End of Term

My group today ( in part)

 Last day in University today. 

It was nice that all of us are through with no drop outs. 

We start again September 10th and all have summer placements as trainee counsellors.

Tomorrow I meet my supervisor in the morning, then village leader Ian in the afternoon to sort out this year’s Flower Show. 

I think I’m off to the cinema at teatime too

I would like this photo of villager Jenny with her prize winning jam from last years show to be on the front of this year’s schedule 

What do you think?

Montana Archers

 Four 12 hour shifts back to back was a bit much 

Tonight I shared a tuna filled jacket potato with Mary sat at the kitchen table and fell asleep holding my fork.

When I flickered my eyes open the potato had gone 

So had Mary 

I’m typing this in the garden with a gin and tonic 

It’s not a sunny dusk

In fact today it’s a chilly one

But the Montana arch looks mighty fine

Speaking of Archers, it’s all go in Ambridge

George crashed drunk Alice’s car into Mick’s car sending, Mick, Joy and Fallon into the river Am

Denise and Alistair ( who are on a dirty evening out)  comes to the rescue but it’s close thing

George puts a comatose Alice into the driving seat 

Bloody hell, I need another gin

Sun On My Face

 

I was slightly annoyed around five. 

I had missed the sunny day ….asleep.

It couldn’t have been helped.

I chatted to Mandy and John from next door and sat out on the patio with my face to the sun, a coffee mug in hand.

It was glorious.

To close your eyes and only to see pink and orange on the back of your eyelids.

And warmth on your face

It was Blissful. 

The pink in my eyes reflected the pinks flowering in one of the untidy planters and the warm sun brightened my mood as the coffee did it’s job

I was reminded of an evening a decade or so ago when the ghost hens took centre stage on the field


“ .It was approaching dusk on a summer's evening and the rest of the field was in constant motion.
The other hens were mooching homewards to roost, the geese were bickering over a patch of grass like they do and the hysterical runner ducks were being , well, just hysterical.
Only the Ghost hens remained still. Sitting in the evening sun until their white plumage tinged pink..........
with their fat bottoms planted into the grass like old ladies arses on comfy armchairs.

Their faces were held very high as they enjoyed the last bit of sunshine of the day.”

What Day Is it?

 I’m working until Monday morning, overtime money which will come in handy.

And. I’ve just got up with a mug of coffee 

I will leave for work early as I need to buy a birthday gift for the support worker on duty tonight and I will pop in a card thanking her for returning Roger yesterday.

I will leave you with this video

A simple geeky night out for many 

But it kind of moved me greatly

Roger’s Escape

 

I don’t speak to my neighbours to the rear of my cottage.

It started over me complaining of noise not long after they moved in and I’ve made no attempt at reconciling 

Yesterday I found myself sitting in Bluebell charging my phone. Only my portable charger seemed to be working  and I needed the phone to call my prospective supervisor before I left for work

So there I sat waiting for the phone to charge, where I lost myself in day dreaming and thought. I realised it was The Prof’s birthday and emailed him a happy birthday note on impulse. 

, all the while I was sat there Roger watched me from inside the gate, wanting to get near me. Somehow in the next few minutes he managed to scramble over the wall into next doors garden and managed to run around and through a few gardens and tried to enter my neighbours house from the rear, sending their gaggle of dogs in an absolute frenzy of yapping.

Oblivious to this I continued to sit in Bluebell watching my phone. That was until the lady of the house appeared in a dressing gown holding a truly repentant Roger in her arms. Is he Yours? She called cheerfully.

Roger was terribly frightened, not only by his brief break out into the unknown but by the fact a total stranger had picked him up. He trembled noticeably and buried his head into my armpit . 

A real baby

I took him from my neighbour and thanked her for returning him. It was a little embarrassing but perhaps it’s time to cease hostilities, I thought, grateful he hadn’t ran across the fields towards the sheep.

We sat in Bluebell together as I phoned my supervisor . 

Roger meekly curled up on my knee

His shaking stopped.

Drama

Years ago I went out with a drama Queen 

He was big on gestures and huge of emotion. 

He also had a temper, as have I 

So we fitted badly. And the relationship was full of highs and lows 

And addictive drama.

I’ve hated drama in any form since then.

 

I just don’t want to know it.

The nurse in me abhors drama, 

It’s pointless and helps no one practically, and often just gets in the way of things.

It’s as if the emotion camouflages the reality 

We always watch the noisy child don’t we? 

I turn into my elder sister at times of drama, with a pursed lip and strong quiet I’m not doing this now

statement, which sets a scene.

Sure it’s often more satisfying to join in with the drama as their teeth often fit your wounds but eventually it’s all pointless , and fruitless and as hollow and dead  as an old log in a wood.

Or as Kenneth Williams final words said what’s the bloody point?

No drama , just the Garden Arch Montana blooming this morning

Serendipity

 

The other week I told you all that I had a rebate from my electricity bill , money from which I put towards my next year’s counselling college bills. Rebates from my water bill and money hidden away in a jar brought the total saved up to 1000£ Allowing a further pension rebate to pay for my trip to see the lisping Spanish Choir ( my troll went apoplectic at my failure to add to my savings!!!)

Today I did overtime at work ( to pay for my own counselling sessions)  and in a down moment read an email from management telling the staff that we were to receive a one off payment in Lieu of a wage increase. 

This was an unexpected bonus for the staff and even though I’m part time I will receive approximately 500 + £ extra next month!!!

500£ will more than pay for the outstanding college fees of 1400£  I will owe and will also help with my supervision bills too

How lucky am I? 

I sang I have A Dream when I got home with Roger bouncing alongside me like a loon 

Please as punch as I was

I really do realise just how lucky I have been 

Carmen

 

I went to see the live performance of Carmen at The Royal Opera House last night. I went with my sisters who both thought they were going to see a ballet, so there was much muted laughter as we took our seats.

We were all disappointed, me for the fact the staging was in a moody, shadowy 1970s Spain and not all frocks, sweaty factory workers and matador buttocks and for them that there was no ballet dancing.

The music, led by sexy as fuck conductor Antoello Manacorda is adorable as always and in the lead the 27 year old Russian Aigul Akhmetshina really shines in a performance of power and confidence and charm.

By the time I got home and relaxed it was nearly eleven, and it amused me, as I sat and wrote this with a drink, that Roger had positioned himself next to the front door fire vent with his nose resting against the slats .

He was listening to see if he could hear the Blackbird moving in her nest as she had been doing all day .

He does amuse me 

The following video has Aigul performing Carmen when only 22 years old 

 Amazing