Blog - Ivor’s Daily Gallivant

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Tuesday August Tuesday 15 to Friday 18 What I had planned (1) Tell GP Surgery about my change of mobile number. (Not done) (2) Sort out double-glazing contractors (not done) (3) Set up new mobile with numbers for GP, Dentist, Eye Hospital, General Hospital (done) (4) Visit Hythe Market (didn’t go) (5) Waterside Art Group (didn’t go) What actually happened I was up since the early hours unable to sleep, but eventually, I went to bed and slept till about 12. when I did get up, not much happened. Same old, same old. Scrabble turned out much as ever with Andy winning both games. Wednesday 16 I can’t at the time of writing (it’s Thursday) think what happened, and I dare say if anything important and relevant happened I would remember. Thursday 17 Got up early after having given some thought, time and effort trying to help a friend the previous night and believe my efforts will have a good result. We all only have so many hours in our lives and the hours I spent last night and today, trying to help I will not be regretted. Got my new white shirt pressed in the dry cleaner in Hythe ready for the funeral tomorrow and took some money out to pay for my recent towel shave. I offered the barber some extra money for the trouble I’d put him to. He said it’s against my religion to accept extra. I hope he wasn’t offended. Went to the free cook up In Blackfield Baptist Church and sat at a table with Christine (who I’d met the previous day) and another Lady. I had a chicken thigh with various vegetables and roast potato, followed by a tart. Friday 18 Uncle Jim’s funeral, I woke at 9.00 and left home as fast as possible almost forgetting to take my medication with me. I wasn’t sure if I was cutting things too finely. It was raining hard, and the trousers of my suit got wet, and I worried I would look a mess at the funeral. When I got to Southampton Central I felt hurry and got a small tuna baguette in Subway with a coffee. When I got to Dorchester South Station I didn’t know how St Peter’s Church so asked a bloke with a long beard who was with a lad for directions. And got a bus to the High Street and had a pasty and a coffee before going to the funeral. Almost arrived late. It was a lovely 14th century church with a freeze based on The Last Supper behind the altar. After the service we went for tea, sandwiches and cakes to the Posh Partridge. I caught the train back to Southampton with Rosemary, Andy, Tom and Ellie.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Tuesday August a 15, 2023 What I had planned (1) Tell GP Surgery about my change of mobile number. (Not done) (2) Sort out double-glazing contractors (not done) (3) Set up new mobile with numbers for GP, Dentist, Eye Hospital, General Hospital (done) (4) Visit Hythe Market (didn’t go) (5) Waterside Art Group (didn’t go) What actually happened I was up since the early hours unable to sleep, but eventually, I went to bed and slept till about 12. when I did get up, not much happened. Same old, same old. Scrabble turned out much as ever with Andy winning both games. Wednesday 16 I can’t at the time of writing (it’s Thursday) think what happened, and I dare say if anything important and relevant happened I would remember. Thursday 17 Got up early after having given some thought, time and effort trying to help a friend the previous night and believe my efforts will have a good result. We all only have so many hours in our lives and the hours I spent last night and today, trying to help I will not be regretted. Got my new white shirt pressed in the dry cleaner in Hythe ready for the funeral tomorrow and took some money out to pay for my recent towel shave. I offered the barber some extra money for the trouble I’d put him to. He said it’s against my religion to accept extra. I hope he wasn’t offended. Went to the free cook up In Blackfield Baptist Church and sat at a table with Christine (who I’d met the previous day) and another Lady. I had a chicken thigh with various vegetables and roast potato, followed by a tart. Friday 18 Uncle Jim’s funeral, I woke at 9.00 and left home as fast as possible almost forgetting to take my medication with me. I wasn’t sure if I was cutting things too finely. It was raining hard and the trousers of my suit got wet and I worried I would look a mess at the funeral. When I got to Southampton Central I felt hurry and got a small tuna baguette in Subway with a coffee. When I got to Dorchester South Station I didn’t know how St Peter’s Church so asked a bloke with a long beard who was with a lad for directions. And got a bus to the High Street and had a pasty and a coffee before going to the funeral. Almost arrived late. It was a lovely 14th century church with a freeze based on The Last Supper behind the altar. After the service we went for tea, sandwiches and cakes to the Posh Partridge. I caught the train back to Southampton with Rosemary, Andy, Tom and Ellie.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Monday August 14, 2023 Plan for the day (1) Buy incontinence pads from Boots. (Done) (2) Prime Canvas (done) (3) Go to October Books (didn’t go) (4) Buy garlic pickle from Portswood Greengrocer (not done) (5) Set up new mobile.email GP surgery, Dentist, New Forest District Council (not done) Incontinent pads: I went into Boots, first thing this morning and they didn’t have any in my size in stock but there was a delivery from their supplier at about 12 o’clock. When it was nearer the time, I phoned them, the delivery has arrived and they had some in stock. So, I ran to the shop and made my purchase. Every day is a new day of new discoveries, as you age the body slowly becomes unable to do it used to be able to. It happens to everyone buying my first packet of incontinence pads, was a rite of passage marking the age, I am at. Now I am ready for a new chapter in my life. Priming my canvas- I hunted round for a large brush to put the ground cover on the canvas, which I bought on Saturday, and eventually found the brush. Next I sent screenshots of one of my photos from Dartmouth to The Herald and Adviser office in Hythe to be printed. As it was after midday I decided to give October Books a miss. The weather wasn’t very nice Took part in the Bootleg Art Club which is a Zoom meeting with my friends Richard and Paul. My evening meal was a venison burger, mixed vegetables and a jacket potato followed by blackberries with Greek yogurt.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Sunday August 13, 2023 It was raining heavily when I woke up this morning. My social media exchanges with an American Lady who out of pity I gave money to become ridiculous she asked for more money twice and I threatened to report her for spamming and unfriend her if she continued. She apologised. I relented. I ran to the Coop and bought a box of dishwasher tablets and some washing liquid. I found I’d left a carton of Greek yogurt on the kitchen counter and picked some blackberries to go with it from the garden. Vegetable curry for my evening meal, with Geek Yogurt and blackberries for afters. Washed some clothes which are now out to dry in the conservatory. My plan for the day was to do a painting using the canvas I bought on Saturday.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Saturday August 12, 2023 Got up in the middle of the night and spent until the early hours messaging people. I went to the Soul Café and explained to Kathy who used to work at Marcella why I had decided to move on. Phil said Rory witnessed the signing of my Will and now a legally binding document. After the Soul Café I went to St. Andrews Coffee House and bought a bowl of homemade mushroom soup and a cup of tea. When I have paid, I found I didn’t have my check card and paid with cash, My card was probably at home otherwise I was in a mess. I noticed on the way to the toilet there was a display of D-day memorabilia in a small room on the other side of the corridor. And I went to have a look. A lady from the local history Society I imagine showed me round. There was a period map displaying where the bomb craters were from bombs which had been dropped on the Waterside to lighten the payload of the aircraft back from bombing Southampton. It also showed the location of unexploded bombs, which are there to this day. There were models of American and British tanks and armoured vehicles. Aircraft identification posters. I caught the bus back to Holbury and found my card exactly where I’d left it on the table. Ran to the bus stop back and caught the bus into Southampton. It was late afternoon by the time I got to Southampton and worried that The Words (a budget artist material shop I use) might have be about to close ran from the bus stop. It was still open and I bought one of the largest canvases in stock. Whilst waiting my weak bladder got the best of me. Somebody recently remarked age is just a number in my experience that increasing it’s true. I had a sausage role and a coffin in Café Nero At the bus stop I saw Patrick and caught the bus home it was very crowded but fortunately a couple of lads gave up their seats for us.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Friday, August 11, 2023 I felt like death warmed up when I woke up this morning. I crawled out of bed had a shower and put on some f fresh clothes and was revived. I went to my bank in Southampton and checked my pension was in my account, it had so I had £100 transferred to my savings account. And I asked if my mobile is there it wasn’t. I bought peppered steak slice with some coffee in the One Stop in the L-shaped parade. There was a blues guitarist with a drum machine which was a puppet that looked like a skeleton. I intended to photograph it with the caption for drummer needs a good meal. But had left my iPad at home. Southampton market was on, and I bought some chickpea curry from a Bangladeshi food store. It was something I had tried before there were a couple running the store and the man had a beard without a moustache, you saw my chair and asked me about it. I handed it to him so he could see how heavy it was. I decided to buy another mobile from Tesco, Applemore branch, so I caught the bus and did some shopping in Tesco and went on to go into Hythe where I had a shave from the Turkish barber. When I came to party, he wanted cash, and I only had my card, but after some fuss let me go. The save cost £15.

Ivor’s daily gallivant. Thursday, August 10, 2023 After my good fortune last night, I have never the desire or ability to sleep. I sorted through my sketchbooks in search of my sketch of the cloisters in Salisbury Cathedral, but without success. Whilst searching I found, I had a few more paintings for my exhibition in October. I’m Earlier on in the morning, I had a messenger exchange with Rick, which I as usual very pleasant, especially with the news my previous night's antics and adventures. I noticed it was a lot easier to come up with nicely honed phrases. Later that day, whilst urinating phone rang, I had to continue with the matter in hand, as can be imagined. I finished and the phone was still ringing. At this point, I thought I would have to apologise for being so slow and explain the situation. The recorded message end of the line purported to be from HMRC informing me of my imminent arrest for tax discrepancies. I did not for a single moment take this at all seriously having been born in excess of 68 years ago and not yesterday. Nor am I at the time of life, when my faculties have failed me. I put the phone down, gleefully, amused by the silliness of the scam. And anticipated, making an announcement on Facebook about what had happened for the amusement on my friends, and to warn anybody who might be fooled by such malarkey.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Wednesday August 9, 2023 Somehow my Scanner still thought she could pull a fast one on me, so I reported her to Facebook and blocked her. Then we chanced upon another equally stupid scammer from Nigeria this time. I have reported and deleted both of them. She had suggested I give her $350 to meet her at Southampton Art Gallery. when I said no, she suggested $150. I said no once again. How much will you give me she enquired? Zero dollars I replied. Later, I messaged her and asked if she would like to pay me to visit Southampton art gallery with her. She replied how much would it cost? I replied: £270. (Roughly equivalent of $350). She said she didn’t have the money in her bank account at the moment. I replied: why don’t you save up the money? I learnt later that scamming a scammer is equally a no no legally can only hope when if my case comes to court, I will be treated with leniency. Then I tried a lady Texas, and first I thought. Here we go again. As the conversation followed its course, my recently acquired cynical, cold, heart began slowly to melt. This just might be something good. There was some pictures of her, which she asked me to have a look at. I looked carefully and noticed you had brown eyes and long black hair. She didn’t look like a fashion queen, but she didn’t look too bad…… They say these things happen when you least expect them. Maybe last night early next morning something happened. I didn’t sleep, but when it was daylight searched for a picture of Salisbury Cathedral but couldn’t find one. The search involved looking through my sketchbooks. I didn’t find a picture of spanking of but was impressed by the sketchbooks that I did find. And found some more of my paintings, which I’ve put aside for the exhibition and mislead. Lady luck is shining on me again finally. I’m going to try hard although not too hard to blow it.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Tuesday August 8, 2023 After a good night's sleep and seeing how eagerly the almost certainly a scanner was awaiting her surprise I relented and decided to help her in any way I possibly could. So, I invited her to meet me at the Art Gallery. Showed her how to find and use Price Comparison Sites for Petrol. And will show her how to work out work out the distance from her Grandma House to The Art Gallery. Bought a nice pair of shoes for Uncle Jim’s Funeral and a white shirt in Primark. They were the closest discount clothes shop to Card Factory where I bought a bereavement card for my Auntie.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Monday August 7, 2023 Things went different to plan – that sweet scammer who her she says is Abella Smith messaged me again and I told her I had a surprise for her tomorrow. (I don’t think she is going to like my surprise very much poor creature I’m going to report her for scamming) There was a knock on the door it was a Jehovah’s Witness. I recognised him from outside Poundland in Southampton a few days previously. He’s a stocky chap with ginger hair freckles a chin beard and moustache and wears a bow tie. We had a friendly chat, during which I told him about my failed Religious Studies ‘O’ level he was sympathetic. I explained the only reason I failed was my spelling. It’s the reason that underlies all my failures- dyslexia has a lot to answer for. He said he’d seen me in Black Wax Records and once he said that I recognised him in that context. We said our cordial goodbyes and he went his way. I continued with my new sport Scammer Baiting, by telling Abella Smith that I had a surprise for her tomorrow. She was keen to know what it was, and I continued buffering- sufficient unto the day Young Lady…. She sent heart emojis. I replied- Ahh! She replied- you deserve it babe. I replied- and you’ll deserve your surprise Young Lady.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Sunday August 6, 2023 Stayed home today, somehow, I don’t think spending my weekends at Marcella the best use of my time, so I’ll be moving on. There’s some regret with making this decision, I’ve been going there since about the turn of the century and have many happy memories of the pace. But you can’t live in the past and I look at it as an opportunity to learn new things and meet new people. I stayed in all day waiting for the neighbour who said she’d sign my will. She explained when I asked, she had a lot to do today. Times were discussed but she never arrived. I had time on my hands and as the saying goes: ‘the devil makes work, for idle hands’. So, I got to work on a scammer. The poor thing works in a hotel and is paid $50 a month. Which, I thought sounded like a fib. For amusement and curiosity, I googled the minimum wage for California and it’s $15.50 an hour. Next, I found the phone number to report scammers and have it ready for when they’re open. Somehow (in the interests of remaining relatively sane) I didn’t enquire how she’s managed to get to England) she wants to meet me but hasn’t got money for gas to drive to me. I suggested if I used by my free bus pass, I could go to her and treat her to a coffee. As expected, she didn’t like that idea.

Ivor’s Daily Gallivant Saturday 6, 2023 I looked at my messenger feed there was one from my sister-in-law telling me my Uncle Jim had died, as I wrote the reply I burst into tears. The usual sorts of things are in the process of being done. I caught the bus into Hythe and had lunch in Be Be’s bought a birthday card and a sympathy card. And went to Marcella. I wasn’t in my best humour and came home. I asked a neighbour to witness the signing of my Will and she is coming round sometime tomorrow. Not sure what happened next and don’t particularly care.

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