In The Waiting Room

It’s hard to believe that January’s almost over.
I have been moving into the schedules for the year, but it’s been hard to get a good rhythm going. Some commitments haven’t quite started yet, so when they do, that will help to get the week sorted.

I had decided to get some online study done yesterday (Monday – it was a public holiday here).
I did the washing, sorted the dry things, and then…
creeping pain, and derailment of the day.
I get random bouts of pain, and these days I tend to just breathe through and move on. The last time I mentioned it at the doctors’ surgery, they told me off for not going to the hospital to get checked, so I decided that the “next time” I would.
Yesterday was the “next time”…

No point in anyone else having to sit around with me, and my Babe had a busy day set up, so I got him to drop me off at A&E.
Not as busy as it can be. I was seen fairly quickly, at least for the initial checks. Got a cannula put in, in case it was needed later, and a ECG. I wasn’t expecting anything major to be found, and it wasn’t in the end, but there were various tests to be done just in case πŸ™‚
Spent the next hours sitting in the main waiting room, with the dots from the ECG sticking in various places, and a cannula that hurt when I moved my hand too much.
In some ways, it seemed like all the world paraded past.
Accidents, illnesses. People at their lowest ebb. A few children, who thankfully seemed to be not too sick/hurt (and were, on the whole, quieter and better behaved than some of the adults).
All up, I think I was there for around 8ish hours. Mostly waiting.
There were two calls for security while I was there, and also two police escorts with patients in tow.
Mostly we just sat and snoozed, uncomfortably, in the seats.
Still – when you’re in A&E, it’s pretty much a good thing when you’re deemed low priority! πŸ˜€

Eventually I made it back behind the scenes.
Got follow up tests, was finally pronounced “good to go”, and made my way out to the fresh air – yay!

FREEDOM!

Also, there’s a nice little garden-y sort of area down the bottom of the hospital where you can wait to be picked up.

One thing about these episodes is that I can tend to be quite tired for a day or two afterwards, and I was pretty tired by then. I also hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast, and only half a cup of water.
We picked up some food on the way home, from the only place that seemed to be open by then.
So, I didn’t get to do the writing I had planned to do yesterday.
But I did get to have a lovely parmi and chips, and a big cup of strong, milky tea to settle in back home again.
❀

Published in: on January 29, 2025 at 12:15 am  Leave a Comment  

The Good, The Cute, And The Funny…

After briefly wondering at the state of the world yesterday, I thought I’d seek out some good things today.
The funny and cute just seemed to tag along…

A cup of coffee – always a good start to the day!

A big slice of cheesecake.

Not mine.
But I did get one of the freckles!
πŸ™‚

Admired the painterly feel of the shadows from the greenery in the cafe.

Also, the sun shining through the bottle, like a little piece of fire.

I started a book by Richard Osman – the first in a new series.

When I start a book, I tend to check the back for authors’ notes and acknowledgements. You often find explanations or research if the book has historical elements, and I like to read those first so the end of the story is the end of the book for me.
So, it was a surprise to read this.

Thanks, Richard.

All the doings of the day washed down with a creaming soda flavoured kombucha.

Such a pretty colour πŸ™‚

I have been whiling away the evening watching auditions from talent shows.
Some can be quite bad. Some good. Or funny. And some both touching and amazing.

And then – something so cute, you just Can’t Stand It.

I don’t think I could stop smiling even if I tried.
❀

Published in: on January 22, 2025 at 11:27 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Doing Right

I don’t really know what this year is doing.
Yes, that probably describes every year…but this one seems particularly opaque.
I’ve spoken to various people, in varying situations, and a lot of us feel that something’s coming.
Good? Bad?
Certainly different.
Whatever comes, I’ll try to keep walking.
…bringing light into the picture, wherever I can.

Published in: on January 21, 2025 at 11:29 pm  Leave a Comment  
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So…

I think I’ve made it into 2025.
I’ve started with some mulling/praying/writing about what this year’s focus should be.
I’ll be working on my second piece for assessment this month – it’s taken a while because the idea I came up with first didn’t seem right, so I didn’t get around to starting it.
The mulling etc., brought up another idea which seems more suitable, and doable.
Which I also haven’t started…
Oh well. I’ve got a few days to sort it out.

My new chair is ready for sitting in πŸ™‚

The cover has been cleaned and put on it.
Still not sure which cushion fits best.
Probably both.

And, because YouTube has given me another random suggestion –
here’s some Siberian…pop/rock? dance music?
Enjoy!

Published in: on January 14, 2025 at 11:22 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Back To The Real World

I took the tree down yesterday, so it’s goodbye to Christmas…
I’ve started getting some work done (things due next week!) but finding it hard to really get going on the year.
Still, I feel like I’m on track to getting it all done on time πŸ™‚

What have I done so far this year?

Had hot chocolate and cake.

Worked on spending as much time in the art room as I can, with music on and incense burning.

It’s hard to photograph smoke clearly.

And we have a new (to us) lounge chair!

Comfy!

It needs a teensy bit more cleaning, and it came with a removable cover. Not sure if the colour will suit the little lion cushion, so he may not get to sleep there in the long term.

To round off my evening, YouTube has randomly selected a new song/group for me to experience.

I’m not sure what I was expecting.
I’m fairly sure it wasn’t… that.

I like it.

And so we gallop on into the year.
It’s going to be interesting.

Published in: on January 11, 2025 at 10:59 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Walking Together

So – we’re a full week into the year.
Where has the time gone?

For me, this week has felt a lot longer, but also, strangely, quite short.
This year has started off with good food,

Gluten free pancakes with honey, or lemon juice and sugar for New Year’s Day breakfast.

Assorted mochi for…whenever πŸ™‚
These are vanilla and black sesame.

There have been delicate flowers, in passing.

And this year began with an early morning walk – something that will be more regular.

It’s still light quite early in the morning.
Not sure what winter will be like.

At least we’ll be together.

❀

Published in: on January 7, 2025 at 10:32 pm  Leave a Comment  

Happy New Day!

…and month, and year…
Hope it’s been a good start πŸ™‚

We’ve had a quiet day, with a bit of exercise, pondering direction in the year ahead, and good food and drink.
And books.
Of course.
πŸ˜€

May we all face forward fearlessly, and travel on to the places we’re meant to be.
❀
…singing as we go!

Published in: on January 1, 2025 at 10:08 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Strolling Into A New Day

Another year, tomorrow.
We’re not planning on doing much…a walk in the morning, pancakes for breakfast. I have things to settle before the year gets too far, but nothing strenuous or scary.
Feels like something’s coming next year.
I can feel it, but I’m not sure what that means…
Still – we face the future, and smile.

And then we walk on in, and fulfil the reason we’re here.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

May it be a fruitful, green, and growing year.
πŸ™‚

Published in: on December 31, 2024 at 11:59 pm  Leave a Comment  
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A Good Man

Woke up this morning to the news that Jimmy Carter had died.
At 100 years old, it wasn’t unexpected, but it still feels like a loss to the world.

I was a child during his U.S.Presidency, so I don’t remember much of policy or news stories.

This is the image that I remember, even though much of his life’s work was after his term of office.
I had heard of his work for Habitat for Humanity , and that he and his wife Rosalynn, through The Carter Center, helped and improved the lives of many, in many parts of the world.

A good man.
I don’t mean that flippantly – he was a man with integrity, who lived his life according to his Christian beliefs, with love for others, commitment to serve where he could, and doing so without seeking fanfare or accolade.
The world has lost a giant.
And has been left with a question –
How can we do the same with our lives?

Vale, Mr Carter.
You have earned your rest.

Published in: on December 30, 2024 at 10:56 pm  Leave a Comment  
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And Here – The Story

Published in: on December 25, 2024 at 12:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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