My latest hen
Given the circumstances here I just filed them rather than put them on show, so I was rather pleasantly surprised to find 50£ in cash, a book token and a set of garden vouchers tucked inside the largest of the cards, ( presumably for safely)
Bluebell and I went shopping in a sunny, sunny Llandudno this afternoon.
Instead of doing the sensible thing and saving the money towards William's vets bill, I suddenly became a frivolous bitch and bought a limited edition print of a chicken from The Mostyn Gallery, the new Sally Field autobiography and a special offer box set of Bette Davis DVDs.
How gay was that basket?
The salesperson who sold me the print was a camp little chap in spray on jeans
" Do you like Chickens?" he lisped ironically as he bubble wrapped the picture
( for those that don't know " chicken" is gay slang for a very young gay man)
" Only the feathered ones!" I said , playing along with the game
"Too right!" he cooed " they're more trouble than they're worth!"
Afterwards I went to Osborne House and had coffee and a sandwich sitting in the window of the lounge.
It's the first time I've returned there since we split up
It was the venue of our wedding
Found money is the best, sugar! ;) You did well on so many levels!! xo
ReplyDeleteLucky I checked the cards, I never normally do
DeleteSometimes I really struggle to put into words just what I would like to say. Nonetheless, I hope you're OK and that the coffee, at least, was good.
ReplyDeleteLove your choice of print. X
It was meant to be , apparantly it had been there ages and had been reduced that day to half price
DeleteI saw Sally Fields on the Graham Norton Show last night. I can't believe she's 72. I've loved all of her films, in particular 'Steel Magnolias' - all of her co-stars in it were stellar too. Have you seen the mini-series 'Brothers and Sisters'? She's exemplary in that as the Mother. I went to my friend's art exhibition the other day but couldn't afford anything. He gave me a signed postcard of one of his paintings though!C'est La Vie!
ReplyDeleteI heard she was on Graham Norton but missed it as I was working...she reminds me of my elder sister
DeleteNow that's resilience! Love the print. Pat
ReplyDeleteIt has a cheerfulness about it
DeleteAt times we need to be extra good to ourselves. Take care, have fun
ReplyDeleteReclaiming places with strong memories is another step forward. And you did it with panache.
ReplyDeleteYour writing sings, John. You truly have a gift.
Jenny said it for me! And better
DeleteI'm happy for you, John
Xo
What a lovely surprise. Am glad you enjoyed spending it. Also, thanks for the 'chicken' info. I like knowing these things.
ReplyDeleteLike Kirk said they are called twinks now
DeleteA birthday gift should be spent on more frivolous things than paying bills, love the chicken print! I'm so glad you reclaimed Osbourne House as a place you can enjoy.A bit at a time you're making a full life with the potential to be free of the difficulties these recent months have held. I hope you're as proud of yourself as I am of you,John. -Mary
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have gone in if the old manager was still there
DeleteGlad you spent the money on frivolity John. Glad also that you went to the venue of your wedding to reclaim it for your own - a major step forward.
ReplyDeleteAnother step pat
DeleteWe sometimes find gift cards from previous birthdays. It's always a wonderful day when that happens. Great to see that you found that money. Have a great time spending it on something good. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteWorld of Animals
Congratulations on making the day your own. What a wonderful step forward.
ReplyDeleteMoving on ;)
ReplyDeleteNow that was a fun shopping trip. Bluebell is going to be a good friend. I hope Winnie and William are both improved.
ReplyDeleteGood for you John, time to reclaim your life. xx Hugs for William and Winnie xx
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a wonderful day. You added grit to it as well.
ReplyDeleteMy middle name is Rooster Cogburn
DeleteYou have taught me something (the other meaning of chicken). I love your print. That is the next breed of chicken I would like to get! Well done reclaiming that location and creating a different memory. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteIt's a strange feeling accepting that life is continuing and we're still in it. It is a big step and not an easy one.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely brilliant, lovely selection of gifts ... and lunch in our favourite restaurant to lay a ghost and claim it back as your own ❤️
ReplyDeleteI thought of you sue x
DeleteSo you get to celebrate your birthday a little later that all.
ReplyDeleteAs far "chickens" go, I thought they were called twinks, but I never been good with slang.
Chickens as well Kirk more old fashioned slang
DeleteWhat perfect ways to enjoy your birthday gifts, belated, so they are twice the delight! Hope the birthday messages in the other cards brought a smile to your face all over again.
ReplyDeleteBluebell is already proving her (his?) worth.
Hope Winnie and William are both on the road to full recoveries.
Hugs!
I am so glad that you treated yourself. Sometimes frivolity is a neccessity.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the education too.
I .could have spent the garden vouchers too but I game them to the village raffle as a prize
DeleteLove the picture.
ReplyDeleteIt has a lightness of mood about it susan
DeleteGood to read you enjoyed your day and was a bit giddy with the spends.
ReplyDeleteModern words eh, people were laughing the other day at the name of a shop quite nearby. It was called 'B J's on the beach' l had to look that one up to get the joke!
Tess x
Never feel guilty about spoiling yourself ... especially when life has been tough !
ReplyDeleteGod I love Bette Davies ... what a first class actor she was!
Funny tess
ReplyDeleteNot too bad a Saturday then, good for you John.
ReplyDeleteWell done, John! I told you that you would reclaim your life. Once you can go places alone that were once "couple" places, the road of life is well and truly being travelled.
ReplyDeleteYes, a good job you looked inside the cards before you threw them away!
ReplyDeleteAs Weaver said, an important step forward that you reclaimed the wedding venue.
Good for you spending the money, it has probably given you the lift you deserve and I just love that chicken.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
Sounds like a wonderful day...here's to many more!
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't wonderful
DeleteIt was just enough
Yes. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we are well worth a bit of deliciousness. And that picture is definitely delicious.
ReplyDeleteSo are your words describing your conversation at check-out.
"Do you like chickens?" Sly boot.
Money given as a gift is quite different to ordinary money! My late father-in-law used to give us money for Christmas and say "Buy what you like, not what you need." We did! Love the chicken!
ReplyDeleteThat's a simply wonderful chicken. I'm so glad you spent the money gayly.
ReplyDeleteSurprise money....the best kind :)
ReplyDeleteI love your black and white chicken print, so farmhouse and chic.
Your little Bluebell is already proving it's worth, rendezvousing on a weekend, and not confined to four walls.
You're happier and it shows !
Hugs,
~Jo
Hope you enjoyed your afternoon mooching in Llandudno. I always used to like a hot chocolate in Clare's dept store. Had to chuckle at the chickens reference xx
ReplyDeleteWonderful chicken. A day full of accomplishments. Pat yourself on the back!
ReplyDeleteWe watched the Bette Davis film 'All About Eve' for the first time just recently & loved it. I'd never known who or where the Margo Channing quote came from until she uttered that fabulous line & the penny finally dropped!!
ReplyDeleteYes! If you went to the Osbourne House and did not cry, YOU ARE HEALING. And was that young man flirting with you? I think so! Just makes the picture all the more fun. I love that you found the gifts later. You enjoyed them a lot more now than you would have back then. And don’t you EVER spend birthday money on bills, ya hear?
ReplyDeleteGood for you! And your basket does indeed sound gay but in the most happy way. Build happy memories and don't look back on the past sorrows. If I lived near, we would go to Osbourne House at least once a month for tea. Hugs to Winnie.
ReplyDeletelol, my kitchen is full of chickens :) I have collected them for years .. not on purpose in the beginning, I just kept getting little chicken things as gifts but after a while, I started keeping an eye out for an especially nice chicken .. like yours :)
ReplyDeleteAlthough killing a rooster is not such good luck -
The chicken symbolism indicates overall good health for you and your loved ones.
My kitchen too! I refer to them all as my flock.
DeleteHappy belated birthday as well !
ReplyDeleteI did learn some 'polari' when living in London, but never came across 'chicken'. I shall watch my language in future.
ReplyDeletellandudno once upon a time my ex and I stayed in a christian guest house, my ex was appalled . I however having come from that sort of background didnt really think about it . On the Sunday morning he asked where the newspapers were. The breakfast room went deathly silent and i was trying hard not to chuckle . the explanation that you could read nothing but the bible on a Sunday appalled him.
ReplyDelete"appalled " ??
DeleteFun choice of purchases John glad you enjoyed yourself and felt comfortable to reclaim Osborne House for yourself and make new memories.
ReplyDeleteBirthday money should always be spent on yourself. Sounds like you enjoyed your day. I like the print.
ReplyDeleteA great way to spend your birthday money. You're starting to recover (although it may not feel like it). I love that chicken print, be interested to learn what you think of the Sally Feld autobiography. I heard her talking about it on Woman's Hour this week
ReplyDeleteLiked hearing this . . .
ReplyDelete“you can never ever do enough for yourself!”
I really admire Sally Field, her acting in Sybil was incredible .
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you felt up to having lunch at your wedding venue and spoiled yourself with a few treats too xx
LOVE, LOVE the chicken print. I adore chickens and would have fallen for that picture instantly. Looks lovely in your cottage. Sounds like you had a mixed day, emotionally speaking. Llandudno in the sun looks great - hopefully you have blown a few cobwebs away.
ReplyDeleteThank you for explaining the 'chicken' slang term, if you hadn't I wouldn't have understood what you were saying. Bette Davis: good taste, a brilliant actress.
ReplyDeleteA very good day.
ReplyDeleteWow a great thing to discover the birthday money. You weren't frivolous. It was your birthday money! Happy belated birthday btw.
ReplyDeleteStep by step you are reclaiming your life. Props to you, John. Also, I love your gay basket!
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with a little chicken?????
ReplyDeleteBirthday money discovery! I would have bought a limited edition chicken, too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you remember to thank the people for these gifts - better late than never!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the chicken story (and the print). I'm reading that Sally Field autobiography now -- it's pretty interesting! I'm about halfway through. I think you'll like it.
ReplyDelete