Mon 010523
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Table of contents:-
- 12:00 NOON AWOKE: THINKING ABOUT VISITING TATE BRITAIN
- 13:00 MADE BREAKFAST: BAKED BEANS/EGGS/SAUSAGES - SALAD: DICED APPLE/BANNANA/GRAPEFRUIT/DATES - SANDWICH: FRENCH STICK BREAD/WITH COOKHAM SLICES
- 13:30 SMART METER/OR, 'SCARY METER', I WONDER...?! MY CURRENT SPENDING ON ELECTRICITY AMOUNTS TO: £3.00 PER DAY/OR, £90.00 MONTHLY/£270.00 QUARTERLY CHARGE
- 14:00 WENT OUT TO PRACTICE DOING SOME SKIPPING: THIS TIME USING ALTERNATE LEGS...WASN'T WORKING...GAVE UP
- 17:00 GOT A SURPRISE PHONE CALL FROM AN OLD COLLEGE FRIEND: MICHAEL KENNEDY (NOW, AGED 81/DOG OWNER)
- 19:00 DECIDED TO GO OFF DOWN THE ROAD TO BUY MY CAT SOME FOOD: BECAUSE I'VE RUN OUT, AGAIN...?!
- 20:00 WENT OUT TO PRACTICE DOING SOME MORE SKIPPING: AGAIN, USING 'ALTERNATE LEGS'...WASN'T TOO SUCCESSFUL
- 21:00 CONCLUSION: GETTING OLDER IS REALLY TOUGH...IT'S SO DIFFICULT/DANGEROUS EVEN TO TRY 'GETTING IN SHAPE'....ONE HAS TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL NOT TO OVERDO IT...?! OTHERWISE, ONE MIGHT FIND ONESELF IN HOSPITAL/OR, EVEN FAR WORSE...DEAD, POSSIBLY
- 22:15 WENT OUT TO PRACTICE DOING SOME MORE SKIPPING: AGAIN, USING 'ALTERNATE LEGS'...THIS TIME HAD SLIGHTLY BETTER SUCCESS
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- 12:00 NOON AWOKE: THINKING ABOUT VISITING TATE BRITAIN
I thought about visiting Tate Britain gallery; but, for some weird reason my mind keeps on getting 'distracted'.
Tate Britain gallery is open from 10:00 AM - 6 PM.
I know if I leave anywhere after 3 PM; then, I don't want to go there anymore...; because I would have missed the rest of the morning/day...; and, just stay for no more than a couple of hours long.
I want to wake up really early...; and, then, go...; in that way, I can get to spend the whole entire day there...; and, not just have to leave -due to closing time- almost as soon as I've turned up.
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- 13:00 MADE BREAKFAST: BAKED BEANS/EGGS/SAUSAGES - SALAD: DICED APPLE/BANNANA/GRAPEFRUIT/DATES - SANDWICH: FRENCH STICK BREAD/WITH COOKHAM SLICES
I feel it's really necessary to eat, properly; because, when I don't...for example, I miss breakfast...then, I find myself needing to 'snack', constantly, nearly all the time.
Then, I look back, and, ask myself whatever went wrong there...? Simple answer, you missed breakfast!
Alongside breakfast, I try and make...
- a bowl of fruit
- a bowl of sandwiches
...these things -(which I place inside of plastic Tupperware with lids on/then, store inside of the fridge)- can be used, later on, at any time during the rest of the day as 'snacks'.
It's important to eat 'healthy'; and, that means paying careful attention to what you eat. I find I can pay a lot more careful attention...by preparing food beforehand.
Rather than pulling out bags of crisps/sweet biscuits/ice cream/-etc.; whilst watching TV/-etc.
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- 13:30 SMART METER/OR, 'SCARY METER', I WONDER...?! MY CURRENT SPENDING ON ELECTRICITY AMOUNTS TO: £3.00 PER DAY/OR, £90.00 MONTHLY/£270.00 QUARTERLY CHARGE
From even since British Gas came an installed a Smart Meter...; I find that whenever I turned something on...such as the electricity to boil a kettle of water...then, the meter just keeps running the bill up and up...?!
It makes one feel very highly reluctant to touch either gas/electric; otherwise, you will be running the bill up even further.
In fact, I find myself starting to call my Smart Meter...the SCARY METER, instead!
It seems to be saying that I'm currently spending £3.00 per day; 10 x £3.00 = £30.00/and, with 30 days in a month...that means 3 x £30 = £90.00 monthly electric bill. No wonder the bills are so damn high. I am charged every quarter...so, 3 x £90 = £270.00; then, they add on VAT + meter standing charge fees/-etc..
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-14:00 WENT OUT TO PRACTICE DOING SOME SKIPPING: THIS TIME USING ALTERNATE LEGS...WASN'T WORKING...GAVE UP
So, I went off outside into the alley way...taking my iPad along with me...in order to make a video recording.
Before, I skipped for around 1 minute long...having both legs together; this time, I wanted to try skipping using a different 'technique'...where one skips using 'alternate legs', instead.
I tried doing 3 separate video recordings...; and, each time, it was a total mess. Basically, I haven't been using the 'alternate legs' skipping technique in a while...; and, frankly, I can't seem to do it very well, anymore. Going to need to put in a lot more practice.
Consequently, I gave up doing any further video recording; and, just came back inside.
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- 17:00 GOT A SURPRISE PHONE CALL FROM AN OLD COLLEGE FRIEND: MICHAEL KENNEDY (NOW, AGED 81/DOG OWNER)
I received a 'surprise' phone call from a guy who I'd met inside of Brixton College...where we were both on an introductory 'web design' course. I couldn't help noticing, that the web pages he was interested in writing was all about 'dogs'.
He said he was looking through his phonebook; when he decided to call up a few names...; and, so that's how he arrived at my own phone number.
I recognised the voice, immediately, right away...; he said he'd gotten a new dog, now...a large shaggy sheep dog. Yes, I do remember that dog...; I saw both him/and, it...at Emmaeus homeless charity shop...when I went there to see if there were any 2nd hand bargains I could find.
-(Before, I recall he had owned 2 dogs...1 x medium size/and, another smaller.)- The story behind it goes...he met an old lady inside of Tivoli Park...and, she said to him if he could keep the dog for her...because she was getting far to old to be able to walk it; to which he agreed.
We spoke about old times for a bit.
He said, one time he had collapsed when walking...; and, his dog had saved him...by licking him around the head to 'revive' him; eventually, his legs felt stronger...and, so, he went off to Kings College hospital in order to get treatment.
When I mentioned that I had reached 60. He mentioned that his age is 81 years old, now. That surprised me...as I never thought he was that old....; however, because he is a regular dog walker...; therefore, he always seemed to be a lot more fit than most.
When I said, at age 60 I was thinking of applying for an over 60's bus travel card. He mentioned he had a FREE bus travel card...; and, he used it to travel all up and down the country...even to Deal where he was born. I think, he is referring to the old people's FREEDOM Pass...which is a different thing entirely; I think, you need to be 65/68 years old to be approved to get that one.
I told him I used to practice drawing...; but, I hadn't drawn anything, recently, anymore; but, I'm always thinking of getting back into it. I knew he loved art...; because, we had both exchanged art books together/and, I also recall giving him 1 or 2 drawings of my own.
Anyway, he invited me over to his house to go visit him...; and, I just answered, I'll be happy to meet with you, casually, as we pass by in the street; but, no, I don't wish to set up any 'fixed' appointment...to which he also agreed.
Next, I said, I need to go down to West Norwood CoOp supermarket to buy my cat some food; and, we both left the conversation there.
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He lives not too very far away from me...on Dorset Road...which is above West Norwood bus garage/and, also, opposite the fire station. Having already been to visit his house on quite a few occasions -(though this is going years back, now)- located near to Tivoli Park...where he walked his dogs...that is, when he had 2. We even walked with the dogs over to Streatham Common to go visit seeing The Rookery.
As I can recall...although, before I had visited his home on multiple occasions/and, he mine, at least, once or twice(this is when my mother was still alive)...we had a bit of a falling out together...; which is when our relationship had ended. The guy tends to get a bit drunk, sometimes; and, can say things he doesn't really mean. Well, after he spoke very badly to me, once...; I just decided I'm not going to let that sort of thing happen ever again. So, I'm definitely not interested in visiting him.
Sometimes, I think, of human relationships as a bit like food from the shops...each comes with a sort of 'sell by date'...; that's to say...there comes a time when one finds it's necessary to 'move on'...; quite honestly, you've totally outgrown being in that relationship...thus, it's of no benefit to you, anymore...just becomes a right pain that you can't even wait to escape from...?! In fact, you find yourself wondering...why the hell did I let myself get caught up in having that relationship in the first place...??? But, me, I generally take people on trust...; until I find they are not trustworthy...; then, that's when I leave.
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-19:00 DECIDED TO GO OFF DOWN THE ROAD TO BUY MY CAT SOME FOOD: BECAUSE, I'VE RUN OUT, AGAIN...?!
Normally, I buy my cat around 3 to 6 months worth of cat food; then, I don't have to worry about that, anymore.
However, of late...the cat food has run out, completely...; and, thus, I find myself having to go run down to the local West Norwood CoOp superstore in order to buy more.
If I had a lot of money, then, I would buy £10.00 worth...which buys a pack of 12 cat food pouches...enough to last 1 week. But, if you choose to buy the cat food, individually, instead...then, the price is £0.85p each. Yesterday, I think, I brought her 2 packets; and, now, today, I've run out, again; so, I need to walk/run down the road to go buy more.
This type of situation is not going to last too long, however...; before I get totally 'sick and tired' of it. I will, at some point, buy her some food in bulk; then, I won't have to worry about needing to run out and purchase more like every single day!
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- 20:00 WENT OUT TO PRACTICE DOING SOME MORE SKIPPING: AGAIN, USING 'ALTERNATE LEGS'...WASN'T TOO SUCCESSFUL
This is the 2nd time I've tried doing this same skipping exercise, today; and, just like the 1st time...I seem to be having loads of difficulties co-ordinating both hands/feet; which, in turn, means...I can only skip 2/3/or, 4 times...without the rope entangling either around my head/legs...?!
Looking on the good side, however...after attempting to skip say 10 or so times...just once/or, twice...I managed to get way with making 10 skips in a row...before the entanglement came. So, that sort of gives me some hope of possible future improvements.
However, looking back at how easily I used to do this same exercise in the past...; skipping for minutes and minutes long...without the rope getting entangled; then, I really just CANNOT believe how difficult the exercise has become for me to do, now-a-days...?!
All the time, going on inside of the background is my fear of, possibly, having a heart attack/-etc. It is, indeed, a 'dangerous' thing getting older...; especially, if you are not careful to monitor/and, control yourself...what you 'think' you can do...and, what you can, actually, do...I'm afraid, isn't always the same...?!
I still remember the 70 year old guy who was attempting to do his 'black belt' test...; and, instead, fell down and had a heart attack...and, thus, died. I do NOT wish to end up like him; instead, I'd rather switch to doing something less heartbeat strenuous like stretching/Yoga; but, for now, at least, I'm still working on improving my stamina.
I swear, if I tried running just say 25 yards...not only am I 'aware' that I'm running most incredibly 'slow'...5-10 mph, at most...; and, that I'd also be totally and completely out of breath...! None of these very highly bitter experiences...does bode really well for me, in future.
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- 21:00 CONCLUSION: GETTING OLDER IS REALLY TOUGH...IT'S SO DIFFICULT/DANGEROUS EVEN TO TRY 'GETTING IN SHAPE'....ONE HAS TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL NOT TO OVERDO IT...?! OTHERWISE, ONE MIGHT FIND ONESELF IN HOSPITAL/OR, EVEN FAR WORSE...DEAD, POSSIBLY
As a person who has done some 'keep fit' for virtually all my life...through childhood/adult hood/middle age...I think, it's fair to say I know quite a lot about exercising: Yoga, dance, gymnastics, martial arts, distance walking, running, riding a bike/-etc.
But, I have to admit...I was never a keep fit 'fanatic'. Instead, my habit has always been to 'start and stop'...'start and stop'...that's why I never actually made it to the top...; but, instead, stayed a complete 'beginner' all my life.
Exercise involves...
- deep breathing
- meditation
- stretching
- technique/strong focus (study/understanding)
- rhythmic and repetitive movements (Karate kata/shadow boxing/-etc.) in order to improve
- strength
- stamina
- food: eating/drinking 'healthy'
- positive thinking (good words/good thoughts/good deeds)
...so, as one can see from reading the list above...far from simple...exercise can be really quite 'complex', in fact.
When I was younger...I felt I could better handle it a whole lot more, effectively. But, now, that I'm older...60+...I must confess that I'm finding doing exercise, effectively...and, more important, sticking with it, gets increasingly harder and harder.
I have done...
- no press up's
- no sit up's
- no leg raises
- no splits
- no head stands/no hand stands
- no running around the block
...there is so much that I just didn't bother to do, anymore; and, I seem to find it really hard to motivate myself enough to 'want' to.
And, going on top of all this...is the fact that I'm 'scared' the body can't really take it anymore...? Like I don't want anything to, quite suddenly, snap/or, break...; one has to try and go as 'gently' as is possible.
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- 22:15 WENT OUT TO PRACTICE DOING SOME MORE SKIPPING: AGAIN, USING 'ALTERNATE LEGS'...THIS TIME HAD SLIGHTLY BETTER SUCCESS
I went out for the 3rd time today...into the public alleyway...to practice doing 'alternate leg' skipping.
This time, I'm happy to report...the effort was not so bad; meaning, sure, there were times when the rope got entangled; but, there was, at least, some improvement being made in terms of 'hand/foot' co-ordination.
My honest feeling, now, is...I can re-learn how to skip...; but, it's just going to take a certain amount of, time/effort/patience.
I'm not too sure about going out in public, and, doing it, though; as I fear somebody is going to challenge me, either sooner or later...?
What I might have to do is clear a pathway inside of the backgarden...; where I can practice doing skipping in 'private'...and, not engender so much attention from out of the general public.
One young guy asked me...as he passed by the alley way...what are you doing there? I said, I'm learning to skip; and, just laughed.
Another guy came pass to do a Pizza delivery...to the next door neighbours.
A next alternative might be to walk up to the park; and, practice doing skipping there...; at least, in the park...where a lot of people go to do exercise...you don't quite tend to stand out so much...as when you are doing skipping inside of a public alleyway...where everybody else is just walking.
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