The Log Burner

The log burner is going full blast again.

Mary and her trusty rubber chicken lie warming themselves until they steam

The radiators are working again and the thermal store is full of boiling water 

The cottage has been properly warmed back into life again.

Tomorrow I’m off to London. 

Last year I bought Nu and I tickets for the Royal Ballet 

Romeo and Juliet at the Royal Opera House 

How lovely is that? 

I’m meeting her at Dishoom Covent Garden 

I’ve missed her so recently

“ Old Man”

 I’ve ventured down to Y Shed for one of their strong Americanos

The ones that blow yer tits off and and give you a zing

And I’ve taken the obligatory snapshot of my coffee cup to prove the fact.

I will have another one too, so I will be bordering of ADHD by the time I get home.

I’ve just had a row with two middle aged women joggers ( Quelle Surprise) but this time I was provoked ( again) 

They ran up behind me like two ninjas and surprised Dorothy who suddenly found herself in front of them before she and I realised and called her to heel. 

I called out “ I’m sorry” As Dorothy stopped and raised her head to say hello and one of the joggers, exasperated with the interruption yelled “ Oh God  GET OUT OF MY WAY “ as she waved her arms wildly

“ She has every right to be here as you do” I called out, irked that my original apology hadn’t registered 

And what only could be called a fishwives’ Bitch off ensued .

“Fucking dog walkers lording the path” 

“ What if a child ran out in front of you?”

“ Dangerous Dogs should be on a lead”

“ She only has a brain the size of a soddin peanut!”

“I could have broken my ankle falling over her “

“ Nazi Jogger”

“ You Should have called out you were coming past, what am I ? Fucking psychic ?”

I think you get the gist

The other Lycra covered jogger then decided to Wade in and with her hands on her hips yelled a somewhat   Surprising and simple “ insult” of

“OLD MAN ! “ which smarted somewhat

They jogged on

Another couple who had been walking behind me called out with a supportive “ Weren't they rude ? “ 

but of course they had a dog too, so they would wouldn’t they? 

“It happens to me regularly” I admitted and had to laugh at myself 

I wonder why….

At last

 Islwyn has been casting his little bits of magic again.

Nothing huge , but my wheelie bin now has an elasticated latch which stops it flapping open in the wind of the three named storms which has hit home recently.

He’s the sort to do jobs like these. 

No fanfare no lectures 

Just a little kindness.

Recently I was witness to another quiet bit of kindness at choir.

One chorister who has recently suffered a bereavement was quietly leaving at the end of practice and she stopped to say hell to the gaggle of sopranos who immediately surrounded and group hugged her within an inch of her life

People are so naturally kind I always like to think .

My sisters both made me a cooked dinner last night too, which was a treat. 

I’m still somewhat rough with another kidney infection and they think I need looking after .

Today the heating engineer rang and asked if he could come and do the chimney lining today instead of Friday . 

I couldn’t say no, but could have done without the subsequent mess 

He had an apprentice who forgot he was wearing soot and charcoal covered working boots all around the living room  

And I caught him red faced, frantically trying to get rid of the evidence with some kitchen paper.

I told him not to worry , but it’s been a bugger to get rid of , even with my trusty carpet cleaner.  

I can relight the fire tomorrow but I must be honest , I did light a very small one tonight just to please myself 

At last

Walking Dead ..the final series

Daryl and Connie

 I’m on the last season of The Walking Dead 

And I’m still as loyal as ever.

So much so I will be dressing up as Hershal at the next comic con with my nephew ! ( God help me )

So much happened in this episode 

Gracie and Judith was saved by gay hero Aaron from the flooded Walker filled basement 

Maggie went rogue

Alden died

Negan walked away and in the best reunion ever Since Daryl and Carol …. Daryl hugged Connie 

All this means nothing to most of you, but after investing ten years of my life to one tv programme

I’m loving it 

Daryl and Carol 

Creak Of A Dress

I had a dream last night.

A dream that made me wonder if it was a dream at all.

I was reading in the living room and I heard my grandmother singing from the kitchen.

She wasn’t  singing per se.

It was a la-la -la, some ladies of a certain age do when their hands are busy 

But her voice was sweet and the clatter of cutlery on the drainage board ( I haven’t got one) was reassuring .

lids rattled and I imagined she was retrieving a cake from the old cake tin with the green lid and I heard side plates being put out on the table, and the kettle steamed on the gas ring even though I have only an electric hob.

The brown teapot filled with boiling water and I could smell washing powder, cold cream then cake sponge which I knew was made moist by raspberry jam.

The ironing board clinked open 

More la la singing 

And the creak of a dress a shade too small for a waist.

In the dream, I put down the book and walked to the kitchen door 

And of course my kitchen was empty, and neat and very cold

And I woke up feeling rather flat…..

Debby’s words from yesterday caught in my head this morning

“We are surrounded by the ghosts of loved ones gone on, aren't we?”

Rubber Chicken 2 - The Revenge

 I never thought I’d ever buy another rubber chicken after Winifred’s object of affection was framed after her graceful death. 

But today, when I was buying dog food from Aldi ( the only supermarket that doesn’t have a shortage ) 

I bought Mary her own rubber chicken which squeaks like teenage girl when squeezed 

All day she has been guarding it, playing with it, squeezing it, squeaking it  and……. watching it 

I’m rebirthing a monster 

Serve You Right

 kidney’s playing up today.

If my mother was alive she would have said 

“Serve You right for showing off about your pension yesterday”

My mother could be a real cow when the mood took her.

I am reminded of her when anon ( et al) start to micro pick at blog entries and blog comments 

Tiresome all.

Sad Mothers…..and sad people in general , can be real cows

Anyhow

The weather today feels worse than it did when Eunice arrived.

It’s blustery and very wet and cold too.

I walked the dogs earlier and was caught short and had to have a pee behind a tree which caused a few logistical problems .

I’ve put my thickest jumper on today and don’t feel like eating.

I will nap later, covered in dogs.

Speaking of eating, I will leave you all with this charming video.

Tik tok , does post a few amid the crass

It’s rather hypnotic and moving

I’m off to make olive, spinach and bread bean soup

Serendipity Again

 

Eunice came and went and left very little mark on Trelawnyd yesterday.

I wasn’t woken by the wind but by worrying that overnight 8 thousand pounds had been deposited into my current account without my knowledge and not long after I had tried to sleep for an hour or so after getting home, I got up and rang the nhs pensions department in order to clarify why they had sent me the money .

The young man who eventually answered my call, laughed in genuine good humour.

My former nhs employer had processed my pension incorrectly and I was being recompensed for the mistake

Again when it has come to money,

Serendipity has chosen some brilliant timing in my life of late and she’s done her stuff just when I needed her too.

This is the third time in so many years that good fortune has smiled on me when I’ve needed money the most. 

Not having to scrimp and save for things like I’ve had to do with the chimney repairs is wonderfully satisfying. 

I’ve paid off my overdraft, my credit card bill and have deposited the rest into my savings account while I do some thinking…..

How lucky am I ?

Hey ho

Last night the goats walked back through the car park again but this time they were returning to the Orme 

The hysteria of Eunice is finally over