Italians are not the only people who like to sing
Yesterday afternoon, as we updated our care plans and filled out the necessary intentional rounding sheets, a couple of nurses I work with started to sing in Welsh.
I didn't know the words to some of their songs but managed to gently join in with the Welsh hymn Calon Lân as a patient and her visitors came to the hospice corridor in order to listen.
A small human moment but a tiny powerful one in this mad big world.
This morning I have given my spare bedroom a spring clean.
It now no longer smells of academia and lofty thinking
Of musty papers, dust and dead air.
The windows were opened wide to the cold spring air fresh from Gop Hill and although I aim to repaint and recarpet the room soon, I washed the paintwork down and shampooed the rub into sweet freshness.
A cheerful new duvet and bedding on special offer at Sainsbury's rebooted the old Victorian bed and I could tell that the ever present Winnie was joyfully thinking " oh goody we are having visitors!" after she watched me plump up the pillows with hopeful brown eyes.
She's ever the optimist
I've made a shepherd's pie and lit the fire
Destry Rides Again is on TCM this afternoon
Sunday chillin
Yesterday afternoon, as we updated our care plans and filled out the necessary intentional rounding sheets, a couple of nurses I work with started to sing in Welsh.
I didn't know the words to some of their songs but managed to gently join in with the Welsh hymn Calon Lân as a patient and her visitors came to the hospice corridor in order to listen.
A small human moment but a tiny powerful one in this mad big world.
This morning I have given my spare bedroom a spring clean.
It now no longer smells of academia and lofty thinking
Of musty papers, dust and dead air.
The windows were opened wide to the cold spring air fresh from Gop Hill and although I aim to repaint and recarpet the room soon, I washed the paintwork down and shampooed the rub into sweet freshness.
A cheerful new duvet and bedding on special offer at Sainsbury's rebooted the old Victorian bed and I could tell that the ever present Winnie was joyfully thinking " oh goody we are having visitors!" after she watched me plump up the pillows with hopeful brown eyes.
She's ever the optimist
I've made a shepherd's pie and lit the fire
Destry Rides Again is on TCM this afternoon
Sunday chillin
I just watched a video. What a lovely song. It fills the heart.
ReplyDeleteYes, much imitated now, but rather charming
Deleteohhh love the duvet cover
ReplyDeleteSainsburys 10£ Special offer x
DeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteSpring cleaning - cleaning out the old - inviting in the new - all good for the soul John. And glad Winnie has perked up again
ReplyDeleteShe always does with the prospect of visitors
DeleteI always enjoy your blog posts... and though you’ve never heard of me, I think of you as a friend. The title this morning reminded me of some of my own favorite music.... and the weekly radio show “Dead Air” that celebrates it: https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/dj/downtown-deb?fbclid=IwAR2y7WCKzovuno6wNhxbvTymYjGa557YyqwCTbFH_1JgC7BFUcMSo-PBPMw
ReplyDeleteWelcome. Kelly.....not quite my type of music but thank you x
DeleteThe decor so fits the charming cottage tell Winnie I’ll be there as soon as I’m allowed to leave here. Surprise!
ReplyDeleteI now always have a spare bed
DeleteCosy.
ReplyDeleteThat was the remit
DeleteNo longer smells of academia and lofty thinking!!! I love that - I would like my rooms to smell of opulence and indulgence, chocolate, roses and sandlewood and maybe the sea a little bit too …. currently mine smells of my new wardrobe which has a strange chemical odour that I can't identify!
ReplyDeleteI want a room smelling of old roses
DeleteAnd honesty
DeleteOld Roses and Honesty..a good combination
DeleteBwthyn Y llan B&B
ReplyDeleteComfortable single room in an idyllic Welsh cottage close to historic Gop Hill and a short distance from the enticing Welsh Riviera resort of Rhyl. Buffet breakfast includes "Corn Flakes" and "Shredded Wheat". Only 50 guineas a night. NO CORONAVIRUS SUFFERERS, LEPERS OR ACADEMICS!!!
Yorkshire ramblers more than welcome
Deletehow about yanks from murrica?
DeleteYour spare bedroom is all ready for a nice young man now John x
ReplyDeleteNo that's my bedroom !!
DeleteWhat will he look like do you think-dark and handsome or blonde and rugged or grey and distinguished? x
DeleteNotbothered aslong as hesbreathing
Deletelol!
DeleteI just made up the bed in my guest room where two grandchildren spent the night. We are being told that grandchildren should not be around the olds these days. To me, this would be a much bigger hardship than not going out. I'm pondering this, weighing the consequences.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should do an air b@b
Delete"Destry" -- wow. That's a blast from the past. We need some new bedding too. I wonder if it's all sold out like the toilet paper?!
ReplyDeleteHave a look it's a recycling brand...
DeleteThere is no music quite as beautiful as that of Welsh voices. Alone or in choir.
ReplyDeleteThe nurses that sang had lovely voices
DeleteHm-m, now I'm wondering and dreaming...Perhaps new scents that linger would help you fully reclaim that room as just yours and your furry family's .... Plug a hot plate or whatever heats up food or drinks in that room, brew some coffee, make popcorn or toast, something you can give to or share with the dogs and cat. Getting rid of the old , for me, was more complete when I was in a space replete with homey new scents and things.
ReplyDeleteStill, just as it is that room looks lovely, nice work !-Mary
The new carpet will change things
DeleteThere is a small container with citrus in it on the radiator which helps lighten the room
That is such a snug and inviting room. Will Winnie be too disappointed if visitors don't show up? Maybe you can get a pair of overalls and role play a workman :)
ReplyDeleteYess jenny,that's a great idea-John could advertise on the Village Church noticeboard,on Winnies behalf of course for a workman to be so kind to reenact a favourite role play for darling Winnie-and please bring tools-payment of course offered of tasty high tea x
DeleteThe chimney sweep is due a revisit very soon
DeleteOh lovely John-a workman in the bedroom with a big black rod should keep darling Winnie very happy- bless her x
DeleteHahahaha flis; I'm creased up here!
DeleteJo in Auckland
Always nice to have a springclean. I decluttered the pan cupboard this afternoon (as you do lol). We had shepherds pie to for tea must be the new Sunday Roast.
ReplyDeleteI've thrown out many things over the past months
DeleteMmmm, shepherd's pie! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWinnie licked the bowl
DeleteSpring cleaning and fresh air from Gop Hill; even better taking in fresh air on Gop Hill - good walk and great views. Perhaps the choir could perform 'on top' during the warmer months? Would make a great video.
ReplyDeleteThe young girls and I walked up there this afternoon P
DeleteChic Eleanor was out too, pashmina flicking
Does Eleanor sing too?
DeleteI'm working on her
DeleteWe all have a song in our hearts, yearning to escape
ReplyDeleteAnd , like the Italians we need to sing
DeleteLove your Spring clean. I can hear the Welsh sing in desperate times but sadly not the English even though choirs are huge now.
ReplyDeleteI love Winnie x
Now *we* will have a place to stay when we come to see you! 🤗
ReplyDeleteAnytime dearhearts
DeleteHow much do you charge for B&B? I could bring pizza for supper Winnie...
ReplyDeleteNo charge for good company
DeleteAh, so maybe a fairly standard 100 quid for me? :)
DeleteJust bring gin and scotch eggs
DeleteAre you having a visitor? The bed looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome
DeleteJohn, thoroughly charming and warm. I like the wallpaper. Although I haven't commented of late, I do look forward daily to reading your blog. So nice to see your photos and lovable pooches. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteThank you queenie xx
DeleteThat sounds like a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and welcoming guest room! I hope Winnie's wishes come true once it's safe to travel.
ReplyDeleteIsn't there a rose named Honesty or is that some other sort of flower? I'll look it up and be right back ... ah ha! There is an Honesty Rose developed in New Zealand.
https://www.helpmefind.com/rose/l.php?l=2.64742.0
The other Honesty flower is Lunaria Annua.
Hugs!
Oh, and may I suggest some rose scented oil in the room? :)
ReplyDeleteI like the name Gop Hill. The village where I grew up in Vermont has a Slapp Hill, but Gop Hill is even better.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely day starting with song and ending with a lovely spring clean the bedroom looks lovely and cheery and obviously has Winnies approval. I googled Calon Lan by the Only Boys Aloud a wonderful choir and what a lovely language Welsh is.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your last line. Yes, Welsh is a beautiful language. I was brought up bi-lingual, and in an atmosphere where music was valued, in Church, Chapel, in school and also in the Eisteddfod movement - the Welsh youth movement which fosters the arts, and has an older, multi-national big brother too.
DeleteJohn's choir is typical in Wales. We need little excuse to break into song, and are trained from an early age to sing in parts, which is why our rugby songs sound so good!
It was a beautiful warm sunny day here yesterday, so all doors and windows were thrown open. No singing, but plenty of warm spring air.
ReplyDeleteAbout to have Shepherd's Pie for dinner. Good to wash away the past from the spare room.
ReplyDeleteCozy....maybe that could be Winnies room?
ReplyDeleteI never see my neighbors let alone hear them.
ReplyDeleteYou can't beat freshening up a room like that can you, it looks lovely :-)
ReplyDelete