Diary 8th To 12th February 2020

Tweet

Diary - Saturday 8th February 2020 - I spent most of the day preparing for my trip to Manchester for my 58th birthday celebrations. The weather was nice but I was worried by reports of major storms expected on my birthday itself. Sunday 9th February - Sure enough I woke to freezing cold, high winds and heavy rain. I had a taxi ride to the train station as buses start out much later here on Sundays. At the train station the platform was very cold, the train was delayed due to trees falling on the tracks and the warm waiting room area was locked (they opened it about ten minutes before the train arrived). The train ride went smoothly enough though I noticed on catching the tram for my Mum's that some trams were delayed and others cancelled due to the raging storms. I warned friends who would be using them to join me later in the day. I had a lovely visit to my mum's and got a taxi to the bar and restaurant complex, Manchester Printworks, where I'd be joining my friends. Some met me in the pub, others came to the Peachy Keen's International buffet all you can eat. I got lots of cards and some friends gave me cash too, as did my mum. The food was lovely and I was full before getting to try about a third of the meal options available. We went to another bar after the meal and I got a delayed train home, arriving in Preston about 8pm. Buses were now running and I came home by one. A big thanks to everyone for a very special day. Over 100 people sent me birthday messages on Facebook too. Monday 10th - I stayeed in all day as the weather was still terrible. Tuesday 11th - I I got an excessive demand for council tax payments reduced but they demand I pay the amount needed by them by the end of this month even though it covers up to the 1st April. I also saw my welfare officer who will see me again in early March. She at least reimbursed my expenses from a training course she sent me on recently. Wednesday 12th February - Booked my next blood-pressure appointment when they also insist on doing blood tests on me. I hate needles. A friend organizing a lake district writing group event for later in the year wants a deposit for the boking. Happy to send it but my online banking service bombarded me with password checks, pinged a code to my phone that I had to key in and then demanded I use a card reading machine I don't have to complete he transaction. I have to go to the bank to sort that out now. Stupid. Arthur Chappell