Gifts

 

I received two gifts today

The first is an absolutely beautiful crocheted blanket which consists of small intricate  waves of blues and greens and purples and yellows.

The second is a hastily painted piece of art in a deep blue, which features what could be swirls of clouds over a forest of blue trees.

I absolutely adore both as both were made with affection, a certain skill and a great deal of personal time.

Perfect gifts.

Thoughtful and meaningful 

The blanket was crafted by my friend Ruth over many months, and it shrieks .....class

The painting was a result of a joint paint-a-long-on-zoom with a lifelong friend Nia who lives in Australia 

A much needed , fun morning in the middle of lockdown.

Loved them.

Gifts with meaning, not just a promise of something nice   ,where words mean really nothing

My nephew texted me the other month and asked me what I would like for my birthday

I told him I would love an up to date photo of him and his dog which I could frame

Is that all? he asked, his Asperger’s finding some difficulty with my request 

“ It’s because I haven’t seen you for a few years “ I explained and he replied with a short “Arr ok!”

Moments later came another message

“ Are you sure you don’t want a dvd? “ he asked

Ditto

 

I’ve always liked being a twin

Synchronicity with each other  is something that has followed us all of our lives.

I messaged my sister to see what she wanted for her birthday.

I sent her my very short list which had only one item on it at the same time

On both lists we wrote

Red geraniums in pots

Men Who Sing

How fabulous is this? 

The village Male Voice Choir has had a documentary made about it

A film which has its debut in Sheffield’s documentary festival in June 

https://sheffdocfest.com/

The film can be seen online, 

It looks melancholic and rather fun

Alium Heads & Other Stories

 

A whole bunch of flowering aliums have had their flowering heads cut off in the back garden. They were in a clump next to the lane wall and the heads have been scattered along the path. 

How odd

Animal work or pure vandalism? 

Who knows

The village food bank which is set up weekly in the phone box on well Street has been emptied for the second time . Again its shelving has been removed which would indicate that the culprits have a car. 

It’s a sad state of affairs as there is a need for such an initiative.

Village leader Ian came around yesterday for coffee and told me about the food bank. 

He was a little saddened by it all which in itself is sad given the great strides the new Community Association ,which he helped develop, have taken over the last year. 

I took time reminding him  of how much a force for good the association is and how much I admire their philosophy  of making things fun, and I meant what I said .

I know what it’s like to galvanise people out of inaction 

It can be rewarding but often it’s a thankless job

Positive feedback the Welsh are not always good at.

Bridget who runs the food bank is stocking up again today.

I will pop down with more donations later. 

She’s another minor star in the village.

I want to support the other new initiatives that are springing up: the plans for wildlife conservation at the village pond; the coffee mornings are starting up again and the wonderful Folk at the Hall returns at some stage alongside positive plans no doubt suggested by the community Council post lockdown.

Time is difficult as I’m still working full time , but I will try a little harder to support these groups of ordinary people who are striving very hard to make the village a nicer place to live in.

It’s Monday today. 

This is my last week as a community Hospice Nurse.

I’ve enjoyed the experience and would like to return one day 

I bought a ceramic wind chime in the shape of a fish today

It pleased me, 

After I hang it , and clear the kitchen . I will take the dogs up to Lywenna  ( Gentleman Farmer Ralph’s widow) to say hello

It’s time I made some time for important things 

A Human Voice

  

I’m not a lover of Tilda Swinton but in Pedro Almodóvar’s short movie A Human Voice she dominates the screen as a woman dumped by her lover which whom she one sidedly has a series of conversations on the phone. 

It’s a powerful performance in a powerful short movie, but I did find myself missing the director’s flourishes of humour and warmth in Spanish , for A Human Voice is his first movie in English .

The film left me a bit flat as did the atrocious weather

So I’ve come home and lit the fire . 

Which is now roaring an optimistic roar

Seagulls Volià

 In my experience, the more stressfulll the nursing environment 

the more humour between staff has to be generated.

Staff without a sense of humour, I have always thought, have to employ other less effective mechanisms of coping, which invariably lead to increased sickness time and hangovers 

I’ve only just got home after a busy day

A busy, sometimes stressful but a productive day, full of sadness but brimming with colleague’s  laughter

Before I left I waved to a patient I nursed in the community but who has been admitted to the hospice.

They had complained that seagulls had been knocking at their window demanding food and the ward staff had worked hard at organising something to help

Ben, Julie, Ann and Beth , you made me laugh today 

Found some Christmas gin in the cupboard now watching Eurovision 

I adored this 

Damp

 My 6.30 am coffee needs buying from the McDonald’s drive through.

I’m leaving for work shortly

It’s a grey, wet and depressing early morning and even the cheerful plants on the kitchen window sill are looking down.

Flaming June soon

Village Shenanigans

 

A flyer came through the door today which underlines something between the new Community Association and the Community Council over the Village Hall.  I can’t pretend to understand all the nuances in play but , be sure I will get to the bottom of things. 

Social media has been buzzing on this most miserable of days with the news.

I’ve treated myself to low fat turkey burgers for lunch and as promised I took some photos of the garden for Lizzy D even though the rain was lashing down