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Yesterday didn't work out as planned. Went to Chelmsford for what should have been my first plasma donation ( having given whole blood for many years). The staff went through the various checks, height/weight suitable veins and a pulse check. At that point I was excluded; my pulse is apparentlt irregular. Given a letter to contact the GP. Once home a request for an appointment reaulted in the GP phoning back in short time, followed by an appointment at the surgery a couple of hours later for an ECG and consultation. It appears that there is an extra baet at times which is causing the issues. Need to go back after a blood test next week. The GP doesn't think there is anything seriously wrong, but it may need referral to a cardiologist to say I can still give blood. Without such a ticket my blood doner career is over.

The For Sale sign went up this morning. My initial plan was to sort out the two major storage areas, namely the loft and the garage. I started with the loft whilst my daughter is still at home as she can watch her mother whilst I'm sorting things out. The garage can wait as it will be easier to nip indoors every so often to keep an eye on SWMBO. Given the amount of stuff to be cleared I considered hiring a skip. Oops, looking on line a lot of the material I need to get rid of can't be put in a skip. It looks like several trips to the local tip will needed. The first one was done this morning; another run will be made tomorrow. Fortunately the Zafira with all its seats down will accomodate a fair amount. Once my daughter has moved out later this week, her room can be used to crate up and store the stuff that will be moving (the unmentionable bits).

It was discussed earlier when she went into hospital. The layout of the house makes a lift (a stair lift wouldn't be safe given lack of coordination) impractical. We also need to consider that a wheelchair is likely to be needed at some time in the future. Downsizing with relaese of funds for bespoke alterations if needed is the best way forward.

SWMBO was discaharged from hospital after a 5 week stay following her falls. A week at home shuffling around very slowly and not particularly safely finally resulted in an admission that she can no longer cope in the house and that moving to a bungalow is the only logical way forward. Agents contacted on Tuesday, EPC and floor plan sorted on Wednesday, and most of the required photos and virtual video tour footage taken yesterday. Today has seen the nightmare of starting to assess 33 years of accumulation in the loft (including a fair bit of unmentionable items (on this thread). It's forced me to decide on my plans for the new venue, and some fairly ruthless pruning of other items has been started. My back is now complaining about shinning up and down the loft ladder and crawling around in the roof space. A decent amount of stuff is now sitting on the patio waiting transfer to the tip. Round 2 will be undertaken tomorrow; hopefully it will be a bit cooler.

Received a wonderful bit of Local authority logic re their desire that all applications should be online. SWMBO who is still stuck in hospital has renewed her Blue Badge. Application approved, payment made and details of new badge supplied (just waiting for it to be printed and sent). Then this arrives: Due to a system error, we can only close this application by processing a decline email. Please be assured the application has not been declined. Please accept our apologies for any confusion caused. Your application to renew your current Blue Badge has been refused for the following reason: Blue Badge Administration Admissions, Applications & Awards Internet: www.essex.gov.uk Who does their IT?

One positive result yesterday. Rather than lugging the old dishwasher to the recycling centre, I tried leaving it by the front drive. The metal fairies removed it with a couple of hours. Heavy lifting or failing that a £22 fee for the council to collect avoided. The task of decluttering after 33 years residence is being started should a move be needed. There is a lot to do!

Voting was done this morning; no queues and all very simple. To be fair, our usual polling station is never very busy, just a steady stream throughout the day. SWMBO is still stuck in Basildon hospital, they have been waiting a week for a bed at the Community hospital. It is annoying as the intensive rehab won't start till she gets there. The family suspect that this won't generate much of an improvement, but we need the "experts" to deliver that verdict, with particular reference to the use of stairs.

Jamie, many thanks for the advice. Once we know what we are dealing with, then plans can be made. I'm expecting a serious decline in mobility and quite posssibly the permanant use of a wheelchair. If this is the case, then moving will be the outcome as our present home would need too much by way of internal alteration to accomodate one.

To all, many thanks for the kind wishes and the various experiences of different solutions to the stair problem. SWMBO is being transferred to a community hospital for further rehab and memory tests so expect to be waiting a few weeks for the results. The humour is also much appreciated; there hasn't been a lot to laugh about so far this year with the domestic situation. Mike

Thanks for the suggestions; looking at the layout of the hall/landing the only feasible option would mean putting the top into the third bedroom. There are also issues re the WC and a couple of other access issues given that a wheelchair may well be needed. Add in a possible diagnosis of vascular dementia, there is a lot to consider.

The issue is she is likely to fall off the seat trying to get onto it. This happened to our next door neighbour who then fell down the full flight of stairs. The ensuing injuries saw a one way trip to hospital.

It looks like we are going to be caught up the moving nightmare. SWMBO had a stroke a few years ago. Her mobility and coordination have been gradually failing. She is currently in hospital following her latest fall at home and the family doubt that she will be able to safely use the stairs once she gets back. A stair lift isn't going to work as it would be too risky for her to board/alight the thing at the top of the stairs. An estate agent is visiting early next week to give an estimate. We are looking to move outside the London commuter zone so hopefully the regional variation will allow for the purchase and cover the costs of moving plus any alterations (I can see that a wet room may be on the cards). It is going to stop any work on the layout and probably result in the demise of the tropical marine tank. All in all, a real pain!

I volunteer with Citizens Advice. Having talked a couple of clients through obtaining Deputyship (due to lack of LPA), if a court hearing is needed you are looking at fees in excess of £1k plus ongoing annual fees and a need to take out insurance. It makes an LPA at £82 if you do it yourself very good value.

Went to give blood; turned up at the appointed hour to find several people queueing. Within 10 minutes the whole session had been cancelled due to an earlier "incident". This is the third session I was due to attend that has been cancelled this year. I wonder what it is doing to supplies?

Suffered from this farce. I was sent on a course about improving performance on my penultimate working day in the Met. Ch Insp, " what will you do in the coming weeks to meet our objectives?" Me, "I'm clearing my desk and emptying my locker on my last working day after 30 years" Ch Insp, "Why are you here then?" Me, "Management box ticking to get x% of supervisors on this course" End of questioning!

A bit of light relief this morning after a mechanic was called out for the Washing machine for the second time in 5 days. The machine was cutting out and all the indicator lights flashing. The first engineer fitted a new heating element and it worked for a few washes, then failed. The engineer this morning decided that the control board had failed. On recovering it from the depths of the machine, the reason for the failure became clear. A slug had climbed into the machine and into one of the ventilation slots on said panel. Unfortunately, this put him on the contacts for a capacitor which promptly fried him and the board. A new board was installed and programmed, and we can wash clothes again. Time was then wasted trying to re-register for self assessment. It appears that my UTI (from the days of MIRAS) had been blocked so I couldn't register. It has hopefully been reset following a phone call; it was suggested that I try again in 2 or 3 days.

My last attempt had metal block chairs at the switch end of the closure rails and on the vee side of the crossing. The crossing end of the closure rails had a plastic block chair. The turnout was wired in a coventional manner; stock rails and closure rails linked, with the pivoted crossing and short rails beyond wired as a switchable crossing. By reducing the gauge to 30.75mm, i could get a reasonably small gap in the block chairs. Things worked by keeping the relevant wheel tight to the closure rail, it being forced there by the restricted gauge. I could run both my De Winton and Hunslet through the turnouts without shorts. You have now given me an idea of only powering the closure rail when needed using relays. Some experiments will be called for.

The other issue I faced with 16mm scale was the mismatch of Slaters loco wheels to 32mm gauge. The slop is great for getting round tight curves; for 2 rail power it is a nightmare at the crossing. I had to tighten the gauge to 31mm or just below at the crossing to stop the outside wheel shorting on the inner closure rail. Depending on what motive power you are proposing to use, it is something to keep in mind.

Having tried something similar in 16mm scale, I found that running improved when I drilled the hole in the wheel a bit larger than the axle diameter. This allowed the wheel to angle slightly at the joint from closure rail to switch/crossing rail. I had the same problem with wagon width, 32mm gauge was too wide.

Wasn't there an EEM gauge that predated P4 but was wider than 18.2mm?

If I remember correctly, "Lurgi", with an i not y was one of the wonderful creations of the Goon Show to wit "The Great British Lurgi". I have to admit I can't remember which espisode it came from. One could argue that Donald is borrowing classic British humour. Parcel wise, it is interesting to note differing standards of service. I ordered some N gauge track from a retailer a few days ago, both plain track and turnouts. The rail in a nice solid plastic tube was entrusted to Hermes and arrived on the 7th. I'm still waiting for the turnouts which are with Royal Mail

As I remember the Met went for the Asp because they weren't prepared to provide the continued level of training that the "Night Stick" requires for efficient usage. We were issued with the 18" Asp; apparently the 24" version could inflict serious damage.

Digitrains loaded a sound file onto a loksound 5xl for me; phoned them at lunchtime, decoder arrived in the post the next day. No connection other than a satisfied customer

I'm the same; orders have been placed with suppliers that I have used before. I could have done one big order, but I'd like all the companies to still be here in 6 months time. The other bonus is that if one has to stop, bits will still arrive from the others. This means I keep occupied. Looking at some other forums, preserving sanity is becoming a hot topic. BT are doing their best to wreck mine; emails I need re getting online with Citizens Advice to help answer calls from the publis are disappearing into the ether or not being delivered. If my shopping helps to keep individuals from the current nightmare of trying to claim UC, then I think it is worthwhile.

I'm still waiting for a Log In so I can answer calls on the Citizens Advice "Advice Line". The IT consultants are obviously struggling to create several thousand remote users. Given the number of new UC claimants, the demand for advice will be massive. It is frustrating not being able to help those colleagues who are already on the system. The supply chain in Brentwood seems to be improving; both Wilko and the local Coop finally had toilet paper and kitchen towel in stock. Iceland were raided for some supplies including a few tins of chopped tomatoes. Everyone queuing did so in good spirit and observed the 2m rule. Sadly the same cannot be said of the idiots who decided to run through the High Street with total disregard of how close they got to people. I'm keeping busy, some plywood has being turned into retangular solids to which nickel silver and plasic have been stuck to the top and a combination of wire, terminal blocks and and a District Cut Out arranged on the underside. Once some suitable size screws have been delivered (as I can't collect) the boards will be resting on brackets attached to the wall.