Auntie Glad Catch Up

Another miserable and depressing day of rain started with a mega downpour at 7 am. I was already soaked after walking the dogs, so I guess it didn't really matter me getting drenched again when some frantic honking from the geese got me racing over to the field with a torch.
It wasn't a fox that was bothering them but a collie dog, which I caught peeping through the goose house window. He ran off towards the livery stables after I yelled a sharp "getaway ! " 
The rest of the morning was filled with shopping, buying some adhesive to stick down the loose bath surround, meeting a sad work colleague for coffee and calling in to the feed wholesalers to buy layers pellets.
On the way home I called into see Auntie Glad.
One of the care home staff told me that she was " quite confused today " but I found her as sprightly and bright as ever even though she later insisted that her husband Bob Railway was still alive and in the next room .
Gladys told me that she had been booked to make her famous scones that afternoon, then waved her arms angrily at some of the other resident ladies who were sat, sleeping off their lunches in the day room. " They are a miserable lot, always complaining about the food!" She snapped " They make my blood boil "
The one thing Gladys hates above anything is ingratitude .

She took me to her neat little room, where I read out the Parish Magazine to her and she recounted recent visits from Christine (Chapel House), the vicar and from various members of the male voice choir before letting the conversation fade to old times and vague but happy days from years ago.

As she walked me back to the day room a cheerful young woman in an apron called her over to a table on which was sat a massive mixing bowl full of flour and sultanas " I told you I'm making scones this afternoon " Gladys chirped brightly " we shall be having them for tea!"

Take Me Home

It's Just before bedtime and as I've been listening to YouTube videos 

George tottered over and climbed into my lap, 

And rested his old face next to mine, 

His behaviour kind of went with this song 

A panacea to all the hate and disappointment of the day

Iago was right

It's a miserable morning on either side of the Atlantic today.
I won't bother discussing the new leader of the free world
The whole thing beggars belief.
But , hey...I don't live in America....

Today's Going Gently is about jealousy.
Jealousy in a relationship.

Occasionally I meet a friend in the village for lunch.
She makes homemade bread, or soup, or cake and I bring an hour of silliness  .
It's a good deal all round.
I have noticed, however, that every time we are sat at the kitchen table, the phone will go and her husband will there catching up with a snippet of news or a job that needs sorting.
Recently I casually asked if he was bothered that I occasionally popped in for a chat and my friend replied " oh no, he always rings me during the day"
Something in what she said and how she said it triggered a tiny alarm bell in my mind.
" Is he jealous? " I asked her
The grenade had its effect and the words tumbled out
Apparently her husband had always been jealous. He often sulked for days if my friend went out on an evening with friends, so much so that she no longer leaves the home without her husband on her arm. Male colleagues were often viewed with suspicion and bad mouthed constantly and often when my friend  was out working she felt obliged to call her husband to " check in" so to speak.
This all had been going on for many years.

I leaned my elbows on the kitchen table and uncharacteristically for me , I said very little  as my friend's conversation ran down like a clock. I think this was the first time she had shared this information .

" I know....you make the life you live " she said finally
And I nodded taking a final sip of my coffee

Changing The Subject

Changing the subject

The Prof has always wanted me to be able to dance with him

I have two left feet

I wish I hadn't 

I am very aware he used to be a professional dancer in his youth

But I am sure that One day we will dance together like Fred & Ginger

Just the once

Bad Mothers

I only posted this photo as it pleases me

There are rules in society ......one of which is that you don't swear at parent in front of their child.
I broke that rule today
I was driving in Prestatyn and was turning into Princess Avenue from Ffordisa at around 1pm when a small child on a very small bike shot across the road in front of me. He appeared out of the school gates of ysgol y Llys and a woman on a mobile phone was following him and as I stopped suddenly she ran forward grabbed him and waved a hand at me in a kind of acknowledgement.
I wound down the window and yelled angrily  " I could have killed that child !.. What were you doing? "
The woman glared at me, shook her head and told me to " fuck right off!" before starting after her son. She never once put down her phone!
My blood pressure went well over 200 mm of mercury in 1 second flat
And what did I do, whilst stopped in the junction of a busy Welsh Street?.......I'll tell you, I did what I normally do in such circumstances
I resorted to abuse.

" YOU'RE A BAD MOTHER WITH FUCKING CHEAP SHOES"  I yelled after her with some gusto

Monday Night

Autumn is here.

The fire is lit,

Mary is licking the insides of Winnie's ears and has been for an age

I'm Waiting for The Walking Dead

Mrs Trellis bought me a homemade scotch egg this afternoon,

Just the one wrapped in foil

I'm sorry to say it was bloody awful 

No one tell her.

The Queen Mary's Hooter

The Prof is away most of the week again and I am presently clearing out the crap from the kitchen cupboards. It's a day to be alone.
Yesterday I made a massive pan of pea and ham soup.
Both the Prof and I are paying for this today!
We had three bowls each for supper
I ventured outside this morning to round up the bantams who had spent most of the morning in the front garden in a successful effort to keep out of the way of the feral cat stalking them in the Ukrainian village. I left George to chase away the cat when I shooed the birds back. Every time I bent over I let out a pea smelling fart which could of put the Queen Mary's hooter to shame.
" it's cold today!" I called over to neighbour Mike who was trimming his shrubbery
" aye.." He said with a deadpan face " and a bit windy too!"

News

Mary watching the Prof eating fruit cake

The Church Bell which heralds Sunday service woke me up approaching eleven.
The dogs and Albert were all waiting patiently on the bed for me to get up.
I swear I'm going to climb up on the Church roof one day and stuff an old pillow around the clacker

I have not seen Gaynor the mad organist for a while, I thought this as we passed the lytchgate where I could hear a dozen reedy voices singing the hymn. I think I shall buy one of those snakes made from coiled springs( the ones that you can cram into a small box to scare kids with) and when I am next cleaning the church I shall put in under the organ key cover.
I shall look on eBay presently.
 Click on Snake-Trick-Joke-Gag-Ebay

Mr Jones is home after his stroke and waved from his window when I passed, and I had a bit of a turn when a smart man who looked remarkably like an undertaker passed me in the street and walked through old Islwyn Thomas' front door which was open.
Apparently he was one of the congregation from the Welsh chapel service and not an undertaker!
Islwyn remains very much alive.

The Memorial Hall's new caretaker is Sandra S, who, I heard,  is getting on great guns with the village Christmas Fayre to raise funds for it's redecoration.

Gay Gordon is spending most of his day asleep, Stan told me as he was cutting back his berburis, it's something to do with his diabetes!

Mary is excited, and has been most of the week. She has not seen autumn leaves before, and chases them at every given moment. I'll have to watch her with traffic on the main road .

Chinese takeaway for lunch!