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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     1

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. 

 

Fri 280121 Visited Brixton/Brockwell Park/West Norwood GPO/-etc. Black guy accused me of stealing my own bike...?!

THU 270121 YESTERDAY, SENT TO BRITISH GAS MY LATEST METER READING FOR BOTH GAS/ELECTRICITY

£375+ Gas 

£180+ Electric 

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£555+ Total balance

I knew, then, I would have to go and make an urgent withdrawal, soon.

FRI 280121 

2:30 PM VISITED BRIXTON TO MAKE AN  URGENT WITHDRAWAL

I woke up 'late'...knowing from yesterday that I had to go down to Brixton to make a withdrawal; so many bills need paying.

I arrived in Brixton just before 3 PM...and, made the necessary withdrawal.

3:30 PM BROCKWELL PARK

I decided to ride through Brockwell Park on the way back home. In  there I saw a tall white guy practicing doing some boxing...; he had tied up a small bouncy 'top and bottom' bag...by tying up some string to both the top wood/concrete floor; and, was practicing hitting it. 

With some caution I dismounted my bike, and, slowly moved in closer...you never quite know how a stranger will react when you interrupt their training. Luckily, for me, the guy was very friendly...I said to him, "I wondered how you managed to tie up the bag like that...as I want to tie one up myself at home." He explained that he had used a 'bent nail' on the floor/and, so on. 

I really wanted to ask him if it was ok for me to have a go playing on the boxing equipment, too; but, in a Covid 19 time...I felt that might be pushing my luck too far, possibly. So, I simply thanked him, and, very quickly left. In fact, what I really wanted to do was to ask him if we could engage in a bout of 'light' sparring...; but, again, with a complete stranger -he did look in some shape- you never quite know exactly how good they are/nor how aggressive their sparring is likely to be. Some people tend to lose their temper really quite quickly and easily. Basically, I decided to leave it there...thinking to myself...maybe, I will see him another day; then, we can talk further.

4 PM BROUGHT SOME COCONUT SHY FROM THE JAMAICAN TULSE HILL SHOP/(NEAR TO GREGGS CAKE SHOP)

 I walked into the Jamaican shop near to Greggs just above Tulse Hill. I ordered 6 Coconut Shy's. The woman server told me what I was pointing at was not Coconut Shy; so, I said if she could give me 5 Coconut Shy's and 1 of the other things. In all I paid her £10.00.

When I arrived back home...much to my surprise she had packed 5 x Coconut icing cakes & 1 x Coconut Shy. Well, the truth is, I like to eat both...so, I didn't bother to return back anything.

4:15 PM BROUGHT 4 x BAGS OF RICE FROM THE HALAL SHOP

A little bit more up the road is a Halal grocery store where I often go to buy food. This time I decided to order 4 x bags of 'easy cook' rice costing £1.99 each.

4:30 PM WENT TO WEST NORWOOD POST OFFICE TO MAKE A DEPOSIT ONTO MY CARD

I walked into West Norwood post office...where I made a deposit onto my card. (Will need to use that deposit to make certain payments due at the end of the month.)

5 PM BROUGHT 2 X BOXES OF CHICKEN WINGS AND CHIPS (FROM THE SHOP OPPOSITE WEST NORWOOD TRAIN STATION) 

I brought 2 x boxes of Chicken Wings and chips from the shop across the road from West Norwood train station for £3.00 each. I would have brought just 1 box, alone; only the minimum payment by card is £4.00/thus, I felt force to buy 2, instead.

STRANGE INCIDENT, BLACK GUY ACCUSED ME OF STEALING HIS BIKE

As I was waiting from my box of Chicken Wings & Chips to be made up. Before I walked into the shop, I noticed some black boys looking at me rather strangely from across the road...they look at everyone strangely attempting to 'intimidate' them, I guess...to see who will be afraid or not...I decided to just totally 'ignore' them. 

All of a sudden, a black boy...judging from his accent, I would say of African descent...of slim build/aged somewhere around 20-30, possibly. About my same height...slightly less...5ft 6 to 7 inches. (I really should have taken much more careful note of his details...such as clothes he was wearing...was he wearing a scarf/head wear/trousers/coat/foot wear/-etc.; but, the truth is, I just didn't want to know...or, engage with him...nevermind, even look at him.)

He asked me, how long have you had your bike for? I told him a year or two. He next responded that somebody had stolen his bike...and, my bike looked exactly like his. I looked him straight in the eye, and, told him really quite honestly, "I never stole anybody's bike in my entire life." I said, "I had brought my bike legitimately from Brixton Halfords bike shop. The cost was £350.00; and, I had traded in another bike to receive a discount."

After which he picked up his mobile phone...and, proceeded to show me a photo of a similar 'Carrera' named bike; only that one was 'blue'; so, I told him my bike is 'black'; his response to that was, 'bikes can be painted over." 

Realising that this guy was not going to quit...I immediately got fed up...and, told him, repeatedly, "Call the police! Call the police!" His reply to that was, there was no need to get the police involved. 

Finally, I said, "I don't have to talk to you. I don't even know you!" 

After which I took my Chicken Wings and Chips and left.

At that point, the guy seem to shut up; and, left me alone.

What's really weird about these incidents is, you never quite know how it's going to end; the guy could be mentally ill.../or, just a gang member looking for a fight...once it starts off, all of the rest of his friends can join in. The other aspect is...you really don't know if this 'younger' guy will be a good fighter or not/or, what his level of fighting ability/experience is...will he draw out a weapon such as a  knife/(or, will his friends)....it's very difficult to tell. Only, afterwards, can you be 100% certain about what's going to happen, next...; otherwise, it's simply 'touch and go', and, basically, living by a hair's breath.

I walked back home...all the time being really careful to keep on looking backwards...to see if I was being followed all the way home; but, I didn't see anyone. 

Fri 181220 Brought statue at Emmaeus. Streatham Job Centre/Renewed my 6 month bus travel discount pass(unregistered).

9 AM VISITED EMMAEUS, AGAIN...TO BUY £4.00 STATUE

I re-visited Emmaeus at 9 AM; they actually open up at 9:30 AM...but, the lady who knows my face very well...let me in early to go buy the 'female nude' statue I saw, yesterday, for £4.00/(I gave her 8 x 0.50p coins).

9:30 AM PHONED STREATHAM JOB CENTRE TO INQUIRE ABOUT RENEWING TRAVEL PASS

I phoned Streatham job centre to inquire about buying myself a brand new travel pass. 

However, the lady that answered said this was the Universal Credit phone number; and, how did I get it? I told her that's the number I saw written down on my Streatham job centre 'sign on' card.

She said she would do some inquires to find out who it's best to contact. When she came back to the phone...she said, I must give her my details such as: name/phone number/National Insurance number; and, she would get in contact with Streatham Job Centre...who would, then, later on, post me a form to sign. I told her I'd rather go in person to Streatham Job Centre...and, sign the form there the very same day. She said they would be waiting for me in 1 hour; but, I must also have 2 passport sized photos available.

10 AM VISITED WEST NORWOOD POST OFFICE/BROUGHT 6 TRAIN ID PHOTOS FOR £5.00

I visited West Norwood post office where I brought 6 x train travel ID photos for £5.00(the machine swallowed a whole £5 note).

The photos were delivered really 'quick'; (though, I had to stick my hand in the top of the machine to find it...as the photos didn't just fall down).

10:30 AM STREATHAM JOB CENTRE/RENEWED 6 MONTHLY TRAVEL PASS

Soon after getting my photos from the GPO; I went riding my bike off to Streatham Job Centre...where I told them my name; and, that I'd also made an appointment. 

They got a person to see to me...a short Indian man/with long hair. He fetched a travel form for me to go and fill in. I filled it in...and, he said the post office themselves would take care of the photos part. 

11:AM STREATHAM POST OFFICE/ATOP WH SMITH/RENEWED TRAVEL PASS

From the job centre; I went along Streatham High Road...until I came to WH Smith shop/the GPO is above it. 

I went upstairs...and, got my travel card renewed. One more step to do, though; which is to get the travel card registered.

11:30 AM WENT WEST NORWOOD/YORK HILL PICTURE SHOP/BROUGHT 2 x SETS OF PICTURE HOOKS

I went to West Norwood picture shop...which is at the bottom of York Hill; and, inside there I brought 2 sets of picture hooks (to hang up pictures on the wall). I would have brought 1 @ £1.99; but, the lady at the till said...£4.00 is the minimum spend; this forced me to buy 2.

12:00 MIDDAY I BROUGHT A SAUSAGE ROLL IN GREGS FOR £1

I went to Greggs cake shop where I brought a 'hot' sausage roll costing £1.00.

12:15 PM BROUGHT COCONUT DROPS IN JAMAICAN SHOP

I brought for £1.50 some coconut drops inside of the Jamaican shop; which is next to Gregg's cake shop.

12:30 PM BROUGHT 1 BEEF PATTY INSIDE OF THE JAMAICAN SHOP

I brought 1 beef patty inside of the Jamaican shop opposite West Norwood post office...costing £1.70(I gave them a £2.00 coin...which was all the money I had left...apart from a single 0.50p).

1 AM  VISITED WEST NORWOOD CEMETARY

I visited West Norwood Cemetary...; it wasn't easy to find my mum and aunt's grave; not since they wet and chopped down the two trees that used to lie either side of the head stone.  

Nevertheless, eventually, I did manage to identify it...by picking up the overturned green plastic wreath...; it said, 'mum'...but, the flowers had completely gone.

I stayed there to say a prayer or two; and, also, prayed for the whole family who died. Dear God, may they all RIP.

Afterwards, I eat both my hot sausage roll...which had gone totally cold. I also ate the Jamaican beef patty which was still hot, fortunately.

1:40 PM RETURNED BACK HOME

I returned back home...at around 1:40 PM

When I returned back home...it was to go take a 'quick' rest...; have a cup of tea/and, also, eat...I ate the Jamaican coconut drops.

Right now, the time is 2:41...and, it's far too late for me to go to Brixton to go pick up my bike from Brixton Halfords...as the bank is closed...and, I need to arrive there before 3 PM. There is no way I'm going to be able to make it there in less that 10 minutes time. (The bike repairs cost £77.00.)

This all means, I shall have to pick up my bike, tomorrow, from Brixton; and, at the same time, I will be able to register my bus travel pass at Brixton tube station.

-(NOTE: I did try registering my travel pass at Wolfington Road newsagents/and, also, at the newsagents opposite West Norwood train station; and, both of these places said they would not accept registration there.)-

 

Thu 171220 Visited Emmaeus charity shop/Topped up electric key meter at GPO

5 AM WENT AND COLLECTED NEWSPAPER FROM WEST NORWOOD TRAIN STATION

At around 5 AM early morning, I went down the road to go dump some rubbish.

Then, afterwards, I went to collect a newspaper from West Norwood train station. When I arrived there, I noticed that the papers were for yesterday, Wednesday; I decided to collect up a whole bunch of them in order to practice doing some drawing on. In all I must have collected around 20 newspapers.

6 AM WENT BACK TO WEST NORWOOD TRAIN STATION TO COLLECT THE 'LATEST' NEWSPAPER

At around 6 AM I had to revisit West Norwood train station to pick up the 'latest' newspaper...meaning a copy for today, Thursday.

10 AM WENT TO VISIT EMMAUS CHARITY SHOP

Earlier, during my visit to West Norwood train station...I had seen through the shop window glass...as ancient looking female nude sculpture...around 1 foot tall; and, I had made up my mind that I wanted to buy it...so long as it was under £10.00.

So, when Emmaeus had opened...I went to take a much closer look at the sculpture...which cost £4.00; but, I couldn't quite make up my mind whether to buy it or not.../or else, wait for something far better in quality to come along...? Therefore, I left the shop without actually buying anything.

10:30 AM WEST NORWOOD POST OFFICE/BROUGHT £10.00 KEY ELECTRICITY (DOWNSTAIRS LIGHTING)

My electric key meter was fast running out...I think, there was around £2.00 left...something like that?!

So, I had to go and top up the electric key at West Norwood Post Office.

10:45 AM BROUGHT 2 X LAMB PATTIES FROM JAMAICAN SHOP

I brought 2 x Lamb patties from the Jamaican shop opposite West Norwood Post Office. The cost was something like £3.xx.

11 AM BROUGHT £3/10 X CHICKEN WINGS

At the shop opposite West Norwood train station...I brought £3.00 worth box of chicken wings/10 x chicken wings altogether..

    

Wed 161220 Going to collect my bike from Brixton Halfords...

11:02 PM BIKE COLLECTION FROM BRIXTON HALFORDS

Last week, Saturday, Brixton Halfords told me my bike is fixed...and, so, it is now ready to go and collect.

They also mentioned the charge to pick it up is £77.00 (approximately). 

This means, I'm going to have to withdraw some money from out of my bank a/c.; and, then, afterwards go and pay to collect the bike.

I would have gone and collected the bike, immediately, straight away on Saturday...if I thought I could afford to do that...; but, the truth is, I don't have that sort of money to spare; the money I do have left is meant to be used to pay for other things...

- The house has got, at least, 4 serious leaks going on in the roofing. This means, I must hire roofers to put up scaffolding...and, fix those leaks; which, I'm sure, is going to cost a fortune...possibly, £100's/if not £1000's...?!

- My mum and aunt's grave stone still have to be paid for...that's another £1,000.00 cost.

- I need to pay to do courses which involve serious online learning...an offer I saw today at Eduonix...lifetime courses access...was for £550.00. (I want to become a 'professional' programmer.)

- I desperately want to get an iPad Pro/with pencil...cost: £1500.00. (I want to become a 'professional artist'.)

- Etc.

Too, I got to think about having enough money left to pay all of the other regular incoming bills...

• - TV
• - Internet
• - Phone
• - Gas
• - Electric
• - Water Rate
• - Council Tax
• - Credit card bills
• - Etc.

For these reasons...due to lack of having sufficient funds...I'm, sometimes, tempted to gamble -(which is a total illusion/as most often I lose)-; or else, I just try my best to spend money very 'slowly', indeed.

 

 

 

Fri 111220 Bike gone for Halfords repairs/Walked home from Brixton/Fitness level: poor!

11:30 AM WENT TO BRIXTON HALFORDS TO HAND IN BIKE TO BE REPAIRED

At around 9:00 AM I received a phone call from Brixton Halfords bike shop; stating they had ordered certain parts for my bike which had arrived; therefore, I should bring the bike in as soon as possible.

At around 11:30 AM I left home with the intention to go and visit Brixton Halfords; -(cut through Brockwell Park...where I say 2 guys practicing doing some boxing pad work)-; when I arrived there...I gave them my bike to fix; had to leave it...they said they might fix it some time over the weekend.

12:00 MIDDAY VISITED CURRY'S 

The electrical superstore, Curry's is located next door to Brixton Halfords. So, I decided to go and in and look...just to see what are the 'latest' in electrical items on offer to buy there/and, also, for what price?

I didn't actually buy anything; but, must have spent a whole hour just looking. I saw huge TV's...with new technology: NANO screens/OLED/UHD/-etc. All too expensive for me to even 'think' about buying.

I also saw other stuff...

- Sound bars

- Computers: Laptops/Desktops

- Phones

- iPad 

- Printers

- TV Ariel's

- House monitor devices

- Fridges

- etc.

1 PM WALKED HOME FROM BRIXTON

Because there was no money left on my bus Oyster pass; therefore, I had no other choice but to walk home from Brixton.

I decided to walk back home the way I came...which was to walk through Brockwell Park.

This time I exited through Trinity Rise...went over to the Library...asked if there was any 'new' timetable...the receptionist said not until next year.

I then walked towards Hillsbury Road...past Hillsbury Park; spoke to the guy who runs the pet shop on Amesbury Avenue...asked him how much it would cost to buy a large bag of 'cat litter'? His reply was anything between: £10-£20.  

After that, I just continued walking home coming up Leigham Court Road. 

CONCLUSION

The walking experience taught me just how 'unfit' I am...I can hardly walk...nevermind, run! When I was in the park...and, saw people running by me...I didn't even bother to join in...as I felt I need to get my 'walking legs' strong, first; before I can ever consider developing my 'running legs'.

I'm trying to study computer programming at home by just watching the computer screen...; but, no, that approach just isn't working, I'm afraid...; namely, you don't learn anything at all if you don't actually do it 'hands on'. 

Also, I need to get some sort of fitness routine together...by which I mean stretch...; my body feels so stiff all over going from head down to toe...that I can hardly move at all.