Pirates and something else beginning with p

All the Halloween and Fall Autumn items in The Range were at half price so I bought some crafts GrandDaughter2 and I could do when she visited. Which she did today.

A very complicated pirate ghost ship. This involved painting bits, pressing them out, jamming them together, and tying knots in places too small for my fingers. Luckily GrandDaughter2 is good at tying knots.

What else? At bible study last night the word 'penis' was used twice. I think that's a first, at least using an anatomically correct word. Same man, two different reasons: drawn on his van, and sticking a tube up his. Our theme, incidentally, was 'Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness', so still trying to work out the relevance. 

Ice cream or fungus?

Theo is a big boy now, and having had his injections he's allowed out on walks. 

But I don't think he'll be having this for Christmas. It's for girl dogs after all!

Also available in smaller sizes and different colours for cats.

Ice cream cornet badge or fungus?

In which I have a bone to pick with Ralph McTell

Bev, my cleaner, came back today after her hip replacement. I was very pleased to see her but am also just as uncomfortable when she's here. Someone else cleaning my mess? It's unthinkable! But not totally.

So I did some weeding while she was here, and, for some reason, began singing Streets of London to myself. "So how can you tell me you're lonely, and say for you that the sun don't shine, let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London, I'll show you something to make you change your mind."

And I thought, "Just a minute."

There's always going to be someone worse off than me/you/girl in the song. That doesn't invalidate my/your/her feelings. Yes, of course the grief of a person who's lost a child is worse than that of a person who's lost an animal, but at the time, in the grief, it doesn't matter. Who am I to say that your pain is trivial anyway?

So, if I ever see Ralph McTell I shall tell him. (Obviously I wouldn't; I'd be too star struck.)

* * * * *

Back to the -vert question. A couple of people expressed surprise that I would be an introvert, and I think that often happens. I wondered if ambivert would be more me, an ambivert being roughly equally extra and intro. So I took a test (!) and it concludes I am not just introverted but strongly introverted!

It doesn't make any difference to my life, it's just fun, but also interesting to see other people's opinions of me. I think it's because you read what I write not see me in action. I am very open and honest in my writing while mostly quiet in real life. Then again, though I get very nervous, I do enjoy the opportunity to speak to groups to share about either my writing or my Christian thoughts. Like most of us, a bit of mix.

* * * * *

There were some interesting mushrooms growing in one of my tubs.

I think they are two different ones. I downloaded a fungi identifier app, which suggests that the first one may be scurfy twiglet, but judging by the result of the second one, it's a rubbish app.

Intro, extra, omni or ambi?

Blods pointed out that it is Claudia Winkleman on Traitors not Davina McCall. I have looked them both up and now I'm totally confused. Are they the same person?

No, obviously not! How did I get that so wrong?

Anyway, on to today. 

* * * * *

In my last post I used the fact that I'd done three visits i.e. three more than normal, last week as a reason for my apathy yesterday, the visits having taken it out of me. But I wonder if that's true or whether I'm just using statements I've seen on social media about typical introverts. 

I would say I'm an introvert but so often these charts - you know the sort of thing, if you ticked this, this and this then you're an introvert - can be manipulated to tell you anything. Or maybe we can be manipulated to believe anything. And use it as an excuse to for behaviour.

Hm, let's have a quick google. According to Psychology Today introverts have a number of typical traits.

Don't like small talk, prefer deep meaningful conversation. I don't like small talk but tend to drift off in my head, and get a glazed look in my eyes, rather than engage in dmc.

Need time alone after socialising. See above.

Selectively social. I am so selective I would limit myself to my family if I could.

Strong on inner reflection. I do have a very active inner voice.

Prefers not to make phone calls. Certainly true.

Observant. I notice surroundings probably more than I notice people.

Creative. Think I can safely say yes to that.

It also says, introverts think deeply and plan and devise solutions. Definitely not me! And that introverts tend to be a bit mysterious, private. Again not me. I write all about my life.  

Okay, so overall I might be an introvert though I might just be shy - shyness involves fear of negative evaluation, according to Psychology Today.

Oh, and it seems there are ambiverts and omniverts as well. I'm not even going to look.

A funny sort of day

I have impeccable timing. Every time I've gone out over the last three days it has started to rain. A bit of a bind when I dislike coats. Driving to Mumbles in the rain I wondered about buying an umbrella in a charity shop. But I hate umbrellas even more.

A funny sort of day today. A sitting-at-the-computer-thinking-I-should-be-doing-something-else but not having the enthusiasm to get up and do it. The weather isn't helping. A cold and, as I said, intermittently wet day. And my bowel screening test arrived in the post.

Actually it could be the three lots of visits I made last week. Took everything out of me. All I really want to do is curl up and read or sleep but that seems an extravagance so instead I waste time sitting at the computer. 

Not entirely wasted. Have ordered some Christmas presents. I saw a couple of things on a website and 'put them in my basket', then I only needed to spend one penny more to get free delivery. Do you think I could find anything else I wanted?

I was hoping to do more Christmas shopping locally but we just don't have the shops any longer. (I know: because of people like me doing online shopping.)

Oh this is a grumbly post!

On the plus side, I am looking forward to my 'therapy' course. I think it may help me on my pilgrimage. It's been a bit stalled of late but I am finding it easier to battle my negative thoughts, and words are still processing in my head.

Later

Have just watched The Thursday Murder Club. Very much enjoyed.

Fringes and friends

I forgot to mention that when I got home and complained to Husband about the forecast being wrong he said, "You should have checked the radar images. I could have told you there were great swathes of rain coming in."

It's a good job I love him.

Anyway, this morning when drying my hair I realised I was starting to look like Davina in Traitors so out came the scissors and chop chop went my fringe.

Every time I see her my scissor fingers twitch. I know she does it deliberately for the show but, oh. Then I remembered a name from the past, Cathy McGowan. She had a similar style.

Isn't it weird? I had no problem digging her name out of my archive but ask me the name of the woman I was introduced to ten minutes ago and no chance.

It's been/being a relaxing few days. Once Tuesday was done I had a clear diary. That in itself is a rarity. Managed to fill it though including visits to see people.

If I'm honest I don't like visiting people, chatting, and being sociable. I inevitably enjoy the visits once I've done them although I have to battle with my brain that says, "You're wasting valuable time." I know I'm not, that communicating and being interested  are an excellent use of time. But try telling my brain that.

I'm sure a psychiatrist would have a field day with me. Speaking of which . . .

A new course is being run in church. It's based on a book called Altogether You, its byline being, Experiencing personal and spiritual transformation with Internal Family Systems therapy. One of the women organising the course invited me on it. She said, "We're running this therapy course and thought of you."

Yes. 

Internal Family Systems was founded by Dr Richard Schwartz on the premise that we are each made up of lots of parts that can be at war with each other. I can relate to that. I want to lose weight but I also want to eat chocolate. So the course starts next Tuesday morning and runs for 4 sessions. It does mean I'll have to miss exercise class (shame) but there's a different one on Wednesdays that I might try. I think it's more pilates than circuits so might be a bit gentler, though I'm sure it'll make my muscles ache.

* * * * *

I told Debra we don't have candy corn here but we do have this happy little fellow!

He's Mistar Urdd, the Urdd being the Welsh youth organisation, and as AI told me, it's in the colours of the Welsh flag, a detail that hadn't registered with me.

Drat you, BBC Weather!

If going somewhere Husband will check the BBC weather forecast; I look out of the window. Today, unusually, I did both. The sky was clear and the forecast said no rain before 11.

I drove to Daughter's for 9 and no sooner had we started walking than it began to rain. And didn't stop.

I got home and the only thing not soaked was my knickers.