Chester

 I spent much of the morning in urology outpatients 

I never tell staff that I’m a nurse, I’m funny like that, I feign ignorance and watch everything like a welsh terrier. 

The consultant was nice enough 

I didn’t think much of the nurse I met. 

This afternoon, I went to Chester to see the Welsh horror movie The Feast , which was so dire, I left after an hour .

A friend texted me a simple, sad message about him starting radiotherapy  and I was glad I walked out of the cinema . I hurried out of the Storyhouse and sat in the sun , in the Cathedral grounds 

And we talked a long talk 

Cushions

 Mrs Trellis caught me hanging my underpants on the garden bushes this morning. 

I don’t need a washing line as I tend to wash small loads at 30 degrees.

I tell you this as a bit of fluffing.

She was walking Blue who has matured into a calm elderly greyhound with a graceful neck, and as Mrs Trellis has shrunk a little with age , I always think that when she walks him he resembles a large alpaca rather than a dog, so noticeable the change in height.

I asked her how old Blue was and she told me that he was eleven .

“He looks good” I told her 

“ He eats what I eat “ she told me as way as an explanation 

“He had porridge for breakfast”

I met chic Eleanor for brunch which was lovely ( the meeting not the food) and caught up with her news. 

I haven’t seen her for a couple of months and she looked relaxed and radiant 

We arranged to go out for dinner with some mutual friends soon.

And that’s about it for today so far.

I popped to see my sister, bought some nice cushions from TK MAX and did grocery shopping, 

I also washed the dog throws and hung them in the sun on the field gate, watered my laburnum and walked the dogs twice, both times holding three leads in one hand!

Blogger is playing up again 

Square Eyes

 Managed to get to the Community Council meeting at the Hall tonight to co represent the community Association support for the hall.

Got home as it was getting dark after the meeting 

It’s been a nice sunny relaxing day 

Roger is watching Master Chef tonight

He’s a total tv addict 

Ram Dressed As Lamb

 I’m in the middle of a night’s overtime

I supposed to be saving for the electric direct debit hike due very soon.

Total false economy 

Just bought these on line from Harlow & Lloyd

I’ve message a friend in the states who I know would be up and around 

He sent a brief message back 

Ram dressed as lamb

The “Dont Hurt Him” Conversation

 I still listen to The Archers and will occasionally refer to the long standing radio show here, when certain subjects of interest raise their heads over the mundane.

Last night matriarch Jill ( 91 year old Patricia Greene) was having a bit of a heart to heart with her grandson’s twenty something girlfriend over a quiche.

Now I am the first to say that The Archers can at times be incredibly heavy handed and prescriptive, and to be honest that is part of its charm, I feel, but last night I felt the scene between old lady and young woman had a certain poignancy about it.

Only last month , it was broadcasted that Green was leaving the soap after playing the velvet voiced Jill for over 57 years. No reason rather than retirement was cited, but it was clear to me by listening to the change in the actress’ voice that she was frail and probably rather unwell. 

The scene she was playing revolved around a huge circle in the Archer’s storyline. In the 1950s Jill entered the soap as the lead’s second wife, a city girl, who was morphed into being a country farmer wife and last night’s scene had Jill discussing life with city girl Beth ( Rebecca Fuller) who is her favourite grandson’s girlfriend.

The scene was unhurried and full of gentle pathos with Green’s rasping vocals adding an extra depth to the scene and when eventually Jill turned to Beth and said “ You Won’t hurt him will you?” I was suddenly reminded of a similar, intense conversation from decades ago now.

My grandmother was long dead when I started courting. My mother was never privy to any partners I ever had, but I remember my elder sister meeting my husband to be many years ago now, a meeting she realised for the first time that I had decided that he was a “ keeper”

Just before we drove away from that first family meal, I remember her leaning into the car and saying to my boyfriend with a smile but in a low and rather serious voice. “ Don’t ever hurt him, or you will have me to deal with!”

It was a message , I know he never forgot, for I think it was the first time anyone had spoke to him in such a way.

And It was a message I never forgot also.

Having that matriarch in my corner .

Ladies View

I’m glad I made the effort to go to Nu’s party

I’m glad for so many reasons .

Of course seeing her, Jim and her family and friends, many who I consider as my friends for years , was the driving force for the trip 

But I also really wanted to push myself out of my ever comfortable comfort zone by driving the length and breadth of Ireland on my own .

To some , this may not sound too stressful.

A little arduous, perhaps but not stressful, 

But I must admit, for me it was! 

I’m always envious of friends such as Rachel (https://racheldubois.blogspot.com/) who seem happy and comfortable travelling all over the world by themselves. 

I’ve never done it, so I felt I needed to push myself with a series of firsts

Taking my Car on a ferry for the first time and navigating a new country was two firsts 

Ok it was Ireland 

But this morning I was the only car driving down the magnificent Ring of Kerry from the awesome Moll’s Gap

I was the only person at Ladies view , watching deer cross the road in front of me

And it was a first  for me to pass the glorious St Mary’s cathedral Killarney where I stopped for a full Irish breakfast at a delightful cafe, where the owner gave me a sandwich , for nothing “ to eat on my way” as she said it’s a far drive for you ! 

But now that I’m home, somewhat tired I must say I feel just a little proud that I’ve finally done it.

The Party

I won’t post photo after photo of merry partygoers, suffice to say that the afternoon and evening was paced and good humoured and full of friends old and new.

The bus picked everyone up from Kenmare square at three and dropped us off at Nu’s cottage not long after and she was there like the Queen at the gate to greet her guests. 

We drank gin and ate delish extra thin pizza freshly baked straight from the oven and talked bollocks until 9pm when the bus returned and everyone hit the lights of Kenmare’s pubs.

I got off the bus early and went back to my Airbnb.

I’m driving back this morning and couldn’t face another late night.

I slept well in my bed 

And this morning have just drank my bucket of coffee and ate the last of my scones

 It’s been a lovely weekend all told 

Scones for Breakfast

I hit Kenmere running. 

I knew I would. 

My sat nav crashed in Dublin port and I had to wing finding my way to Nu’s, so late I arrived at my own spotless little Airbnb apartment at Mrs O’Sheas for only a few minutes, before being picked up by the affable Brian, ( the designated driver for the day) and whisked to a lovely restaurant with Nu and family.

The rest of the evening was, to be honest a loud bit of a blur with more mutual friends and their grown up kids joining the fray at a bar which would not look lost in The Commitments.

The party proper starts around 3 pm today when a bus stops in the square to pick everyone up and takes them to Nu’s cottage, so I have a bit of time to go into Kenmare and have a mooch. 

As promised Mrs O’Shea has left me some of her scones ( tied Auntie Glad style on the doorknob) so  you can Have something with your tea

 I dozed after my breakfast then walked down to Kenmare Pier 

And listened to the gulls diving for fish in the bay