Serene Sunday & The Wanderer Returns

Sunday. I was up for a while in the dark  of the night but not ready to start work so after a couple of cigarettes I went back to bed. I slept until almost 7.00 am. When I did climb out of the pit it seemed so peaceful I couldn’t find it in me to rush.  After the traditional nip to the loo I worked on a few messages and then at 7.30 decided I’d have breakfast today. I had the last of the cornflakes and then conscious of our rules about food waste, put the crumbs from the bottom of the box in the bin. Tonight I could kick myself when I think the crumbs could have gone outside for the birds and maybe I’ d have caught some nice photographs. After feeding the fish ( what a humanitarian I am) I had my morning meds then took my coffee back to the bedroom and into battle. It seems bankers in Nigeria and Burkino Faso work Sunday’s too. So it seems does a fake talktalk team who say my account will be cut off within 48 hours unless I fill in some forms to get a new code to replace my password. Yeah right, I think I’ll risk it thanks.

When I next looked at the clock it was 10.05 am and I hadn’t even got dressed. Big decision time, should I bother? Yes, I should make the effort really. So today it was my Robin Hood impression, green jeans and a green hoody. The mail was finished by 11.00 am so I went through to the lounge and sat checking I had enough cards for this month’s birthdays. April and May are heavy months. A little later I took my pre-lunch tab and microwaved myself a roast beef dinner of which perhaps the nicest thing that could be said was, it was hot. I indulged myself in a small pudding afterwards then before settling down, washed the cutlery I’d used. Such heavy work. I couldn’t settle to anything on the TV but wanted a break from the computer. I could see smoke coming from somewhere near me and was afraid I’d fallen asleep smoking gain so I was frantically looking around until I realised the cigarette was in my mouth. I knew I must be tired so I put it out and fell asleep.

I moved between bedroom and lounge all afternoon, keeping up with the mail and looking for something to watch. There were little bursts of sunshine when an antiques programme came on but nothing special. I had some ham and coleslaw for tea with a couple of baps then finished off the strawberries and cream. I found a CSI NY to  watch and then decided to stay for the Star Gate film that I assume started it all, with Curt Russell. Have to say I preferred the chap who played the squad leader in the TV series. It was fairly entertaining but once it was over my patience with TV was done and I came back through to look at the mail again. I’ve been able to take my time with both mail and blog tonight which has been great.

Bank Holiday Monday. It’s 3.32 am. I swung my legs out of bed thinking “I’m not missing this” and hovered almost the full minute before the clock changed again. Yes, the room really is that small. If I counted as I walked from one end to the other I’d be there before I finished One. The width is even worse. Being a pedantic beggar, Oscar was not very happy when I used him to prove the old adage about there not being enough room to swing a cat, and I wasn’t even at the end of his tail. I never understood why that cat hated me so. As this is like a double Sunday I wasn’t too chuffed with the time  but there wasn’t much choice. I did feel cheated at the lack of sleep though since I’d only finished reading just before 1.00am. Maybe my trading partner arranged it thinking my mind might not be clear as I read the latest missive.

Good Day,

we are sorry, for the delay of your contract inheritance payment worth of $10.5m USD and all the Inconveniences. The management of the bank with the instruction of the President and the new appointed ministers after yesterday meeting are to use this opportunity to inform you that we are very surprised to see that you have not received and confirmed your fund since it has been approved for payment to your account since early this new year 2014. Choose any of the following payment methods:

(1) ATM Card/Master Card
(2) Diplomatic Delivery (Cash Payment).
(3) Telegraphic wire transfers

Regards,
Mr Ben Sule.

How many more different ways are they going to try? Do they honestly think that 10.5m might just have slipped someone’s mind? Maybe I should ask for the cash payment.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       I worked on mail until 5.45 am and decided to try for another sleep. I’m hardly in a rush today. Oddly enough it was a struggle but I did drop off and only woke up again at  6.50 am. I went straight through to the kitchen to feed the fish. I even saw my lone(?) assassin and he looked bigger. I had some Ricicles and then brought my coffee through. More mail had mounted up but as some was personal it took a while to write responses and then add comments to a few blogs so it was almost 10.00 am when I had my first break from the chair. Despite it being a bank holiday, I still had to mop the kitchen floor. It doesn’t feel at all like a Monday. I got a text frrom Mike to say he’s home safely and will hopefully see me soon. I have my fingers crossed for this weekend.

I did a little more work then decided to knock off at 11.15 am. Something mind numbingly boring came on the goggle box but I was just using the noise for company. At midday I had one of the cottage pies I never wanted to see again then settled with an antiques programme for an hour before nodding off . When I finally roused it was back to seeing to any post and there was quite a bit of it. I stayed until 4.00 pm and returned to the box. I don’t know how I can cope with this social whirl. Being a bank holiday there were a few films about so I watched ‘Voyage of the Dawn Treader’ for a while then turned over for ‘National Treasure’. I don’t care for Nicholas Cage as an actor but the storyline was fun. Later I had ‘I Robot’ before coming through to finish the post and the blog. A fairly typical day a la Maison Prosser. Tomorrow will be spent with Yvonne and Reuben so the work will mount up during the day and there won’t be time for TV in the evening. Help !

Sleepy Boys.

Bedroom Tallboy

Tuesday It was a 3.05 am day and no amount of cursing or pleading was going to change it. The computer hadn’t cooled down from earlier and loaded quickly when I turned it on. Looking at what was there I wished it hadn’t. Marriage was proposed, at least I assume it was as I’m fairly sure some of the things one woman proposed aren’t legal outside marriage in on small island of Antarctica and are illegal inside marriage in the rest of the known world. I blushed and hurriedly added another layer of clothing and a safety mask.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             The fish were looking very smug when I went through at 6.30 am to turn their light on and feed them. I wanted breakfast before going out , but they must think I was doing it for them.  I had a bowl of cereal then took a coffee back to the bedroom. Before hitting the mail again I decided to get dressed in something a little smarter and less bulky. I’d made a decision to go to Yvonne’s on an early bus today, at 7.40 am before school children came to the bus stop and while there weren’t many people about. I’d promised to text Yvonne when I was on the  bus knowing she’s expect me on a later bust to arrive at 9.30 or 10.00 am. I had my fingers crossed when I promised though. I left the house at 7.25 am and was at the bus stop just in time for the T1, the bus that goes  more convoluted route but gets there quicker. It’s usually just an hour. I was actually in Chester at 9.30 and on my way to the coffee house. I was honestly going to text her when I was sitting down and say ” Take your time, just let me know when and where you want to meet.” She beet me to it, panicking because she hadn’t heard from me and she ended up dashing even more. I took a slow stroll to where we were meeting, just ready for a wee and a refill of coffee.

We had a good old wander round Chester and stopped for lunch about midday. I had a baked spud with beans. A couple more shops and we started heading for home. I hadn’t been feeling too bright, and the shock of finding green salad stuff on my plate must have been responsible for what happened next. I bent over double with pain from an angina attack. It took my breath away and this time couldn’t be properly hidden. Anyway we eventually made it home and as Yvonne ttries to egt Reuben to have a nap I tried to do some emails whist watching Despicable Me II and fighting (unsuccessfully) the noddy bug that was hanging around the room. I’d nod off, wake up quickly and say something I thought would indicate I hadn’t been to sleep but was not related to anything at all. The emails were a beggar, I had 82 and got down to 14 which then shot up to 73 and by the time I got back tonight was at 107. Ugo got home about 6.15 pm and quickly changed before running me home with Yvonne and Reuben. He has one of my sprays in the car but I was OK. When we were close to home he pulled in front of the chippie and got out to order. I left to go and open the front door and get the kettle on. My diet was well satisfied by the sausage and chips with curry sauce that he got me. Yvonne was sticking to her diet and had nothing until she gets back home and has home made soup . She was dischuffed when Ugo had 2 chocolate puddings even though she made them, and even more dischuffed when it was time to go and I passed her the two tubs of Remy Martin brandy ice cream I bought her at the weekend….. The diet says NO, NO, NO.

They left at 8.00 am and I came through to attack the mail and this blog. I hope your day has been half as entertaining.

Wednesday. Another very early morning at 4.32 am so I thought I’d make enough noise to wake the birds on the roof, they do it to me when I have a lie in. Perhaps I should have felt sorry for them as it was raining quite fiercely. I turned the computer on and started work.                                                                                                                              There were quite a few personal emails today but there was plenty of time. One in particular grabbed my attention. A good friend suggested perhaps I  could ask you for a favorite song and I could put that on the blog for a change. That sounds quite a nice idea as we all get to learn a little more about each other. So, today’s song was suggested by my good friend S.J. Sprague, author of A presence in Russell County http://www.amazon.com/Presence-Russell-County-Organization-ebook/dp/B009QFC5GW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399449660&sr=8-1&keywords=sj+sprague and the next book in the series Mulberry.

A Presence in Russell County

 

Mulberry.

Here is the song         

As usual I worked until about 7.30 then went to see to the fish and my own breakfast. I’d have given a lot for bacon and eggs instead of cereal. I took my coffee back to the bedroom to finish the first batch of mail then decided to shut my eyes for ten minutes in my chair. It was 9.15 when I shut my eyes and 10.15 when I  opened them again. Before refreshing the mail I decided to walk to Pauline’s to collect £8.10 I won on the Euro lottery and spend it straight away on a packet of baps, my TV mag and a BFG as Matt is here tonight and it was his birthday Monday just gone. I know I bought some new biscuits at the weekend for him but I don’t really know his tastes. I stocked up on ciggies while I was there. Back at home I worked up until lunchtime again and had a Shepherds’ Pie, well it’s a change. I watched a reasonable film on the TV then after lunch I put another one on and immediately zonked out. I’m sure the snoring must have ratted the windows I was so deeply gone. When I woke it was a different film altogether. I knew It was catch-up time with the mail again. I worked until 5.10 pm then watched a quiz until the visitors arrived. Matt was laughing at the BFG as I made drinks. Dil got the card table out and set the Scrabble board out. As we started I asked Matt for some of the BFG to eat during the long waits between goes. He and I had some but Dil didn’t bother.Within a few minutes Matt had opened the box of Fox’s biskwits and believe me it didn’t get shut again. It was like having an army on the march through the room. Only cos’ I was distracted Dil won the first match. I must have been distracted during the second one too. However, the game of Nomination was different and I put up just enough of a fight to scrape home. We must have taken longer playing tonight as we had to stop there so they could go home. Dil said he’s off next week and they maybe able to get here earlier.

It was the usual tidy up and washing of pots once they’d left me. I came through to 87 messages which has taken a long time. I’m done tonight and must finish this ice lolly and get to bed.

Thursday. Great News. Mike is coming late tonight , Bad News, he has to leave Saturday.

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5.10 am and I flung myself out of bed to catch the runaway horse. All I caught was the nail of my little toe on the chest beside my bed. Ouch multiplied. I bore the pain with grim determination and worked my way through the blue fog that had suddenly appeared in the room until I was out and on my way to the loo. After a piddling ten minutes I went back and turned the computer on. Hmm, quite a few again, you lot were busy last night. One of the first messages of the day,

My name is Danielle Huck the Senior Executive of SAVI CASH ACCESS London, United Kingdom. Mrs Margie swope an American citizen invested the sum of £430,000 (four hundred and thirty thousand British Pounds), she died January 2012 of cancer and her wish was to donate the invested funds to CHARITY. Your assistance is needed to help disburse these funds, please get back for more information. Regards Danielle Huck Managing Director SAVI CASH ACCESS.                              

I’m not sure if the reduced amount is supposed to make this more believable than the usual cons and they’re still trying to appeal to people’s greed. Well the latter bit was right anyway, given that figure I can’t guarantee after what I’ve already disposed of that the whole sum would go to charity unless you believe charity starts at home. I worked until 7.30 am, did the rounds and brought my coffee back. I spent until 9.40 am clearing the decks then went out…….Oh yes, I did dress first. I needed to get my lottery tickets done for tomorrow and get some extra milk in for Mike’s visit later. I also needed to nip to the chemist to see if they had any iodine. I was surprised that some staff didn’t even know what it is, but everyone knew they didn’t stock it. It seems not many chemists ( if any) do so at home again I bought some on ebay, making sure I didn’t buy from Thailand or the Ukraine. It’s actually coming from Stockport and I held myself back from asking if they’d send a few Titterton’s pies with it. Such willpower.

For lunch I had another shepherds pie knowing Mike wouldn’t eat it because it had carrots in. Instead I sacrificed my bacon and a black pudding if he says he’s hungry. However he has to find them first. I’d had a short nap when my phone went off and it was Lis asking if I was in. I told her I’d ask and lo and behold I was. She arrived about an hour later which was about 2.15 pm and I thoroughly enjoyed my hug. She should come at least twice a day. We chatted while I made coffee and she was telling me that she’s had  a chest infection which is really rare for her.How we both were became the subject of the conversation for the next few minutes and it was a case of ‘My antibiotics were bigger than yours’ until her phone pinged. It was a message from her daughter in law asking Lis to pick her grandson up from school. Our visit was cut short but I took some boxes to her car as a friend is moving and grovelled at her to post a letter for me.

Back inside I got stuck into the mail again to bring it up to date. It’s my Big Bang Theory night and also a double bill of Person of Interest. If possible I’d like to see both this week. At 5.15 pm I watched my quiz before Law and Order which I hadn’t seen before. Back here to get up to date again and I think it will be like that until midnight.

Mike arrived at 9.45 pm and we’ve been chatting about his trip. He had a great time and knowing it might upset me he’s kept the stories of his conquests of the fair sex to a minimum. So, it’s midnight and I’m able to come to bed.

Friday. I lied and so did he. The stories of his conquests came thick and fast. Casanova stood at the bedroom door so long it was gone 1.00 am before he left and nearly 2.00 am before I got to bed. Needless to say his stories didn’t make it easy for me to sleep though eventually I did. Dalmations if I didn’t wake at 5.13 am though. It was with reluctance I got up and went for a wee. When I got back I tried to go back to sleep but Mike was driving the sheep home in his room with a fanfare. A full troupe of Morris Dancers sticks a’clicking and bells a’jangling wouldn’t wake him. I gave up and turned the computer on. There was nothing major to deal with so I was on automatic pilot as I worked towards the 7.00 am break when I foolishly allowed myslef to look one of the fish in the eye. i had to listen to a list of grievances ranging from boring food, inadequate lighting at night ( none), to squatters who don’t pay rent ( striped snails). Eventually I managed to get away by shouting “Look over there” and running as they turned to follow my finger. I had some breakfast and took my coffee back to the post room.

Mike eventually got up and wished me Good Morning before asking “It is still morning is it?” I had to admit it was and wasn’t quite 9.30 am which for Mike, unaided is a bloody miracle. It only took 2 coffees to motivate him to move as well so we were out of the house by 10.15 am. We took a ride into Flint to do my shopping a day early with him leaving tomorrow. Then we went for a coffee and he got a great greeting from Ceri at Temptations where we had a drink. I think she’d missed his gentle teasing like someone misses migraine. It’s painful but at least you know your head’s still there. I managed to find a pair of trainers in the next shop to replace a pair I found the heel has come away on recently. Then we went to Farmfoods for ice lollies. I had to buy a BIG carrier bag there. We took the shopping home and put it away. I hadn’t bought flowers this week as the others seem to be doing well. They might even do better if I remember to apply fresh water tomorrow I suppose. I spent a few minutes doing some messages then suggested we went for lunch.

I think Mike was as excited as I was to be heading for The Ivy even though he said it was restless leg syndrome. He’d tell me anything. When we arrived I let him walk in first to give Tariq a surprise. It was actually me that got one. Obviously we both got a hug and Mike was questioned about the holiday, but Tariq passed me a package when I sat down.  It didn’t take me long to open it.

Pops and Reuben by Tariq

I was and am thrilled. Tariq broke off from speaking to Mike to ask if I really like it, as if there could be any doubt. “I just wanted to do something for you” he told me. I was overwhelmed. It’s about 12″ x 16″on canvas on a 1″ thick frame. The photographic studio is open now and any locals wanting a sitting need just go along. He’s a great photographer and puts you completely at ease. Mike and I ordered drinks and dinner. The coffee’s arrived first and I was enjoying mine which I put on the table as soon as I’d taken my before food tablet. A certain person who shall remain nameless was so jealous of my picture, nudges the table and sent my drink flying. Not his, or hers as the case may be, but mine. The floor had to be cleaned but the picture was safe. Shella came to say hello and I was able to thank her again. I still haven’t got over such kindness. The meals came and I moved to another part of the room to eat in case that was thrown at me too.

We had a great natter with them both before we left, me with my prize in a donated carrier bag made out of water(coffee) proof plastic. There were the hugs which I find so important before we were out the door and I’d given Mike the money for lunch today so he could argue for a change. Tariq has a way of sounding as though he’s being hard done by if he has to accept money. We drove home and the first order of the day was to hang the picture which we ( Mike ) did successfully and which prompted me to fill a frame I’d been given for my birthday and hang that too. The wall looks very different tonight.

I spent until 5.15 pm doing emails then watched a couple of quizzes with Mike before getting him to wash my hair and taking a shower. Another quick email session followed by another quiz. Can you guess we like them? A natter, a couple more programmes then I’m talking to myself again as he’s fallen asleep in the chair. I packed him and his restless leg off to bed and came through to work.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The first music guest on my show is Laurie Smith of http://laurie27wsmith.wordpress.com  Laurie has a great and varied blog that welcomes visitors. His choice…………

and from me..  

Saturday. It wasn’t a great night. Not much sleep and when I did there were no dreams where I was undressing a delectable..No, stop torturing yourself like this. Concentrate on being a monk and being halibut. You’re mumble mumble years old, it can’t hurt. I finally got up at 5.50am and on my trip to the loo noticed Mike was spark out so I just got stuck into work. Knowing I wasn’t feeding the fish today I didn’t rush but when I heard a noise like the rutting of wild boars at 7.15 I went towards the lounge and there was Michael grunting half consciously as usual. I can’t understand why when we shop on a Saturday I have to fight to get him to leave his pit but when we have no need to rush he scares me by getting up unaided and then stops me from working. I put the kettle on , put the light on in the tank ( and saw both assassins), ignored the fish, took my tablets, made his coffee as the kettle boiled and had some Shreddies ( the cereal, not some underpants) for my breakfast.

At about 8.30 we were both dressed and raring to go. Neither of us could think of anywhere to go to though. In the end I asked for a quick trip to our local Tesco Supermarket to get some coffee pods and my baps. We did that and picked up a few things we didn’t need and left. Mike asked what I’d like to do next instead of making a decision himself so I responded that as long as it included a cuppa I didn’t mind. I get very dry. He suggested we go to Kassidy’s where we haven’t been for ages and I agreed provided I had chance to pick up some chocolates for them first. We wen’t to another Supermarket, Lidl where I got the chocs and w spent a while looking round. It only took two mins and we were back on track and sitting it Kassidy’s ready to order. Mike’s coffee came with a breakfast and oddly enough my pot of tea did too but since I’d already had breakfast this was a brunch. Mmmm bacon. It was nice to see Si again after so long.

We came out of Kassidy’s each asking the other what we should do next. In the end it was decided we’d pay a visit to Jackson’s the Garden Centre and Gift Shop where I’ve been lucky to get some fantastic gifts from in the past. With birthdays on the way I’m on the look out. We had a nice ride there as the sun was out and the rain had stopped. After a good look round interspersed with Michael disappearing for ‘tinkles’ we decided to fill up so he didn’t get dehydtated.  Mike went to the counter to oder and I left him to decide between a chocolate or a strawberry milk shake. He was having a banana one. He looked very smug on his return and when the drinks were delivered some time later I could see why. Since he hadn’t been able to make the decision for me, I now had a mixed chocolate and strawberry. It wasn’t actually too bad. I did enjoy making those disgusting sounds at the end when the straw hit the froth, and so did Mike, digusting child. We chose to go home after Jackson’s so Mike had time to relax before he had to go home. We both watched a bit of TV and both slept through the end of it. I helped carry his luggage to the car, after checking for silverware and then waved him off.

I spent two hours on messages then at 6.00 pm went through to watch an old Star Wars film then an episode of the Tomorrow People saga. I still haven’t fully made up my mind about that one. At 9.00 pm I cam through to get the mail up to day and the blog. I leave you with the last song of the week and some photographs. Don’t forget to let me know if you want your favourite song on. Hugs to all.

By the Ducks

 

Happy as Larry

Clean Baby

Unanswered phones and How to diet-then not.

Sunday. I rose at 5.30 am today as I deserved a lie-in. My brain must have known it because it refused to release my leg muscles until that time. I’m really grateful it held similar control of my bladder. I pratted about with mail and answering blog comments until about 8.00 am then headed to the kitchen to feed the fish, deal drugs and to compound the hard man image, make myself a cuppa. I even used Columbian coffee ! Back to the mail and I was shocked to hear Mike’s alarm go off at 9.00 am on a Sunday. He never sets the alarm on a Sunday since he usually relies on me with a crowbar. But, despite my worries that he might be leaving before lunch and had forgotten to tell me, he just ignored it as usual.

When I finally heard him stir. I made him a coffee and left it on his side table and returned to my room. I was checking out a few things on Ebay. He wandered through and sat on the edge of my bed checking card tables out with me. Neither of us could believe the price some people are asking for something half the UK couldn’t throw out fast enough a few years ago. Some were asking over £50 which in $ is,  a heck of a lot. Card games and board game are just not the fashion anymore and it’s a shame as it brings families together to insult one another while now you just throw insults at a screen to no response. I’ve marked 2 to follow.

By 12.15 I’d pointed to his suitcase so he could get dressed, packed and ready to go out. I thought it might be nice to visit with Reuben and the tooth so Mike offered to drop me off on the way to his dad’s after lunch. So Mike rang Yvonne and had to leave a message. We lunched at The Blossoms and ( really sorry Catherine) the lamb was delish though Mike had loin of pork this time. Still no response from Yvonne so he tried the home phone then Ugo’s phone with no joy. After lunch Mike ran me back home and left on his journey. It turned out later they’d been out with phones off and attended a meeting about football.  Treats will have to wait till Tuesday. I spent the afternoon and evening alternating between the TV and my mail until boredom drove me to bed. I have one of those books I can’t decide about but can’t put it down.

Monday. It was a late night. It was also an early morning so give me a nudge if I drop off please. Just not hard enough so I drop off my chair. Quite a bit of mail first thing so for once I hadn’t finished before the usual kitchen visit. I brought my cafe crema back and continued on. The turnover of jobs in Burkino Faso is phenomenal, either that or the bank there has more than one ( crooked) financial director. I only say this because two of them want me to assist in scams today. Two unfortunate families have died in plane crashes leaving two separate multi-million USD accounts unclaimed. One director wants to award me 40% for laying claim to the account and one wishes me to accept 30%. I’m not sure I could appease my conscience for less than half. By 9.30 am my yawning was starting to annoy me so I went though to the lounge and nodded off in my chair for an hour. It doesn’t feel as decadent as going back to bed.

About 10.30 I came back through and got dressed. Just as well as the chemist knocked at the door a few minutes later. I wouldn’t have wanted to answer the door in my dressing gown, not that my dressing gown has a door…………I digress. Finishing up my mail for the morning I went through to see what I could have for lunch. Lucky me, baked potato and beans ! Though I did have some roast pork with it.  After washing up I watched an antique show and then decided to sort out my coins into the new case MuJo had bought for my birthday. That took a fair while and managed to keep me awake. There was a reasonable looking film on a little later so I went tpo see how the card tables were doing on Ebay. I’ve put a bid in on one that ends at 9.30 pm tonight.

For tea I had a toasted bap, two pieces of malt loaf ( very small) and a small sugar free chocolate mousse. Then I stopped messing round and have 4 Cadbury’s dark chocolate fingers. Mmm Mmmm. I saw Law and Order, an episode I’ve not seen before then came through to work again. So far no rejections on the poems but the edit isn’t over yet. I’m really looking forward to seeing the idea(s) for the cover too. Well, nothing more to report today so I’ll wish you all Goodnight.  Hugs

Tuesday. When I first woke this morning I checked to see if it was raining before making a decision as to whether I’d go out. It was, but not enough to give me cause to stay in all day again or to let the antisocial element in me keep rising to the surface. So, I did all the things I usually do first thing, dealt with my mail, I saw to the fish at 7.00 am and took my drugs and made a coffee at the same time.I took the coffee through and refreshed the mail, there were only 7 more so I got washed and dressed to be ready to go at 8.00 am for the bus. By that time I was able to leave my inbox clear.

It was a close call outside as to whether I changed my mind as the nearer I go to the bus stop the more people there seemed. I was slow as I was carrying a fairly heavy bag today. It helped as a bus arrived to remove the kids and as I drew close to the stop my own bus drew up. I let the three others who’d been waiting for it get on before me so I didn’t feel hemmed in and then settled in a single seat so that no-one could sit next to me. I’d forgotten my mp3 player but found it easy enough to rest my head on my crutches and close my eyes. The journey took from 8.10 until 9.30 and Yvonne was waiting for me as I got off. Reuben was fast asleep in his pram and I was warned he was grumpy. We headed for the Costa where we could grab a rooms settee and pull the pram in to the side of the table without obstructing anyone. As I got rid of my coat Yvonne went off to order coffee and toast. While she was at the counter Reuben woke up and smiled. I got him out.

Yvonne brought the coffee over followed by one of the staff with toast and little pots of jam.Reuben was having the time of his life bouncing around on my groin area trying to give me ‘mumps’. I buttered a bit of toast, added jam ( his first time) and passed it over. There was the usual grimace when anything goes in his mouth ( except fingers) and then he chewed away merrily. We both allowed him little bits of toast till all was gone except for the sticky pieces all over my jumper and trousers. Maybe she’ll let me borrow one of his bibs next time. From Costa we headed for the Shopping Precinct. I managed to get Yvonne some nice photo frames and a new warm coat. I was rather hoping to find a brown top like a cardigan or fleece for myself so we went into an H & M where there was a lot for Reuben but I wasn’t lucky. We left there well laden down and had a wander round a few other shops. At lunch time we went into a small cafe we know and I  ordered bangers and mash with a cup of tea while Yvonne had a Tuna pasta. She started feeding Reuben his packed, or maybe that should be pouched, lunch but he didn’t seem too impressed. He was blowing raspberries and sharing a good proportion of his lunch with us. Yvonne gave up.

Our lunches arrived and with that Reuben’s interest in food suddenly revived, So, by the time we’d finished he’d had his first mashed potato and grave, along with his first real pasta sans tuna which they can’t have this young. After the meal we went to one last store to look for my top. I was very lucky and found something. I got it one size too large so everyone thinks I’ve lost weight. Reuben was lucky there too with some fantastic outfits in the sale. I’ve bought all 6-9 months today as he’s at the last point of his other size now. We walked slowly back to Yvonne’s where for the first time today Reuben started being a little cranky. Yvonne tried to get him to sleep to no avail at first so I had him doing the Riverdance in my lap. Eventually he wore me out and Yvonne had him back to try again. Instead I found myself nodding off and waking myself up with a big snort, much to her amusement. At least Reuben dropped off for a while.

Ugo came home and after changing we all headed off to bring me home. We stopped for my bread on the way and then for chips which we ate at home. Reuben didn’t seem impressed with his tea again but he did fare better with the melon and grapes for afters. I did Ugo some chocolate puds and he almost wept when Yvonne asked for a sample when he had a full spoon and again when we suggested letting Reuben just try a wee taste. Just before they left I let Ugo know that I’d given Yvonne a memory stick with the family tree on it and to make sure she didn’t lose it. He suggested she probably already had since it had been over an hour. Since h=they left I’ve been a good boy, glued to my screen. 167 emails awaited me plus and award I had to sort out and of course this blog. t’s now well gone midnight and I am about to give up, Midway through the week tomorrow ( today) and my brother’s birthday. I hope you all have a Great Day.

Wednesday. When you’re talking atrocious weather you’re talking what I woke up to this morning. I’d woken a few times in the night to crashing noises but managed to drift off again. At 4.45 I woke up thinking a bomb had dropped the boom and crash was so loud. When I got up to check the house all seemed OK but through the kitchen window I saw the gaping maw of a wheelie bin with a big No 8 on the side. Oops, that’s mine. I was glad it was a little early for passers-by as I nipped out in my dressing gown to wrestle it back into place. It was pouring with rain and the threatened 100mph winds kept trying to tear it from my grip. I managed to get it back on the step where surprisingly my little food bin was still standing.

I came back in shivering and looking like a drowned rat ( sorry Penny and Priya). After rubbing a towel on my head for about 30 seconds to dry what remains of my locks I started on my messages. Of the many blogs I follow some stand out for their attention to the unfairness of victimisation. One which had made me cross last week was about making abortions illegal in a certain country in Europe.It seemed to me a retrograde step taking women’s rights back quite a way. Yesterday there was a blog by the quite brilliant E.B.de Mas on his blog http://pinkagendist.wordpress.com/ on a similar subject , women’s rights.  This followed posts he’s done about homosexuality which includes how gays are victimised and again the retrograde step some places are taking to remove gay marriage from law. Having myself written pieces on how young people have been hounded to death for their sexuality and how one Church promoted the idea of physically chastising children as young as 5 yrs if they stood in a gay way I decided to blog again about the Buthidar movement where Religion is forgotten or at least placed behind the idea of living together in peace and some harmony. In the past this has created some controversy but today the support has been quite overwhelming.

I got dressed around the 8.00 am mark and dealt with the fish and my morning fixes, drugs and coffee. The rain was still belting down and the wind howling. I’d just returned to the computer when there was a horrific sound outside. Opening the front door against the pressure of the wind I saw a neighbours large wheelie bin dragging along the floor leaving a trail of binbags behind it. Believe it or not this person is even older than me so I had to dash out again, my slippers immediately filled with water and pull the bin upright while trying to pile the bags of rubbish back in. I’m not kidding when I say the force of the wind didn’t make it easy to return it to their front step.

By lunchtime I was starving and the baked potatoes and beans were very welcome. After eating I decided to stay and watch Sheerluck Holmes in an old episode and promptly nodded off. An hour and a half later I woke up wondering why Sheerluck wasn’t still on. I worked through my mail in the afternoon then had some pineapple for tea and settled to await my brother’s arrival. I didn’t have long to wait. He strolled in about 5.30 pm and caught me unawares. I’d actually been listening to the wind and wondering if he’d risk the journey. Dil was alone since Matt has a viral infection of some kind. Lee sent a text saying he couldn’t make it as the weather is so bad. Dil an I started with a couple of very close games of scrabble which I just managed to pinch both times. The smirk was wiped off my face at the end of Nomination whist and again when we played Crazy 8’s where I think I reached the 301 mark before he reached double figures. Redemption only came with our last game, Cribbage at which I pipped him to the post.

After he left it was straight back to the computer to deal with the 128 messages from you all and then to blog until 12.40 when I finally drew a curtain on the day. I’m still going to have a short read first though.

Thursday. This morning all was quiet. I couldn’t hear the rain nor the Banshee howling, head on, roof rattler of yesterday. It was still dark ( as it often is at this unearthly hour of 4.45 am ) so I’ve no idea if it’s wet outside or not. As usual I turned the computer on as I passed on my way to bladder control head office or wee sittee. There was a ton of mail again so someone loves me. I was amazed at the support on yesterday’s blog. When I first mooted the Buthidars on Facebook some years ago I actually had people working in different countries to create groups to promote the Hugs and a Worldwide Hug Day. More seriously we also had individual members skilled in various jobs who were prepared to offer help and advice from how to avoid an arranged marriage to giving advice on where to seek benefits in different countries. All was going well until a Christian fundamentalist from the US accused me of stealing good Christian souls for my Church. I was obviously the Devil and no amount of reasoning that we did not have a Church to steal souls into, worked. So beware, you know who you’re dealing with now and though my horns may be cute they’re meant to lead you astray. I moved the group from Facebook  to its own site but a failure to raise any help from Universities to promote a special day at that time had the group fizzle out. The story of the Buthidars is still out there in cyberspace though.

When I went to the kitchen at 8.00 am the sun was shining and the ground was dry.Until I opened the washing machine and remembered I hadn’t set the dry cycle last night. Damn ! Not too bad though and I set the frier going. (Freudian slip, I meant drier obviously). I spent some time setting my tablets out for the week and then took a drink back to the bedroom. I got washed and dressed then had my coffee moving a little further down my mail list. I wanted to go out as near to 9.00 am as I could so the bread man had time to deliver but no-one else had chance to buy the white baps. I managed it and got my new lottery tickets at the same time. Not that it would do me much good as yesterday lunchtime there were three separate appeals for money in monthly amounts and I know there are different ones daily. I do give to charity by direct debit but I’ve made a few one-off donations from these appeals. Now I’m skint. I know they’re meant to give us a conscience and I know they’re meant to make us feel huge sympathy for the causes. They work and I do, But I can’t help wondering how much is spent to make and place these adverts. I’ve really had to harden my heart.

I came back from my successful mission 4 baps the richer and immediately got back to work. It took me all morning to reach a point where I thought I could break off for a while. Because I’d been at it so long I went for speed at lunch time and the diet was thrown out. I had ham and microchips with some coleslaw and sliced tomatoes. I spent half the lunch break trying to swallow past the lump from today’s adverts for a child with malaria and a child starving. I turned over to a music channel instead, Sorry Sherlock. The afternoon nap saved me from much of that but it was shortlived when there was a knock at the door. I could see green through the glass and thought it was a nurse or someone from the chemist but when I opened up it was one of the wardens checking there was no damage from yesterday. I thanked her.

I’m sure you’re not interested in my tea or the rest of my evening which as usual was divided between the TV and here. There were no spectacular messages to report. I’ve finished this before 11.00 pm and I’m going to curl up with a book now. Ooh, before I go remind me to tweet about my first book which is on the cheap today on Kindle, goes up a little on Saturday and then reverts to its proper price on Monday. It’s a little test to see if it tempts anyone.  Night all.

Friday. D’you know what time I got up this morning? Go on, guess. Ah, you can do better than that. It was 3.33 am. That’s a new version of ‘Not a Happy Bunny’ time. I nipped to the loo as I was fed up of skipping and by the time I’d started, stopped, started,stopped, started and stopped again I was wide awake. Awake enough to realise it was best to finish on a stop and walk away. The computer was ready to go when I got back so going back to bed wasn’t an option. I must get out of the habit of turning it on as I pass. I found I needed an early start anyway as my mail box was full again. I am grateful for all the comments I get and retweets but so many sneak in the minute I go to bed that there were 37 alone between 11.00 pm and midnight last night. Then of course there were this morning’s ones.

As 8.00 am approached I paused to see to the fish before they came looking for me. I took my morning meds and found I’d forgotten  last night’s batch so I dropped them in the bin so no-one knows and made my coffee. I had a birthday card to go and I’ve just not had the weather to go out and buy a gift the last few days so the card read…… Dear Mattie, Hope you have a wonderful Birthday. I got you a gift token but forgot to enclose it before I sealed the envelope. Huge Hugs, David. I wonder how long I’ll get away with that one.

Back to the mail and I’m still heartened by the response to my Buthidar blog. If I can get everyone who comments or retweets to include a Hug in their mail and the people who receive it do the same, the world should be covered in hugs by next weekend and maybe they’ll spill over into reality. Well, you can’t blame me for wishing can you? It’s worth repeating that I honestly believe we could have peace if enough people wanted it and maybe we could concentrate on the planet and it’s needs then. The mail took most of the morning but a parcel was delivered at 11.10 am and just at that time I came over very tired and retreated to the lounge . I wanted to nod off and I tried to nod off but it just wouldn’t come. I sat listening to the rain being beaten against the window by the savage wind outside instead. At midday I gave up and made lunch..veggies please look away now. I had my baked potato(s) and beans but added some bacon for a change. I didn’t even mind that it was smoked which I’m not keen on. It was wonderful.

I had another hour on the computer after lunch before deciding to watch a film on TV. I wasn’t paying a lot of attention but after about fifteen minutes I realised I’d seen it. Most sensible people at this point would have found another film or maybe put on one of the hundreds of DVD’s they’ve bought and not watched. Did that occur to me? Did it heck, I just allowed my eyes to glaze over and nodded off. At about 3.00 pm I woke and wandered through to keep the mail up to date. I’d caught up somehow and wandered through to open a tin of chineapple punks when my phone burped. A message from Mike to say he was on his way from our friends after dropping some boxes off there. I quickly ate the pineapple and had the last slice of malt loaf then sat watching an antiques show until he arrived which was about half an hour later. I made him a coffee, we hugged and waited for the programme to end. He then told me all about his week in which he has to include the notches on the headboard just to tease me, he knows I’m a monk. I’ve been halibut for years now. Then he moans because I tell him to read the blog to see what I’ve been up to. Have to keep the numbers up don’t I in case WordPress ever decide to showcase me.

Mike washed my hair this evening and I had a shower. A blessing for mankind Mike called it akin to an annual pilgrimage. There were a couple of CSI NY on which we both like then a Law and Order special victims unit where both of us knew who the baddie was before the police. Then it was time for me to come back to this box. A friend of mine has kindly offered to put Reuben’s book on Lulu for me and I’m trying to find out what format she wants things in from me as well as making a final decision about size. I’m favoring A4 to give a child chance to open the book on the floor and the writing will be a good size, but a bit smaller may be better. Plenty of messages going back and forth. It’s almost 12.30 am now so it’s either good morning or goodnight to you all depending where you are.I’m up for an early shop in the morning if I can raise the undead from his pit. Hugs to you all.

Saturday. It was back to 4.20 am today and not having a bursting bladder meant I could plough straight into the messages. Surprisingly there were less than 60 and quite a few were either adverts or things that didn’t require much action. I was quite far down the list at 5.00 am when I nipped to the toilet. Being as quiet as I could be I walked o tiptoe so as not to disturb Mike but as I opened the bathroom door on my way out I was met by an apparition. I was scared witless ( a short journey) and almost needed the loo again. A grunt along with an arm that swept me out-of-the-way told me someone else had a greater need and not wishing to get the mop bucket out I let him go. It was too much to hope tat he was up and staying up and the futility of that dream was proved moments later as I heard him go back to bed and recommence snoring.

Once I finished the mail at 5.30 I made the mistake of refreshing the screen and ended up with another 57. Grumbling under my breath I made a start. News to cheer me, the poems are almost edited and the pictures are fine. I believe we’ve even made a decision as to book size, almost, perhaps, maybe. The title of the book which was kindly created by our friend http://roughseasinthemed.wordpress.com has only undergone a slight change to please me and credit will be given where due. ( On pain of death- which I decided against as the alternative was better-life). I hope things will be completed before another week is out and I can present Reuben with his own book. Of course I daren’t let him touch it yet or I may as well have presented him with confetti.

This last batch was competed before 7.00am and I had time to dress before Mike’s alarm went off . I took a coffee through and told him it was there. “Yes please, thank you sir, Oh kind sir thank you.” was the response I got from his sleep. Obviously that’s the best time to talk to him but fair play, he did make a move. Of course it was still almost 8.oo am before we left. I dithered about putting the rubbish out as the rain was foul and there was still some wind about ( he’s not well you see) but I risked it. We shopped. We were actually out of the store by 9.20 am and heading for Flint where I needed a last couple of things. No Saturday would be complete without banter of course so we stopped for coffee at Temptations. I wonder if when they named it they knew just what temptations would take place. Mike not only shares his sexual exploits with us, he openly advertises Ceri’s even when he has to invent them which is all of the time. She enjoys every minute of it, or so he tells us.

Back home we unpacked the shopping and then Mike let me catch up on my mail so there wouldn’t be too much waiting for us when we got back from our next trip. First we stopped off at Abakhan Mill to look at some green baize for the card table. In with all these materials at about £4 per metre we find the baize at coppers short of £30 per metre. So guess who didn’t buy that then. I shall choose another covering or hit Ebay. Then we stopped for lunch at the Ivy and as we walked in Tariq asked if I’d sign my books for him. “No problem” I said. We had a laugh with him, with the (nice)  Cat Lady and the Sophisticated lady who were all on duty. With the genuine humour and the kindness there it’s no wonder the atmosphere is as good as it is. I’m so looking forward to seeing the rest of the building in the proposed units . I want it to be around a long time. If I ever get brave enough to venture forth on my own Kassidy’s, Temptations and The Ivy Emporium will be my destinations. If people ever want to do guided tours of the places in my books they’ll be taken there. Shella wasn’t in today so no chance to say hello to her. Mike and I both settled on One Sausage and egg bap and One bacon and egg bap each ( he’s a copy cat) and what a lovely change from baked potato and beans. The time came to pay and Tariq brought the books out for signing. He wanted to give us lunch free in return. I almost didn’t sign. He could go bankrupt at this rate and I won’t just lose a cafe I’ll lose a friend or two.

On with the journey taking the coast road so we could  see how savage the sea was. I’ve seen it worse but I wouldn’t like to have been out today. This constant rain is demoralising. We reached our friend Brian’s and he looked better than usual. After a cuppa he was taking us to see his new ground floor flat that he moves into on Monday. We were both impressed as despite being a one bedroomed place it’s really spacious. We had a good look round and then returned to the carnage that’s his current home. It’s three bedrooms which he can’t enjoy since having had a stroke last year. We’ll go on Monday and help with the move.

At home later, I spent an hour or so catching up again so I could have a couple of hours with Mike watching TV. I confess as he fiddled with the laptop I was studying my eyelids from the inside again. Still that only lasted half an hour and I was my usual sarcastic self in no time. He maintains I’m caustic and sarcastic in my sleep so he can’t tell the difference now. We had a companionable evening which was nice up until it was time for me to come through and finish for the day. He followed me and caught me eating two dark chocolate ginger biscuits.  The sad eyes and the two foot knife convinced me I should offer him one despite him not offering me a bite of either of the TWO pizza’s he’d eaten earlier. That’s life, or mine anyway.  I wish you all a wonderful week and Hugs Galore. xxx……………………………………………………………………….

Happy Home Knit.

The Little Man

 

The Birthday Girl and the Milky Rice Kid.

Sunday. Finally today it’s B day. That is Yvonne’s birthday. Thanks to the blender arriving damaged and the second one not arriving at all, Mike and I must pick one up on the way to her house. I can’t quite come to terms with it in my head ( like a maze for mice) as this is not a birthday prezzie. I just convinced myself it has to be there today. So what am I to do? It’s 8.am and I’ve done my emails, washed, dressed and coffee’d myself with the maximum of clatter and Michael is still lying in bed fast asleep and chunnering. Is this the time for water torture or should I remember it’s a long walk to Yvonne’s. At 8.30 I take a coffee through and let him know it’s there. I get a grunt or three and a thank you. I return to the computer and messages until 9.am and then go back to remind him the coffee is going cold. Ahem, gone cold. He sits up automatically and drinks it without noticing. I remove the cup from his hands, pry an eyelid apart so that he can see it’s daylight.                                                                                       At 9.30 we leave and head to Flint where Michael saw a blender yesterday. The shop opens at 10.am so I buy the blender and we resume our journey. By 10.45 we arrive and ring on the door, knock on the bell to bring Yvonne to the door. She hands Mike two two hour parking passes and as he goes to attach them to the car I go in and sit down. It’s only as he comes back she remembers it’s Sunday and he doesn’t need a permit at all. Yvonne goes upstairs to finish getting ready and Mike and I get her gifts out. Ugo appears and says his hello’s and goodbye’s as he dashes off to church. Yvonne arrives with Reuben and passes him over. He’s in full giggle mode as Mike keeps trying to scare him by saying BOO, strewth, he only has to show me his face to scare me half to death. Yvonne loves all her gifts and as 12.00 approaches we get ready to take her for lunch. We went into Chester proper to a pub chain and the meal was so memorable I can’t remember what I had. I know Yvonne had a bread stick that looked like it wasn’t going to end. Filled with Tuna mayonnaise I think. Nope, I can’t remember what Mike had either but Reuben had the hump because all he got was milk. Ugo joined us for a drink and we took a slow walk back afterwards as Mike was due to leave for a family meal. Ugo, Yvonne and Reuben ran me home and then left so they could get changed for her birthday gift from Ugo which was a meal at her favourite swanky restaurant.

Monday. Typically no blender arrived today proving that the form had taken no notice at all of my request for urgency and offer to pay the difference in postage. Sometimes I wonder just what Customer Service means. I raced through the post this morning dismissing the charms of the females(?) offering themselves to me in way that would interest a contortionist. Most unusually I’m having a visit from Mujo to make up for missing out last week. By the time they arrive at 10.15 I’m ready and set to making drinks. Muriel has her usual J20 and John has a caramel latte macchiato leaving me to indulge in a caffe crema. What a blessing my machine is still. We have the usual wasted twenty minutes deciding where to eat before deciding we’ll leave it to our ability to find a place to park to decide. As we get into town John decides it should be fish and chips and so the far car park is where we want. We sail past the first car park though there is room, only to find there’s no room in car parks 2 or 3. Back we go and get a slot in the first one. This dictates that we now lunch at Kassidy’s.  Yay. John and I enjoy a very nice gammon with pineapple and egg while Mu settles for scrambled egg on a toasted muffin with two rashers of bacon. Naturally at the end there’s the usual argument about whose turn it is to pay. I’m faster.                                                                            Lunch over we head for Flint as Mu remembers she needs something ( I’m betting it involves sweets). When we arrive I argue that I need to visit a certain shop for chocolates to take to the staff in Temptations and lo’and behold Muriel is there buying their stock of coffee creams. We have a bit of a wander before going for coffee which in John’s case involves cake. Ceri is there and on form as usual though her first question is “Are you in on Saturday?” meaning “Are you bringing trouble in with you.” I know she loves the banter with Mike and it’s fun to watch. MuJo manage to find something for John’s 93 year old mother for Christmas. She’s fairly bed bound these days so it’s difficult. It’s 3,30 pm before we get back to my place and they need to depart after a drink. That blows my chances of persuading Mu to start gift wrapping for me. DRAT!

Tuesday. Well here I am.It’s just gone 10.am and I’m back in Flint again to meet Yvonne. She’s coming to me today but wants to take the chance on seeing the shops she doesn’t normally get to see. I’ve got a feeling of deja vu. I suddenly decide there are some things I want before she arrives so take a walk round a large Supermarket and find a few things. At 10.20 she arrives and since Reuben is fast asleep we decide to head for Temptations so his bottle can be heated up. We settle with a drink when his eyes open and from the howl he lets out it’s obvious he want his milk. I take him on my knee while the milk is warmed and he’s all smiles. Yvonne feeds him while I have some of my coffee and then I take him back while she drinks some of hers. I feel the ripple run down my arm as he trumps and try holding my breath as it stinks. Nturally people around are looking at us in disgust and think it was me. When I indicate it was Reuben the looks, if possible, turn even more disgusted at this large person passing the blame onto a tiny mite like that.  He’s in a very good mood and behaves beautifully as he’s bunged back in his pram and we put our coats on. A little motion and he falls asleep again giving us chance to wander round the shops. It’s such a wander that it’s getting on for 1.30pm before we board a bus back to my place, not a good idea not to eat when you’re diabetic. So, as the bus drops us off I nip into a sandwich shop for two large ham salad baps for us . At home I have my ‘before’ tab and then have to wait a few minutes before I eat. In the meantime I entertain Reuben who enjoys talking to his reflection in he mirror and to a large canvas of his mum and dad on the wall. While we eat our food Reuben sits on the settee with the rest of the milk he didn’t finish earlier.                                                                                                                                    After they’d gone to catch a bus for home I settled with my messages and then an episode of the Mentalist though this is a repeat and the BIG ONE is on tonight at 9.00 pm. I have my tea, finish my mail and return to the TV. OMG, Patrick has found Red John and it’s who I thought it was and by heck, isn’ t he nasty. One wrong word by a barman and he’s as dead as a doornail. This man thinks nothing of killing or trying to kill others and ordering others to kill for him too. Fifteen more episodes to go so I’ve no doubt there are more surprises in store but for now Red John is on the run and the CBI have a live witness against him. Sorry I should have called SPOILER ALERT.

Wednesday. There’s no use, I can’t avoid it anymore, I need to start gift wrapping. I hate it! I think the best idea is to get my mail out of the way first and then I can have an unbroken run at it. By 9.00 am I’m done and dressed but first I need to nip to the corner shop. 9.20 am and I’m back. The best thing to do is to get all the presents in sacks so I can wrap the same person’s gifts in the same wrap all at once. It seemed a fantastic idea anyway. By 12.00 pm I’ve just go the last gift in the last bag and can no longer see my bed. My mobile sounds to tell me I’ve a message. Lis asks if I’m in and if a visit would be OK. The sigh of relief could be heard in town. She arrived and we had a good hour catching up. She’s brought me a Christmas present to put under the tree. That could present problems since I gave them all away during the Big Clean. I feel awful as I tell her that I haven’t wrapped hers yet but I have managed to get them in a bag. After Lis leaves I have some lunch and then return to my room to catch up on emails from the morning. Fortunately Such a shame there are so many to keep me occupied all afternoon right up to teatime. I settle on a tin of fruit and have barely finished that and washed up before Dilwyn and Matthew arrive. Oops, no chance of wrapping now. Scrabble 1 I win, Scrabble 2 I don’t win. Time for cards. Dil and I decide to teach Matt how to play Chase the Lady. It’s not an easy game and it entails holding a lot of cards when there are just 3 players. Matt copes quite well and seems to be getting the hang of things when he suddenly dumps the Queen of Spades on me. That’s 50 points I don’t want but realise it can’t have been deliberate until the next hand when all of a sudden I lay a card and become the proud owner of the Queen of Spades again, what the heck is going on? By 9.30 it’s time for them to leave and though the game isn’t over I’m losing. Since we don’t finish I can say losing rather than lost because obviously another hand and I’d have hammered them both. I tidy up and wash the post after they leave and then head for my room for the last onslaught on the mail. At 11.15 I decide to call it a night and have a read, I turn round and see all the bags on my bed. It takes ages to get them off and pile them high in  a corner trying to leave myself a passage to the loo if needed. I read till 12.30 and decided it’s time for sleep.

Thursday. Mornin’ y’all. It’s 4.00 am and my bladder decided it was time to get up. I don’t think my bladder and I should be on speaking terms if it’s going to play jokes like this. Anyhoo, I managed to get my messages done for 7.am and then I needed to go and put out my meds for the week, take this mornings dose and make a coffee. That done I come back into the bedroom and with a look of horror see all the bags awaiting me. Perhaps just a few more emails first….ooh, that was worth it as I’ve been offered the chance to buy some gold from a new trading company in Africa. That’s got to be OK hasn’t it.?? These messages only delay me until 9.00am at which point I get dressed and tell myself to stop prevaricating, ah it’s just as well I’m going deaf. I know I can’t avoid it any longer so I make a start. The bargain pack of gift wrap I bought doesn’t seem such a bargain now I find that it’s 15 sheets at two thirds the size of the ten normal sized sheets I’d usually buy. This is not the kind of start to encourage me. I managed to wrap quite a few as lunch time approached and I wished someone was suggesting a visit but no, just me. I have lunch ( corned beef hash) and come back to finish a few more but I realise there must be messages now and obviously I don’t want to keep my friends waiting. You came through for me and nearly 60 messages kept me occupied most of the afternoon. Of course I’d have made it to tea time if one person hadn’t written to say she’d answer my messages in the morning as she’s tired and off to bed. Talk about inconsiderate, this is an emergency.                                                                                                                                                                                                     I had tea, ( a Christmas pud and custard, just to get in the mood of course )  then settled with the TV for two hours before coming back in here to deal with messages until 10.00pm when A person of Interest comes on. I notice my phone has a message. A change of plan, they’re going to come and deliver the gifts tomorrow afternoon. YIKES, that means I have two sackloads to wrap in the morning and Mike ( Peace be on his name) won’t be here in time for me to trick  erm ask him to help me with it. I don’t even have the excuse of the corner shop this time and couldn’t afford the time to go anyway. Those capricious Gods have caught me a good one this time.

Friday. Yay, it’s Friday. I jumped ( I lie) off my bed and headed for the loo about 6 inches ahead of my bladder. Thank heavens for loose cloths. I was able to stroll back to the bedroom confident of my first win of the day. Computer on, mail up and one of the first ones was a long one to a friend. I don’t ignore those though sometimes I’m tempted to leave them till last and get the numbers down. I’d got over half way when wallop, the computer shut down. My jaw almost unhinged with shock and I rapidly grasped a handful of tissues to stem the tears. All that work lost, woe is me. There are times I really hate Microsoft updates. The day and I are standing even at one all.      As the computer restarted I logged back into messages and started again. This time I was trying to cut corners and speed things up. The full page message became lines with apologies but by 8.am I’d caught up. Wash, dress, fish, tabs, coffee and into the bedroom to start the wrapping. I wrapped like a maniac and even managed to put birthday paper one one that was for Christmas and Christmas paper on the birthday gift. I’m relieved that I’m the only one to know that ( apart from you lot now obviously and I’m counting on a bit of hush from that quarter). By 11.am I’d done the MuJo presents and a smaller group for individuals. Back to the messages so they don’t mount up and stress me and also so that I can look calm when MuJo arrive. Mike sent his usual chatty text “On way!”                                                                                                                                                                                    I had my lunch and afterwards sat looking as collected as possible as they arrived. Drinks were sorted and they passed over a bag of gifts to put under the tree ( what tree?) and I let them know that Yvonne had left presents for them and that mine were ready when it was time for them to leave. We were having a laugh when Mike walked in which was my cue to make drinks again. At 3.30 Muriel suggested to John it was time they left as she needed some shopping on their way home. I brought the bags out of my bedroom, ( These, oh they’ve been wrapped for days now. My attitude said). Mike and I walked out to wave them off and came back in to see they’d forgotten Yvonne’s bag of gifts. There was a Thank You text from Muriel which said they’d see me one day next week and I fell to my knees in hysterics wondering why I’d been made to dash this morning. I did bangers and mash for Mike’s tea and had a sausage sandwich myself before we sat and watched some TV which included the Big Bang Theory episode I’d missed last night. Doing my messages later I decided that maybe the day and I ended even after all.

Saturday. I was late today and didn’t get up till 6.am but I was still a good way down the mail before Mike’s alarm went off. I went towards the kitchen and met this shambling figure doing a Quasimodo impression ( without the lisp) that sort of grunted when I called ” Good Morning.” I prepared his coffee then took my tabs and made myself a drink. Since there was no use in making conversation made up of real words I went back to the bedroom to finish what mail was left and get dressed. Being naturally subtle I threw the shopping bags into the lounge under the pretext of needing to adjust the radiator they obscured. Mike ignored the hint but went to get dressed anyway. As soon as he was done I asked for some help to put the rubbish out for collection. I opened the front door and heard such a heartbreaking sound, a howl of pure agony. ” It’s still the middle of the bloody night” it cried as I blocked his re-entry with my crutches and locked the door. It was light by the time we reached the shop and he’d stopped making the pitiful noises. We actually did quite well and were leaving again by 9.15am. On arrival in Flint we were both parched and decided to go for coffee first. Ceri wasn’t on the counter but no doubt the noise of Mike teasing Helen brought her down from the sandwich making room upstairs. After a number of pointed comments about her behaving herself on the staff night out tonight she disappeared but not before hugging us both and we set off shopping again. We went round a few shops looking for some gift bags  and bought a couple of stocking gifts but couldn’t find a vase that Mike wanted.  As I thought we were heading home he turned the car around and headed for another retail park where we managed to find a vase and were able to have a nice lunch. At this point Mike told me it was time to go home and start wrapping presents in earnest ( I wonder where that is?) He also told me to put my bottom lip away as sulking doesn’t suit me.                                                            At home we unpacked the shopping and I made a drink, unwrapped the books that had arrived and then scratched my head as to the whereabouts of all my recycling bags that seem to have disappeared. It sounds like I’m not the only one either. I know there have been gales today but I can’t believe that none have been found. I did some mail before Mike finally grabbed a bag and said he’d help me wrap. I grabbed it back and said no way was he doing his own and gave him another one. Guilt set in and I did some myself. By teatime we’d done quite well and apart from Mike’s gifts which I’ll do in the week we’re down to two bags which we can share tomorrow.                I made him sit through a film meant to bring on the Christmas feelgood factor and all I got was “Bah Humbug” so we sat and enjoyed an Anthony Hopkins film afterwards. I came through to irritate you all with the blog and now I’d better catch up on  my mail again.

I wish you all a Wonderful Week full of Happiness…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Reuben’s first solid food at 16 weeks old

Bear with me.

Me and my Pops

Go Forth and Shop No More.

Sunday. This morning Mike decided to look at my DVD player as I’d tried to watch something during the week and though I could hear it fine hadn’t been able o see the comedian prowling the stage. He applied his technical know how and came up with his diagnosis. “It’s buggered” he said. “Can I get a second opinion?” I asked. ” Yes” he answered, ” it’s still buggered.” It seems one of the tower units had become overheated at some point and blown a part. I couldn’t deny it as the scorch marks he showed me were a bit of a clue. Into the bin went the three units of the tower and leaving a mess on the floor and the TV stand out we headed off to get a new DVD player. I was hoping for a multi region player since a dear friend has recently reminded me of a TV series of the eighties, Dinosaurs by Jim Henson. The only copies I’ve been able to find anywhere are region 1 and I live in region 2. In the end there was nothing in the local shops to indicate region so I bought one I liked the look of and took a chance. Or at least I started to when my card was declined and I had to use cash. We went for a coffee, except that Rose had her usual tea, While Mike went to terrorise talk to the female staff Rose offered to come up at Christmas and cook a dinner on Christmas day for the three of us. The gesture was wonderful but I tried to decline saying I didn’t want either of them to come up. Not because I’m ungrateful but because I’d rather Mike stayed close to his grandchildren so he could give their gifts on the day and then he and Rose could have the rest of the day together in peace. The dirty laughs ended and Mike came back to the table. His son has other plans Christmas day with the grandchildren and he doesn’t want me to be alone at Christmas. ” I’m coming” he told me. It looks like I don’t have a say in it. “And anyway” he said, “Yvonne said she’d like me to come up for Boxing day and she doesn’t want you to be alone.” The fog lifts and I begin to understand. What a conniving pair.                                                                                                                                                                                                                We lunched at The Blosssoms on a beautiful lamb roast dinner before going back and Mike set up the new DVD player. He asked for a disk to test it and we sat engrossed in Peter Kaye until  finally reminded him it was time to leave to visit his Dad. We put everything back in place and they left. I removed Peter Kaye and spent a couple of hours on mail before watching a little TV. The embarrassment of having my card declined in the shop rankled with me so I came through to check the bank. As I thought ,no problem. I was really cross now and found myself picking up the phone ( which I haven’t done for over 10 years now) and dialling the number of the bank. I managed to stutter my way through the problem and the young lady amazingly had the patience to try and understand me. Trouble was, it was a fraud issue and she had to transfer me, to India of all places. I like Indians and have no prejudices against them but I do have a problem understanding their accent as they must have a problem understanding a Welshman who stutters his way through a sentence for half an hour. Anyway it turns out Google had wanted to verify my account and had made a 32p payment into it as Paypal do when you start. So now my card is suspended if someone pays INTO my account. Aaargh, it’s not long since they promised not to do this to me again. The card was de-suspended. They have me coming and going since last time it was because I bought something from a U.S. site without being over there. I swear it was fully an hour before my heart stopped hammering.

Monday. I had a lovely visit this morning from someone I used to work with years ago. It was especially nice because I only saw him maybe once or twice a week depending whether I was doing work in an outer office advising the public on Benefits. He told me the whole office used to look forward to my visits but I suspect it was because I used to take biscuits. We had a nice couple of hours before he left taking a signed copy of Oscar’s book with him and saving me the postage by taking his Christmas card too. Apart from wonderful Lis and my young friend Jonathan, no-one from the offices I used to work in has kept in touch. Doesn’t say much for my popularity does it. Still, I was always an anti-social git. Another treat today, the postman brought me a letter about my £10 Christmas bonus from the Government. It will be paid in by tomorrow. For the last three years it’s not been paid and though they admit it should have been, no-one has been able to explain why it hasn’t. I’m not too worried as the Government have been generous in other ways even though I don’t agree with the newest policies for dealing with the disabled and sick. I spent much of the day doing emails , eating or watching TV.

Tuesday. I’m afraid Yvonne, Reuben and I are together again. Despite me having finished my Christmas shopping I’m still going home with 5 bags. Yvonne is bragging that she’s bought nothing as though I’m the only one who ever shops. Anyway, it’s her fault as she leads me astray and takes me to them. One store that gave me a major surprise is H & M  a shop I wouldn’t normally go into. I was really please with some of the prices I found there and managed to get Reuben a great pair of trousers that came complete with braces. I had wanted a special gift for two friends who run Kassidy’s but who don’t celebrate Christmas. In The Gift Company I came across a picnic basket with a cooler section and it came complete with a flask too. Perfect for when they take their dogs out ( I hope). They have beautiful Highland Westies…………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

I don’t want you to get the idea I’m out of control here, but I also managed to find some great stocking fillers, hence all the bags. But it’s still all Yvonne’s fault if I can only afford dry bread for Christmas dinner and must starve in the new year. Now she has told me I mustn’t shop again before Christmas, there’s apparently so much stuff we struggle to open the door. I’ve told her ten million times not to exaggerate.

At home again and Ugo arrived so we were all able ( except Reuben who was most put out) to share a chip meal, sausage for me, fish for Yvonne and I daren’t tell you what Ugo had even if the was enough room on the page.   After they left I spent two hours on emails and then went through to watch Patrick Jane catch Red John. He knows about the three dots tattooed on his shoulder. Imagine my surprise when he had all 5 suspects gather together in one place and..  I won’t spoil it for those of you who haven’t seen it but Purleeze anyone who’s seen episode 7 already let me know what happens.  After that it was time to finish my mail and have  a read of my Pratchett before sleep.

Wednesday. I woke early this morning , as usual it was pitch black. Stupidly I decided not to turn on my lamp but to rely on the light from my clock which was smirking at me, and I stubbed my toe on the chair on my way to the light switch. The rest of the short journey was accomplished by hopping. The pain subsided rapidly as I checked my Euro lottery ticket and found I’d won a whole $2.60, just about enough to buy a postcard of where I’d like to holiday if I can’t afford the holiday itself. I’m currently saving all the lottery wins ,probably to buy another one if they put them up again. Anyhoo, I dashed off to the corner shop to cash it ( I did get dressed first honestly, just leaving out the boring bit). Coming home I remembered Yvonne had asked me about some poems I used to write as she was young. They would accompany a little sketch and used to entertain her when small. She’d seen them somewhere recently and hoped I’d let her keep them for Reuben. I was fairly sure they’d gone back in the loft with the few items in boxes I’d decided to keep when having the big clear out. The only way to find out was to check the loft so out came the ladders.                                                          Climbing the ladders was no problem but I had to use them as a sort of springboard to get me far enough to lean over and reach what I wanted. That was a bit of a mistake as I soon found out. The ladders were on a laminated wood surface, as I heaved myself up they decided to depart the are I was in. I could just about touch them with the tips of my toes but of course with my upper body in the loft I couldn’t see them. It took ten minutes of trying to hook my toes onto something so I could pull them back again. Ten minutes in which I was gasping for breath as though I’d undertaken heavy exercise. If I’d been on the phone at that time there would have been screams for the police, not to help me but to report a heavy breather. I gave up on reaching the box and came down.                                                                                                                                                  On my way to the kitchen I noticed a box behind the lounge door in which I thought I’d recently stored some photographs. Opening it up, the first thing I came across was the folder of poems. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Opinions Welcome. 

In honour of Reuben for my Beloved Daughter..

                            The Fish

The fish smiled a great smile of joy

as he swam in the sea of delight,

for the sun was glistening off his scales

which he knew was a beautiful sight.

The fishing nets had long drawn in,

and the boats being full didn’t linger.

he knew he was safe for another day,

and wouldn’t end up  fish finger.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The Dragon Quest.

The dragon sits on towers high, his quest is never done.

Watching all the girls and boys while they play and have fun.

He says “Don’t talk to strangers, or take lifts in a car.

Stay where friends can see you and never wander far.”

And when your day is over, the dragon can be fed,

on happiness, for knowing you’re safely tucked in bed.

After tea Dilwyn and Matthew came for games night. We started with Scrabble as always and I came first, but I’m not saying from which end. I didn’t get a look in. Just as well when I asked Matt what he wanted next, he suggested Crazy 8’s like last week as he’s getting the hang of it. He’s not quite mastered the insult side yet  but after seeing him lay ‘nasty’ cards down, there’s no doubting he’s his father’s son. Playing in a game like this with Dil is brilliant as he has a highly infectious- if Muttley like-laugh. I ended up with stomach ache which was more than made up for by the scalps under my belt as we stopped playing. One thing that always pleases me is that Matt seems to enjoy coming along for a game despite the age differences between him and us two old fogies.

Thursday. A singularly unpleasant day today. The wind is at  gale force and throwing ‘wheelie bins’ about like they are weightless. There is the threat that snow is due and maybe in quantity so I hope no-one is writing off a White Christmas yet. Somehow I managed to check the lottery on line and then throw the ticket away. When I went to buy the new tickets I was told the numbers from last night weren’t up yet and the ones I’d used must have been last Saturday’s. I virtually skipped home thinking maybe I’d won the jackpot and thrown the winning ticket out. I’d forgotten somehow that I’m not in a Disney movie. Back in the bin it went.                                                                                Lunchtime I had sausage, microchips and baked beans. Excellent until about 2 pm when I was back dashing to the loo. I’m having a break now for The Mentalist and then will return until 10 pm when I’m off to see Person of Interest which somehow I seem to have forgotten these last two weeks.                                                                                                  It was great. I now have time for a couple of chapters before sleep.

Friday. I’d been up since 5.20 this morning but as there was to be no MuJo visiting and nothing to rush for I didn’t get dressed immediately. How typical that there should be a knock on the door at 7.40 while I’m still in my dressing gown. Instead of hiding and pretending to be out, which would be daft when the light is on, I glanced through the window and saw a flash of orange, the postman!  Fantastic, I’d ordered a hand blender ( wake up at the back. it’s not for blending hands) and want it in time for her birthday on Sunday. Before anyone accuses me of meanness I must point out this is a gift but not her birthday gift. I don’t give kitchen utensils as gifts for birthdays ( or Christmas smart alec). How frustrated was I to see it was broken. I immediately got on to the firm on ebay to report it and to ask what I should do. The conversation went something like this…….

Them…Can you supply photographs of the item please.

Me.  Certainly, here are 3. Is it possible to get a replacement here by tomorrow and I’ll gladly pay any extra postage.

Them. Hmm, that looks broken. Would you like a refund or a replacement.?

Me. A replacement please but I need it by tomorrow. I’ll pay any extra postage.

Them. I’ll have one sent out, can you inform us when it arrives please?

I felt as though I’d been totally ignored at this point. Tomorrow will tell.

I had the usual lengthy message from Michael. “On way”is all the little chatterbox said. I texted back to ask if he’d be here by lunchtime and I could hang on without eating till about 1 pm if he could make it. He told me he’d be here. Lo and behold, he is. We went to lunch at Kassidy’s and by good fortune it was a roast beef dinner day. As we walked in Sheryl let out a large groan and said “I see you brought trouble again” to me, at which Mike replied, “Yes, I couldn’t let him walk.” Cheek!  I was also able to take up the gift for the owners Si and Chris, the hamper for when they go away with the dog. Not knowing when I’ll get there again I took Sheryl’s Christmas gift to put under her tree. We came home and Mike brought his suitcase in to unpack. We spent an hour on the fishtank with a water change and clearance of the weed plus the removal of a huge colony of snails threatening to take over. The rest of the day was divided between chatting to Mike, catching up with emails and making coffee’s. TV could have been better but my programmes were cancelled for a special on Nelson Mandela. His passing is a loss to the World, a light has gone out that lit a path to peace.

Saturday. 4.55am Start on emails. Quite a few his morning but the loonies are on holiday ( Yes, except for Seumas Gallagher and that Matron of his). I’d just finished the second batch at 6.55 and decided to take my morning meds when Mike’s alarm went off. No need to hurry as he’ll ignore it anyway. True to form he turned over and slept on. I made coffee and took it through to him, managing to drag him to the right degree of consciousness where he might eventually get up. He got up. I’m not going to claim he woke up at that point as my bright and breezy greeting was met with a few neanderthal grunts until he could see the bottom of his coffee cup.                                          We were at the supermarket for 8.am and today I managed to spend just a moderate amount and we left there at 9.15 heading for Flint and the next coffee. We hit a couple of shops first since he thinks I’ll sulk if I leave any open shop un-entered. No doubt he’ll tell Yvonne he was coerced when we see her tomorrow.  Ceri was on duty at Temptations and as she served us Mike described in full details an object he’d seen which he said was a foot long and thick, just right for her needs. Just as she started to laugh he told her it was a chocolate bar. Talking of Temptations, it’s time to stop for a word from our Sponsors. Cue the advert…….. Looking for the perfect gift for Christmas or maybe the perfect music to treat yourself to? Check out the new CD by Richard and Adam, a sensational duo with wonderful operatic voices as they go to town on your favourite Christmas carols.                                                                                                                                              http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Album-Richard-Adam/dp/B00F4M8PME/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1386428570&sr=1-2&keywords=richard+and+adam                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Following coffee we took the shopping home to unpack then traded insults till lunchtime. I really don’t know what came over me but I suggested we go to Abakhan as Mike hasn’t seen the changes there yet. This time I’m trying the food. We passed through the gift shop which was funny as he paled at the prices. Then to the cafe where given the (few) options I settled on the roast of the day. It’s December so no surprise it was turkey.Mike had some quiche. Lets leave it that we were both bitterly disappointed. One highlight though was that in the old gift shop we managed to find a small goldfish bowl that he wanted to put some lights in. Maybe one day the tight beggar will pay his electric bill.  It was dearer than most places but to save us looking further we bought it. Home again and no sign of the hand blender. I shall have to buy one on my way out tomorrow and then decide what to do with the other one when/if it turns up.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Some of my afternoon was spent on emails and some looking round Ebay as I’m looking for stocking presents. At this rate it might just be stockings though I can’t see Mike in suspenders- only because he won’t let me in case I laugh. We turned the TV on and watched something bland for a while until it was time for tea and an episode of the Mentalist which Mike kept saying “I’ll bet this happens next” so that I thought he’d developed psychic powers, before finally admitting he’d seen it before. For a change we had a couple of hands of cards. Naturally I won and Mike sulked When he left for the loo I replaced the cards I’d removed earlier and sat trying not to gloat till he finally hit me. We’ve just finished an episode of Foyle’s War and gone our separate ways to rest. Poor Mike has been having a series of painful headaches and one happened a while ago. This one coincided with his beloved Manchester United losing I think. We can’t say if the pain stays in one place as it does have plenty of room to move around. I do feel sorry for him though as he does for me tonight after a little chest problem.

I wish you all a Happy week free of problems and full of happiness……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Horse and Rider

Well, Wednesday finally arrived. The day started chilly and ended bloody cold. First thing this morning the district nurse came to introduce herself and bring some syringes in case Ju needs an emergency morphine injection at night. That at least meant we were OK for a game of darts before going out. Ju has been saving coins for a while ( mainly from emptying my pockets for me) and once we found out our little girl is pregnant promised to buy a ‘travel system’ which I understand comprises of a pram/pushchair and car seat plus things I can’ remember. Today the bank hated her as she went to change what she (we) had which came to £190.00. Might even be enough left over to buy an iced lolly if it’s warm when the baby gets here in August.

After the bank we took a thank you car and plant into Kassidy’s our local cafe who have been collecting for the Pennant Park Wishes Charity. Carl who owns Pennant Park Riding School had asked us to deliver them when we went to say hello yesterday.He had some excellent news for us- they’ve just started the building work. It’s really fantastic to think that in as little as two weeks the indoor school could be up. It seems planning permission went through like a dream with neighbours even writing in letters of support.

The hard part now is either to raise enough money or find a firm that will sponsor a hydraulic hoist ( or scissor lift)to get the disabled up to the level of the horses to make them easy to mount. The sooner that’s done, the sooner accreditation to the RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) is given and we can get more disabled children and adults on the backs of horses. The therapy and amount of freedom this gives them is wonderful. The one RDA stables that covers this area is a long way away and has a long waiting list for once weekly three quarter hour sessions. We’d like to see that changed.

Anyway back to the story. We were expecting to meet someone at the cafe, someone we’d met about three years ago and until recently I’d only known as baby-lady because she’d just had a baby at that time. Somehow we found out she’d just left the forces and only just had the baby who was a little sweetie. I left her £10 to buy the baby a present and we’d sort of been friends ever since but with long gaps between meetings. This was to be the first organised meeting and she’d just found out how ill Ju is. It seems she couldn’t make it. So, I had a pot of tea and Ju a bucket ( a coffee in a mug you need two hands for). Then amazingly she decided she was hungry and ordered tomatoes on toast. I didn’t want her to have to eat alone so I forced myself to have a bacon sandwich. I’m brave like that. Really Ju was sulking because the lunchtime special is Simon’s Spag Bol which she loves and since it was still breakfast time she couldn’t have it. We finished and I went to pay but Chris refused. I challenged her to arm wrestle me and beat her so she had to accept payment. I’m lucky Si(mon) was doing the cooking.  “See you later” Chris said but I thought it was just one of those throw away remarks people make. We went home and while Ju tackled one of her House Auction programmes I settled to do the 94 emails I’d received since knocking off after my 5.am – 8.30 am shift. I’m convinced every crook with a story of untouchable millions, every con about suspended bank accounts and everyone who wants to tell me my lucky numbers knows my email address.

After what would have been lunch time had I not been forced to eat my sandwich we set off for the RDA stables. I was heart in my mouth all the way scared at what Ju might do to herself. Still, makes a change from being scared about what Ju will do to me I suppose. I’d just taken a seat in the indoor Siberian arena when the trainer announced she was going to give Ju tuition on the outdoor arena today. Muttering under my breath ( spells to warm me up honestly) I waited till Ju had mounted and followed. Mounting was one of the things I was most worried about with Ju’s distended stomach but because she was on the lift all was OK. Outside the below freezing wind was lazy and went through instead of around me. I leant on the gate, frozen in place, while Ju started doing diagonals, or rather the horse did them at Ju’s instruction but you knew what I meant, right?  As George ( the horse) walked Ju round I could see her smile and as she drifted past where I was welded she said “I’m loving this, loving it”. Then she got George to canter and far from being scared stiff I became spineless and was able to detach myself from the gate. I watched her going up and down with the smile plastered to her face. I’d had enough and went to wait in the car. It wasn’t many minutes more when I saw George returning sans Ju and then Ju, leaning on Di , her trainer, coming down the path. When she reached me she admitted she’d had a problem trying to dismount the normal way and had to bring her leg over the front and be helped to slide down. She was bushed but happy to be back after five weeks away. Di has told her that maybe in a couple of weeks she can have an extra lesson on a Sunday to make up for the losses. That’s really kind.

We stopped for a cuppa on the way home at a Supermarket where I got her a nice thick jumper in case this cold persists.It was such a nice day yesterday too. We were home by about 4. pm and Ju had a fancy for food again. If riding makes her eat I’ll find a stable to take her twice a day. Her passion was for fish finger sandwiches of all things so I had a tiny pizza. I washed the pots while Ju went to get changed. She goes to bed quite early for comfort and of course she gets tired quite quickly. She hadn’t reached that stage when I had to shout her to open the front door. There were Si and Chris with a large bouquet of flowers for Ju ( rank favouritism) and also two plates of Si’s spag bol for us which we”ll hopefully have tomorrow. They’re a really nice couple and Chris was having fun feeding chocolate drops to the girls while trying to remember which one she dare not risk her finger with. So many people with just so much heart out there it quite chokes me up. There’s hope for mankind after all. More hope if I was getting the bouquets but I suppose I can’t have everything.