Good News

I've wasted the morning by falling asleep in the arm chair and I would have stayed there if the dogs had left me alone.
Chiding myself with a brusque This won't do!  I pulled myself up by my bra straps and took the dogs out. The village was quiet in the blustery weather but I did say hello to affable Despot Jason ( sporting a sort of rock star roadie look) and Trendy Carol who was out and about in her best dayglo ski jacket ( and matching leggings)
The phone was ringing just as I returned home, it was Animal Helper Pat and she sounded joyous.
Now over the past few months Pat has effectively been going blind. A combination of macular degeneration and cataracts has forced her to give up her car and some of her independence and even small jobs such as the composition of an email had to be put on hold until one of us could go around to help.
It's been a tough time for her and she never complained once.
Not once.
I had forgotten that earlier in the week she had some last ditch cataract surgery and last night as she recuperated in front of her tv she suddenly regained her sight in one eye.
It was lovely to hear
" I can see the trees and the flowers in the garden and the back of your cottage " she shared, the happiness palpable in her voice
" I can even see the snow on the mountains !!!" 
Your heart does soar when you hear good news, I teared up at her obvious elation

When I went out to buy my tea, I bought the most colourful bunch of tulips I could find and dropped them off  before I went home
"Enjoy the colours again!" I told her

insomnia

I was assessing a new Samaritan volunteer until well past 1am this morning and it left me thoughtful and wired.
It's now 3 am and I'm still awake long after coming home.
Although I am a night owl, I hate being awake at this time. It's just not normal
Being awake at 3 am can be rather lonely.
Especially as everyone else in the house is sleeping

A few minutes ago Mary awoke, and bounced on top of me then onto the small table in front of our lounge window. She gazed into the front garden with tail raised and as I stood up I could see two badgers play fighting on the lawn.

A lovely piece of drama amid the dross....
What do u do if you can't sleep? Please share...cos I have no idea

A Ghostly Story

Last night, as the fire crackled in the wood burner, the conversation on line fell to ghostly stories.
In 1985 I experienced such a story.
Back then I was completing my first EMI placement in one of the back wards of the old Deva Asylum in Chester.
EMI used to stand for elderly mentally Infirm
For the most part the patients were all suffering from dementia. They were the bad cases, the difficult to control and the aggressive, and at night there was only myself and an enrolled nurse to care for 24 patients.
23 of the patients were ambulant and only one was bedbound and physically very unwell. He lay in a bed nearest to the dormitory door with a small office light illuminating his locker, the night nurses pulled our chairs into the corridor nearby so we could watch the goings on carefully throughout the night.
The sick patient wasn't expected to last the night, so we kept a close eye on him in between bedding down the other patients. It was around 1 am before we were able to sit in our chairs and drink our first cup of tea.
Now dealing with senile patients at night can be a tiring, thankless and never ending job. Its a constant round of toileting, bed changing, reassurance giving , and reality orientation, work set against the dark tall walls of a regency mad house
Around 4 am my co-worker donned a large woollen cape and swished off the ward for a cigarette leaving me alone in the darkened corridor and from the far corner of the dormitory I saw a figure sit up in bed suddenly. The patient, sat there for a minute or so and I could hear him muttering about something before he pulled back his blanket and started to get out of bed.
I hurried over.
"Tell that man to go away" the patient whispered pointing to the patient in the corner who was dying.
"He keeps asking me to take him home"
I was confused as the dying man had not moved a fraction since we last turned him an hour before but the other patient was convinced he was right and seemed rather indignant at having been bothered.
I settled the man back into bed after a short trip to the loo and moments later he sat up again and called out a clear "Bye Bye"
I returned to the bedside this time with the staff nurse who had just returned smelling of cigarette smoke "Who are you saying bye bye to?" she asked
" The man" the patient said clearly referring to the other patient  " he's gone through there" he added pointing to the fire door.
We bedded the patient down again and tucked warm blankets around him.
our next check of the poorly patient revealed that he had passed away peacefully only minutes before

" Look At The State Of You!"

It's started to snow here.
It's only dusting at the moment but as we walked through the village this morning a scattering of houses have already lit their fires and wood stoves and the air is heavy with woodsmoke.
I've kept our stove running all night. The cottage is warm and toasty.

Irene eating her breakfast as the snow started to settle

Yesterday I bought a set of knee pads.
They were cheap and when on, very comfortable.
I wore them all afternoon.
Now the story of these knee pads is somewhat meandering.
I've been thinking of buying some for a while, but a pair of 70 quid jeans sealed the deal.

A few weeks ago The Prof bought me the pair of jeans.
" please look after them" he pleaded " They are the only good pair you have" 
I marked them with coal dust within ten minutes.
"Look at the state of you!" The Prof sighed
This statement is a common one in the cottage.
Now in my defence, I am the one that usually does the dirty work around the place. Log burners are sooty little devils to clean, dogs jump with mucky paws and the new kitchen floor doesn't mop itself , but it's true..if there is dirt around , invariably it ends up on me......usually on my knees!
And so yesterday I bought some cheap knee pads.
I stacked the wood delivery on my knees without getting one mark on my jeans!
I cleaned and lit the fire.....spotless afterwards!
They are comfy and warm too so I ended up wearing them for most of the afternoon, including on a trip to the shops, a dog walk and a brief pop in to the vets.
Everyone should buy a pair!

Best Buy Of The Year

They cost me 4.99£

More about them tomorrow

Alone Not Lonely

My knee is never empty 

The Prof is away until Friday evening
He left with bags packed early this morning.
This happens fairly regularly....
I have been the partner at home for two decades
I have drawn the long straw here.
The initial draw of conferences in sleek hotels and dog empty beds have paled over the years .

This week, on paper I shall be alone.
Of course I won't be lonely.
I never feel lonely.
One reason for that is where ever I do a small furry body is by my side .
Occasionally it's a large furry body ( Winnie insisted that she watched me have a poo this morning) sometimes it's a limping feline body demanding food
You are never alone with an animal in the house.

I'm presently planning my week with a small Welsh terrier on my knee
I am waiting for load of logs to be delivered shortly and they will need sorting stacking and then the plumber is due to arrive to " ohhhh " and " arrhhh"  at the leaking u bend.
I've booked lunch with a friend,have earmarked two sneaky trips to the cinema and have training  to do with two new Samaritan volunteers....
The charity's mentorship is detailed and comprehensive and takes time to carry out.
Thank goodness I can make the time in this climate of volunteer fatigue.
I'm going to a local history talk on Wednesday  !
The garden needs clearing. " Bosoms" is in need of digging over and I still need to find a joiner to complete the kitchen shelving

Snippet

Normal life
I am listening to the comedian Sindhu Vee on the radio in the kitchen while waiting for the oven to heat up.
She's very funny
The Prof is in church
Before he went....it went something like this
Me: " Have you made the bed?" 
He: " no there's a small skid mark on your side"
Me : " oh"

It's Almost Back Geek Alert !!!

Melissa McBride and Norman Reedus as Carol and Daryl in The Walking Dead

Well Cameron did a grand job. All animals happy. Only Pizza, Crisps and one beer taken
And everything intact at Bwthyn y Llan!
Thank you Cameron ...we want to book you again if you are interested?

Anyhow, just about to retire to bed but just found the new promo of The Walking Dead  on YouTube I can only post this screen shot of the video  but it sure looks like everyone from Alexandria and Kindom finally reach Hilltop!
It looks awesome ! Happy days