I'm a Lady

We were sorry, we missed "The ladies Charity Night" ( the biggest thing to hit the village since the onset of talking pictures) which took place on Saturday, but by all accounts the night was a resounding success for Claire and Jason Randa, who organised the evening. I have been told that a few of the village ladies were reported to have suffered from  very sore heads on Sunday morning and that ribald shrieks and laughter was heard as far away as Marian Garage at the height of the evening's festivities!
It doesn't surprise me....
whoever said that the Welsh idea of fun was to wear a striped shroud, didn't know the women of Trelawnyd

When I was told of the event, I did complain to Jason that a "ladies only" night was a little discriminatory in this age of the god awful Loose Women   and another such "bash the male" type programmes...and he kindly relented to let us support the do on the night.....I am only sorry that I was a little under par on Saturday, and could only muster a vague interest in  Harry Judd's pneumatic buttocks in Strictly Come Dancing from my position in the arm chair- the thought of socialising with the village hierarchy was all a little too much for me

Fair do's to Jason and Claire though, a phenomenally brilliant 3000£ was raised by their event....money that will, I am sure, be used productively at the local Cancer Centre in Glan Clwyd Hospital.

Well done them!

Sunday

Back to some normality today, and what a bleak, damp and cold day it is.

In drips and drabs condolence cards have arrived at the cottage, from village friends, the Rector and the Parish Council, and the flower show committee... and Pat (my unofficial animal helper) dropped off some flowers as did Sylvia from Byron Street.

People have been very kind

I would have liked curling up in front of the fire with a good load of dvds today, but alas....the usual and the comforting circle of jobs  all still have to be done and so.......

The goose house needed a clean , so the usual onslaught of gander bites had to be endured

Mabel had to be taken out with the others for her daily dose of dog walking practice

I look like shit

Boris looking more chipper than I did at 8am this morning still needed carrying out to the field... note: his eye has miraculously improved

The Crackhead Whores still looking rough as a bear's arse..all needed their "build up" treats

Beatrice, the hen with the stroke , still needed some of her own physiotherapy as her coop is opened up

hey ho

This lovely piece of music by Ludovico Einaudi, is the order of the day

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland (London Palladium)

we saw this performance on a tv programme tonight and were touched by the fragility of it so I watched it again on youtube after chris went to bed and cried like a baby!

Gaining Comfort

The Gray Family circa 1963- Andrew is on the far left

My brother and I could not have been more different. 

I wear my heart on my sleeve, have a rather indulgent way of what Chris calls "emotionally romping" my way through life's ups and downs and despite assurances to the contrary love a "bit of a fuss".

My brother, on the other hand was a private man, who kept his inner most feelings to himself. Unlike me he was not frivolous but, could , when he was well, share a frivolous story with the humour, timing and sharpness of Joan Rivers at her very best.

His preparation for death was a private matter. He shared a few requests with his much respected consultant  who ensured ,with the unwavering tenacity and strength of his wife , Jayne, that they were carried out to the letter...and when the time came, Andrew died at home, without pain or distress and with his wife and son at his bedside.

I found a great deal of comfort in this fact.

I also found a great deal of comfort at being able to complete a few small personal duties before the Undertaker arrived. I gave Andrew a wash, and a shave and I brushed his hair, so he was all "neat and tidy"

It was something simple that his beloved gran would have done.....and it was of her that I was thinking of as I pottered away.

After I had finished , it was Jayne, his wife that realised what I had subconsciously done, as she laughed how much his hair resembled the "slicked over" style Andrew always had as a boy.

It pleased me that she found it in some way comforting

Andrew

My Brother Andrew died a few hours ago

He was only 58

I have nothing more to say

http://supportingandrew.blogspot.com/

Pig Points

Piggy Eyes watching the world

No 12 is a benign boar.
He is gentle, good humoured and rather a handsome soul...who does nothing but sleep and eat in these glum first days of winter.
He and 21 will be going soon......the finer points of when, where and freezer space just need some clarification and organisation, but go they will after a spring, summer and autumn, digging,eating and sunbathing in the corner of the field.
Will I miss the pigs when they leave? Hummm..... I am not sure............................... I have been pretty good at distancing myself from them as "individuals" and generally have not fallen victim to those quirky aspects of personality all animals possess...those that get under your emotional skin so to speak.


The pigs are fed, watered, and health checked, and that't it! They have not been played with, they have not been anthropomorphised within an inch of their piggy tales and they have not been loved. Having said this, I shall miss no 12's dog like nature just a little...but I won't be upset when they are taken to the knacker's yard......This bothers me just a little....for I will be guilty, like most of us are , of accepting the meat so to speak without really accepting any of the responsibility of "doing the deed" 
The pigs will leave my care, healthy and robust animals...... I won't be privy to their final moments....(thank God)... but I will enjoy their meat just the same........without ever having to get my hands dirty.
hummm on reflection this doesn't quite sit right with me
hey ho

I am ashamed to be human

"Have a Jaffa Cake"

Another day....another animal shoved in the boot!

Country roads in winter can be a bit of a nightmare, and the trusty Berlingo isn't the most "robust " of cars when it comes to off road driving.

Ok I can fit  a whole flock of hens,geese,ducks, pigs and even a very large Billy Goat into the back of it with room to spare...but when it comes to icy, one track roads, like Mabel, the Berlongo is a bit of a pussy

so mindful that I am now going up to my brother's house out in the sticks twice a week, I decided to get fresh tyres fitted today.

I  booked the car in, and went to sit in the somewhat austere "sitting " area of the garage to wait . I was quite pleasantly surprised with the facilities as there was a good selection of reading matter available, a coffee machine that worked and  fairly comfortable seats to choose from. Five other people were waiting for their cars. A middle aged woman and her seven year old grandson,  a business man type, and a couple of young men in overalls.and as I sat down to read the paper, I noticed that the woman was rooting through a carrier bag, and to the delight of the child , she brought out a small can of orange juice and a packet of biscuits which she gave him, presumeably to keep him quiet as they were waiting.

The boy quietly opened up the packet, took a biscuit for himself then offered one  to his grandmother.

He then looked at the nearest man, who happened to be the businessman,  and without being prompted walked over and asked him if he would like a biscuit.

The businessman smiled suddenly at the gesture and politely refused the boy's offer, and undeterred the little boy marched over to the two workmen and offered them a biscuit too . Both men cheerfully took one each, which obviously pleased the boy and so did I when it was my turn, as I was genuinely impressed by the boy's spontaneous show of good manners and community thinking. (I also love chocci biscuits!!!!)

Sadly,I have to admit, that if this kind of behaviour was the norm, then I wouldn't have been moved enough to write about it today.....by doing so now, perhaps underlines just how rare, some of these little moments, actually are.........
why is that?