0506 Jackie

I phoned my “cousin” in Switzerland and the phone was answered by a 6 year old, Alliana. I have talked to her face-face and on the phone about 6 times. After about 30 seconds she worked out who it was. I nearly cried I was so happy. Her English is good but her primary language is Swiss-German.   

 

0406 my new neighbours

We live 2 miles out of the village, in a 9 house group. We are all white, all old and all boring. At last a semi with a massive plot, has been sold to a YOUNG couple. Kim and Sam are very welcome and are certainly very different to the rest of us.

                I found Sam today under an axle off his van. Surrounded by other axels he was busy doing renovation which I neither could understand nor replicate. He was proud to announce his intention of doing the renovation of the wrecked house himself. He is a carpenter by trade but plumbing and electrics seem to be no problem to him.   

                Their priority has been surprisingly to get their veg plot going and cabbages, marrows and broccoli are all visible. Their rabbit protection seems to be working as their plants are growing away. This is definitely gong to be a working rather than pretty garden.

                They are an interesting, open and valuable member of our little group and I’m looking forward to getting to know them better.

                Cheryl came and I returned to a more normal and therefore positive session. I did 2*2*1/4 in the rain, stretched and then did a really positive, not touched by Cheryl , 1+1

                Last night, Garry and Mary delivered my latest plant deliveries of more MJ bed fillers. The garage door was open, they assumed I was out, so they dumped them and ran. I was sat in the office using my headphones so couldn't hear their car arriving. Didn't think of ringing the door bell. Fanx !!!

 

0306 Duffy

I am disabled. This sometimes frustrates the **** out of me. I can't do the chores, the “Blue tasks”, “Blokes jobs” that I always did. For the four years here, I have used friends locally or friends visiting and staying to do most of these tasks. I have never been that sure how “voluntary” these were. Many people are good friends and can see my frustration: they are “happy” to help. I have a regular “CHORES list” I have even employed people, when the task was too difficult, involved or technical. Have tool…..can do.

During the last visit from my oldest friend, DJK, he was amazed at how short and insignificant the list was. He saw this as a great sign of my integration locally.

Then I met Duffy. He was introduced to me by Bo, whose recommendation says without him having to say it, “this bloke works, is thorough and is keen”. He comes at 1730 for short evening tasks on the way home. He has not been a disappointment and is very much welcome.

Last night he hung another hand rail in the garage (allowing me to choose which one to use based on which car is absent). We started our tour of my 200 trees to giver each of them a 5,000 service. We pulled off suckers, loosened straps on posts, cleared the horsepoo and tacked the straps to the post. In 30 minutes we did maybe 15 trees. It is going to take a long time.  He will hopefully come back Saturday.

                oon after we started staking posts around the horse poo, DP turned up for his evening nosh. He seemed bored and kept looking at the chore list for something to do. He did the outside tap, which made everyone happy.

 

0206 Unpredictable rain.

This morning the forecast said weather would be fine until this evening. 30 minutes outside base camp it rained. We were luckily under an over hanging tree so we just waited and listened to Radio 5. Joy

 

I do try not to put too much weight on these forecasts but inevitably I don’t manage NOT to. As it was 16  deg AND the governors meeting tonight, I wore my summer long “non Cheryl “ trousers.  

 

Eric came and his thinking, helps me untangle mine. Priorities and dismissing that which you are “impotent” over was today’s theme.

 

 

0106 : feeling sick and headache

 Cheryl came for another poor session. I managed three lef to right moves and even those Cheryl had to click my left knee locked on occasions.

 

For the first time for many years, I had a stress pang. Like it had happened during times of stress or exhaustion,. I had a midday headache and feelings of nausea. Immediately Dr H, correctly diagnosed it, rightly recommending sleep as the remedy. I went to bed at 14.00, cancelled my Maths caching and awoke at 17.00 feeling a million times better. I wonder if I will be able to sleep?

 

3105 **** fayre

 

Mark, the gardener, came today to plant our goodies from Garry and Mary. The pots of lupins. Guardinia, lavatera Etc were firstly placed them out, all professional like,(always in groups of odd numbers of plants) then I left Mark to put them in. I asked him to spray as I left him as the wind was virtually non-existent. As normal he did what he wanted and he gave the roadside hedge a “flat top” which looks very professional. Not on today’s list but necessary.

 

H planned to spend day with her grandma, so I planned “Dickfest”, the village fete. Luckily for me, whilst at Bobs admiring his new lawn mower, Ruth said she’d be happy to accompany me. As we approached the sports field location, I could smell the burgers and my hunger at 14.00, increased. “Gills grills” served a great ¼ pounder and cheese. Half a cow served n a bap. After half, I wasn’t very hungry, but apart from feeding Bramble, I had nowhere to throw it.

 

We had a true middle aged evening of TV. The two reality big shots both had their finals.   

 

3005 Cheryl poor session

In the evening I went out with DP to my current favourite restaurant  “JD Youngs”. He had his entirely predictable steak and I tried the korma curry. It was very tasty and not just loads of cream. As part of our calorie controlled diet, I had a fruit salad and DP had a chocolate and hazel pie.

Having forgotten to hit the cashpoint, we went home to watch Jonathon Woss. DP was that impressed y my conversation, he fell asleep. Snoring loudly, I quickly woke him up.

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