“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan”

Who said that? 

I think it was Eleanor Roosevelt ?

It’s my favourite Roosevelt quote 

I like a plan.

Plans are like lists to me, they are vital when things need to be done.

When interacting with any patient or patients ‘ relatives at work over my decades of nursing, I always come back to “ The Plan” 

“ Have you a plan?” , “ Shall we make a Plan?”

Lockdown in finishing and I think we all need a plan of action. Whether that plan is a clear idea of how you are going to approach our brave new world, or what you are not going to do.

For me, after months of isolation and difficulty, it’s a serious decision that I am not going back there…..to those dark months where I didn’t realise just how lonely and low I had become

Roosevelt also supposedly said It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness but even she was in turn quoting an ancient Chinese saying, I think I like it almost better than her planning quote…it means …quite simple …..don’t moan about things…just get things done.

I am lucky now , for in my friend Ruth I now have a great new friend and wonderful occasional house and dog sitter. For a small treat ( meringue nests, strawberries, marks and Spencer’s special custard and a bottle of wine) she will house sit the cottage on Tuesday so I can drive up to Sheffield so I can have tea with my dear Marlene Dietrich- sequel pal John H ( Bel Ami in the comment section) and evening drinks with stalwart friends Mike And Jane at All Bar One

In July Ruth is Dorothy sitting again, so I can visit Nu again in London, this time for a meeting with thirty mutual friends from all over the country. The same weekend I had planned to meet my nephew Leo at comic con and catch up with another friend,Alex,to see Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella 

After that it’s York ( my old Psychiatric stamping ground) for a catch up with Nigel, Ruth and Dale (Sheffield Spinal Injury friends) ….Vivaldi by candlelight in Liverpool’s Sefton Park Palm House c/o Col, another work base picnic on the beach at West Shore, a village Green Party in Trelawnyd   and a hot air balloon ride outside Chester this time with hospice Ruth, who like me ,was brought up with the 1970’s Nimble Girl.

So what do I mean to say with all this planning? 

Why is it so important?

A bit of social media showing off? 

“Look at me , how happy am I …..?” 

The Facebook 😀 syndrome?

No, not really….though it’s always nice to look interesting I suppose. 

I think Eleanor Roosevelt had it right , although I don’t quite subscribe to her most famous of diktats Do one thing everyday that scares you…..

Post covid, perhaps the saying could be amended to do one thing, everyday that pleases you!….AND more occasionally than not, with someone you care about

I don’t want to revisit those bleak lockdown singleton days when zoom just about kept your head above water, 

……non of us do

Love this, heard it on the way to work