Widows

I went to see the much lauded crime film Widows tonight, and although it wasn't quite what I expected, it proved to be a stylish thriller which relied heavily on the performance and presence of the actors involved rather than just plain action.
The main plot revolves around Veronica ( Viola Davis) the wife of an armed robber who had been killed alongside his henchmen after completing their final robbery. Caught up between the corruption within a black versus while Mayoral contest she conscripts two other of the gang's widows ( Michelle Rodriguez and Elizabeth Debicki ) and later a self assured babysitter single mom (Cynthia Ervio) to complete her husband's final planned heist .
The women all have different agendas in the operation and Director Steve McQueen tells their stories economically but incredibly effectively, with Davis' central performance being a standout. Rodriguez gives the quartet some dignity while Debicki 's second generation Polish moll is incredibly moving as she realises that she is worth more than just being a high class hooker, a job arranged for her by her mother. Coming late into the story is Ervio who says little but who provides a wonderfully physical performance as Belle, she's one to watch
There is some graphic violence and an incredibly evil turn by Danial Kaluuya as a grinning henchman.....oh and Colin Farrell and Robert Durvall turn up too ( a bit irritatingly for me) as father and son mayors....
8/10

Gelert

I was reminded of the Welsh folktale about Gelert the loyal hound this morning.
His story is written on a stone monument in Bedgelert North Wales and goes thus:-

""In the 13th century Llewelyn, prince of North Wales, had a palace at Beddgelert. One day he went hunting without Gelert, ‘The Faithful Hound’, who was unaccountably absent.

On Llewelyn's return the truant, stained and smeared with blood, joyfully sprang to meet his master. The prince alarmed hastened to find his son, and saw the infant's cot empty, the bedclothes and floor covered with blood.

The frantic father plunged his sword into the hound's side, thinking it had killed his heir. The dog's dying yell was answered by a child's cry.

Llewelyn searched and discovered his boy unharmed, but nearby lay the body of a mighty wolf which Gelert had slain. The prince filled with remorse is said never to have smiled again. He buried Gelert here".

The living room looked like a charnel house. Winnie, asleep in the armchair had blood all around her mouth, there was blood on the carpet and couch and Mary's cone of shame was rancid with it
No Winnie had not bitten off Mary's ear, she had only tried to lick off the blood after the stitches gave way........
Another trip to the vets, another cone of shame and another couple of stitches .

No Go Aisle

I try not to walk down one aisle in our local Tesco
It depresses me too much.
It's the aisle where the discounted food is piled up and it is the place that at times there seems to be a genuine scrum for food at knock down prices.
Sometimes there seems to be a genuine tension in their air as people jostle and push past each other, and I am fairly certain that it is a more recent phenomenon given the fact people seem poorer today then they did.
Money is a worry to us all.
I still haven't been paid as yet and my first shift was September 28th.
William's Meds alone are 59£ a month and Bluebell has chugged down the petrol like a cheap whore in a bar since Mary had her surgery. Surgery that has to be paid for by now rising insurance premiums
It's a worry all of us have, I guess juggling balls and paying bills.
But most of us are lucky....I thought this today when I was in Tesco buying cheap cocktail sausages ( £3 for 70!!!!!-btw the cocktail sausage is the ideal shape in which to hide painkillers antibiotics and allergy meds)
I was in the aisle of discount madness when one of the staff brought her trolley full of cheaper goods to the fridge shelf . Before she had even started to arrange the food two women started to jostle each other to the best bits, and that jostle turned to raised voices and even more pushing.
How worried, or desperate or unhappy or just skint do you have to be to start a fight over a packet of cheap beef?

Ps. You may note that my Trump post of the other day has been removed. As it can so often be, it was hijacked by different agendas and by an unwanted visitor and the ill feeling generated isn't something I need this week. 

Police Stop

I was stopped by the police on the way home from Samaritans an hour or so ago
It was just past midnight and I took the roundabout at Rhuddlan a little too fast in Bluebell 
The policeman was polite and workmanlike and of course I passed the breathalyser
It's the second time I've been tested driving home from the centre
I told him I had been on duty at Samaritans  and we chatted briefly about the lack of take up of support given to the police after rather difficult  cases.
I suggested that Rhyl Sams could support the local police department better than the existing protocol and he said it was probably a good idea....but he stopped short by adding " What do you think of Rick being kidnapped by Jadis?" 
I frowned feeling a bit lost but he pointed to my chest
I was wearing my BEST. Walking Dead T Shirt.!!!
Well it was in fact my second best Walking Dead T Shirt

Halo

The Trump post as expected is dividing the troops.
So, I'm changing the subject, have lit the wood burner and put Mary on my knee.
She's a bit listless and needy
And is now asleep

Post Op Care

With a massive bloody hole in her ear and very groggy indeed mary arrived home feeling very sorry for herself. William and George gave her a perfunctory once over like most men do over a sick wife leaving Winnie to do the concerned-nurse-at-the-bedside thing. The old girl has a remarkably big heart for the underdog and is presently lying next to a fretting pup.
A few of Libby's cocktail sausages were accepted politely and I turned the lights down around the cottage as The Archers started so everyone could start to be quiet and rested.
Thanks to everyone for their best wishes, and to Marilyn for her doggie gift.

Silent Soldier

Cameron took a cracking photo of the war memorial last night

Auld Lang Syne

I managed to get to choir tonight.
I've missed a few practices.
We sang a lovely a Capella version of Auld Lang Syne and nailed it completely.
It's one of our  songs for the Christmas performance in The Eagle and Child pub.
It was quite lovely

At the end of choir practice we have a tradition to sing an alternate version of  Happy Birthday for any members who are celebrating that week and tonight Albert, our oldest chorister was 90. His daughter brought in a candle festooned cake as we turned off the lights and sang and I caught myself shedding a tear at Albert's obvious joy at all of the attention.
Jamie the choirmaster, I think noticed that I was moved and made a bee line for me as everyone said their goodbyes. He's just got married to his husband a few months ago and I think likes another gay bloke in the choir......however because of that I couldn't quite tell him that I wasn't quite ok, and disappeared as the reminents of the cake were handed out.

I did a talk to occupational health staff on Samaritans today which went well, I had forgotten how easy I find public speaking.....must be the showgirl in me......I've been " booked" for a few similar gigs from now on.......


Mary's op tomorrow ...

Caught in Sexy Time

One of my commentators reminded me of something yesterday.
It was that somewhat  strange moment that you catch someone unexpected having sex.

Some years ago now a psychotherapy colleague and I went to visit a spinal patient in his home in Nottinghamshire. The patient had experienced many problems post injury which included the loss of his job, home and marriage yet after a somewhat robust struggle had been set up in his own bungalow with a care package in place which included a daily team of carers and all of the latest gadgets available .
The patient had been a fairly high up clergyman before his accident and although he was sweet he could be incredibly pious at times.
Now one of the problems this guy had was a repetitive and often dangerous rise in his blood pressure. This needed Judicious use of a low release medication which was administered as a daily GTN patch to his inner thigh.
Anyhow, the physio and I drove down from Sheffield for a visit and after we rang his doorbell we were surprised there was no answer.
We waited and waited at the front door for an absolute age, and eventually a busty breathless twenty something carer came to the door with her hair all over the place
" Sorry I didn't hear the doorbell I was just giving {name} a wash " she gushed, showing us both into the living room and she missed the slightly amused look on both of our faces before she raced to get the patient from out of the bedroom.
She had no clue that there was a GTN patch stuck to the side of her face.......

Just a quick thank you to Blog reader Libby who turned up this morning for coffee and cake.
It was lovely to see you, and thank you for the gifts....too kind!
Hey ho

A Little Squirt

You get a bit sweaty on night shifts.... and in a fit of tiredness I'd forgotten my clinique ." HAPPY" !!!!...and so perspiring like Blanche duBois I looked around the office and staff loo to see if I could find an suitable nice smelling squirty.
In the office I located a somewhat exotic sounding lady spray called "orchid myst" and gave myself and my uniform a good seeing to.
It didnt smell too perfumed I thought moments later only to realise that orchid myst was exactly that..an effing
mist for effing orchids!!!!
Pure nutrient solution, pest repellent, plant tonic and leaf conditioner ......for orchids !!!!!

Alun & Hattie

Two sets of thank you's today!...one from villager Alun who had spearheaded the restoration of the village war memorial ( see his Facebook entry below)
and the other to Hattie who lives in one of the cottages on London Road

"Alun Med Hughes

Occasionally, as we journey through life, we are sometimes bestowed with act's of great kindness. I have just received a gift from a lady who lives in Canada, and her name is Marjorie. Apparently my mate John Grayhad told her all about the work restoring our village war memorial. In appreciation of this she sent me a gift of a little box which , she's beautifully engraved with a poppy. The box also contained a collection of Canadian poppies. However, I feel this is a gift to all who worked on this project. I feel humbled by such kindness. A nice little story to warm our hearts." 

Hattie left me a bunch of flowers and a card yesterday. Both were perched on the kitchen wall

The card read ".........." I also want you to have these flowers to know that I have been thinking of you.....I hope they brighten up that darker side of your cottage" 

Marjorie's and Hattie's gestures have made two middle aged blokes very happy

Thanks to both! 

Now off to bed, I'm Effin knackered

South Facing

The living room and main bedroom of the cottage faces South.
So from morning to mid afternoon or so they stand robustly in full sun.
The front of the cottage feels warm...properly warm at these times as the thick stone walls and 17th century floorboards absorb the sun's energy and the animals celebrate this fact by stretching themselves in the square swimming pools of light in order to daydream.
The back of the cottage often feels cold during these winter days, and even when I leave every door open,the sun fails to warm the air.
I'm working tonight and tomorrow night and have an appointment meeting early this afternoon so, the dogs have already been walked and won't stir until I get home.
I've just closed the office door after sitting at the desk for a moment.
I painted the walls yellow a year or so ago but today the colour fails to lift the temperature
I can smell, paper and books, and files
....... and my husband 

Village News

The village Hall's Grand opening 110 years ago 

Trendy Carol ( in a sporty blue and white number) called over the angry pumpkin on the kitchen wall to ask if she could put one of her old wardrobes on my bonfire.
I told her she could and minutes later there came a small feather light tap on the lane window which got the dogs barking all over again
The dogs have been on heightened alert mode since the Randa girls with a huge entourage of various ghosts and ghoulies appeared down the path last night with a beetle juice looking Jason in tow.
I love the way the affable despot always throws himself into his kid's activities, he has more gusto than any am-dram thespian and has provided those girls with thousands of family memories of an idyllic ever-so-sweet childhood.
Mrs Trellis was at the wall wearing her winter bobble hat.
She wanted to discuss a fellow villager who she was worried about.
Luckily I was able to reassure her that all was ok
She told me about the vicar retiring at the end of the month and said she didn't know who was eventually taking over the village parish.
The bishop will attend this week's Sunday service she informed me
I made a mental note of leaving a retirement card in the vestry .
I asked her if she was going to any of the new groups in the village. Apparently the WI and the art group are doing very well indeed and I told her so. The new youth club has over 40 members after just two weeks of opening too which is a great achievement
Sandra Cameron ( the village Hall's caretaker) is organising a massive Christmas Fayre in December which will apparently take over Chapel street ...I've been told a local cart horse will be made up as a reindeer for the day........
Oh and
Cameron the teenage boffin is working in the village pub...and now has a beard!

Trick Or Treat

If I wasn't so tired I'd laugh
Yesterday's post sort of proved a point
I just haven't got the energy to answer each comment on Going Gently..
If there is a question or a comment that needs or deserves an answer, I will endeavour to answer it.
If I banter with friends so be it
All I can really promise is that each comment will be read and thought about
If that upsets anyone so be it too.....
You can't keep everyone happy.
Everyone's a critic 

I worked last night and will be working Friday and Saturday nights too. So after a few hours in bed, and a dog walk it's almost dark again and the day seems lost.
I've made  Shepherds' pie, stocked up on sweets just in case the Randa girls call around and will settle down with a catch up edition of Bake Off.
I know who won because one of my patient's referred to that "irritating, funny little man winning the baking" before she went to bed.

An Apology

I'm working tonight, infact I'm working three nights this week, this is why I was so miffed with the vet cancellation....I'd picked Monday as an ideal day in which to sort things out.
Earlier I received an email from a follower of Going Gently 
Politely and with some feeling they informed me that they would no longer be following my blog and their reasons of unaknowledgement is understandable.

"they have made a difference by interacting in your day and you in theirs and isn’t that what a friendship is all about wether it is in person or virtual – being ignored is demoralising particularly when it matters."

I am aware that since Easter I have not been so robust in my answering of blog comments, and for this Basic lack of politeness I am sorry. I have tried to answer some comments but perhaps even this ad hoc nature of interaction could be seen as "favouring the few" so to speak, and so in the future I will try and be a little more proactive.

Tom Stephenson has told me off for similar offences before and I now hold my hands up for being remiss.
In my defence , all I can say that I have been remiss in many things over the past few months.
I haven't even read the correspondence I received from my solicitors two weeks ago.

Hey ho

Dark skies

The  dark nights of winter are here and my pumpkin faces down the lane, warding off bad karma and the ill will of strangers .

Les Choristes

Sometimes things conspire to make customer service a thing of rarity

Mary's operation was cancelled this afternoon and the attention I received by the practice receptionist after I had driven 17 miles to collect her was so atrocious I almost lost my temper in a packed waiting room.

I am glad I didn't, but  after a calming journey through the Welsh countryside on the way home I was still icy cold with the practice manager when I phoned up to " discuss the cock up"

This piece of music by Bruno Coulais from the French film Les Choristes helped my blood pressure return to normal.........it's quite lovely

My Little Girl

She's last on the surgical list today as her ear op is classed as a " dirty op" but I have to drop her off at 9am.....she doesn't do well without me
I've gone all a bit nervous about it all, which I recognise says more about my year than it does about her surgery, but I'm terrified at losing her.
All of my animals hold a special place in my heart but only Mary goes absolutely everywhere with me...I'm never a single with her on my arm
It's a stressful day today

Ps haven't I got small ears?

"DON'T !!!!!"

As it turned out " The Horne Section" proved to be a very amusing night. Little Alex Horne is one of my guilty man crushes so it was always going to be an entertaining evening, but having said this, I did have to negiotiate one rather sticky moment right at the start of the performance .

Chester Theatre Filling up

As many comics do, Horne organised an audience participation exercise in order to loosen everyone up. Now I have always hated this sort of activity. "Hysterical moments" with absolute strangers, I can do without, I really can , and so when Little Alex Horne suggested an audience wide game of twister, my blood ran just a bit cold.

" Touch the head of the person sitting to your right" Alex ordered and plonk, the slightly drunk man next to me landed a sweaty palm on my crown
" Now reach forward and whisper something rude to the person in front of you"
Thankfully the hand disappeared but I did hear a young woman behind me say " Cock and Balls" to the back of my head.
"Now place your right leg in between the knees of the person on your right" Alex ordered..
Before anything moved, I hissed out a loud " DON'T!" at the drunk guy on my left  who thankfully complied with my request with an somewhat shocked look on his face.
Thank goodness the rest of the evening concentrated more on the performances than with the audience.
I even hate that moment in church when the vicar asks you to greet the people around you
It's a pet peeve that has never left me...
And it never will

Today is coldish but bright and Mary and I went to Colwyn Bay beach to have Brunch at the outside cafe on the Prom. Homemade chicken and sweet corn soup and fat bastered thick buttered toast.
I counted 15 dogs all sat with their owners at the cafe....it was a treat for both of us.....tomorrow Mary goes in for her ear operation 🙁

Alex Horne of the

Horne Section 

My guilty man crush

Who is your guilty crush????? 

Bra Straps

I started to write Going Gently twelve years ago
It was as I told in its " introduction" , a chronicle of how a city boy adapted to village life and this diary morphed over the years into a film review, animal update and dogsbody diary of sorts.
Recently it has ambled back into diary mode, where it has provided me with a safe haven, where some dark and sad thoughts are laid to rest.
Those thoughts, of course , have been sanitised too
The written word is not always the best places for soul searching , especially if it is in the public domain.

After a quiet but indulgent night with a bar of galaxy and a zombie movie, it's time for a bit of bra strap pulling. I took my Sally Field autobiography to the book swap his morning and swapped it for Paul O Grady 's .
There were a few sore heads drinking coffee at the hall this morning after the wine tasting evening  last night. I've promised to go to the next one .
I like the way the book swap coffee mornings have evolved into something more sociable.
Small groups of villagers were chatting, some standing some sitting and in one corner a group of kids were playing with a game or sorts.
Newspapers are provided for those who just want a drink and a read and Bethan's collection of books and dvds available for swapping would rival anything seen in WHSmiths .
I said hello to a few faces and chatted to Terry, Ann, Ian and Matriach Irene, all wanted to know how Winnie was doing.
I'll take her along next time.

I think I've told you before, that weekends are the hardest days to cope with when you are suddenly single. They are synonymous with couple activity whether it be banal, routine or social and often now on a Saturday especially I feel as though I am revving a car down a one way street with no where to go.
It's a strange feeling.
So today I've done something about it . I've been to the book swap, am just about to pile the dogs into Bluebell for a walk and tonight I am going to the Chester Storyhouse on my own to see The Horne Section, a musical comedy group headed by Alex Horne who co hosts one of my favourite tv shows Taskmaster. 
I don't want to be single, I don't want to do things on my own.
But I recognise that sitting in PJs, even if it is in front of a lovely log burning stove on a cold night , is not always the best course of action.
I also recognise too that I am responsible for not always initiating similar, more stimulating nights out before my marriage split, but it's easy to be wise after the event, especially when reminded by the pangs of loneliness.......
So...it's tits up and tits out!
Tighten bra straps!
And
Chocks away!

Not everything goes right in life

Hey ho