Reluctant at first - and he definitely didn't like his collar - but by the time we got home he didn't want the walk to end.
Husband has blocked the hole and another one he found so we're safe until the next one is discovered - or dug!
Repeat appointment at the optician's this afternoon. My eyes weren't as blurry as I expected after the drops although they were quite light sensitive. Anyway, all is good. My flashes were due to the jelly in the eye getting detached from the retina. Another symptom of - yes, you've guessed it - getting old.
It's only a problem if it comes away with such force that the retina gets torn. Mine wasn't so put up with it.
The only other thing she mentioned is that my eyes have a higher something of something, meaning my eyes are more sensitive to light. I said, "Yes, I do sneeze when the sun shines!"
* * * * *
The course I'm doing involves taking time each day to do the Daily Office, basically a quiet five minutes with a scripture and piece of writing for consideration. All this first week it's been about being busy and not finding time for stillness. I've found it difficult to even sit silently for two minutes as my mind darts off. And being busy is my thing. Which isn't bad in itself unless it then becomes the source of my self-esteem.
* * * * *
Yesterday I was tidying the edge of the paving by the greenhouse and realised there was about another third that had been covered by grass.
It seems we have another George.
Syd has found what I am sure is the only gap in our fence, hidden behind bushes, and is desperate to get out there.
Now remember, this is the dog who won't stay in a different room from me, who follows me like my shadow, who comes to the toilet and shower with me. But suddenly the world beckons?
And he's brazen about it.
Having carried him back into the garden I put him down and he's straight back to the gap. "Don't even think about it, Syd! I'm warning you! Syd! Syd! Come back!" And he's off.
He's not going out again until Husband has blocked it.
I am so thankful for the sunny days we've been having. It's meant we've been able to spend lots of time in the garden wearing Syd out and encouraging him to do his wees there. Also I've been able to get lots gardening done.
I've finished clearing the raspberry bed. Dug up lots of bindweed roots but there'll always be more. Still it's looking better now.
Before I went to the course the other evening I fed Syd his regulation one third of a mugful. During the evening my phone was off/turned down/on vibrate so, of course, I missed all the phone calls from Husband asking if Syd needed to be fed.
As a result Syd got a second dinner of half a mugful, which he scoffed down. He is going to be another George.
We have a book in the playroom called Six Dinner Syd where Syd goes from house to house being fed. That's actually about a cat and I really hope we never get to that situation with Syd!
* * * * *
I went to a Macmillan Cancer coffee afternoon in the church hall today. I offered to make a cake but as I'm bored of always making the same ones I decided to take time over it and do something different. It had to be rhubarb because we still have lots but this time it was rhubarb and custard meringue cake.
I either over- or under-whisked the meringue because it didn't keep its shape very well but, even so, I was pretty pleased with the result.
Me and phones, we don't get on.
I use mine mostly to take photos. Also for whatsapp but I have that on my computer too so I often have no idea where my phone is. (I just remembered: I left my jumper in the garage when I was gardening, and now I'm sitting indoors I'm getting colder. Will have to fetch it. BRB.)
So Husband went for his appointment this morning and I went home promising to make sure the volume on my phone was turned up.
About 50 minutes later I opened my phone to take a photo of Syd and, coincidentally, saw that Husband was phoning me to collect him. And had been for some time.
It seems my phone was on vibrate rather than noise (I did that for the theatre on Friday). But it was in my back pocket so I should have felt it. Either my bottom is too big for any tremor to get through, or I simply thought it was just another sign of old age.
Anyway Syd and I did a good job clearing the raspberry bed of weeds. I say good job but maybe preliminary job would be more accurate. And, come to that, Syd wasn't a lot of help either.
* * * * *
In church on Sunday a man read a poem he'd written. Now, please tell me what comes into your head when you hear this line:
Seeking solace in the carpenter's arms.
I can't be the only person who imagines a man drowning his sorrows in the pub.
* * * * *
Last night's course introduction was good. I've read the book on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality but gave up a bit towards the end so didn't make any progress on myself. Last night focused on slowing down and being silent, and seeing what it is that gets in the way.
That's easy: my brain. It rushes around twenty to the dozen. Any hint of silence and my brain will fill it with anything from what's for dinner to how can there be imaginary numbers, and everything in-between. Even watching the video I kept thinking, I wish he'd stop moving his arms so much.
Just the thought of spending time contemplating sends my brain off in spirals of panic.
But also the computer gets in the way of me and contemplation. I have no time to 'waste' on stopping and thinking but I do have time to play solitaire. There's nothing wrong with games in moderation but once I start I can't stop. I will play mindlessly.
From the Daily Office book accompanying the course:
The problem is twofold: first we neglect to pay attention to what is going on inside us. And second, we are too busy to stop, slow down, and be with God. (I would suggest - or our thoughts if God isn't in the picture.)
Daughter is coming on the course with me. I have warned her that she may discover that all her problems stem from me!
One of the things mentioned last night, that will be dealt with in greater detail, is the false self. The one we wear for other people. I am guilty of this, caring too much what others think of me and allowing my self-worth to be dependent on what I do or achieve.
Hm, got a long way to go.
I shouldn't have tried to cook a roast dinner, do the ironing, and keep an eye on Syd at the same time.
The parsnips were overcooked, the ironing didn't get finished, and Syd wee-ed in the hall.
* * * * *
I don't think Syd likes me watching him when he does a poo: he goes around the corner to do it. Which is strange as he insists on watching me.
This morning he came into the shower with me. Right into the shower. Drinking water as it went down the plughole. I moved a bit so he'd get even wetter and realise it wasn't a good idea but it didn't faze him. He was just one soggy doggy.
Exercise class this morning. I have to say that I work harder than most people on it. Then this evening I start my course. I have special leave from Zac's for the duration!
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. I am hoping that by the time I finish this course I will be normal and less of a bundle of insecurities.
* * * * *
Theo of Golden. Have you read it? It is lovely. When I began it I feared it was going to turn out to be one of those nicey-nicey feel-good stories. And it was but there was more to it. I cared about the people and the warmth just shone through. Warning: it does talk about God a bit!
And yesterday I picked up War of the Worlds from the library. I heard a clip from it on the radio and realised I'd never read it. I'm not a sci-fi fan - if that is what this is - but I loved the John Wyndham Triffid and other books. So we shall see.
Driving to exercise this morning I was thinking about my grandfather. He was a great reader. I used to choose murder books for him from the library. My choice was based on the goriness of the cover rather than quality of writing but he got through loads. I don't remember seeing my gran read; she was always too busy. By the time I was choosing books for him my grandfather was retired and quite deaf, so he'd sit in the corner, next to the radio, smoke a cigarette, and read.
My grandmother preferred to go down the pub and have a beer or two with her sister and friends.
Small brown puppy + large garden = "Syd, where are yo...? Oh, there you are, standing next to me."
* * * * *
I had an an optician's appointment on Saturday. I've been getting white flashes (as opposed to hot flushes). The scans were okay and the optician couldn't see any problems in my eyes but he asked me to come back for another appointment so I could have my eyes dilated so they could get a fuller view. He couldn't do it then as I'd driven there and the drops would have prevented me driving home. So I made an appointment for Wednesday morning when Husband could drive me.
This morning Husband had a phone call from the hospital saying they'd had a cancellation and would he be able to come in for a cataract assessment appointment on . . . Wednesday morning. Of course he will need me to drive.
Much harder to get a hospital appointment than an optician's so I've changed my to next Monday.
