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!

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

Platinum

This weekend just gone marked the Platinum Jubilee – 70 years – of Queen Elizabeth II.
I have never known a world when she was not on the throne.
It’s a long time to be doing the same job! I’m not overly into the monarchy, but I’m not anti either. Whatever the issues may be with the institution, the Queen herself has given her life to it, and done so as faithfully and conscientiously as she could.

…and not without a sense of humour 😆

A long life, lived in service of a nation and people she loves.

Happy Jubilee, Ma’am!

Published in: on June 7, 2022 at 7:41 pm  Leave a Comment  
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(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…

Published in: on June 4, 2022 at 8:03 pm  Leave a Comment  
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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  
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Dancing The Gloom Away

…sort of.

I don’t know why this exists (who would even think of it?!) but I’m glad it does…

Hope a good chuckle helps chase the rain away.
❤

Published in: on May 21, 2022 at 1:44 pm  Leave a Comment  
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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  
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‘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  
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Minding

Once again, another part of my childhood has gone.
Yesterday (8/5/22, UK time), Dennis Waterman died. I remember watching “Minder” as a kid – back then, I would have seen the actors as quite old. It’s strange to look back from here and see that he was only in his early 30s when it started (so young!), and still seems too young at 74 to have died now. George Cole (Arthur) seemed impossibly ancient to me then, but was only a year older than I am now!
Dennis Waterman was one of those actors that I associate with longrunning series that I watched with the family. I also remember being impressed that he sang the theme tune, as he also did for “New Tricks“, which we watch now on catch up TV.
There’s a sadness in growing older and having to continually say goodbye to bits of the past – seeing the inevitable march of time going by…

RIP Dennis

You were so good for us…

Published in: on May 10, 2022 at 8:38 am  Leave a Comment  
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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!

Published in: on May 9, 2022 at 7:10 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Long Ago, Now

Lest We Forget

And for those often left out of the story…

Published in: on April 25, 2022 at 12:03 am  Leave a Comment  
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