Going Gently

People That Yell ( and plastic tulips)

I cannot abide loud people

Specifically people who yell.

I have a neighbour who roars at his yappy dogs.

He bellows and I’m sure has no inkling that he does so even though in a partially passive aggressive way, I often call back with a pointed call of “Stop The Yelling” or my more favourite. always exasperated “ For Fuck’s Sake ! Shut the fuck up”

I’ve never pretended to be Rachel Zegler.

Today I went to Sainsbury’s for breakfast ( avocado on sourdough with eggs) when in the next booth some great unwashed harridan decided to tell her teenage daughter off loudly, rudely, swearily and publicly.

Did I say something?

You bet your arse I did and I would do it again in an instant

She spoiled my breakfast

I turned around, looked the woman right in the face and told her “Will you STOP yelling” firmly and with as much distaste as I could muster at such an early hour.

I was wearing my third best Walking Dead T shirt, which I’m sure detracted slightly from my credibility, but the woman surprisingly shut up and didn’t follow through with any back chat which surprised me.

Before you say anything I know I am lucky.

Yelling accompanied by anger is a childhood fear.

Many children who suffer it regularly by angry parents often are timid and shy

And I was a shy child.

I’m catching up with home stuff today, and with the doors and windows open I hope the yappy dogs refrain and their loud owner is struck dumb

Otherwise I’m fucking playing Edith Piaf full blast.

After breakfast , and ignoring the nasty looks from the next table, I went to the village garden centre to buy some delicate violas and surprisingly some plastic tulips.

The tulips will sit on the kitchen table and obviously won’t need water, water which Roger upsets regularly when he climbs up on the kitchen table in an attempt to see out of the kitchen window.

Covid 5 Years on The COVID Nun ( Revisited)

BBC Radio 4 has been broadcasting a series of programmes exploring the ramifications of Lockdown.

I’ve been thinking about them, on my way home after a lovely day with Nigel in Chester, where we shared coffee and Phad Thai over tables together and sat and talked on a bench in the cathedral grounds.

We both had very different experiences of lockdown.

He enjoyed his

I hated mine

Unlike millions of people, I worked full time on the front line. I wore PPE everyday and felt and looked like a pig in a condom But this story , out of everything is one that I remember about lockdown, and is one I choose to cherish

My patient was admitted from home, incredibly poorly. Their family requested a Priest to be called , little did they know that unlike nurses and Doctors, Priests where not making hospice calls during covid

I stayed with the patient and hissed a request at a pragmatic smart support worker “ Get Me A Nun”

During lockdown , it had been almost impossible to get any chaplaincy support, but knowing that there was a nearby Convent I thought a nun was better than nothing , and even though nuns can’t officially give the last rights they can provide their version of the prayer over the dying to give comfort.

An elderly nun duly arrived in what seemed only like a minute or so .she was well into her eighties and looked valiant as she glided in breathless but twinkle eyed.

I had seldom seen anything so brave.

The nurses immediately surrounded her,

Helping her into PPE and mask and gloves and apron, with gentleness and respect

And clutching a bible and some holy water the nun hurried to the patient’s bedside seconds before they passed away

I wish the official inquest and the BBC had heard that story , which stands up with a thousand others that should be heard

A brave old nun, not frightened or bowed by covid

Doing the right thing at the right time

Glad

It’s March 20th

14 days ago it was March 6th

I had forgotten the significance of that date until today

Back in 2015 it was my wedding day.

I’m glad I forgot,

It says a lot of where my head is finally at

I’m glad

Solar Panels

Mary in her new Jumper

Roger

A few more pounds lost this week and I’m now back to what I weighed when I started at the hospice.

I’ve decided that having a chronic condition will work to my advantage so I contacted the rural Advice Wales department who deals with the energy efficiency of cottage properties like mine in Flintshire.

Apparently I am eligible for an air source heat pump and heating upgrade, a full home insulation job and a solar panel system for free!

Bloody hell.

Bloody Hellllllllll

How good is that?

The helpful man-on-the-phone laughed when I kept saying what’s the catch?

Apparently there isn’t one !

The company that completes the work will be contacting me soon.

I know several villagers who have had the work done, so I know it’s to the highest standard

Serendipity strikes again.

So today has been a chore day. The Welsh are having a groom and haircut so I’ve been out and bought Mary a jumper, given that the weather remains chilly. I will post a photo later when I have a mind to

I’ve given Bluebell a jet wash , shopped and drank coffee in the nature reserve at Rhuddlan where I watched a group of swans push a floating log about a pond.

I’m now pottering around before collecting the dogs

aprendiendo a hablar español

Today I’m in college and I’m staying late to study in the library, so todays post is an early indulgence

Allesandra Fortuna is a cook who tucks her tea towel down her bra straps before getting stuck in making pasta from scratch. don’t you adore her? My plan is to visit Italy with my friend Nige in 2026

Our trip to Madrid seems real now as I’ve booked our tickets to see the lisping choir and Metropolitan Orchestra of Madrid. I’m also looking at booking a Spanish cooking afternoon “experience” too which sounds great fun ( sparked by the Italian video) , so it won’t surprise you that I’ve also decided to learn Spanish when I complete my counselling diploma . I will start that in September

This impressed me too

And finally this , shivers up the spine