Grayson Perry’s Perspective

I’ve had a hard week...harder than I would like

It’s ok to acknowledge it, as most of us are experiencing a shitty time at the moment...

But it has been especially  hard for me....there I’ve said it.

It’s been hard as I’m on night shifts that have exaggerated my separation  from the real world...a life which has already been separated by Covid rules and lockdown.

My tentative move into sociability, cinema, friendships and contact external to my own bubble has been curtailed and so

I’m sad and I’m suddenly lonely 

And I’m allowed to be sad......

Even though I hate it......... anyway conference calls to old friends Nigel and Cheryl have helped so much too,

Perspective gained....virtual hugs given

I’ve just watched Grayson Perry on his American road trip too

And I’ve realised, quite quickly, that I’m doing

A bit crap....but in essence I’m doing  .....just fine ...

Day Off

Kristi’s work- next to Colin

Today is my first proper day off

I am back on nights tomorrow

Apart from the necessary jobs , I’m intending to watch Bombshell  the Charlize Therzon, Margo Robbie film on dvd 

I’ve made macaroni cheese for supper

It’s my sister in law’s birthday today so I’ve dropped off flowers and cake and a gift 

She told me I looked rough

I  do! She was right.

Gifts, whether birthday or otherwise do lighten the heart, I always think and today Kristi sent me one of her paintings which I complemented her on , on her blog. It’s a very welcome addition to my art wall and I’m sending you a big thank you for your kindness.....

( I must add here that I’m wearing another blog reader gift today, a lovely bulldog T shirt from Jackie D it made a welcome change from my now rather robust collection of Walking Dead t shirts)

Trump’s idiocy post Covid has left me speechless 

As did his maskless wave to the nation to the avengers theme

Arsehole

I’m not watching the tv news now 

The dahlia and rubekkia are blooming their last in the garden and look cheerful 

Cheerful is good today  

Ps

Bombshell proved to be an inspired choice of dvd purchase 

It’s a wonderfully insightful and intelligent study of the sexual harassment of female anchor women from Fox News by the CEO Roger Ailes. 

Worth seeing especially for Therzon’s powerhouse performance as anchorwoman Megan Kelly

First Son Of Trelawnyd

 

The books I’m about to read are being stacked against the foot of my new Sofa in readiness of my days off.

I am yet to claim the sofa as my own as yet

Quelle surprise!

I note from the village what’s app site that Trelawnyd’s son  poet and author Emyr Humphreys has died at the age of 101 in his Anglesey home. 

Humphreys was brought up in Trelawnyd and many characters and situations described in his books were taken directly from his upbringing in the streets I know well

On the recommendation of Pippa in the rectory I have just bought his most famous novel A Toy Epic written in 1958

No doubt that will be placed on the pile for when the sofa finally becomes free!

I’m washed out today

3\4 Rainbow

Three quarter the way through night shifts

And Dorothy has now mastered sleeping with me and Mary during the day in bed without losing control of her bladder.

As you can imagine, it makes for a more peaceful day all round.

She still has to get as close as is bulldog-ly possible in order to watch me sleep and more importantly breath, but after the first half hour of anxiety filled dread, she finally relaxes enough to sleep herself, that is,  after she hears me snore like a pig a sound that presumably reassures her that I haven’t slipped away in my sleep. 

The village wardens have all reported in to our leader the Velvet Voiced Linda yesterday evening before I set off for Llandudno which was nice

There was much light hearted discussion about reinstating village stocks after one rather grumpy member of the warden group complained about lights being left on in the village hall but no one had any real news, given the lockdown.

We were all hoping for some sort of social gathering before Christmas....hummm that looks unlikely unless the 30 people outdoor rule changes

My sister Janet visited yesterday afternoon too, but didn’t disturb me as she left a gift in the box by the front door.

A gay rainbow for my window, which was nice.

I’ve been reading about the history of the rainbow flag.

It’s not only the adopted flag of the LGBTQ community ( circa 1970) but also the International peace flag 

It’s brightened the cottage on a very blustery and wet weekend.

dysgu Cymraeg

The Welsh language is a sing song language

It’s musical and very complicated to learn.

I’m beginning to understand more than I ever thought possible

This is a product of working with more Welsh speakers both as colleagues and as patients 

The secret with Welsh is that the Spoken sentences are often constructed back to front 

Let me give you an example 

When you want to say something like 

“Good morning , sorry I am late”

The Welsh will say 

“Bore da, mae’n ddrwg gen i fy mōd Yn hwyr”

Which Literally translates as 

“Morning Good , it’s bad for me, the time late“

Yes complicated but it kinda makes sense after a while

I will leave you with one of the most lyrical and beautiful of Welsh Hymns

Calon Lân which means a Pure Heart

Nos da

Night good!

Films & Books

I think I’m going to lay low this month

It’s not out of choice, believe me.

The lockdown over the North Wales coast coupled with a month filled with night shifts have effectively pushed me into a cul-de-sac of antisocial activity. 

The night money will come in handy. 

The invoice from Mary’s vet came today 😳

At least her infected ear seems better

It fucking well should be for £180 !!

I have decided that I will have to fill the void with some old fashioned winter pursuits, namely reading and video watching. The reading of good books has been put on the back burner since Chris left so over the last two days I’ve done some research and have ordered a load of second hand books on Amazon

Giovanni Room by James Baldovir, Tales of the City by Amistead Maupin, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara and You Know Me Well by David Levithan and Nina LaCour

All gay themed and interesting sounding.

I’ve also bought a whole plethora of esoteric dvds  Such as  some Korean Horror movies  like The Wailing and Flu as well as a selection of classics that I feel I know but have never watched 

George Cukor’s The Women, John Ford’s Stagecoach, Fellini’s La Dolce Vita are just a few films on order 

I’m almost impressing myself 

Let’s hope the reality is as impressive

The Walking Dead season 10 finale ( spoilers)

 

Old friends Carol and Daryl

I found the finale on YouTube last night

This happens sometimes if you are lucky 

So I watched it before it could be deleted.

It airs in the US on Sunday

Only read on if you want to know what happened

I guess with Covid rules applying to filmmakers, it is understandable that the finale lacked some of the epic feel of those past. Beta for example gets killed in a somewhat underwhelming way that if you sort of blink and you’ll miss it. The same can be said for Maggie’s return, which seemed totally filled with serene smiles and as for the collective populations of Oceanside, Kingdom, Hilltop and Alexandria all climbing Unseen down a lift shaft to safety, well you have to use your imagination for that.

No the finale was somewhat of an anticlimax  but it had its strengths 

The scenes between Daryl and Carol were movingly observed as were those between Carol and Lydia perhaps finally Carol can mother the daughter she needs so much.....we have only one more series to go to see.

It’s time for The Walking Dead to finish now

Of the entire franchise it’s had the best characters and the best plot lines but it has also suffered from some  Mistakes in storytelling which disappoint and spoil the whole.

But I was still moved with what I saw last night

Gran Fry

I was reading The Lost Language Of Cranes By David Leavitt with my feet in the sun which created a rectangle of gold on the new carpet framed by the little square living room window

The cottage faces south and by 1pm the stone front has become quite warm after the autumn chill of last night.

I must of fallen asleep, just for a moment 

But as my eyes opened and head jerked back slightly the room was suddenly filled with the scent of cold cream and talcum powder.

It was intense and almost overwhelming 

and it was as if my grandmother has just bustled past,

Her big arms filled with laundry 

Her face wide from smiling 

A broad plain blue dress with short sleeves and a short apron

She’s been gone some thirty seven years now

And just occasionally 

I do miss her so