1000 Fields of Roses

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.

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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!

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

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…

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Music

on May 10, 2022 at 8:38 am Leave a Comment
Tags: Dennis Waterman, Minder, New Tricks

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

Long Ago, Now

Lest We Forget

And for those often left out of the story…

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on April 25, 2022 at 12:03 am Leave a Comment
Tags: Anzac Day, John Schumann

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.

This is my library basket.
It’s always full.

There’ll be a few more days of reading. I’ll try to get back out into the world sometime next week…

…also – this is fun 😀

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Health
Music

on April 23, 2022 at 9:07 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Peter Hollens

Languid

I’m into the second week of Covid now. The rest of the family tested negative, so they’ve been out and about today. I tested positive again… we rang the number for info. It seems that it’s not uncommon to test positive for a while, but not be actually contagious. It comes down to symptoms – there appear to be contagious and non-contagious symptoms. I still have a bad cough, which means I should stay inside and rest for a few days more.
Caught up with some TV today. It’s the first day since last Tuesday that I’ve been downstairs for any length of time, and it was quite tiring. Most of my days have been stuck in the bedroom, which limits the scenic inspiration 😆
I took some photos of domestic details…

The sunset I could see from the window a few days ago… I’ve enhanced the colour, but it’s still not as beautiful as what I could actually see.

A hair clip I got many years ago. I don’t have enough hair to wear it now…

Random anklets.
Also, evidence of a lack of dusting.

The feather that guards my jewellery box.

Detail from the head of a muslin angel.

Heart sachets.

Bracelets…

…and my crumpled sheets.
I’ve been seeing a lot of them, so they may as well be bright.
🙂

We’ll see what tomorrow brings!

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on April 21, 2022 at 9:35 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Covid

Today

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on April 17, 2022 at 5:39 am Leave a Comment
Tags: Chris Rupp, Easter Sunday

Hang On…

…I think I may have things the wrong way round. 😆

This is a YouTube clip I’ve watched quite a few times in the last few days.

Yes, I know it’s Easter.

I don’t really know why I watched this originally, but it makes me giggle. I posted a song for Good Friday, and there’ll be a couple more tomorrow (incidentally, the singer for those was the founder of this group 🙂 )

I’ve been navigating Covid since Tuesday night. I haven’t had much energy to be online (had to get my Babe to set up the laptop for me the other night, for something that needed to be done) My emails have been multiplying (got them sorted just now!), and I haven’t been doing anything, physically or mentally, strenuous. Just giggling at a musical tutorial on how not to make Christmas biscuits…

Maybe I’ve turned a corner today. The days before now have been spent isolated from the rest of the family. I haven’t felt like eating, and even drinking water has been difficult. I have had cups of tea and bits and pieces of food – it just takes a while. Sleeping has been upright, for breathing purposes, and most nights I’ve had the light on, alternating between reading and dozing. Today took a while to get into, but a lot of things are better 😀
I think there’s about three more days until quarantine ends.
Just off to watch YouTube…

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