When your face says it better

Trying to find out when the Zac's pieces were written I searched my blog. It gave me some dates but also a reminder of the writing I did way back when.

There was more of it, more diverse and in-depth, and lots more creative writing too. I've lost the sparkle. Even when I'm in writing group, which I lead, I struggle to come up with anything that seems good any longer. Makes me feel like a fraud. Must do better. Maybe I'll re-read some of my older pieces and seek inspiration.

* * * * *

After bible study, not this week but the week before, two people mentioned that I'd looked drained, lacking enthusiasm. It was an evening I'd found quite frustrating for a number of reasons but I hadn't realised my emotions were reflected in my face quite so obviously.

I began to say to Husband, "I'd better do a better job of hiding . . ." but then I thought, no, perhaps I shouldn't. That's just wearing a mask and we're encouraged to be honest. And speaking of being honest I was in a meeting with someone and really wanted to disagree with a couple of things, but nodded and said, "Okay." This person is a strong-minded, organised sort. Unlike me!

* * * * *

Lovely walk this morning with Daughter and Louie. My calves were aching when I got up, as anticipated after bouncing, and I hoped walking, especially up the side of a cliff, would loosen them. Hasn't so far!

Co-ordination? What's that?

A classic comment at bible study last night.

Monty asks, "Who was Herod?"
Answer: "Was he the one who cut off John the Baptist's head the first time?"

As for the cake, I trimmed off the very thin bit, cut the rest in half and put the thin bit on the thick bit, and it tasted fine.

Over the years we, as in the community at Zac's tribal gathering (bible study), have written a number of pieces. Now our corridor is dry and beautifully painted Stu has framed and hung them.

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Yesterday's exercise class was cancelled because the building it's held in needed emergency work, so this morning I attended a bounce class. I did one a long time ago but it was a bit too easy. This one was better. I fear my calves may ache tomorrow. It's only half an hour but it took me a while to steady myself and feel confident enough to let go of the bar. Then the main problem was co-ordination. 

"Tap your foot twice while swinging your arms once each tap."

It's just not possible. My arms would not move until my feet did so doing two of one and one of the other was beyond me. So I just waved everything around anyhow. As the teacher said, "As long as you keep moving."

And we didn't stop for the full thirty minutes.

An afternoon well spent

We've taken two car-loads of rubbish to the tip this afternoon, a mix of garden waste, plastic, glass, and metal. And, and this is the best bit, I was able to erase an unnecessary apostrophe on a sign while I was there.

Meanwhile, the men came to do the bit of garden for me.

The storage box and water butt will have to go back on it when it's settled but, at least, it's now accessible and looking rather lovely. (Husband says, yes, the storage box has to go back there.)

While the afternoon could be considered a success the same can't be said for the morning's cooking. A birthday cake for Zac's tomorrow evening.

I am going to have to be very creative when I ice this cake! I'm thinking either a scroll or I'll cut it in half and plonk one bit on top of the other.

* * * * *

I've decided to try and stay off the computer on Sundays and, instead, to do things that bring me pleasure or are relaxing or both. If the computer's on I'm inclined to sit in front of it regardless. 

So yesterday, as well as starting a new jigsaw, I binge-watched The Other Bennett Sister. I'm also reading a book called A Fortune Most Fatal by Jessica Bull, in which Jane Austen investigates the mystery of a strange interloper. With everyone called either Jane, Elizabeth, or Mary, I have no idea where fiction ends and reality begins, when, of course, reality doesn't begin because it's all fiction.

Husband and I are also watching Young Sherlock, which I am very much enjoying except for the fact that 'Moriarty' is also in The Other Bennett Sister.

Almost there

So yesterday I took someone from church for her hospital appointment, then met with the other trustee of Zac's where we were forced to make a difficult decision about money. (Basically we haven't got enough!)

Then it was off to Daughter's to childmind the three grandchildren while Daughter and Son-in-law went out for a meal and to the pictures to celebrate Sil's birthday. We ate Domino's pizza sitting on the couch.

Today it was the art workshop. A few people who'd booked didn't turn up but twenty-six of us had a great time. 

And here's my finished artwork, which looks better from a distance!

While the background dried we were able to do a water-colour card. You can't see it very well but the inside of my egg is very pale green. I shall probably write Happy Easter in the middle.

And now we're waiting for the arrival of the other two grands who're sleeping over tonight while their parents go to a party.

"Do you want to sleep in the same room or separate?" I asked them.

"Same room," said GrandSon3.

"Different rooms," said GrandSon1.

And so it begins.

I think I shall mostly sleep tomorrow.

Falling on deaf ears

Husband and I had a lovely walk this afternoon around Clyne Gardens. Lovely after the first ten or fifteen minutes that is. For all of that time Husband was grumbling at me, mainly about my idea of gardening.

"You move everything and then just pile it up and leave it!"

My explanation that it was all in piles ready to go to the tip/recycling site fell on deaf ears. Finally the worm turned and I said, "Well, perhaps if you got up from your stupid computer game and did something it would help!"

Because of his heart, feet, chest, eye problems, I've been reluctant to nag him to do anything for, well, a couple of years. But he's better now so he can jolly well get a grip!

* * * * *

Up early this morning - probably why I was so tetchy - to put in a morning shift at Zac's, then came home and made banana and chocolate chip bread, bara brith, and chocolate raisin slice, ready for the art workshop on Saturday. I'm out all day tomorrow so had to get ahead of myself.

You too can look like me

According to posts on facebook if I:

suck ashwagandha gummies, I'll be calm;

take bloatburn, it will flatten my stomach;

take hormone harmony, I'll reduce my cortisol levels;

take a magnesium supplement, I'll sleep like a baby;

do tai chi walking, I won't recognise myself.

I could also try a fatty liver detox, or hypnosis and a water fast. 

But my favourite is: Your body is not old. Your fascia is blocking your lymph flow.

Excuse me, I've got to go and unblock my fascia.

Potty!

You would think Husband were Head Gardener at Kew to look at his collection of pots.

I told you I had a cunning plan for the bit at the end of raspberry patch. It is coming to fruition but neither Husband nor I are doing it.

A young man from church mentioned on the whatsapp group that he and his partner had a small business and were available for garden work, sheds, etc. So they're coming this weekend, weather permitting to sort it out for me. It will involve a bit of digging and filling and concreting and slabbing. They're also going to cut down a tree while they're here.

But that meant I had to empty the storage box full of pots. After I'd struggled to get the table (old desk) out of the box and hauled it across the lawn and into the garage, I discovered it came apart. 

Husband just came in and I asked him if he really needed all those pots. His answer was a definitive, "Yes!"

Gertie's day

Today is St. Gertrude's Day. Yes, I know it's also St. Patrick's Day but I've told you before about Patrick being born just up the road from us here in Banwen. (Some people may argue that he was born elsewhere but we Welsh know the truth.)

By Simon Bening

So, back to Gertrude. She was born in 628 in what is now Belgium, and she and her mother founded the Abbey of Nivelles. At a young age she declared that she would never marry as she was called to be the bride of Christ, and she spent her life helping the sick, elderly, and poor. 

This earned her the title of patron saint of travellers, widows, and mentally ill. She's also patron saint of gardeners, and her name is invoked against rats and mice.

Sometime in the 1980s cat-lovers decided that, as she stood against vermin, she must be in favour of cats, and she is now wisely known as patron saints of cats and cat-lovers.

There is a legend that one day she sent some travellers to a distant country, promising that no misfortune would befall them on the journey; when they were on the ocean, a large sea-monster threatened to capsize their ship, but disappeared upon the invocation of Saint Gertrude. In memory of this occurrence travellers during the Middle Ages drank the so-called "Sinte Geerts Minne" or "Gertrudenminte" before setting out on their journey.

She died at 33 "because of too much abstinence and keeping of vigils", according to Cambridge Mediaeval History. Which just goes to show.

Today is the saint's day for at least twenty others, including the closer-to-home, St. Llinio of Llandinam.

St. Llinio's church in Llandinam. I got distracted. It looks like a very pretty part of the countryside with some lovely houses for sale, including one 20-bedroomed mansion.