Baba Yetu

Enjoy

I've arranged to meet with the community Choir in nearby Gwaenysgor 

next week! 

I'm going to sing! 

3 Years, 5 months, 7 days

I took off my wedding ring today......
....and tied a narrow ribbon to it, then put it carefully away........

Virgin Terrier

I need to buy a car of my own.
Today was a case in point, as Mary needed a trip to the vets and the car was parked over in Bangor.
No joined up thinking and a Welsh Terrier with an ear infection, not a good combination
So , village Elder Islwyn, as usual came to the rescue and gave Mary and I a lift to the station so we could catch the train, to get to Bangor, to collect the car.....you still with me there at the back?

I drank coffee on the virgin train while Mary jammed her head between the seats in order to bum something from the middle aged couple sitting behind us.
I think she managed to beg the ham filling out of a cheese and ham sandwich

Packing

I spent yesterday dusting and carefully packing away my husband's large selection of books.
I wasn't angry or upset, I just wanted to clear the bookcase in the bedroom, clean it of twelve years of dust and repack it with my own , much more meagre selection of books.
All of the dogs and Albert lay around the mess in untidy heaps watching the action.
I'm not going to discuss my marriage here so please don't ask me anything, but I did wanted to talk about the peace and memories such a pastime brings to a person.
Books on politics and history , of queens long dead, of wartime and Art Deco whodunnits, the Mitford sisters and of Russian ballet dancers, all were wiped clean of soot and boxed awaiting sorting and tucked away behind them, in between them , were the flotsam of decades of ordinary life.
Train tickets dated 2007 to Bangor, a clock key, old wage packets , a half flattened stuffed platypus bought from Sydney Zoo. A few letters dated from when people actually wrote letters, a Christmas card list, dried flowers fallen out of a small family Bible ( a cutting from my Grandmother's wedding bouquet) my old Charge Nurse ID badge and a lady's handkerchief with a monogrammed K in one corner .
The pile of detritus grew as the books were packed away.
And I worked away in silence save for the chirping of the sparrow flock in the honeysuckle

No Words Needed

Central Station is a lovely film.
I've been clearing book shelves today and found an old copy DVD I thought I had lost
You don't need subtitles for this wonderfully moving final scene
Enjoy

I've never wanted to visit Mexico

I met a man who I was in school with today
We have not spoken for perhaps 40 years
He was with his boyfriend
I was dressed in a green tabard, flip flops and was holding a green plastic collecting bucket.
We had one of those odd public conversations that was all too much
I told them that I was separated
They told me that they have just been on a gay cruise around Mexico
Apparently you can sleep with everyone  on a gay cruise they told me with a cackle
And they both did! ( what fun!)

I've never understood people in long term relationships that swing/ shag around/ or think it's ok to shag themselves silly on an ocean liner. To me shagging around is something you do when you are young and single or indeed old and single .....but single is the most important point of it all for me
Do what you like when you are single ....Multiple shags , to me when you are in a relationship are a sign of fickle immaturity.
But each to their own I guess

I've never wanted to go to Mexico either btw

Friday Chatty Kathy

Smiling Ann from the old Flower Show committee clamboured excitedly over the make shift gate in my back garden yesterday in order to discuss " an adventure" Winnie got all goo goo eyed and hysterical and caught a fat paw into Ann's lacy top which necessitated several minutes of unravelling but eventually we got them separated and Ann could discuss her ideas.

" would I accompany her on Velocity 2 - which at 1500 feet, is the fastest zip wire in the world?" 

The zip wire is suspended over a deep blue lake which fills Penryn Quarry over in North West Wales 

" We could do it for Charity" she suggested as she fended off Mary "A joint sponsored event for Alzheimer's and Samaritans?" 

Now everyone knows that I am somewhat of an adrenaline junkie, its in the blood, so of course I said yes......so watch this space cos I shall be chasing you all dear readers for sponsorship on our just giving  page.........

Hey ho

The " affable despot's" girls are on school holidays at the moment and have advertised their " odd job" services to locals around the village . I like this initiative as they are raising funds for their own holiday in France and are learning a valuable lesson in mini life skills budgeting for it

"You don't get something for nothing" .... I've paid them some money in advance and have booked them for a spot of dog bathing, grooming and floor washing on heir return 

Affable despot Jason naughtily asked if Winnie's fanny flannel would have to be used reminding me

 that his youngest daughter in only seven. 

I couldn't possibly comment

Yesterday I caught up withblogfriend Sue  http://ournewlifeinthecountry.blogspot.com/

for a coffee and came home smelling of pug dog ( bliss) and sporting a large bag of homemade goodies. I took her a small Edwardian glass jug which she filled with summer flowers and we drank coffee and chatted in the kitchen like nice people do

It was a sweet

Trendy Carol has just walked past  ( nice jeans , floaty top, expensive sandals ) and has waved , and the postman is knocking on the window with a bouncy  "I ve got one of those strange parcels from American again but this one has the right address on it!" 

He watched me open it this morning , 

" No one ever sends me pigs " he remarked when I did so 

you're not as Lucky as me " I remarked with a smile 

A "Good Morning Miss Dove" Moment

a letter arrived yesterday from the Trelawnyd Community Association 

Hi John

At our last meeting of the Association I was tasked with inviting you out for a meal to thank you for how you have supported  village life since you moved here; this isn't just about the flower show  this is about your overall commitment to the village.. As a fellow Yorkshireman I took the view that this isn't something we could spring on you as a surprise so I thought it best to ask you straight out what night you would be free -week after next. Once I have the dates you are free I'll organise a meal and drink in the Crown - nothing too elaborate and no surprises.

(The suggestions made if you said no did range from "Kidnap" to the group descending on your house with many bottles - a terrifying thought!!!)

Best regards

Ian

-- 

Ian Papworth-

How lovely