Good morning Michael and all GN's from a very still, damp looking North Yorkshire. Can now see the outline of the tree against the sky but not light enough to see if the squirrel is rushing about. Well fingers crossed , here I am back at a more normal time for me, so hope it will be the returning to something like order and my own routine.
For anyone interested, I added a bit onto yesterdays posts, to catch up with my trip to Muker show etc , and I think if you put in either Muker show 2026 or Muker band you will be able to see some footage of bits of the show, ending with the band in fine form in front of the Farmers Arms , where we ar all singing lustily and of course the great Swaledale beautiful Swaledale. Perhaps if you have a listen you will be up to date for next year, when I hope that I might have lured some of you to come and join us. I have a vision of a combined GN collection with all my local friends from choirs and transports etc etc. It could be a grand time.
So to continue with the chaotic day yesterday. I was in such pain which hardly improved at all during the day, which added to the hassle. I put a load of clothes into wash, and stripped the bed, which is a hard job for me at the best of times, and doubly hard as I was feeling. I had just rarved the duvet cover and pillowcases off, and usually I put the clean stuff ready for the cleaners to turn the mattress and change the bed for me, on the bed. Desperate for a coffee , went to make one and the flipping milk had gone off. So no milk for cereal or coffee. Not a good start to my day. Everything was in a topsy turvy way because I had been to the show, and I need to begin to return my car to the "ready for anything autumn" mode. I was struggling so much to move around and I just thought I will go for milk , leave the mess and finish it off when I get back. So shut the door on the chaos, got the cover off the yellow peril and set off . The road workers had closed our road off, but the yp can go on the path so was able to get by. A man was stood at his gate and we watched as a very large truck manoeuvered backwards in an odd fashion, and I waited to see which way he was going.
He was saying he was retired now, so not being able to get his car out at the moment didnt worry him. I , of course, in communicating mode, talked to him about the great variety of information and groups at Upfront and recommended them as a place to look to see what might appeal. I went on to tell him about the informal but very good group that met once a month on a thursday at the library, where again there were talks about all sorts of things and that that was were you were able to collar a member of the town council if need be etc etc., when I suddenly realized that of course it was thursday and I should be going there myself. So other plans abandoned and I headed , coffee and breakfast less to the meeting which had already started. Hassle , hassle to get in to the disabled entrance as some stupid person had parked their car making it difficult to pass them. Anyway I managed to get there, hobbled slowly from the buggy to a seat, letting all the toroises rush past! I was extremely grateful when someone brought me a coffee and an illegal but much enjoyed piece of cake with a fresh raspberry on it.
I was glad that I had made it, as besides all the various notices and information they had a chap showing how to do seated boccia etc., Like many others , no doubt, I have been constantly telling myself that when I feel a bit better I will be able to walk or exercise more. But given my state yesterday, it really did bring home to me that "who was I kidding?" and it might be time to accept things , do what I can in a different way etc. So although I physically felt in a lot of pain, and internally near to tears, at having finally to remove the blindfold that said of course I can do everything I did 30 years ago, it was that shift that you cannot force yourself to make mentally, it has to percolate through until you acknowledge things as they are now.
Well at least I was able to have a chat, catch up with bits of news and have a go at a sort of 10 pin bowling, and then set off to catch up with my abandoned shopping still needed, and to go and get some cash etc etc. Had a text from the cleaners to say they would be later at about 3pm if that was ok, and I was fine with that as I was already running late , and when I got home I would be able to put the washing out, put the bedding in and find the clean stuff from the airing cupboard.
The morning carried on in a rather irritating way , and everything took longer than expected, not helped by my even more creaky way of moving about. So I decided I definitely deserved a coffee and even an apricot croissant at Nero's. I could sit in a comfortable chair and rest the weary bones etc.
Well yes the staff were their usual kind selves and could see how difficult things were and called to say just go and sit where I liked and they would come across and get my mug etc , for which I was very grateful and felt the day was at last turning my way. All went very well but ah! another snag of the day. The toilets were being renovated and refurbished so I could not use them and would have to go out to the ones near the town hall!! Par for the course!! I wasnt desperate so drank my coffee and then looked at my phone to see if my friend had sent a text. She was the one who had hoped to come to the show with me. No message from her, but another from the cleaners, saying they had had a cancellation so would actually be coming straight to me!! Too late for me to get there while there were still there, so I at least knew that things would look a lot better , especially all the annoying pens and cutlery that had fallen on the floor and I just could not bend down to get. Arrived home to yes of course, a much tidier place. They had put the washing from the machine on the clothes horse and left it near the flat, so I could easily reach it if it rained.
Things were looking up! But were they? I felt like Victor Meldrew saying " I cannot believe it!" They had taken the white duvet cover and pillowcases that I had removed with such effort to go into the washer and put it back on!!!! So I just couldnt cope with taking it off again and remaking the bed. so the day ended with me crawling into the not very dirty but still not the lovely clean sheets. Hence I was awake and up about 5 am an have yet again got them off and in the washer and they should be finished in the near future , and with a bit of luck I might get them dried before the promised rain arrives.
So here I am, trying to get things back to what passes for normal in my household. The plans for today are, to check the car out, make sure the picnic box and chairs and spare clothes etc are all loaded back, clean and ready for action. Then a major thing today is to hunt and check regarding my new numbers for my bank cards and go through my autumn beginning of the year check. By which I mean my usual checking of paperwork, noting that files are up to date, when things need renewing etc etc., and will no doubt have to go through much boring but necessary faffing about to see which energy thing is best for me, and I have a feeling that my phone is nearly due to be renewed etc etc., What a hassle it all is. I cannot allow myself to just do the simplest effort on my behalf and not trail through all the comparisons and which is better value etc etc. Oh for the days when you walked into your local shop, asked for what you wanted, paid and left. Now do you want extended warranties and you get £2 off if it is the third tuesday in the month!!!
I am too old to be bothered now, but I could see another very useful and good job for someone, so long as you could trust them ,to be doing the best for you and not getting a backhander from firms. There are one or two enterprising people round here who are good craftspeople and they offer to come and make up your ikea furniture or sort out your computer etc etc, but what I would like to see is someone offering for a set fee , to have your details and then go through all these wretched contracts with a fine tooth comb, and letting you know what is the best offer for you, and how you are already covered by x contract and dont need that extra warranty etc etc, That you could find out from them who was the best broadband and phone company for your area and whether you could tell them to take a running jump when they claimed brilliant coverage in your area.
Now I used to be a trouble shooter and so did my husband at one time for a swedish company in telecommunications etc., so if I was younger I would be setting up my own little company providing such useful things. I would definitely be interested in a set fee for the year, knowing that I would have my back covered and be up to date as possible!!Either that or transport myself back via the Tardis to a simpler time, where people were more caring, helped each other and started from a position of mutual support rather than greed, selfishness and the likes of the main lunatic from the national lunatic asylum of usa, or the greedy, lying sleazebag no doubt thinking of packing his bag to join the lunatic now his disgusting behaviour is in public knowledge. Mind you he wouldnt like being an immigrant would he? Ah well I could take up looking up family trees and see how he was related to oswald moseley and see which branch of the lunatics family was closest to Hitler.
Ah well enough of my thoughts for the day, J S Bach has lifted my spirits, as he does every morning, the washer is spinning wildly and so far touch wood no sign of rain. so out to the trusty stead, washing basket at the ready. Then a steady plod along, and my next goal for a breather will be my morning coffee with a couple of little almond biscuits for a treat. Not quite "good dog" but something like that.
Mike I dont know if it is being televised but the signs are up everywhere up swaledale as there will be I think it is tour de yorkshire on the 5th so you might be able to enjoy some of our countryside as they whizz by. GrandMattie I will think of you today and understand how hard it can be. We never know how we will cope either do we? Sometimes when I have dreaded a particular day, I manage to get through reasonably well only for another day to catch me unawares and unprepared by finding an old valentines card in a drawer or someone speaking of him to me. The sadness does show us how much they meant to us and how much our shared lives counted and will always do so.
Karma lady , good luck with specsavers. I have to make an appointment after september 16th and hope that I shall manage to fall into one of their buy one get one free offers. Really annoying, that I am not allowed to even make an appointment for after the 16th! How b... stupid and annoying. I understand I may only have one free eye test, and have no intention of defrauding them by one day, but I fail to see why actually booking an appointment before that date is not allowed. Grr! it is enough of a hassle to have to do all the wretched diabetic checks and so forth and of course they can only see me on the one day I particularly wish to be elsewhere, but really what flipping difference does it make to put my name in the appointments book in advance.? Oh dear it might be helpful for me in organising my life, Oh we cant have that can we, must make it as awkward as possible!! Ah well so long as we all keep breathing and annoying the politicians thats ok.
Ah just been cheered up by the sight of the squirrel dashing about the grass and borders obviously looking to see where his next hidey hole is going to be. That has cheered my day. Well I am now at least starting with a clean me and clean clothes , and shall be able to enjoy my lovely clean sheets on the bed tonight. Wishing you all a positive and happy day, and relish that first little bit of back to the routines, being able to catch up with friends after the hectic summer months and time to check out the new courses you might like to try. I am going to take a deep breath and go later on to this seated bocca thing at the library. I shall go with an open mind and not allow myself to scoff at the change from my fierce squash playing to the death, and then went down to sort of tennis and table tennis, then just swimming and walking, now the yellow peril and what?? Oh who knows I might win the lottery with my one ticket? I shall then go out and buy one of those trampers that let you go up the hillsides etc. We shall see .
Enjoy your day everyone, I shall now get the washing out, and then come back to read more posts and drink some coffee, whilst putting off the paperwork as much as possible!!
