Life Finds A Way

I was busy yesterday, as I was the two days before 

Four loads of washing, cutting the lawn, watering 30 planters,housework, painting

I overdid it

My post covid lethargy is back with a vengeance today and I have slept most of the morning.

I can’t quite get going, a feeling not helped by the weather which is humid and overcast .

It has rained very gently off and on all day, but the rain has been so gentle, the droplets have more or less evaporated before the ground got wet. 

The buddliea in the garden has suddenly blossomed in the heat but there are no butterflies to be seen on them at present. I can’t wait for them to return

As I took the dogs out I noticed this perfect little antirrhinum clinging onto the cottage garden wall.

Life always finds a way

My sisters and extended family have now booked to meet at La Santa Maria Hotel in Sitges next month. I was in two minds to join them , but I have booked my flights nevertheless  

Why the fuck not? Let’s take a chance .

The humid conditions here today coupled with my thoughts of the shabby chic Santa Maria transported me to those cheapo holidays in the sun of yesteryear.

1972 Lloret de mar. 

Never supervised once in the pool by my mother 

I nearly drowned in the deep end after slipping through my rubber ring

Today it’s called neglect
 

Nipples on the concrete

 

It’s still and very hot indeed.

The ponies in the field are standing quietly in the shade of the hawthorn hedges with back legs bent and Dorothy is lying nipples to concrete in order to cool down after a short walk. 

The cottage is peaceful as my neighbours in the new build have put Charlie inside out of the sun, where he can bark his voice box out of his head without bothering anyone.

I’m off out shortly to buy white gloss paint. 

I’ve been meaning to paint my bathroom door since CBM was here. 

Not only did I buy white paint but I saw some planters going cheap at Sainsbury’s so brought them home and filled them with cheerful pink geraniums 

I’m not booked to work until the weekend and have emailed the dog breeder about picking Roger Up

It sounds that a majority of the village has covid

Btw my booked train home last night ( the last one from London ) was cancelled, thank goodness I got an earlier train, the guard on which let slip that the recent excuses of shortage of personnel wasn't quite the truth? 

Hummmmm

Old Friends

 

Walking into town from Bloomsbury , not far from Russell Square I literally bumped into an old friend from North Wales. I had forgotten he was a solicitor in London now as we’d sort of lost touch but it was lovely to see him.

We arranged to meet last night and as it was so warm I decided to blow off My Fair Lady for some proper conversation, A very cold Italian beer and a cheap pizza. 

Soho was heaving, and felt oppressively busy what with the trans rights supporters demonstration swelling the street, so we walked down to the south Bank where the air was fresher and the streets less noisy.

This morning I packed up a brunch from the hotel dining room and went out with coffee and a book to St James’ Park .

It’s already hot and I’m mindful that Avani West Coast trains have already cancelled several trains north this morning so I will plan to return a bit earlier , to make sure I get home

I’ve seen some of the visitor posts  of comic con at Olympia on Facebook , it looks fun

I’ve promised Leo we will go next year if everything works out fine

London

 It’s hot 

Sushi, then Bloomsbury for cinema ( an odd bromance film Brian and Charles ) then a walk to St. dunstan’s Church (a garden in a former bombed out church in the financial district ) 

The lovely ladies at my hotel couldn’t refund me Leo’s hotel room but did give me 2 complementary drinks and a free breakfast which was sweet.

Soho is buzzing…..

Strange as it would seem Ive just bumped into an old friend and we are just going out for a drink shortly

Hey ho

 I’m allowing myself a slightly ironic smile this morning

The direct 8am train Prestatyn to Euston has just been cancelled

A Sleeping Dog

Then I look at the face of a sleeping dog

And all feels a bit better with the world. 

Dogs sleep when their pack slows down and they feel safe

And I’m watching over my sleeping dogs I realise

What a great job to have

Best Laid Plans II

 My nephew Leo is now unable to meet me for comic con at the weekend , which is a shame as I was so looking forward in catching up with him again.

The mantra of the past month must be best laid plans should it not.? 

Comic Con or not I still now have a spare ticket to the theatre and another empty hotel room for Saturday night which is a shame as so far I’ve not been able to conscript any fill ins.

And even my two new Walking Dead T shirts were delivered again today. 

No trouble 

I’m not going to be downhearted, London is always fun to visit on your own and according to my friend John Vanessa Redgrave completely steals the show in My Fair Lady.

Anyhow I made meatloaf in the air fryer for supper today and spiced up the recipe with Korean hot sauce. 

It’s a lovely evening with a blue sky fringed with clouds and Merv Price’s racing pigeons are roaring above and around the Church like giant shoals of fish. 

And so I’m eating outside, my eyes closed in the sun,  listening to the WOOSH of feathered wings as they circle a dozen or more times before settling

I will leave you with this tiktok video . It’s a cross between a social experiment and some visual silliness where an attractive man pretends to need a helping hand in order to cross a busy street.

I found this excerpt rather uplifting and it sort of reminded me a little of when Leo was a small boy…when we were in the centre of London for the very first time, he would nervously take my hand with his before crossing the road.

Early Dinner Out

 Caught up with an old friend over from Australia.

Lovely to have grown up conversations with her kids over a meal and a walk with the dogs up the Gop

Not a late night , bloody hell , I’ve had hardly any sleep today so 

I look rough as a bears’ arse 

But a nice afternoon, easy, unhurried and perfectly normal