An historic day

So my phone told me Wales 14:10 All Blacks - and it was the time of kick-off.

I went in to watch, eight minutes after it had started, and the score was Wales 14:0 All Blacks. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief.

With twenty minutes to go Wales still led, 35:28, and the All Blacks were putting up a fight. It was total exhausting defence from Wales for the rest of the game and they won!

Final score 35:28, the first time Wales has beaten the All Blacks since 1953! That's 73 years! It is momentous.

Peepo!

I've had to move the rocking chair in front of the bookshelf to stop Syd stealing - and eating - photo albums. The problem is that it's not big enough to form a protective barrier for the filing tray I keep of spare paper and used but re-usable padded envelopes.

So this morning I decided to tidy my filing trays and be ruthless: if I've not needed something for the last five years I'm not going to need it now. (Actually Sod's Law says I will.) I find I have more notebooks than - I don't know. Who's someone who would need a lot of notebooks? A reporter maybe? And as I use roughly one padded envelope a year my stock will outlast me. And as for used paper I've cut up as scraps for notes . . .

One of the half-used notebooks dates back 56 years: my A-level physics notes.

I used to understand that!

* * * * *

Wales play the All Blacks this afternoon. My phone just showed me Wales 14:10 All Blacks. I got very excited . . . until I realised that was the time of kick-off. I am expecting us to be thrashed. But I have a family birthday tea party afterwards to help me recover.

Meanwhile while out this morning we played peepo.

One or two pandas

Finishing off the week dealing with Zac's insurance again - as I have been most of the week! Down to the paying part now, hoping I/they have finally got everything right. I am now an authorised person and have a magic little paying thing, which, of course, entails lots of passwords, PINs, and tests. Find it hard to believe that anyone can ever defraud anyone with all the checks in place.

Just went to see what Syd was eating and whether I should take it off him. It was a drawing of us done by a street artist in Vietnam. I let him carry on eating.

Called into church this afternoon to print some posters (from my phone - I learned how to do that this week and I am very impressed with myself) and ended up playing bingo with a dementia group. Didn't win.

Reminded that in a conversation about a discussion Jordan said, "We expected you to say it. You're usually the one who says what everyone else is thinking." He's only known me a year and yet he knows me so well.

Now, birthday dinner last night. We decided to go to a recommended Chinese restaurant, Gigi Gao's. We, foolishly we realise in retrospect, opted for the set menu and it was quite disappointing. I mean, it was fine but nothing special. The place however . . .

was different!

Then another lovely walk this morning in Parc le Breos, this time with Elder Son and Theo. It was a frosty morning.

Another year over

The play, Owain and Henry, was brilliant. Michael Sheen and cast all excellent, even the man who stood in at the last minute as Henry, and had to perform from script. Lots of humour as well as anger and tragedy. I think the first half was better than the second, which was less rousing than I had hoped. I thought it would end with a "Wales for the Welsh" type speech but instead Owain spoke about mercy being the only way to real peace. Probably more politically correct but, then again, I don't think they worried about political correctness in the 13th century.

Tuesday, busy, busy. Zoom meeting in the morning with the trustees, writing group in the afternoon, then the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality course in the evening. Pretty sure I fitted in a walkie as well.

The course had a bit to say about expectations. "Expectations are only valid if they are mutually agreed upon."

I realised I have expectations of Husband. After being married this long I think that's normal but, maybe, I have been taking him for granted, and need to be more mindful of what he might or might not want to do. To consult him in fact!

Wednesday, coffee morning/bible study was very good including discussion about what real friendship is. Walked Syd in the afternoon. Oh, yes, I'm back in my jeans. Here I am showing off my new ankle wellies.

Once again I have fallen for the blurb. All those people saying they're ideal for dog-walking obviously didn't walk their dogs in muddy areas.

I knew I should have opted for high wellies. At least they're comfortable though.

And today: it's my birthday!

So Husband got up first - as he always used to before we had Syd - and brought me breakfast in bed. Then we went to Crawley woods for a walk on this beautiful day.

Not bad for 74!

Like a swan paddling

I was leading the service in church yesterday. Several people said to me afterwards, "I could listen to you for ages. You have such a lovely speaking voice," and "I could have kept on listening for hours." Today Jordan, our pastor, messaged me to say, ". . .you are so natural and bring such a calm atmosphere." 

I think I just send them to sleep.

* * * * *

I think today will be my last for wearing shorts. It's getting a bit chilly, probably more so in the house than outdoors!

It's been lovely and dry for a while although Husband warns that is about to change.

Syd continues to be a delight. Everyone loves him, and many people say to me, "You used to have a retriever, didn't you? George?" Everyone knew George.

I've told Syd he has big boots to fill if he's to be remembered so fondly.

"That's okay, Mummy. I'm a big boy, I can do that!"

So big he can now jump onto our bed, the one place that has been safe from him until now.

* * * * *

Last January I booked tickets to see Michael Sheen in a play in Cardiff. I had a vague memory that the play was scheduled for next year: it's on now! I'm going tonight with Daughter. I had bought two tickets thinking Husband would come but he's gone off going places.

State of mind

The fact that my bras are in my sock drawer is indicative of the state of my mind at the moment. It's very disorganised.

Too many things in my head - which is interesting as the course (emotionally healthy spirituality) requires me to be silent for two-minute periods a few times a day, and I am struggling with that. I need to still my thoughts.

* * * * *

We've just finished watching Lupin series 4 on Netflix, and I'm watching The Chosen on Amazon in the morning when I get up with Sid. The latest episodes of both made me scream, "Noooo!" I say scream; I mean groan, "Oh no," loudly.

* * * * *

Did you know that 'mogging' is the Collins' Word of the Year?

In case, like me, you've never heard of it, it means to outshine or outsmart. The young people are using it apparently.

With the first stick he found and picked up on his own.

Fooled!

Last year I bought a plant and tub to go in this shady little corner. The plant has grown well but I still wasn't happy with the corner. So . . . I decided to remove all the stones, turn over the soil, and plant grass seed. (In spite of Husband's grumbling that it would be impossible to mow.) 

I cleared the stones and neatened the earth ready for the seeds.

Then I went to B&Q today to buy big pots for some bulbs and saw they had turf at a special reduced price. From the edge it looked green and lush. So I bought some.

But, as it turned out, not quite enough, and it was anything but green and lush. I knew it was a chance: its price was greatly reduced. So I've laid it and we'll wait and see. The bit I didn't have enough turf for I sprinkled with seed. It remains to be seen whether the seed or the turf grows. And please bear in mind that, as fast as I'm putting down turf, Syd is digging it up. 

Hey ho, we'll see. I don't even know how to lay turf. Husband would have been there making sure everything was perfect and right but I'm more of a 'Let's have a go and see what happens' person.

I had an alternative use planned for the stones: I am tidying and restructuring the path to the shed.

It's a work in progress as you can see but I'm pleased with it so far. Still got an awful lot of stones left though . . .

* * * * *

Coincidentally, and absolutely not the reason why I chose to go to B&Q rather the nearer Wickes, there's a large Next clothes store near B&Q so I popped in there and bought myself some birthday presents: two pretty jumpers and a cardi. 

Plus two walks with Syd making it a good day.
 
 

In which Syd is a brave boy

We'd only just started our walk this afternoon when Syd did his 'Nope, I'm not moving' sit-down protest. I decided to call his bluff.

"Okay, we'll stay here. You'll soon get bored."

He didn't; I did.

Apart from that he was a very good boy. And  - drum roll please - he went for a paddle of his own accord!