Health | 1000 Fields of Roses

On The Way To The Stars

Another house we really wanted, but it went to someone else…
discouraging, but we have a couple of others to possibly have a look at.
This year seems to have been galloping on so far. We’re past the middle of January and it still seems vaguely “after Christmas”. We can’t know what this year will bring, but it seems it will bring it a bit more quickly than we might be anticipating 😆

I bought myself some virtual challenges as a Christmas/New Year present to myself, and a couple of weeks ago also received the medal for my 2022 challenge.

Front…

Back – the moon comes off, and you can wear it as a pendant.
“Per aspera ad astra” means “through adversity to the stars”.

It opens up as well, and above the medal is the back of the pendant.

I have had a few good weeks this year – I’ve even managed to get to an in person church service every Sunday this year! I feel like my joyous gallivanting has caught up with me a bit 😆 I’ve noticed that when I do too much, I can come down with a flu like thing (sore muscles/joints, cough, feeling like a balloon is swelling behind my face), which is where I’ve been this week. We stocked up with covid tests before the free ones were stopped, so I’ve done a few of those lately (covid test says “no”!).
We did manage to get out last week for a cuppa at the cafe, and a talk about the year ahead. Nice cake as well…

And while I’m thinking about flowers, here are some lovely ones I got at church this Sunday ❤

This year is still a mystery…
good thing I don’t have to worry!
🙂

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on January 18, 2023 at 11:17 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: All Sons & Daughters, The Conqueror Challenges

Where The Rain Ends

Back in bed with a cold sort of thing… I had a lovely beef bone broth for dinner, and a hot water bottle (it’s difficult trying to mould it round my sinuses). My lungs still appear to be where they should be – they just hurt a bit from coughing.
All this means that I haven’t been out of the house for a bit. My Babe went in to the library to pick up some books, and also came back with a little fairy from the markets for me ❤

She’s guarding my jewellery 🙂

I’ve been enjoying the rain we’ve had lately. Haven’t seen any rainbows in the sky, but did see one at the clinic before a visit to the doctor. We still have to wait outside the waiting room (because of Covid), so the big doors to the outside let in a lot of sunshine. At certain times of the morning it forms a straight strip of rainbow across the floor.

No pot of gold at the end…
Just a bit of cheer for the day!

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on July 11, 2022 at 11:13 pm Leave a Comment

Travelling Light

I’ve been out and about a couple of times in the last week or so. In the past, I’ve wandered around the place, enjoying my time, but not seeing anyone I know. These times, I ran into four lots of people, and had a good old catch up (yay!) 😀
I’ve just started on a new, stronger, pain killer. After a day out, I tend to need to stay in bed to recover. I had hoped to be OK this time, but apparently the painkiller takes a few days to kick in properly.
I think I am basically an optimist. I can see beauty, and hope, in all sorts of things. Some (probably most) days I can see the days ahead, and future endeavours waiting for me. I can luxuriate in “not pain” for periods of time (when you have “definitely not not pain” 🙂 you are very aware when it goes away for a bit).
Yesterday was mostly luxurious. Today was not.
Still – life is a wonderful, curious, slightly ridiculous journey.

But…
Some days are sombre, just get through, deal with the now type of days.
Still flashes of beauty. Leaps of joy.
But also a closer understanding of mortality.
Life is good. And sometimes difficult…
Still, the light shines through.

…it’s all about balance! 😆

Published in:

on June 29, 2022 at 5:59 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Adam Chance, The Hound + The Fox

Snail’s Pace

Another foray into town today – went well.
I’ve only tried minitrips so far, with the assurance of a lift home (rather than the bus) and the option of leaving at any point of the schedule if necessary. My goal now is to get to the church service tomorrow, but we’ll see how the morning goes. I was out longer than I thought I would be today, and got a bit colder than I wanted to…
The shop I wanted to get to today wasn’t open, but I did browse the library – yay! Picked up coffee and a toastie at my favourite cafe. Took a detour to have a look at the Handmade Expo (it was just outside the library), where I picked up a sweet little snail ❤

So cute! 🙂

I’m getting there, slowly but surely.
Shuffling along, but still moving forward!

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on June 11, 2022 at 9:58 pm Leave a Comment

(Not So Much) Coming Up Roses

…but I do have a vase full of them!

There’s a lovely lady who gives them out at church. I haven’t been to the church building for a while, but my Babe was there last week and brought them home ❤
Want to see some close ups?

They still look lovely, but I’m hoping they’ll dry nicely as well, so I can keep them 🙂

I’m still coughing… apart from visits to the doctor and other medical stuff, I haven’t been out much. Went to the cafe for a coffee, and a quick look at the shops, but I was home within an hour. I had two Covid tests this week, due to a misunderstanding (my fault!), so I’ve doubly tested negative… 😆 Still looking for other stuff, so haven’t got those results yet.

Nice to know there are still flowers blooming.
And fun songs to cheer me up!

Who knows?
Tomorrow, there may be dancing…

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on June 4, 2022 at 8:03 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Home Free

Galloping Round The North Coast

…of Scotland, that is.
Perhaps “galloping” is too…energetic…a word.
The latest medal for my virtual marathons came the other day. I’ve been waiting for this one! It’s a 500 mile walk through the Scottish Highlands. Thankfully I got it finished before the “Covid interlude”. I wasn’t really powering along beforehand, but 500 miles would be a bit beyond me at the moment.

Here’s the front.

Look who turns up when you move the thistle!

Here’s the back – my favourite bit 🙂

Complete with an inspiring message from Scotland’s National animal…

There are many more walks I’d like to do – the company has just put out a collection of Lord of the Rings challenges, and I’ve been wanting to do the Camino de Santiago – but a combination of (lack of) money and ability has put those on hold for a while.

I no longer have Covid, but I have had a couple of courses of antibiotics lately, and seem to have some sort of cold at the moment. My goal for the time being is to be able to go into town at some point for an hour or so, and be able to get the bus home. Such excitement! 😆

In the meantime, I’m catching up with a Creative Christianity Summit that I got a ticket for last year. I need to watch the interviews and workshops so I’m ready for this year’s summit. It’s been interesting and inspiring – all sorts of creative people and possibilities – everything from lettering workshops, to theatre companies that put on Passion Plays, to excitable vicars giving Bible studies. I’m signed up for this year – if you’re interested, there seems to be a free ticket option available.
Come along and join in! 😀

Published in:

on May 28, 2022 at 6:48 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Creative Christianity Summit, Paul Blackham, Saltmine Theatre Passion PLay, The Conqueror Challenges

Out And About

I had a “big” day in town the other day – I wanted to vote early (and avoid the crowds), so I went to some other places I hadn’t been to for a while. It felt a bit strange being outside for so long! 😆

Another frangipani!
This one was outside my favourite cafe, where I was waiting for my takeaway order – not quite ready to spend too much time sitting inside yet…

I did better than I thought I would. Still had to go home to bed for a bit.
I miss being able to walk wherever I want to, for as long as I want to – to go somewhere without having to formulate plans B, C etc, depending on how I am.
It was back to the doctor today, another course of antibiotics and another round of tests, for something different this time. Still, I’m feeling better than a month, or even a couple of weeks, ago! 🙂

The flowers are still blooming.
And there are still songs to sing.

Published in:

on May 20, 2022 at 9:22 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: rend collective

‘Tis The Last Frangipani Of Summer…

…not quite blooming alone 🙂

Not so much rain today, but it’s certainly getting to the wintry part of the year…having said that, I have the air conditioner on at the moment. Not sure if that’s varying temperatures, or just me!
It’s been just over five weeks since I first had Covid, and I’m still not doing too well. I have managed to get out of the house (book sale on Friday 🙂 ), and have done a bit of cleaning and washing. Everything is still punctuated by resting, but I’m better than I was.
Winter can be a time of slowing down and being more creative, of taking stock of what was and looking towards what could be. Even so, the time will go faster than I want it to, and I want to use it well.
Here’s to more breath in my body, inspiration in my psyche, and improvements all round!

Published in:

on May 17, 2022 at 4:12 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Clannad, Covid

Still Here (Free)

I saw this on my YouTube recommendations – I haven’t listened to Florence + The Machine for a while. The addition of Bill Nighy just made it a must see!
Not entirely sure what it’s supposed to mean in the end. Maybe that you may not be able to get rid of anxiety, but you can learn to live with it?

I’ve never really had an anxiety disorder, but I have had panic attacks over the years. I remember the first time, when I was sure I was going to die… as I’ve gone on I’ve learned to breathe through the breathlessness, and remember that things aren’t as bad as they feel.

We’re (hopefully) coming to the end of forced inactivity through Covid and its charming longer term gifts. I got to a point a couple of weeks ago where I thought I was getting back to normal, and then fell back into respiratory issues. I’m halfway through a course of antibiotics, so I’m back on track 😀 The rest of the household has been variously ill and on their own timetable of mending, except Biggest Boy, who seems to have had no issues with surviving Covid, but has been left having to Mother Hen the rest of us and keep the household going. He has been wonderful, and I’m very proud of him, but I’m sad he’s had to worry about us all.
Going back to anxiety – I don’t know whether Covid just dampened down my reactions, but some of what was happening would have normally got me panicking. Maybe I just didn’t have the energy for it! I have barely been out of this room for nearly four weeks, and then only for necessities (and a visit to the doctor last Friday) The last couple of days have been the first time in a while that I’ve seen the possibility of ordinary life resuming.
Still a few days of antibiotics, and staying quiet for a bit longer.
Then, maybe I’ll dance on the tabletops!

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Health
Music

on May 9, 2022 at 7:10 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Bill Nighy, Covid, Florence + The Machine

Soaking It In

Every day I’m getting better…there are niggles, but I can see light ahead!
I managed to get the cleaning done today. It’s not great, but I wanted to have a soak in the bath. To do that, I had to clean it first. Soaking, and reading, in a hot(tish) bath full of magnesium is one of my indulgences, and my reward for cleaning.
I’ve been reading so many books lately. I didn’t want to read library books while I was virusy, but there are plenty of books in my personal library that I haven’t read yet. Today, though, was the day to start catching up on my library books.