Loneliness

 From time to time loneliness will feature in Going Gently. It invades one’s life like the process of osmosis dampens a piece of blotting paper, and brings you up short when it is least expected. 

It is insidious, and evil sometimes. Other moments it’s a minor irritation that can be shrugged off by a radio programme, a knock on the lane window or the ping of a phone message.

I hate Sunday afternoons on night duty. You wake up to a silent cottage around five. The dogs have already been collected that morning by Trendy Carol’s husband, and the cats are mute. 

Asleep on the sofa, where the dogs are not present. 

It’s that first buzzing of silence when awake, which is the worst thing

It’s louder than any noise known to man

It’s a lonely sound. 

I shower, and brush my teeth loudly. 

Today I make eggs on toast and coffee and Pick of the Week and The Archers will be on Radio 4 soon. 

I reclaim my isolation slowly. I look at the thirty birthday cards still standing on the kitchen windowsill . A message. From Chic Eleanor requesting my company at the Theatre on Thursday, is welcome. And there are more notes waiting to be read from Nu and The German and more Sheffield old friends.

I collect the dogs, it’s the village dog show on Saturday and Roger needs a haircut…. , so I’m out on Wednesday ( cinema) Theatre on Thursday and show on Saturday with long days at the hospice Friday and Sunday

The week is full and Mr Loneliness is thwarted another week

Saturday

 This is perhaps the lisping choir at its very best. Conductor Sylvia Sans Torre shines as they perform at their best with that final one note held long and with confidence.

Time To say Goodbye has never sounded better.

Kelda from the still house was on Radio 4 ‘s Today Programme just before 9 am was interviewed about loneliness . It was a brief interview but she held her end up very well I thought.

The village Go Green group summer planting has come through in the community field and the beds around the hall now look fully stocked and fabulous

I need to get back in volunteering for the village, I’ve taken a back seat for a while.

Chess

 Another fact, that you may not know about me is that I’m a passable Chess player. I haven't played for years, so I was more than happy to receive this set from my sister Janet, a late gift for my birthday.

Another new start, and this one is magnetic so here’s a 

Message to Weaver

Many moons ago, when I lived in Walkey in Sheffield, I joined the local chess club, which was based at walkley Library which I’m pleased to see is still open

I met my first proper boyfriend at this club. A floppy haired, student called Alan who always wore a green jumper with a hole in the collar . He once saw me studying at the central library and dropped his telephone number onto my desk in a fit of confidence and insight.  I was almost twenty nine he was around twenty and it took me weeks to muster up the courage to ring him back. 

Our first date was at the chess club. 

Which, in retrospect sounds rather sweet.

Alan was a sweet boyfriend too,  mentally sorted and with real Yorkshireman sensibilities. He spoke with deep flat vowels and had a steady manly manner about him, but unfortunately he left Sheffield months down the line to travel the far east and Australia on a gap year which became three.

I cried when he left and as a parting gift he gave me a small travelling chess set with a kiss and a handshake

It was something I eventually and very sadly lost when I eventually moved to Hillsborough 

And a generation plus later, another chess set returned…

Catty Kindness

 Mary had joined me in bed. She does this every night now and sleeps by the wall, her head peeping out from the eiderdown. 

Any time after 2 pm Bun joins us and curls up in the left hand corner of the duvet

I usually scratch her a welcome scratch with my big toe.

It’s a habit we have all gotten into since Mary became poorly.

Last night I watched a catty Kindness

A small moment between two species that lightens the heart and is worthy of a short blog entry.

Bun walked two steps from her warmed sleeping spot and sniffed at Mary’s blind eye. It’s been looking sore recently and I’ve cleaned it with hypromellose eye drops, nevertheless the cat started to lick the closed eye gently and Mary turned her head to allow her to continue her work which Bun did with some precision and tenacity . 

It’s not much of blog news. 

It’s a little thing really .

But like noticing the honeysuckle in flower yesterday

And the fat man flying around the garden, the day before.

It’s part of the fabric of Bwthyn y Llan 

And the small lives of the five creatures that live here.

Honeysuckle, the Winifred Rose and a mystery

 

One of my pottery figures has disappeared 

I’ve only just noticed. 

8 benign faces watched me eat my breakfast this morning before counselling 

There should have been nine. I searched the kitchen, behind the radiator , in the cushions 

On the floor

And….nothing

It’s a mystery for sure

The wind is up and both cats are lying on the couch when the dogs are at Trendy Carol’s.

The garden has dried in the wind, and the honeysuckle around the front door has bloomed fully over just one day. 

The “ Winifred” Rose ( bought for me after Queen Sãlote Tupou died) has finally flowered too , showing great sweet smelling blooms the colour of custard tinged with raspberry. The rose was planted just under six years ago but has never properly flowered until now 

I spent a good hour in the garden. 

Just sitting and day dreaming about nothing

My hands folded in my lap like Auntie Gladys used to hold hers.

Fat Man Flying

 My twin sister always buys me a nice birthday gift 

I call this metal sculpture “ fat man flying”

It pleases me.

Enjoy

June 1st

 

It’s raining today…it never rains on our birthdays😫

Lots of messages and calls and cards ….all very appreciated 

I met a friend for a breakfast at Heavenly Desserts ( that name needs to go) and had a wonderfully scented fusion Brunch of beans on sourdough, with eggs, lamb bacon, pickles and herbs 

I ve slept a few hours then opened cards and gift at the kitchen table before venturing out to see my twin sister with her gift…I’ll tell you later what it is…..

Thank you again for your kindnesses

Pizza For Breakfast

 

There are bonuses to be had for being single. You can take a dump with the bathroom door open. You can watch any shite you like on tv and you can dance when you know no one else can see or critique you. 

Today I had a sloppy pizza for breakfast and bloody lovely it was too. 

I listened to The Archers spoke to the German and sat in my boxer shorts until someone called across the kitchen wall. 

Several calls in fact

A cousin with a potted plant, The Randas with a tastefully bagged gift and Mrs Trellis with two low calorie/ high fibre snack bars wrapped in a blue serviette. 

People are very kind. 

Thank you to the blog readers who sent cards and to The Lancaster Lurker for your gift ❤️🤪

I’m going to bed shortly before a night shift and tomorrow a friend from Llandudno will meet me around 9 am for breakfast at someplace called Heavenly Desserts which sounds camp as Christmas. It also sounds like a diabetic’s nightmare but does a balanced brunch menu too which will be a treat.