Seguidillas de La verbena de la Paloma- Grupo Talía

The lisping Choir at their very best, that final note from the sopranos lifted the auditorium’s roof as I recall

This “new” view of part of the Zarzuela ( a typically Spanish staged drama, comprising of popular songs, Opera, and dancing) features the happy anticipation of the townsfolk to an 1894 towns fair- The Fair Of The Dove

I can’t believe I will see them again in just two weeks time.

Those that know Madrid, any suggestions to visit?

I’m trying to be frugal until then, but I have splashed out for a 5£ ticket to go to the ceramic Fayre at the nearby Bodryddan Hall on Sunday. It’s beautiful ..have a look below

https://www.bodrhyddan.co.uk/

Watch the video, you can see Gop Hill in the distance to the right 

How To Train Your Dragon

 I’ve not seen the animated first version in full but the live action remake of How To Train Your Dragon seems at first glance , to be a faithful-to-the-original blockbuster which will please a whole new generation of kids. 

The story of Hiccup (Mason Thames )-gentle natured son of a brusque Viking king, and his friendship with an adorable night fury dragon called Toothless, ( a cross between my old Albert and a wide eyed puppy / reptile) is pure Lassie Come Home Hollywood 

The movie really comes alive when boy and dragon fly together, ( aided by John Powell’s soaringly impressive music ) but I suspect the animated version of fifteen years ago was much better

The late Albert doing his Toothless impersonation 

Study Day

 

I was’nt looking forward to the study day if I was honest. It a new mandatory  one centred around mentorship and relates to student nurse support. 

To be honest I seldom see a student nurse nowadays and in my 42 years as a nurse I must have mentored hundreds, but I need to do the training! Again! 

So be it.

So I chose a two day course which I could complete from home.

Teams was downloaded

The Welsh were walked. 

And with a mug of coffee in hand with the art wall tastefully on show behind me. I waited to be logged in

This was at 9.24 am

Suddenly was a loud crack from the village transformer outside the school. 

The electric went off and dogs near the green started to bark

God is Good I said to myself 

The village Facebook page burst into life with messages about the power outage, some on the top part of Trelawnyd had their electricity restored within minutes. 

It’s going on three pm and there is nothing where I am

The Welsh have gone to Trendy Carol’s as planned and I cleaned the kitchen and have scrubbed the patio clear of detritus. 

I repotted geranium, and petunias, and planted out the wisteria , Ann had given me for my birthday. 

I watered the dry planters and gave Flower Show Programmes to Animal Helper Pat who called over the kitchen wall to say hello.

So the day hasn’t been a total bust.

How could it?

It feels like a summer’s day 

The Disney Rule

 The weakness in my arm continues undiagnosed. I have had to temper my frustration with an acceptance that most nhs care is somewhat slow and disjointed. 

I have, off my own back, referred myself to a Welsh Government initiative which provides free therapy time for people returning to work and this morning I met Jessimy my case manager ( yes I have a case manager!!!!!) who couldn’t have been nicer and bingo, next week I meet with a physio who is a specialist in shoulder and muscle injuries.

I’m compensating in the use of my arm , but it still is weak and I had an embarrassing time the other day, with noticeable trouble lifting a heavy set of fire logs in the supermarket in order for the clerk to scan it.

Let’s hope the physio can work their magic.

After meeting Jessimy, I drove to Dyserth to meet Chic Eleanor for lunch

She was in fine form, full of good humour and warmth, 

When she says goodbye, she always hugs

And she never stops hugging until you do.

This always  reminds me of this discussion of The Disney Rule

A good lesson for us all

One Day

 

A quiet day , it’s cold tonight, 

So cold that I’ve made butter bean and chorizo soup

And cold enough for Bun to knee sit

Watching Zulu Dawn 

Humm preferred Zulu

Where’s Nigel Green when you needed him

Date

 I told you I had been on a sort of date yesterday.

It was an impromptu meeting arranged after a brief and light social media conversation.

And unlike that awful last date I had after Covid 

( 2 hours of my life I will never get back in one lifetime)

I enjoyed chatting with this new guy for over two hours.

He was attractive, obviously bright,  somewhat serious but interesting

And for the first time, in a long while I thought I’d like to chat to him again.

As we left the cafe, he turned and gave me a hug and suddenly I read the room

I felt as though I had come to the end of an interview, where I was told subtlety I hadn’t got the job

And a good natured goodbye, had just been issued.

A text later confirmed my non verbal cue

And although I’m not beating myself ( or him) up for anything

I do feel a little deflated today

Hey ho

Ps

 

Pride

 A gay dad explains Pride to his son

Nothing else needs saying

There’s nothing sadder than a damp Drag Queen

 

I went to Prestatyn Pride to support.

Sometimes you forget how parochial the coastal towns are in their thinking, but several comments on the event’s Facebook page reinforced to me, attitudes I thought went out in the 1990 s.

Last night I found myself answering questions like

Why can’t there be straight Pride?

What’s it teaching our kids ?

And finally

Why do you gays need to celebrate having sex?

( chance would be a fine thing)

The parade was led by a very uncomfortable looking mayor and his droopy flag, and comprised of around sixty people, which is a start I suppose. A local pub had organised the days’ entertainment , and the place looked crowded enough.

Sadly it pissed down

Janet met me and Roger to watch. And I’m  now sat in the storyhouse in Chester on a sort of date

Unexpected and welcomed

Hey ho

Moon River

 The West Cheshire Hospital in Chester was the old asylum. Before that it was called Diva, the Roman word for the city. Essentially it comprised of the main 1829 Georgian building with scores of satellite two story wards connected by brick built corridors which gave visitors the sense  that you were in fact underground.Those corridors were long and dark a creepy and as a student nurse, I negotiated them always in a hurry.

One night, after 8 pm, in winter, I was walking up that corridor from Whitby ward, when I heard singing. A woman was singing Moon River gently to herself somewhere ahead of me. The voice was elderly and faltering, but because of the acoustics had a certain emotional power to it and every time I turned a corner I expected to see a patient , who was probably late for curfew, walking back to her ward.

But I saw no one

I just heard the voice always a little way ahead 

Two drifters off to see the world,

There’s such a lot of world to see

We’re after the same rainbows end 

Waiting round the bend 

My Huckleberry friend

Moon River

And me”

And it stopped when I reached the main corridor and the sliding green door which lead to the nurses home, beyond the Church.

Doggy hugs and The FLOWER SHOW ( not forgetting the novelty vegetable photograph)

 

It’s that time again readers The Flower And Produce Show is only 8 weeks away., please join us in entering any class you want , but especially join in with the international novelty vegetable photo section 

Your photos can be sent to me Via email to jgsheffield@icloud.com

Click on each photograph to see font clearly 

Ive seen two of my counselling clients for the last time this morning 

My final clients before I hopefully qualify

It’s been a month of endings 

Sorry to bang on about it but

Tomorrow I will find out if I qualify in July..three years….

I was tired and spent when I got home

Overwhelmed and a bit emotional

I went to trendy Carol’s to pick up the Welsh and

As I walked through the gate they saw me from their place on their own sofa in the conservatory and immediately jumped up

Roger galloped over excitedly , his ears flapping his face smiling

With Mary tottering behind him as quickly as she could 

Her feet as delicate as a ballerina’s, her eyes serious     

And the Welsh hug I received from both of them was the very best thing 

Ever………..

Marks’

 I’m in Mark’s & Spencer’s cafe. 

Grabbing breakfast with the other grey hairs before I go to my last supervision of my student hood . 

I will miss my supervisor, who is insightful, calm, focused and unflowery. 

I can’t bullshit her, or myself when I’m with her.

I feel, when she looks at me, she sees the real me

That was disconcerting to start with

Her professionalism has made me more professional.

After supervision I’m going to finish off my counselling paperwork,( which is considerable) 

Tomorrow I have my final three clients which will put my counselling hours to 103

Friday my portfolio will be submitted

They have no avocado on toast in the cafe

I sigh theatrically

They never do

The cashier looks at me the way that Weaver does,

Through narrow eyes

When I pause , trying to work the carbs out in the other breakfast on offer

I’m not having the attitude this morning

“ I’m a new diabetic , I have to be careful” I told her

She smiled weakly

Which said, I just can’t be arsed

Planting

 

I took a villager for his hospital appointment today, which usually prompts a panic attack. Roger was in the back and clumsily struggled into the front to sit on my passengers knee and not a hit of panic was to be seen all the way there and back. 

“You’re my therapy dog” the villager murmured as he kissed Roger on the head when we returned home.

And Roger smiled his usual smile.

This afternoon, I’ve potted up the plants Janet gave me for my birthday, and even had the energy to clear away a ton of ivy from the French table and chairs. 

The Welsh watched me lazily, and even Bun came out briefly to see the fun. 

As usual Weaver remained aloof , but I saw her once in my office window , sat next to the Queen, watching carefully with narrow eyes.

I like gently sunny teatimes that build gently towards The Archers. 

I played Vide Cor Meum, loud

Lovely

Lovely Theatre Shame About The Musical

 I went to the soft opening of the semi finished Theatre Clwyd tonight and what a beautiful renovation it is and will be. Gone has the glum 1976 claustrophobic feel where white concrete, red bricks, gold and glass has made way to a lofty airy modern space filled with wood, natural colours and soaring windows overlooking Mold town and the surrounding green hills. 

The arthouse cinema will make a return too……..how wonderful 

The musical Tick Tick Boom was a little dated and shouty for me. But it was professionally done acted and sung , and beautifully staged. But I’m a sucker for a good song, and Jonathan Larson’s musical didn’t have many.

Which was unfortunate 

Birthday

 

Lots of lovely birthday messages today, and I’m seeing family tonight which is lovely too,  but I needed to get out of the cottage today to do something. 

Pottering around at home on your birthday is a recipe for self pity no matter the number of texts and messages and lovely gifts that have been sent.

I went to Chester to see the 11.30 showing of The Salt Path

It’s a gentle, emotional film of a much loved real life story and novel 

Ray and Moth Winn ( Gillian Anderson and Jason Issacs) are farmers who have fallen on hard times. Their home is repossessed after a financial deal went wrong leaving the pair effectively homeless, and with only a few pounds to their name , the couple embark on an epic walking Journey from Somerset to Dorset in a bid to distance themselves from the reality of their situation. 

It’s a journey of redemption for the couple, and is a desperate way of coping with homelessness, poverty and the fact that Moth is effectively disabled by the fatal neurological condition of corticobasal degeneration. 

The leads are wonderful and have that economic telepathy only long term couples who still love and respect each other have. Issac is especially good, underplaying Moth’s character with dignity, strength and finally proud emotion. 

It’s an intelligent film which will have you unexpectedly weeping at the most tiny and well observed nuances of acting, and I can tell you that Issacs is a sexy as hell 62 year old.

I went to my old standby Storyhouse for a low carb bacon and egg and sausage harissa brunch with strong coffee and no pudding and I’ve written this review alongside the other students writing their essays and assignments in the library come cafe

Off home to walk the Welsh, then will see the family later tonight.

63,and not out as yet. 

Gifts

 Have I told you it’s my birthday tomorrow?

It’s all me me me , lol

My shift is going ok, and my weak arm is holding up, to be fair the night is quieter than usual but I have taken the “ heavier” patients in order to stretch myself physically

I’ve been thinking what my most favourite birthday gift has been……

Finlay….

Hildegarde

 

The FedEx delivery man liked my dinosaur

“That’s Cool” he observed as he posted the envelope through the open window

I preened

It’s always nice to have one’s dinosaur complimented. 

I thought it was a birthday card.

It wasn’t 

It was a gift of banknotes with a kind message which said “ a graduation gift…”

I was moved into a shocked silence

It was sent from a faceless Hildegarde

A name which conjures up an interesting accent, a round kind face and a mysterious past.

Sometimes it’s hard keeping upbeat

I’ve had to resort to bra strap pulling on many an occasion, 

Fake it to make it, 

When ill health has compounded those loneliness of days or self doubt has questioned the validity of the last piece of academic work I handed in without someone on the other side of the kitchen table to say “That’s not at all bad”

Hildegarde’s gift has come at the most opportune of times. 

I’m working tonight and don’t really want to.

And her gift has boosted me today. 

As had my video presentation on Grief Therapy result, 

which has just undergone its second marker check

Another A 

How wonderful is that? 

I’m  sharing that with you all because I have no one else to share that with.

I’m sharing Hildegarde’s kindness because it was kind and much appreciated 

A birthday gift from Nu arrived today as did a smattering of cards, 

I took the Welsh for a walk and out for breakfast 

They shared a cheesy flatbread and I had my coffee and porridge 

And we ate in Bluebell overlooking the sea

Together

Man Crush

 Did I tell you that I’m 63 on Sunday?

Am I too old to have a man crush?

Well I have

Jason Mantzoukas

Hair like an unmade bed,

Beard like a rabbit nest

I’m smitten

Have him wrapped up and sent round 

Giselle

 

Sometimes we limit ourselves because of effort and boxes which we construct around ourselves. The broken handle on the back door is a case in point, I’ve lived with it for months now, and only recently has it got on my tits enough for me to fix it today.

And that’s satisfying as fuck! 

Today I’ve decided that things need doing.

I read with interest that the National Ballet Company of Japan is guesting at the Royal Opera House in July. It performs Giselle and I’m bloody well going to the Saturday matinee, I suspect it will be a delightful experience so bish, bash, bosh , I’ve got me an ok seat and an early train to London.

I’m on a roll today. 

Patterns

 “John does find positive comments difficult to hear and has a tendency to be more comfortable with negative feedback, this continues to be work in progress for him.”

I am reflecting on this sentence. Just one from an excellent three page report from my supervisor , she’s perfectly right, that this continues to be a work in progress for me.

My 1970s childhood was devoid of parental praise and that’s why it feels awkward when I’m praised by authority figures. I’ve always understood that dynamic it’s the go to dynamic of me returning to negative praise that’s I’ve now understood more and more, even I though I’m a man rapidly approaching his 63rd birthday 

Stopping yourself returning to what you know ( but also what you despise ) can be difficult but it’s perfectly doable with practice. 

I’ve reread my supervisor’s report and have accepted the positives therein  

Hey ho

It’s my birthday on Sunday ( Janet’s too) I think her birthday gift will feature another London trip or somewhere further afield .

Mary is back home, where she should be, Trendy Carol and her hubby, loved having her, I have a sneaky idea that they would love to adopt her

But she’s home Roger watching her carefully