As requested a video of the garden
Everything is incredibly dry
A Good Day
Sometimes you make your own good day
Other times it’s made for you.
Today has been a bit of both.
I got up early, and amongst jobs cut roses and honeysuckle and euphorbia from the garden and put them in a gaudy Welsh jug that was doing nothing.
Roger and I went for a sausage breakfast on Colwyn Bay Promenade then went to the hospice to retrieve my emails as he tottered around the staff, bumming treats.
At midday I met up with some of the hospice staff for lunch and a haircut and a gossip .
They are a nice bunch, and I could feel their good ( and very black) humour lift my psychi
This evening it’s two video calls with friends in Manchester and Sheffield
It’s been a perfect day
Quite lovely
Pottering
Im sat in the forcourt of a busy garage and shop in St Asaph waiting to meet with my counsellor and her hubby who have my final report documentation for university.
Im feeling a bit like an over the hill drug dealer but they dont, im sure, eat McDonald's porridge with a cardboard spoon when waiting to meet
Ive bought her a pretty yellow lilly as a thank you.
Today has a flower theme as im delivering flower show programmes with Randy Roger in tow. Mary is resting under the gentle eye of Trendy Carol's hubby, a man who will spoil her rotton.
Ive had a long chat with my boss at work yesterday and have we have agreed to a phased return starting next Friday. This means I will effectively work one shift and two study day shifts in three weeks, enough time to see how I feel and more space to review my options.
My supervisor reflected that its been an awful year for me so far, which I disagreed with. I do however think that it is a pivotal one where work and choices are concerned
This weekend will be useful to contemplate my options
Hormones and laburnum
My laburnum is so in flower it can be seen from space….
Well that’s a lie, but it can be seen from the lane window
Which pleases me.
Roger has been affected badly from Mary’s “ final” and sudden being in season…it has now necessitated Mary’s immediate relocation to Trendy Carol’s house. Roger has now humped three cushions , my stuffed chameleon , Mrs Trellis’s red felt lobster and has attempted to mount Weaver with disastrous results
Oh lord
Help us
Where Does the Time Go?
On Wednesday it was Nu’s birthday
My touchstone , my friend , my bestie
Seeing Julia Fordham singing at the Royal Opera House last night reminded me of my salad days with Nu
When 1990 revolved around being a student, The Ledmill, too much alcohol and laughing
Where does the time go?
Was the soundtrack of our friendship in an rapidly evolving Sheffield
Tomorrow she travels by train in Norway, what fun!
I see her , on average three times a year
And she’s as necessary to me as oxygen
Ballet to Broadway
The glorious An American in Paris ballet
Late home
My friend Wendy ( who is a warm , funny woman who laughs easily) invited me to a live showing of Christopher Wheeldon ‘s “ Ballet to Broadway “ from the Royal Opera House tonight
4 very separate dance pieces one set to the songs of Joni Mitchell ( sung by the glorious Julia Fordham )below
An unexpected gem
The Flower Show
I’m a judge short.
Meirion of the lovely garden on Maes Offa cannot judge the flower section this year, which is a blow.
I’m presently in negotiation with a local potter to be our arts judge and I’m going around to see Animal Helper Pat, who is a wonderful gardener to step in with the flowers.
It will get sorted.
Trendy Carol ( looking svelte in bright summer colours) has just passed and the village feels out and about in the warm sunny month that we’ve had. Affable despot Jason has taken over one of the allotments in Bonc Terrace, and someone new has bought Trefor’s old bungalow on the corner.
No one knows who the newbies are
Mission Impossible
My sisters, sister in law and brother in law and I went to see Mission Impossible Final Reckoning tonight
Apart from Tom Cruise’s T rex running arms ( which we copied every time he ran ) and an underused but hypnotic Paris ( the camera loving Pom klementieff below) and one set piece fight in an Arctic cabin the three hour finale was all a bit much. After we left , I felt a reenactment of the chase scenes was in order
And my sister loved it ( see her Facebook comment below)
I liked bits of it ...3 hours is too long my knees were killing me ...best bit was you driving like a mad man out of the car parkKitchen Wall Gift and a mouse with attitude
At lunchtime I found a card and a gift from a Going Gently fan on the kitchen wall next to the lane.
What fun
Robyn ( with hubby in tow) should have popped in for a cuppa, but they didn’t and went well out of their way to treat me on a day that I needed a kindness.
I was made up. Thank you dearheartx
This story from last night is dedicated to Robyn
It concerns Weaver
I’ve already shared that the twins seldom go out.
I put this down to their natural shyness coupled with Mary’s antics at the open cat flap.
Last night we all got a glimpse of Weaver’s true nature.
She’s not the Mary Poppins I think she is…
It was going on ten pm.
The zombie serial The Last Of Us was playing, the fire was roaring and the Welsh were curled up on the sofa.
Bun was sat on the stool by the tv with her legs tucked primly underneath her
It was all calm,
Then Weaver strode in from the kitchen like !ily Savage on stage
A fat brown mouse in her mouth
She looked at the sleeping dogs and looked angry
And gave the mouse a sharp bite down
It squeaked loudly
And the Welsh and Bun jumped up in sudden excitement .
Instead of legging it, Weaver stood her ground and spat the fatally wounded mouse on to the carpet with what I can only describe as gross contempt.
And in the melee of terriers hoping for a free lunch that followed. she walked up the stairs as if nothing had happened
Musing
I dropped Leo off at Chester station this morning, grabbed a coffee at the Storyhouse and sat quietly underneath its art deco ceiling and the inspirational quotes by famous writers
Its a place to muse, if u need to as it is muted like a library which plays gentle music
I always feel a little deflated after there is noise in the cottage. Leo laughed a schoolboy laugh at everything the Welsh threw at him and being Autistic shared a different view of ordinary life which is totally unique and sometimes refreashing
He found my slightly feigned hatred of the Minecraft movie amusing and baffling.His obsession with his phone I realise is normal for most 22 year olds.
Im learning.
I feel unsettled.I dont want to returm to work even though im not due back for 10 days
I have some thinking to do
Ive ordered the harissa sausage breakfast its all protein and few carbs My sugars were 5.8 this morning.
Leo has just texted a formal thank you.he always refers to me as "uncle" something he will continue to do for years
Sunday
We had a long walk to y shed this morning to have breakfast and Leo picked MinecraftThe Movie as his afternoon out treat with Pizza Express as a follow up. The film was the worst film I’ve ever seen but the chicken salad was quite a lovely surprise.
Tonight is vegging with a beer
Movies, Pizza and Dogs
Leo was delayed in Crewe, so I picked him up in Chester. We started the day with pizza at Chester Market then a horror film Final Destination BloodLines which showed more unique ways to kill the average Joe than could be imagined by your usual serial killer.
We did some serious dog lurve , ate sausage and chips on the beach and visited my sisters before going to see Thunderbolts which was, surprisingly entertaining for a superhero movie
After the film we had a hour and a half discussion about the best of Bond Girls before bed
I’m totally fucked
Leo
Leo will be arriving soon, I’m waiting for his train to arrive .
I wrote this about him six year ago it’s worth a revisit
“ it’s my nephew Leo's birthday today
He's a late teen.
He is Chris's nephew and not my blood relative and our relationship is text
based with a heavy biase towards adventure movies, superheroes, DVDs and tv.
I love the intermittent " conversations" we have
I'm incredibly fond of the boy who is now almost a man .
Three years ago now we took Leo to London on a shopping expedition after a booked trip to see the Star Wars exhibition at the O2.
The trip went mighty fine.
But I remember one moment when we crossed the road near Trafalgar Square the noise of a nearby group of protesters suddenly rose to a crescendo.
I remember thinking that sudden loud noises may be a potential problem for Leo and I wondered , a bit helplessly, just what I could do to make things easier.
I need not have worried
Quietly Leo slipped his hand into mine as we crossed the road and held it firmly until we moved into a quieter part of central London.
I remember being terribly moved by this tiny but very human moment of the visit.
History
I found these two videos which give a little background to The Gop and to the Trelawnyd name. He has a great voice too
Operation Dog Snot Removal
My ex’s nephew arrives on Saturday morning. Now I know that he won’t be bothered hat the cottage looks like , but I will
After seeing clients I’m racing around with the carpet cleaner,
Fabreeze is my best friend
Leo is an easy guest.
Already I’ve set him homework to see what films he wants to see that are showing within a twenty mile radius and we will make a day of it.
'Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay'
I remember little of my childhood,
Sometimes I wonder if that is normal
But lying in bed this morning, a song got stuck
A mind worm from god knows where
My grandmother pulling up her simple blue dress, kicking her legs in the garden as she sang her own version
“ Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay
Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-de-ay!
My knickers flew away
They came back yesterday”
And I remember crying with laughter
The Class of 25
We are meeting up for drinks in a couple of weeks so I mooched off early as I hate goodbyes
It’s almost four years to the day since I planted my laburnum in the Churchyard
I remembered this on the way home
She’s a strapping young tree now, full of blossom
“ Happiness is when old men plant trees the shade of which they will never sit”
John Garrison - Never Far From Me
One of the simplest and most lovely of songs
In the library today, last day of college tomorrow.
It doesn’t feel quite real, three years of study almost
The Welsh are asleep in the kitchen chair and Bun is skipping in the garden quite alone.
Like old William before her, she’s chasing honey bees, amid the yellow Welsh poppies and the purple alliums
Like a loon
Suddenly there comes the distant rumble of thunder from across the valley
And she races for home
Et maintenant -and letting the village down a little
I missed the VE celebrations in the village Hall today
I’ve missed a lot of village bits and bobs recently and I’m sorry for that
ill health and college deadlines are to blame
I’ve put a link of Bridget’s video of the afternoon below
It’s looked lovely
Well done to all involved
Click on the link
Tomorrow I am typing up my essay that was written today , I’m doing that in the college’s satellite library. in Rhyl. My last day in college is Tuesday and I’ve bought my favourite tutor a gift of a dinosaur mug and a bag of proper coffee .
Now Tuesdays will mark my return to choir
The lisping choir made me smile today
Vacarious Pleasure
Today it’s back to normal
Sat at the kitchen table
Planning and writing my last counselling essay…
My trip to London with my sister Janet is now in its fifth year
We have seen two Royal Ballets, three musicals and have eaten well all over London
A tradition which needs continuing
Janet loves London and so do I
I also love the fact she gains so much pleasure from the effort of going.
On Friday night, I suggested we walked from Covent Garden up the Strand towards Piccadilly.
On the way we entered Trafalger Square
She had never been
And her joy was palpable ,
At Piccadilly she photographed the diving sculptures from a nearby building I had never noticed
Ok we had a fraught moment in the Opera House where she couldn’t switch off her mobile phone
But the incident made us chuckle long and hard on the way home , on the train journey from hell.
And her photo of Eros at dusk was sublime
There is a VE celebration tea in the Hall this afternoon, I saw the bunting around chapel street this morning
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