Sections
Recent moments
Medium stories
Substack story
Recent moments
I can’t believe Steve Wright has died 💔
This week has left me feeling burned out 😣
My Hive thermostat sometimes goes haywire 🌡
Another impulsive purchase by my son 🖥
Tony replied to me 👀
And finally 🙏🏼
1. I can’t believe Steve Wright has died 💔
Just as I was trying to come to terms with the loss of my Medium writer friend, Pamela Oglesby, I heard that radio DJ Steve Wright had died at 69 years old.
The news left me feeling shocked and upset, and it was on my mind all through the night.
I used to love listening to his show on Radio 2 in the afternoons, but station boss Helen Thomas decided it was time for something different in September 2022.
Steve had a warm, friendly, and cheerful style that helped me through difficult days and brightened up ordinary ones.
Having been one of his listeners for so many years, I just can’t believe he’s gone.
RIP Steve Wright.
2. This week has left me feeling burned out 😣
I’m feeling close to burnout for a few different reasons. That’s why I don’t have as many mini-stories and anecdotes for you this week.
I’ve been responding to daily prompts this month, so I’ve had to get ahead on days I’m not seeing Stephanie, which has left little time for relaxation.
Of course, it was my choice to do that. But I’m reluctant to give up on things once I’ve started.
A chaotic Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day felt stressful rather than relaxed. Stephanie had arranged afternoon tea at a nearby cafe and wanted me to go to her house. However, we could not hang out there because her daughter had invited her friends to visit and they were occupying the living room.
I think it would have been better if we’d been based at my house for the day instead, but Stephanie wanted to stay on her side of town because she had to take her daughter’s friends home in the afternoon before taking her daughter to a job interview.
I ended up driving back and forth all over town; we even ended up stopping at my house for an hour at one point!
Even though there was enough time for everything, it felt like we were on a tight schedule. My autistic/ADHD mind finds days like that more stressful than most people.
A stressful morning visiting my aunt
Yesterday we visited my 100-year-old aunt, and that felt like another stressful day. Stephanie’s daughter wanted to come, but she had an appointment with the hairdresser first thing, which affected the timing of everything.
With the likelihood of the appointment overrunning, I didn’t know when we’d arrive at my aunt’s house. The uncertainty felt stressful.
It should have been a pleasant time, but I didn’t enjoy the visit with my aunt as much as usual. At least I managed to help her with a letter she’d received about UK phone lines being switched over to use broadband (which she does not have).
There’s more, but you get the idea!
3. My Hive thermostat sometimes goes haywire 🌡
Half an hour after I went to bed — and just when I was falling asleep — I heard my heating system come on.
I knew I’d not changed the schedule, and I knew the room temperature could not have fallen to the frost protection level.
Then I remembered how the same thing happened shortly after I installed it 12 months ago.
I switched on my bedside lamp, allowed my eyes to adjust, and opened the Hive app on my phone. Just like before, I had to switch it off, and then back to ‘scheduled’ mode ready to come on as normal the following morning.
Imagine if I was away from home for a week and it switched the heating on for several days!
Years ago, I worked on hardware and software for industrial and military systems where such problems would not be acceptable, no matter how infrequent.
I despair at how modern products seem flaky and unreliable — and we just accept the need to switch things off and on to reset them.
The Hive system might be convenient, but I’m starting to have doubts about whether it can be trusted.
4. Another impulsive purchase by my son 🖥
From time to time, I’ve written about my youngest son’s impulse purchases. For example, he often changes his phone on a whim, without considering how he depends on it to monitor his type 1 diabetes.
Yesterday he bought a second monitor for his gaming PC. It’s old, large, and heavy, and he struggled to carry it from the CeX shop to his car.
This morning he returned it after seeing lines on the screen, so I offered to help him carry it from the car park.
At the same time, I gave his older brother a lift to the gym, and he later walked into the town centre to meet up with us.
We were out for over two hours!
They tested the monitor but failed to reproduce the fault, so my son could not get a cash refund, only a voucher.
We feel quite weary now.
Breaking news! He’s set off to buy another monitor from a different branch of CeX in another town. It’ll be one of his longest drives since passing his test and I hope he finds his way; I’ve just been giving him some advice on the best route.
5. Tony replied to me 👀
I was a couple of days behind with my Medium notifications, so I was late noticing that CEO Tony Stubblebine responded to my recent article about what I’d like to ask him.
His answer was surprisingly long. At the same time, he did not give away too many secrets, which is understandable.
As always with these things, when I saw his reply, I wish I’d asked a slightly different question in some cases. And I thought of more questions which escape me at this moment, no doubt because of the kind of week I’ve had. 😆
6. And finally 🙏🏼
I’m sorry that I’ve not given you much in the way of funny and entertaining anecdotes this week.
I hope some of the writing challenge stories I’ve published on Medium might help redress the balance. (See below for a list of recent stories.)
Thank you for reading
Alan 💛
Medium Stories
(Click the titles below to read them on Medium.)
Is Life Supposed To Be Comfortable?
Should discomfort be used to motivate people?
In general, I picture a person who has a comfortable life as someone who has never gone hungry and has little to worry about.
Here Is My Attempt at Describing Myself to a Stranger!
I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few significant points, such as autism and ADHD
I love to make people laugh, and if I sense someone like-minded or quirky, I will let my guard down and be as crazy and as silly with them as I am at home. 🤪
Delicious-Sounding Colours Led Me to Light Bulb Nostalgia
Emerald green, golden yellow, and rich red sound so appealing!
Although my fascination for bulbs may have started with Christmas trees, I clearly remember the school disco fueling my desire for coloured lights at home.
Remembering My Work Colleague’s Unusual Lunchtime Habits
I’d never seen anything like it
His car was falling to pieces, and I remember him complaining about a vibration before discovering his wheel bolts were loose!
Choosing a Life Moment In Which I’d Happily Remain for Eternity
Is there a moment when I was with everyone I’ve ever loved?
I’ll never forget going to places like Oakwood Theme Park where the sign said not to ride the rollercoaster if you had spinal problems. Jane ignored it and went on the ride anyway!
Memories of a Childhood Game That Would Not Be Socially Acceptable Today
Life was different growing up in the 1970s
Imagine almost every pupil in the class running around screaming, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of the scene.
Do We Need Any More Celebration Days?
The greeting card industry already keeps us busy, but my final idea might make things worse!
After getting a little carried away with the idea, I wondered if anything like this already existed.
Definitely. That's how radio is different from other media...
Having lost several long-standing radio voices from my past to death and retirement lately, I sympathize with your feelings about Steve Wright.