A Tale Part 3

When I went to bed last night I noticed Spider 2 had taken Spider 1's place and appeared to be stuck, dangling in mid-air.

This morning there was no sign of Spider 2!

I can only conclude there is something luring innocent spiders to a fate of horrific proportions. I am not going to look behind or under the bedside cabinet. Anything that cunning will be too much for me to handle.

It's a wet grey day so here's a memory of a sunnier day.

Kamala

Spotted on Twitter

 

A Tale part 2

So I went upstairs armed with spider rescuing equipment only to find spider 1 has disappeared!

Spider 2 is still there. Is that a look of contentment I see on his face? Or am I reading too much into it? Is that even his face? Surely he couldn't have eaten the other one all in one go? 

* * * * *

Accompanying Husband for his appointment with the neurologist I am expecting fancy gadgets and high-tech machinery. Instead she uses her hand, a pen, and a little hammer to make her diagnosis.

I have to say I am rather glad it wasn't me doing the tests; I'd have been admitted immediately. How is anyone expected to lift one arm up and down, while the doctor does stuff with your other arm, at the same time asking you to do sums and recite the months of the year backwards.

The doctor was very thorough and is satisfied Husband's just a trembly old man. But to cover all bases she's sending him for a brain MRI. By the time all this is over the hospital will have photos of his entire inside.

Flowers on Caldey

A Tale of Two Spiders

About three days ago I noticed a spider in the corner of the room near my bed. He appeared to be hanging there. The next day he was still in the same position. 

Last night he was joined by another spider, on the wall this time. Spider 1 hasn't changed his position since I noticed him.

When I push the air around spider 1 (the lower one) I can move his legs like a puppeteer but he also moves his legs and body independently. So I'm pretty sure he's not dead. I am wondering if he is stuck in an invisible but lethal web and spider 2 has come to save him. Or eat him. But they look like the same sort of spiders so I should think they're friends.

I am off to Zac's to cook soon then it's Husband's hospital appointment. I shall take steps to rescue spider 1 when I get back. If he's still there. I am hoping between them they will find a way to get him out of his dilemma and I won't have to be involved. It's not that I'm frightened of spiders per se, I would just rather not risk them running up my arm.

Crack the craving

For those who asked, yes, I did resist the temptation to eat ice cream or cake. And it wasn't that hard. Boud commented that a holiday was the time to not stick to things but I'm still in my 30 Day Crack the Craving period. And I'm not convinced I have it beat yet!

I'm still thinking, in X days I'll be able to eat chocolate and cake and ice cream again, rather than, in X days my desire for sweet things will have decreased. If you see what I mean. 

And our scales is in kgs - there must be a way to change it but don't know how - so I've been able to tell myself that I'm not really that heavy. Yesterday I worked out what my weight is in stones and pounds and didn't like it. So another good reason to persevere.

Anyway in Zac's last night we read a magnificent passage from Isaiah. The chapter (58) begins with the Jews complaining that they worship and study God devotedly, and yet when they fast God still doesn't listen to them or answer their prayers. 

God responds by saying, well, you make a big show of all you do, you put on sackcloth and lie in ashes but then you get up and fight with each other. You work your employees too hard and all you care about is profits. Then he says this:

Do you think this is the kind of fast day I’m after:
    a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
    and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
    a fast day that I, God, would like?
This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
    to break the chains of injustice,
    get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
    free the oppressed,
    cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
    sharing your food with the hungry,
    inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
    putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
    being available to your own families.

Brilliant! And pretty revolutionary for 3,000 years ago.

For some inexplicable reason another verse was also quoted, to much raucous laughter. Probably one of the lesser-known verses of the bible, though Stu probably knows it.

"There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses."

(Ezekiel 23:20)

Could this be the basis for my next magazine article, as Sean suggested?!

And finally

Visiting a seaside resort with an abundance of ice cream shops when you're on a trial to cut out extra sugar is just masochism. Not to mention tea and cake shops.

Tenby too

It is quite cheap to park in Tenby but expensive to spend a penny.

Tenby harbour

And its adjacent North Beach.

And this is where the confusion started. If Tenby is on the south coast of Wales how can there be a north beach, especially to the left?

So you'd think the beach your boat leaves from would be the South Beach, but no, it's Castle Beach.

Anyway, strange coincidence. I heard a programme on the radio last week about Mary Anne Evans, and what do I spot in Tenby but a blue plaque commemorating the fact that Mary Anne Evans was staying there when she was inspired to write her first novel in 1857. 

I should add that she was living in sin - shock horror - with George Lewes, who encouraged her to write, and who sent her first manuscript to his own publisher, who realised he was dealing with a great talent, whom he came to know as George Eliot.

A little day out

The weather forecast last night said it would be sunny in Tenby today. The weather forecast this morning was less optimistic but definitely 0% chance of rain.

Just approaching Tenby and it didn't look hopeful!

Fortunately by the time we got there and on the boat I could put the wetness down to sea spray.

Tenby is about 53 miles from Swansea unless your sat nav takes you down the quiet back lanes only wide enough for one car at a time. But we got there in the end. 

Things I forget about Tenby:

it's built on a hill so there are lots of ups and downs;

it's a tourist resort so, in July, it's crowded.

But we were there early so getting a boat trip was easy. Caldey is a small island less than three miles off the coast of Tenby. I last went there when I was about eight. I think my my mum must have been in hospital at the time as I went with Auntie Joan and Uncle Horace. I guess their children, my cousins, must have been there too. All I remember was the precarious landing quay.

It hasn't changed a lot, still very simple boats carrying passengers to and fro, but all scaled up I imagine to cope with the bigger crowds.

In 1906 Caldey Island was bought by a community of Anglican Benedictines and they built the Abbey, the 'Italianate' building seen below. It is built around a central garden.

Then in 1913 the community converted to Catholicism, and in 1925 sold the island to the Cistercian order, who remain there to this day.

Interesting fact: in the twelfth century Henry I gave the island down to the low water mark to one Robert Fitzmartin. This is interesting because for most of coastal UK the area between low and high water marks belongs to the Crown. 

Immediately next to the Abbey is the Abbey Church and a short distance away is St. David's Church, which is Caldey Island's parish church. It would be a very pretty place to get married or buried!

It's mostly Norman but built on the foundations of a 6th century Celtic church, which in turn sits on an early Celtic burial ground.

Stained glass window made in the 1920s by Dom. Theodore Bailey, a Caldey Benedictine monk.

A little to the north, south - I don't know, I was totally disorientated - are the remains of the original priory and St Illtyd's Church with its unusual leaning spire and cobblestone floor.

The priory was home to the Benedictine monks who lived on Caldey in mediaeval times. It's in ruins now but the church is still consecrated ground.

There's also a chocolate factory on the island. I was expecting a Willy Wonka type tour but I was disappointed. It was basically a shop behind which you could see some chocolate being worked. 

And there are red squirrels and black swans.

But we didn't see a single squirrel or a monk in habit.

 

Purple haze

Well, yesterday turned into a busy day. After planting what I now know is a hazel tree in the morning I set to digging a hole for the fence.

I would like to say that I put this fence up by myself - but I didn't. I dug the holes, painted the fence, poured in the concrete, and held the spirit level, but relied on Husband for the rest. I am taking it as a lesson in how to put up a fence. Should I ever need to in future, I will know exactly what to do, and I won't need a spirit level.

That was followed by a walk with Elder Son and Toby over the tip.

The tip is very much in its purple phase.

* * * * *

It turns out to be a good job that our last-minute holiday was downgraded to day trips as Husband now has a neurology appointment on Wednesday.

Don't turn your back!

I was supposed to be in prison this morning but the chaplain forgot to give our names in to the gate in advance so we couldn't go in. Fortunately she let us know before we set off. Doesn't do much to make us feel valued though.

So, as I'm home unexpectedly, I'm doing a bit of gardening. I've only really got into gardening this year and I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH WORK IT IS! Turn your back for one minute and the garden takes over.

Husband had to cut down the orange blossom as it had died so I planned to use the space just next to it to plant that large tree I accidentally bought. When you are determined not to ask for help and succeed in digging up a root (not the big big one, which will have to stay there) it is very satisfying.

And here is the Corylus 'Red Majestic' in situ. I should have got a clue as to the expected size from the name I suppose.

You can't see it very well I'm afraid because of the ivy behind.

The greenhouse, which is Husband's preserve is flourishing. (Is preserve the right word? It doesn't sound right.) Tomatoes, chillies, figs and aubergines all coming along nicely.

And George's bench is almost hidden by daisies.

I found these scallions in the bottom of the pantry.

I have to admit to not knowing how onions reproduce but I think I'll find a little corner to plant them in and see what happens.

* * * * *

Meanwhile in Scotland some fools enthusiastic runners have come up with joggling. No, it's not what my breasts do when I try to run but a combination of juggling and jogging. As if one on its own isn't difficult enough.

You are the wave

As usual, dithering about what to do I have wasted an afternoon. 

I spent some time looking at last-minute holidays. There's a stretch of west Wales coastline I'd like to visit, also the Cotswolds. I managed to find a few apartments but couldn't raise the enthusiasm. Husband decided St. Malo is the place with the best weather this coming week but that's even more complicated because it involves ferries. My best thought at the moment is a bed and breakfast in Tenby for a couple of nights, from which we'll be able to visit the places I have in mind. 

I also have to remember that Husband's foot is still bad and his walking is limited. Not to mention the hundreds of appointments he will have over the next months. You see why it gets too complicated to bother?

Our hoped-for late summer trip to Italy is also fading into the realms of impossibility. And it's raining today! 

But the forecast is better for the rest of the week.

Two grandchildren came for lunch today so I invited them to eat at McGranny's. Here is the menu. 

Afterwards GrandSon2 said, "Do we have to give you a . . . what's it called?"

"A tip? Yes, please."

So they did: they suggested ways to make it better next time! That's the pencil writing on the menu, complete with logo design. Capital G in a heart.

And now Husband is cooking left-over burgers and sausages for our dinner. Oh, and I didn't show you the feta and spinach filo pie I made for us for dinner on Thursday.

And, no, I haven't done any writing yet. I have managed to lose a duvet cover though, which is a bit of a mystery.

Oh and Husband woke me last night because I was squeaking. I was glad he did as I was having a scary dream. I went back to sleep and had two more strange but not - well a bit - scary dreams. One involved a tsunami.

I seem to dream about tidal waves quite a lot. Which I suggest means I am living in fear of being overwhelmed. Or possibly is simply a result of living near the sea.

From Dream Bible:

To dream of a tidal wave represents problematic life situations or uncertainty that threatens to overwhelm you emotionally.

Like I said.

However Pandas Unite said:

Run towards the tidal wave next time, literally confront it. Dive in.

Ooh, I don't think so.

And Wellbeing says:

You are the wave.

Be strong!

After writing about not giving up on my dream it was possibly significant that the verse our group was given to look at that evening in bible study was from the second book of Chronicles, and it said:

 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.

Now knowing God that probably means in heaven - or he's talking about a completely different sort of work - but I'm taking it as a win.

In school Wednesday morning to see the summer show, Madagasgar. Neither of the grandchildren still in the school had parts - they went to this year's leavers - but were in the chorus so I went along to watch. It was good fun. Some children are so confident!

I am pleased to note, though, that GrandSon3 is still happy to wave to me or even hug me in front of school friends. I don't imagine that will last much longer.

* * * * *

We've had lovely weather for the last two days. Everyone came around yesterday after school to go in the pool and eat with us. Sadly tomorrow's forecast is for rain and more rain. Next week is a bit brighter though. I need to get in the sea again soon. The pool is all well and good but there's nothing quite like the sea. As long as there are no jellyfish like this.

You can see why it's called a compass jellyfish, and it's a stinger.