Thoughts at the Kitchen Table.



This photo brought back some lovely memories today
Thank you Facebook for randomly choosing this photo to remind me of times past
The ones you usually fucking pick for me, invariably piss me off big style.

This one shows me teaching my nephew how to give a sick ghost hen it's medication
It was perhaps eight years ago now, at the height of the Ukrainian Village boom

He had undiagnosed Aspergers then so was seen to be slightly awkward and somewhat heavy handed., but I do remember his abject concentration at the task in hand once I had showed him how to master the vagaries of a one ml insulin syringe full of antibiotic.

I will be posting some of my lockdown dvds to him today. Some Korean disaster movies as I am trying to widen his interests away from Star Wars and Marvel 

The lockdown has sort of cemented some of my relationships and have helped to blossom other newer ones.
I'm presently at the kitchen table and have sat through two recorded short stories written by a friend of a friend who has become my friend over the last few weeks. Later I will give the author some feedback
Oh I'm never short of an opinion 

Daily my two Hospice besties Ben and Ruth will sign in on our shared messager channel for a natter. Nothing sparkling, some gossip at work, a shared dough story, a kind word and from Monday we may even be able to sit in each other's gardens with a glass of Ben's homemade beer
Hey ho

Days off at home amble to their own pace now
I've hit that wall that so often happens on the second week of a much anticipated holiday
I've relaxed.

Just looking at the masses of potted geraniums and antirrhinum lined up next to my agapanthus and violas in the sun of the patio is enough for me this morning. I have no blistering need to plant them out not just yet
It's too hot anyway.

The shapes on the greenery are my underpants drying in the sun


Mary is out walking with Hattie.
Winnie is sucking the life blood out of a charred pizza which I left far too long in the oven last night
 and Dorothy is probably contemplating having a piss of my newly laundered bed spread
The one my twin sister was getting rid of
I called her down a few minutes ago and she sat in my arms for a few mintes as I listened to the taped stories, rocking back and forth like a worried baby, her eyes never leaving mine
She's a damaged little soul
And will, I suspect, remain one all of her life

I've bought salad and king prawns for tea and have planned a chicken salad for work tomorrow.
I had a text from one of the hospice support workers thanking me for explaining PPE properly to her whilst she was stressed and fraught and fearful
It's nice to get feedback
But looking at the photo taken of me instructing my nephew in animal husbandry

I think I've always been a good teacher



52 comments:

  1. for movies, how about gamera? gamera friend to all children! like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhaoRp6Ngnw

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    1. Strangely addictive....men in rubber

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  2. You are a good example of making the best of the situation and seem to be blooming even during all this.

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    1. The pace of days is and needs to be relaxing

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  3. A man of your age should look after his agapanthus. A healthy agapanthus is the key to a long life.

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  4. that's a very cute photo.

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  5. A pretty garden scene. I am glad that you explained the shapes on the greenery, I thought a group of paratroopers had landed and left their 'chutes behind.

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  6. You never know. Dorothy may eventually relax and heal. If there's a chance in the world, she's found it right there with you.

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  7. That's life, the quaratine did change some things, while what's important is, that all of us stay alive and healthy. 🙂

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  8. You are a teacher, a caregiver, a kind soul,
    Aren't we all damaged in some way?

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    Replies
    1. Oh David yes, baggage and pain, we all hide things away

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  9. John, thank you for teaching your nephew in such a kind manner. I had undiagnosed Asperger's for 54 years, and most experiences I had of someone trying to teach me tasks that required coordination were unpleasant at best. Thank you for continuing to think of him and finding opportunities to gently adjust his outlook. In fact, thank you for being.

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    1. I think it was then when I realised something was different about him . His dexterity and odd positioning of digits

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    2. And the patience to gain his trust as well. A good teacher indeed. It isn't easy, as I know with my ten year old grandsons.

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  10. Barbara Anne2:15 pm

    What a lovely picture of your garden and an enjoyable narrative, too.

    Yes, you're a born teacher among your many other talents and abilities (you know, chorister, bell ringer, etc!).

    I hope after we're all free to safely leave home, we keep the more gentle pace of life we've enjoyed for the last couple of months.

    Hugs!

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    1. Thank u for your birthday card x

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    2. Barbara Anne3:43 am

      You are most kindly welcome, birthday boy! Well, almost but it's not June 1 yet. Happy birthday to your twin sister, too. :)

      Hugs!

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  11. So cool that you took time to teach him that. Those lessons are always remembered.
    And I love that corner of your garden! I’m sooo wanting to have flowers!

    XoXo

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  12. Thank you for taking care of Dorothy. Just noticed the wonderful picture of you and her on the side of the blog!

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    Replies
    1. I've just received a lovely hand drawing of her

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  13. Re: teaching, I think it is a trust thing and people know they can trust you. We have a damaged dog, longs to be loved but always fighting her corner. I'll go give her a cuddle right now.

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  14. Regardless of what people think, dogs do not forget. Mavis, the Jack Russell, my very own 'damaged little soul' will not enter any shed or small outbuilding and it's taken me until very recently to realise why. She must have been kept/caged in one when she was stolen from us. Her fear when I was over in chicken world a couple of weeks ago and I persuaded her to come into the shed with me was palpable. Her trust in me was the only thing that got her over the threshold and then she was off like a shot and back to the safety of the patio before I could turn around.

    When I'm watching television and I feel her eyes on me it's very special, it's as though she's working through the past over and over, and it usually end with her coming over for a cuddle.

    I hope a wind doesn't get up, I'd hate for your underpants to be distributed around the village ;-)

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    1. Yes..I get the " gaze" thing
      Brown eyes watching you every minute of the day

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  15. We adopted a small dog from a shelter and discovered she must have been hit and kicked in her previous life. We’ve had her three years now and she has stopped hiding when I sweep the kitchen. She would not pass you in a doorway or hall unless she went behind you. She still doesn’t like being picked up but she loves cuddling and being massaged when it is her decision. I don’t like thinking about her previous life, but we have come a long way and she seems like a happy dog now.
    I hope Dorothy relaxes eventually. Time.

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  16. You are so good with both animals and people, John, you have a natural empathy. In fact you're a saint, John. St John of Trelawnyd!

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  17. The photos of your Nephew and garden are wonderful.
    parsnip

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  18. What a lovely chatty post! Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

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  19. That IS a charming photo. And...poor Dorothy!

    I love how you dry your shorts on the shrubs. You need a clothesline!

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    1. I hate washing on lines

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    2. How do you dry sheets and towels with a clothes line? If you use the bushes isn't it hard on them?

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  20. Having kept chickens for the last ten years that is very familiar to me. It has to be done from time to time with an unwell girl and it definitely needs two pairs of hands, one to hold her beak open and one to administer the medicine.

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  21. Awe what a lovely read well written John a lovely chapter in the life, the photos are wonderful enjoy the rest of the day I feel quite relaxed as this is the first post I have read on the computer today and know all is well in your corner of the world.
    Now if I can just wean myself from watching the news
    of the day all may be well.

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  22. I'm glad your nephew has you in his life, in addition to his immediate family members. A lot of society doesn't understand or want to deal with anyone who is different in any way. That makes life more difficult for them than it has to be.

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  23. Lovely photograph John - I know you are a great asset in your neohew's life. I have a grandson with Aspergers - they do need support and understanding.

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  24. It's been an odd day..off to bed shortly , working tomorrow and my besties at work tell me it's busy!!!

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  25. Your photos of your garden are very peaceful and I love your nephews hat, smart little fellow. The look of concentration on his face says it all. I am enjoying a slower paced life; long may it continue.

    Jo in Auckland

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  26. I also wonder sometimes at the memory feed thing on facebook.

    I think good teachers exude a genuine interest in wanting their pupils to succeed. And if they can take the time to see what works best for the learner and go the learner's pace, there's a great reward when the pupil is successful.

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    1. Are there teachers who don't want their pupils to succeed? Interesting. I wonder why they would teach if they don't feel this in the first place.

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  27. I did King Prawns fried in garlic butter for our lunch yesterday, I was licking my fingers all afternoon!

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  28. We have watched some cracking Korean movies. Still get invested in the characters even though we have to read subtitles.

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  29. I AM SO DELIGHTED TO BE FINALLY CURED OF HERPES VIRUS,I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM HERPES TYPE 2 FOR OVER 4 YEARS AND I HAVE SPENT A LOT ON GETTING THE MEDICAL PILLS RECOMMENDED FOR SUPPRESSING THE VIRUS,BUT I NEED MY LIFE BACK SO I OPTED FOR HERBS INSTEAD AND IT WAS THIS PROCESS I CAME ACROSS A TESTIMONY OF HOW EFFECTIVE DOCTOR RAZOR HERBAL MEDICINE IS, SO I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY I CONTACTED THE HERBAL DOCTOR AND HE GUIDED ME AND AFTER FEW DAYS I RECEIVED MY PARCEL FROM THE COURIER SERVICE SENT BY THIS GREAT HERBALIST SO I FOLLOWED HIS INSTRUCTION ON HOW I WAS TO TAKE THE MEDICINE AND AFTER 18 DAYS I DECIDED TO GO FOR MEDICAL CHECK UP ON THE HERBALIST ORDER, TO MY GREATEST SURPRISE THE DOCTORS DECLARED ME NEGATIVE,YOU CAN GET CURED OF HERPES TOO IF I CAN GET CURED AFTER USING HIS HERBAL MEDICINE..REACH HIM ON EMAIL : drrazorherbalhome@gmail.com or Whatsapp or call him on +2349065420442

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  30. I AM SO DELIGHTED TO BE FINALLY CURED OF HERPES VIRUS,I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM HERPES TYPE 2 FOR OVER 4 YEARS AND I HAVE SPENT A LOT ON GETTING THE MEDICAL PILLS RECOMMENDED FOR SUPPRESSING THE VIRUS,BUT I NEED MY LIFE BACK SO I OPTED FOR HERBS INSTEAD AND IT WAS THIS PROCESS I CAME ACROSS A TESTIMONY OF HOW EFFECTIVE DOCTOR RAZOR HERBAL MEDICINE IS, SO I DECIDED TO GIVE IT A TRY I CONTACTED THE HERBAL DOCTOR AND HE GUIDED ME AND AFTER FEW DAYS I RECEIVED MY PARCEL FROM THE COURIER SERVICE SENT BY THIS GREAT HERBALIST SO I FOLLOWED HIS INSTRUCTION ON HOW I WAS TO TAKE THE MEDICINE AND AFTER 18 DAYS I DECIDED TO GO FOR MEDICAL CHECK UP ON THE HERBALIST ORDER, TO MY GREATEST SURPRISE THE DOCTORS DECLARED ME NEGATIVE,YOU CAN GET CURED OF HERPES TOO IF I CAN GET CURED AFTER USING HIS HERBAL MEDICINE..REACH HIM ON EMAIL : drrazorherbalhome@gmail.com or Whatsapp or call him on +2349065420442

    ReplyDelete

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