Contrary to whet the forecast predicts, It seems dry this morning, and there is strong sunshine (or would be strong if the sun were higher in the sky). With only a scattering of white fluffy clouds in the sky it looks like the sunshine could continue for a while, although it could turn to sunny spells. Rain may start att 11am, and there could be a thunderstorm at 2pm. The rain may finish at 4pm, and there could be sunny spells until sunset. The afternoon should see 14° C. Tomorrow could see light rain from morning to late afternoon. Tomorrow temperature could peak at 17° C for one single hour at 5pm. By Friday we could see some lovely summer-like days with full sunshine and temperatures as high as 26° C.

  I have no idea how to describe yesterday - it was a bit good and a bit bad, but than again that is so for many days. Perhpas it is the consequences of yesterday that were the bad bit. Those consequences can be summed up by saying I don't feel very good this morning - and it is not a hangover !

  Yesterday was one of those days where the morning started off very slow. I guess I was in a lazy mood, or maybe I was just feeling slow. I was barely ready for the afternoon beer tasting session with Jodie. Once again I had laundry left soaking in one of my big builders buckets, and that was stopping me using the bath for a shower. I didn't think I was that smelly, and just used a wet flannel and some deodorant before facing visitors - or visitor singular (unless you include Cous Cous the cat formerly known as "Fluffy cat" until I found out his real name.

  If Jodie had come straight here, instead of shopping in Lidl again, I would not have finished washing and polishing the beer glasses by the time she arrived, but the shopping made he at least half an hour later than usual. I'm just trying to think what I had for lunch. It is almost certain that I would not be drinking on an empty stomach, but what I had to line my stomach seems to be a mystery now. That is a shame because knowing might explain a few things this morning.

  The beer tasting session was typical - Jodie's ignored me while reading stuff on her phone, and I solved a few more crossword clues in an old copy of The Metro. Things looked up a bit when I spotted Cous Cous strolling along the garden fence meowing at me (not that I could hear it indoors). He had decided he would like to spend some of the afternoon with us.
  Cous Cous started his visit with a couple of cat treat sticks, and then got down to he serious business of murdering the cat toy I got him last week. Unfortunately I could only get a picture of his violence after he had settled down, and I could use both hands to use my camera,
  After a while he was tired and ready for a snooze - not a real snooze because he was still fully alert, but he closed his eyes, and put on a smug impression. Unfortunately, about 15 or 20 minutes later, "Welcome To The Jungle" by Guns N Roses came on my music player. Whether it was mention of jungles and the call of the wild, or whether it was Axel Roses singing, but a minute later Cous Cous was out of his box and meowing by the back door. With a pause to sniff the air, and listen, he was out and away.

[That was as far as I got before I had to stop writing, and do the final preparations prior to going to see the nurse at the surgery. Those preparations meant mostly going to the toilet..... I had been to the toilet a few times earlier for a poo, and just expected to have a pee. Once on the toilet I found I needed another poo, and I thought I needed a pee, but the pee didn't happen. I was just about ready to walk to the surgery when I thought another visit to the toilet might be prudent - and it was. It seems I was suffering from the quite rare "slow runs" this morning. I had another poo, and it was not the sort of poo you would associate with a conventional stomach upset.

  I spent some time on the toilet, and thought I must be ready. I was about to head for the front door when I realised that I still seem to need the pee I needed earlier, but was too distracted by pooing. I had my pee, and then thought that maybe there was still more poo to come - and there was ! By the time I was ready to head to the front door I realised I was already 2 minutes late for my appointment, and I still wasn't 100% sure that I was comfortable.

  I was too late anyway, and so I phoned the surgery to say I would have to cancel the appointment. I had hoped to give at least a whole one minute advanced notice, but it took 20 minutes to get through to reception. I made my apologies, and they asked if I would like a new appointment. I said yes, and they said they would let me know by text message or a voice call. It was maybe 20 minutes later that I got a text to say I had a new appointment at 11am this coming Wednesday.]

  After that I could relax, and I did, although I didn't seem to be able to have the long snooze I thought I needed/deserved. I felt rather edgy, and I was getting some discomfort from my stomach (not my belly or bowel) and my heart felt funny. Everything going on earlier had sent my blood pressure all over the place. I am still getting occasional symptoms that make me feel my new heart valve is not working correctly.

  One of the things I was going to tell the nurse was that I want to discontinue taking Mounjaro, and see if I can get in the right frame of mind for some old fashioned dieting. Checking back on my records, I see that it was September last year when I had my first Mounjaro injection, and since then I have both lost and gained weight, and I am currently within a kilogram or two of my starting weight. Looking back further I see I have managed far better periods of weight loss without Mounjaro. It just needs the right circumstances and not being tied down by spells and in hospital and heart problems.

   On top of everything else, I am sure I do not react correctly to the effects that Mounjaro produces to help lose weight. The idea that it delays emptying th stomach to make you feel full does not work. It just makes me feel bloated, wanting to belch to release gas, and feeling like I am almost ready to throw up. It does not make me feel not hungry, and worse is that it make me want to eat something to push through the contents of my stomach.

  Mounjaro was very helpful with controlling my blood glucose, but it seemed to be having less effect recently. It was probably giving me a false sense of security. I'll just have to do that the old fashioned way in future. That is going to mean very limited amounts of ice cream, and very few treats. It is hard to believe in the future, but I know it will bring it's own rewards - except it is hard to believe that while craving "something nice" while bored stiff on a Sunday afternoon.

  Back to yesterday: Jodie left at about 6pm in the hope of dodging the rain that was forecast to fall, and indeed a few rain drops did fall, but nothing to worry about. I had started cooking my dinner before Jodie left, and it was ready to eat once she was heading to the station. It was a two part dinner, and while not healthy, I did not expect it to cause the troubles it did while stuck in my stomach, and fermenting. Dinner was a tiny little fish pie that was quite nice, and either as a starter, or a dessert, I had a couple of "Frikkadelen" - German things like burgers but made with spiced pork. I guess the latter were a bit rich.

  After dinner I watched some TV, and got typically foaming irate at the Bet Fair Casino ads that U+Dave were showing during every commercial break. The characters in the advert look more dodgy than some dodgy crook from the seediest depths of East London. Why the advertisers think they will attract anyone sane to want to gamble with what seems to be a bunch of crooks is beyond my comprehension. On the plus side, what was a mere disdain for gambling is not a dep and furious hatred.

  I am unsure when I turned the lights of, and tried for sleep, but I think even by then my stomach was not feeling good. On the one hand I was determined to try and get some good sleep before I had to get up a bit earlier than usual (or maybe it was not much earlier, but essential that I did get up then). When I forced myself out of bed I did not feel I had slept all that well, and to increase the misery my stomach (not the belly) was feeling bloated, and each of many burps let me taste my dinner again.

  It was a mental struggle to force myself to get ready to go out instead of going back to bed. I managed to get myself under the shower, and then dress in clean clothes. I still had a spare half an hour or even a full hours before I needed to walk to the surgery. I spent some of the time starting to write this piece. What happened next is already described in slightly unpleasant detail. What happens now, once I have finally written this piece is anyone's guess ! I don't really feel like doing much, but I will make some attempt to try and eat as sensibly as I can tonight, and to keep in mind I have already eaten today's ration of stuff I should eat in minimum quantities - like the slightly restrained amount of Clotted Cream ice cream I have just had for my lunch !