Rootless Endeavour

Not too long ago, I woke up with a terrible toothache and, paying a visit to my dentist, learned that I would need a root canal operation.

The first stage of that operation was supposed to be today, and I had intended to attempt to dissuade the dentist from going through with it. After all, if I lose the nerve in that tooth, I'll never know if anything else has gone wrong until it's too late.

Pretty much her first question, before I'd even sat down, was about the results of the antibiotic she'd prescribed last time. When I told her the pain cleared up within a couple of days, and hadn't returned since, she decided against the root canal operation almost immediately. The X-ray had been "inconclusive" and, upon reflection, the fact that the problem tooth is flanked by other teeth which, while also fractured, were not experiencing any pain, suggested that there was no need for anything as drastic as a root canal.

Phew.

So, instead, I had a mold taken of my lower jaw, and will be fitted for a mouth guard next time. These apparently wear down over time (and can end up being basically eaten, she reckoned), so I get to keep the mold of my teeth so that replacements can be made when each guard wears out.

On another note, my 'Thought for the Day': What kind of world are we living in when Imperial Leather is a cheaper brand than Radox?

A Utility Bill That, For Once, Isn't Terrifying

I'm not sure what's behind it all, but the last few utility bills I've had - both Gas and Electric, but mostly the bloody Gas - have been positively cryogenic in their spine-chilling, bloody-freezing horror. I've had to call my supplier to confirm the numbers because surely they couldn't be adding up correctly?

But they were... and, of course, the rises in cost of energy supply - again, mostly the bloody Gas - have been pretty darned steep over the last couple of years.

So, when I received an emailed reminder from my supplier, that they needed up-to-date readings from me, lest my next bill be the most-dreaded 'Estimate', I wasn't exactly overwhelmed by a tidal wave of pure joy.

Thankfully, after the last couple of scares (one of which, I must confess, was down to a bill that came through based on Estimates, because the readings I had supplied had somehow become lost in the system and, although the support person I spoke to was able to find them, I supplied new readings that day) I have been keeping record of my readings on my calendar, so I can more easily refer back to the previous each time I take down the new.

And, what a surprise...

My Electricity reading, since the last bill, has ticked on only 760 units, despite my heavy computer usage, frequent usage of the Wii and television while the computer is also on, and occasional instances of the TV being left on (in Standby Mode) overnight. I suspect that, even if my supplied had not elected to increase my Direct Debit 'contribution', I'd still be in credit there.

The Gas reading, though, was amazing. Now, granted, I've been very scrupulous since the last bill and the massive increase in my DD payment (not quite double what I signed up to a few years ago). When it's been 'a bit chilly' at home (and, just as often, it's fairly warm outside), I've been putting on a jumper rather than turning on the heating. Summer, such as it was, remained reasonably warm even on the cloudy/rainy days and, even now, in the chill winds of October, it's not cold enough to warrant the use of the central heating.

So... when I did my sums and realised that, in almost half a year, I've used only 67 units of gas, I was over the moon. Considering how much use I've been getting out of the hob recently (occasionally more than was strictly necessary due to my inexperience), and that doing the washing up also requires hot water from the boiler, I was surprised to find I've been using only a little more than a third of a unit per day, on average.

I had been worried that, given the timing of my 6-monthly bills (April/October), there would never be a time when I'd receive a 'light' bill because I'd be coming out of winter from one, and gearing up for winter in the other. It doesn't help that I feel cold if the temperature falls below 22C (I kid thee not!), but reaching for warmer clothes rather than cranking up the heating really has made a difference... and now I'm tempted to see how far I can stretch that system.

Looking back on the days when I lived with my folks, it's easy to laugh at how naive (stupid?) I was. Whenever I saw my mother wandering about the house in a jumper and a cardigan, I asked her why she didn't just put the heating up if she was cold.

Now I have to pay the bill myself, it's all rather obvious.

Deja Vu Whilst Shopping

And it wasn't even my deja vu.

There I was, restocking my freezer in Iceland and then, as I started bagging stuff up at the checkout, the girl at the counter said "Oh my God... Deja vu... That's so scary."

So, naturally, I asked her to elaborate.

It was brought about by my red carrier bag, a particular box in amongst my shopping, and a particular arrangement of people nearby.

I can't quite see how that was scary, but I've had my fair share of deja vu experiences, and they're pretty unsettling.

Woke up very late today - almost lunchtime - so, by the time I'd showered and got ready to do the shopping, I was already looking at a late lunch. It was well after two before I finally had some food, thanks to the restocking trip, and I didn't even get everything I intended to get.

Oh well, there's always tomorrow...