I need a boost today so lunch with a friend at Bryn Williams is a tonic. I took the welsh down the Promenade first in a first responce to anti diabetic expercise, then spoke to Nu in the car before sitting down at a nicely laid table overlooking the sea.
The food was so so but Bryn Williams has lovely views and good coffee
We went to an art instillation at Porth Eirias, portaits of local.people from Colwyn Bay. It was simple, moving and very effective
Then it was another walk for the Welsh , followed by supervision in Prestatyn .
“ I had a coffee then went out to deliver some duck eggs which I had promised to drop off and I was glad that I did for as I turned into Bron Haul I caught a glimpse of Mrs Spriggs.
Now Mrs Spriggs (not her real name) is one of those very VERY old ladies that always sound as though she is crying when she talks.She has that slightly odd, wavering voice that carries literally for miles. and when I sometimes try to pass her when she is waiting for the morning bus into town, the dogs will often stop then sit and stare at her when she cries her very odd cries of welcome. Today, Mrs Spriggs was perched on top of a brand new shiny invalid scooter, complete with impressive wicker basket on the front. She was driving it at full tilt along the centre of the road,and even at a distance of say 50 yards, I could tell that her knuckles were white as the proverbial sheet. Islwyn Thomas, himself in his late eighties, stood nearby and he gave me a small wave and a smile... "watch this" , he quipped "this should be fun!" Mrs Spriggs passed us, letting out a long moaning scream as she did so I noticed that the scream had a definite Doppler effect to it "I'm scccccaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrred!!!!!!!!!!!" she cried " this is all new to me!" she turned the scooter around and in way of explanation as she made a second run she cried out again "The scooter is on loan..I'm trying it out!!!.....but I can't get the hang of the kerbs!" She mounted the pavement briefly near Stan and Kit's neat little bungalow and let out a long "oooooooooooohhhhhhh!" as she did so. And as I stopped to watch... realising instantly that this was the stuff of all passable blogs! Mrs Spriggs glided past yet again emitting another little scream like girls do on rollercoasters As she "hand braked it by the junction of High Street, She informed Islwyn and myself rather breathlessly that the buggy needed to be returned by Friday so she had to practise when the weather was dry. "How do I look on it?" she wailed as she made her third and final run
I usually work Sundays so with tonight free I went to the indoor bowls night at the village Hall
I really enjoyed it.
About sixteen villagers were there ( mostly men ) so I knew all but around four people . The ones I didn’t know were very friendly , including a farmer my own age who kept boosting my confidence after I told him I was always chosen second to last at games in school , and that was only because last place Alan Jones had a built up shoe!!!!
I was shit, but like I said I enjoyed the banter and the game itself …..
Another bout of nasty weather approaches, so I thought it the right time to open the cat flap.
Weaver left the cottage first followed by Bun and as I predicted both didn’t venture too far in the cold and wet. Roger was beside himself and kept looking at the cat flap then to me as if to say “what’s happening Dad.?”
I tried to keep busy like parents do when their toddlers go to play school for the first time
As usual , I parked in the mother and child spot and almost had a row with a woman who took umbrage with my explanation that the Welsh ARE my children. I say almost, I’m not in the mood for battling , not today. I just smiled sweetly
She didn’t smile back.
Sometimes , I get a little weary of being the one who hires and fires all of the time.
I have an appointment at the doctor’s surgery on Monday to discuss my recent blood tests and it was nice that a friend at work, who knows, gave me a kiss on the cheek as way as a support last night.
Like I said , I’m a little tired doing everything on my own.
But there is no alternative and we plod on, don’t we ?
I’ve cooked butter beans and chillies, and made a thick fish soup with cod steaks and park Choi , walked the dogs and lit the fire .
Tomorrow I’m going bowling in the village hall, which sounds rather third age but all rather fun, but tonight I’m hunkering down on the couch
I woke to the roar of the wind and Weaver angrily swiping claws at my toes.
The wind has a real edge to it, and even the Welsh who love a leisurely walk and sniff, kept their heads down and pulled for home.
The ponies, as she had predicted stood with their backs to the wind in the shelter of the hawthorn hedges and the private windmill at Marion Mawr ,far across the valley, whirled crazily.
I checked the village Facebook page,
The Arla cattle crossing near Sarn had been closed by fallen trees, but no one has suffered power cuts yet.
I think the school is closed too
I’m working a single night shift tonight which will be fun getting to, I will add to the post later
York which is the backdrop of the new police drama Patience
Patience is a police researcher who has autism , so that twist is the whole nuance of the series.
It’s a little predictable but it’s watchable and well done but more importantly it visited an old haunt I haven’t returned to in thirty six years.
In last night’s episode I grabbed a glimpse of the Hole In The Wall pub which still lies just inside Bootham Bar ( or gate in the Walls)
I had been the new psychiatric nurse for only a few weeks when I joined the staff on a Christmas Night out at The Hole In The Wall, and as I walked in, all fearful and shy I was met by a roar of warmth by my new colleagues . Geordi Pete, Cath Sylvester, Tracey Birkin , Mandy, Anne O’Neil, Linda M, Brid, Gordon, and others
An hour or two later , arm in arm with whoever was near I found myself belting out the chorus of ABBA’s Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie ( a man after midnight) feeling I’d come home
The story comes full circle soon as I’ve planned to meet with one of that group, namely Tracey Birkin in York in the spring.
We reconnected on Facebook recently amid much emotion
