dead mouse in a sheet of newspaper; and, then, walking to the front door threw both the newspaper sheet/and, the mouse out onto the street pavement.

What a really weird way to start off the day...!

  

Sun 210221 Around mid-day Sharon phoned me...

12:00 MIDDAY, SHARON PHONED

Some time around midday my cousin, Sharon phoned; I guess, it was to thank me for the kids presents. 

However, I was studying hard on Duolingo...; and, was feeling about as tired as hell; so, I didn't bother sticking around to talk to her long.

I just told her make sure Geoff gets his bereavement card; and, basically, left the conversation there...sort of hanging in the air. I did, of course, explain that I'm feeling extremely tired; so, I would try and phone her back, later on.

Somewhere around 6 PM I did phone her back; but, there was no reply.

Sat 20021 Visited Sharon late night to drop off kids birthday presents

SAT 200221 VISITED SHARON LATE NIGHT TO DROP OFF KIDS PRESENTS

I was meant to have gone and visited Sharon, yesterday; but, most unfortunately, with ADD/Attention Deficit Disorder getting the better of me...therefore, I went and left it far too 'late'.

So, instead, I made up my mind to go and visit them, today; and, drop off their birthday presents which should have been delivered, yesterday.

I left home somewhere around 7 PM; and, with 3 trains to catch...the journey was extremely slow...I think, I actually arrived there somewhere around 8:30 PM.

West Norwood -> Norwood Junction -> Purley -> Kingswood

The first station I had to wait 15-20 minutes long...the 2nd station I had to wait about 20 minutes up to 1/2 an hour...and, the 3rd station another wait time of 20 minutes. Not to mention long train journey's in between stations.

When I eventually arrived, I rang the bell...; but, didn't bother to go inside of the house...; instead, I just simply said, here are your presents...but, now, I have to leave before the last train comes. I only got to speak with the 2 youngest children; not the adults/nor the teenage boy.

The truth is, I had been coughing a bit...; and, didn't wish to give any of the family Choronavirus entirely by accident...; that's the real reason why I didn't bother going inside of the home.

I brought 3 cards...each of which I signed up. 

- Bereavement card the dad (who had just recently lost his mother)

- 2 birthday cards for the twins

...I also included some presents: toys/box of chocolates/peanuts/-etc. Oh, and, a Alexa device(I had given them this device before; but, when I got home it wouldn't work...; so, I decided to return it back to them...I think, it wasn't properly de-registered from their a/c.).

9 PM THE RETURN TRAIN JOURNEY HOME

My original intention was to get off at Tulse Hill train station. However, when the train arrived along the platform; I found I could not get off...because I was in carriage number 8...and, the station announcement said..."this station has a short platform/make sure you are in the right carriage to leave"...; because, I had travelled on my bike...it wasn't easy to rush to get out of the adjoining next train carriage, instead; so, I simply wait for the next train platform to come along which was North Dulwich.

I knew which way to ride from North Dulwich to get back home...turn left at the entrance...passing through West Dulwich...and, then, over to Tulse Hill/West Norwood.

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I noticed there are many 'teenagers' on the streets/and, also, using public transport during the late evening. I think, this is because Covid-19 doesn't affect the young as much as it does older people. I'm not too sure if the parents either let their teenage children out.../or, if they sneak out themselves without having their parents permission. I can certainly see where it's possible for teenagers to get into an awful lot of trouble on the streets...with their carefree, couldn't care less sensibility...and, also, willingness to try and experiment with attempting to do 'new' things.

For example, whilst sitting on the train, a couple of teenage girls came up and asked if I could light their cigarette. I told them, "no, I don't smoke." When they came and asked me a 2nd time, I replied:  "You look a bit young to be smoking." One of the young girls reply to me was: "F*** off!" I decided it's best to totally ignore her; after all, I used to be a teenager with a highly rebellious streak myself.

Fri 190221 Was meant to visit Sharon-left if too late! Brought 'fish and chips' + chicken

FRI 190221 WAS MEANT TO VISIT, SHARON; BUT, LEFT IT FAR TOO 'LATE'

I was meant to go and visit Sharon; in order to deliver to the two twins their birthday presents. However, due to ADD/Attention Deficit Disorder...I actually went and left it far too 'late' to travel there.

I decided to switch plans; and, just visit them tomorrow. I made a phone call to explain as much.

BROUGHT FISH & CHIPS/-ETC.

I found a £20.00 note; and, decided since it's been so very long since I've gone and eaten 'fish and chips'...; why not do so, tonight.

I rode my bike down the road...; and, across the street...where I ordered...

- 1 x fish and chips

- 1 x sausage in batter

- 1 x pattie (I think, it was vegetable)

- 1 x whole chicken (costing £7.50)

- 2 x onions (I think, the guy might have forgotten to include the onions/not sure if he charged me for that or not...?!)

...I recall there wasn't too much change left out of £20.00 something like £1.50.

BACK HOME/HAD SOME PROPER DINNER

When I arrived home...I used the microwave to heat up everything except the chicken...which I decided to leave for eating later.

First, I had 'fish and chips'; followed by 'sausage in batter'; followed by pattie...by which time my stomach was quite full enough to go off to bed.  

The chicken  I eat the next day; in bits and pieces...first, I had the 2 x chicken legs/next, I had 2 x chicken wings/and, the main body of the chicken I left to eat last. 

 

Wed 170221 Part paid: gas/electricty; too, part paid: TV License/Internet

Today, I went and paid...

£  50.00 electric 

£100.00 gas

£  31.50 (internet/phone)

£  10.00 tv license (still have to pay a further £145.50)

£  36.77 (loan/£450.00 still remaining to pay off)

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£228.27 Total

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The total I now owe on both the gas/electricity is...

£100.00 electricity

£200.00 gas

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£300.00 still owing 

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(...this is the 'overdue' amount; I might have to make a phone call in order to arrange a payment plan...; before they start sending me 'red' reminder letters; or else, choose to cut off my gas/electric supply completely.)

Furthermore, both the Water Rate/Council Tax bills are coming soon. 

Frankly, having to cope with all of these endless bills is driving me totally and completely mad; I just don't have enough money...?!

On top of it all, the house roof is leaking in, at least, 4 different places...which would mean I have to pay builders to put up whole house scaffolding to go and fix the roofing. This I cannot afford to do at the moment; so, for now I just have to learn to live with the leaking...and, it can all just simply wait to be fixed, at some point, later on.