10 Nov 2026

10.11.2026 "We can't help you!"

 ~?~

  Tuesday 10th 41F/5C [8.15] Grey, showers and some sunshine promised. Peaking at 7C/45F late afternoon. SW winds increasing slowly.

 Up at 7.40 after what felt like hours lying awake. 21C/71F in the room. I have increased the remote to 21C. It went over 24C last night. So I had reduced the setting.

 I had a chat with the germ ridden git. Aka: The Minder. She who carries the "pointy stick!" As a re-education tool for any misbehaviour on my part. As if!

 Unable to complete the form, which had arrived in the post, I drove to my bank in town. I carried the form and enough supporting paperwork to ensure the skilled banking personnel could answer my questions. She went off to her computer and tapped away. Returning after a couple of minutes: "We can't help you." She said repeatedly. As a lot of staff hung about chatting. Waiting for the long hours to pass. I was the only customer in the branch. Nice work if you can get it. If I desperately hoped she would canvas these layabouts in the hope of some further insight. I was to be bitterly disappointed.

 So then I drove home again and rang the "other" bank involved in the form's request for tranfer of funds. From a third party no less. Over 20 minutes waiting on the phone. "Our tireless workers are all busy." Repeated at at two second intervals in Danish. A young lady answered eventually. While I had ample time to make coffee and a marmalade laden wholemeal [38%] bread roll. Then I was temporarily disconnected as she sought expert help amongst her colleagues. Eventually we could hear each other again. "We can't help you," she said.   

 So now I have sent a lengthy email to the 3rd party company involved. Requesting clarification of the four different numbers they are demanding on their form. Numbers, so secret, that two major banks cannot fathom what these might be. There is a pressing timetable for the return of the form! In a country which no longer supports letter post! And don't call me paranoid!

  Much, much later, I heard back from the 3rd party. They confirmed the numbers are identical and triplicated. Since a different department will deal with each page of three on the transfer request form. However, they raise the specter of a normal bank statement with communications from the second bank. 

 Such a statement has never [ever] presented itself. Probably because I have no cash transactions with this bank. They merely provide a quarterly statement of interest on the original investment in the 3rd party. 

Moreover, there is a box, on page 3, to enter a fourth number. Which cannot possibly be a quadruplicate. Can it? What would be the point? My correspondent of the 3rd party never mentioned this box. Could she be hiding something? 

 This means I will have to send yet another email to her. Or, to the second bank. Who currently profess complete ignorance of any of these numbers. I am sure all three just wished I would go away. I didn't ask for any of this.   

 Dinner was organic sausage, eggs on toast and baked beans. 

  

  ~?~

 

 

9 Nov 2026

9.11.2026 Reference library be gone!

 ~?~

  Monday 9th 44F/7C [5.45]. Grey with showers.

 6.00 Up at 4.30 after lying awake for hours. I have spent the time advertising my/our book collection on Facebook market place. There are at least 20 house removal boxes full. With two bookcases still unboxed. I cannot possibly carry them downstairs due to their weight. So I should have used smaller boxes. And still can. Use two boxes per subject matter instead of one large one. 

 My wife and I collected, mostly secondhand books for probably 50 years. On very many, non-fiction subjects. I think there were seven bookshelves when I decided to box everything up. They have been taking up space in the bedroom ever since. 

 I tried giving them away to international library charities, charity shops and secondhand bookshops. No interest. Partly due to mostly being English languge. If I leave them here they will probably go into a skip for burning on my demise. So, a last desperate attempt to share the knowledge they contain back with the uncaring world. Just as nobody needs or reads books any more.  

 I've had my morning walk. It started drizzling but then thought better of it. I brought back the empty wheelie bins.

 Had a chat with my minder. She has flu'. Day three.

 12.30 Back from therapy. I was more breathless than usual. Shopped on the way home. 

 The headlights have stopped working! Checked everything. The floor dip switch button[?] is intermittent.

 Dinner was tuna on wholemeal, bread rolls. 

 

 

  ~?~

8 Nov 2026

8.11.2026 Bangers on a long fuse.

 ~?~

  Sunday 8th 40F/4.4C [7.50] Several days of grey weather is promised. Peaking at 7C/45F this afternoon. Light east-SE winds.

 Up at 7.30 after a quiet night. 23C/73F in the room.  

 I got involved in chatting with my minder. So my walk was delayed. Beyond my totally arbitrary rules for departure. The call of morning coffee outweighed the motivation to exercise.  

 15.15 Back from an extended walk. Fluffy the Alsatian barked at me. 

 Followed up by dragging two recycling, wheelie bins along the drive. It was cool and slightly breezy. 

 Dinner was organic sausages with oven ready chips and gravy. I was washing up at the same time. Hence the overcooked susages and the lack of peas. It was fine.

 

  ~?~