More Plans

 I've taken my eye off the ball when it comes to planning nice things to do and experience. Everything feels as though its a tad serious and work orientated, which it is.

I work two full days a week, am counselling one full day and and in college another, so by the time the litter tray has been emptied (oh God that's an awful job) and I've watched Call My Bluff on a Monday night, the week is suddenly over.

Jesus how effin boring.

The remaining arse end of October I have booked tickets for my sister and I to see the English National Ballet's version of Giselle in Liverpool and got the very last ticket (and I'm not joking) to Holst The Planets at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall.

November I am popping up to Sheffield for a day and a half. The Rocky Horror Picture Show with my friend Jane and a leisurely Sunday lunch with friends Mike and Bev.

I've even toyed with a post Christmas weekend to Madrid to see my ( "My" choir!!) but couldn't quite make the numbers work for me. 

so I've booked five days in Rome in March

bosh!!!

all this, is a challenge to the approaching winter.

a panacea to ward away low moods

I'm writing this on my break at work, its 5 am and light rain is falling on the Hospice. I've just listened to a podcast of Rob Delaney's Desert Island Disc choices. It is a sobering and incredibly moving piece of Radio, where Delaney talks eloquently about the death of his baby son. Like Lauren Lavern I was moved into silence by his  emotional honesty. 

My nephew is away on holiday so on the way home I have the job of taking his son, my great nephew to college. He is one for the lie in so I've texted to say that if he's not ready his gay uncle will go all camp outside his house and will embarrass him in front of the neighbours

its the village Apple festival on Saturday, I'm helping with the judging 

Pat Thistlethwaite

 

Roger’s been wearing a white feather on his head, something picked up from jamming his bonce into the hedgerows early this morning. It’s still there now after our jaunt to McDonalds for a large white coffee for me and cheesy bacon flatbread for them. I’ve just sat down with said coffee ( drumming up bravery to accost the litter tray in the back bedroom which now resembles a public toilet at Glastonbury.) when I saw that the son of Weaver Of Grass had just emailed .

His message was brief “ Just to let you know that Pat passed away on Thursday.She was getting plenty of morphine and sedation and everything went as well as these things can go. Thank you everyone for your support”

The news was very Weaver

Understated, unfussy , no drama 

The feather wouldn’t be her either, no way……but it’s nice to think it might of been 

We shall miss the old girl.

I shall miss her.

Flirt

 

Met my friend Colin for lunch and a much needed laugh. I told him how much I over reacted to our new male Iberian vet when Mary had her ears reviewed and he giggled loudly when I admitted I simpered like a schoolboy when the vet told me that Roger ( who had come along for ballast) was a fine specimen of  terrier. To be honest I would have smiled and laughed if the vet had read out the first quarter of the local telephone directory, those deep Spanish tones.

Like a moist Antonio Bandares on toast

Colin, reminded me that I wasn’t too old to flirt even though it was somewhat unsavoury to laugh at absolutely everything the object of my affection had said 

Note to self next time tone it down 

On another Spanish note, this is the final piece I enjoyed at the Madrid concert this year. The look of intensity in the eyes of the dancer could be seen and felt by me in the one of the back rows of the auditorium . 

Amazing

I suddenly want to be back in Madrid

The Woman You Are

This song is a gift from a young woman to her single mom 

It’s delightful 

Rowenna

 Old Rowenna died this morning. She was 92. islwyn’s aunt and matriarch to many still in Trelawnyd, she was a lady of purpose and opinion. When she was well Rowenna marched rather than ambled, she marched that older ladies March with the handbag tightly looped over their left arm.

Rowenna, ( far right) with some of the village People.

Arriving at my last garden open

I rang Islwyn, with my condolences, and sat with a cuppa outside until I grew chilled. 

Later I met my sister in law for lunch at the Red Lion in Dyserth, and had proper thick Welsh rabbit and tea. What a bloody treat!  

When I got home it was getting cooler ,

Tomatoes had been left in a bag upon the kitchen wall by Animal Helper Pat

No where else to go today.

No where else I’d rather be

Nap soon on the couch

Dogs fed, kittens fed, fire lit

George Grundy crying on The Archers

Friday night

No messages on my phone

A Tight Perm

 " Pay particular attention to the details of your work. 

Paying attention to detail makes for the personal touch...it is thoughtful and  it is kind"

This was a particular manra of my tutor Mr Brint , back in my psychiatric days

I remember it well as in one lession we had, the class was taught how to put ladies hair rollers in! 

The ladies were a group of "patient volunteers" from the long stay ward and Mr Brint and a tired looking Occupational therapist were showing us all how to shampoo and set!

" Hair and make up are vital for good self esteem" Mr Brint trilled " Everyone can be made to feel beautiful " 

He looked over at me as I manfully tried to roll my patient's grey locks around a roller which resembled a hairy caterpillar 

" And how is your lady looking Nurse Gray?" he purred 

I looked at my lady's head thick with haphazard looking rollers 

" She looks like a German mine!" I told him honestly 

His heart was always in the right place 

Speaking of tutors, my out standing essay was finally second marked yesterday

I’m averaging a B for last year’s academic work which is bloody good going, given that I’m a definite bit of a plodder.

Hey ho

Wednesday

 I watched the paper thin but entertaining comedy crime drama Ludvig tonight in my underwear,

My uniform lies next to the washing machine 

Only a few minutes are left in a long day.

Not enough time to read blog comments 

Mary is stalking BUN and Weaver, hoping for a Bottom lick 

They are United and a force to reckon with 

Roger is on my knee looking worried, if he was a real toddler 

He’d be sucking his thumb 

I watched two minutes of the following news and gave up

To depressing.

My counselling day tomorrow

Bed again 

Conflict

 

My thoughts are with fellow blogger Yael tonight 

As the bombs reign on Israel in this fruitless, mad stupid conflict 

I’m tired after a full day in college and I’m off to bed early before another 12 hour shift tomorrow

Bake Off then bed. 

Very rock n roll