Non day

Well, it has pissed down all day today! awful! You could hardly see your hand in front of your face at times.Nothing really done today except the odd job! Judy came for tea which was nice and watched an odd programme about "How fat is your dog?", or something rather like it...which was strangely sad.

I do like the latest Marks & Spencer Christmas TV advert, with that old strumpet , and diva Shirley Bassey, blasting out one of her hits in a red dress which seems rather too big for her. Very James Bond!!!

Walked the dogs as usual at 10pm, and love looking through the cottage window at night, the place looks lovely& cosy.

By the way Meg does look fatter & happy Birthday Johnney H x

Mixed bag, Aunts and a lost phone

Busy day today, went down to Prestatyn, to pick up a load of logs from Judy's garden. My aunt has very recently lost her mother and is having a difficult time. ( This seems an universal problem at the moment!) so was glad to chat, she is coming up for tea tomorrow and does so, often on Sundays. My Uncle Tom, who was a diminutive affable and benign character has been dead 13 years, and Judy has been alone since then-a relatively young woman. Glad to hear that she has booked a luxury cruise ! the Liner looks like a dead ringer for the ship in the film Poseidon, I am very envious.

Planted a load of bulbs in the dry stone wall opposite the cottage , and will be shown how to lay such a wall by the elderly bloke that is repairing it, later in the week , which I am looking forward to. Found some pink pansies at the market garden and planted them in the
garden and then stacked the woodpile behind the cottage , which almost buggered up my back again!

Lost my phone last week! AGAIN!!! can't believe it as I was sure I had it in my car before I caught the train to Sheffield. I wish I was more careful and organised as I have never made a copy of all my friends' telephone numbers. Amazing that ten years ago I never had a phone and swore that I would never get one! now I miss its loss dreadfully!!!! sign of the times eh?......

Sex and the city, (albeit Sheffield)

Caught up with "The Girls" in Sheffield and was glad to do so for Kim's sake as friends are just what she needs at this moment in time. So like Carrie Bradshaw, Kim is talented, sexy and cute. Sarah like Miranda is smart and sassy and like Charlotte, Joy is optamistic and warm. That makes me like Samantha.?......I DON'T think so. We did support in kilos, drank wine and laughed alot, and I hoped it helped. It is amazing, but people do pull together so well when things are bad in a friend's life, it is nice to be able to "be there" when needed.

Went shopping with Nige this morning, did coffee, more chats and enjoyed seeing the changes in Sheffield City centre especially Midland station with its gracefull fountains and waterways. I am always envious of Nige as I think he has a 1950's novel inside him, and writes eloquently and with feeling.

Got home to Strictly Come Dancing and Chris back from Boston. Lovely to have him home. Boston sounded lovely and he socialised with several bigwigs from American healthcare. He was a bit upset as Pippa had suffered a huge fall from her field fencing and had winded and injured herself thankfully she is ok now. By 9 pm he is asleep, and still jet lagged...........still nice to be home!

Alma de Cuba & Butler tom-toms

After a shitty journey on ARREVA trains managed to meet with Nu in Liverpool at teatime. Lovely to see her, as things with Nancy have been pretty dire at times, and I was glad to "touch base" and have a chat. Nu's nieces Siobhan and Sara suggested we go to a Tapas bar near the Cathedral for something to eat, and it was great to be able to talk to Siobhan briefly on the phone when we got there. Nuala's family is a family of matriarchs and all the "Butler" girls have genererously welcomed me in to their homes and lives at one time and another. The younger members of the sisterhood, I have know since they were pre teens, and they now have blossomed into funny ,professional,cleavage bouncing, young women!

The Tapas bar was called ALMA DE CUBA, and was amazing, as it was situated in a 200 year old Polish Church on Seel street. Covering two open plan floors the dimly lit bar and restaurant mingled new with old, and classy leather booths were hidden away in front of frescos and the magnificent altar! Hundreds of candles made me feel as though we were on the set of Phantom of the Opera. It was lovely. We had a great meal, big chats and I was home by 10.30pm!

Awfull weather this morning so after a 6 am walk with the dogs, I am now curled up in bed ( electric blanket on!!) reading Patricia Cornwell. Off to Sheffield later and back tomorrow and looking forward to Chris being back home from Boston.

ps. when I was refering to tom toms, I was talking about the "Butler family's ability to chat and gossip" !!!

I have a confession.......An unfinished life.....and Daniel Craig

I have a confession..........I have started to wear Chris's cowboy hat when out walking with the dogs!! Do I look cool in it?......Obviously NOT, does it suit me?....Obviously NOT....but does it keep my glasses clear of the rain?...yep it sure does!!

Went to Theatr Clwyd to see An Unfinished Life (2005),the Lasse Hallstrom film was awful,dispite a top notch cast of Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, Morgan Freeman and Josh Lucas, I was bored senseless by this modern western....the plot ( by IMDb) states :- In order to escape from the abusive boy-friend, Gary Winston (Damian Lewis), Jean Gilkyson (Jennifer Lopez) moves with her young daughter Griff Gilkyson (Becca Gardner) without previous notice to the ranch of her father-in-law Einar Gilkyson (Robert Redford) in Wyoming. Jean and Einar are disaffected, since he blames her for the death of his beloved son in a car accident. Einar is taking care of his friend Mitch Bradley (Morgan Freeman), who was attacked and seriously wounded by a bear, and he does not know that he has a grand-daughter. While Mitch heals his wounds and forgives the bear, Einar also changes his feelings regarding Jean, finally understanding that accidents happen and accepting her and loving his grand-daughter....... god it was awful...even the pretty Lucas couldn't save it




Lookingforwardd to see Daniel Craig in Casino Royale , at the weekend when Chris is back. The previews look great and I suspect that Daniel has captured a totally different side to a younger Bond. Suffice to say, the Camera loves him and I predict a big hit!

My first experience

Well after 24 years as a nurse, I have for the first time used the primary care system to obtain a sick note for work! and my experience of my local GP practice has been a mixed one!. I still had a problem getting my socks on this morning, so decided to book to see my GP so I could get some more Volterol. My conversation with the receptionist went as follows



Me: "I wish to make an appointment to see a doctor"

Receptionist: "We have a computer failure so we are not giving out appointments at present"

Me "So what do I do?"

Receptionist: " you can come down and wait to see a doctor, but I cannot promise you see someone quickly"

Me : "How long roughly is the wait?"

Receptionist :(frostily) "depends on how many people turn up"

Me: "What if I was an old person, who had trouble getting into the surgery?"

Receptionist: (sighing and thinking I have got a real trouble maker here!) "It's the computer problem I can not help the problem"

Me: "When will the computer problem be rectified?"

Receptionist: " it has been down for 2 weeks.....it's a virus, also we cannot give perscriptions out for 72 hours, I am afraid"

Me : "So you are telling me I may not be seen if I come down and wont get any painkillers for three days after I have been seen?"

Receptionist: " Yes"

Me: " Do you think this is an acceptable service?"

Receptionist: "Huh?"

At that point I gave up.
Anyhow as it happened I did get seen quickly and the doctor was very thorough and professional. Surprise surprise my blood pressure was elevated, so I have decieded to loose weight and get back in shape! so the visit was fortunate just on that level.

Sad news last night, Nuala's Mum very sick in Liverpool, so she is coming up from London today. I hope to go over to see her later to offer a bit of support.

Old fart!

Certain thigs remind you that you are getting older! Yesterday was going out and noticed that both hens had dissapeared. In my haste to check where they were (they had climbed back up into their roosting area), I tripped over the low gate which leads into their field. Glasses went one way, dignaty went another, and I felt my back pull . By 6 o'clock I had trouble getting my socks on to get bready for work and by 4 am this morning I was in agony at work. So I limped down to A & E and got prodded and poked by a 12 year old house officer and sent home with valium and diclofenac. I have just woken up and walked the dogs, and feel as though a small elephant has been tap dancing on my spine all night. Feeling sorry for myself as even sitting on the loo was not a nice experience! Chris still in Boston so I havent even got anyone to put my socks on!!

Postscript: How is this for a wierd "twin " thing, Janet is off sick today...........with..........yes..........you've guessed it Lower back pain, did I may add, the same day at the same time as I did mine!!!

Roaring fires & Ally Mc Beal.

The weather is awful today, cold and wet, so apart from dog walking I have decided to spend the day reading by the fire, which is something I seldom do, well during the day that is. Am working tonight also, so making the most of the day. Chris rang from the airport upset at leaving ! ( I am jealous he is going to Boston until the weekend) I have never been to Boston, and all I know about it is a vague knowledge of the Boston tea party and the fact that "Ally McBeal" used to walk round the city centre amid fairy lights and snow musing about life to a Ballard by Vonda Shepard. At least on Ally McBeal, it looked lovely. Chris would love to go back to New York for his 40th, and I am not arguing, I love American cities.

Catching up with friend Kim on Friday in Sheffield, which will be lovely, but as the way of the world has it she has been through a hard time recently, so catching up has a little more relevance. Staying as usual with Nige, so looking forward in doing something with him on Saturday before going home. He is staying with us in December so we are glad to be able to return his hospitality then! I look forward to it.