Good morning Mick and all GN's on a still, quiet morning, sky clearing and the beginnings of birds chirping away. I am hoping to have a very boring, mundane and quiet day, with little excitement and a chance to just plod along. Not making any great plans other than to go down the market on the yellow peril and try to replenish the stores .Fingers crossed for NO more dramas today, some outstanding jobs done etc.
Today it is wensleydale show, looks as though they should have a good day for it. I would like to have gone, but no chance. Am too exhausted and weary, and what efforts I am able to make have to be saved for Muker show on .
wednesday. Do not even plan to meet anyone for coffee , just hope to plod along and look and see how slowly I might see things looking tidier and more sorted, So I am hoping that today with be a most boring, simple day, just getting down to the market for fruit veg and the yorkshire post, saying good morning to people and returning home to peace and quiet . (hopefully to see my car where I left it!)
It took me ages to even start getting things together. yesterday. But I just could not pick up energy and effort to get things moving at a pace. There were interuptions , and checking with Nichola, to see if anything was cleared up about the car saga. She had done all she could, and had hoped to hear back from the appeal people or from the magistrates court lot , where she had explained that we had fulfilled our side of the bargain, and had assumed that the total of 3 things had been dealt with, but for whatever reason, they had not checked , and this third one was the cause of all the panic situation. They had requested various things and the police crime report number etc, and putting aside what she was trying to do , she had forwarded all the relevant information, missing nothing out, and so it was a question of waiting for an answer. Answer came there none!! so we were still waiting, without the certainty that jobsworth would arrive here with clamp or tow truck and disappear with my car. Further stress , not having any idea what was happening.
I was struggling so much with pain everywhere , back worse area and hobbling about with red swollen shiny bad leg, trying to move the least necessary , and keep it elevated. The time went on , getting near lunch time and I looked in the fridge , with total lack of ideas of what to eat, that I could prepare with least effort. Stood there looking, and then suddenly thought, blow it. It is all too much, and I am already worrying about someone coming for the car. Ok , in these circumstances , I deserve a little pick me up. I will go in the car, see which cafe I can park nearest to, and get something hot. Then I can make a sandwich or whatever tonight. Duly went off down the town, but there was not one place that inspired me to get something. Time was going on and it was nearly 1.30pm and choice getting limited, So decided to carry on to a Strikes garden centre, which has a cafe and disabled parking space. Plants and gardening things of course appeal to me, and the dreaded man would not find my car around my address or high street and so I could relax a bit.
My usual thing there at lunch time would be a coffee and either a brunch style plate, or just coffee and maybe a cake. I knew that I needed a bit more than a slice of cake so hobbled to a table and sat looking at the menu, and glancing at other peoples meals. I had called for the local paper on my way there, and wanted to sit in peace and quiet recovering , but it was busy still with grandparents and children, and a couple of family gatherings , so not rowdy but quite busy.
I have never had afternoon tea there, as the menu offers tea for two for £30, but I had never asked if it was on offer for a single person, and I dont like tea at all. But I do go there sometimes and know the waitress , so just asked if it was possible to have the tea for one, and in my case could I have coffee. Ah ha , yes I could. She said that it was not available before 2.30, so as it was already 2.10 I was perfectly happy to just sit there, and looking out the threat of a shower had disappeared and there were tables and chairs outside, with sunshades, Only one couple sat out there with their quiet dog, which gave me the inspiration to hobble to the counter and put in my order and pay. So I ordered it with americano coffee and then slowly - using a trolley meant for holding plants that you purchase, as a stroller, I managed to get myself to a seat outside, where there was a chair with arms that I could get sat in.
Life improved! I sat looking at the lovely borders, a bit of a breeze moving through the shrubs and roses, peace and quiet. The lady was quick to arrive with the afternoon tea. I definitely felt a lady of leisure, with my three tiered stand (plates were clean and white but not a patch on Bettys of course!) It was set out as it should be. A plate with three beautifully laid out sandwiches, crusts cut off of course, white and brown bread, three different fillings, which I polished off at speed as it had been a long time since I had eaten, Then a very fresh and large scone complete with little pot of strawberry conserve and a little thing of clotted cream. and finally on the last plate 4 different pieces of cake, so sort of a single mouth full of things to try. I sat there, letting the peace and quiet calm me down, didnt feel the need to check that the car was in the car park, enjoyed my fresh coffee, Absolutely the right answer for that moment. The waitress came to ask if I would like more coffee, Yes please and then I sat there in Hyacinth Bouquet mode, with my paper and coffee,no one implying I should leave , no noise of cutlery or plates banging about. At last,my mind stopped racing from one thing to another and what I needed to do or watch out for. I couldnt have done anything better. I did start to think of waiting jobs , but firmly pushed that from my mind, which was quite easy of course, when I slowly got up, hanging on to the trolley, and naturally without any special effort, the trolley led me to the rescue table , where poorly plants waited to be adopted by keen gardeners at sale price.
I got five pots of dianthus at £1 each, which I thought looked basically reasonable and can definitely divide at least 2 of them adding to my loot, a beautiful tall salvia half price, a lovely scented lily. So I wended my way to the till, actually using the trolley for what it is meant to be used, and a staff member helped to put the plants in the car for me. Tick, Tick,Tick!! I cant afford to do that often , but in times of stress and anxiety I now have my new bolt hole with a treat to help me
On my way home, I called in to a friend, and presented her with a little dianthus for her border, and stayed there for some time so that she was able to catch up with the lastest episode of the Madeleine soap opera, and see visible clues about how the cellulitis is going, and my plans for where I might be able to hide the car at another friends, to keep it from his clutches!! Now wait for next weeks episode, how will the cliff hanger finish??
I came home, in a much better frame of mind, ignored all waiting jobs, didnt even get the plants from the boot, and went to bed early. Of course that did not mean I got to sleep any earlier or stayed asleep past 4am, but its a start!
Ah ha squirrel just been doing a rush up and down the tree and various antics, and now joined by second squirrel to play tag up and down. Wish I could run about like that!! Never mind I am managing a little improvement, and have started next batch of antibiotics, so hopefully with sensible efforts I will continue to improve. The impetus of Muker show on wednesday will keep me to sensible efforts and putting my leg up as much as possible. No doubt going to that will be mentally wonderful, but will probably mean a couple of steps backwards physically, which I dont care about. (You pays your money and you takes your chance!) So focus on wednesday and if any of you are in the area I can recommend it as a lovely welcoming show with much to enjoy. I wouldnt say I am biased but...
So with the joyous show to look forward to, the medication here and no vital appointments to go to before wednesday, touch wood, I am ready to get going, think what shopping I need and remember to get one of Kitsons pork pies on tuesday for showday picnic, life looks a lot more manageable and I am very grateful for that. I also want to thank you for all the support you have given me and allowing me to vent much anger about the fact that I felt so furious about the car scenario. At one point, I was so stressed out, that it wouldnt have surprised me if I had had a heart attack! Difficult situations arise for everyone of course, but not being able to sort it out immediately and not being believed added insult to injury. Oh! A little drama outside. The pigeon was wandering on the ground pecking about in the fallen leaves and the squirrel dashed straight down the trunk and fence and rushed towards the bird. The pigeon sort of jumped up into the air and fluttered its wings, but then landed turned its back on the squirrel and continued on its way. Squirrel shook its tail in annoyance and dashed back up the tree.
Well, by now , hope you are getting ready for your trip to Bath Mick and will have a pleasant day. Thankyou for your kind wishes grandMattie, and I am sorry you have to force yourself to be the quality control with the cakes. What a burden for you!! If ever I am down your way, I would be quite prepared to force myself to take over that job for you!! Hope you get a good downpour soon. The weather forecast seemed to show that there would be a fair amount of rain. Well of course it is bank holiday!! Good to see a post from you Susan. Maybe it is all the goings on here, but I hadnt seen a post from you for while. RosesandLilac, you have done so well, and I have been following your progress and wishing you well too. Isnt it lovely, when you can fall back into even a small amount of your routine, and the frustration diminishes just a little. The one thing that still not being able to do everything you would do normally allows , is you can cherry pick! You just have enough energy to sort out your threads , but couldnt possible wash up. Well that is my way of choosing, not doing what needs most doing, but the thing I want to do! Hope you keep on improving .
How lovely they are just playing the captain of the HMS Pinafore, and I am singing along, I shall be out to the market singing "then give three cheers and one cheer more for the captain of the pinafore" that will be my "earworm "for the day.! Oh dear, now I have mentioned it on here, it might become other GN's earworm too. Actually quite a fun idea to think of the musical version of the weather chart, showing outbreaks of G@S in all corners of the GN map today.
Hope your plans for the day go well but mostly may you all have something to enjoy for this day, a last lovely rose in the garden, a slice of cake, the unexpected seeing of a grandchild before the school year starts. Thanking you all for your concern and support and a happy saturday to enjoy for everyone