How is it possible to lose a pillowcase?
Come to that, how is it possible to lose a duvet cover, as I did last year? And as I was searching for the pillowcase I managed to break the drawer under the bed.Finding life hard?
Now just the thoughts of me and not my dog until I can persuade Husband we should get another.
Saturday, April 05, 2025
How?
Thursday, April 03, 2025
Buy me an island
On the radio the other day I was listening to a program about islands. Did you know there are websites from which you can buy islands?
Of course I had to have a look. Most cost several millions but some are more affordable. Like Tancook island, Nova Scotia, at $68,000. But the question I had to ask Husband was: who owns islands to begin with?
He began with the Romans, or rather when the Romans left this country and their place was taken by the Angles and Saxon invaders. These war lords were the ones who began parcelling up bits of land to give to their supporters.
"And the king owns all the beaches."
"Don't get me started on that."
Central government recently voted against devolving control of, and revenue from, crown property to the Welsh government. Even though it is already similarly devolved in Scotland.
* * * * *
I am no good at dressing myself.
It's been sunny for the last few days and I've worn a thin vest and thin jumper - and though it's been warm in the sun it's been cold in the wind. Fed up of getting chilled today I wore a thick vest and thick jumper and I've been roasting.
The garden is beginning to look very pretty with all the forget-me-nots coming out.
Admirable restraint
Because the building is closed for the refurbishment bible study met on the promenade this week. It was cold and, by the time we'd finished, dark, but it was my first time back since before Husband's hospitalisation so I was glad to be there. Until I got too cold and went home.
Stu took a photo of me trying to work out - without my glasses - if there were a nighttime setting for photos on my phone. There was but it didn't seem any better. So it might have been something completely different.* * * * *
Tuesday, April 01, 2025
Catching up and cold
Sorry, I have been remiss about visiting. Will try to catch up soon.
Sunday
Clocks went forward for Mothering Sunday. I brought us breakfast in bed: croissant for Husband and cinnamon bun for me. Church in the morning where every female was given a bunch of daffs. Nice amble around our neighbourhood - the flat bit anyway - with Husband before visits, cards, and presents from the children.
Monday
Monday, Monday, what did I do? Oh yes, walked with Daughter and dogs in the morning.
And across Mumbles Hill with Husband in the afternoon. He's up to thirty minutes walks now.
I'd just started the final bit at the back when Husband pointed out the time. He'd suggested a walk along the prom in Mumbles followed by a visit to Verdi's. "No, no, n-okay," I said.
Saturday, March 29, 2025
That sort of day/mood
I'm in a funny sort of mood today.
Driving to Mumbles an appeal came on the radio for guide dogs but it began with, " We all remember the dogs we've had," and I had to blink away tears in my eyes.
Then after shopping I drove up to the cemetery and stood before my mother's grave. Nothing. I felt nothing. Admittedly that's not unusual.
Ah well, back to today.
If you do the NYT connections puzzle look away now.
I couldn't do it today, only managing the first - easiest - connections. Usually when I fail and look at the results I can see where they've come from; one of today's I wouldn't have guessed in a million years. (Well, perhaps I would have done but it would have been for the wrong reason.)
The words that were linked were: canal, plan, man, Panama. Do they ring any bells with you? I'll put a couple of photos here so you can have a little think before seeing the answer.
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My tulips are starting to flower! |
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This wallflower has been flowering all through the winter. |
The correct answer, the thing that links those four words, is that they are all nouns in a famous palindrome. Even after I'd read the answer I didn't understand it. I even questioned my understanding of the word palindrome. So I had to google it. You have to include the indefinite article. A man, a plan, a canal, Panama.
For goodness sake.
Friday, March 28, 2025
End of an era
"You know where I'll be, don't you?" he said.
"Yes, yes. I've been there with you before."
I parked the car and headed in. I went upstairs to the first floor and walked the length of it, ending up in the canteen. "I'm sure it's here somewhere," I muttered, disbelieving the sign that didn't mention the department.
In the end I had to walk right back to the hospital entrance and to the information desk. I was right: it was on the first floor, but at the other end. Husband had mentioned that he'd be in waiting area 3 but that hadn't registered with me so I was looking for a sign for 'the department that does ears.'
* * * * *
Not so much the end of an era as the end of a period that began in an extraordinary time. Zac's food service started in August 2020 as part of a city initiative to keep the vulnerable fed during lockdown. Initially the council provided funding and several locked-down kitchens made us food, but as things got back to normal that all stopped.
Over the last four years and seven months Zac's has provided about 38,000 meal packs at a cost to us of roughly £100,000. (It cost more but council funding helped.) Today was our last lunchtime service. Next week the builders will be in and when we re-open it will be a new regime: cooked breakfast on Thursday and Friday, and coffee bar on Thursday evening.
As a thank you all our volunteers - including me! - received a special mug - and a brownie made by me. Incidentally all the work of the food service over the last four years or so has been done by a mere twenty-two volunteers, and a couple of paid staff.
To give you an idea of the work that needs to be done here is the corridor.And the ladies' toilet.Thursday, March 27, 2025
Celebrations
It's my baby's 40th birthday today!
Yes, making me feel old.
To celebrate, I went for lunch with Daughter and Daughter-in-law. (Actually it was a belated celebration for Daughter as everything had been in chaos around the time of her birthday in February.) We'd planned to go to Boo's but they were full! So we had to try a new place, Fika.
I had katsu chicken. Everything, we discovered, was served on bagels. If I'd realised that I wouldn't have ordered a side of chips as well. And what a side it was. A whole plate full of chips!
Daughter's beetroot humous and veg bagel.My katsu chicken bagel. Daughter-in-law had avocado and poached egg on bagel and I'll let you imagine what that looked like.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
In an ideal world
In my ideal world there would be professional jigsaw doers. I would do that part-time; the rest of the time I would be a driftwood collector.
* * * * *
I looked. "It was at 2.45."
Fortunately, then Husband realised today wasn't the 28th so we hadn't missed his appointment at all. On the positive side, at least we hadn't driven to the hospital on the other side of town before realising. And I've prepared dinner already so can chill and invite you for a walk.
Take a walk
Toby and I would like to invite you to join us on our walk this morning.
We start in Clyne Gardens.
Then we leave the gardens and cross the road to get to the beach.