Wreck Of The Hesperus

"She's a sweetie!" 
So crooned the new vet at the surgery after I had lifted Mary onto his examining table
He has floppy hair and looks like a Greek god
I had a snotty nose and had tomato sauce dripped down my jumper
"She is !" I agreed, mesmerised by his gleaming teeth
The vet touched my hand by accident as he moved her harness in order to look into her ear.
And I jumped as if electrocuted
He said something vaguely funny
And I laughed a too loud a laugh like a loon!
And inwardly I laughed at myself  for doing so.

Half an hour later I was in sainsburys and I bumped into an old friend from Intensive Care
" You look rough" he said
" A mixture of long shifts and looming decri absolute" I told him
I bought provisions and ended up at the till of a cashier I have a kind of man crush on
The cashier always blushes when I speak to him
I still had a snotty nose and tomato down my front
And I did look rough as a bear' s arse!
He didn't blush much today I noted

Although I couldn't really afford it, I bought a Christmas wreath from Sainsbury's
My cashier told me it looked nice.
It was my turn to blush

I've put the wreath up on the front of the cottage when I got home
Mrs Trellis coooeeed as I did so
She was walking Blue who was wearing a matching red coat to hers
" You look tired " she trilled " Are you on night shift?


65 comments:

  1. well, i'm sure you always look good to the menagerie.

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  2. I don’t know which is worse when I know I look rough, “you look rough” or “you look great.” The WREATH looks great.

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  3. At some point i think one just gets too old for night shift... do you agree?? But i imagine in your field of work its difficult if not impossible to find something that does not include night shift.... Hang in there John

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  4. Night shifts I hated them , but on the plus side I love the Christmas wreath.
    I keep thinking about putting some decorations up but then I dismiss the idea , today is my birthday and hubby took me to the local bar for lunch the dish of the day was beef tonge so that was yet another dissapointment , oh well I suppose I have reached another year .

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    1. Barbara Anne6:09 pm

      Happy Birthday to you, Mamie! Wishing you a wonderful year ahead.

      Hugs!

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  5. Night shifts are brutal to one's body and mind. Somehow you must squeeze in some "me" time and take care of you. I know, I know, easier said than done.
    The wreath looks very pretty. Have some tea and try and rest my dear.
    XO

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  6. Working night shift and constantly fighting fatigue is not helping your emotional stability but I suppose there's no getting around it. Can I just say that I do truly love this place on the internet where you share your life so beautifully?

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  7. It pays NOT to look in the mirror. I frighten myself if I do.

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    1. So very true. Even moreso when it's a reflection caught by accident in an unfamiliar surface, such as by a shop window. Brings me up sharp to see how hideous I must look to others.

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    2. It IS a shock, especially if the lighting is poor. Walmart lighting always makes me look like a corpse :)

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  8. Very festive! I hope you get a good night's sleep soon!

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  9. I wish your divorce would be finalized so it would be behind you. It’s hard to move forward when your past is still in your future.
    Nice wreath. I used to decorate for xmas but since my father died ten days before I find it too much bother. I have fairy lights up inside and make cookies. It used to be my favorite season but it remains tinged with death for me.
    On the bright side, I’m picking up my new dog this morning. She’s 9 months old and mostly/all(?) Corgi. Obviously another rescue. My daughter’s neighbor is giving her up. I think her name will be Ember as she has the reddish coat.

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    1. Ooh a little rescue dog in time for Christmas, and Ember is a perfect name. Hope you have lots of fun and she settles in well :-)

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    2. I'm quite envious.

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    3. Ember is great name

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  10. I do hope the Absolute comes through this month. You need to face the New Year a free man, and be able to make plans and move forward. It seems like this divorce has been hanging over you like the Sword of bloody Damocles for far too long.

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  11. As soon as that mortgage is paid off you can cut back your hours, can't you? I am so glad you cheered yourself and all passers by ( and us) by buying that wreath.

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  12. When we lack our beauty sleep, it takes a toll. Rest, rest, rest.

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  13. I think the cashier fancies you John usually,which Is nice,but a floppy haired veterinarian would be a godsend x

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    1. He has got to learn to control his schoolgirl giggling somewhat before any floppy (yuk) haired Adonis will rescue him from singledom.

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    2. How do you believe John should behave around gorgeous men Mavis- should he be be more cool but hard - to be irrestable ?

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    3. Ps soz- irresistable ! x

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    4. Flis you're on the right lines with cool perhaps, but I think hard might be a little inappropriate before a first date 😂

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    5. Well I just wondered Mavis,for example-If John could be a little more direct about the scotch eggs he was placing at the tills and say" Please be a little more tender with my scotch eggs,I Don't want them handled roughly! " x

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    6. Though maybe he does? It's not a subject we have ever got on to. 😁

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  14. You need to make an effort, who knows where the next man may be found. Brush your teeth, put on a clean shirt, move on. Your special guy is out there somewhere.

    Hugs from snowy NY!

    lizzy

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  15. I do hope the wreck can continuing sailing into more comfortable waters. Soon.

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  16. Ember is a perfect name, congratulations on your new member of the family:)

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  17. a mix of humour and deep sadness, Oh John, I truly hope next year brings you everything you want out of life. XXXXX

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  18. Get a grip of yourself darling x

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    1. I'm rubbing bits on the soles of my feet

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    2. That should read vics

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    3. Well that will solve the Crocs-stink but does fuck all for tomato sauce stains.

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    4. Buy me a bib for Christmas

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  19. I was just waiting for you to fart.

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    1. Not a fart day
      I didn't fall over once either

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  20. Barbara Anne6:16 pm

    Lovely wreath and the smile it will bring you each time you see it makes it a bargain had it been twice the price.

    Perhaps you should keep a clean jumper at work so you can put it on if you plan to shop or stop at a restaurant on your way home. Also keep a handkerchief or tissue in Bluebell for a quick nose blow prn.

    Sweet dreams, whether you're asleep or awake!

    Hugs!

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    1. I keep a change of clothes in bluebell

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  21. ooooooooh, that IS pretty (the wreath).

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  22. Nothing to add that hasn't already been said but your posts always make me smile and I am always willing you on to love and happiness. The new year will be a better year for you I feel sure. P.S. What about the mid season last episode of Walking dead! I really wish they didn't take this break. Cliff hanger or what! I have made a note of the date it's back in February.

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  23. Hi John My mum used to say I feel like "the wreck of the Hesperus" all the time my kids look at me as if I've lost the plot when I use it. Glad to see that I'm not the only one keeping the saying going. x

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    1. Yes! My mom too! And me too :)

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    2. My mum used to look in a mirror when we were at a doo and say"I best go home-I'm wilting"x

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    3. Only thing the saying conjured for me was sappy Victorian poetry and and Winslow Homer paintings. Here is wiki, who knew [not me]: "What does the wreck of the Hesperus mean?
      “You look like the wreck of the Hesperus!” It means you look “disheveled, ragged, dirty, hung over, or otherwise less than your best.” Poor old John,lol.

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  24. My Dad could recite that poem from beginning to end - he had learned it at school. At least your cottage seems to get a lot of sunlight in the windows. Go in - put you feet up and relax in it and have a snooze.

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  25. Love the wreath, and I can totally relate to the Wreck of the Hesperus. My favourite when looking in the mirror is "Medusa and all the Gorgons". Take care of yourself, you will get there. Hugs. Jxx

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    1. I've had a long bath with candles and salts
      Never lit the candles

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  26. "mesmerized by his gleaming teeth" had me smiling.

    On days when I feel like the Wreck I can't wait for bedtime to come!

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    1. I'm rubbing vics on the soles of my feet

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  27. The wreath looks nice. Take care of you. Yep, when we get someplace and oh, look, I feel hideous, that's OF COURSE when we have to associate with folks... Ish.

    Cat

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  28. The wreath looks so nice on your home. Get some rest and nurse that cold. Try a hot toddy when you go to bed!

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    1. I've just had a lemsipnand gin combo

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  29. Anonymous10:26 pm

    Amazing how grown older gay men can behave like smitten school girls.....yep, me too.

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  30. The wreath is lovely! I decided I could not afford one this year, and I also decided winter will be over very soon.

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  31. Gotta have a wreath! I make mine as I'm a bit stingy like that. You can get loads of holly and ivy from the hedgerows and decorate tops of cupboards/mantle and use some little kumqaits to give colour and wire them into a swag for an impressive and free display. I am sure you are going to be spoilt for choice with invites over Christmas from all your lovely neighbours and friends. x p.s. used to do nightshifts myself, it really takes it out of you - think you need to invent yourself some pamper/duvet days to compensate :)

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  32. Anonymous1:13 am

    You have made me laugh out loud, to remember my maternal grandfather saying this very thing to my mother, who no doubt did not look her best in the mornings after trying to wrangle three children! We found this hysterically funny, but mother was less than amused. Thank you SO much for bringing back a happy memory of this curmudgeonly grandfather!

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