TURP, Coal and a Con to look out for.

Trans - Urethral Resection of the Prostate is what my next surgery will be. LINK.
Not sure when but as it takes about an hour and I had the pre-op last Tuesday I was hoping it might happen before Christmas but what I have learnt since might push this hope straight into the canal.

It seems that the pre-op check up is good for 12 weeks!!!!!!!!! So because I pass all the tests and answered all the questions, including and I kid you not, how many pillows do I use in bed then in say 10 weeks my fitness will be just the same. Hopefully it will, but the last pre op was not followed up before my cancer surgery, just admitted day of op with just the blood pressure and temperature taken so how can anyone be sure.
Now searching around I found other hospitals with this 12 week window and some with 1-2 weeks. Wales stated 4-6 weeks before the operation for a pre-op as did the private BUPA healthcare.

We are using a lot of coal this winter as my lack of fitness has stopped our usual gathering of wood as we travel. There are some logs on the roof but they can remain as an emergency stockpile in case the canal ices over stopping the fuel boat getting to us. We will take on 15 bags tomorrow of  Supertherm that although not the cheapest seems to keep us warm and stays alight through the night. A 25kilo/55pounds bag lasts 3 to 3.5 days so about £3 ($4.5) per day. Happiness is a roof (on right) full of wood.

I must report my ever improving health lately has resulted in my on board healthcare advisor has allowed me to venture out on my own. One little trip was a very short bus ride to a nearby supermarket and being  allowed only to gather 3 light items and return. Having safely returned from this mission I was then trusted to travel further and stay out longer and folks it feels good to be able to mingle with the crowds although I did need a lunch break to re energise my inner self.

So having covered two of the items in the post title it must be the con that comes next. Correct but not anything to do with our small corner shop grocer Mr Tesco.
I walked out of the supermarket gate to catch a bus and became aware of someone behind me. As I turned I felt someone touch my ankle. Upon turning I first saw a mid twenties man with a £10 note in his hand and close by him a female of similar age. He was gesturing with the money to give the impression I had dropped it. She said nothing.
Instantly I turned my back to the wall firstly to stop either of them getting behind me and secondly to put my wallet out of easy reach. Why this reaction some of you might ask.
First and foremost at 65 I`ve had a lot of years to get street wise.
In micro seconds my suspicious brain told me;
I do not keep banknotes loose in my pockets so the note was not mine.
Where were these two going. The road led into open countryside and as they had no shopping they were not like me going for the bus.

So a bit of a Mexican standoff was going off so I took the £10 note out of his hand and said thank you.  This magically seemed to bring him to life and in broken English he muttered something with some "no" "no" being all I understood. I shrugged my shoulders and having the money in my pocket started to back away. Now the second magical moment came when after all this the female albeit in a strong eastern European accent spoke good clear English saying "he just wants change". Yeah!  I said to her perhaps we should go back to Tesco and call the police to see if they think the money was mine.
This put a look of panic on his face, seems he had suddenly remembered he could understand English. I had at this time the money in my hand and pushed it into her hand as I did not want any trouble in my weak state and said I might look old but I`m far from stupid. They turned and walked back into Tesco car park.

So my question to you is what was the con/scam behind all this?  My theory is they pick older folk and either try to get them to open their purse/wallet and get them confused when sorting some change or perhaps they might snatch and run with the wallet.

At this particular supermarket site there is nothing nearby. No other shops, no parking meters needing change. No need at all to require change.
My next theory is that the note was a forgery but then why the pretence of touching my ankle and trying to make me think I`d dropped the note. Whatever the truth they were up to no good.

Who knows but I think that maybe they saw the keys poking out between the fingers of my clenched fist  and that they might have chosen the wrong old fella.

Just to remind myself that we will soon once again be seeing views like this. Taken as we went up the Bosley locks on the Macclesfield canal.