Missing The Raindrops

 The field isn’t mine anymore, but I’m still glad to see that the  ponies returned yesterday .

There was a look of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse about them as they are all wearing their fly masks, not that they seem unduly bothered by them .

I drove to Llandudno and bought a gift for my sister’s birthday at Mostyn Gallery 

I’m going around to see her for supper later.

I enjoyed the folk concert last night and my companion. jason is an interesting character and always good company to be around. 

He has an interesting philosophy in life which predominantly centres around the abject refusal to get stressed by anything 

“ What’s the point ? “ he says simply 

And strange as it may seem he seems to live successfully by this maxim.

It’s an enviable quality 

Folk At The Hall

Chic Eleanor was double booked tonight and her daughter’s birthday celebration of course  took priority over the return of Folk At The Hall so affable despot Jason gamely jumped into her Gucci pumps at the last minute. 

We had a lovely time, a right beer filled, folk clapping lovely time.
 

Caught up with Hattie , on her first night out since Freyr was born 

Lively , boisterous and great fun .

Lovely to see boffin Cameron too, he’s dancing on the right 

Dominion

 

I’m nothing but loyal to a franchise 

But I wish I hadn’t really bothered with Jurassic World Dominion 

Too many dinosaurs, too much plot, too many characters 

That sums it up.

I liked Sam Neill and Laura Dern revisiting their old roles though.

Out to the village concert tonight

Food

 

Around 5 am I tend to eat my “ supper” 

Tonight is chicken and olive salad 

I’m still trying to keep into healthy holiday mode.

Above is the obligatory photograph

One of my favourite Facebook pages is the daily publication from an old acquaintance in Pittsburgh who posts exactly what he has for breakfast almost every day for years now.

I find it a fascinating read especially as he is of Polish decent. So every day, there’s photographs of potato bread with plum butter, kanapka open sandwiches with cheese  and kielbasa with scrambled eggs.

Memories of breakfasts on his small blue collar apartment balcony in the rough part of town circa 1993

I love Rachel’s blog when she almost absent mindedly recalls that she had a sardine and bread and butter for her tea. It conjures up supper time in the 1950s with lashings of hot tea from a green teapot and tea leaves in the bottom of the cup.

I’m making Turkey meatballs in the airfryer tonight

With a light sauce and sticky sushi rice

Crackerjack

 It’s Wednesday already…..bloody hell.

It’s dawn and the seagulls are already screaming over west shore,

We’ve seen a couple of foxes playing in the car park on CCTV.

It started off busy but now remains peaceful.

I’ve read and made notes from my counselling reading list since 4 am

I am wearing a extra small pair of reading glasses which were bought by mistake.

According to my colleague I look like Peter Glaze  from the 1960s children’s programme Crackerjack

Him or a school yard pervert she noted wryly .

I’ve joined a gay reading group based in Chester and have just heard details of my first group meeting.

Apparently a selection biscuits will be provided.

No book title as yet

Simplicity

 

Professionally I seem to be liaising more and more with companies that provide cheap, simple cremations. 

Slick, and for the most part professional, they certainly seem to have taken advantage of a gap in the market where minor celebrities like Debbie McGee reinforce that you can have a funeral for the cost e of a cup of coffee a week whilst earning a voucher for Marks and Spencer’s all at the same time.

In this time of austerity, spending thousands on a funeral is no longer a luxury many can now afford but I have concerns that these “ faceless” companies could be having a detrimental effect of how we grieve rather who we grieve for.

Getting a funeral right, is a difficult objective for any family as grief can often be fickle, laced with anger and intensely personal in nature. 

The more modern trend for a well chosen eulogies, music , green burials, are complications from the formal “norms ” but at least personal touches often give loved ones the time and space to grieve. 

Funerals are only really important to the living.

Cheap cremations will work for some and not others.

I’m just concerned that financial prudence is taking over from the healthy need to be able to say a proper goodbye to a loved one 

Mother’s Bladder

 There is nothing more entertaining than a public row between partners

I’ve just been following a middle aged couple around Sainsbury’s and was privy to the best line of the morning when she turned to him and hissed loudly

“ Graham If you mention your mother’s cancerous bladder one more time I swear I will bloody swing for you” 

That one sentence paints a myriad of storylines just there.

I feel a bit more energised today, still snotty and coughing but I’m covid negative for a second day and have already taken a neighbour for a blood test, walked the dogs and done the shopping. 

I’m back working tonight but will make sure I have a good sleep this afternoon.

My tickets to the folk festival starting on Friday in the village came today. Chic Eleanor is accompanying me

Mini film

I caught this video earlier

And I thought it was an unexpectedly powerful piece of film making

Albeit in tictok form